As the flintlock gun began to be imitated and developed, Liu Yan also set his sights on another technology, which was paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition. This is a powerful weapon that complements the flintlock gun, and Liu Yan will naturally not let it go.
Although according to Tan Xiaoda, it will take time to successfully imitate flintlock bird muskets, paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition can be put into daily use. This technology is not difficult. After mass production, even bird muskets using match ropes It can also be installed and used.
So the next day, Liu Yan called Tan Xiaoda to the general flag office and talked about the matter. After explaining it in detail, Liu Yan asked Tan Xiaoda. Technology, whether this paper-cased bullet can be mass-produced.
At this time, the gunmen in the Ming army had customized ammunition loading. For example, in the Qi family army, each gunman carried fifty-three bamboo tubes containing gunpowder, all of which were rationed. There were also fifty-three pieces of lead in the other bag. Other Ming armies also had more or less similar methods, but in different forms, and most of the effects were unsatisfactory.
However, the existence of such a method shows that the Ming army already had the technical concept of fixed-loading ammunition at this time, but it can go one step further, which is the paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition that Liu Yan thought of.
The paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition contains a fixed amount of gunpowder and projectiles in a long paper tube, with the gunpowder at the back and the projectiles in the front. When loading, the gunman needs to bite open the paper tube with his mouth, first pour some gunpowder into the fire door of the gun, and then stuff the remaining gunpowder and projectiles into the mouth of the gun.
This not only ensures that the power of the bullets is basically the same for each shot, but also greatly reduces the steps for loading gunpowder. The original more than 20 steps can now be completed in just a few steps. This allows an ordinary soldier's gunshot player to achieve a speed of two to three rounds per minute. A skilled birdgunner can shoot four times per minute without any problem.
Such a rate of fire allows cannon players to fire a denser rain of bullets. Liu Yan believes that cannon players who have undergone rigorous training, coupled with custom-loaded paper shells, can fire very well even against the Jiannu cavalry. exchange ratio.
When facing off against Jiannu in the future, Liu Yan will be able to use relatively cheap but powerful gunshots to compete with Jiannu's veterans. Anyway, Jiannu's soldiers are all elites who have been accumulated for several years, or even more than ten years. Veterans, one less person dies! This is not the case for Liu Yan's cannon players. As long as the production of cannons can keep up, they can be trained in one month and can be directly deployed on the battlefield in two months!
Of course, the paper used to make paper shells for fixed-loading bombs cannot be ordinary rice paper, but kraft paper that has a certain hardness and can isolate moisture. In addition, grease must be applied around the finished paper case fixed-loading ammunition to provide lubrication during loading and to ensure the dryness of the ammunition to a certain extent.
Tan Xiaoda pondered for a long time, then raised his hands and said: "The armor commander is really talented. This method is indeed exquisite. It can greatly increase the firing speed of our bird gunners. It is similar to the regulations set by General Qi back then. Moreover, Chief A’s idea goes even further.”
But then Tan Xiaoda looked embarrassed again and said: "It's just that more manpower is needed to separate powder and load ammunition, and kraft paper must be specially purchased in the fort, and military expenditures will also increase accordingly. With the current Firearms Manufacturing Supervision Department The number of craftsmen, if I want to mass-produce this kind of paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition, I am afraid that I will be short of manpower."
Liu Yan said: "You don't have to worry about this. I will send some manpower to you. In addition, there is no need to worry about money. Now we in Dapanbao don't have to worry about money."
Dapanbao now has more than a thousand residents, including more than 600 men and more than 500 women. It can be said that the manpower is quite sufficient.
So Liu Yan thought about it for a while and said, "Let's build another workshop next to the firearms supervision office. I will assign fifteen old and weak men and twenty strong women to you. You can let them pack it every day." Ammunition, and their monthly rations and food will also be distributed from the fort in the future.”
Tan Xiaoda's face showed joy. This way, he didn't have to worry about manpower issues.
Liu Yan emphasized: "The amount of medicine in each fixed paper tube must be weighed to be the same. You must supervise this point."
Tan Xiaodao: "Don't worry, sir, my subordinates will definitely take care of it."
In the afternoon of the next day, Tan Xiao made a few samples of fixed-paper tube ammunition, put them in a special oil-packed ammunition bag, and took them outside the fort for test firing. We need to see the actual effect first, and then proceed to mass production.
At this time, not only Liu Yan came to the place where the test was fired to watch, but Flag Officer Wang Yue and Flag Officer Wang Bo also came after hearing the news, wanting to see what the benefits of this fixed-loading ammunition were.
Liu Yan first found a gunman to explain the use of fixed-loaded paper shells, and then asked him to test-fire.
I saw the gunman holding the gun in his hand, first opened the fire door, then pulled out a fixed paper shell and popped it out, bit open one end of the paper shell cartridge with his teeth, and poured some gunpowder into the fire door. Inside. Then close the fire door, then stuff the gunpowder and projectiles in the paper tube into the gun tube, stab it with a straight rod, and the match rope has already been installed. Now you are ready for shooting!
The gunman tried firing several muskets. He was a little unfamiliar at first, but then became more and more proficient. Everyone watching showed surprised expressions. This fixed-loaded paper shell bullet was so convenient to use.
Liu Yan also had a smile on his face. According to Liu Yan's estimation, this fixed-loading paper shell can indeed save a lot of reloading time. Now this gunman is relatively skilled and can probably fire three rounds in one minute. about. The rest of the gunners, after becoming proficient, can basically fire about two rounds per minute. Even on the battlefield, under the influence of various circumstances, it is very easy to fire one round per minute.
This was despite the fact that the training of gunners was not very strict. Liu Yan planned to wait until the firearms manufacturing department's production capacity was higher, and then let his gunners conduct saturation live-fire training, using piles of ammunition to train the gunners. Gunslinger's rate of fire and accuracy.
By that time, Liu Yan had reason to believe that his gunners would be able to fire three to four rounds per minute!
Then the matter was settled like this. Liu Yan ordered the construction of another courtyard next to the firearms supervision office. He also selected a group of old people and women in the fort to help Tan Xiao make ammunition. These people can use it in the future. You will receive a fixed monthly ration of food and work, and if you do a lot better, you will also be rewarded.
Liu Yan handed over the matter to Wang Yue, a small flag officer. Wang Yue agreed with a smile on his face. It only took one day to recruit all the people, and quickly coordinated some of the craftsmen who built the fort wall. Build a courtyard next to the building.
This newly selected group of old and weak men and women are very happy. They are not the main labor force in the family on weekdays, but now they can also receive monthly rations and food. This makes them feel that they are useful and return to The voices at home became louder.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days later, the yard next to the Firearms Supervision Office was completed.
In fact, it is not completely new. There are already several houses here, which have not been allocated yet. They are all vacant. This time, Wang Yue just led the craftsmen to build a new courtyard wall and tidy up a few houses. Just one session.
In addition, all the newly recruited manpower were in place. Tan Xiaoda led people to transport the required kraft paper and gunpowder, and began to assign manpower to mass-produce customized paper shells.
At this time, the gunpowder in the fort was made in the Firearms Supervisory Office. Under the leadership of Tan Xiaoda, the Firearms Supervisory Office had grown to a large scale, with three branches: the Gunpowder Factory, the Bingjia Factory, and the Firearms Factory.
The Gunpowder Workshop specializes in the production of gunpowder, the Bingjia Workshop produces armor, swords, and spears, and the Firearms Workshop now specializes in the production of blunderbuss.
After most of the day's teaching, these workers all learned how to make, and the entire workshop began to operate.
This workshop that produces paper-cased fixed-loading ammunition is affiliated with the firearms workshop. Tan Xiaoda left a craftsman here to guide the production, and was ready to return to the firearms supervision department. After all, the top priority now is to imitate the flintlock gun. Come on, this matter has become the top priority in Tan Xiaoda's heart.
But when Tan Xiaoda returned, he was approached by his apprentice Zhao Yu.
Zhao Hao is one of Tan Xiaoda's proud apprentices, and is now in charge of the production of the gunpowder factory.
Zhao Hao is twenty-seven or eight years old. He is thin and small, but very energetic. He is the best at learning and the most careful among Tan Xiaoda's apprentices. That's why Zhao Hao was placed in the Gunpowder Factory by Tan Xiaoda. This is a relatively dangerous place, and only the careful and cautious Zhao Hao can let Tan Xiaoda use it with confidence.
"What's the matter?"
Tan Xiaoda was still anxious to study the flint-haired musket, so he asked directly.
Zhao Yan said: "Master, the output of the gunpowder factory is gradually increasing, but the supply of saltpeter cannot keep up. It is estimated that there will be a gap this month, and the output of gunpowder can only stop."
"What!"
Tan Xiaoda said: "Commander A didn't say that when buying saltpeter and other supplies, you don't have to worry about the price. Just go ahead and buy it. Why is there still a shortage of saltpeter?"
Zhao Hao smiled bitterly and said: "Master, the control over saltpeter is becoming more and more strict now. It is no longer available in Wangjiazhuang. We can only send people to buy it from Qianhu in front of Xiahe Village. Moreover, it is still expensive but not available. If you are unlucky, you won’t be able to buy it even if you have money, and you will be arrested instead.”
"This is going to be difficult."
Tan Xiaoda frowned and said, "You go back first, I'll go see the commander to discuss it."
"yes."
Tan Xiaoda had no choice but to go to the flag office again and report the lack of saltpeter.
Liu Yan didn't expect that the supply of saltpeter would be out of supply. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be a problem.
Liu Yan first asked Tan Xiaoda to sit down and take a breath, then thought for a while and then felt relieved.
Now in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and other places, the army of thieves is running around, disrupting almost everything north of the Yellow River. All Ming armies are exhausted, and there is war almost everywhere in the north of the Ming Dynasty.
Under this circumstance, even if the firearms equipped by the Ming army were no longer useful, the demand for gunpowder would skyrocket, so the control of saltpeter in various places would inevitably become more and more strict.
"It seems that the method of ensuring the supply of gunpowder raw materials through purchasing is not feasible!"
Liu Yan was also a little worried. There was a lack of saltpeter mines in various parts of Shandong. In addition, he was only a commander of a camp, and he could not openly mine saltpeter mines. This was different from industries such as salt drying fields. What was saltpeter used for? , everyone knows!
Therefore, even if Liu Yan finds a saltpeter mine, if he mines it rashly, he will definitely get into trouble, and even Wang Wenzhen will directly fall out with him.
So Liu Yan thought for a while, and suddenly an idea flashed in his mind, and then he said to Tan Xiaoda with a smile: "Don't worry, it doesn't matter if you can't buy saltpeter, I have a way! I just plan to go to the Firearms Supervision Department for inspection in the next two days. Fan, let’s set it for tomorrow, and let’s discuss the matter of saltpeter by the way.”
