If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

Upon hearing that it was the deputy commander who had come, Zhou Wu immediately thought of the power struggles in officialdom. He figured that this deputy commander must have failed, which was why he was sent to the South China Sea.

What Zhou Wu didn't know was that Zhou Wu's guess was pretty accurate. However, the deputy leader's situation wasn't due to a defeat in the fight, but rather because the leader had connections and background, but his skills were inferior to the deputy leader's. This led to the deputy leader's growing reputation in the arms industry, which threatened the leader's position. Therefore, the leader took this opportunity to send the deputy leader to the South China Sea.

Everyone thought the South China Sea was a place of suffering. Those who came here resigned themselves to their fate, while those who didn't come thought they had escaped a calamity.

"What's your name?"

"Huang Laosan, you little bastard."

"Good name."

The name suggests a lack of connections, which explains why he was demoted. However, every cloud has a silver lining.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir."

Huang Laosan didn't seem to experience any great joy or sorrow, as if he had become accustomed to the darkness of officialdom.

"These are the blueprints for my newly designed firearm. See if you can make it."

"Yes, sir, I'll take a look first."

Huang Laosan took the blueprints and examined them carefully. The level of detail was so impressive that even Zhou Wu couldn't help but admire them.

Seeing how serious and meticulous the other party was, Zhou Wu couldn't bear to disturb them, so he stood there waiting for their reply.

It took Huang Laosan a full half hour to put down the blueprints in his hand.

"Sir, did you really draw these blueprints?"

Clearly, Huang Laosan didn't believe that the young man in front of him could draw such complex blueprints.

"Of course, besides me, I doubt anyone else could draw this."

"What is such a sophisticated and complex thing used for?"

"Since you've asked, I'll tell you why His Majesty sent you south."

None of the blacksmiths present came voluntarily, but as royal craftsmen, they had no way to influence His Majesty's decision. Now that the matter was settled, they couldn't help but want to hear the reason behind it, since the person in front of them actually knew it.

"Actually, it was I who asked His Majesty for you, so your arrival in the South China Sea is my achievement."

The manufacture of firearms will undoubtedly leave a significant mark on history, so the first people involved in its manufacture are very likely to be recorded in history, which is an honor for everyone.

But the blacksmiths were still unaware of this, so when they heard that it was this very person who had brought them to this remote place, they kept cursing the young man in their hearts.

"Do you know why His Majesty listens to me and sent half of the blacksmiths from the General's Armory here?"

"I don't know."

"The reason we sent you all this way to the South China Sea is because the imperial court has a very important secret project. Without you, this project cannot be done."

One sentence was enough to pique everyone's curiosity.

"Is this what you mean, sir?"

Huang Laosan waved the blueprints in his hand, and Zhou Wu nodded.

"Yes, no matter how much I explain now, you won't understand. Once you've made this, I'll let you see it for yourselves. Is three days enough?"

"Sir, although this drawing is a bit rough, with so many of us, it won't take three days. We'll definitely have it done within two days."

"Okay, then I'll wait for good news."

Zhou Wu didn't take it to heart when people said his drawing was ugly; he was very tolerant of talented people.

As soon as Zhou Wu turned and left, the blacksmiths began to complain.

"Boss, this Lord Zhou doesn't seem very reliable."

"That's right. We were doing just fine in the capital. At the very least, we were on the government payroll. And now they've brought us to this desolate wilderness."

The firearms bureau was built outside the city, and the area outside the city is still basically in a primitive state, so it is not wrong to call it a desolate wilderness.

Seeing that everyone was going too far, Huang Laosan quickly reprimanded them.

“Shut up, all of you. I think it’s time to let you out. You’ve been in the capital for too long. Don’t you even know who you are anymore? No matter how young they are, they are officials. You and I are just craftsmen.”

After such a reprimand, everyone around shut their mouths, which shows that Huang Laosan still has some authority.

"Just focus on your own work. You've been so kind to me these past few days. Have you been staying in a place that's not as nice as in the capital? Have you been eating poorly?"

"No, not at all. Two people share a room, and we have fish with every meal. It's much better than that."

"That's settled then. In the end, we're just lowly craftsmen. What right do we have to boss people around like this? Just do your job. Lord Zhou seems kind, but don't take advantage of him and drag others down with you."

In Huang Laosan's opinion, this Lord Zhou seemed easy to get along with, but having spent so long in the palace, Huang Laosan had seen too much scheming and intrigue.

. . . . .

I had thought the structure of the musket would be a challenge for these blacksmiths, especially the straight barrel, but I had underestimated them.

In this era, artisans held a status only slightly higher than merchants. Moreover, thanks to Zhou Wu's previous assistance, merchants' status had risen considerably, reaching a level roughly equivalent to that of artisans.

This also led to a great deal of resentment among artisans who, given their already low social status, felt they were on par with merchants.

However, after they arrived at the South China Sea island, the food and accommodations were much better than in the capital, which brought some comfort to the blacksmiths.

Two days later.

Zhou Wu arrived at the firearms bureau again, where the blacksmiths were already waiting for him.

Before Zhou Wu could speak, Huang Laosan took out a wrapped object, which must have been a musket.

"Please inspect, sir."

When the cloth covering the package was removed, a brand-new flintlock musket was indeed found inside.

"Good, good, good."

We don't know how effective it will be yet, but it already looks very good.

"Sir, could you please tell me what this thing is used for?"

Huang Laosan had been thinking about this thing for the past two days. He had been taking the subway for decades and had seen many strange and unusual things in the palace, but he couldn't figure out what this thing was.

"follow me."

Zhou Wu did not explain, but simply called the blacksmiths to do it himself.

Zhou Wu arrived at a firing range specially built inside the Firearms Bureau, took out the gunpowder and ammunition he had prepared in advance, and began loading them.

The blacksmiths watched with puzzlement as Zhou Wu began to fiddle with something, adding it to the container before holding it up horizontally.

"Cover your ears."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Wu pulled the trigger. The sound was like a thunderclap in everyone's ears, and a cloud of smoke billowed from the gun barrel. Some of the more timid ones were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground.

The wooden stake fifty meters ahead was hit squarely by the bullet.

Huang Laosan also witnessed this scene. As a blacksmith with discerning eyes, he immediately understood that he had been forging a weapon these past two days—a completely new weapon.