The Empire’s assault turtle ship known as the ‘Black Sea Dragon’ was an object of terror for Ming’s navy. When this assault ship – which couldn’t be sunk by Ming’s cannons and could destroy most warships with a single shot – went out on patrol, all nearby Ming vessels had to flee to their naval ports.
Grinding his teeth and swallowing his anger at this, the Jingtai Emperor asked his ministers again.
“How is the development of the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon progressing?”
The Grand Secretary bowed his head and answered.
“Though many hurdles remain, we’re making gradual progress.”
The Jingtai Emperor’s face brightened at the Grand Secretary’s response.
“What excellent news! When the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon is completed, that will be our day of revenge!”
The Jingtai Emperor rejoiced, clenching his fists, and the ministers all bowed in response.
“Indeed it shall be!”
“Let’s not waste time here – let’s go to the shipyard! Right now!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Jingtai Emperor rose and began walking. As he moved, the ministers and eunuchs hurriedly followed.
***
Though the Jingtai Emperor moved immediately, the shipyard was in Nantong (present-day Nantong City), 500 li (about 200 kilometers) from Nanjing.
Given the distance, the Jingtai Emperor had to take his imperial steam locomotive to Nantong.
However, sitting in his lavishly decorated private car, the Jingtai Emperor’s face was full of displeasure, while the accompanying ministers and eunuchs squirmed uncomfortably.
“Another breakdown? How many double-hours must we wait this time?”
“H-half a double-hour (about one hour) for repairs, they say.”
Bang!
The Jingtai Emperor slammed the table at the Grand Secretary’s answer, exploding in anger.
“This is outrageous! Even the Great Ming’s imperial locomotive breaks down this frequently!”
This was why the Jingtai Emperor was furious.
After moving the capital to Nanjing, the Jingtai Emperor had hurried to restore the Grand Canal and expand the railway network.
Despite various criticisms, steam locomotives were useful.
Though there were complaints, they were definitely faster than walking and could transport more cargo at once. The railways also created jobs for people impoverished by wars and rebellions while enabling rapid economic recovery.
However, Ming’s locomotives remained notorious for their poor durability and frequent breakdowns.
Even the locomotive carrying the emperor had broken down three times during the 500-li journey.
“Huff… huff…”
Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, the Jingtai Emperor glared at the Grand Secretary and commanders.
“The steam engines for the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon aren’t in this sorry state, are they?”
The Grand Secretary and commanders hastily shook their heads.
“No, Your Majesty!”
“Our craftsmen have done their utmost to improve them – they’re far superior to these locomotives!”
“We’re developing new locomotives based on the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon’s steam engines! Please rest assured!”
The Jingtai Emperor leaned back in his chair and warned them at their answers.
“I’ll trust your words.”
After suffering through the breakdowns, the Jingtai Emperor arrived in Nantong after sunset.
After spending the night in a temporary palace in Nantong, the Jingtai Emperor visited the shipyard early the next morning.
“Oh! Is this the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon’s keel?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Jingtai Emperor exclaimed repeatedly at the shipyard supervisor’s answer.
“Oh! What a massive warship! When completed, it would not be excessive to call it a floating fortress!”
The Grand Secretary and commanders beside him bowed their heads and added to the Jingtai Emperor’s amazement.
“Indeed, Your Majesty!”
“When the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon deploys, Joseon’s navy will meet its end!”
“Yes, that’s how it must be! Absolutely!”
Strengthening his resolve once again, the Jingtai Emperor looked around and asked.
“Is there perhaps a model showing what it will look like when completed? I’ve seen the blueprints, but I need something more tangible!”
The shipyard supervisor bowed his head and answered the Jingtai Emperor’s request.
“We have a pre-made model. However, it’s so large that it’s difficult to move freely.”
“Lead the way!”
“This way, Your Majesty!”
The supervisor led the imperial party to a building converted from a warehouse.
“Oh!”
The Jingtai Emperor exclaimed in admiration at the model before him as he entered the warehouse. Before his eyes stood a ship model almost the size of a cart, displaying its impressive form.
The Twin-Headed Sea Dragon model boasted an imposing appearance.
It was shaped like two massive warships joined as one.
Large dragon heads adorned both prows, and like the assault turtle ship, massive cannon muzzles protruded from their mouths.
Numerous gun ports lined both sides of the twin hulls, and four large paddle wheels were arranged in two rows in the central section connecting the two ships.
This twin-hull structure and wheel arrangement was the result of careful deliberation by Ming’s shipwrights.
-A warship larger, more powerful, and sturdier than Joseon’s assault turtle ships. -Equipped with steam engines to achieve similar or superior speed to Joseon’s ships.
Ming’s shipwrights had pondered endlessly to meet the demands of the Jingtai Emperor and Ming’s navy.
“We can increase the size, but making it ‘sturdier’ is the problem. For that to be possible, we need iron plating like Joseon’s ships.”
“With our current technology, even making something Joseon’s size with iron plating is pushing it. We need to find another way.”
The solution Ming’s shipwrights found after such deliberation was the twin-hull design.
“Connecting two large warships isn’t easy, but the Yellow Sea is relatively calm, so it’s possible.”
After finalizing the hull structure, they faced the problem of the propulsion system.
Unaware of propeller propulsion systems, Ming’s shipwrights chose paddle wheels. They could apply this quickly since there were records of paddle wheel ships operating since the Song Dynasty.
The next consideration was how to arrange these wheels. The first proposal was to mount them at the stern like the Song Dynasty paddle wheel ships on record, but this was immediately rejected.
“Given the Twin-Headed Sea Dragon’s size, it will have limited maneuverability. If Joseon’s navy gets behind and destroys the wheels, we have a problem.”
“Wouldn’t escort ships solve that?”
“Joseon’s navy would break through even with escorts. Let’s acknowledge what we must.”
Thus, the stern-mounted proposal was rejected, and the next suggestion was to install them on the sides of the twin hulls.
However, this proposal was rejected by Ming’s naval generals.
“We cannot accept reducing the number of gun ports because of the wheels!”
“If Joseon’s naval fire destroys the wheels, won’t we be crippled just like with stern mounting?”
Due to the fierce opposition from Ming’s naval commanders, this option was also rejected, and the final proposal was to install them in the central section where the port and starboard hulls connected.
Ming’s naval commanders were finally satisfied with this last proposal.
“This is an excellent proposal as it allows us to increase the number of gun ports!”
“With both hulls protecting the wheels, we can keep moving even in the worst situations!”
This was how the ‘Twin-Headed Sea Dragon’ meant to defeat the Black Sea Dragon came to be.
The Ming shipwrights and artillery experts who designed it smiled with satisfaction.
“Joseon’s dogs only have one large cannon, but we have two!”
The large cannons they created by studying and applying records of the Yellow Dragon Cannon used by the Liaodong army in the previous Joseon-Ming War had shorter range than the Yellow Dragon Cannon but were still formidable. Thus, Ming’s shipwrights and artillery experts smiled confidently.
However, there was something they didn’t know. The assault turtle ship’s dragon-mouth cannon was breech-loading. In contrast, Ming’s dragon-mouth cannon was muzzle-loading. Therefore, for smooth loading, Ming’s cannon barrel was much shorter than Joseon’s. This naturally resulted in inferior range.
Furthermore, the iron plating for defense was also weaker due to issues with iron-making technology. Moreover, due to lower steam engine output compared to the Empire’s, the thickness of the hull’s iron plating was also thinner.
***
After inspecting the Nantong shipyard with satisfaction, the Jingtai Emperor returned to Nanjing with a much brighter expression.
Even on the train back to Nanjing, the Jingtai Emperor was busy checking Ming’s current situation.
“Has the Prince of Yuanhui arrived safely at his residence?”
The Grand Secretary bowed his head and answered the Jingtai Emperor’s question.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Upon arriving at his residence, he expressed his gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace with proper ceremony.”
The Jingtai Emperor nodded slightly at the Grand Secretary’s answer and muttered.
“Is that so? I hope he continues to behave himself.”
“His strength is already greatly diminished – he won’t last long.”
The Jingtai Emperor smiled coldly at the Grand Secretary’s words.
“That would be best for him too.”
***
Those who had raised rebellions claiming to be the Jianwen Emperor or his eldest son Zhu Wengui had either destroyed themselves through internal strife or had their forces greatly weakened by the schemes of the Jingtai Emperor and his ministers.
Recognizing that the time had come, the Jingtai Emperor began suppressing them while moving the capital to Nanjing.
The rebels, already weakened through internal strife, were helplessly swept away by the suppression forces.
After cleaning up the rebels, the Jingtai Emperor soon posted proclamations throughout the Central Plains.
-All those who have called themselves Zhu Yunwen or Zhu Wengui were imposters who deceived the people and plunged the country into misery!
-Therefore, I raised the imperial army to suppress them, so people should not be deceived by wicked words and focus on their livelihoods!
-And I will bestow the title of Prince of Yuanhui on Zhu Wengui (朱文圭), the survivor of these unfortunate events that caused this situation, and grant him a princely residence!
Following this decision by the Jingtai Emperor, Zhu Wengui, who had been living in confinement, was freed and became a free man.
However, this was just another form of confinement.
According to laws changed after the Yongle Emperor, princes who received royal titles could neither leave their residences nor contact local officials or influential locals around their residences.
Moreover, Zhu Wengui’s condition was poor.
Over 50 years of confinement had devastated both his mind and body.
In any case, through this decision, the Jingtai Emperor had gained much politically.
On a large scale, he had resolved the chaotic situation in Jiangnan, and on a smaller scale, by enfeoffing Zhu Wengui as a prince, he earned the people’s evaluation as “an emperor who knows propriety and mercy.”
***
After resolving matters related to the Prince of Yuanhui, the Jingtai Emperor looked at the Grand Secretary with a more relaxed expression.
“Now we can fully implement policies for national prosperity and military power.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
“Tell the merchants to focus on trade with the Western Regions.”
“I receive your command!”
“And draft another plan to infiltrate those Joseon dogs’ Area 51.”
“I receive your command!”