Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 264 0259 [Prince of No. [-] Scholar]

Wrought iron cannons cannot be cast directly, not to mention the Song Dynasty, even the Ming Dynasty.

The iron cannons cast in the Ming Dynasty were either cast iron barrels with hoops, or wrought iron inside and cast iron outside.

Zhu Ming went to the iron smelting field for two hours every day to study and try with the craftsmen, but in the end he could only declare failure.

Just a word: the furnace temperature is not enough!
The Song, Liao, and Jin Dynasties have used blast furnaces to smelt iron, and they are improved blast furnaces, but the furnace temperature is usually around 1200 degrees, and no matter how hard you try, it will be 1300 degrees.

If you want to cast wrought iron, you have to continue to increase the furnace temperature.

Zhu Ming knew that it could be solved by using a hot air stove, but he still had no idea how to do it.

Then make a forged cannon first.

There are two ways to forge cannons——

One is to arrange the iron bars vertically, and add iron hoops layer by layer outside.

The whole process is similar to hoop barrels. European iron cannons in the age of great exploration are basically made of wrought iron hoops in this way.The disadvantage is that the airtightness is extremely poor, and it is easier to explode the chamber!

The other is the forged cannon of the Ming Dynasty in China. Wrought iron was beaten tens of thousands of times, directly forged into iron plates, and then hammered into iron coils of [-]/[-] or [-]/[-] arc.Then the iron coils are forged and wrapped into cylinders, and the sections of the iron cylinders are cold forged and hammered together, and the gaps are filled with iron bars.

Although the labor cost of this forging method is increased, the airtightness is greatly enhanced, and it is not so easy to explode the chamber.Moreover, the required gun hoops are reduced, and even the gun hoops may not be required, and the weight of the gun body is greatly reduced.

Of course, Ju Ming chose the second method. The process of beating tens of thousands of times into iron plates can be done with a hydraulic forging hammer first, and then manually corrected.

The gun barrel of the tiger squat gun is very short, and it is enough to punch a cylinder instead of splicing multiple cylinders.Only two semicircles are cold forged into a cylinder, and a few hoops are added to fix it outside.

The water turbine is still under construction, and Zhu Ming asked two blacksmiths to build it by hand.

For the first tiger squatting cannon, two blacksmiths fought for more than 30 days.This is not enough proficiency, and the speed can be slowly increased.

According to the records of the Ming Dynasty, it only takes 40 days for an ordinary general cannon to be made by ten skilled craftsmen.The tiger squatting cannon has a very short construction period and can be produced in large quantities.

Zhu Ming's ultimate goal of making the tiger squat gun is to train Qi Jiguang's triple formation.

This is a large multi-arms mixed army formation used in the north.

The basis is still mandarin duck formation, but the wolves and shields are no longer used, and muskets and bows are replaced.It is also equipped with chariots to defend the cavalry. After contacting the enemy, they first attack with a large number of tiger squatting guns, and then shoot with muskets and bows and arrows in turn.

There were several rounds of long-range firepower, round after round, and the Mongolian cavalry at that time collapsed before they reached the car formation.

Most of the infantry is on horseback, if you can't do it, you can ride a mule. In addition, there are cavalry units, highlighting a "motorization", which can pursue harvesting and fast marching.

Qi Jiguang's three-fold formation did not have any great military achievements, because since it was established, the Mongolian cavalry did not dare to go south.Instead, they ran to the Northeast of Huo Huo, but Li Chengliang made a strong record. The Mongols would rather give Li Chengliang the head than face Qi Jiguang's triple formation.

Now Ju Ming has basically decided on the idea of ​​making weapons:

Pig iron is used to cast large-caliber iron cannons. Because they are too bulky, most of them are used for defense at the top of the city, and a few are dragged out to make siege cannons.

Wrought iron is used to forge the Tiger Crouch Cannon.

Iron is used to make weapons and armor.

The latter two will be equipped with hydraulic forging hammers, which can effectively save labor costs.

The next step is to granulate gunpowder. Zhu Ming plans to do it after the spring snow melts.

"Everyone, drink this cup together!"

On New Year's Eve, the back house of the state government office was extremely lively.

Not only Bai Sheng, Zhang Tong, Li Bao, Deng Chun, Shi Yuangong and others brought their family members to Zhu Ming's residence to celebrate, even Tu Shen and other high-level executives of the iron smelting factory were also invited by Zhu Ming to the Spring Festival party.

Counting everyone's wives and children, there were six tables.

"I respect my husband, everything will go well in the coming year!" Shi Yuangong stood up with a toast, and there was something in his words.

Ju Ming smiled and said, "Everyone is in harmony with each other."

Qian Chen also came to toast: "I've lived half my life, but I'm not as happy as I was last year. I did a lot of things with the prefect."

Zhu Ming said: "Your Majesty has given you six hundred certificates. Those who are capable will work harder. After the beginning of spring, I will ask Brother Qian to sell them in the south of the Yangtze River. By the way, I will buy some sulfur and saltpeter."

"I promise to live up to my trust!" Qian Chen laughed.

Li Bao also came to toast with him, and he lived a comfortable life.When I have errands, I will do errands for Zhu Ming. When I don't have errands, there are many men in the family who can learn martial arts.

Between toasting and mingling, Zhenghe turned the chapter in seven years.

In 1118 A.D., history books are often written as the first year of Chonghe, but people living in this era only know the existence of Youzhenghe Banian.

Because of the re-he year name, Song Huizong felt that everything was not going well, so he suddenly changed the Yuan at the end of the year, which means "reconcile and reconcile".But the yuan was changed only three months later, and the yuan was changed again, and I don't know the reason.

……

On the first month of the new year, Liao and Jin negotiated peace.

Both sides were unable to continue the fight, for no other reason than lack of food.

Liaodong was in great chaos, with bandits and bandits everywhere, and even plundered people to satisfy their hunger.

The Liao and Jin sides, while exterminating bandits, held peace talks.The Liao Kingdom needs to lick its wounds, and the Jin Kingdom needs to digest the newly occupied territory.

The traitor Wang Fu was promoted to Shangshu Zuocheng (Deputy Prime Minister), and Cai Jing felt a lot of pressure.

In February, the snow melted, the official documents of the imperial court were issued to all directions, and the national liquor tax rose sharply, which was called "adding liquor money".

Ma Zheng, an envoy of the Song Dynasty, took Gao Yaoshi, a Han native from Liaodong, by boat across the sea to contact the Kingdom of Jin.

They met Jinbing patrolling halfway, and they didn't even dare to say a word, so they fled back to Shandong in fright.He also lied that he had arrived in Suzhou (Dalian Jinzhou), and Jin Guo was unwilling to engage in diplomacy, so he almost killed them.

Song Huizong was furious and asked Tong Guan to take full responsibility for the matter.

In March, the imperial examination.

The entire Jinzhou Juren army was wiped out, and not a single Jinshi was admitted.

But Yangzhou has another Jinshi, Ling Guxu got the third place in the examination.

Li Hanzhang, who had disappeared for three years, also came back to take part in the imperial examination, and won the fifth place in the examination.According to his native place, he belongs to Huainan scholars and has nothing to do with Hanzhong.

Of course, they didn't know their Jiadi before Chuanlu rolled their names.

"Brother Linggu, congratulations!" Li Hanzhang laughed.

Ling Guxu smiled all over his face: "Congratulations, congratulations."

The two were still queuing in front of the hall, talking about the past in Yangzhou.

Ling Guxu suddenly asked: "I heard that Brother Kezhen went to join the army?"

Li Hanzhang shook his head and sighed with emotion: "Having been an officer for more than half a year, it's hard to say anything, so let's not mention it. It's not a formal military post anyway, so I just resigned and went home to study hard. This time I finally passed the exam."

Ling Guxu said in a low voice: "But Brother Zhen heard that there is no such thing. This year King Jia Zhao Kai also participated in the scientific examination."

"Don't talk too much." Li Hanzhang quickly reminded.

The whip started to be fired in front of the hall, and everyone immediately shut up and lined up to wait obediently.

After a series of procedures, the roll call finally began: "Xinke Scholars No. 1, Kaifeng Mansion Zhao Kai!"

The sound came out, and the audience was dead silent.

More than 700 Shinke Scholars, all looked at the front in a foolish manner, and watched the 17-year-old Jiawang Zhao Kai enter the palace.

17 years old, prince, champion.

Combining these three words, whoever believes is a fool, it would be strange if there was no cheating!

It's nonsense for the prince to take the imperial examination, why the fuck is he winning the first prize at the age of 17, and fooling the world's scholars as fools?
Civil and military officials stood in the main hall, looking at their noses, noses, and hearts, all pretending to be dead, as if they didn't know anything.

"Don't leave the number one scholar, stand in His Highness." Song Huizong reminded.

The roll call continued: "The second Jinshi in this discipline, Prince Ang of Chengdu Mansion!"

This is Wang Gui's grandnephew, from the Wang family in the middle of Shu.

Song Huizong saw the two standing side by side, so he said: "The prince's imperial examination has already violated the system, and if he becomes the number one scholar again, he may cause criticism. I think about it again and again, and promote Wang Ang as No. 1 Jinshi, and demote Zhao Kai as the second Jinshi."

After all this, it's so embarrassing to temporarily turn the prince into the second place.

Wang Ang, the number one scholar, was conferred on the Secretary of the Provincial School, while Zhao Kai, the No. [-] Jia Wang, was not conferred with an official position.

"The third Jinshi in this discipline is Zhang Tao from Raozhou!"

Zhang Tao's father, Zhang Gen, was a transshipment envoy on Huainan Road.

This did not cause any controversy, because Zhang Gen's reputation is excellent.

Zhang Gen will soon be demoted by Song Huizong to collect wine tax because of criticizing Hua Shigang.Then he continued to spray Changping's new law to harm the people, and was thrown by the emperor to be the deputy envoy of regiment training, completely becoming a loose official with no power.

The ancestors of the Zhang family also made great contributions to the country.

Zhang Qian had five brothers, four of whom were admitted to Jinshi, and only Zhang Qian was unwilling to take the imperial examination.He was familiar with all kinds of miscellaneous books at home, and discovered the copper smelting method from "Shen Nong Shu". After experimenting and improving, he asked his son to dedicate it to Su Zhe.

Since then, the Northern Song Dynasty had the wet copper smelting technology, and more than 15% of the national copper output in the Huizong Dynasty came from bile alum refining.

After the Southern Song Dynasty lost the northern copper mines, 85% of the country's copper production came from copper smelting with alum.

Moreover, the Zhang family is still continuing to improve the copper smelting method, and they are super rich in Shangrao.

At the end of the roll call, Ling Guxu got an official position and was thrown to Jiangxi to be the principal.

As for Li Hanzhang, he has not been awarded an official for the time being, so he has to continue to take the test.His father still has some contacts, so it is estimated that there will be no problem in the test, at least he will not be in short supply in the capital.

The Xinke Scholars came out of Donghuamen, and the people of the city followed and watched, but their expressions were very complicated.

Ling Guxu was invited to Li Hanzhang's rented house, and when he entered the door, he said, "It's unreasonable, I've never heard that a prince can take the number one prize!"

"Don't speak too loudly," Li Hanzhang lowered his voice, "This is not something we can discuss."

Although Ling Guxu lowered his voice, he still couldn't hide his anger: "The imperial examination is a very important event in the world, how can it be regarded as a trifling matter? I heard that King Jia is not satisfied, can he really win the first prize? In my opinion, I'm afraid Jinshi is not qualified enough, there are people leaking questions from the beginning to the end, and maybe there are people who help with the pen and knife."

Of course, Li Hanzhang was also very angry. After studying hard for so many years, he finally got a top five Jinshi.

Fortunately for Zhao Kai, he violated the rules of the imperial examinations as a prince, and won the first prize in an instant.

Some people even helped to wash the floor, saying that the prince secretly went to sign up for the exam without telling everyone.What about fooling around?

If the prince takes the exam, he has to be stamped and passed by the Governor of Kaifeng, and he has to be sent to the Ministry of Rites for review, and the chief examiner will also have to check his identity.How did these three procedures bypass them?

From top to bottom, everyone is helping King Jia Zhao Kai to cheat!

Not only Li Hanzhang and Ling Guxu, but also Jinshi Jinshi are talking about it.Those scholars who were not admitted to Jinshi and had not yet left the capital were even more furious, feeling the biggest insult since Kaimeng.

(End of this chapter)