golden scales

Zhu Cihong came out of the martial arts hall, appeased the veteran, and rushed to the gun factory without stopping.

To be precise, this is just a research department of the gun factory, which is only responsible for research and trial production.The factory actually responsible for casting artillery was located in Jiaozhou, which was convenient for equipping Xiao Tugeng's firearms department.

Tang Ruowang was waiting at the door early, pacing back and forth.Whenever he turned his back to the sunset, he would think of the days when he was wrapped in a cloth bag and tortured.When he turned around again, and his dark heart was soothed by the afterglow of the setting sun, he would think of the promise made to him by the Crown Prince, as long as he could make meritorious service, he would be able to promote Tianxue in Daming and support missionary work... At that time, The glory of God will shine on this land, and I can return to the kingdom of the Lord in heaven with peace of mind and enjoy eternal tranquility, holiness and glory.

In this anticipation mixed with fear, he finally saw the Crown Prince and his guards.The dust raised high announced the arrival of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, without any other guard of honor, he rushed directly and plainly.

"Chen Tang Ruowang, pay homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Tang Ruowang hurriedly went up to him, holding the bridle for Zhu Cihong.

Zhu Cihong stood up and dismounted: "Why is Mr. Tang waiting here? I heard that the gun factory has made some small progress?"

"Your Highness!" Tang Ruowang exclaimed trembling uncontrollably, "It's not just a small progress! This is the clarion call of another era! It's the gospel sown by the Lord to Daming!"

Zhu Cihong was startled, and threw the reins to the servants who came forward to greet him: "Go inside and talk." He waved to Min Ziruo again, and said in a low voice, "Let Liu Ruoyu bring someone here."

Min Ziruo was a little surprised, turned around and walked towards another guard.Whisper a few words.The guard reined in the horse's head, whipped the horse fast, and headed for the city again.

Zhu Cihong glanced at Tang Ruowang and read his doubts.He just smiled and said, "Go, let's go in."

The gate of this village, shaped like a military fort, had already been opened wide, welcoming Zhu Cihong and his party to enter.

The entire stockade is divided into workshop area, residential area, and research area, just like a pie divided into three pieces.Zhu Cilang followed Tang Ruowang into the main building of the research area, but did not enter the comfortably furnished living room, but went straight to the underground hall.

This underground hall is more than one foot deep underground and brightly lit. It is a secret room for the gun factory to store important items and prevent people from peeping and eavesdropping.Later generations thought that people in the Ming Dynasty did not have the concept of technology patents, so they did not have the awareness of technology secrecy.That just underestimates the life wisdom of the ancients.

Literati and craftsmen know the significance of secrecy far better than soldiers.Therefore, craftsmen will not easily reveal their craftsmanship.The firearms books written by literati will also deliberately write the Western and Western units of measurement into the Ming system, but do not perform data conversion.Or directly vague words, just talk about the general regardless of the details.Therefore, relying on the technical books of the Ming people to make artillery or steelmaking is no different from seeking fish from trees.

"Please take a look, Your Highness." Tang Ruowang said excitedly.

The underground hall is brightly lit, and there is a cannon in the middle, which can be seen at a glance as a small-caliber red cannon.

Zhu Cilang circled the cannon twice, stretched out his hand to touch the smooth cannon body, opened his mouth to compare the caliber of the cannon, and asked doubtfully, "What's so special about this cannon?"

"Your Highness, although this cannon can only fire four-pound shells, it is a declaration of the arrival of a new era." Tang Ruowang said excitedly: "Because it is special not because of the cannon itself. It is a brand new casting method! Your Highness, you I'm afraid it's totally unbelievable, but it only took two months from putting into the experiment to producing the first cannon! Two months, Your Highness! And as long as there are enough materials, it is absolutely possible to produce one cannon per day Production speed!"

Zhu Cihong's face was as calm as water, and he was not affected by Tang Ruowang's high-pitched and excited voice.He touched the smooth cannon body again, and said, "Who made it? Let him come to see me." If the cannon has been trial-produced for two months, then there must be someone else who started the experiment.

Tang Ruowang was obviously shocked by Zhu Cihong's attitude, the raging fire in his heart was extinguished in an instant, he calmed down his previous voice, and said in frustration: "Obey."

Zhu Cihong watched Tang Ruowang go upstairs, squatted down, the smell of iron mixed with sulfur rushed into his nostrils.From the body of the cannon, there is really no air hole trachoma, and it is indeed a qualified cannon.

One model is produced for each model... So this mold can be reused... Iron fan cast cannon?

Zhu Cilang recalled a visit in his previous life. It seems that before the Opium War, a county magistrate invented the iron cast cannon, and produced more than 40 cannons in one month, [-] years ahead of the West.Because of this rare leading record, the iron mold casting method has been artificially raised a lot.In fact, the West was taking the forging route at that time, and high-tonnage hydraulic presses would soon be launched, so naturally they would not return to the casting method.

But going back to the time point of [-], the high-quality and high-yield iron mold cast cannon is definitely a magic weapon!While Zhu Cihong was excited, he was also a little ashamed. He had never thought of such an important and efficient technical means.Think about it, the material science and casting technology before the Opium War were only weaker than they are now, as long as they are willing to invest, they will definitely be able to replicate.

"Min Ziruo." Zhu Cihong said softly.

"exist!"

"Send people to guard the gate of the village, not to enter or leave, and when Liu Ruoyu's men arrive, completely surround the place." Zhu Cihong said: "Also, send people to Pingdu to transfer the cavalry of the two bureaus, and let Zhou Yuji personally lead the team."

Although Min Ziruo was puzzled, he didn't ask any questions, and just turned around to execute.

When Tang Ruowang came down, he didn't know about Min Ziruo's mission, and he was still wondering why the chief guard left alone.Behind Tang Ruowang is a young craftsman with a mustache, which does not match his immature baby face.

"Cao, Cao, Cao Min Xu Xie pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The craftsman knelt down, trembling uncontrollably.

"Get up and talk." Zhu Cihong stretched out his palm and raised it vainly, and said with a smile, "You came up with this iron mold casting method?"

"Yes, oh! No! No... yes!" Xu Xie's lips were fighting, and he was spinning between yes and no for a long time.

Zhu Cihong laughed loudly, and said, "Don't panic, just talk a little bit."

Only then did Xu Xie remember that the crown prince had asked him to speak standing up, so she hurriedly got up from the ground, opened her mouth slightly to stop her trembling lips, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said, "Hui, Hui Your Highness, Cao Min is from Tieling, Liaodong, and his ancestors were artisans. During the Yongle period, there was merit in casting big bells, except for the craftsmanship. But the craftsmanship was not discarded. Later, when the Tatars broke Tieling, the small family fled into the pass and went all the way to Shandong to join relatives. Catch up with the disasters in Shandong in those years, and the craftsmen had no way to survive. , and finally waited until Master Shen came to recruit craftsmen, and the young one came to vote. Thank you, Your Highness, for the bowl of rice! Thank you, Your Highness, for saving your life!"

As Xu Xie said, she was about to kneel down again.

Zhu Cihong raised his chin, asked the guards to support him, and said, "You came up with this cast iron cannon?"

Xu Xie said: "Your Highness, in my old life, I used to cast iron and bronze wares, which are nothing more than three kinds of gold, clay, and wax. In the past, when we encountered bad iron, we used copper and iron as molds, and directly cast agricultural tools. After coming here, see Clay molds are prone to foaming, and the barrel needs to be cleaned, so I thought about using iron molds to cast the cannon."

"Is it easy?" Zhu Cihong was a little surprised: If traditionally there is a metal mold casting method, and the degree of difficulty is not high, why have clay molds been used since the invention of artillery?Tie Fan's advantage is completely irresistible!

"It's not very easy." Xu Xie said: "One is that the steel used by Tie Fan is good, but it was not successful at first, and then it was made by using Fan's steel. Then there are two layers of paint inside, which are used by Caomin..."

"Wait!" Zhu Cihong held Xu Xie back and said, "I don't need to elaborate on this, just write it in a booklet and send it to me directly."

"Your Highness..." Xu Xie looked distressed: "The grassroots are illiterate..."

"Lu Suyao." Zhu Cihong called out immediately.

"The subordinate is here." Lu Suyao hurried forward.

"Order the attendants to match Xu Xie with two secretaries, and then find a talented and beautiful court lady from the palace to marry him." Zhu Ciwang looked at Xu Xie: "Are you not married yet?" Xu Xie writhed his Adam's apple and stared With his eyes wide open, he couldn't imagine how the gold ingot that fell from the sky would hit him on the head.

Zhu Cihong continued to give Lu Suyao instructions: "Baron Xu Xie, bestow rank seven, make his father Xuan Yilang and his mother a child. Reward 500 taels of silver and [-] taels of gold."

Xu Xie's whole face twitched, and he stood there dumbfounded.

Ps:

I’m going back to Chengdu today, and it might be a little later on the second day. Please recommend tickets and monthly tickets~~~