Following Nalan Mingzhu's elevation to First-Class Duke, the First Prince, Yinshi, walked with the arrogance of a victorious general. Because Mingzhu was his primary political and financial backer, Yinshi viewed this triumph as his own.
In the Imperial Study, Yinreng—having officially graduated from his classical education but remaining to teach the sciences—dismissed his students. Yinshi arrived shortly after, loudly boasting about the advanced foreign "Pan-chang" muskets he had received from Mingzhu and inviting the princes to a pre-wedding banquet to view them.
After Yinshi departed, the Third Prince, Yinzhi, muttered bitterly, "He is just using the wedding as an excuse to show off. Why is he so arrogant over a musket?"
Yinreng's expression hardened. "Watch your mouth. Do not speak of such things here."
If Emperor Kangxi's informants overheard Yinzhi speaking ill of his elder brother, the political fallout would be severe. To teach Yinzhi a necessary lesson in discretion, Yinreng handed him a massive stack of test papers. "Finish these by tomorrow."
Yinzhi's face fell, but he complied, knowing that arguing would only double the punishment. Attempting to salvage the situation, he asked, "Second Brother, can I at least see your foreign muskets?"
"No," Yinreng replied bluntly. "I have other uses for them."
***
The Reassignment of Songotu
Yinreng returned to the Eastern Palace and immediately began dismantling his newly acquired foreign muskets to reverse-engineer their mechanisms. His work was interrupted by the arrival of Songotu, his grand-uncle and key political ally.
Songotu was deeply anxious. "Your Highness, Mingzhu's faction is celebrating. Furthermore, the Emperor is selecting directors for the newly established shipyard and armory. If Mingzhu secures one of those positions, his power will be unchecked!"
Yinreng set down his tools, his gaze turning sharp. "Uncle, do you believe the Emperor elevated Mingzhu solely for his diplomatic success? He elevated him to balance 'you'."
Songotu froze.
"You have accumulated immense merit through the glass and vaccine industries," Yinreng explained coldly. "If you reach for military authority now, you will force the Emperor to strike you down. Have you forgotten my previous warnings about the dangers of unchecked ambition?"
Recognizing that Songotu's greed was returning, Yinreng realized he needed to physically remove him from the capital's political sphere before he self-destructed.
"If you have too much free time, you will go south," Yinreng ordered. "I need a trusted overseer to manage the new rubber plantations alongside the guard Su Hetai. You will secure the land and oversee the foreign agriculturalists."
Eager to prove his worth and secure a new merit-generating project, Songotu accepted immediately. He did not realize that rubber cultivation required over a decade to yield significant results; Yinreng had effectively neutralized him from capital politics for the foreseeable future, ensuring his safety.
During dinner that evening, Yinreng pitched the reassignment to Kangxi. He explained that rubber was a vital strategic resource for the new naval fleet, requiring high-level oversight to establish. Kangxi, who had been contemplating how to manage the newly unbalanced rivalry between Mingzhu and Songotu, gladly approved the transfer.
***
The Evolution of Firearms
With the political tension defused, Yinreng shifted to his primary objective. "Imperial Father, what of the firearms expert, Dai Zi?"
Kangxi smiled in satisfaction. "I gave him the foreign muskets to replicate. He brought me a perfect working copy this morning."
Yinreng was thrilled. "Father, with Dai Zi's talent, we should not just copy foreign weapons; we should surpass them. Let me assist him at the new armory."
Kangxi agreed. For the next month, Yinreng practically lived at the weapons bureau. However, he quickly discovered that Dai Zi did not need his help. Dai Zi's intellect was so formidable that whenever Yinreng introduced a modern mechanical concept, Dai Zi instantly understood and executed it faster than Yinreng could explain.
Realizing his own obsolescence in the lab, Yinreng returned to Kangxi with the blueprints.
"The foreign muskets utilize a flintlock mechanism," Yinreng reported. "It strikes flint to ignite the powder, which is far more reliable than our current matchlocks. However, they remain single-shot weapons, leaving soldiers vulnerable while reloading. Dai Zi's previous invention, the 28-round continuous musket, solves the reload issue but is too bulky for maneuverability."
Yinreng laid out a new schematic. "We conceptualized a hybrid: a compact, one-handed firearm utilizing a revolving cylinder that holds multiple rounds, combined with the reliable flintlock ignition. Because the cylinder rotates to the left, I call it the Revolver. It is perfect for close-quarters combat and surprise attacks."
"How long to build it?" Kangxi asked.
"Given Dai Zi's brilliance, a month," Yinreng estimated.
Twenty-one days later, Dai Zi proved him wrong. He presented not only a fully functional Revolver but also a newly upgraded continuous musket capable of firing 45 rounds with lethal accuracy.
At the imperial firing range, Kangxi and Yinreng tested the weapons. The sheer firepower and precision left both of them exhilarated.
***
Securing the Future
As they rested, Dai Zi approached them with another sketch. "Your Highness, based on our discussions regarding visual range, I studied Western telescopes. If we mount a modified optical lens directly onto the barrel of the musket, we could drastically increase a shooter's aiming distance."
Yinreng gasped. 'A sniper rifle.' "I will personally handle the manufacturing of the optical glass for the scope," Yinreng promised, his admiration for Dai Zi reaching fanatical levels.
Kangxi frowned, his imperial ego bruised by his son's blatant idolization of a mere official. He pulled Yinreng aside. "You have studies to complete. Leave the weapons to Dai Zi."
Recognizing Kangxi's jealousy, Yinreng quickly framed the situation as a matter of national security. "Father, Dai Zi is a generational talent. The British Empire is rapidly expanding its naval artillery with multi-tier warships. If we do not monopolize Dai Zi's intellect, we risk falling behind permanently. I request you grant him access to the advanced mechanical texts left by Emperor Shunzhi."
Kangxi saw the strategic value. Furthermore, giving Dai Zi the texts would keep the inventor busy and away from the Crown Prince. Kangxi agreed and secretly handed Dai Zi two highly classified technical manuals.
The plan executed flawlessly. Dai Zi, obsessed with the advanced knowledge, immediately went into absolute isolation to study and invent. Kangxi was highly satisfied, believing he had locked away a genius to work endlessly for the throne.
Meanwhile, Yinreng celebrated internally. In the original historical timeline, Dai Zi's uncompromising nature had led to his political framing and exile. By proving Dai Zi's irreplaceable value to the Emperor and keeping him entirely isolated in a state-funded laboratory, Yinreng had successfully altered history. Dai Zi was safe, and the Qing Dynasty's military industrialization was secured.