Qianlong: Qing Dynasty?What about my Daqing?

Chapter 50 The Shrewd Qianlong【For collection and further reading】

Chapter 50, The Shrewd Qianlong
"Not bad"

Beijing.

Forbidden City.

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, who was nearly seventy years old, seemed to be in good spirits.

In his hand was a flintlock gun about nine feet long with a bayonet attached.

Emperor Qianlong is known as the perfect old man, so he knows the goods.

He could tell at a glance that this musket was made of sufficient materials and well-made.

Although there are traces of use.

But there is not much trace of wear on the inner bore, and there is no lead hanging in it.

When the trigger is pulled, a very crisp sound of the firing pin hitting the flint can be heard.

The private collection of Emperor Qianlong contained muskets from all over the world.

Among them, there are even rifled guns used by nobles from Western European courts.

So Qianlong knew the extent of the development of Western firearms.

Actually.

From the three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, the royal family of the Qing Dynasty did not cut off exchanges with Europe.

Kangxi is even a math lover who is proficient in mathematics.

The kind that can solve calculus.

He often discussed mathematics and philosophy with missionaries from the West.

From this perspective.

Kangxi is by no means ignorant.

The same is true of Qianlong.

He even knew some French, and through some missionaries from Europe, he had a long correspondence with King Louis XVI of France.

He's very clear about what's going on in the world.

American independence.

Even later the French Revolution.

After Louis XVI was guillotined.

Qianlong was very keenly aware of the subversive influence that the revolutionary trend of thought from Europe might have on the Qing Dynasty.

Immediately decided to strengthen the sea ban and lock the country.

Prevent Han people from being exposed to Western ideas and technologies.

In fact, the Qing Dynasty was able to enter the Central Plains as a fishing, hunting and nomadic tribe and obtain the ruling power of China.

Its rulers are by no means ignorant as people imagine.

At least upfront.

Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong are different from Daoguang, Xianfeng and others who came later.

Daoguang and Xianfeng may have been limped by themselves, and they really closed their eyes and turned a deaf ear to everything that happened in the world.

However, the rulers of the three dynasties of Kang, Yong, and Qian have records to prove that they actually knew the world very well.

It is because of understanding.

That's why they dare not allow Han people to acquire Western technology. They want to restrict the spread of foreign ideas, restrict the development of the commodity economy, and use harsh literary prisons and rigid stereotyped Brunei to suppress the thinking of Han elites.

Let the most intelligent part of this nation spend most of their lives studying the classics without much practical use.

From this point of view.

as a ruler.

Qianlong is definitely a political animal that can be ranked number one in history.

He is very smart, has a very keen political sense and skills.

The gun in his hand was sent to Beijing by Fukang'an, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, through an expedited courier. He changed horses without changing people, and traveled day and night. It took six days from Guangzhou to Beijing.

Also sent along with them were the secret documents of Fu Kang'an, Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Guo Shixun, Governor of Guangdong.

At the same time, there are official documents stamped with the seal of the governor's office in Guangdong.

The Guangdong side brought a piece of news that made Qianlong a little restless.

Zhu Daohua has won the land of West Borneo and is preparing to build a Lanfang province!

And before that.

The news that Zhu Daohua had defeated the Dutch fleet in the South China Sea had already reached Qianlong.

For Qianlong.

Zhu Daohua defeated the Dutch fleet.

He and Zhu Daohua won the territory of a province in Nanyang.

If these two things were taken separately, he would not be as disturbed as he is now.

The key is how related the two things are.

There was only two months between these two incidents.

And the news before that.

It was Zhu Daohua who acquired several islands in the Malacca Strait, and occupied the islands as king.

Occupy the island as king.

It can still be said to be a pirate.

No climate.

It was not uncommon to defeat the Dutch fleet.

During the Kangxi Dynasty, the Zheng family often fought against the Dutch fleet in Nanyang, often winning.

But the point is.

The intervals between these events are very short.

From the pirates who occupy the island as king.

To a hero who owns a province overseas.

The time between is just less than four months!

fast!
too fast!
This speed had to make Qianlong vigilant.

Especially that Zhu Daohua was released in front of all Nanyang countries and Nanyang Chinese.

Next year, when the southeast wind blows, he will Yang Fan go north to spy on Guangdong.

And from the secret book given to him by the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Fukang'an.

He got some even more unsettling news.

It took only two days for the elite Ming army to break through [-] to [-].

Moreover, the Ming army had some weapons that gave Qianlong a headache.

Like that mortar.

Qianlong put down his musket and looked at the mortar shells and the model of the mortar sent by Guangdong.

After a little research, Qianlong probably knew the principle of this shell
"It's just... if black powder is used, it seems that the power of the explosive bomb is not as powerful as described by the Guangdong side?"

Qianlong opened another package.

Look at the yellow granular things in the jars inside the package.

"This is the gunpowder loaded in the so-called mortar. Why is it yellow?"

Qianlong couldn't understand it.

Put down everything in your hands.

He also took out the secret books of Fukang'an and Guo Shixun.

"A musket like this costs 20 taels, and a long-barreled cannon that can fire five and a half catties of solid iron bullets costs 1000 taels of silver."

Qianlong pondered for a moment.

"Xuan Heshen!"

He Shen is now the number one celebrity in the Qianlong Dynasty.

The minister of military aircraft and the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also holds more than a dozen important positions such as a bachelor of the Imperial Academy, minister of the guards, and commander of the infantry.

And if you want to build ordnance, it is the errand of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Manufacturing Office.

As the minister of military aircraft, He Shen naturally has to work in the military aircraft department.

There is no official government office in the Military Aircraft Department, but there is a duty room, which is in the Longzong Gate, close to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so that the Minister of Military Aircraft can be summoned to discuss matters.

soon.

With a bright red crown on the top of his head and wearing a unicorn make-up suit, the first favorite minister of the Qing Dynasty, He Shen and his lord, came in a hurry.

People haven't arrived yet.

Here comes the sound.

"Slave He Shen kowtows to the emperor, long live my emperor."

When the voice fell, He Shen and the servant had already knelt in front of Emperor Qianlong.

"He Shen, get up." Qianlong waved his hand, and then handed the musket in his hand to He Shen.

"Let's see how much money it will cost if the Ministry of Internal Affairs is asked to build [-] guns like this."

He Shen hurriedly got up.

After taking the musket and inspecting it carefully, I opened the trigger and looked at the structure inside.

Then I thought about it in my heart.

Thirty thousand muskets.

And instead of a shotgun with a matchlock, the mechanical structure of the flintlock needs to be carefully polished by skilled craftsmen.

The cost itself is not low.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs divided it up and down. How could a musket with such a large amount of material cost 30 taels of silver to be balanced.

After thinking about it carefully.

He Shen said: "Reporting to Long Live Lord, the materials and workmanship of this musket are top choices. If you want to build 50 muskets, each musket is expected to cost at least 150 taels of silver, and the total price is [-] million taels!"

150 million taels?
How can it be so expensive.

Qianlong frowned.

Fukang'an said to buy it in Nanyang, and it was only 20 taels.
Those Westerners who traveled across the oceans and seas for thousands of miles must be pursuing profits.

In other words.

20 taels of silver for a musket, and everyone still earns money.

How can I get 50 taels by myself?

It seems that it is more cost-effective to let Fukang'an go to Nanyang to buy.

Qianlong thought very unhappy.

In fact, what he doesn't know is that 50 taels is already a big deal with an adult's conscience.

It will be put aside until the Daoguang Dynasty 40 years later.

Just as confused as his grandson Daoguang.

An egg can fetch sky-high prices.

A musket cannot be bought without a hundred and ten taels of silver.

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(End of this chapter)