Chapter 483: Firearms, So Many Firearms
Chapter 478 of "The Great Ming in the Box" opens with suspenseful action: Iron Bird Flies took his leave and returned to his own courtyard.The moment he left,... Keep going!
Iron Bird Flies took his leave and returned to his own courtyard.The moment he left, Huang Yunfaâs expression turned more serious and somewhat gloomy. A subordinate stepped forward: âMaster, itâs hard to say if this man can be trusted. Your servant always felt itâs highly unlikely for a group of fugitive blacksmiths to produce several hundred firearms.â
Huang Yunfa murmured, âIâm not trusting him lightly. Letâs see what tricks he plays. When he gets the firearms here, youâll inspect the goods for me. Until the goods are verified, I wonât trust him lightly, lest we fall for his schemes.â
Li Daoxuan listened to their entire discussion, inwardly amused. This Iron Bird Flies was quite shrewd. But honestly, this level of cunning was probably routine for a salt smuggler.
Salt smugglers were a type of merchant, after all. He understood exactly what the Shanxi merchants desperately needed.
Only with the right bait can you catch a big fish.
Returning to his courtyard, Iron Bird Flies ordered a subordinate, âHurry back and notifyââ
âNo need,â the puppet Deity suddenly interjected. âQiachuan Port will learn of this immediately. Ships will soon be dispatched from there. Go arrange a place for Huang Yunfa to view the goods.â
At the same time, Heyang County, Qiachuan Port.
A large cluster of ships crowded together in the stomach-shaped backwater.
As more âcaptainsâ and âcrewâ trained by Bai Yuan emerged, Li Daoxuan had placed down more ship models. There were already several cannon boats, several cargo ships, and several medium-sized boats.
Bai Yuan and Young Master Bai were currently examining a âmerchant shipâ placed by the Deity just days ago. In the real world, this ship was eight centimeters long.
Li Daoxuan hadnât installed any motors, engines, or batteries inside, just an empty framework.
Yet this empty framework became sixteen meters long once inside the box, making it a medium-sized boat for the small people.
Young Master Bai carefully inspected it from bow to stern. Turning to Bai Yuan, he said, âFather, this vessel has ample space. Perhaps I could devise a way to install a steam engine on it.â
Bai Yuan was delighted. âThat would be excellent! The Deity didnât equip this ship with immortal realm propulsion. I was troubled about how to move it. We canât just assign a crew to row it. If we can install a steam engine, that would be perfect.â
As they spoke, Militia Soldiers by the dock cried out in surprise. Shouts of âHail Deity!â echoed everywhere.
The two turned quickly to see the silicone Deity enshrined within Qiachuan Fortress walking out. It waved to the saluting troops, âEveryone, your efforts are appreciated.â
Bai Yuan and Young Master Bai immediately realized the Deity appearing this way meant an important task was coming.
Li Daoxuan approached them softly. âLoad two hundred and fifty smoothbore firearms onto an ordinary boat, the kind propelled by manpower. Transport it to Yongji Ferry Dock.â Bai Yuan promptly responded, âBy your divine decree!â
After accepting the order, Young Master Bai asked curiously, âWhy use manpower? Wouldnât a celestial ship be faster?â
Bai Yuan added, âIs this to bolster Gao Chuwuâs forces? Should we also send them some rifled firearms? Weâve begun manufacturing a small number of Sharps Rifles now. Shouldnât those also be supplied to Gao Chuwu and his men on the front linesâŚâ
Li Daoxuan replied, âNot necessary. Only the oldest smoothbore firearms. No need to send ammunition.â
Bai Yuan was utterly bewildered.
But a divine decree was a divine decree. Even if he didnât understand, it must be followed.
The medium-sized boat before them, still without a propulsion system just an empty hull, was perfect for carrying the cargo. Workers sprang into action, bringing large quantities of smoothbore firearms from the cannon foundry and loading them onto the ship.
Two hundred and fifty firearms formed a veritable small mountain.
Bai Yuan then assigned several dozen water troops to the vessel, providing them with ancient oars for rowing.
To these water troops, accustomed to operating âcelestial ships,â this manual rowing was embarrassingly primitive.
But divinely commanded, primitive or not, it must be done.
To Escort this utterly primitive, manpowered rowing boat, Bai Yuan deployed three cannon boats with a staggering thirty-six cannons. This luxurious escort accompanied the vessel towards Yongji Ferry DockâŚ
Three days later!
Hedong Road.
Iron Bird Flies stood before Huang Yunfa. âMaster Huang, the firearms you requested have been transported here, a full two hundred and fifty. However, such a large shipment must remain unseen. Bringing them directly to Hedong Road would mean confiscation by the officials. Iâd be accused of rebellion, facing execution and the confiscation of my familyâs possessions.â
Huang Yunfa, prepared for this, had no intention of following Iron Bird Flies to a suspicious location. He waved his hand, and a trusted subordinate stepped forward.
Huang Yunfa stated, âHe will inspect the goods on my behalf. Only if the goods are satisfactory will we discuss a place for delivery.â
Iron Bird Flies answered, âThen please have this brother accompany me to Dayu Ferry.â
Dayu Ferry was the closest Yellow River crossing to Hedong Road, a vital hub for overland and water transport. It had served as a key post for imperial courier routes and salt convoys for generations. Bustling with boats and carts, teeming with merchants, every trader operating in Shanxi knew of this ferry.
Unsurprisingly, it was also under government control.
Hearing that he was supposed to preview several hundred firearms at this government-controlled ferry, Huang Yunfaâs expression grew strange.
Iron Bird Flies perceived his doubt, chuckling softly. âMy ship wonât dock at Dayu Ferry itself, of course. It waits far from the dock. We meet at Dayu Ferry, board a small boat there, and then sail upriver to inspect my goods.â
The greater the secrecy and complexity, the more convinced Huang Yunfa became. Undeniably illicit goods required such methods. Nodding to his subordinate, he instructed, âGo see them. Inspect thoroughly.â
Iron Bird Flies escorted the subordinate out of Hedong Road. Galloping southward on horseback, it took considerable time to reach Dayu Ferry.
At such a critical transport node, Huang Yunfa naturally had agents and a boat stationed there. Iron Bird Flies boarded the vessel arranged by Huangâs man. They sailed against the Yellow Riverâs current upstream for over ten li before eventually spotting a medium-sized boat about five zhang long on the water.
Iron Bird Flies pointed. âThere! Pull alongside.â
Huang Yunfaâs subordinate cautiously maneuvered their boat toward the larger vessel. He saw a large group of men aboard with tanned, bronzed skin â unmistakable river men. They held oars, eyeing him warily with peculiar expressions.
A shiver of apprehension ran through Huang Yunfaâs subordinate. He reasoned, however, that as someone insignificant, Iron Bird Flies wouldnât go through such elaborate trouble just to deceive or execute him. Steeling his nerve, he boarded the larger vessel. Lifting a large piece of waterproof canvas covering a mound, he peered beneath. Instantly, he gasped, stunned by the sight: âFirearms, so many FirearmsâŚâ