Chapter 8, The Wind Rises

After numerous improvements, the musket and ammunition have finally reached their final form. The overall length of the gun (including the bayonet) is 1.5 meters, weighing 14 pounds. The gunpowder has been further refined by Chen Xing, now capable of firing a hundred rounds before needing to clean the gun. After Zhang Wu added a sloped groove to the bullet head, a single shot can create a fist-sized hole in a small tree with a diameter of a bowl. The green vitriol oil used for passivating the gun barrel is a product from Xu Zhichen's family in Huairou, which has a legendary origin. Xu Zhichen's father, Xu Laozu, was fond of alchemy and would often ask others to procure green vitriol oil from the Western Regions, which was more expensive than gold. Fortunately, his family was wealthy enough to afford such indulgences. One day, the old man had a whimsical idea to refine fool's gold (pyrite) into gold to avoid being mocked for not being industrious. After discovering that coke was harder than charcoal, he switched his alchemical furnace to use coke. However, due to rain, water entered the furnace, and instead of producing gold, he ended up with green vitriol oil, which also damaged his alchemical equipment. The old man was quite distressed, but fortunately, although he did not produce gold, he did create a valuable substance comparable to gold, sufficient for him to boast about. However, since his family invented this method of producing green vitriol oil, the value of green vitriol oil in the Central Plains has plummeted, causing Xu Zhichen considerable pain. Wu Anguo once saw the Xu family's tools for producing green vitriol oil and was astonished to find that three iron alchemical furnaces were connected by pipes, forming a rudimentary contact method sulfuric acid production line, albeit with an efficiency that cannot be compared to modern standards.

Guo Pu did not understand military affairs. He observed that the training of the local militia involved not only shooting and stabbing but also marching and formation, which initially puzzled him. However, he soon realized that these seemingly unrelated drills quickly transformed the originally chaotic group into a well-organized force, displaying the appearance of a formidable army, which made him increasingly admire Wu Anguo. The only thing he could not comprehend was the purpose of equipping infantry with warhorses. On one occasion, when he asked Li Shanping and others about this matter, Wu Anguo's response was surprisingly: "In case of a defeat and the need to escape, four legs are certainly faster than two." At that moment, Guo Pu spat out a mouthful of tea, causing everyone in the county office to burst into laughter.

Before the completion of the thousand fire guns, news of Xu Da's great victory arrived. Just as everyone was in awe of this veteran general's wisdom, an alert about the Mongolian invasion was received. Subsequently, the imperial edict ordering the formation of militia in the border regions was also conveyed. Guo Pu was extremely anxious; after so many years as a local official, the year and a half since Wu Anguo's arrival had brought him joy and a sense of contributing to the world. Naturally, he could not allow the Mongolian iron hooves to trample his life. For self-preservation, Guo Pu and Wu Anguo decided to prioritize equipping the militia with fire guns, as Xu Da's current situation indicated a record of victories without defeats.

The Grand Scholar Shi Jiang submitted a memorial to Zhu Yuanzhang, referencing Xu Da's failure to promote benevolence, which led to plundering and disturbances among the people. Zhu Yuanzhang convened a discussion with his ministers. Chancellor Hu Weiyong advised Zhu Yuanzhang to replace the generals. Veteran General Li Wenzhong, Duke of Cao, and Left Censor Wang Guangyang strongly opposed this. Finally, Grand Tutor Li Shanchang spoke up, citing the story of Wei Zheng advising Emperor Taizong of Tang against being lenient towards the Turks. It was known that when the Tang defeated the Turks, Wei Zheng, who was renowned for his righteousness, advised Taizong to seize all the cattle and sheep and impose heavy taxes on the Turks, while Fang Xuanling opposed this. Veteran General Li Wenzhong and Left Censor Wang Guangyang also strongly opposed. Ultimately, Emperor Taizong decided to adopt a policy of appeasement. After Wei Zheng's death, the resurgent Turks began to invade the borders again, and Emperor Taizong deeply regretted not heeding Wei Zheng's advice. When Li Shanchang presented this story, the ministers had nothing more to say.

The infantry battalion commander appointed Wang Hao and Li Ling as the two captains. The artillery company commander is Zhang Wuge's second son, Zhengwu. Originally, he was in charge of the increasingly large blacksmith shop, but upon hearing that the master was going to war with the Mongols, he handed over the management of the blacksmith shop to others and volunteered to join the battle himself. The artillery pieces were designed by Wu Anguo and cast entirely in steel by the iron factory, making them much lighter than the bronze cannons, with a slightly longer bore. Each cannon is equipped with wheels made of high-quality steel, allowing them to be easily transported by horse after retracting the support when on the march, which is very convenient. The artillery pieces were designed by Wu Anguo and cast entirely in steel by the iron factory, making them much lighter than the bronze cannons, with a slightly longer bore. Each cannon is equipped with wheels made of high-quality steel, allowing them to be easily transported by horse after retracting the support when on the march, which is very convenient

At that time, the other counties in Beiping Prefecture also organized militia groups and reinforced the city walls. Guo Pu understood the principle that the loss of lips leads to the cold of teeth, and he generously donated four cannons and several shells to each county free of charge, agreeing to support each other in times of need. At that time, the cost of casting a single cannon in the military was nearly ten thousand taels of silver, and the counties lacked such financial resources and manpower. They were extremely grateful for Guo Pu's righteous assistance. In early winter, Xu Ji Bank officially commenced operations, with branches covering thirteen provinces, and its headquarters located in Huairou. The minimum remittance was set at five hundred taels of silver, with a remittance fee of two cents (2%). Merchants from various regions, seeing such a wealthy individual, were undeterred and boldly returned to purchase goods. As people's hearts gradually settled, the markets returned to their original bustle.

The Ming Dynasty is now merely a blank sheet of paper; if managed properly, it could potentially be transformed into a magnificent painting. Wu Anguo recalled the Gaoliang River he had seen in Beiping, which in the twenty-first century is nothing more than a foul ditch less than two meters wide outside Xizhimen, yet at this moment it spans over ten zhang in width, with water flowing tumultuously. "However, in terms of the natural environment, it is still far better than in my era"

This method of compensation originated from the idea of Li Shanping, who feared that everyone, concerned about their families at home, might take a cue from Guan Zhong of the Warring States period, feeling no shame in retreating while others charged forward. He reminded Guo Pu and Wu Anguo to consider this matter. Wu Anguo also recalled the time when he first arrived at the Craftsmen's Camp, where all the able-bodied men in the village, worried about being injured and having no one to care for their families, allowed the water monster to wreak havoc. Therefore, he decided to establish a soldiers' fund. Just as the three of them were preparing to pay this expense out of their own pockets, Xu Zhichen, the owner of Xu's Pawnshop, came to them, wishing to donate a large sum to the militia. Wu Anguo thanked him for his kindness and did not accept his silver, but instead proposed to deposit 20,000 taels of silver in his pawnshop as collateral. If any soldiers were injured, Xu's Pawnshop would cover all their medical expenses. In the event of death, the pawnshop would pay 200 taels of compensation to each soldier's family. After one year, when the contract between both parties expired, any remaining funds would be given entirely to Xu's Pawnshop, and both sides would negotiate how to renew the contract based on the situation. Xu Zhichen's eyes sparkled momentarily, and he immediately agreed to this arrangement, voluntarily raising the compensation for fallen soldiers to 500 taels and promising to write individual receipts for each soldier right away. This left Wu Anguo astonished; he never expected that his insurance company idea would meet someone with discernment here, which brought him great satisfaction. As he was sending Xu Zhichen out, he shared his memories of visiting the Shanxi banks, recounting experiences from the West, particularly Venice. Xu Zhichen listened with increasing interest, completely unconcerned about where the idea originated, and hurriedly rode back to his residence to discuss opening a bank.

In the entire Huairou County, who would willingly see their recently acquired comfortable life come to an end? There was no need for mobilization; those with wealth contributed money, and those with strength naturally offered their assistance. Upon hearing of the impending battle, Zhang Wuge and the craftsmen from the ironworks, eager to help, ingeniously combined the functions of the new-style firearms and repeating crossbows to design a three-barreled short gun that could be fired with one hand. Although the power of this short gun was not as great as that of the firearms designed by Wu Anguo, it was far more ideal for cavalry use than bows and arrows.

What would happen if the Ming Dynasty had no border troubles? Would it have been more open, with less closed-mindedness? If the state had continued to support maritime exploration after Zheng He and had not prohibited maritime trade among the populace, would it have been the case that the Americas were discovered by the Chinese? If the early capitalist sprouts in the Ming Dynasty had been able to thrive like Western capitalism, what would China be like? Would there have been no tragic massacres? Would the banner of the Qing Dynasty have not flown over China for decades? Would the Manchus have had no opportunity to enter the pass? Perhaps I could truly do something; after all my struggles, the conciliatory approach is no longer what it used to be, and China should not remain as it was. With this thought, Wu Anguo let out a long sigh, and outside the window, the sky was high and the clouds were light.

The gunpowder used in the bullets was improved by the fireworks merchant Chen Xingxin. The nitrate was purified using materials such as radishes and egg whites, with a composition estimated by Wu Angguo to be approximately 75% nitrate, 10% sulfur, and 15% charcoal. The uniformly sized particles were rolled into a type of flammable nitrate paper specifically designed for firecrackers, while the original steel ball projectiles at the head were replaced with elongated cylindrical projectiles, one end pointed and the other end concave.

When thinking of firearms, his gaze fell upon the Thunderbolt gun given to him by Xu Da. This gun is a muzzle-loading flintlock, made of brass with a barrel that measures over 30 millimeters in caliber, and it feels quite heavy in hand. Wu Anguo calculated that each time it is fired, one must first load the gunpowder, pack it down with a ramrod, add the projectile, and then ignite it. Firing two shots in a minute is already quite a feat; the time taken to fire one shot is sufficient for an archer to shoot three arrows. The fire gun possesses considerable power, capable of penetrating thin iron armor within a distance of one hundred paces, but beyond that, it is ineffective. Wu Anguo calculated again that each time it is fired, one must first load the gunpowder, pack it down with a ramrod, add the projectile, and then ignite it. Firing two shots in a minute is already quite a feat; the time taken to fire one shot is sufficient for an archer to shoot three arrows. The fire gun possesses considerable power, capable of penetrating thin iron armor within a distance of one hundred paces, but beyond that, it is ineffective. This type of weapon is only suitable for coordinated firing in teams and must be protected by other troops; otherwise, it has no survival capability on the battlefield. From a technical perspective, it is even less advanced than the toy cap guns he played with as a child.

In the eleventh year of the Hongwu era, during the mid-autumn season, the Huairou militia was established, comprising over 800 individuals. Scholars presented a large flag inscribed with the words: "Eight Hundred Brave Men of the Great Ming." To avoid suspicion, the militia's organization could not align with that of the Great Ming army; thus, the official Wu Anguo created a unique structure for the militia, reportedly modeled after the grouping methods used in factories. Each group consisted of ten individuals, with one leader appointed for each group. Every three groups formed a squad, led by a squad leader, with the three groups numbered sequentially, and the group leader also serving as the deputy squad leader. To further avoid suspicion, the militia's organization was distinct from that of the Great Ming army, leading Wu Anguo to devise this structure based on factory practices. Each group consisted of ten individuals, with one leader appointed for each group. Every three groups formed a squad, led by a squad leader, with the three groups numbered sequentially, and the group leader also serving as the deputy squad leader. Every three squads, along with a cooking team, formed a company, which had one company commander and one deputy company commander, totaling 102 individuals per company. Every three companies formed a battalion, with one battalion commander and one deputy battalion commander, totaling 308 individuals. The Huairou militia comprised two infantry battalions, one cavalry company, one artillery company, and one reconnaissance team.

Currently, the territory of the Ming Dynasty lacks significant copper mines, a fact well understood by the metallurgist Wu Anguo. "Therefore, the cost of this firearm is definitely above 30 taels of silver. If it were made of steel, the cost would be lower, and the weight could be significantly reduced," he calculated inwardly. "After more than a year of producing running water and heating, the steel pipe casting technology in Huairou has become relatively mature. A steel gun barrel can certainly be made with a smaller caliber than this firearm, and it would be much sturdier. The key issues to resolve now are the loading speed and power of the weapon." He studied metallurgy and mechanical design and had never focused on military supplies. After a thorough contemplation, a glimmer of hope gradually emerged before him.

At present, the most crucial matter is to ensure that Xu Da does not suffer defeat. Huairou, being located on the border, will inevitably face the onslaught of the Mongols if Xu Da is defeated. Even if one can preserve their life with their current martial skills, all the efforts of the past two years would be rendered futile. Given Huairou's current prosperity, it will undoubtedly attract the covetous eyes of the Mongols. This unarmed city is essentially a glass city; a mere light touch from the Mongol army or a powerful figure within the court would shatter everything into pieces. There would be no opportunity to piece it back together, nor would there be so many enthusiastic supporters and attention. The situation at the court is currently manageable; firstly, Huairou County has not yet caught the attention of the powerful figures, and secondly, with Xu Da as a strong ally, others will exercise some caution. However, to resolve the issue of Mongolian invasion, one must resort to military force. In cold weapon combat, the individual combat capabilities of Central Plains soldiers and Mongolian soldiers are not on the same level. Wu Anguo recalls seeing the iron swords of the Manchus who entered the pass during the early Qing Dynasty at the Palace Museum, weighing a full forty to fifty pounds. Soldiers composed of Central Plains farmers would certainly only have the option to flee in the face of such heavy weaponry. To enhance individual combat capabilities, one can only rely on firearms. In this regard, Wu Anguo admires Xu Da, who is indeed a master of military strategy and possesses keen insight.

In the summer of the 11th year of the Hongwu era, Duke Xu Da of the Wei State emerged from the Juyong Pass, capturing the camp at Rehe (present-day Chengde) and seizing Daming (Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia). His advance was like a hot knife through butter, winning over a dozen battles and beheading over 30,000 enemies. The Yuan emperor was fearful and consulted his ministers. Prime Minister Lu Er advocated for abandoning Yinchang, while the Chief Minister Wan Zhe Bu Hua supported war. Just as they were hesitating, Xu Da halted his advance, established the Daming Guard, and constructed a city. He dispatched his subordinate generals to raid Mongolian livestock for military provisions. Any surplus was sold to passing merchants in exchange for rice. At that time, Shanxi merchants who traded rice beyond the borders were quite wealthy.

Wu Anguo was overjoyed, extracting the residual gunpowder from the barrel and reloading it with bullets. He braced the gun against his shoulder and fired several shots, gradually finding a stable method for shooting. He handed the firearm to Zhang Wu, and the three of them studied it, believing there were several areas for improvement. They modified the trigger and the main barrel into a linked mechanism, so that when the main barrel was pulled back, the trigger would engage simultaneously. The barrel was treated with green vitriol oil (an ancient concentrated sulfuric acid, originally obtained by calcining green vitriol, ferrous sulfate, hence the name green vitriol oil) for passivation, and a triangular bayonet was added at the front, which could be folded under the gun body when not in use. The wooden stock at the rear concealed a cleaning rod for the barrel and a hook for extracting bullets in emergencies. Although the gunpowder had been purified, there was still a considerable amount of residue, requiring the barrel to be cleaned after firing approximately forty shots, indicating an urgent need for improvement

Each scout is equipped with two short guns, one telescope, and a fine steed selected from a hundred.

In the following days, Wu Anguo basically confined himself to the room of the academy. The travel atlas he brought from the 21st century should still be usable; the world map on it, along with the city roads and rivers, would certainly not match those of his era, but the mountains and rivers would remain unchanged. The telescope had already been given to Xu Da; since glass was available, it would not be difficult to replicate a lower-quality version. The compass, the theodolite, and the watch could all be reproduced with the current level of technology and craftsmanship. Athletic shoes could be produced with pure leather and wooden soles, which would likely allow the merchants to profit. The simple daily necessities he knew of could all be handed over to the merchants for production, sufficient to make the Ming Dynasty wealthy beyond compare. With ample funds, establishing education would not encounter significant difficulties. If he could change the perceptions of people in this era, and if, apart from farmers and noble landlords, an independent commercial and intellectual class could be established in the Ming Dynasty, it would not be impossible to influence the governance and historical trajectory. Although various ideas intertwined, a clear thread gradually emerged in his mind.

The blueprints were handed over to Zhang Wuge and Chenxing, with an explanation that they were specially designed for Xu Da, and a request for careful production. The two, seizing the rare opportunity to assist Wu Anguo, worked overnight to produce samples of the firearms and ammunition. The next day, Wu Anguo and the two went to the outskirts to test the guns. A wooden target was set up 200 paces away, and when they fired, there was a sound of "ping"; Wu Anguo was jolted back by the recoil of the firearm, nearly losing his balance. However, the target showed no reaction, leaving the three greatly disappointed. Upon approaching the target, they found a small round hole had been pierced through it, as the bullet had shot cleanly through the wooden target, its final destination unknown, which explained the lack of any visible impact.

The command was issued to Huairou, and Guo Pu and Wu Anguo publicly called for local heroes. At this time, Huairou had already become the wealthiest place in Beiping Prefecture, with a prosperous populace. Upon hearing that the Mongols were invading, the merchants were alarmed three times a day. The merchants, feeling anxious, were torn between continuing their business, fearing loss of both people and wealth if the Mongols arrived, and withdrawing to other places, which would mean losing such a lucrative opportunity. Some suggested relocating their factories and businesses elsewhere, to which Li Shanping mocked them, saying, "In the past, the Song people fled to Hainan Island like this, and in the end, they all jumped into the sea. I wonder if everyone can run further than that." The merchants left feeling ashamed, yet the market gradually became desolate. Hearing about the formation of a militia, everyone, in order to protect their property and to end the recession as soon as possible, contributed funds. Within three days, they managed to raise over 200,000 taels of silver. Wu Anguo had people register this time, counting it as shares for future dividends. The crowd had never heard of making money from warfare, and they laughed it off.

Several scouts returned to be managed by Wang Feiyu from Sichuan. Wang Feiyu was originally a wealthy young man who enjoyed traveling through mountains and rivers, thus developing remarkable skills that allowed him to traverse landscapes with ease. He had traveled to places like Liaodong and Mongolia, and had some knowledge of Mongolian, Jurchen, and Korean languages. Last year, while journeying to Mount Wutai, he caught a chill and fell ill at an inn, exhausting all his money. It was also his misfortune that he happened to be caught by the authorities who were escorting Shanxi immigrants, and he was nearly left for dead on the road. When the authorities arranged for the immigrants, they found it quite strange that the Shanxi people spoke Sichuan dialect. Upon closer inquiry, they learned the truth, which became a topic of light-hearted conversation. The two 'travelers' from different eras found some common ground; Wu Anguo paid for his medical treatment, yet he was unwilling to return home and instead stayed at a charity school to become a geography teacher. When it came time to form a militia and think about reconnaissance work, Wu Anguo immediately recalled this legendary unfortunate fellow and assigned him the task of training and commanding the scouts.

In the past, when the Mongols and the Han people engaged in battle, they would always charge with swift horses upon encountering firearms, as the firing rate of muskets was slow. As long as the cavalry reached the front lines, they could easily rout the musket troops. This time, however, they did not anticipate that Xu Da had concealed a trump card: the repeating crossbow, which was several times faster than the repeating crossbows previously used by the Ming army, and its power could even penetrate heavy armor. Tuo Gusi Temur was caught off guard, and in a hurried moment, seven out of ten of his men and horses were lost. This Yuan emperor was not skilled in warfare, but his ability to flee was exceptional, and he retreated once again. Taking advantage of the situation, Xu Da pressed westward towards Hulin. He reported the victory to the court, detailing the governance virtues of the county magistrate Guo Pu and the contributions of the historian Wu Anguo in the use of the crossbow. Zhu Yuanzhang received the good news in Nanjing and was overjoyed. He decreed that all soldiers would be promoted by one rank, and Xu Da's young son, Zeng Shou, was granted the title of Duke of Wuwei; the merits of Guo Pu and Wu Anguo were submitted to the Ministry of Personnel for evaluation, but Prime Minister Hu Weiyong opposed it, claiming they were competing for benefits with the people and disrupting education.

For every four artillerymen, one new-style Malar cannon is equipped, along with four horses, two of which are used to pull the cannon, and two are used to pull the ammunition cart, which also serves as transportation for the artillerymen

Wu Anguo calculated that a skilled musketeer takes half the time to fire a bullet compared to using a bow and arrow, and can penetrate heavy armor within a distance of two hundred steps. After the first prototype of the gun was completed, Wu Anguo initially intended to send it to Xu Da with great haste. However, upon reconsideration, he realized that Xu Da's army lacked the necessary lathes and other equipment for gun manufacturing, and there were not as many skilled craftsmen in the army as there were in Huairou. It would be better to produce a batch and send it all to Xu Da's army at once. Thus, a military factory was established, personally managed by Li Shanping. After the first prototype was completed, Wu Anguo again thought of sending it to Xu Da quickly, but he realized the same issues persisted. Therefore, a military factory was established, managed by Li Shanping. The musket consists of thirty-two parts, with the iron components, including the bullet heads, assigned to Zhang Wu's steel factory for production. Each part was ordered to standard dimensions, with numbers stamped on them for record-keeping to prevent leakage. The wooden components were produced by Yang's carpentry shop, while the barrels, fuses, and gunpowder were ordered from Chen Xing's fireworks factory. Finally, the military factory assembled the guns and ammunition. Throughout the entire process, each gun cost approximately twenty taels of silver, priced at twenty-five taels for purchase by the county office, and each round of ammunition cost five copper coins, priced at one ding. Since Wu Anguo had Xu Da's orders in hand, Guo Pu naturally was not afraid of spending lavishly, especially since this was a matter concerning the outcome of the war.

The ample financial resources have greatly facilitated the construction of the militia. When the Liao Dong Korean merchants saw the Ming Dynasty at war with the Mongols, they sold over 1,000 horses in Beiping to profit from the conflict, all of which were purchased in one go by Wu Anguo, who then distributed them to the local militia based on the horses' strength. The local militia is not subject to conscription, so they must receive monthly pay. The treatment of the local militia in Huairou County is the best in all of Beiping, with each soldier receiving a monthly salary of two taels, which is roughly equivalent to the wages of laborers. In the event of injury during the war, there are additional compensation benefits. The compensation is not processed through the government but is managed by the Xu pawnshop.

In September, the Mongols abandoned Helin once again and engaged in guerrilla warfare against Xu Da on the grasslands. When they encountered small groups of Ming troops, they would launch surprise attacks, while avoiding larger forces. Meanwhile, the Yuan Grand Marshal Naha led his troops to the rear of the Ming army, causing disturbances along the border, completely disregarding the high city and large pond, and plundering any villages and small towns they came across. Smoke signals rose along the border. Xu Da, left with no choice, divided his forces to patrol the border while also writing to Zhu Yuanzhang, requesting an imperial decree to establish local militias for self-defense in the border regions.

In the past two years, the industrial foundation of Huairou County has fully demonstrated its power. The helmet designed by Wu Anguo, although its round shape is quite unfamiliar to everyone, is made of fine steel and weighs less than two pounds, yet it can withstand arrows shot from any distance. The chainmail crafted by the blacksmiths can only be penetrated by firearms from a distance of ten paces, and it weighs around five pounds. Although the size is slightly inferior to Wu Anguo's original design, having an alarm clock beside you is certainly not a problem. Moreover, it only loses about a quarter of an hour every seven days. By this calculation, it would only lose an hour over the course of a month. As for the telescope, although it is similar in size to an astronomical telescope, it is certainly better than having none. What piqued Cao Ziyou's interest the most was the so-called retro Tang-style sabre designed by Wu Anguo (which is actually a copy inspired by modern Japanese sabres). After being meticulously crafted by Zhang Wu and others, it can effortlessly slice through a floating veil. "If this blade strikes a person, just a casual drag would create a deep wound, surely causing the opponent to bleed to death," he, being a martial arts enthusiast, immediately recognized the key aspect of it. "If it were a duel, this blade would be too lethal, deviating from the way of the samurai. However, in the battlefield, one cannot afford to be lenient; this blade is just right for establishing authority." He even abandoned his usual treasured sword in favor of the sabre. Wu Anguo, knowing that he had experience as a bodyguard and had faced Mongolian horse bandits, simply entrusted the cavalry to him.

At the turn of summer and autumn, just as the Mongols had let out a sigh of relief, Xu Da, who had been holding his troops in place for several months, suddenly led 100,000 cavalry straight towards Yingchang, covering over 400 miles in a single day and night. The Mongols were caught off guard, and Yingchang fell in a single battle. The Yuan Emperor Togus Temur and Prime Minister Luer fled in haste, while Wanzhe Buhua was captured, and the commander of the Imperial Guard, Bayan, was killed in action. Most of the concubines and nobles of the imperial harem were captured. Fu Youde took the capital (Note: Lin Dong County, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia), and Tang He captured Qingzhou (Note: Balin Right Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia), with three armies responding to each other. In August, Togus Temur summoned the various Mongol tribes and once again gathered 200,000 cavalry for revenge. The two sides engaged in a major battle at Yingchang Talahai (Note: Dali Lake, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia). Xu Da sent General Pu Ying to lure the enemy, and when the Yuan army pursued, ambush troops sprang up, firing in volleys. The Mongols charged with their cavalry, but unexpectedly, Xu Da deployed the precision steel crossbows granted by Wu Anguo, and the arrows rained down like a storm, resulting in a great defeat for the Yuan army. Of the 200,000 cavalry, fewer than 50,000 survived, and the lake turned red with blood.

A few days later, the first blueprint for the firearm was completed. Fortunately, the entire Huairou region now adopts the Western dimensions used by Wu Anguo when he originally crafted the crossbow, eliminating the need for dimensional conversions. This gun features a wooden stock in the familiar style of Wu Anguo's rifles, with a rifled, breech-loading flintlock mechanism. It has a steel barrel and a wooden body. The body is equipped with a firing hammer and a linkage spring, among other components. The barrel consists of three parts: the inner tube, the outer tube, and the sleeve. The inner tube has a diameter of 10 millimeters, is relatively long, and contains four spiral grooves machined on a milling machine. The front end is fitted with a front sight, and the rear end is secured with a bolt, which is tightened to a depth of 5 centimeters. Directly above the rear end of the inner tube, there is a small hole for ignition. A long loading slot, measuring ten centimeters, is opened slightly forward on the right side of the ignition hole for inserting bullets. The outer tube has a slightly larger inner diameter, just enough to encase the inner tube, allowing it to move within a limited range on the inner tube. The length of the outer tube is approximately 15 centimeters, aligning with the ignition hole and the inner tube. A handle is welded to the top of the outer tube, and the body is locked onto the inner tube with a sleeve and a reset spring. The sleeve is made of thin steel, with a long slot opened on the left side for the handle of the outer tube to move back and forth. A slot is also opened on the right side for the passage of bullets. The entire inner tube, outer tube, and reset spring are encased within the sleeve. A sight is welded onto the sleeve, and an ignition hole is drilled. When loading, the stock is placed against the shoulder, the left hand pulls back the handle of the outer tube that is exposed outside the sleeve, revealing the loading slot of the right side of the inner tube. The right hand inserts a paper cartridge bullet, releases the handle, and the outer tube resets. A mixture of flint and sulfur, referred to as "the cannon", is placed on the ignition hole. Pulling the trigger causes the firing hammer to fall, striking the cannon, igniting the gunpowder inside the bullet, and firing the bullet.

Each cavalryman is equipped with a saber, a three-barreled short gun, a helmet, a piece of chainmail, and a steed.

Each infantryman is equipped with a new-style rifle, a bayonet, a helmet, a piece of chain mail, and one horse

Since the day Wu Anguo bid farewell to Xu Da, his mind has been in turmoil. He was originally a person who adapted to circumstances, earning a living and teaching students, which gave him a great sense of accomplishment. Engaging in conversations with people like Guo Pu, using twenty-first-century thinking to astonish them, and witnessing their astonished expressions were among the highlights of his life. However, upon witnessing the tragic plight of the Shanxi immigrants, a sense of compassion naturally arose within him, leading to the desire to ensure that everyone around him had a stable meal. He never expected to engage in peer discussions with the great hero Xu Da, whom he greatly admired. Seeing Xu Da's earnest patriotism filled him with emotion. Xu Da's predictions were not mistaken; in his later years, Zhu Yuanzhang ultimately abandoned Mongolia, and the Ming army rarely exhibited the initial resolve of not returning until they had conquered Loulan. This is clearly recorded in the history known to Wu Anguo. After the founding emperor, the Ming army was almost confined within the passes, and subsequent events such as the Tumu Fortress Incident led to a decline from which they never recovered. This is clearly recorded in the history known to Wu Anguo. After the founding emperor, the Ming army was almost confined within the passes, and subsequent events such as the Tumu Fortress Incident led to a decline from which they never recovered. Throughout the Ming dynasty, border troubles became extremely severe, causing the country to become increasingly insular, ultimately succumbing to natural disasters and man-made calamities at the hands of Li Zicheng and the Manchus. Following the Yangzhou massacre of ten days and the Jiadin massacre, among over a hundred other killings, the Chinese nation was left feeling as if it had been castrated, leading to its decline.