Zhao Shizhen listened to Ji Xiang's words and was greatly surprised. "So you were introduced by Heavenly Master Zhang. Please come in quickly, sir. My humble abode is simple and I have kept you waiting."
"It's nothing."
He invited Ji Xiang in, and the foreign bearded man retreated to the side. Zhao Shizhen quickly introduced, "This is Duosima, an envoy from the Lummu Kingdom. He is a friend of mine and is staying in Shuntian."
The foreign bearded man also saluted Ji Xiang, stating that he should have gone to pay respects to Emperor Wanli, but there had been too many events in Shuntian recently. Not only foreign envoys like himself, but even domestic officials had faced certain travel restrictions, making it impossible to see Emperor Wanli for the time being. They could only stay at Zhao Shizhen's home and study firearms.
The Lummu Kingdom was Turkey.
Ji Xiang explained his purpose to Zhao Shizhen, expressing his desire to see Zhao Shizhen's firearm research results. Zhao Shizhen initially wanted to say that firearms were forbidden for anyone outside the Bureau of Military Equipment, but seeing Ji Xiang covered in firearms, the words did not come out.
"Don't worry, I'm here to help you, not to steal your achievements."
"That's not what I meant, sir, you have misunderstood me."
Zhao Shizhen wiped his sweat and invited Ji Xiang into the room. There were many dangerous items placed inside. As soon as he entered, Ji Xiang saw a "gun" placed on the wooden worktable.
From its appearance, it had completely departed from the category of arquebuses, with a very slender barrel.
"This is called the Lummi Musket. It weighs eight jin and is seven chi long. The firing mechanism is in the stock. Pinch it, and it drops. The fuse reignites. There is a steel blade at the end of the stock. If an enemy approaches, it can be used as a horse-chopping saber."
Zhao Shizhen explained to Ji Xiang and told him that among these bird guns, the Lummi Musket was the farthest and most lethal.
"Matchlock gun!"
Ji Xiang was truly fond of this firearm. Compared to the collection of flintlock weapons he carried, he only had one Thunderclap Divine Machine, and the Thunderclap Divine Machine was not as advanced as this actual matchlock gun.
Zhao Shizhen told Ji Xiang that he was writing a memorial suggesting that Emperor Wanli manufacture this foreign bird gun. At the same time, he showed Ji Xiang a draft of his "Compendium of Divine Artifacts," which was not yet complete but already recorded many types of firearms, including the oldest "Gatling"—the Swift Thunder Musket.
However, these things were still in the conceptual stage and had not yet been manufactured.
As soon as these drafts entered Ji Xiang's hands, he felt a strong sense of aspiration. Under the influence of these aspirations, the firearms he carried actually reacted.
This surprised Ji Xiang. According to what Elder Lei Xuan had told Liu Mengyin, apart from books that described gods and ghosts, ordinary books, even if they possessed aspirations, did not have strong ones. Normal books generally did not have aspirations at all.
The formation of this situation was still unclear, but Zhao Shizhen's unfinished manuscript actually had such strong aspirations?
Furthermore, this book had not been widely read, nor did it have the blessing of the aspirations of the masses, nor the help of Western methods. Where did the aspirations in this book come from?
Perhaps everything has exceptions?
Ji Xiang seized this part of the aspiration, drew one out, and then, with practiced ease, consumed it first.
The aspiration entered his body and was immediately consumed by the blank divine tablet.
As for the explanation of the results, it also came out quickly.
[Aspiration of Divine Artifact: For the musket, it is the supreme military equipment, and its use is unparalleled, its artifact is divine! For the musket and cannon have the advantage of destroying the strong and piercing the weak, and the use of curbing charges and suppressing breakthroughs. Since ancient times, the so-called five weapons have all bowed their heads to it. Therefore, to make it divine is to achieve its supreme and extraordinary nature!]
[Yin Yang Qian Kun conjures divine objects. Gunpowder is the masterpiece of alchemy. Firearms can kill the living and destroy nations, subdue demons and slay ghosts, and are divine artifacts of extreme Yang, extreme strength, extreme power, and extreme ferocity. The writing of firearms in this manuscript resonates with all firearms used by the Ming Dynasty. When the book is completed, all aspirations (aspirations of the masses) of firearms used by the Ming court will bless this book.]
[The aspiration of divine artifacts born from the aspirations of the masses will bless three kinds of power.]
[Divine Might Qian Fire: When using firearms, recite "Lord Zhun Rong commands, Tai Yi Yu Jiang; Thunder strikes the whale, lightning sweeps the Sirius!" You can use the aspiration of divine artifacts to bless, draw upon the aspirations of the masses, double the power of the firearms you hold, and Yin-type beings cannot defend against it!]
[Fear of the Five Weapons: When firearms are used against cold weapons, and the opponent does not have firearms, the power of your firearms will be increased threefold.]
[Thunderous Wind Surge: Thunderous wind surge, strikes later but arrives first, separates and approaches, changes unpredictably! When the ammunition of the firearms is exhausted, there is no need for ammunition; consume incense, vital energy, five thunder talismans, etc., as ammunition, and continue to fight!]
[After this book is completed, the power of all firearms used by the Ming court will be generally enhanced.]
This is a strengthening type of aspiration?
Ji Xiang marveled in his heart, never expecting such a situation. The Ming Dynasty valued firearms, thus gathering a large number of aspirations related to firearms, which would bless those who wrote books about firearms?
So, this book actually has the aspirations of the masses too? It turns out to be the same way as the transformation of books about gods and ghosts.
"Hmm, what's that noise?"
Zhao Shizhen noticed a slight creaking sound but couldn't find its source for a while. He looked curiously at the roof beams and muttered, "Could the house be collapsing?"
He looked around, while Ji Xiang examined the structure of the firearm. Duosima explained beside him, as this gun was brought from their country as a tribute to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
During the Ming Dynasty, there were many strange weapons. The Ming Dynasty's firearm technology tree was also very chaotically developed, with points made in the east and west, without reaching a conclusion.
There were also flintlock mechanisms, but the Ming Dynasty placed this technological point on landmines...
The multi-barreled cannon, the "Mie Lu Cannon"; the "Shen Huo Wan Quan Tie Wei Guan," similar to a primitive rocket launcher; the "Hun Jiang Long" of the water mine series, which used flint and steel friction to ignite.
There was also the most bizarre "Taiping Cart." This thing was made of hard wood in a crescent shape, with stones suspended at the bottom. Two wheels were installed on the sides of the cabinet, and five holes were opened in the front, installing five large gun barrels... The nature of this thing was a wooden tank...
There were all sorts of strange black technologies, but they were numerous but not refined. Ordinary firearms generally stopped at the flintlock series. Those that reached the matchlock series were already advanced. This was the state of firearms in the Ming Dynasty.
Ji Xiang put down the Lummi Musket he was holding, then took paper and offered Zhao Shizhen a few "tiny suggestions."
In Ji Xiang's writing, the principles and structure of flintlock firearms were simply written out.
Zhao Shizhen looked at it and repeatedly shook his head, "This won't do, sir. Your breech-loading firearm with iron balls is like a small Firingi cannon. This won't do, it can't seal the gas, and it will leak."
The Ming Dynasty had already experimented with this type of breech-loading firearm, but due to gas leakage, they could not make progress and remained at the level of Firingi cannons.
However, he looked again and found that Ji Xiang was still writing. Besides the diagram of this breech-loader, there was another firearm that he was familiar with but also somewhat unfamiliar with. He stared at it, and after a while, Ji Xiang handed the finished diagram to Zhao Shizhen, who fell into deep thought.
Duosima was also watching. He tugged at his beard, looking surprised.
Breech-loading at this time had poor gas sealing, so the Firingi was inferior to the Lummi Musket, but... Of course, there was also a prototype firearm before the improvement next to this diagram. Compared to the peculiar breech-loading firearm before, both firearm enthusiasts exclaimed at the improved prototype firearm before them.
"Perhaps, it's feasible! This blueprint is extremely valuable!"
After Ji Xiang put down his pen, he exhaled and said,
"What the barbarians fear most from China is firearms!"