Sunday is just a symbolic term for a certain prince. He adheres to the fine tradition of not taking a break during the day all year round. Since there are too many bound books and on-site inspections that need to be drawn up personally, a certain prince cannot take any time off from his busy schedule.
At most, he would take a short nap and continue to write metaphysical works that deceived Bo Dacaizi in the morning. In the afternoon, there was a very important event, which was a weapons test outside the city.
Because the armor factory has developed and actually copied Zha Ming's version of the "Congreve" rocket. This kind of thing with amazing power and range must not be test-fired in the city.
In terms of shell technology, Zha Ming's factory is still unique in the world. Except for the Western-style ocean-going battleships with the most complicated craftsmanship, which cannot be imitated for the time being, other hot and cold weapons can be cloned in full size.
This is mainly due to the fact that the Ming army used a large number of small and medium-sized rockets, such as the "Three Flying Arrows", "Swarm of Bees", "Fire Dragon Water" and other models, which played a decisive role in combating Japanese pirate invasions.
Compared with the original version of the Congreve rocket, the Zha Ming version is heavier, reaching 31 kilograms, with a projectile length of three feet and a diameter of four inches. The balance rod installed at the rear is also much shorter than the British version, only two meters long. .
In order to prevent the Ming version of the rocket from deviating from the planned trajectory after launch, a certain prince specially set up sword-flag-shaped side wings and tail fins, a total of eight, which can be used together with the balance rod to adjust the rocket's flight.
Before seeing the grand launch with his own eyes, Yaoji was not sure whether the thing made by the armor factory was a rocket launcher or a large "Sky Monkey"...
It has not yet been realized. The TEL version of the rocket is divided into a medicine vehicle and a launch vehicle.
If you don't have a fat driver, a donkey cart can transport eight rockets. This is currently the most cost-effective ammunition transport vehicle for the Ming army.
According to a certain prince, all combat vehicles must adhere to the guiding principles of being cheap, strong, and durable. The launch vehicles manufactured in the factory are also very small and are only used as launch platforms, so the appearance does not need to be too tall.
Yaoji was in a safe zone a hundred meters away, using a telescope to watch two strong men carrying a rocket one after another, moving it from the ammunition truck to the launch vehicle, and placing it at a 45-degree angle. on the shelf.
Looking at everyone's eager eyes, Yaoji could only pray silently in his heart: I hope it won't explode on the spot, that would be too embarrassing...
This is just one of the models. In order to avoid complete failure, a certain prince also designed a heavy-duty version and a light-duty version.
Of course, the routine is the same, but due to the difference in the amount of charge and the weight of the warhead, there may be differences during the test firing. This is just a small expectation of a certain prince.
Regarding Zha Ming's granulated black gunpowder, Yaoji is relatively assured. Due to the purification process, compared with the flames of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, its performance has been greatly improved, and its rapid ignition is second to none.
Ming people have long realized that granulated black powder is easier to transport than powdered gunpowder, because during transportation, the gunpowder will be bumped for a long time, and powdered gunpowder may delaminate.
The charcoal is on top and the sulfur is on the bottom, which not only affects the firing power, but also easily explodes the chamber. Sometimes it sticks to the barrel, making it difficult to clean.
Granular gunpowder significantly enhances its oxidizing ability, effectively reduces hygroscopicity, and facilitates storage and transportation. Its advantages are obvious.
In terms of the manufacture of artillery and muskets, Zha Ming lagged behind the West and even the Japanese, but his research on gunpowder was very in-depth and his understanding was very thorough.
Both "Artifact Manual" and "The Essentials of Fire Attack" clearly explain and explain various aspects of granular gunpowder. The book also teaches you how to make this thing...
That's why a certain prince dared to try this, otherwise there would really be a situation where the high-energy explosion ahead would happen!
A strong man lit the fuse and then ran quickly to the back of the mound. The fuse was very long and had enough burning time to give the strong man about ten seconds to run away.
Since it was version 1.0, no one had much confidence, so a certain prince changed the pulling method to the ignition method, otherwise it might really turn into popcorn...
The weather is sunny today, with only dozens of clouds in the huge sky. There is no need to worry about rain. In fact, it is good to have rain once a week.
In today's northern region, the last thing you need to worry about is going out without an umbrella. If there is enough rain, it won't be like Akano Chisato.
"Hoo~!"
After the fuse burned out, the gunpowder in the rocket was quickly ignited, and the entire rocket detached from the launcher with the help of powerful boosting force and soared into the sky amid a cloud of dust and smoke.
Yaoji, who was observing the situation from a distance, could see a bright light inside a cloud of gray smoke, and then an object that was rising rapidly jumped out, and it was almost too late to track it with a telescope.
This is Zha Ming’s latest secret weapon. It’s so advanced that you don’t have to worry about it after launch, because even the designers and manufacturers can’t predict the actual approximate landing point...
Thinking about the worst, this is the "Large Sky Monkey" project built at a cost of 10,000 taels of silver. It fires hundreds of volleys, which can scare people to death even if they can't kill them.
Flight altitude...
It seems too high to be visually detected!
Flight distance...
It seems that it can only be described as far away!
Flight speed...
It seems like you have to speak very fast!
Yaoji thinks that the one-kilometer range should be available, and hopes that no humans or animals will be hurt, otherwise he will have to pay for it.
The test site is an isolation area. Except for guards, there are no outsiders. If someone breaks in, it will be a different matter.
There is no in-situ explosion, which is half the success. The range and power can be gradually improved in the future.
Besides, there is a large version that has not been lit yet. If it can reach about two kilometers, I will be satisfied.
Due to the function of the balance rod and the elastic wings, the flight trajectory of this rocket is relatively stable and does not distort.
It seems that the way to develop rocket launchers is still very desirable, and it will be very helpful for attacking the braided army that is in a state of mass formation.
No matter how imbecile everyone was, they knew it was a success just by looking at the flight status of the rocket, so the crowd cheered, including civil servants, military generals, maids, and eunuchs.
In the eyes of quasi-experts, if only one rocket is launched, the launch site will be so full of smoke and dust that it will be impossible to see the five fingers, and the relevant range, accuracy, and power have not yet been determined.
In fact, there is nothing to be happy about. These guys are as excited as setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival. If it explodes on the spot, wouldn't you have to die alive? ? ?
After a while, a scout came to report that the range of the first test rocket was 1,072 steps, which was converted to 1,608 meters.
The original version weighs 30 pounds and has a range of 1,800 meters. Zha Ming’s version seems to be a reduced-price parallel import version...
Yaoji didn't know whether this was due to a problem with the gunpowder or the projectile, or whether his own improvement had a fatal flaw.
Could it be that he took a diagonal turn in the air?
The weight is heavier than others, but the range is not as far as others...
Is this a physical change or a chemical change?
Zhang Luan, the eunuch of the armor factory, and Liu Feng, the bureau officer, were excited when they saw the rocket take off. Their efforts these days were finally not in vain.
The two of them were even more happy when they heard that the spy had come to report, but when they saw the prince thinking deeply after hearing the words, they suddenly became nervous. Nine times out of ten, the prince was not satisfied with the range of the rocket.
This is a weapon designed by the prince himself. Everyone in the armor factory was extremely careful and selected the best craftsmen to build the projectile body, and the gunpowder used was the best of the best.
If the prince is not satisfied with this test launch, then they will have to start over from scratch when they go back, and they still don’t know where the problem lies.
"We will launch the same rockets one by one and measure the range and accuracy!"
Yaoji believes that his shell design is not only not a hindrance, but also advanced. Either the gunpowder is not very advanced, or the warhead is too heavy and lacks kinetic energy.
The strong men in the armor factory did not dare to slack off after receiving the order, hurriedly reloaded the ammunition, and fired the seven rockets one after another.
After subsequent ranging, it was found that two had a range of more than 1,600 meters, four reached 1,700 meters, and one flew an astonishing distance of nearly 1,900 meters.
After getting the measurement results, a certain prince was immediately confused. He was sure that the strong men had not mistaken the model. The reason must be found in the rocket itself.
The problem is that the rockets have been shot out, and even the whole piece is gone. Yaoji doesn't know where to start to cure this problem.
At present, there are only a few speculations. The first is that part of the gunpowder is damp, the second is that the material of the cartridge case is uneven, and the third is that the weight of the front and rear of the rocket is uneven.
If these three aspects are solved, a certain prince believes that the 2.0 version of the rocket can fly beyond the average range of 1,700 meters of the 1.0 version.
After that, everyone saw the heavy-duty version and the situational version of the sixteen rockets flying into the sky, which lasted for about two hours.
When it was almost sunset, the entire experiment was considered complete, and a certain prince led a large group of troops back to the city.
The heavy version flew a distance of 2,300 meters, which made Yaoji's eyes light up.
If the range of the standard version cannot be significantly improved, then the heavy version is the obvious choice.
The weight difference is 13 kilograms, and the range is 600 meters different. This distance difference is the maximum range of the Folang machine.
If it can reach 2,500 meters or even further, then the Zha Ming version of the Kang-type rocket can completely replace the Hongyi cannon.
Moreover, in positional battles, rocket launchers can greatly suppress the charge of the braided infantry group, and can also severely damage or even destroy the braided artillery position.
The light version only has a range of more than a thousand meters, which seems to be useless, but it also has its uses.
It is impossible for any Ming army to be equipped with only one rocket launcher, and it must be installed in echelons according to the range.
It is undoubtedly a waste of resources to use the heavy version to bombard braids at close range, and the light version is the best choice.
The heavy version fires first, followed by the light version and the Folang machine, and finally the heartless cannon.
When the braids braving the artillery attack approach, the musketeers can open fire.
Before hand-to-hand combat, there were grenades flying all over the sky.
This is the ideal firepower configuration of a certain prince. In actual combat, it depends on the adaptability of the generals and soldiers.
Don't wait for the opponent to come over, and then your own side will be at a loss and get into chaos. Then all the long training will be in vain.
"Your Highness, I wonder if this rocket can carry people to the sky if it is shaped like a towering tree?"
After the prince took a bath and changed clothes, Bo Jue, who had seen the live test firing, was greatly inspired and ran over to dig his gold mine of knowledge.
"Theoretically, it is possible, but the gunpowder used is not this kind of gunpowder, but a derivative of benzene. Benzene is the chemical agent used to refine sulfa."
Yaoji also admires Bo Dacaizi's brain. With your rocket PLUS version, it will be "killing people to the sky", and it will be blown up to the point where there is no residue left.
"So that's it. Your Highness is knowledgeable and I am ashamed of myself. I just don't know how to refine this thing? How long will it take to successfully develop it?"
Bo Jue is still thinking about making his thin rocket. After getting the initial approval from the prince, he can realize his dream of flying by simply changing the fuel inside.
Yao Ji felt it was necessary to pour a basin of ice-cold footwashing water on this science idiot, lest he get too hot-headed and tinker with rockets. If he was blown up, it would be a huge loss to the Ming Dynasty.
"Manned rockets are by no means as simple as what we see today. They need to consider many aspects such as launch, flight, and landing of personnel. They must have precise control of ballistics, altitude, balance, and personnel cabins. Wait until Aiqing understands what 'Juding' is. Diene', you will understand what a rocket is in the true sense!"
If you think these big flowers released today are rockets, then I would have become an ace astronaut long ago after I let go of countless flying monkeys when I was a child.
"In order for a rocket to reach a range of thousands of miles and reach a height close to space, the energy provided by the combustion of ordinary gunpowder is far from enough. It must use substances synthesized from a variety of chemical agents to achieve it. There is an atmosphere between our earth and space. , from low to high, the atmosphere is subdivided into the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, warm layer and exosphere. What are the characteristics of each air layer, and related knowledge of meteorology is involved. If you don’t have a special understanding, It is impossible to effectively respond to the flight conditions of large manned rockets. Moreover, the higher the altitude, the lower the oxygen content. We must also consider providing sufficient oxygen for astronauts. Regarding oxygen, Aiqing must be still in the preliminary learning stage. It is also related to the periodic table of chemical elements and Western letters and numbers. Only by learning the most basic chemical knowledge first can we gradually improve our knowledge and ultimately lay a solid foundation for the development of flying rockets. The theoretical knowledge I mentioned will be the Academy of Sciences in the future Academicians and trainees must learn the content. If they cannot understand it, they will not be qualified to develop aerospace vehicles."
Ordinary craftsmen do not need to master this knowledge, as long as they do the job at hand.
But the situation is different for scientific researchers. The closed-door model can create low-end weapons, but switching to high-precision categories is completely unfeasible.
Only by combining knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, geography and other aspects can we create shocking technological products.
All results of human scientific exploration are based on the already mastered knowledge system and are in line with relevant theorems and laws.
Without the most basic knowledge, you will not be able to understand the inner connections and essential differences between things, let alone understand your own position and the limitations of your vision.
"Your Highness is a great talent, but I am so ambitious. I hereby apologize and hope that Your Highness will forgive me!"
Bo Jue was "consecrated" by the prince again. He heard a bunch of new terms that he couldn't digest and understood, and he acted like a frog in the well again. However, he was not embarrassed, but he felt a little embarrassed about the nonsense he had said before.
His own thinking was too simple, and he underestimated the complexity of the rocket structure. It was far less detailed than what the prince introduced. In the final analysis, it was due to insufficient knowledge, so he had to go back and continue to practice his own skills based on the bound book given to him by the prince. .
