Tang Qi Tan

The next day, Jiang Tian came to the newly expanded foundry.I saw many small blast furnaces like towers, standing in a row and continuously emitting billowing black smoke; and following the shouting craftsmen during the running, sparks burst out a fiery molten iron.

Then, through the special orbit of hydraulic rotation, it is immediately poured into the other side, the drum-shaped small converter fired with volcanic ash; the next moment, under the action of the hydraulic blower and other auxiliary materials, it suddenly emits bright white light. Dao Dao Yan Tong...

Finally, the separation of layers is completed in the rotation, and the molten steel, low-carbon white cast iron, high-carbon black cast iron, and sintered slag are sequentially poured out.On the other side, the multi-channel ceramic ducts lead the exhaust gas emitted to the central brick condensation tower;

Finally, what flows out of the pottery guide channel on the other side is a turbid liquid with a pungent smell—green vanadium water; and after being filtered through a sedimentation tank and an asbestos net, it is the most primitive concentrated sulfuric acid; saltpeter powder can react to produce nitric acid.

And nitric acid can be used to nitrify undefatted cotton and sawdust; the predecessor of smokeless gunpowder called nitrocellulose can be obtained.Then, use animal fat or vegetable fat to make soap waste, and carry out a chemical reaction to get the most primitive nitroglycerin.

Such unstable early explosive components are also available, and diatomaceous earth, chalk, and kaolin are not difficult to obtain as passivation stabilizers.The next real problem is how to get the best ratio formula, and it requires constant experimentation and trial and error...

However, Jiang Tian's purpose today is not here, but in another factory area adjacent to the smelter.In the large factory shed built on the original site of a drainage mill, and under the endlessly rolling tall water wheel, there are violent metal knocking and forging sounds.

As the main technical person in charge of this factory area, Jean Valjean, an ordnance technician from a naval foundry; yes, it was Jean Valjean, who directly reminded Jiang Tian of the character of the same name in the famous book "Les Miserables".However, he neither had an adopted daughter named Cosette nor been in prison.

Not to mention the opportunity to meet a kind-hearted bishop, get a makeover and re-develop, and become the mayor; it's just a generation of technicians.It's just because the kingdom's bureaucrats are corrupt, and they don't want to join forces with those moths.In the end, it was regarded as a thorn in the side, and the design was driven out of the factory.

In the end, the Marseille Chamber of Commerce, who was still a local snake, found him who had been reduced to a country shop and took part in the resumption of work of the factory.I saw him stealthily wiping the greasy grease on the felt suspenders overalls, while introducing in a cautious voice:

"Look, sir, after further improving the process details and processes, the expanded mechanical water bed can already grind and drill seventy to eighty fine iron pipes every day. If it's just ordinary grinding and forging weapons, it can reach at least a thousand people portion of production."

"Very good!" Jiang Tian nodded and said, "Then if I want to continue to expand the scale of water bed punching and drilling and forging machinery, is there any difficulty and upper limit in terms of specific material supply and manpower replenishment?"

"The peat dug out from the Bea forest and the charcoal burned in the kiln by the officer can already meet most of the needs." Jean Valjean added: "But the supply of iron materials may not be able to keep up; the locally smelted Cast iron and gray iron are still a little bit worse, and can only be used as civilian farm tools."

"The best iron material is the Seris Iron Iron from across the sea, but unfortunately it is the most expensive. In fact, the Throne Iron from the Seven Kingdoms, or the Xizhou Iron from the Haina City-State Alliance are also quite good; but it is not easy to buy now. Therefore, it is relatively easy to obtain at present, but the Orleans iron in the west of the kingdom, and the Messette iron in the Earl of Lorraine..."

"However, the Earl of Lorraine has already surrendered to the enemy country, and the Orleans Railway has to pass through the area controlled by the new dynasty, so it cannot be transshipped on a large scale. It can only be obtained through the route of Marseilles, Tunisia and Magery from the overseas provinces Bu’s crude iron ingots are being refined further.”

"As for the supplement of manpower, it is not necessary anymore. The ordinary labor and apprentices you assigned to me are enough for my use, but what is most lacking now is experienced workers with forging experience; this will take time. accumulation……"

"So, my most precious wealth is not these venues and materials, but you apprentice craftsmen!" Jiang Tian finally smiled and said: "Even if these no longer exist, as long as there are veterans like you, I can build a new factory from scratch."

"Thank you sir for your trust and praise." Jean Valjean explained sternly: "But in fact, I need more young apprentices, not those old craftsmen who have stuck to the rules; because the things in most people's minds have already been fixed. , it is very difficult to correct it.”

"You're right, so next, I plan to expand the scale of the technical education institute." Jiang Tian said with a smile, "I don't know if you are interested in being a part-time teacher, or if there are any other candidates you can recommend. Is it?"

Of course, the top priority of production at the moment is the improved firearm designed by Jiang Tian himself; he intends to forge it directly from the laminations of this era, or matchlock guns rolled from iron sheets, skipping the flintlock and wheel-wheel guns. In the development stage, it directly entered the firing pin/flashing gun stage.

Of course, due to the limited strength of metallurgical materials and sealing problems, the main products produced are front-loading cap guns with relatively simple structure, less difficult processing technology, and lower cost; Integral ammunition and casing bayonet.

Jiang Tian originally considered the copper base fire, but gave up because the corresponding materials were not qualified.Even so, the original seventeen steps in the preparatory stage before firing the arquebus were compressed and simplified into seven actions.The rate of fire within 1 minute has also increased at least several times.

In addition, a number of breech-loading muskets with rotary closed bolts were produced in small batches with more precise manual craftsmanship.Compared with those aliens hiding in the dark, it is not enough to rely on personal martial arts or blood awakening, it is only reasonable to use the power of steel and gunpowder to completely crush them.

As long as the production capacity problem of the punching and drilling gun barrel is solved, the other fine parts will be much simpler; the pouring method of pouring the mud and turning the iron mold can be directly used; if it is not possible, some fine parts can also be used by the lost wax method; Because Pros is rich in honey/beeswax.

In places such as Algiers in North Africa, pitch and naphtha are also produced, and the by-products - paraffin wax can be extracted as raw materials for precision casting; don't underestimate the lost wax method that was born in the Bronze Age. It is still used in modern times. Applied in the processing of aircraft parts.

In addition, Jiang Tian also has a big weapon for casting cannons, which is the centrifugal pouring technology.That is to say, first use refractory volcanic ash cement to make a hollow hydraulic drum; then pour the molten iron into the rapidly rotating drum until it is almost cooled.

The centrifugal force caused by such high-speed rotation will evenly attach the molten iron to the inner wall that has also been polished and polished; finally a smooth and homogeneous seamless steel pipe blank is formed.Then it is reheated, sent to the rotary boring machine to expand and bore several times, and it is completed.

Compared with the traditional casting process such as clay mold iron mold, the barrel thrown out by this kind of centrifugal casting is quite strong and durable.There are no air bubbles and trachoma, and there is no need for multiple grinding and polishing because of the probability of uneven thickness, which saves a lot of process and production costs.

Moreover, compared with the expensive bronze and brass materials required by traditional artillery, the cost of new gun barrels that use cast iron and forged steel sleeves to clamp and self-tighten is almost only one-fifth to one-seventh.However, due to the limitation of current materials, more than [-] one-pounder and three-pounder guns were experimentally produced.

Then, with a newly designed portable gun mount and a torsion spring with clamped steel annealed, a simple rack and retreat device is formed; as long as two people can advance and transfer positions, or a single mule and horse drags and follows the march, basically it can Most of the current needs are met.

In fact, after the battle in the town of Tomin, Jiang Tian came up with a new idea; that is, to tailor a batch of special firearms for those inherited knights who are accustomed to using cold weapons.Because they can obviously bear more load and stronger recoil.

Therefore, the large guns, single-handed hand cannons, large pepper shakers, accordion/honeycomb guns, even small mortars, Hale rockets, etc. that were originally eliminated in history seem to be able to make waves because of this. .This is also one of the main purposes of his coming to the foundry today.

Although all aspects are just starting at the moment, there is no way to form a special production capacity scale, but some samples are produced experimentally; it is basically possible to assemble some of the inheritance knights of the special attack company, cavalry company and guard company. .

Therefore, when Jiang Tian readjusted and arranged the corresponding production tasks, and returned to the headquarters of the palace in the city, he received another unexpected call for help.But it is from the province of Herault, which is adjacent to the province of Gard and the province of Maritimes; or the local republican armed forces.

This local armed force called the Montpellier Commune Army, under the siege of the Royalist Army from the Royal Party of Hérault, and the orthodox army supported by the Duchy of Milan in the Province of Lozère, was trapped. In the provincial capital of Montpellier, seek all foreign aid.

Immediately afterwards, in the northern province of Ardèche, Podos, the captain of the garrison regiment, also sent an alarm; finally noticing the threat from the rear, the Principality of Milan led the coalition forces and began to invade Ardèche from the province of Lozère. Has occupied many cities that were voluntarily abandoned.

So, after a short period of repairs and supplements in a corner, the Liberation Army saw the resurgence of battle clouds.