Chapter Forty-One: From Now On, Great Ming Will Be Run by This Crown Prince!
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“Crown Prince... Your Highness, you must not say such things carelessly!”
Bi Maokang spoke with lingering fear. He had been deeply interested in the Crown Prince’s earlier remarks, but as for what came afterward, he wished with all his heart that he had never heard them.
Zhu Cilang studied Bi Maokang with some confusion, apparently unable to understand why the old man had suddenly become so frightened.
But in the next moment, he realized the reason.
With an helpless smile, Zhu Cilang explained, “Lord Bi, you have only just arrived in the capital. You probably do not know yet, do you?”
“His Majesty is gravely ill and has long since been unable to attend to state affairs. At present, I am acting as regent.”
“Therefore, I have the authority to decide these matters.”
“Moreover, according to the imperial physicians, His Majesty’s illness may never be cured. So... you should understand what I mean, should you not?”
Since he had already embarked upon rebellion, Zhu Cilang certainly had no intention of allowing the Chongzhen Emperor to come into contact with the ministers or the affairs of state again. From now on, the emperor had only two paths before him.
The first was for him to remain unable to accept reality and be confined to the imperial harem until Zhu Cilang had completely seized control of the court and the army, after which he would be forced to abdicate and become a Retired Emperor.
The second was for him to come to terms with the situation and voluntarily abdicate in favor of becoming a Retired Emperor.
Of course, should some accident occur, there was technically a third path.
The Chongzhen Emperor might die unexpectedly, allowing Zhu Cilang to ascend the throne without difficulty.
In Zhu Cilang’s view, however, there should be no need to take that third path.
In any case, regardless of which road was taken, the Chongzhen Emperor would never again interfere in state affairs.
From then on, the Ming Empire would be governed according to Zhu Cilang’s will!
At the same time, Bi Maokang was once again utterly stunned.
Before this, he had known nothing of the emperor’s grave illness or the Crown Prince’s assumption of regency.
And from the meaning of the Crown Prince’s final words, he had also learned something astonishing.
The Chongzhen Emperor was very likely close to death.
Even if he did not die, he would no longer be able to manage state affairs.
In other words, the Crown Prince before him might become the Ming Empire’s new emperor at any moment...
Once he understood this, how could Bi Maokang dare hesitate any longer?
He hurriedly rose to his feet and, trembling, began to kneel.
As he did so, he said, “This old subject never imagined that, at my advanced age, I would still receive such trust from Your Highness. I shall never fail in the task Your Highness has entrusted to me.”
“If I cannot improve the firearms of our Great Ming, I shall die with my eyes open!”
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This time, before Zhu Cilang could intervene, Ma Bao had already stepped forward and helped Bi Maokang to his feet.
Zhu Cilang was delighted. He knew that Bi Maokang had agreed; even the old man’s manner of address had changed.
“Lord Bi, since you have accepted my request, from this day onward you shall serve as my Grand Tutor.”
“Since you are my teacher, you need not kneel when you see me again. That is my command!”
“Furthermore, since the Firearms Research Institute belongs to the Eastern Palace, you will not be required to attend court. Your salary and待遇, however, shall be equal to those of the Six Ministries.”
“All its expenses will be paid by the Eastern Palace. What do you think?”
Zhu Cilang spoke.
“Everything shall be decided by Your Highness!”
By this point, Bi Maokang was so moved that he could scarcely contain himself. Ever since his youth, he had dreamed of improving the firearms currently in use.
Yet he had never received the emperor’s support.
In the end, he had been forced to resign in dejection amid the factional struggles of the court.
He had thought that his life would end in that manner. Never had he imagined that, on the eve of his burial, he would encounter the Crown Prince, a ruler of true wisdom.
The Firearms Research Institute would be independent of the court, and he would not be required to attend court. That meant the factional struggles of the imperial government would have nothing more to do with him.
From then on, he could devote himself entirely to improving the firearms of Great Ming and developing new weapons!
This was the great aspiration of his entire life.
How could he not be moved?
Looking once again at the brand-new copy of The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms in his hands, Zhu Cilang fell into thought.
Bi Maokang had printed the previous edition after completing it. No one knew how many copies had been produced, but even by the time of the Manchus, the book still existed.
That meant The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms might already have found its way into the hands of the Jurchens.
Zhu Cilang was not particularly concerned, however. The matchlock described in the earlier edition had been introduced only in broad outline, without any detailed explanations.
Zhu Cilang had once taken The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms to the craftsmen of the Directorate of Armories and asked them to manufacture a matchlock.
The craftsmen had not understood the weapon’s essential technology at all, and naturally they had been unable to produce one.
If even the finest craftsmen in Great Ming could not manufacture a matchlock based on the records in The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms, then the Jurchens, with their rudimentary skills, would have even less chance of doing so.
In other words, even if they truly obtained Bi Maokang’s book, it would be of little practical use to them.
But this new edition of The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms absolutely could not be allowed to circulate. Bi Maokang had spent several years compiling and revising it.
Its contents were extraordinarily detailed. Every component had been listed separately and explained thoroughly with accompanying illustrations.
Zhu Cilang had no doubt that if the book were placed in the hands of craftsmen for study, any artisan with even a little knowledge of firearms could manufacture a matchlock.
With that thought, Zhu Cilang asked once more, “Lord Bi, has this book ever been printed?”
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Bi Maokang immediately shook his head.
“No. After I retired to my home village, I compiled this new edition from the earlier The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms in my spare time.”
“Furthermore, it has not yet been completed. Whenever I come up with a new idea, I add it to the manuscript, so it has never been printed.”
“Indeed, apart from my family, no one even knows that this book exists.”
Bi Maokang was speaking the truth. After retiring to his native home, he had found himself with little to occupy him.
Since new ideas constantly arose in his mind, he had conceived the notion of rewriting The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms.
And thus this entirely new edition had come into being.
The book was still unfinished. Every so often, another idea would occur to him, and he would add it to the manuscript.
Zhu Cilang nodded, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
He then continued, “You may continue your research on this book, but under no circumstances may it be printed or allowed to circulate.”
“This book contains matters of vital importance to the nation.”
“The knowledge recorded within it can bring immense strength to the state. It must never fall into the hands of the Jurchens or any other foreign peoples.”
“From now on, this book may be studied only at the Firearms Research Institute, and only by those whose loyalty can be trusted.”
“Furthermore, every firearm component must be assigned to designated craftsmen for manufacture, so that each craftsman becomes familiar with the production of only a single component.”
“In this way, we can improve both efficiency and quality. And even if one of the craftsmen is captured by the Jurchens, they will still be unable to obtain the technology behind the firearms.”
“You may think my concern excessive, but you should know that the Jurchens have already begun using firearms as well!”
“Lord Bi, surely you would not wish the firearms you spent your entire life developing to become weapons with which the Jurchens slaughter the people of Great Ming?”
Upon hearing this, Bi Maokang’s expression instantly turned solemn. He hurriedly said, “Your Highness, rest assured! I know what must be done. I can guarantee that this book will never be allowed to circulate.”
As he said this, Bi Maokang could not help regretting that he had ever had the earlier edition of The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms printed.
But regret was useless now.
The only thing he could do was ensure that this perfected edition of The Illustrated Treatise on Military Arms would never circulate beyond its proper bounds.
After all, he had studied firearms for only one reason: to make his country stronger.
But if this technology were obtained by the Jurchens and instead enabled them to grow stronger, then he would truly become a sinner condemned by history for all eternity.
Even in death, he would have no face with which to meet his ancestors!
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