In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 511 The embryonic form of the train and the emergence of electricity

Making thirty complete rounds of artillery shells every day requires six different factories of the Bureau of Firearms. Not counting the officials and craftsmen at the front and rear, more than 450 workers are involved.

The cost is quite high. If the daily output is to reach 300 rounds, more than 2,000 workers will be needed.

The annual output is only 100,000 pieces.

And according to Xu Li, it is estimated that about one-twentieth of them may not be able to fire, that is, they will not explode after being fired.

Because many of the final steps are done manually, there are bound to be mistakes.

"On average, how much does a new artillery shell cost?"

"At least twenty strings."

"..." Zhao Yurui.

Equivalent to company costs plus labor, the Song Dynasty produced 100,000 new artillery shells every year, which required an investment of 2 million.

Of course, now Zhao Yurui feels that 100,000 rounds can be used for several years. We can't bombard them as indiscriminately as in later generations. We should save what we can.

Then Zhao Yurui followed Xu Li to see the new rifled breech-loaded flintlock gun.

It was not until 1841 that the breech-loading firing mechanism was improved and it became a popular rifle all over the world.

Soon Tang Zheng, Asil and others came to greet His Majesty the Emperor and took him to an open area first.

Zhao Yurui proposed that the ratio of barrel to caliber should be widened. During World War I, the length of the cannon was 30-45 times the caliber, the muzzle velocity was 477-785 meters, and the range reached 7800-22800 meters.

Of course, the reason why it has not been improved before is because the rifling has just been developed, and the longer the gun, the more difficult it is to get the rifling, which is also the main direction of subsequent research.

Later, the Science and Technology Department was established, and these experts were brought together to specialize in studying various compounds for machine tools, including the ratio of alloy steel. The Science and Technology Department was also divided into many branches, and now there are hundreds of professionals.

If you build them in batches now, wait a few years for the firing pin type to come out, and then replace them in large quantities, it will be too expensive.

This breech-loaded flintlock gun still uses a flintlock ignition method, similar to the M1819 rifle that Sam equipped in large quantities in the th century.

"This is called a train track, a car track." Tang Zheng explained.

There is definitely a huge difference between the firing pin type and the ignition type. The difficulty is the change in the bullet.

Everyone looked suddenly enlightened, as if they understood, but in fact they still didn't understand.

"In addition, the power of the steam engine is insufficient, and so is the hydraulic power. Sometimes it requires manual assistance. If the Department of Science and Technology is asked to continue to improve the steam engine, it can reduce labor and reduce costs."

The Bureau of Firearms used to upgrade in a step-by-step manner, but now it has changed its approach. For example, new artillery shells are not listed for installation, but accessories are made and stored. They continue to study the rear-fire type and cancel the ignition type, all in one step.

Zhao Yurui nodded, thinking that steam engines were not used for this purpose and would eventually have to be replaced by electricity.

This will be gone after a battle in later generations, which only takes a day or two, or even one day.

Zhao Yurui tried several shots with his own hands. After the breech-loaded flintlock rifle was rifled, its firing range exceeded 300 steps, and its effective range could reach between 180 and 200 steps.

The Hall 1819 rifle is also a breech-loaded flintlock rifle because parts can be mass-produced and then assembled to become a rifle that Sam equipped in large quantities.

The place where Zhao Yurui entered this time was heavily guarded, and many officials were not allowed to enter. Zhao Yurui only brought a few important officials in.

The premise of everything is the need for corresponding machines, so now Zhao Yurui has a special technology department that specializes in researching various machines.

Tang Bo was considered a senior official of the Firearms Bureau, but this was the first time he even saw what his son was doing.

The track is not long, just over 100 meters. At the east end is a large carriage-like box with wheels. This is the first train carriage in the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Yurui planned to build dozens or hundreds of new rifled cannons, mainly for use in the Persian Gulf and the campaign against Mongolia. However, only a few of the new breech-loaded flintlock guns were built because Zhao Yurui planned to do it all in one step, starting from ignition. style, changed to firing pin style.

During World War II, the length of the cannon was 49.5 times the caliber, the muzzle velocity reached 925 meters, and the range reached 30000 miles or meters.

Of course, at this distance, the hit rate is still a problem. According to target practice, a high hit rate must be controlled within 150 steps.

"The next step is to work on the barrel and caliber comparison, and get it right in one step."

The Song Dynasty can barely make breech-loaded firing pin artillery shells and is still researching them, but bullets are even more difficult.

Zhao Yurui and Xu Li discussed it and felt that the research on machine tools in the Song Dynasty must be accelerated. Not only can they manufacture parts in batches, they must also be able to measure bullets in batches.

Xu Li went on to say that after the problems with the new shells and breech-loading firing are solved, the artillery can also be modified according to His Majesty's requirements. With the changes in caliber and barrel, it can fire for more than ten or twenty miles, or even dozens of miles. It won't be a problem.

At the earliest, the Science and Technology Department was led by Tang Zheng and Aixier, who each led a group of people to do their own work. Tang Zheng mainly researched steam engines, and Aixier worked on compounds.

So Zhao Yurui plans to wait for future generations of bullets to come out, and directly use the Hall 1841, with a firing pin installed in the rear. The effective range can reach 800-1300 steps, and it can shoot 8 to 9 rounds per minute. It can shoot quickly and can hit 10 hair.

The basis of industry is gasoline and rubber, but what is most lacking now is electricity.

""The front and carriage of this car weigh a total of two thousand kilograms. "

The Song Dynasty is now also designing cannons to increase the length of the barrel.

"The most difficult thing to solve is the machine. This thing cannot be done by hand like cannonballs. How many workers are needed to do it?"

Zhao Yurui thought that cannons in the 19th century could hit more than 20 miles, and the Song Dynasty was now close to the level of the 19th century.

Of course, this may also take time to study. Xu Li estimated that within ten years, the artillery of the Song Dynasty could hit at least twenty miles.

"Let's go to the Science and Technology Department." Zhao Yurui finally selected a few craftsmen officials and took them to the Science and Technology Department together.

"What kind of ladder is this?" Tang Zheng's father Tang Bo asked.

Everyone saw that the ground here had been repaired, and two metal-like tracks were laid out, as if the ladders were lying flat on the ground.

"Make the cannonball smaller. Its structure is similar to that of a bullet. The warhead is simpler and does not need to be able to explode."

"It's a two-cylinder steam engine."

"The boiler is equipped with a flat cylinder. The locomotive has two pairs of driving wheels, driven by gears, with an axis arrangement of 0-2-0. The locomotive is equipped with a large flywheel, which uses its rotational inertia power to keep the cylinder piston reciprocating sports."

This carriage can only accommodate two people. The space is too small and is occupied by the steam engine. This is far from the first steam train in history, but Zhao Yurui has no intention of making a train at this time. It is just a test subject.

Everyone watched on the side, and after a while, kacha kacha, with a loud noise, the carriage began to move forward.

Everyone was amazed. This was the first time they saw a carriage without horses. This speed is relatively slow, about ten kilometers per hour, which sounds very fast, but there is no manned carriage. If the carriages and materials or personnel are added, the speed will be greatly reduced.

Therefore, it is not practical yet. It is just a test product to prove that the steam engine can drive the carriage and that His Majesty's train will be feasible in the future.

After reading it, of course everyone around me was bragging about the emperor’s awesomeness.

Zhao Yurui was still dissatisfied because the train still seemed quite far away. At this power speed, the steam engine still needed to be improved and continued to be improved.

But for the craftsmen of the Song Dynasty, it was already quite good. After all, it had only been about twenty years since Zhao Yurui came to power, and it only took fifteen years for technology to really develop.

"Your Majesty, what will be the use of this train in the future?" At this time, the first assistant Qin Zhuo asked tentatively. He knew that this thing took a lot of energy and money from the Song Dynasty, but it looked ordinary.

"The power is not enough now, and other aspects need to be improved. After the improvement, you can see that its carriages can pull ten or twenty carriages. Each carriage can be several times larger than it is now, because my current track is relatively small. Yes, the track can be enlarged by then.”

"The carriages can be enlarged and can pull ten or twenty cars. One train can transport several battalions of sergeants, or tens of thousands of grain grains."

"He doesn't need horses. As long as the rails are built to that point, he can pull it there day and night, for twelve hours."

After Zhao Yurui explained a little, all the officials and craftsmen present could understand.

"What a sharp weapon for the country." someone exclaimed.

"After the train comes out, the effectiveness of domestic sea and river transportation will be greatly reduced, labor costs can be reduced, and efficiency will be improved. In the future, the management of rivers will be mainly about waterproofing, and transportation problems will be secondary."

Zhao Yurui's current train and track are a smaller version, and there are still many aspects that need to be improved. Tang Zheng and Aixier believe that if they are given another two years, there should be no problem in pulling up a complete carriage.

Zhao Yurui said on the spot that they would give rewards to those who participated in the steam train research, and then followed the two of them to another more secretive and strictly guarded factory area.

After entering the factory, Zhao Yurui stopped suddenly, then looked left and right at the officials.

The ministers were puzzled.

Zhao Yurui suddenly said loudly: "My dear friends, have you ever paid attention to some natural phenomena?"

"If someone is very close to you and talks loudly into your ears, will you feel your ears buzzing? Do you feel the same when we are watching a cannonball at the artillery range?"

"My lord, this is indeed the case. Every time I have sex, I cover my ears, and I can still feel the buzzing in my head."

Zhao Yurui nodded: "Throwing things into the water will not only cause splashes, but also ripples in the water."

"When the amplitude of sound is large enough, sound waves will be produced, and when water is acted upon, water waves will also be produced."

"Sound waves are invisible, but they can be sensed. The stronger the sound waves, the more uncomfortable people will feel."

"Then, my dear friends, are there any other waves out there?"

Qin Zhuo had an idea and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, is there still a storm?"

This Qin Zhuo is quite smart. He thought that if the sound wave could not be seen and the wind could not be seen, there might be some trouble.

Zhao Yurui was stunned for a moment when he was asked, but he quickly came to his senses: "Qin Aiqing has a lot of ideas." She neither denied him nor recognized him, which was a favor to her father-in-law Qin Zhuo.

Before Qin Zhuo could ask again, he hurriedly asked: "Do you, dear friends, know about electricity?"

"Thunder and lightning?" someone asked in surprise.

Ancient people were still in awe of thunder and lightning, and usually considered it to be a god.

"Thunder is thunder, and lightning is electricity." Zhao Yurui continued to show off his sense of superiority over the nine-year compulsory education: "The transmission of thunder is sound waves, because they propagate slower than electric light, so we all see lightning first. , hear the thunder again.”

"Everyone can look outside the window or door during thunder and lightning. You will see the light first and then hear the sound."

"And electricity not only exists in natural weather, we can also create it in daily life."

"Friction can easily generate electricity. Lovers have never worn plush or heavy cotton clothes. If you can see the light when you take off your clothes in the dark night, that is electricity. You can even feel the stinging sensation on your skin. Then Just got an electric shock——"

"Electricity has unparalleled and miraculous functions. I can say without exaggeration that as long as the Song Dynasty invented electricity first, no matter how profligate the emperors in the future were, the Song Dynasty, or I, the people of the Song Dynasty, will always be in the lead and unrivaled - —”

Zhao Yurui's words were exciting, but everyone was dubious. After all, electricity is so magical, and everyone used to be in awe of it.

But what Zhao Yurui said was clear-cut, and almost everything Zhao Yurui said over the years has come true. Everyone also has deep admiration and even worship and trust for Zhao Yurui from the bottom of their hearts.

Following in the footsteps of Zhao and Rui, the most important cabinet members of the Song Dynasty are being brought step by step into the industrialized world.

Everyone soon saw a novel picture.

A large pool was built on site. A thick layer of stuff could be seen in the pool and it was melting. On the edge of the pool, there were workers pouring some stuff into it.

Qin Zhuo had sharp eyes and could tell what it was at a glance: "Your Majesty, is the salt in this pouring water?"

"Yes, I'm teaching them to use salt water."

While Zhao and Rui were talking, he asked someone to bring new gadgets from the side.

While putting it into the pool, he explained to the ministers.

"This is a piece of copper, this is a piece of zinc. We used to call it white lead or molten tin. It is the fourth most common metal in our world."

Someone immediately asked: "What are the first three?"

Someone silently calculated in their mind, gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, this so-called zinc, actually ranked fourth?
Normally no one pays attention.

The ancients called it white lead, which was rarely used and difficult to obtain, so many people heard it for the first time.

Zhao Yurui thought for a moment and then said: "Iron, copper, silver." That's all I can say now, but in future generations, it will be changed to iron, aluminum, and copper.

The fourth common thing mentioned by Zhao Yurui actually does not exist now.

Making zinc was still troublesome in ancient times. Before the Song Dynasty, it was not possible to produce elemental zinc on a large scale. It was not until after the Song Dynasty that calamine was used to make elemental zinc or brass. At that time, its main function was also to make brass.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. In the Song Dynasty, due to the loss in casting copper coins, it had not yet been vigorously developed. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, due to the great efforts to make copper coins, the demand for elemental zinc reached its peak. In the early Qing Dynasty, only Guizhou Province, lead The output of zinc and zinc reached more than 8 million jin.

In 1872, in a sunken ship from Guangzhou to Europe, a metal block from the 98.99th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty was discovered. After determination, it was a zinc ingot with a zinc content of . This was a zinc block from the Ming Dynasty. For hundreds of years, Later, it was sold to Sweden by the Qing Dynasty and then sank in the sea. It can be seen that the elemental zinc technology of the Ming Dynasty was also relatively developed.

Qin Zhuo's son had worked with Zhao Yurui on copper coins and knew that they could be used to make brass, which was also an important material for coining coins in the Song Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)