Chapter 25: Borrowing Arrows with a Straw Boat

  (A restored picture of a helmet and armor from the Ming dynasty's Wanli era)

  Chongzhen 1st Year

  February 18th.

  Sunny, gentle breeze and beautiful day.

  On the seventeenth day, the emperor ordered Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Chengzong to discuss "anti-arrow clothing". It was made in one night and tried on.

  Imperial City Garrison.

  Yang was amazed at the "efficiency" of Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Chengzong, who had just discussed it yesterday and already had a finished product today. This speed is even faster than online shopping in the 21st century!

  "Yuan Ai Qi, how did you manage to make this 'bulletproof vest' so quickly?"

  "I report to Your Majesty, the 'anti-arrow jacket' I wore on the battlefield was the basis for this. Yesterday, I heard the Emperor mention it, so I added some things to it and created today's 'anti-arrow jacket'." After finishing speaking, Yuan Chonghuan presented his own "anti-arrow jacket".

  This "anti-arrow garment", from the outside, doesn't look like it's made of anything special, but looking at Yuan Chonghuan holding it with both hands, it doesn't seem too heavy or cumbersome, so it probably isn't made of iron. Also, from the outside, it seems soft and fluffy, I reckon there's a layer of cotton armor inside. The surface is made of satin, very shiny.

  "Yuan Aiqing, tell me about this 'anti-arrow jacket', how is it made and what's its effect?" Yang Gaizhi was most concerned about this.

  A large part of the damage caused by wild boar skin is due to the power of bows and arrows.

  According to historical records, during the Battle of Guangqu Gate, Yuan Chonghuan was shot with multiple arrows and had two sides like a hedgehog. Although the word "like a hedgehog" is used, it can be confirmed that there were definitely many arrows on his body, and the arrows were all shot onto Yuan Chonghuan's body. The wild boar skins saw that he was a high-ranking official and must have desperately shot at him, resulting in all the arrows being shot onto Yuan Chonghuan's body.

  The scene at that time must have been very funny and bloody. A group of wild boars with arrows shot at Yuan Chonghuan, Yuan Chonghuan was hit by multiple arrows, his body looked like a hedgehog, the arrows were all "hanging" on his body, but he didn't care, still commanding the battle, this must have made those who shot the arrows stunned, feeling fearful, and so, Houjin lost.

  Of course, this is speculation. One thing that can be confirmed is that Yuan Chonghuan dared to fight and play with his life, not afraid of death, which is absolutely true. Daring to use human bodies to attract arrow attacks is definitely not something an ordinary person can do.

  The Battle of Guangqu Gate lasted for eight hours before it ended. It can also be confirmed that Yuan Chonghuan's "heavy armor" would not have been too heavy, otherwise, as a scholar wearing it, he would not have been able to last that long and would have been crushed. In this way, the Battle of Guangqu Gate would not have been a small victory for the Ming dynasty.

  "I report to Your Majesty, this 'anti-arrow clothing' of mine has a surface made of satin, with the vital parts on the chest and back covered by an additional layer of chain mail, wrapped in cotton cloth and then covered with silk. Inside, there are layers of silk, leather armor, silk again, then another layer of cotton armor, followed by another layer of silk, and finally lined with satin... This 'anti-arrow clothing' is now complete, but when I go into battle, I still wear a padded jacket and pants next to my skin, covered by clothes made of silk. Only then do I dare to enter the battlefield."

  Yuan Chonghuan said, the somewhat grand and stirring atmosphere here suddenly changed, his face turned red. To dare to go into battle dressed like this would be too humiliating to mention.

  Yang reform personally heard Yuan Chonghuan explain the production method of this "anti-arrow clothing". Only then did he finally understand why on the battlefield, Yuan Chonghuan's body could "carry" so many arrows after being attacked at close range.

  The whole thing is a personal version of "borrowing arrows with a boat made of straw".

  "This 'anti-arrow jacket' is also awesome. The vital parts are covered with chain mail, then leather armor, and inside is cotton armor, all separated by layers of silk. I estimate that only such multi-layered armor, with so many layers of silk, could cause arrows to 'hang' on the body. Only this way could Yuan Chonghuan, a scholar, be hit by multiple arrows on the battlefield without being injured."

  Yang thought to himself: It seems that this time the gain is not small, finding Yuan Chonghuan to make "anti-arrow clothes" was correct, next should be promoting this kind of "anti-arrow clothes".

  "Yuan Aiqing, you're really bold. Daring to fight and kill in this chaotic army, it's not easy!" Yang Reform sincerely praised Yuan Chonghuan.

  "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I don't dare to accept it." Yuan Chonghuan bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude. He felt delighted in his heart, as it was not easy to receive a word of praise from the Emperor.

  ……

  "Master Sun, tell me, how effective is this 'anti-arrow armor'?" Yang Gao saw that Sun Chengzong was looking at him and thought it was time for Sun to offer his opinion.

  "I report to Your Majesty, in fact, using silk fabrics to defend against the harm of bows and arrows has been done since ancient times. Before our great Ming dynasty, it is said that Genghis Khan's troops wrapped their vital parts with multiple layers of silk when fighting, precisely to defend against the harm of bows and arrows."

  Sun Chengzong is indeed a well-read scholar, and his words are full of wisdom, citing ancient examples to illustrate modern issues, every sentence hits the nail on the head.

  "Really? They had this technology in ancient times?" Yang Reform was shocked again, the ancient Ming dynasty, at least it was the Yuan dynasty. Did they have "anti-arrow clothing" before the Yuan dynasty?

  "I report to Your Majesty, yes. The ancient saying goes, 'The strong crossbow's end is hard to pierce through the silk brocade', which refers to the special effect of the silk defense against bow and arrow injuries. It is said that because the silk is soft and resilient, it enters the flesh together with the arrowhead, making it easier to pull out the arrow in non-lethal areas after battle. On the other hand, leather armor and iron armor do not have this advantage." Sun Chengzong said slowly.

  ……

  Yuan Chonghuan also memorialized: "I report to Your Majesty, what Minister Sun said is absolutely right. This silk brocade has a special effect in defending against arrow injuries. I have studied ancient books and obtained the secret of using silk brocade to defend against arrow injuries, so on the basis of our dynasty's cotton armor, I added several layers of silk brocade, only then did I dare to go onto the battlefield; otherwise, as a scholar, how would I have the courage to go onto the battlefield?"

  "This... " Yang reform finally understood that in ancient times, before the Ming Dynasty, they already knew how to use silk fabrics to defend against bows and arrows. So isn't it said that if he wants to make this "arrow-proof clothing", he can actually just add a few more layers of silk fabric on top of the existing Ming army's "cotton armor"? Make it into brocade armor, which is both light and effective?

  Thinking of this, Yang Reform felt that this was a dead end. The silk was too expensive; could ordinary people afford to wear it? So, this arrow-proof jacket would only be worn by high-ranking generals. Ordinary soldiers probably didn't have the "capital" to wear "arrow-proof jackets".

  Thinking of this, Yang Reform felt very frustrated and depressed. A research project had failed. But it wasn't a complete loss, he could wear multiple layers of silk-made armor in the future, which would be both lightweight and effective in defending against arrow injuries.

  Yang Reform looked at this "anti-arrow clothing" and also had a hint of enlightenment! "Heavy armor", according to the ordinary person's thinking, the heavier (zhong) the better. This can have a better defense. In fact, Yuan Chonghuan's "heavy armor" should be read as "g" second tone, [insect word sound]. This way, it can be well explained that Yuan Chonghuan's "has heavy g armor not through", has multiple layers of "armor" composed of helmets and armor, of course, can use the word "heavy g". That is to say, it may be a certain battlefield recorder playing a text game, with different pronunciations and meanings, but the same writing. The pronunciation and meaning of the words "zhong" and "g" are different, but the writing is the same, so others think that Yuan Chonghuan wore very heavy armor to avoid being shot by many arrows. Highlighting Yuan Chonghuan's tall image. In fact, Yuan Chonghuan used many layers such as lock chain armor (part), cotton armor, leather armor, silk and cotton underwear, etc., which is light and effective, so it can be safe on the battlefield, and can wear for a long time. Moreover, writing like this is not wrong, a certain recorder said with pride: "I recorded the original heavy (g) armor, you guys want to read it as heavy (zhong) armor, what's that got to do with me?"

  A historical mystery case was thus solved by Yang's reform. In his heart, Yang thought with satisfaction: Could it be that I have the potential to become a "historian with a conscience"? Haha!

  What happened next was quite dull. A wooden stick was put on this "anti-arrow jacket", and many arrows were shot at it with a "whooshing" sound, until the "anti-arrow jacket" was shot to look like a porcupine before stopping. When opened up inside, the wooden stick was still basically intact, almost without any damage, only a few stray arrows had scratched the surface of the wood.

  The arrows all ended up stuck on the "anti-arrow clothes".

  In ancient times, there was a grass boat borrowing arrows, now someone's body is borrowing arrows. Yang Reform sighed bitterly and couldn't stop.

  As for bulletproof vests, I haven't tried them myself, and am only speculating based on "history", so don't imitate me, you'll be responsible for the consequences.

  ……

  After finishing the bulletproof vest, Yang Reform felt like a chicken rib, tasteless to eat and a pity to discard. If every general of the Ming Dynasty were equipped with such a bulletproof vest, Yang Reform thought he would be pants. Giving up, he felt irresponsible to the generals of the Ming Dynasty again. Thinking again, those Ming generals are still worried about food and clothing, if they were given silk and brocade armor, they might exchange it for wine without even wearing it on their body.

  Yang is frustrated with the reform.

  Also thought of a lovely beauty outside the palace, thinking of that white and tender small hand, my heart moved, decided to go out of the palace for a trip, and also to see how the glass is doing. My own wallet has become more and more empty. If there's no income in a few days, it will become "small and poor".

  Think of it and do it.

  Yang Reform brought Wang Chengen along, dressed as a rich young master, while Wang Chengen still looked like a steward. They swaggered out of the Forbidden City and headed straight to Liuli Factory.

  Also, thanks to Starting Point for doing the cover for me. I was worried about the cover. It looks so familiar!