Linqing bricks, a critical material in Chinese Ming-Qing Dynasty royal architecture, face performance deficiencies in modern production compared to historical counterparts, mainly due to uneven temperature fields in kilns and fluctuations in firing quality caused by empirical raw material ratios. Based on a real brick kiln, this study systematically investigates the effects of material composition and firing conditions on brick performance using locally sourced Linqing clay and laterite. Controlled firing experiments were conducted with varying laterite proportions (0-100 wt%), loess proportions (0-100 wt%), clay additions (0-10 wt%), and temperatures (1020-1058 degrees C), followed by comprehensive analyses of physical properties, phase composition, microstructure, and thermal behavior. According to the experimental results, increasing laterite content enhances compressive strength (from 11.9 to 38.1 MPa) and bulk density (from 1.45 to 1.65 g/cm3), with pure laterite achieving optimal performance. A clay content of 5 wt% maximizes mechanical properties, while elevating firing temperature to 1058 degrees C significantly improves strength (increased 13Mpa over 1020 degrees C). Using the CRITIC weighting method, we propose an optimized formulation (50-60 wt% laterite, 40-50 wt% loess, 5 wt% clay) fired at 1058 degrees C. This research not only promotes the standardization and scientific approach of modern Linqing brick production processes but also better controls the overall consistency of the quality of Linqing bricks in kilns. Additionally, it provides a more authentic and reliable material guarantee for the restoration of ancient architectural heritage.