Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

The Pegasus sloop made by craftsmen from England, Guizhou and Liberia has been launched, and the sailors recruited from the British business house and Macau are also in place, but the artillery on the ship has not landed.Given that he had already spent a lot of money on snow sugar and sugarcane liqueur last year, Zheng Kezang had no choice but to find Chen Yonghua with the cheek.

"This feudal clan can only produce more than a dozen large and small red barbarian guns in a month, and the eldest son needs [-] per mouth. How can we give this number?" Chen Yonghua shook his head repeatedly when he heard Zheng Kezang's request. "Furthermore, the eldest son is not unaware that our domain has blocked the army of northern captives by the Wulong River. The war is imminent. All kinds of military resources have been ordered to be transferred to Fuzhou, and the artillery is naturally among them."

"There are only a dozen or so per month?" Zheng Kezang was taken aback immediately. This output is really too high. You must know that the data in his memory shows that Guangdong alone can produce about [-] cannons a month in the late Ming Dynasty. Compared with Taiwan's artillery production system, it is a scumbag. "Why is the number of cannons so low?"

"The iron smelting workshop of the Ministry of Industry produces no more than [-] catties of refined iron per month, and one cannon easily costs [-] catties. Even if all the cannons are used to make cannons, how many can they make?" Chen Yonghua shook his head, really hungry In the Han Dynasty, ironware was used everywhere in Taiwan, and for this reason they even had to import arrowheads from the sworn enemy, the Dutch. How could they all be used to make cannons? "Besides, the cannon-casting process is cumbersome, and one negligence can become a useless cannon." If it were anyone else, Chen Yonghua would not have to say so carefully, but Zheng Kezang has a reputation for being fond of miscellaneous studies, so he can't be too perfunctory. "In this way, the natural monthly production is insufficient."

The problem of refined iron involves ore raw materials and fuel, and Zheng Kezang is unable to solve it. However, regarding casting cannons, Zheng Kezang has a lot of information from Du Niang. For this reason, he asked Ying: "I have read Mr. Chuyang's "The Divine Machine of the Western Method", if you let Yu go to the iron smelting workshop of the Ministry of Industry to see how it is, maybe you can increase the production of a few."

Chen Yonghua frowned, Zheng Kezang had the idea of ​​iron smelting workshop last time, and now he still has some evil intentions, which made him quite disappointed and worried, but Mr. Chuyang Sun Yuanhua is a well-known firearms expert in Daming, if Zheng Kezang Zang Zhen had read "Western Magic Machine", which "first discusses casting guns, second discusses pharmacy, and then discusses the reasons for hitting", which was of great benefit to improving the national defense level of Ming and Zheng. For a while, Chen Yonghua also hesitated.

However, Chen Yonghua also has concerns, so he only made a decision after pondering for a while: "Of course the eldest son wants to go and have a look, but you have to make three chapters with the eldest son. First, the eldest son must not intervene in the personnel affairs of the workshop. , do not change the artifacts in the workshop, and thirdly, the eldest son can try to cast the cannon by himself, but it is limited to three people. If it fails, the materials cannot be wasted. If the eldest son agrees to these three points, the servant will issue a warrant immediately."

The iron smelting industry in Dongning was actually synchronized with the development of the entire iron smelting industry in the Ming Dynasty. Not only did the molten iron flowing out of the ironmaking furnace flow directly into the iron frying furnace to fry the mature iron described in Song Yingxing's "Tiangong Kaiwu". The operation mode of the iron furnace and the iron frying furnace in series, and there is a semi-continuous operation technology of the iron-making furnace that blocks the tap hole with mud after tapping, and blasts the iron for re-smelting.If there is no improvement in the regenerator of the ironmaking blast furnace and the utilization of waste gas, in fact, Zheng Kezang does not have a choice of technology that is more suitable for this era.But because of Chen Yonghua's restriction, Zheng Kezang couldn't even make such changes.

Although he couldn't make any changes, Zheng Kezang didn't just come here to watch the flowers. Compared with the pig iron production, which is difficult to grow explosively even after improving the technology due to the limitation of raw materials, how to make faster, more economical and better casting guns is the most important thing. The ultimate purpose of his trip.

"This is the clay model?" Zheng Kezang looked at a whole piece of clay model that had dried and formed on the side of the hot iron smelting furnace, and couldn't help asking Dudu, the Ministry of Industry, who was accompanying him with some doubts. "Pour the molten iron into it and wait for it to coagulate? Then how to ensure that there will be no trachoma?"

"My lord, the molten iron for casting cannons is not directly from the iron smelting furnace." The temperature of the molten iron just out of the furnace is generally around 1250c, which may cause deformation of the clay mold, so it needs to be pre-cooled. "During cooling, the craftsmen will stir to let the air bubbles disperse, so as to reduce the appearance of trachoma. Of course, it is impossible to say that there are no trachoma, it's just a question of how much, so after casting, you have to test the gun."

Zheng Kezang nodded knowingly, but soon shook his head in doubt.He nodded because he knew that it was possible to inspect some defective products in advance through the test gun, but he shook his head because he was worried that in order to avoid responsibility and increase production, he would reduce the charge during the test gun, so that it seemed that the pass rate was high. But it can't be used much on the battlefield.

Zheng Kezang nodded and shook his head again, confusing Du Dushi. He didn't know what Zheng Kezang was trying to show.

Du Dushi wanted to ask, but he was only a sixth-ranker, so how dare he speak to Yuanzi of this feudal clan recklessly, so he had to pretend to turn a blind eye, and asked lightly: "What kind of work does the eldest son want to build?" cannon?"

"Six-pound, no, two-inch long guns (Note: 1 Gongbuchi is about 033 meters, which should be regarded as four-pound guns), four-inch short guns (Note: equivalent to 28-pound guns), three-and-a-half-inch long guns (Note: : Equivalent to [-]-pound guns) and one each." Zheng Kezang used the power granted by Chen Yonghua to the limit, but with three guns and three calibers, three clay models were also made, and Du Du had the final say. Just about to report the time needed to make molds, Zheng Kezang waved his hand. "The cannon made of mud mold contains too much sand in the cannon body, which is not conducive to multiple shots, so Yu Jiaoer waited for a new method, using iron mold to cast the cannon."

Du Dushi looked at Zheng Kezang dumbfounded: "My lord, what is this iron model, I have never heard of it before."

Tie Fan, Du Dushi naturally would not have heard of it. This is another technology that appeared nearly 150 years later. At that time, Gong Zhenlin, the county magistrate of Jiaxing County, Zhejiang, was in charge of presiding over the Ningbo area after the outbreak of the Opium War. Casting cannons, due to the tight construction schedule, it is impossible to use the mud model method for construction. Gong Zhenlin created a new technology after thinking hard, staying up all night, and after several experiments.

Regarding the origin of this craft, Zheng Kezang couldn’t say much, but told the other party to do it according to the steps he explained: first, make the mold petals according to the inner and outer diameters of the cannon; Two layers of grout. In Gong Zhenlin’s original plan, the first layer of grout was made of fine rice husk ash and fine sand. Zheng Kezang used plaster of paris instead, and the second layer of grout was made of fine coal powder for water transfer. It is made; then the two petals are joined together, tightened with iron hoops, and heated; then successively, forming the shape of the cannon; finally, the molten metal is cast; after the molten metal is poured enough, after cooling and forming, immediately follow the order of the mold petals Peel off the iron mold, like peeling off the shell of a bamboo shoot, to gradually expose the gun body, and then remove the dry plaster in the gun core. Naturally, there will be no large burrs in the bore, and there will be no large air bubble traces on the outer wall.

Even though Du Dushi didn't take it seriously, facing the powerful Zheng Kezang, he had to do what he promised.

However, after the first six-pound long cannon was cast, Du Dushi's color remained unchanged, and he went to Zheng Kezang himself to sing praises: "My lord, it's amazing, this cannon, this cannon!"

Du Dushi’s excited words are not expressive, but Zheng Kezang is very clear that compared with the traditional clay model mold casting cannon, the iron mold casting cannon’s process is simple and easy to replicate, and it is not limited by the cooling and drying time of the clay mold, which can shorten the manufacturing cycle. Reducing the production cost, although it can't completely solve the problem of trachoma, can greatly reduce the sand content of the gun body, thereby improving the casting quality of the gun.

Compared with the extremely excited Chief Du, Zheng Kezang was very calm. He knew that even if the iron model manufacturing method was adopted, the artillery of the Qing army could not threaten the British warships in the Opium War, so he must be in front of them. Only by further improving the performance of the artillery can we meet the challenges in the future.

Since it was an improvement, Zheng Kezang did not expect to reach the sky in one step, so he started with the second cannon, and Zheng Kezang began to test the water cooling method of the inner mold on the basis of the iron mold.To adopt the water cooling method of the inner mold, it is necessary to make a double iron mold, so that the water used to cool the inner mold can be poured into the inner layer, so as to generate stress and cause the effect of the barrel self-tightening

"In this way, the eldest son has come up with a great secret method this time." Listening to Du Dushi's report, Chen Yonghua sat on the chair in shock. Of course, he still couldn't recognize the beauty of the inner mold cooling method. However, just one iron mold artillery method is enough to double the monthly production of artillery in the Dongning Ministry of War. "You did a good job in this matter, but such techniques are related to the life and death of this clan, and they must not be easily transferred to the mainland, you understand."

Du Du left Chen Yonghua's signing room worrying about gains and losses. Thinking about it, it is true that he can get Chen Yonghua's personal interview with soldiers and win praises, and he will naturally have a bright future in the future. I am afraid that the whole family will also be implicated

After Du Dushi resigned, Chen Yonghua also fell into deep thought.Zheng Kezang's talent in miscellaneous learning made him worry a lot about the future of this Yuanzi while he was curious. However, Yang Xian's admonition that miscellaneous learning is more useful than morality in troubled times rang in his ears. In addition, Zheng Kezang's vision on the military strategy also surprised him. Is it beneficial or detrimental to Taiwan's future to have such a Yuanzi as Dongning's successor?

Chen Yonghua had a premonition that, just like when he refused Zhu Chenggong to arrange him as Zhu Jin Sutra teacher, he might face the most difficult choice again

"Yi Jiaoxi, it's up to you to make the shooting table for this gun." Zheng Kezang didn't know anything about the troubles of Chen Yonghua and Du Du. Yi Shilao, who is a deserter from the Boys Battalion Artillery Instructor with multiple identities, ordered so.

As one of the biggest achievements of Zheng Kezang's sending people to Macau, Yi Shilao felt very useless and consciously touched his red rosacea nose: "If you don't have the tools that His Highness promised, this shooting means There is no way to make it."

"Don't worry, you can draw the style of the thing. If you can make wet cannon brushes, dry cannon brushes, etc., I will arrange for someone to make them for you. If you can't make them, I will find a way to buy them for you, but Before, we had to make things simple and overcome it.”

"What do you mean by overcoming?"

"To overcome means to go up if you have the conditions, and if you don't have the conditions, you have to go up."

"No, no," Yi Shilao hurriedly shook his head. "Your Highness, you can't do this"

Of course, Yi Shilao finally succumbed to the silver thrown by Zheng Kezang, but Zheng Kezang still had a lot to overcome, such as fixing gunpowder, purifying gunpowder and changing the ratio of the three bases, etc., so Zheng Kezang There are still many, many things that Ke Zang has to do