Ming Empire

Chapter 167 Tragedy of Traitor and Running Dog

Fan Wencheng knew Dorgon quite well, and it was for this purpose that Dorgon called them here today.

"Both of you, you are both ministers of the Qing Dynasty and good strategists. The king of Ben summoned you here today to discuss the establishment of a firearms battalion!" Dorgon motioned to Fan Wencheng and Tong Yangxing in his Sitting down next to him, he faced Tong Yangxing and said, "You are a firearms expert in the Qing Dynasty. You can talk to me about some things in detail today!"

"Yes, Prince Regent!" After Fan Wencheng and Tong Yangxing answered, they sat cross-legged beside Dorgon.

Dorgon's eyes stayed on Fan Wencheng and Tong Yangxing for a while, and then said: "I think you two also know that the Ming army has begun to equip a large number of firearms, especially muskets. Even though they are a group of rabble, they still have a lot of firearms." , the threat to our Qing army should not be underestimated, after all, the number of Qing troops has plummeted, and we can no longer easily lose even the troops of the Eight Banners of the Han Army and the Eight Banners of Mongolia.”

After hearing Dorgon's words, both Fan Wencheng and Tong Yangxing lowered their heads, they knew what Dorgon said.

Dorgon sighed for a long time and said, "The two of you must also know that the most urgent task for my Qing Dynasty is to form a firearms battalion as soon as possible, and set up several firearms battalions like the Datong Army trained by Cao Yue. I came here just to discuss this matter with you.”

After hearing this, Fan Wencheng frowned and pondered for a while, then said softly: "Master, the slave has something to say, don't know if it should be said or not?"

Dorgon glared at Fan Wencheng: "If you have anything to say, please feel free to say it."

"Master, this slave also thinks that our Qing army must set up a firearms battalion of a certain size, but," Fan Wencheng paused, and after taking a sneak peek at Dorgon's expression, he said boldly, "But In the Qing Dynasty, we did not have a complete smelting workshop, nor did we have craftsmen who were proficient in making firearms. Although General Tong was good at making cannons, he didn’t know much about firearms. With our current capabilities, it is difficult to manufacture a large number of firearms.”

"Master, what Mr. Fan said is very true." Tong Yangxing nodded solemnly, "Although the slave has a little understanding of the manufacturing technology of artillery, he doesn't know much about the manufacture of muskets. If the slave is asked to develop muskets, I'm afraid It is difficult to develop in a short period of time."

"My lord understands what you two mean. Today, my lord wants to ask you how to solve this problem?" Dorgon frowned.

After thinking for a while, Fan Wencheng said cautiously: "Master, this slave thinks that we can find a way to find some craftsmen who know how to make firearms in the pass. We can spend a lot of money to hire or plunder these people for my Qing Dynasty to use. Also, Iron and steel smelting, we can carry out through North Korea, North Korea's smelting technology is more advanced than my Qing Dynasty, and the iron ore in North Korea is much richer than that in Liaodong, and there are current ones that can be mined."

During this time, Fan Wencheng can be said to be a man with his tail between his legs. Some of the suggestions he made did not achieve the expected results, especially when he attacked Datong. In addition, some other surrenders died unexpectedly. He was very worried about himself. He also followed in the footsteps of those people, so he acted very low-key, even in front of Dorgon, he did not dare to speak out his suggestions boldly as before.At any time, he would act and speak cautiously, for fear of offending the upper echelons of Jurchen, encountering embarrassing scenes, or even losing his life.

After the Battle of Datong, Fan Wencheng also began to re-examine the current situation. He knew that if Dorgon could not reverse the situation, then in the follow-up contest between the Qing and Ming, the Qing would definitely lose to the Ming, and the one who would be eliminated in the end would definitely be the Datong. clear.The current Fan Wencheng already regrets surrendering to the Manchu Qing. He knew that the Ming army still had such combat strength, and there were talents like Cao Yue, Cao Bianjiao, Sun Chuanting, and Hong Chengchou. These people can turn the tide, and he will definitely reconsider his choice. .

What made Fan Wencheng even more ashamed was that after Datong was defeated and returned to Shengjing, he suffered the greatest humiliation in his life.

Because of his wife's beauty, Prince Yu Duduo took a fancy to him, and he didn't know what Duduo was thinking, so he wanted to take Fan Wencheng's wife as his own.Although Fan Wencheng was extremely angry, he finally chose to endure the humiliation and let his beautiful wife be insulted by Dodo several times, and even personally persuaded his wife to serve Dodo well.Seeing his wife being bullied and bullied by Doduo, even in front of him, Fan Wencheng felt ashamed.Only Fan Wencheng knows what it's like to be a man with his tail between his legs and suffer great humiliation.

Although the matter of Duoduo's seizure of his wife was finally resolved through Dorgon's intervention, Duduo was punished, and his beautiful wife returned to his side, but the whole Qing Dynasty knew that Fan Wencheng's wife served Duoduo, And it was in front of Fan Wencheng.Dorgon's support did not improve Fan Wencheng's status, but made him a laughingstock. No one looked down on him, and all the nobles of the Qing Dynasty would sneer at him.

Duoduo, who was punished, became even more angry, and his hatred for Fan Wencheng became more intense. In order to humiliate Fan Wencheng, he publicized the matter of playing with his wife everywhere. He told other people how the woman was doing and how she felt when she was playing. Say.

For a while, this story was spread everywhere in Shengjing, and many people became interested in Fan Wencheng's beautiful wife, but under Dorgon's strict order, no one dared to think about this woman for the time being.

This woman was actually rewarded to Fan Wencheng by Huang Taiji.In the beginning, Fan Wencheng regarded this woman as a great honor, but now, this woman has become his greatest shame, and he will never be able to wash away this shame.But Fan Wencheng had no other choice, he had no way out, he could not rebel against Qing Dynasty and return to Ming Dynasty.

The threat of the Ming army's firearms is huge, and the Qing army has no way to defeat it. Fan Wencheng knows the consequences, and he must help Dorgon solve this problem.During this period of time, he has been thinking about these things, but he has not come up with a very good solution. After all, the technological productivity of the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty are not at the same level. , Also, the nobles of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, except for a visionary like Dorgon who can think about the long-term, others would never think about things like the Qing Dynasty being able to manufacture firearms. Most of the Manchu Qing nobles still advocate Immediately win the world.

Fan Wencheng was afraid that what he mentioned would annoy the Manchu nobles and lead to death, so he didn't dare to mention it before Dorgon called him to discuss these matters.Even if he took the initiative to tell him about it and asked him for his opinion, Fan Wencheng was still cautious.

The current Dorgon was Fan Wencheng's only reliance, he didn't dare to annoy Dorgon in any way.

(End of this chapter)