Zhu Yijun had a very comfortable New Year. Even though there was a war in the south and the army was being mobilized to the west, these did not affect Zhu Yijun's New Year. After all, with the current strength of the Daming, it was basically no problem for Zhu Yijun to deal with these things.
After the New Year, everything was back on track. The war reports from the south also came, and the situation was good.
First was the Daming Royal Navy. Basically, the Royal Navy occupied Zhamo without much effort and began to build a stable naval base there.
Then on the Daming's land, Mang Yingli could be said to be retreating. Facing the Daming's army, he could not fight back. The Daming had already conquered two-thirds of the Dongyu Dynasty's land, and it would not be long before they could conquer the Dongyu Dynasty.
Once the Dongyu Dynasty was destroyed, the entire southeast peninsula would completely fall into the Daming's sphere of influence. The rest would take time to nibble away at.
"Imperial Majesty, Lord Xu Guangqi, Xu Guangqi is here!"
Wei Dynasty stood beside Zhu Yijun and said respectfully.
Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "Let him in!"
Not long after, Xu Guangqi walked in from outside. At this time, Xu Guangqi was travel-worn and tired, but he looked very excited. Obviously, something good had happened.
Ever since the steam engine was started, Xu Guangqi had been busy miniaturizing it. This was because Xu Guangqi had received the next step of Zhu Yijun's plan for the steam engine.
To build steam-powered ironclad warships and trains. Although the railway carriage had not been built, it had been used by the Ordnance Department for several years.
Once the railway carriage was replaced by the train, the transportation between the north and the south of the Daming would be greatly enhanced.
"My dear subject, it seems that you have some good news to tell me!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Guangqi and said with a smile, "I have been looking forward to your good news for a long time."
“
"Your Majesty, it is indeed good news."
Xu Guangqi smiled and said, "I led my colleagues from the Armament Division to conquer the mortar production line, the assembly line powered by steam engines, and the rear-loading bullets of the Armament Division. I am prepared to increase my investment in this area. I have come this time to ask Your Majesty to allocate some money. I urgently need to use it.
“
According to the normal process, Xu Guangqi needed to submit a memorial to the Grand Council, and then the Grand Council would draft it and hand it over to Zhu Yijun.
After Zhu Yijun replied, the memorial was sent back to the Grand Council to be turned into an imperial edict. The imperial edict was sent to the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Revenue allocated funds to the Armaments Department.
Obviously, Xu Guangqi couldn't wait any longer. He needed to get the money as soon as possible and didn't want to wait any longer.
After hearing Xu Guangqi's words, Zhu Yijun was stunned. He asked in disbelief, "It's done?"
"Your Majesty, it's done!"
Xu Guangqi said excitedly, "The mortar production line can be started at any time. As long as the money is in place, the barrels and shells can be mass-produced. I am prepared to start two production lines. With the speed of the Royal Ironmaking Factory, four production lines should be enough. At that time, we can produce 100 mortars and 500 shells every month."
Wasn't this a little too little?
However, Zhu Yijun understood. After all, it was just the beginning, and this speed was not bad. In addition, Xu Guangqi mentioned the production of the steel mill. Obviously, it was not the production that restricted the production, but the raw materials.
Zhu Yijun nodded and then asked again, "What about the rear-loading rifled cannon?"
This was what Zhu Yijun was most concerned about. Although mortars were also very powerful, the rear-loading rifled cannon was the king. At that time, the Daming would have a real field artillery, or even a howitzer.
With such cannons, the Daming's artillerymen would be real artillerymen. The current artillerymen were still a little out of place. One must know that this was the era where artillery was the king.
"Your Majesty, we have already made the prototype. It will take some time to mass-produce, but it won't take too long," Xu Guangqi promised.
In fact, although the steam engine had not been miniaturized, it had brought a qualitative leap to the Daming. A lot of technology that could not be used in the past could now be used.
"Good, very good!"
Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction, "We need to speed up the progress and make the rear-loading rifled cannon and gun as soon as possible."
Once they had these two killer weapons, the Daming would really be invincible. How could Zhu Yijun not be excited?
"Your Majesty, the Armaments Department has made a small toy. I have specially brought it for you."
When Xu Guangqi saw that Zhu Yijun was so happy, he was also happy. At least this time, he could ask for more money, and it would be easier.
Zhu Yijun was stunned, then said, "Where is it?"
"It's outside!" Xu Guangqi quickly said.
Zhu Yijun nodded, then said, "Bring it in!"
Not long after, a little eunuch carried in two boxes. Zhu Yijun also walked down from the throne. Xu Guangqi quickly walked over and opened the first box. The thing inside immediately attracted Zhu Yijun's attention.
There were two guns in the box. The one in front was a handgun, and the one in the back was a long gun. However, the style made Zhu Yijun very excited.
The handgun in the front was actually a revolver. Zhu Yijun did not hesitate to pick it up.
With a slight shake, he used his hand to pull the revolver's wheel. Zhu Yijun turned his head to look at Xu Guangqi, "Do you have bullets?"
"Yes!"
Xu Guangqi quickly opened the second box. There were two boxes of bullets, one small and one big. The small box was obviously the revolver's bullets, and the big box was naturally the rifle's bullets.
Zhu Yijun reached out and took out the revolver's bullets, then loaded them into the revolver one by one. Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Yijun walked out of the hall with the revolver, then took the revolver and fired at a pillar not far away.
"Pa!"
A crisp gunshot sounded in front of the hall's door. The rising white smoke of the gunpowder was still a bit choking, because after all, it was not smokeless gunpowder.
Zhu Yijun did not care about choking and went straight to the pillar. Sure enough, he found a bullet hole in the pillar. Although it was far from where Zhu Yijun aimed, that was a problem with Zhu Yijun's marksmanship, not the gun.
Zhu Yijun suddenly became excited. He turned to Xu Guangqi and said, "Give me the spear!"
The spear was quickly brought over. Zhu Yijun stroked the spear, and his face became even more excited. He reached out to pick up a bullet, pressed it into the barrel, and pulled the bolt. Then he raised the spear and fired at a place not far away. The crisp gunshot sounded again.
This spear was a single-shot rear-loading rifle. It could be said that many aspects of it were not advanced, but it was a true rear-loading rifle. This was enough to make Zhu Yijun surprised and excited.