Chapter Seven: The Flintlock Rifle

Unfortunately, Xu Zize’s arrow wound from a previous battle flared up again. The injury on his left thigh had been treated for half a month but had not fully healed.

Two days ago, Xu Zize noticed that the wound on his left thigh had become suppurated.

Several doctors aboard the fleet warned that a suppurated wound often degenerates into a severe infection known as carbuncle.

In the Ming Dynasty, carbuncle was a critical and often fatal condition. Many people in Ming China died from it, and it was considered almost incurable.

Historically, many prominent figures succumbed to carbuncle. Fan Zeng, the strategist of the Chu warlord Xiang Yu, and Liu Biao, a relative of Liu Bei, both died from carbuncles on their backs.

Insiders revealed that Nurhaci, the Jurchen khan, also died from carbuncle.

Unofficial records mention that Wei Guogong Xu Da, the foremost founding hero of the Ming Dynasty, contracted carbuncle and died after eating roasted goose meat bestowed by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

None of the doctors on the fleet were skilled in treating carbuncles, which they deeply regretted.

Xu Zize’s arrow wound had worsened into carbuncle, which deeply saddened both him and his sister, Xu Zihan.

At that moment, Dr. Li from the fleet suddenly recalled someone: “Young Master Xu, Miss Xu, I remember that two years ago, Doctor Ma Wencai from the Ma Family Clinic in Fushan County, Dengzhou Prefecture, successfully treated a patient with carbuncle on his back. Fushan County is not far from here. Perhaps we should seek treatment in the county seat.”

As the legitimate son of Xu Congzhi, the Provincial Governor of Shandong, Xu Zize was the highest-ranking official’s heir in the Shandong Provincial Administration and had ample funds. His illness must be treated.

Therefore, Xu Zize and his sister Xu Zihan, accompanied by a large retinue, hurried to the Ma Family Clinic in Fushan County, Dengzhou Prefecture yesterday afternoon to find Doctor Ma Wencai.

After a thorough examination, Ma Wencai gently stroked his beard and said, “Young Master, your carbuncle can be treated, but I cannot guarantee a full recovery. I must be frank: the condition might worsen despite treatment. You must be mentally prepared.”

“Our master is the Provincial Governor. Old man, you must cure our eldest young master!” Xu Dazhuang, captain of the Xu family’s retainers, glared fiercely. “Otherwise, I’ll burn down your lousy clinic.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Dazhuang. Go take a walk around the county town, and remember not to cause trouble.” Xu Zize smiled. “Doctor Ma, Dazhuang is rough; please don’t take it to heart. I understand the risks you mentioned. We will proceed with the treatment.”

Even the Imperial Medical Bureau’s imperial doctors had no absolute confidence in curing carbuncles, so Xu Zize decided to entrust Doctor Ma Wencai with his care.

Xu Zize’s earnest attitude convinced Doctor Ma to take on the treatment.

After treatment yesterday afternoon, Xu Zize’s condition improved significantly, boosting Doctor Ma’s confidence. He now had some hope of curing Xu Zize.

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This morning, Xu Zize’s condition improved further, and both he and his sister Xu Zihan were delighted.

Feeling that the carbuncle was no longer a grave threat, Xu Zize arranged for his sister Xu Zihan to take a boat from the coastal area along the Xiaoqing River’s estuary, turning up the river.

He instructed her to sail along the Qing River back to Jinan City.

“Carbuncle is no trivial illness. I’ll stay in Fushan County to accompany you. Once you recover, we’ll return home together,” Xu Zihan insisted.

Fifteen-year-old Xu Zihan was a renowned young prodigy in Jinan City. Ma Tingyu, a student who had visited Jinan, had heard of her fame—both her beauty and intellect.

Having no relatives or friends in Fushan County, Xu Zihan felt somewhat bored.

Ma Tingyu was Doctor Ma Wencai’s eldest son. To curry favor with the governor’s legitimate daughter, he decided to organize a literary gathering to entertain the talented Xu Zihan.

In the late Ming Dynasty, social customs were relatively open, and many popular novels such as The Plum in the Golden Vase were widely read.

During recent New Year holidays, large cities like Tianjin and Dengzhou hosted exclusive spring markets for young women, where men were prohibited. Many young ladies and brides would visit alone or with their maids, browsing scandalous novels like “Tempting Little Monk,” “Jade Maiden’s Heart Sutra,” and “Couples’ Night Talk” with critical eyes.

This openness allowed Xu Zihan to boldly attend the literary gathering.

Yesterday, Xu Zihan sent a letter inviting her friend Zhu Weijin from Dengzhou City to join the gathering in Fushan County.

After agreeing to participate, Ma Tingyu immediately wrote to his drinking companion Zhang Chen, inviting him to the event.

In the letter, Ma Tingyu did not elaborate but mentioned that Jinan’s top beauty, Xu Zihan, who was temporarily staying in Fushan County, would also attend tomorrow’s gathering. He asked Zhang Chen to prepare some fitting autumn-themed poems.

With nothing better to do at home, Zhang Chen decided to go to Fushan County for the gathering, hoping also to find an opportunity to swindle the county magistrate, Tian Xuewen.

After drinking a cup of water, Zhang Chen left the small courtyard and strolled toward the Zheng family blacksmith shop on the main street. A few minutes later, he entered where Old Zheng, the blacksmith, and his two sons, Zheng Dayou and Zheng Eryou, were forging iron.

All three were shirtless, busy at their work, and as usual, paid no attention to Zhang Chen, the freeloader son-in-law.

Thick-skinned, Zhang Chen sat on a small stool watching the three work, finding it quite interesting.

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“You mentioned yesterday that a flintlock musket is similar to the ‘Lumi’ musket, Master Zhang. I thought about it last night and believe I can make one.”

The blacksmith shop’s land belonged to Zhang Chen, and Old Zheng paid one to two taels of silver monthly as rent.

In the 26th year of the Wanli reign (1598), the brilliant Ming firearms inventor Zhao Shizhen improved and developed the ‘Lumi’ musket, which was based on the flintlock gun tribute from the Rumelian (Ottoman) Empire.

The ‘Lumi’ musket was the most advanced flintlock gun.

Flintlock muskets featured an improved ignition mechanism, with technical complexity similar to matchlock guns.

Old Zheng used to be a craftsman in Liaodong and was a recognized Ming firearms artisan.

The Jurchens were brutal, making life in Liaodong unbearable. Two years ago, Old Zheng fled into the interior with his family. Of the eight family members, only three survived the journey to settle in Zhang Village, Fushan County, Dengzhou Prefecture.

The others had died of starvation or illness.

Since the founding of the Ming, the Zheng family had been crafting firearms for the dynasty, passing down their skills through generations. Old Zheng’s craftsmanship was quite good.

Being skilled in firearms, Old Zheng believed he could manage to fabricate a flintlock musket.

“Dayou and Eryou haven’t fully mastered the craft yet. There’s too little manpower. Master Zhang, give me some time, and I’ll make the flintlock musket for you.”

Old Zheng silently cursed Zhang Chen. Zheng Shizhen had said that Zhang Chen dared not defy the Zhang family matron, Lady Zhao, and was consigned to be a freeloader son-in-law to the Tian family. Whether true or not, Zhang Chen was handsome and had the means to live off others. Perhaps he chose this fate willingly.

“Here’s a two-hundred-tael silver deposit,” Zhang Chen placed a silver note worth two hundred taels on the small table in front of him. Then he stood up.

“This afternoon, I’ll send Feiniu to recruit some skilled blacksmiths in the county town. Old Zheng, I’ll also hire some skilled locksmiths. With a two-thousand-tael budget for labor, Uncle Zheng, the world is growing more chaotic. We need to complete the flintlock musket as soon as possible.”