Daqin: A buff of incredible comprehension

Meng Yi almost jumped up when he heard this: How could he let the Minister of the Interior interfere in the investigation of traitors!

But the First Emperor didn't continue the argument. "I have just discussed with you the expedition to the Western Regions. Li Wu's troops have made great progress in the use of firearms and will be ready to march after the spring plowing. The court will soon issue a decree of conquest. What are your thoughts?"

Qin Shihuang's eyes were full of appreciation, and he obviously valued Lin Ming's opinion very much.

Lin Ming thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, the wording should be more accurate... maybe call it 'self-defense counterattack'."

"What?! Self-defense, counterattack? Since the founding of the Great Qin State, I have been invincible, and no foreign enemy has ever invaded our territory."

Lin Ming said seriously, "Last winter, the Xiongnu invaded our border; even if we weren't able to break through, they were the first to attack. Then there's the issue of the security of Shache. They're a small nation under our protection, and they're controlled by the Xiongnu."

"Furthermore, the Xiongnu intend to occupy the entire Western Regions and threaten the core of the empire. Millions of people will then flood into the border areas..."

"The best strategy is to keep the enemy thousands of miles away."

Everyone looked puzzled, even shocked. However, the First Emperor did not immediately express his opinion. At this time, someone began to question:

"These lies are misleading! The Qin army sweeps across the six directions wherever it goes. What can the Xiongnu and the entire Western Regions do to the Qin army?"

The sound was deafening.

But the First Emperor thought for a long time and did not refute. "Then explain why changing to 'conquest' is more appropriate?"

Lin Ming then asked, "Your Majesty, when was the most dangerous time since the founding of the country?"

"The most critical moment? It's a long story..." Ying Zheng looked solemn, as if he had many thoughts that he hadn't expressed yet.

Looking back, in the early days of the Qin State, when it was first established, it was surrounded by the Rong and Di tribes. How many times did it face desperate situations on its way to the east?

Lin Ming further elaborated on his point of view: Now is a critical historical juncture and we must pay attention to the actual situation.

"So I think we should use a just war to express our determination and ability to safeguard national security." Lin was obviously confident.

This statement plunged Ying Zheng into deeper contemplation, and the others were also filled with doubts. But regardless, within this silence lay the seeds of important reflections on future decisions.

 Adapted version:

General Su Jing, counselor Li Yi and others nodded silently, their eyes showing deep nostalgia for the difficult years in the past.

A hundred years ago, Qi and Chu jointly attacked Qin.

At that time, the talented diplomat Wang Lun was serving as prime minister. He deliberately claimed that he was willing to cede 600 li of Shang land to the State of Chu in exchange for peace.

After being deceived, King Xuan of Chu immediately tore up the alliance with Qi and sent people to Qi to curse the King of Qi as a gesture of friendship.

After the relationship between Qi and Chu deteriorated, when Chu sent people to reclaim the land, Wang Lun turned his back on them and said, "We originally said six li."

King Xuan of Chu was furious, but before he could take action, Qin, Wei, and Han allied to attack Chu. Seeing this, Qi also joined the siege.

The Chu State, under attack from all sides, was completely defeated, with over 80,000 people beheaded and 600 li of territory lost. This result caused the Qin court and the people to celebrate, but King Xuan of Chu was filled with hatred.

The promised land was not obtained, and instead the losses were so great that they became the laughing stock of the whole world. King Xuan of Chu was determined to retaliate and mobilized an entire army of 500,000 to attack Qin.

Unprepared for the situation, the Qin army could only scramble to resist. The Chu army advanced with great force, at one point approaching the important town of Lantian, less than a hundred miles from Xianyang. Faced with this, King Huiwen of Qin summoned all able-bodied men to meet the enemy, including women, children, and the elderly.

At the last moment, Zhang Yi demonstrated his exceptional diplomatic skills, instigating an attack from Han and Wei on the Chu army from the rear. Simultaneously, the Qin army mobilized its entire army and engaged the Chu army in a fierce battle at Lantian. Ultimately, the Qin army managed to eke out a victory at the cost of heavy casualties, but Chu lost its power to contend for hegemony.

"How were the people's lives during the Battle of Lantian?" a minister asked quickly.

"Back then, there were constant wars and even trees could hardly survive. How could it compare to the peace we have today?" Su Jing sighed.

"General." "Why is it that even though the country is so powerful now, the people are full of complaints when facing war?"

Su Jing thought for a long time but could not answer. Li Yi could not help but ask: "How can the people understand the important matters of governing the country?"

The minister asked with a smile, "What do you mean they understand?"

Li Yi carefully avoided it, not daring to offend the monarch: "I have never said that."

The minister further explained, "Although the people don't understand state governance, they all hope for a peaceful and happy life." "The court's decisions are too abstract and difficult for ordinary people to understand."

"They will do anything if it means their land and families are at stake," the official said, mimicking a rallying cry. "The Huns are coming!" "Protect your land and your loved ones!"

This remark caused the King of Qin to ponder deeply: "This is a pertinent statement, worthy of record."

"Yes, I understand," Crown Prince Li Cheng replied respectfully.

The King of Qin thought: If I had met this person earlier, perhaps I could have avoided a lot of criticism.

A few days later, a sensational scene unfolded before the Qin Palace: envoys from the Western Regions committed suicide, begging for help from the Qin State. Their cries amidst a pool of blood ignited a wave of discussion: "If the Great Qin hesitates any longer, it will be too late to regret once the Xiongnu army arrives." Upon hearing the news, the King of Qin personally went to investigate.

The edict drafted by the crown prince was widely circulated: "Now, while the Xiongnu is still unstable, we must eradicate this scourge as soon as possible. If we wait until they unify the Western Regions, it will be too late and the people will be plunged into war." This statement won the approval of the people, who all believed that only a long-distance expedition could avoid war.

Fusu's benevolence and kindness earned him the respect of the people. The edict he drafted detailed the potential threat of war, convincing the people of the necessity of sending troops. No one else could have achieved such an effect.

The news reported by Black Ice Platform was so refreshing that it exceeded all expectations.

At this moment, Li Yun and another person were busy preparing for an important upcoming event.

"Your Highness, the Minister of Works."

"The number of artillery pieces you requested is too large, and the delivery date is too tight. Even if I work day and night, I cannot complete it within the deadline." Tian Zhou replied with a frown after reading the list of supplies.

"Is a hundred cannons a lot? If the Great Qin Empire can't even meet this request, how will we explain this to His Majesty?" Li Yun reprimanded with a stern face. "I've transferred all the storage from the Imperial Palace to you for your use."

"If the court has new demands, I will be helpless. And you are still unable to do so?"

Tian Zhou reluctantly explained: "The metal material is not the problem, the key is time and manpower."

"Grinding the inner wall of the cannon barrel requires extremely high eyesight and skills. Even if we work day and night, it will take at least a month to complete. And you only gave me five days..."

I interrupted him impatiently, "Who says it has to be a finely polished interior? A similar exterior is fine. Ordinary people can't even see the details, so what are you afraid of?"

Tian Zhou was stunned for a moment. This was indeed...

Li Yun smiled and shook his head. "Sir, you truly possess unique talents and are worthy of His Majesty's trust."

"Then..." Tian Zhou hesitated for a long time before continuing, "The amount of molten copper needed to make one hundred cannons is as high as 200,000 kilograms. The nearby smelting workshops simply can't meet the demand. If we transport it from other places, the round trip time is too tight!"

Li Yun frowned in deep thought. Just then, a voice named Wu Gang rang out from outside the shed, "Masters, please wait a moment. I've got a solution!"

The guards let him in.

"I was waiting outside without any intention of disturbing you." Wu Gang bowed and explained as soon as he entered the room.

"I am a guest here, so you can't be said to be disturbing us." Li Yun said with a smile.

Li Yun asked, "What's your suggestion? Tell me directly."

"I'm in charge of casting the cannon. The method my master and several of my fellow apprentices have developed is to first create a smooth iron rod as the inner core. After pouring molten copper into it and cooling it, it's removed, leaving behind a perfectly shaped cannon."

Wu Gang continued his idea, "A few days ago, when I heard General He mention the achievements of rocket launches, an idea suddenly struck me. Why not use this method to improve the cannon casting process: using an iron cannon core and then covering it with a layer of bronze? This way, we can save half the metal without affecting the effect."

Li Yun was silent for a moment before praising, "Yes, this method is brilliant! This was a popular composite cannon-making method during the Ming Dynasty. I'm surprised you figured it out!"

"Brother Tian, ​​listen carefully: if you lack copper, use ground materials to make up for it; advance both sides simultaneously, and see if this gives you enough time."

Tian Zhou was lost in thought, not responding easily. "This is a matter of great importance, and it involves the First Emperor's patrol troops. We cannot afford any mistakes."

Soon someone called out from outside. "Hey, why don't we just call everyone in to discuss this together?" Li Yun replied with a smile. "Collective efforts always produce better results."

Tian Zhou summoned all the iron smelting technology experts, and the young man stood up confidently with the blueprint in his hand.

"Is that the person you just called out to outside?" Li Yun asked, "Please tell me your suggestion."

When the young man presented the blueprint, he accidentally caused a strange-shaped object to slip, making a metallic sound like an alarm, which startled the guards and alerted them.

"assassin!"

In the chaos, Li Yun waved his hand to fend off the guards.

Li Yun observed calmly and said, "This scraper was given to me by my master," the young man explained, his forehead dripping with sweat, and he was obviously nervous.

Fusu reassured the young man not to worry about this minor misstep. The young engineer composed himself again and introduced his vision: "I want to harness the power of nature to create a cannon with an unprecedented range, far exceeding any current model."

This statement caught everyone's attention. What had been a casual mention of a future ideal had become a reality!

"Is it really recorded here?" Fusu asked, pointing at the picture.

"Yes," he replied proudly but with restraint.

The innovative ideas of the young craftsmen and Wu Gang's improved methods have injected new impetus and possibilities into the project. When faced with difficulties, collective efforts can always produce unexpected solutions.

"Ah."

The young man nodded vigorously and then untied the hemp rope.

** took a look and jokingly said, "Where did you get this piece of paper? It's really rough. How come Master Yang's craftsmanship has deteriorated so much?"

"This is some inferior paper we got from Senior Brother Yang. It still has a lot of grass stems and tree bark that haven't been picked clean. It can barely be used for writing."