Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms

Once those four pieces have been tested and, if found to be serviceable, they should be transported immediately to the provincial capital for defensive preparations. The remainder should then be cast in Foshan Foshan was a major industrial center in Guangdong, renowned for its ironworks and cannon foundries during the Qing Dynasty. according to the same pattern. If the testing reveals that the casting methods require any adjustments, instructions should be given to the nearby artisans to comply accordingly, so that the work reaches a state of thorough perfection.

Furthermore, there are currently four foreign cannons 夷礮 (yi-pao): heavy artillery pieces of Western manufacture or design weighing 5,000 jin approximately 6,600 lbs each at the Panyu County A district encompassing parts of modern-day Guangzhou administrative hall. It seems these could be transferred to Yantang Market, located fifteen li about 7.5 kilometers from the provincial capital. This is a site traditionally used for artillery practice; there, sandbags should be piled up and arranged as previously described for test-firing.

Additionally, at the archery range of the Guangzhou Brigade 廣州協 (Guangzhou-xie): a military unit of the Green Standard Army responsible for the capital's defense, there are six foreign cannons of a lighter weight. These could likely be transferred to the North Drill Field to be set up and practiced with in the same manner. All visiting troops Reinforcement soldiers brought into Guangdong from other provinces to assist in the coastal defense currently in Guangdong should be ordered to have their commanding officers lead them in rotating shifts for artillery practice.

By proceeding in this way, the range of the cannons, the stability of the cannon-mounts, and the varying skill levels of the soldiers will all be clearly revealed. Three benefits will thus be achieved through this single undertaking. Furthermore, according to a previous report submitted by Vice General Zhao of the Guangzhou Brigade, the archery range of said brigade and the Xian...