Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 584 Cannon Factory

But to let people know the benefits of mechanical equipment, seeing is believing.It is impossible to bring everyone to Lingao to experience the industrial capabilities of Lingao. The only way is to set up a model on the mainland.Since Li Luoyou wants to build a gun factory, this is the best example.Wu De believes that the effectiveness of these equipments in production will have a great impact on the indigenous people, enough to arouse their interest in new technologies and new equipment.

"The industry and commerce in the late Ming Dynasty was still very developed, and there were already a group of factory owners." Wu De said, "We will not be able to get in the south of the Yangtze River for a while, but Guangdong still has potential. We upgrade the equipment to make it A number of emerging factories have sprung up in the local area, mastering relatively primitive but large-scale industrial production capacity. This will lay a foundation for our future control and industrialization of the Pearl River Delta.”

In the long run, all manufacturing industries can be controlled by controlling the equipment manufacturing industry.This kind of technology diffusion will not do any damage to Lingao's technological hegemony, and it can also stimulate Lingao's local equipment manufacturing industry through a steady stream of external orders.

"However, can the people of Ming Dynasty link the artillery factory with productivity? After seeing it, they are most artificial: this Australian artillery factory is very powerful, but that's all. It won't be connected with civilian industries such as weaving and spinning." .”

"Well, I also feel skeptical," Zhan Wuya said, "Modern people live in an industrial society and have a basic knowledge of industry. According to the ancients, ordinary businessmen probably don't have this connection ability."

"Probably the foundry will be aware. Like mechanized blowers."

"We can't underestimate the creativity of indigenous people." Wu De said, "Besides, windmills and water turbines already exist in China. What we provide is just an upgraded version with better efficiency and greater output. At least the value of these two Most people can see it."

At this time, Wen Desi coughed: "I want to ask. According to our strategy, we follow the strategy of 'non-intervention' and 'mainland check and balance'. Now we are not selling guns to Ming Dynasty, but directly exporting the tools for making guns." , The proliferation of military technology is against strategic policy. "

"I think it can be ignored." Wu De said, "Wang Zunde himself is a cannon-making madman. Every time he organizes a cannon, he counts hundreds of times. We provide equipment because his cannons are better in quality and faster in production. A little. The most direct result is nothing more than being able to build more cannons."

Wu De said: "In the end, even if we give them 12-pound Napoleon guns now, I think the Ming army can't do anything about Jiannu. A few new weapons can't change anything."

More cannons will not save the fate of Ming Dynasty. This is proved by history. Sun Yuanhua hired Portuguese as his coach, and the new army trained in Dengzhou using Western firearms was destroyed in the civil strife in Ming Dynasty, which proved that "arms" cannot Save Daming.From this point of view, the sale of some equipment by the traverser to Daming will not have a qualitative change in the balance of the mainland.

"Everyone, I remind everyone that there is a question not to forget." Yu Eshui jumped out again to remind everyone, "Zheng Zhilong received a large amount of aid from Xiong Wencan after he asked, from large warships to artillery, Fujian Chief Secretary gave He has given him a lot of assistance. Guangdong and Fujian are adjacent, and Wang Zunde is a big gun maker, and it is very likely that some of the artillery will flow into Zheng Zhilong's hands."

"Zheng Zhilong is too busy to beat Li Kuiqi by himself now, otherwise he would have come to beat us long ago." Wu De disagreed, "Even if a few cannons fell into his hands, they would have been used on Li Kuiqi.

This issue was debated for a long time at the State Council, and finally a compromise was reached, only exporting water turbines, windmills, gearboxes, blowers and artillery boring machines, and not exporting iron mold manufacturing technology - the latter greatly improves the production speed of artillery .Although some people estimate that it is unlikely that too many artillery pieces will be built in terms of Daming's tragic financial situation.

Then someone proposed at the State Council that although technology diffusion is inevitable, it is best to have a special department to evaluate how to spread and which technologies to spread, so as not to pose a threat to the strategic situation.

Therefore, it was decided to set up a "Technical Coordination Office" under the Ministry of Science and Technology to be responsible for evaluating the output technology and products.

Li Luoyou did not know that a secret meeting was held on this issue, and in the next few days he traveled leisurely and traveled around.In order to show his strength, Liu San also arranged for him to visit everywhere.

The holy ship is now a popular attraction, and it is a must-see for someone like Li Luoyou who is qualified as a state guest.Early the next morning, Liu San accompanied him to Bopu in a carriage and entered the Navy Pier surrounded by barbed wire.

Li Luoyou carefully looked at the Australian soldiers wearing blue uniforms and straw hats. They were different from the soldiers we saw in Dongmen City, except that the uniforms were blue, and the ones wearing domes A flat straw hat with a brim, and a black cloth belt around the straw hat, and two ribbons hanging down from the back of the neck.

Liu San prepared a new "certificate" for him and Quark each, with "valid for the day" and "valid for one time" stamped with eye-catching red stamps.

After verifying the documents and documents, Liu San took them on a rowboat and headed for the Fengcheng ship.

When Li Luoyou stepped onto the deck of the Fengcheng ship, he stood on the towering and open deck, and the sea breeze blew by, and his legs and feet suddenly couldn't move.

With great difficulty, he managed to adjust his breathing, and slowly moved forward.Rough steel decks underfoot.Huge rusty chains.Li Luoyou walked carefully to the side of the ship and looked down. Below was the rippling sea water. He felt dizzy for a while, so he quickly looked away.

Although it is a boat, it doesn't feel a little shaking and ups and downs.Really rock solid.

Li Luoyou felt the cold steel side of the ship, such a ship was beyond his comprehension.He pondered for a moment and asked Liu San: "This ship is so big, how can it sail?"

"Use a machine."

"Machine?" Li Luoyou asked, "If a machine is not pulled by horses and oxen, it is a windmill and a water wheel. Windmills and water wheels are obviously impossible. Could it be that there are many horses and oxen in the belly of the boat to drive it? How many horses and oxen are needed!"

"No matter how many horses and oxen there are, they can't be driven." Liu San thought that Li Luoyou still had some knowledge, and had the concept of "power", "it uses the power of steam."

In fact, Fengcheng uses large marine diesel engines.Liu San felt unable to explain the concept of the internal combustion engine, so he chose a simple one.

"Steam? Can I see it?"

"Why not? But the machinery on this ship is huge, and the bottom is dark, so you can't see clearly. The factory is similar but smaller."

"Can the machinery used on the ship be used in the workshop?"

"Why not?" Liu San felt strange.

Li Luoyou didn't ask any more questions, and stared for a long time at the Armstrong rifled heavy gun glowing blue on the deck, at the circular sliding track below and the huge conical shell standing next to it.

Originally, he had always suspected that this cannon was a Xibei product for show.Needless to say, how can such a giant cannon be propelled by manpower?But such an iron ship can be driven from Australia thousands of miles away to Lingao, so what is the cannon.

The Australians have spent so much money here, so there is such a sharp weapon!

Thinking of this, the hope of buying guns from Lingao suddenly became very urgent.He suddenly whispered to Liu San, "Does your sire have any clues about selling guns?"

Although Liu San has not received a formal notice of this matter, he has been formally notified of the situation at the meeting.The thing about selling guns is definitely over.He said vaguely: "I haven't heard of it yet."

"If you can get the help of the third master in this matter, Li will be very grateful!" He said with a wink.

Of course Liu San understands, don't say that he really has to help, just let out a little rumor, and the other party will send you a valuable gift right away.Yesterday at Dongmen City, although the quality of the ginseng he wanted to give to Li Mei was unknown, it would definitely not be cheap.This is just a gift to show their goodwill, if you want to win me over, please entrust me with a job, a century-old top-quality old mountain ginseng, the shopkeeper Li Da will not be lenient.

But this benefit is absolutely unacceptable.Yesterday Li Luoyou was going to give a gift to Li Mei, and a report was sent that night.He could only vaguely say: "This matter requires patience."

Li Luoyou looked at the sea and asked in an almost inaudible voice: "Who do you need to take care of by Li?"

Liu San had no choice but to pretend not to hear.

Li Luoyou was a little disappointed to see that these Australians were determined not to accept any bribes.Thinking about it again, they are indeed not rare for ordinary treasures. As for ginseng and the like, people from overseas probably don't know its benefits.It seems that only the beauty trick can work.

After thinking all the way, he was taken to Bopu Arsenal.This is the main artillery manufacturing base of the Crossing Group.It is produced by both the army and navy artillery.However, the navy has a great demand for artillery, and at this stage it mainly produces naval artillery.

For the sake of safety, the arsenal itself is a fortress, a tall wall with stone foundations and red brick walls, a fortress-like main entrance and trenches.In front of the gatehouse, there are sailors with live ammunition standing guard.Huge roars and impacts were continuously emitted from the towering red brick wall, and white and black smoke continuously emitted from behind the wall.There was a strong, pungent smell in the air.

Li Luoyou hesitated for a moment, and he also hesitated when he saw Quark.This place is scary to look at.The two made the sign of the cross at the same time, and silently recited a scripture before following Liu San in.

In the arsenal, there are one iron frame house after another, each house is as high as three floors, the door is open, and there are black steel machines inside, roaring tirelessly.On the iron strip road, workers pushed the tackle, which was full of iron ingots and steel blocks.

They visited the cannon foundry, and the huge heat from the simultaneous operation of more than a dozen furnaces made it almost impossible for them to stand still.The workers were well dressed, with towels wrapped around their faces and black blindfolds.

The red molten iron flows to the sprue with a "hiss" sound.For a while, the smoke filled the air.Let Quark cough violently, cover his face and escape.

Li Luoyou is much better in comparison.Ever since he wanted to undertake the business of casting cannons, he often went to the foundry to see how the workers made cannons.So this will be bearable-he really wants to see how the famous "Australian cannon" is made.

From the looks of it now, the Australian's cannon casting did not exceed his expectations. He still made molds and poured them.Of course, they are much larger in scale, use more tools and equipment, and work much faster than the workers in Foshan.

But he immediately discovered the difference in the next workshop - the cast blank was actually solid!How does this work?I saw the workers using a crane to lift the cannon blanks and send them to hot ovens for heating. After a certain time, they hoisted the cannon blanks again. The red hot cannon blanks were carefully hoisted onto an iron pulley and clamped on them. Between a pair of huge iron tools, the clamp then turned ninety degrees.Workers wheeled the car over to a large hammer-dropping machine.

In the midst of the steam, Li Luoyou watched as the huge hammer slid down from the top of the shelf, beating the red-hot cannon embryo hard, and the workers operated the iron clip, turning it intermittently while the hammer was being lifted again. Touching the cannon embryo, let the hammer strike foot by foot.Red sparks burst out continuously with the sound of huge hammering.The hard iron is about to be changed under the hammer like dough,

The huge vibration and heat made it almost impossible for a group of people to stay by the side for an extra minute.Li Luoyou looked at it for a while and was already drenched in sweat.

The pungent smell, thick smoke, huge noise and the powerful force displayed by the machine, neither Li Luoyou nor Quark has ever seen such a scene.The biggest scenes Quark had ever seen were the woolen mills and shipyards of England, but they were quiet gardens by comparison.

Craftsmen wearing clothes stained black by smoke and sweat were working amidst the smoke and noise, manipulating huge machines. They were running and shouting. More than a dozen people pushed a certain machine hard together. Their muscles protruded, one by one. It seems Kong Wu is powerful.Li Luoyou couldn't help feeling horrified.It is like the armory of the devil, the smithy of hell!
A kind of fear permeated his heart.He felt like he was losing his self-control—God, is my soul going to get lost here?He secretly prayed, feeling that he should leave here immediately, but an unprecedented force did not let him leave.He vaguely realized that he had seen something that he shouldn't have seen. This was a kind of power, a power that no one in this world had ever seen before.A door suddenly opened to him, and he couldn't help but want to see it clearly.

The forged cannon blanks were sent away on iron pulleys.Li Luoyou saw them again in the next workshop, and he thought it must not have been forged just now, because there were still a lot of cannon embryos piled up in the workshop.There are many black machines installed here, the base is stone, and on the roof of the workshop, there are iron shafts that rotate rapidly one by one. Many belts extend from the shafts, rotating rapidly, driving many iron wheels to rotate.

The hammered steel ingots were mounted on huge iron beds, and slowly moved forward at an inclined angle. If he looked carefully, he found that the cannon blanks were rapidly rotating towards something like a knife. , Wisps of iron filings flew out of the gun body continuously.At the same time, foul-smelling oil was continuously dripping from the body of the cannon, as if it had flowed from the knife.

Soon, the mottled and uneven cannon embryos that had been hammered turned into a shiny and smooth surface.

Li Luoyou was stunned for a moment. "Cutting iron like mud" was a word that appeared in his mind.He has seen Japanese swords that can cut iron like mud, but they are made of the best steel, which took countless efforts, and they are also precious swords in Japan.The Australians actually used such a precious knife to cut cannons!

He was even more shocked in the next scene. The cannon blank was fixed on a frame, and a multi-edged steel knife was spinning rapidly, spinning in the middle of the solid cannon blank. Iron filings were continuously brought out by the knife head, mixed with Black sewage.A smell of hot iron mixed with grease filled the air.

It turns out that the barrel of this gun was drilled out with a knife, and the Australian knife is so powerful!Li Luoyou thought, this is not wood, but a big iron block!At most, there is a gap between iron and iron, so how can a hole be dug?

Finally, he finally saw the finished product, the gun barrels of different sizes were shining blue, and they were mounted on the iron frame of the iron pulley.Li Luoyou secretly calculated that in this foundry alone, more than fifty cannons were being made at the same time!In Foshan, it would take five or six months for the workers to make all the raw materials—just one poured clay mold would have to wait for a month to dry.

"It's really amazing!" Li Luoyou had a thrilling feeling, "No wonder everyone says that the Australian firearms are unparalleled in the world! The cannons made in this way are no match for a few blacksmiths pouring iron ingots!"

Quark also nodded: "Master Li, this gun factory is a hundred times better than the UK—the best gun factory in Europe!" He took a greedy breath, "If they fully opened up their production capacity, it would be impossible to conquer the whole of China. Difficult!"

"Can you expand production?" Li Luoyou was taken aback.

"Didn't you see that many machines are not running?" Quark said, "If all of them are turned on..." He shook his head, "Master Li, I don't think you need to entrust me with running the gun factory."

Li Luoyou didn't know that he had already negotiated with the cross-travelers about the slave trade, and had a faster and easier way to make money, and he was no longer interested in running the foundry, so he just shirked it.Li Luoyou thought he was being sincere, so he couldn't help but nodded and said: "It's just a sharp weapon of this country, they may not be willing to sell it."

Seeing that they were in a state of despair, Liu San hurriedly asked them to rest in the arsenal's office, first brought hot towels, and then sent someone to bring ice-cold kvass.The two were shocked for a while, and Li Luoyou immediately had a lot of questions to ask him; why was the cannon cast not hollow instead of solid and then drilled out?What kind of knife can actually cut iron?Why beat the cannon?
Liu San didn't know anything about all his questions. Li Luoyou thought he wanted to keep it secret, so he had no choice but to stop asking. In fact, Liu San was not a student, so he didn't want to keep it secret.

(End of this chapter)