Chapter 028 New Musket
In order to justify his research and development of firearms, Chen Cao set up a firearms factory under the name of Nanjing Youwei. The firearms factory was divided into a firearms workshop, a cement workshop, a water conservancy workshop, and a machinery workshop. In addition to the firearms workshop, , the other three workshops are just named Nanjing Youwei, and are essentially Chen Cao’s private property.
Chen Cao is a man from the arsenal in this world, and his specialty is making guns. Making matchlocks or flintlock guns is just a child's play. However, it takes time to teach Bi Maokang and Song Yingxing. Fortunately, Bi Maokang had the concept of flintlock guns before, and has always I couldn't find a breakthrough, but now I was taught a little by Chen, and I had a great enlightenment.
"Sir, the bolt side has been changed to flint. The entire gun and hook are made of steel hammered from the water conservancy factory. It is much lighter than the matchlock gun and its durability is also greatly improved." Bi Maokang pointed to the table. The finished product said.
The flintlock gun in front of Chen Cao was the first flintlock gun of the Ming Dynasty. It was a hundred years earlier than the world. In addition to himself, the middle-aged man in front of him also contributed a lot. In addition, he was the skilled firearms craftsman of the Ming Dynasty.
The workshop leader Song Yingxing handed over the gunpowder and lead bullets: "Sir, please..."
Chen Cao frowned and looked at Bi Maokang: "If you load it like this, if it rains, the firearm will be useless..."
An old craftsman who was watching also interjected: "As you said, I have thought of using flint before, but if you want to achieve what you said, it can be fired in heavy rain, then it will not work if the gunpowder and lead bullets are installed separately. I wonder if I could wrap the gunpowder and lead bullets in oil paper and put them directly in to see if they can fire."
Chen Cao looked at Bi Maokang and said: "Master Bi, what this master said makes sense. You can think about it carefully and see if you can get a paper shell bullet. Even in heavy rain, it can be fired directly in the barrel."
The production of brass bullets requires machine tools. Simple machine tool manufacturing is not a big problem, but if it is not electric, the production speed will be greatly slowed down. Chen Cao did not dare to do this from the beginning because time did not allow it, so he could only use flintlock guns in the early stage. Transition, and then draw the drawings for Bi Maokang, manufacture and load the gun. The bullets are still paper shells. The rest will be discussed later.
"Yes, I understand."
"Sir," Xin Zhao quickly walked into the workshop: "Sir, Mr. Xu arrived at Longjiang Ferry and brought a large number of Taixi people with him."
"Hurry up and greet me..." Chen Cao said, not caring about Bi Maokang, and led the people to rush towards the Longjiang Ferry.
Xu Guangqi had just returned from the capital. Because of Zhang Wenda's help, the frustrated Xu Guangqi agreed to come to Nanjing and bring all the missionaries from Shanghai County with him. This was not his wish, but Chen Cao's instruction.
"Your Majesty, Chen Cao, have met Mr. Xu..." Chen Cao stood respectfully in front of Xu Guangqi's carriage, looking extremely docile.
Xu Guangqi stepped out of the carriage, stroking his beard and smiling: "People say that the Jinyi Guards and Eagle Dogs are snobbish, and they are all tall and thick. I have also changed my mind when I see you, Chen Cao. The rumors are true."
Chen Cao handed over his hand and said: "Master Xu has given me the award. They are just rumors and cannot be taken seriously."
"That's not certain." Xu Guangqi said: "Before leaving the capital, all my colleagues sent me off and said that you, Chen Cao, are a sycophant. But I don't believe it. They all say that the people in the army are not very knowledgeable, but they can do 'not retreat'. , I’m afraid you are the only one today, Chen Cao.”
"Master Xu has given me the reward. I have prepared a banquet in the mansion and invited you to go with me."
"I have resigned. There is no need to call me 'Sir'. You have a close relationship with Deyun, and I happen to have a good relationship with you. From now on, you will call me a junior and call me 'Sir'."
"Junior, I obey..."
Outside the lobby of Chen Cao's residence, there were four tables of banquets. After three drinks, Xu Guangqi pointed to a middle-aged missionary next to him and introduced to Chen Cao: "YCIS, this priest's name is John Adam. He comes from the Kingdom of Prussia. He is very powerful in firearms and machinery. The Hongyi cannon that I donated to the imperial court in the early days was made by Father John."
Chen Cao smiled and saluted John, and then listened to him speak in not very standard Ming dialect: "God is merciful and sent me to the East to preach. I hope Master Chen can give us a chance to carry forward the teachings of the Holy Roman Empire. Jesus so loved the world…Hallelujah.”
Chen Cao turned his head and looked at Zhao Xin behind him. The boy lowered his head and whispered thoughtfully: "At the beginning of the forty-fourth year of Wanli, the group of Taixi people who preached in the east of the city forced the people of Ming Dynasty not to sacrifice their ancestors, and colluded with the White Lotus Sect. The imperial court ordered Wei Guogong to exterminate and escort this group of people to Macau. At that time, Mr. Xu went to Shu to defend this group of people..."
"No wonder..." Chen Cao knew it well. Although he was good at history, he really didn't know this. Those novels didn't write about the Nanjing lesson plan...
"Adam...no, it's still John..." Chen Cao forgot his name: "Sorry, the name is hard to pronounce..."
Father John laughed loudly, and then talked with Xu Guangqi in Thai and Spanish. Chen Cao didn't know whether they were speaking Italian or German, but he couldn't understand it anyway. Then Father John said in Ming dialect: "Sorry, Mr. Chen, I I’m going to follow the local custom and change my name to a Ming Dynasty name, and the Lord will definitely not blame me,” he said, crossing himself on his chest, and then said: “My Ming Dynasty name is Tang Ruowang...”
puff...
Chen Cao squirted out all the wine he had just drank, then touched his lips and looked at him in surprise: "What soup?"
Xu Guangqi smiled and said: "The homophone of his Thai and Western name is Tang Ruowang..."
Damn...
Chen Cao stared at Tang Ruowang, then clasped his fists: "Father Tang, I know a little about the cases in the past few years. It is not a big problem to continue preaching in Nanzhili, but Father Tang also has to help me. "
Hearing that he could continue to preach in Nanzhili, Tang Ruowang was ecstatic and said quickly: "What's the matter? As long as I can help, I will definitely help."
"This is a small matter for Father Tang," Chen Cao said, "I also ask Father Tang to recruit a group of skilled craftsmen from your country. We need talents in machinery, water conservancy, artillery, and firecrackers. You don't need many. A hundred people are enough..."
When Tang Ruowang heard this condition, he immediately agreed: "This is too simple. I have many teachers in this field, but they will definitely have conditions."
"What conditions?" Chen Cao frowned.
"Please allow them to preach freely," Tang Ruowang said seriously.
The Western Holy See is as fanatical as a warmonger about spreading Catholicism. As long as you can preach, you can get there no matter where you are.
Chen Cao frowned. These conditions were too simple, so he said: "No problem. As long as the people arrive, I will definitely help you to preach freely in Nanzhili."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen..."
Xu Guangqi happily handed over to Chen Cao: "I thank you Yaozhong..."
"You're welcome, sir..."
"Hey..." Tang Ruowang sighed, raised his glass to Chen Cao, and said melancholy: "All the adults in the Heavenly Kingdom think that my Taixi technique is a strange and obscene technique, and they dismiss it. If Liaodong uses the Portuguese Hongyi cannon, I believe the situation of the war will change a lot."
Chen Cao remembered an important thing at this time, so he asked: "I heard that Mr. Xu and Father Tang have done a lot of research on the calendar. I wonder if the priest knows the calculation of the Western calendar. How many years in the Western calendar should my Ming Dynasty be now?"
"1621 AD..." Xu Guangqi and Tang Ruowang said it together.
Xu Guangqi and Tang Ruowang cherish each other. They have studied the calendar very deeply. I believe that this calendar is something they have studied for a long time.
"I have repeatedly asked Your Majesty to use Hongyi cannons in Liaodong. The princes in the court still think that the world is still dominated by swords, guns, swords and halberds. A woman's opinion, a woman's opinion..." Xu Guangqi still complained to himself, The reason why he resigned was because he was ostracized. In addition, he valued Western erotic techniques, which made others think that he was a scum of Confucianism.
...
In the firearms workshop, Tang Ruowang looked at Bi Maokang's improved flintlock guns and paper shells, and kept praising them. They were more advanced than the flintlock guns in Europe and the West.
Nonsense, you have to look at who drew the drawings...
Chen Cao stood beside him and nodded with satisfaction. Bi Maokang was really good at firearms, and he solved this problem after a few simple suggestions.
"Sir, please take a look," Bi Maokang came to Chen Cao with a flintlock gun: "The paper shells of the paper shells are made of rice paper dipped in oil. After drying, they are made according to the model you wrapped. Even if it rains, the rain will The top will also slip off and will not soak the paper shell. The lead bullets on it were polished in the water conservancy workshop using a steel needle that rotates on a water wheel." He said, biting open the paper shell with his teeth in front of everyone. He then flipped the corner of the paper shell into the gun from the front and handed it to Chen Cao: "Please test the gun."
"Is there a good amount of gunpowder?" Chen Cao was not afraid of going to the battlefield, but he was afraid of dying from the explosion of the gun.
Bi Maokang vowed: "The amount will be increased little by little based on the usual one penny and seven cents. Each time the gun is increased, the gun will be tested until the amount of gunpowder is balanced."
"How much is it now?" Chen Cao picked up the paper shell next to him and looked at it carefully and asked.
"Three cents and five cents..." Bi Maokang said: "The longest distance can reach four hundred steps, and the killing distance of the enemy is two hundred and thirty steps. If it exceeds, the enemy will be seriously injured."
One step at this time is about one meter, and two hundred and thirty steps is a distance of 230 meters, which is even more powerful than the longest range of a matchlock gun.
"The actual distance of the matchlock gun is only 150 steps, but beyond the range of 50 steps, it cannot kill the enemy," Song Yingxing interjected: "With the advent of this gun, why worry about the immortality of the slaves?"
"Okay..." Chen Cao picked up the gun, pointed it at the straw man target a hundred meters away, aimed with one eye, and then pulled the trigger...
"boom..."
White smoke came out from the barrel of the gun, and a big hole was punched out in the straw man. There were cheers all around. Chen Cao put down the gun, looked at Bi Maokang and said: "Master Bi, each person in the workshop will be rewarded with one tael of silver. Take this model and give it to me." Forge 5,600 flintlock muskets and have 100,000 rounds of ammunition."
"The manpower is not enough for you." Bi Maokang handed over, showing embarrassment: "Now the workshop's productivity can produce up to 120 muskets and more than 500 bullets per month."
Chen Cao's mind was spinning very fast, and he immediately thought of a good idea: "Zhao Xin, make arrangements to gather the remaining soldiers of the Nanjing Right Guards and assign them to the firearms workshop and water conservancy workshop, and give each person two coins a month." Silver, help them produce.”
"yes..."
Chen Cao and Bi Maokang walked together alone, then took out a stack of blueprints from his arms and handed them to Bi Maokang: "I have studied a new type of musket, a breech-loading gun. I have seen springs made by some workshop vendors in Nanjing." , use the spring as the assist to pull the falling weight to hit the iron product, and suddenly came up with this idea. After you go back, you can gather experienced craftsmen to study these drawings and make the gun first. As for the bullets, you can also use paper shell bullets, but they need to be improved first. Our Ming Dynasty produced its own gunpowder."
Bi Maokang looked at the drawings and was very surprised: "Your Excellency is really an all-rounder. I am so lucky to be able to work under you..."
"There is no need to rush to flatter you," Chen Cao continued: "The muskets of the Western and Eastern countries all use the most advanced black powder, but the smoke is too big and the explosive power is small. See if you can start with gunpowder and summon those who make gunpowder. Old hand, let's see if adding something can make the gunpowder smoke smaller."
"I'll do my best, sir."
...
On the first day of September in the first year of Tianqi, the Nanjing Right Guard was officially formed into an army with a strength of 5,600 people. The commander was Chen Cao, the commander Song Che was the commander, and the minister Qi Xianzong was commanded. The whole guard mainly used firearms, but now there are only 100 muskets actually produced. branch.
Xu Hongji was on the garrison in Nanjing, and he had to participate in the Nanjing right-guard army. Also watching the ceremony were officials from the Nanjing Ministry of War. After Xu Hongji gave a speech, he led the people away.
Chen Cao stood on the stage and looked at the group of soldiers. He took out a special loudspeaker and said loudly: "I am Chen Cao, your commander. Half of you are from Zhejiang, and half are from Shaanxi and Shaanxi." Henan, your status is that of refugees and untouchables. However, as long as you enter Nanjing Youwei, I don't care what your status is. From now on, you are the soldiers of the imperial court and my soldiers, Chen Cao.
Listen clearly, everyone must train seriously. You are a guard. Each of you is paid one tael of silver per month. I hereby promise that I will never eat up your military pay. You will be paid on the first day of each month and have three meals a day. Full tube. "
"good..."
Chen Cao was used to the lectures of later generations of leaders, and he was very good at winning people's hearts, and he immediately stunned these people.
Nanjing Youwei's barracks were built in less than three months using a combination of cement and masonry. They were sheltered from wind and rain and were extremely strong. The rows of barracks were built neatly and standardly, in line with those of later generations. The military barracks are very similar. Each small banner unit lives in one room. The standard...
In the first team barracks, the newly appointed flag officer Yan Chun sighed, and then said: "Life used to be a hopeless life, but it is different now. Master Chen is a good person."
A young man looked at the other and said, "Xin Laosan, I heard that you are from Zhejiang. What do you think of what the adults said today?"
Xin Laosan was at least thirty years old. When Qi Xianzong was recruiting soldiers in Zhejiang, he was unwilling to come. He also had a wife and daughter at home, but he thought that his brothers in his village had gone to Guanhaiwei to serve as soldiers, so he sent back two or three pieces of money every month. With money, life will have a hope.
"Our village has been a pariah for generations." Xin Laosan took a sip of his dinner and scooped up the remaining rice soup. This was only available to wealthy families in their village. "Originally, I wanted to earn a living, but I lost my fortune the day I was selected. One tael of silver, tell me, do you believe it?"
"Letter..." the rest of the people in the room said in unison.
"We are all refugees..." The young man from before called Zhang Ting: "Our village is in Shaanxi. There has been a drought since the year before last year. Last year, there was no harvest. The chief envoy even asked to recruit Liaoxiang for Liaodong. I couldn't survive, so I had to run away. My younger brother and parents all went to work in the workshop, not only taking care of food and housing, but also got a monthly salary of two coins. When they entered the workshop a few days ago, they were paid A monthly payment, a full six dollars..."
Xin Laosan looked surprised: "Really?"
Yan Chun also nodded: "My family is also a refugee. All four members of my family went there and were given eight coins. Your Excellency built a barracks on the land behind the Jubao Mountain behind the workshop. Every family moved in, but Your Excellency We are strictly ordered to keep secrets in the workshop. If it is leaked, we will kill him immediately..."
"Is there such a good thing?" Xin Laosan was immediately moved and asked: "Master Xiao Qi, do you think I will have a chance to join the workshop now that I have brought my family to Nanjing?"
Yan Chun said: "Of course there is. Now that the workshop is growing and there is not enough manpower, it needs manpower. But your Majesty ordered us to only have the military surplus of our Wei brothers. I want to wait until I contact my relatives and get them all. At least I will have two coins. The money is not enough, it’s enough to feed the family for a month.”
"What did you say?"
The barracks they lived in had no doors, only curtains for easy entry and exit, and there was no soundproofing when talking. Chen Cao led someone into the room, and Yan Chun was frightened. He quickly stood up and saluted Chen Cao: "I've seen you in this humble position." grown ups."
"See you, sir..." Everyone else quickly got up and got out of bed, standing behind Yan Chun to salute Chen Cao.
"No need to be restrained, just sit..."
Chen Cao sat down on the edge of the bed. Everyone was embarrassed. Zhang Fengnian, a soldier behind him, shouted: "My lord, please sit down. This is a military order."
Everyone sat on the bed, all a little restrained. Chen Cao smiled and said: "As Xin Laosan said, they are all untouchables. If they don't have a special purpose, they will be untouchables all their lives. Even if they come to the army, they are still military households. Untouchable," although Chen Cao was young, he spoke with an old spirit: "But as long as you have money, you'll be fine, right."
"Your Majesty is right..."
Chen Cao nodded: "You Wei are sending people from the workshop now. You can bring all your family members here. As long as you train well and get paid during the holidays, I will pay you out of my own pocket."
"Why do you treat us like this?" Xin Laosan couldn't help but ask.
Chen Cao thought for a moment and said with a smile: "You are all my subjects of the Ming Dynasty. If you follow me, I have the obligation to lead you to wealth..."
After a while of silence in the barracks...
"I am willing to die for my lord..." Everyone saluted in unison.
"Hahaha..." Chen Cao laughed a few times, clapped his legs and stood up: "You all train hard and don't be lazy. If anyone is lazy and fails the subsequent test training, go back to your hometown. I am the right guard of Nanjing. We don’t need idiots who can’t even shoot a musket.”
...
"Husband, your savings are gone." Li Xiang took the account book and was calculating the abacus. This talented woman not only knew the appointments of officials before and after the Ming Dynasty, but also knew the Four Books and Five Classics by heart: "There is nothing we can do. Fortunately, we still have There is a bookstore, otherwise..."
Xiaochun is undressing Chen Cao. The person who dislikes Chen Cao the most has become a dowry maid because Li Xiang married Chen Cao. Heating the bed is a must. Chen Cao also deliberately asks Xiaochun to undress him every time.
"Husband..." Li Xiang shouted softly, and then said helplessly: "If you like Xiaochun, you can just let her have sex. Why torture her every time..."
"Ah..." Chen Cao came to his senses, and then said seriously: "I'll think of something else if the money is gone. The military camp is really a money-consuming place. The other two Liaozhai books I wrote will be on sale tomorrow, priced at five taels of silver each. The final edition will be sold for 10,000 copies, remember, it covers the entire Ming Dynasty."
"Five taels?" Li Xiang couldn't believe his ears: "This price?"
"There are so many rich people in Jinling. Just because of your golden name as husband... Okay, let's go to bed and do business. You are the head wife of my Chen family..."
...
"What? Five taels of silver a piece?" A noble housekeeper shouted at the door of Juxianju: "Mr. Nalan's writing style has become a money-making tool in the eyes of you powerful guys. You are a killer. Tell me, did you set such a high price on purpose?"
Zhou Decai looked unhappy, stared at the housekeeper in front of him, and sneered: "If you don't like it, you can go to other bookstores to buy pirated books. The price set by my husband must be reasonable."
The butler was the first in line. At that moment, five middle-aged butlers behind him came out and said mockingly: "Mr. Nalan's current signboard is not comparable to Bai Mengsheng's. A book worth five taels of silver is mine, Marquis of Jinshan." The mansion thought it was a little short. Shopkeeper Zhou, I ordered five hundred copies of each of the second and third volumes of A Chinese Ghost Story for the Marquis of Jinshan."
"Oh..."
The people in line sighed, and at this moment, Zhou Decai announced: "My husband said that the second and third volumes of A Chinese Ghost Story will be sold in the Ming Dynasty for 10,000 yuan each. Everyone, the booksellers in Zhejiang and Huguang have already decided Two thousand copies, and the booksellers in North Zhili each ordered four thousand copies. In other words, there are only four thousand copies left in our southern Zhili territory. If you don't buy them quickly, they will be gone. When the pirated books come out, other books will be gone. I’m afraid the content will be greatly reduced.”
"Nanjing's Household Minister's Office each ordered ten copies..."
"Fuyang Bofu each ordered thirty copies..."
"The Minister of War in Nanjing has ordered fifteen volumes each..."
"My family ordered ten copies each..."
For a time, the entire Juxianju was like an auction, and enthusiastic buying began. In less than half an hour, all the remaining 4,000 books were sold out. Some bought them with banknotes, and some bought them with cash. Gold and silver, Zhou Decai smiled from ear to ear, while Li Xiang and Chen Cao sat in a private room on the second floor of Juxianju and watched the lively scene downstairs.
"Husband, you are really amazing," Li Xiang looked at Chen Cao affectionately: "Yun Wen Yun Wu, your power is long..."
"What Long?" Chen Cao frowned. The first person understood, but the second didn't know: "Look, I've got these one hundred thousand taels of silver. I can use it in the workshop for at least two to three months," he said to himself. Said: "Bi Maokang's money is not a fuel-efficient lamp. The cost of a flintlock gun is actually three taels of silver, not counting bullets and subsequent maintenance costs..."
Li Xiang pursed his lips and said, "Husband, I've finished writing A Chinese Ghost Story. Do you still have any leftovers?"
Chen Cao stood up, turned to look at Li Xiang and smiled mysteriously: "Your husband didn't have any skills before, but he read too many novels of all kinds..."
"Old Zhou, if there is a strong public sentiment and requests for more printings, we can add up to two thousand more copies for each copy, absolutely no more."
"I understand..."
