Many believe that the Military and Technological Backwardness of the Qing Dynasty to the Western Powers was the main reason for the century-old humiliation. Is this really the case? In fact, as early as the Ming Dynasty more than 500 years ago, science and technology have been very developed, and many high-tech weapons have appeared in the army. Among them, the world's earliest missiles, bombers and tanks appeared in the Ming Dynasty. It was only abandoned by the Qing Dynasty that it caused a century-old shame.
In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, in order to end the war against the Northern Yuan as soon as possible, many advanced Song Dynasty firearms were valued. Under the initiative of Zhu Yuanzhang, advanced weapons such as rockets and ironclad chariots appeared in the Ming Dynasty army. By the time of ming chengzu Zhu Di's reign, a gunpowder bureau and a divine machine battalion were set up, specializing in the research and manufacture of advanced weapons. Below, let's take a look at 3 "artifacts" of the Ming Dynasty.
1. The world's earliest missile
In the ancient Ming Dynasty book "Wu Bi Zhi", a weapon called "Fire Dragon Out of the Water" is recorded. Its main body is a bamboo tube of about 20 centimeters, equipped with a dragon-shaped head filled with gunpowder. Four propulsion rockets were also bundled around the bamboo tube. This weapon is mainly used in water warfare and can reach a range of about 1000 meters. After firing, it flies close to the surface of the water, and when it collides with an enemy ship, it ignites gunpowder and causes extensive damage.
This weapon is the prototype of the current missile, but it is limited by the times, and the power and guidance method are different. And this advanced weapon of the Ming Dynasty was nearly 500 years advanced than that of Europe. It was not until 1944, during World War II, that Germany successfully developed its first modern missile.
2. The world's earliest bomber
Song Yingchang's "Compilation of the Restoration of the Kingdom" mentions the "Divine Fire Flying Crow" and records its application in actual combat by the Ming Dynasty. This advanced weapon combined with a kite, aerodynamic, relies on rocket propulsion to project it over the enemy. It can both set fire and release poison gas. It can be used in sieges to burn enemy camps and grain, or in water warfare to burn enemy ships. It is a prototype of a bomber, or even a Ming Dynasty version of a drone.
3. The world's earliest tank
The concept of "ironclad chariots" appeared as early as the Song Taizong period of the Northern Song Dynasty. It covered the body with iron armor and was mainly used to fight cavalry. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Qi Jiguang, a famous anti-Wu general, invented the "partial carriage". It was also a semi-enclosed hull, with attack weapons replaced by spears and bows and arrows to artillery. According to records, the "eccentric carriage" has 3 floors, each layer is equipped with artillery on all four sides, relying on dozens of wheels to drive, is a movable fortress.
This was the world's earliest tank and played an important role in the War of Resistance Against Japan. But unfortunately, due to the high cost, high technical difficulty and poor mobility, the "partial van" has not been widely promoted. In the early days, with the support of the chancellor Zhang Juzheng, the Ming army built more than a dozen of them, which were later abandoned. When the Qing Dynasty was established, even the drawings were lost.
In fact, there are more than 40 kinds of advanced weapons of the Ming Dynasty recorded in ancient books. Here I would like to mention one person in particular, that is, wanhu during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli calendar, who developed the world's first manned rocket. Although the failure of the launch also took the life, the research idea is completely correct. Unfortunately, we have not even been able to verify whether the names or official positions of the ten thousand households are clear.
Personally, I believe that the Ming Dynasty had such advanced technology that it could have taken the lead in entering the industrial society. Unfortunately, under the profligacy of several absurd emperors in succession, he still adhered to the old idea of "the son of heaven guards the gate of the country, and the king dies in the community". The Chongzhen Emperor vowed not to move the capital, and as a result, Li Zicheng captured Beijing, Wu Sangui surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty picked up a big bargain.
Although the Qing Dynasty also set up rocket camps, the Kangxi Emperor also favored firearms. But for some reason, after the Qianlong Emperor, the Qing army quickly retreated, and a large number of advanced firearms were rusted in the treasury. Until 1860, when the Iron Hat King Monk Greenqin resisted the Anglo-French coalition at bali bridge, he actually used a cavalry unit, and the soldiers charged with sabers and bows and arrows. As a result, the 30,000-strong army only killed and wounded more than 100 enemy soldiers, and almost all the troops were destroyed, and the outcome was lamentable.