Indeed, strictly speaking, present-day India, and indeed all of Europe, can at best serve as a dumping ground for products and a source of raw materials. Their practical significance to Great Ming is far less than that of having abundant oil reserves or the importance of the Ottoman Empire.
However, Great Ming’s current focus must indeed be on Europe. The Ottoman Empire, with its oil reserves, has to take second place. After all, as someone once said, he who waves cash is the master.
Currently, due to the ongoing fierce conflicts in Europe, numerous European nations’ envoys are waving gold and silver coins, buying things frantically without even demanding after-sales service. Such excellent customers are not easily found. Consequently, the Northern Industries and Southern Armaments, under the Ministry of War, are in a state of happy misery.
They are happy because the sound of gold and silver coins falling into their pockets is quite pleasant. They are miserable because the inventory of older generation military equipment has been cleared out by these frantic European envoys. Both Northern Industries and Southern Armaments want to make money, but they don't have more goods.
According to Liu Huaiwen, the Minister of Revenue, watching vast sums of gold and silver slip through one’s fingers is the most painful thing in the world, and it is far too unfriendly to the mice in the national treasury.
But to earn more money, they must actually produce and sell military equipment. With the inventory cleared out, Northern Industries and Southern Armaments must either sell more advanced generation military equipment or quickly reallocate personnel to produce the older generation equipment, which would also delay their earning time.
Therefore, Northern Industries and Southern Armaments brought the issue directly to the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of War, in turn, brought the issue to Zhu Jinsong.
Just thinking about the ongoing war in Europe, Zhu Jinsong couldn't help but rub his forehead and say, "You all should know the situation in Europe and their demand for military equipment. Now, tell me, how should we respond?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Huaiwen, thinking of the mice of uncertain fate in the national treasury, felt a bit conflicted. "Your Majesty, I believe Northern Industries and Southern Armaments should recruit more artisans, expand their scale, and produce more military equipment. After all, France and England are on our side. Now that they need a large amount of military equipment, Great Ming cannot just stand by and watch, can we?"
The Minister of War, Shen Yongfu, let out a cold snort and said, "Old man, you speak too easily. With a flick of your tongue, you talk about recruiting more artisans and producing more military equipment. Do you not know that the recruited personnel still need training, and the transportation of raw materials also takes time?"
Liu Huaiwen also let out a cold snort and retorted, "Then what do you suggest? Are we to sell the newer generation of military equipment to those barbarians?"
When Liu Huaiwen posed this question, Shen Yongfu immediately fell silent.
The grand ministers in the entire Great Ming court had long since reached a consensus: selling military equipment was acceptable, but only the equipment that Great Ming’s army had retired. At most, they could sell equipment that was one generation behind. As for the equipment equipped by Great Ming’s own army, there was no question of selling it.
However, to everyone's surprise, Zhu Jinsong chuckled and said, "I believe that besides recruiting more artisans, we should also phase out some of the flintlock guns and Menglianggu bullets."
Phase out some flintlock guns and Menglianggu bullets?
Liu Huaiwen immediately became anxious and cried out, "Absolutely not! Your Majesty, the flintlock guns and Menglianggu bullets are vital national weapons, and they must not be easily sold to those foreign barbarians!"
Having been deceived once, the officials in the Great Ming court had clearly learned their lesson, understanding the consequences of selling military equipment used by the army to potential enemies.
Liu Huaiwen argued, "Does Your Majesty know what Mr. Dongjiao once said: 'What the barbarians fear most about China is its firearms.' If it weren't for the eight notorious merchants constantly smuggling firearms and provisions to the Jurchens in Liaodong, how could Great Ming have suffered defeat after defeat?"
However, after Liu Huaiwen finished speaking, Zeng Cheng frowned and asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, has the Royal Academy made any new breakthroughs?"
Zhu Jinsong nodded with a smile and said, "There haven't been any major breakthroughs, but there have been minor ones. According to the report from the Royal Academy, although they haven't developed more powerful firearms yet, they have successfully converted the muzzle-loading mechanism to breech-loading."
"Your esteemed ministers should not underestimate this simple, inconspicuous change. The speed of ammunition loading has been greatly improved, and the overall firepower density of the Great Ming army will also increase significantly as a result."
This was not Zhu Jinsong fabricating. For the same bullets, the muzzle-loading method requires a ramrod, while the breech-loading method eliminates the process of using a ramrod to push the bullet into the barrel.
The time saved in this process might not seem significant, perhaps only two or three seconds. However, in the rapidly changing battlefield, these two or three seconds could be enough to decide the outcome of a war.
More importantly, Zhu Jinsong truly did not fear any negative repercussions from selling Menglianggu bullets. Regardless of what anyone said, there was no high technical content in Menglianggu bullets; it was merely a matter of innovation.
And at this time, Europe already possessed the foundation to develop Menglianggu bullets. Even if Great Ming did not sell them the Menglianggu bullets, they could gradually research and develop them, with only slight differences in gunpowder ratios, barrel accuracy, and lifespan.
More critically, the Royal Academy was currently working on copper-cased cartridges. Although not fully successful yet, they had made some progress, and it was only a matter of time before they developed genuine copper-cased bullets.
It was precisely these various reasons combined that prompted Zhu Jinsong to decide to sell flintlock guns loaded with Menglianggu bullets to Europe.
Tapping his fingers on the table, Zhu Jinsong declared, "This time, I not only plan to sell flintlock guns and Menglianggu bullets to France and England, but I also intend to have our older generation of flintlock muskets sold to the Habsburgs."
"After all, Great Ming is vast, with nearly four hundred million people. It is inevitable that one or two renegades who disobey imperial orders will appear among them."
Zeng Cheng inwardly thought, Louis XVI’s decision to seek you out as a pen pal was truly the worst luck in eight lifetimes! He treated you like his first love, and you treated him like a fool. With your way of stirring things up, you probably won't rest until Europe has shed its last drop of blood!
While Zeng Cheng was silently complaining, Zhu Jinsong turned his gaze to Ke Zhiming. "You and De Quan discuss this matter and report back to me."
After Ke Zhiming agreed, Zhu Jinsong continued, "Besides the issue of military equipment in Europe, there is also the matter of Europe's ultimate direction."
Hearing Zhu Jinsong say this, Zeng Cheng and the other senior officials all adopted solemn expressions.
Indeed, the ultimate direction of Europe was not actually in the hands of those European kings or the 'little broken pot' but rather in Great Ming's Forbidden City.
For instance, the Habsburg family could have joined forces with the Tsardom of Russia to fight against the Ottoman Empire. However, through Great Ming's unremitting efforts, England and France were now beating up the Habsburg family, and the Tsardom of Russia also stated it would blockade the Habsburg family.
For another instance, France and England were originally bitter enemies for centuries. In addition to the old grudges of the Hundred Years' War, the 'Silly Eagle' (referring to England) breaking free from English colonial rule was also a new grievance. Yet, France and England were now jointly recruiting Indian laborers.
It seemed unfair, as if Great Ming's existence had plunged the European populace into dire straits. But where in the world was there so much fairness?
At the very least, Zeng Cheng and the other senior officials did not care about fairness or unfairness. When the Jurchens breached the pass and Great Ming's people were oppressed by them, was there any fairness? When Portugal occupied Macau, was there any fairness?
Where was there any fairness? It was whoever had the bigger fist that called the shots.
Do not speak of morality or conscience. Zeng Cheng believed he could speak of conscience and morality to the people of Great Ming because there was a Great Ming Emperor watching over him. If he dared not show conscience and morality to the people of Great Ming, the Great Ming Emperor would lecture him on what conscience and morality were.
As for the barbarians outside of Great Ming…
Since His Majesty did not care, why should I, Zeng, care if they died? They do not pay me, Zeng, a salary!
After some thought, Zeng Cheng bowed and said, "I report to Your Majesty, I believe it is best for Europe to remain chaotic as it is now, at least until Great Ming is free to handle the matter of the Ottoman Empire."
Liu Huaiwen was not concerned with the mess in Europe. After all, the Northern Industries and Southern Armaments under the Ministry of War were selling military equipment, and the national treasury under the Ministry of Revenue was receiving the money. In any case, it did not affect the Ministry of Revenue.
In comparison, Liu Huaiwen was more concerned about the oil issue with the Ottoman Empire and the labor issue in India.
After careful consideration, Liu Huaiwen cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I just want to know, how will France and England be billed for the labor dispatch fees when they recruit laborers in India?"
When Liu Huaiwen asked this, Zhu Jinsong was also somewhat bewildered. He hadn't discussed labor prices with Louis XVI and George III at the time!
Besides, India was Great Ming’s territory. The fact that he allowed them to recruit some laborers to take back to Europe was already an act of immense grace. Did they still expect to charge Great Ming labor dispatch fees for recruiting laborers from Great Ming’s territory?
After thinking about it, Zhu Jinsong waved his hand and said, "Regarding the laborers, have someone discuss it with Pierre and Macartney later."
Liu Huaiwen cupped his hands in agreement and then asked, "What about the Ottoman Empire? Our Great Ming’s oil reserves are really running low, and many of the barrels used to store oil at the Royal Academy are empty."
Zhu Jinsong mused, 'Are you trying to fool ghosts? The oil reserves at the Royal Academy are replenished one barrel at a time; there has never been a shortage. If the Royal Academy were truly short of oil, those great and small talents at the Royal Academy would have already found the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and you wouldn't be here spewing nonsense!'
However, he could not ignore the matter. After all, the Tsardom of Russia was constantly at war with the Ottoman Empire. Although Great Ming and the Tsardom of Russia had agreed on a buffer zone, given the Tsardom of Russia's nature, who knew if they would suddenly go mad?
What if they drank a couple more bottles of vodka, shouted "Ura!" and crossed the buffer zone?
After thinking about it, Zhu Jinsong hardened his heart. He figured that whether he herded one sheep or two, the result was the same. Europe was already in chaos, so what was one more country, the Tsardom of Russia?
With this thought, Zhu Jinsong turned his gaze to Ke Zhiming and asked, "How are those barbarians you nurtured in the Embroidered Uniform Guard doing?"
Ke Zhiming replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, those barbarians are not yet ready for major use. They can write a few articles in their respective countries' newspapers to criticize their own nations, and they can do that quite convincingly. However, asking them to return and lead their people to rebellion is still far from sufficient."
This was unavoidable. After all, those adult barbarians already knew how to analyze pros and cons. No matter how much the Embroidered Uniform Guard brainwashed them, it was difficult to guarantee that they would not change once they returned to Europe.
As for the European spies nurtured from childhood by the Embroidered Uniform Guard… these individuals were still too young. The oldest was only a few years old, and they were of no use.
With this in mind, Zhu Jinsong tapped his fingers on the table and instructed, "Then, send a Tsarist Russian spy to Russia. Have him write more articles to provoke Russia into attacking Europe."
"In addition, select a few spies from England or France and have them also write articles, stating that Tsarist Russia is about to attack Europe, especially Poland, so that the barbarians in Europe can be prepared in advance."
After Ke Zhiming bowed in agreement, Zhu Jinsong's gaze shifted to Zhu Erdan and the other senior officials of the Five Army Commanderies. "How is the integration of the fleet sent by the 'Silly Eagle' with the South Sea Fleet and the East Sea Fleet going?"
When Zhu Jinsong asked this, despair immediately appeared on Zhu Erdan's face. "Reporting to Imperial Brother, that 'Silly Eagle' fleet is truly unreliable. There is no talk of integration or cooperation. At most, it can be used to transport troops and supplies."
Zhu Jinsong asked doubtfully, "That's not right. Didn't Washington tell me repeatedly that their 'Silly Eagle' fleet had fought many naval battles and was extremely reliable? Was he trying to fool me?"
Zhu Erdan couldn't help but complain, "Imperial Brother, you are unaware that what the 'Silly Eagle' fleet calls a naval battle is probably them firing cannons at each other from their warships, and then ramming into each other. The winner wins, and the loser loses. It can be said that there is no strategy at all."
"And also, the sailors of that 'Silly Eagle' fleet consume more than anyone else but have less stamina than anyone else. They might not even be as good as those short, stocky fellows from Wa (Japan)."
"If there is any merit to be found, it is probably that they are obedient..."