Yongle reign (1403-1424) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Dyn... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiaozhi ======================================== Ming conquered Dai Viet, they learned firearms technolgy from Dai Viet. While China is acknowleged for actually inventing gun powder, the research also acknowledges Dai Viet’s innovation with gun technology. http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wp... According to Ming Shi Lu says: "When it came to {the time of} Ming Chengzu, Jiaozhi {Dai Viet} was pacified, the techniques of magic gun and cannon (shenji qiangpao fa) were obtained, a Firearms Battalion (shenji ying) was especially established to drill {firearms}." In fact, it appears that the Chinese copied from Vietnam only a few specific techniques, principally in handgun and fire-lance design. Heavy ironwood wadding behind the arrow of the fire-lance increased the pressure and thus the range; and this was adopted into Chinese handgun design. Vietnamese firearms generally were based on Chinese models and there is, in particular, no indication that Vietnamese cannon were heavier than or otherwise superior to Chinese types. Fire-lances - Fire-lances improved by the adoption of Dai Viet technology (hardwood wadding) were in Ming Chinese use by 1407. They shot up to 300 paces, and so might be classed the same as handguns rather than as Ps (X). But if Dai Viet was using the improved fire-lances soon after 1400, that suggests that more basic versions must have been in use for some time before that. Since I have not seen them mentioned in the context of the Yuan-Mongol campaigns in Vietnam, http://tabulaenovaeexercituum.pbwiki.... http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wp... Vietnamese artillery imported into China with instructors in 1410 was considered superior to Chinese." "Dai Viet troops used handguns in a sea-battle in 1390, and obtained more firearms in the 15th century, particularly after a victory over the Ming in 1426. Chinese reports of the superiority of...