Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 94 Land Reclamation and Firearms

Outside Jinan city, Lu's Manor.

The autumn harvest has just ended, leaving only bare stubble in the fields. Smoke curls from the distant village chimneys, and the occasional bark of a dog adds to the peaceful scene.

But Lu Yan knew that this peace was fake.

Although the White Lotus Rebellion has been quelled, the wounds it left behind are far from healed. In the areas of Yanzhou, Yuncheng, and Zou County, nine out of ten houses are empty. Vast fields lie fallow, uncultivated. Refugees are still on their journeys, unsure of where to go.

"Boss, this way please."

Zhao Tie led the way, guiding Lu Yan through a newly cultivated field to a row of courtyards deep within the manor.

This place was originally a dilapidated manor. After the White Lotus Rebellion, the original owner and his family fled. Lu Yan took the opportunity to buy it at a low price and converted it into a military settlement.

"These are newly resettled refugees."

Zhao Tie pointed to the busy crowd in the courtyard.

"There are a total of 327 households, with over 1,300 people. More than 400 are able-bodied adults, and over 900 are the elderly, women, and children."

Lu Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in the courtyard.

Most of these people were ragged, emaciated, and their eyes held the fear of surviving a calamity. But when they saw Lu Yan approaching, they all stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

"Hello, boss!"

No need for formalities.

Lu Yan waved his hand and walked up to a middle-aged man who was chopping wood.

"What's your name? Where are you from?"

The middle-aged man quickly put down his axe, bowed, and replied:

"My surname is Wang, and I'm from Yuncheng. I was originally a tenant farmer, but when the White Lotus Rebellion broke out, I was forced into labor. After the city fell, I escaped in the chaos and begged my way to Jinan."

"Thanks to my master for taking me in and giving me food, I am extremely grateful."

Who else is in the family?

"He has a wife and two children." The man surnamed Wang's eyes reddened slightly. "The older one is twelve and can help with chores. The younger one is only five, still breastfeeding..."

Lu Yan nodded, took out a small silver ingot from his sleeve, and stuffed it into his hand.

"Take this and buy some food for the kids. Work hard, things will get better."

The man surnamed Wang was stunned for a moment, then knelt down with a thud, sobbing uncontrollably.

"My master has shown me immense kindness and virtue; I will repay him even in my next life, even if it means serving him like a cow or a horse!"

"Get up, get up."

Lu Yan helped him up, then turned to Zhao Tie and said:

"These people are all being handled according to the arrangements made beforehand. The able-bodied men are being incorporated into the farming teams, where they farm during the year and train during the off-season. The elderly, women, and children are being housed on the estates, doing whatever work they can manage."

"Rice rations will be distributed per person, one dou (a unit of dry measure) of rice per person per month, with no deductions allowed."

"yes."

Zhao Tie responded.

Lu Yan added, "Furthermore, select some clever young men and send them to workshops to learn a trade. Blacksmiths, carpenters, and gunpowder makers should all be trained."

"clear."

……

After leaving the settlement, Lu Yan arrived at a courtyard at the deepest part of the manor.

The place is heavily guarded, surrounded by high walls, with two guards standing watch at the entrance. Ordinary people have no idea what this place is for.

"Master."

Zhao Tie pushed open the courtyard gate and led Lu Yan inside.

In the courtyard, a dozen or so craftsmen were busy at work. Some were forging iron, some were filing gun barrels, and some were mixing gunpowder. The clanging and hammering sounds mixed with the pungent smell of sulfur, making it hard to breathe.

This is Lu Yan's firearms workshop.

"Uncle Zhao, how's the production lately?"

Zhao Tie picked up a newly completed flintlock pistol and handed it to Lu Yan.

"Reporting to the employer, fifteen flintlock muskets were manufactured this month, with a yield rate of 70%. Additionally, the firing mechanism was improved, reducing the misfire rate by 20%."

Lu Yan took the flintlock pistol and examined it carefully.

The gun was made of fine iron, with a barrel about three feet long and a stock of hardwood, making it heavy in the hand. A flint was mounted on the bolt; when the trigger was pulled, the flint struck the steel plate, sparking and igniting the gunpowder.

This was a new type of firearm that he created after having Zhao Tie repeatedly test it based on his memories from his previous life.

Compared to the matchlock muskets currently used by the Ming army, the biggest advantage of flintlock muskets is their resistance to wind and rain. Matchlock muskets require a lit match to fire, and in windy or rainy weather, the match would go out, turning them into a mere fire stick. Flintlock muskets, on the other hand, are fired with flint and are unaffected by the weather.

"good."

Lu Yan nodded in satisfaction and handed the gun back to Zhao Tie.

"Continue to improve. Strive to increase the yield rate to over 80% and the monthly output to 20 units."

"Don't worry, boss, I'll do my best."

Zhao Tie took the gun and said again:

"Oh, right, boss, there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

"It's about those four breech-loading cannons."

Zhao Tie led Lu Yan to a storeroom in the corner of the courtyard and pushed open the door.

Inside the warehouse, four dark cannons were neatly arranged. The cannon barrels were cast in bronze, with muzzles about the thickness of a bowl, and the words "Dengzhou Navy" were engraved on the barrels.

"This was arranged for us by Eunuch Liu," Zhao Tie said. "These were old cannons discarded by the Dengzhou navy, originally slated for recasting. But Eunuch Liu put in a word, and they got them for us."

Lu Yan stepped forward and touched the cannon barrel with his hand.

The cannon was cool to the touch and smooth to the touch, indicating that it was well-maintained.

"Can it be used?"

"It works." Zhao Tie nodded. "The old man checked it; there are no cracks in the cannon barrel, and no rust in the breech. Only the bullets are a bit worn, but the old man recast a few, and they've already been installed."

"Has it been test-fired?"

"I've tried it." A hint of pride appeared on Zhao Tie's face. "Within three hundred paces, one shot can create a crater a meter in diameter. If grapeshot is used, the kill radius is even greater."

Lu Yan nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Take good care of these four cannons, don't let them rust. They'll be very useful in the future."

"Don't worry, boss, I'll treat them like my own sons."

Lu Yan smiled, turned around and walked out of the warehouse.

Zhao Tie followed behind, hesitated for a moment, and said:

"Master, there's something I need to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"explain."

"Our current firearms—nearly a hundred flintlock muskets and four breech-loading cannons—are already considered quite good in Shandong. But compared to the imperial court's regular army, we are still far behind."

"If one day..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Lu Yan stopped and turned around to look at Zhao Tie.

"Uncle Zhao, you've been with me for almost five years."

"yes."

"You've seen me work over the past five years, and you know what kind of person I am."

Zhao Tie nodded without saying anything.

"I'm not the kind of person who aims too high," Lu Yan said in a low, calm voice. "I know that our current strength is nothing compared to the imperial court; it's not even a drop in the ocean."

But you have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time.

"Today we have a hundred guns, tomorrow we might have two hundred or three hundred. Today we have four cannons, tomorrow we might have ten or twenty."

"As long as we keep accumulating strength, one day we will become so powerful that no one will dare to underestimate us."

Zhao Tie was thrilled and nodded emphatically.

"The master is right. The old man understands."

"Go ahead and get busy."

Lu Yan patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave the workshop.

Stepping out of the courtyard, an autumn breeze blew in my face, carrying a hint of coolness.

Lu Yan looked up at the sky, which was cloudless and a clear, deep blue.

The second year of the Tianqi reign was almost over.

That year, he experienced the White Lotus Rebellion, took advantage of the chaos to expand his territory, and made a fortune from the war.

He ingratiated himself with Wei Zhongxian, thereby gaining official position and powerful backing.

He expanded his guard, established a firearms workshop, and amassed a considerable armed force.

He secretly protected the families of Donglin Party members, laying the groundwork for future changes.

Everything is going according to plan.

But he knew that was far from enough.

A prefect of the eighth rank has little influence in the officialdom.

If you want to climb higher, you must seize the next opportunity.

And that opportunity is coming soon.

Royal Wood.

Lu Yan's lips curled up slightly, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

Next year will be a crucial year.