The imperial court was busy providing disaster relief to Shaanxi. The disaster itself might not be serious, but because Zhu Youtang personally supervised the operation, the imperial court had to pay attention to it.
Zhu Youtang also wanted to use this as a model to set the principles for local disaster relief.
However, Zhang Zhou did not need to stay in the capital these days. He went to Xishan himself.
Following him, in addition to Zhu Feng, Wang Mingshan, Liu Gui, Jia Laoshui and others, there were also Qianhu Sun Shangqi of Jinyiwei who arrived early in the morning, as well as the 10,000 yuan that Zhu Youtang had previously allocated to Zhang Zhou. The officers and men separated five hundred of them. Their purpose in Xishan was to assist in "cannon building."
"grown ups."
When Zhang Zhou appeared in front of the Xishan Coal Mine, the surrounding area was no longer just a mine.
The huge mine, with more than a dozen pits in a row, stretches for four to five miles. Coupled with the surrounding miners and the industries generated by the miners, it has formed a scale no less than a small city. It has become the "Ming Dynasty". "Xishan Town", where you can find everything you need to eat, drink and have fun.
Zhang Zhou first looked around from a high place.
Sun Shangqi next to him said: "Sir, the number of troops stationed in Xishan is obviously insufficient now. If the Tatars invade or bandits come, we can only count on the Beijing camp to mobilize troops to coordinate. I have mentioned to you before that we must I wonder if there is any possibility of advancing the construction of the city wall in Xishan?"
The city wall needs to be built in Xishan.
In order to ensure that the black mineral veins of the Ming Dynasty can be protected here, after all, the Ming Dynasty has basically used the "briquettes" produced in Xishan throughout the capital. In addition to the government's procurement, even large households and ordinary people can buy it on the market. arrive.
Now is the twelfth lunar month of winter, and the sales of government-run briquettes are also very good, bringing a steady stream of income to Zhang Zhou.
"That's a coal dumping area. A lot of high-quality coal is transported from Shanxi. It's just that it's very inconvenient to transport it by horse and cart." Sun Shangqi now mentioned the various things up and down the Xishan Mountain. Countless treasures.
After all, Sun Shangqi had very few opportunities to make great achievements, but he was responsible for logistics and manufacturing, so he was very handy.
Zhang Zhou inspected the circle and felt very satisfied. After all, the coal mines developed by him in Xishan were all under his name, and the coal produced was basically liquidated by him, but Zhang Zhou did not use it for personal use. The field, but more to fill the Ming Dynasty's cannon-making and inner palace uses.
It was precisely because Zhang Zhou could continuously create wealth for Zhu Youtang that Zhu Youtang was willing to hand over more mining exploration rights to him. At the same time, he also asked him to take on multiple positions, even leaving the Ming Dynasty's job of making firearms unsuspecting. Leave it to him.
If it had been anyone else... the emperor himself would probably have made a fuss.
I give money to the mines and give it back to people, and I also allow you to make cannons and firecrackers. Are you not afraid that you will rebel?
"Very good." Zhang Zhou said, "Take me to see the forging workshop, and by the way, give the casting drawings I drew recently to the craftsmen to see how to forge them."
…
…
Inside the Xishan Gong Pao Workshop.
The huge furnace is responsible for smelting iron. Xishan is mainly responsible for the smelting of iron ore in Zhangjiakou and other places, while the iron ore in Yongping Prefecture requires more coal to be transported to Yongping Prefecture for casting.
Because several coal mines and iron ore mines are far apart, which caused inconvenience in transportation capacity in this era, Zhang Zhou is also considering improvements.
The method used is basically the most respected "steam locomotive" in this era, that is, making a steam train. However, because of the huge cost of this matter, and the time required for route verification and planning, this is currently limited to demonstration. At this stage, Zhang Zhou had not even formally raised the matter with Zhu Youtang.
At the entrance of the Gongpao Workshop, there is a fort, facing the open area of a deep valley more than ten miles long behind the West Mountain. This is also a place for testing cannons.
What was transported to the fort this time was a cannon that looked the same as the previous cannon. It was much lighter than the heavy cannon, but it was still heavier than the previous cannon.
Sun Shangqi said: "Sir, everything is according to your design. You should have seen the drawings and the lines inside. As for the accuracy of the cannonball, it is as you said. The error cannot exceed the slightest, but this cannon is very It’s so heavy that even with wheels, it would take two horses to pull it, and it would be extremely inconvenient to cross hills and other places.”
"Um."
Zhang Zhou nodded.
The cannon in front of him is the "rifled cannon" that Zhang Zhou has been researching and improving recently.
In the past, whether it was light artillery, long-range artillery or heavy artillery, they were all smoothbore artillery. The firing distance and accuracy all depended on the initial velocity. The aiming was only in a general direction. Wherever it landed, the accuracy of the shooting was often determined. If it can be one mile away, the error is more than twenty meters.
Because of the accuracy error, when the Tatar cavalry encounters the Ming artillery array, they now basically use a dispersed formation to prevent the Ming artillery from being fully covered as much as possible.
But if you replace it with a rifled gun, after the accuracy is improved, the farthest range can even reach ten miles away, and the accuracy can ensure an error of about ten meters, making a qualitative leap in the range and aiming of the artillery... Of course, it has been studied for the first time now. The rifled gun is far from reaching such accuracy. It can only be said that further improvement is needed.
"boom!"
Shoot it out with one shot.
It didn't explode.
There have been six or seven tests before, and the biggest problem with the rifled gun is probably the jamming.
It was only after the craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty had perfected their skills in making smoothbore cannons that they were qualified to talk about improving rifled cannons. This test cannon was not considered the first shot. It could only be said to be the first shot supervised by Zhang Zhou personally.
"Hit the target area! The range is six and a half miles!"
As the personnel responsible for observing the upper part of the valley in the distance sent signals such as semaphores, Sun Shangqi reported the results.
The target area is just a 100-meter-square ground area, and aiming and other matters are completed by professional gunners.
One mile of the Ming Dynasty is not 500 meters, but only more than 400 meters. The range is six and a half miles, which is probably only equivalent to the range of 26,700 meters, but this is already better than the previous most powerful heavy artillery, which is the red gun. The range of the Yi cannon is more than a mile further, but its weight is much lighter, and its accuracy has achieved a qualitative leap.
When Zhu Feng heard Sun Shangqi's result report, he looked very excited and said, "Brother Zhang, this cannon doesn't look that heavy. Why does it have such a long range?"
Sun Shangqi smiled and said: "Marquis Anbian may not know that this new cannon has rifling added. Before the cannon is ejected from the chamber, it will rotate along the rifling inside. When it comes out, it can go faster and hit where you point it." . The materials used will not be more, but the manufacturing difficulty is very high. The time consumed for such a cannon is much more complicated than casting a powerful long-range cannon."
Zhu Feng said: "It's awesome, but in Ningxia, when I led troops to fight the Tatars with artillery, they didn't fight us head-on. No matter how far we hit, I'm afraid we won't hit the target."
Sun Shangqi was still feeling proud. Who would have thought that Zhu Feng here seemed to be a lunatic, praising him at first and then trying to undermine him.
This is very annoying.
But Sun Shangqi didn't dare to say anything yet.
Zhang Zhou said with an indifferent expression: "Isn't it because this artillery has certain disadvantages when fighting cavalry that we won't study it? In the past, when you didn't have artillery, you dared to lead 4,000 soldiers to fight against the 40,000 Tatars. deal with?"
Zhu Feng thought about it, let alone four thousand versus forty thousand before, even if it was four thousand versus four thousand... it was almost like courting death.
In the past, when the Ming Dynasty fought on the border, it either played defense or sneak attacks... Only Wang Yue could do such a large-scale frontal battle, and each time it was not said that he could achieve great achievements, more often in Pull.
Zhang Zhou said: "The Ming Dynasty needed both elite soldiers and powerful generals, as well as new weapons to remain invincible on the battlefield. If all weapons cannot keep pace with the times, the Tatars will soon use them. We have thoroughly studied our tactics, and next time we enter the grassland, maybe the right time, place and people will not occupy us."
"Um."
Zhu Feng also had to put away his previous arrogance of "I am a witness and I have the right to speak" and followed Zhang Zhou to the rifled cannon that had just fired the shells.
Then Zhu Feng was very interested in the new cannonballs sent by the artillery: "This cannonball is completely different from the previous ones. Why are they long?"
Cannonballs before the Ming Dynasty were basically round in order to facilitate firing.
The tradition of big iron balls has not changed because of the emergence of several new artillery pieces developed by Zhang Zhou.
But with the emergence of rifled guns, round projectiles are no longer standard.
Zhang Zhou said: "The back part is mainly responsible for pushing. The fuse is still used now. It can be improved to use flint or even percussion powder in the future. These all need to be studied. The artillery will become more and more advanced. Know the rules. Don't think that you have led it yourself. In the Shenji Camp, after fighting with the Tatars for a few days, I thought I understood everything. In the future, when you serve as an instructor in the Yanwu Hall, you must also understand how to keep pace with the times."
“If you can’t learn more yourself, how can you teach others?”
Zhu Feng lowered his head in shame and said, "I know!"
Zhang Zhouyi raised his hand and said: "Fire a few more times to see what the damage ratio of this gun is. At least twenty shots must be fired, and the damage should be maintained at one hundred times. If it cannot be done, it must be Improved accuracy."
Zhang Zhou knew that after the emergence of rifled guns, the difficulty of artillery maintenance would be greatly increased.
In the past, the gunners of the Shenji Battalion in the Ming Dynasty were mostly rough men, but in the future, they should change to the "academic" direction. They no longer need those who are rich and powerful to be gunners, but should find some with a certain cultural background, who can at least be capable. Learn what a parabola is, how to aim, and the range changes caused by various elevation angles, etc...
…
…
Just when Zhang Zhou went to Xishan to inspect the rifled cannon.
Zhu Youtang seemed bored in the palace. He originally planned to talk to Zhang Zhou, but was told that Zhang Zhou had left the city for Xishan.
"Same for Bingkuan, what are you busy with every day?" Zhu Youtang misses Zhang Zhou when he can't see him for a while.
With Zhang Zhou, he was like a soulmate. It seemed that only Zhang Zhou could know his inner thoughts and help him realize the heroic military strategy that he had never even dared to dream of.
Li Rong said: "Your Majesty, Dongchang also sent someone to accompany Mr. Zhang. It is said that they want to check the new cannon."
Zhu Youtang asked curiously: "Didn't Bingkuan tell me before that the focus of improvement in the future should be on the muskets, not the artillery?"
Li Rong said with a smile: "The former Jinyiwei Qianhu Sun Shangqi has already reported that the new cannon has a longer range, can hit six or seven miles away, and can be extremely accurate. In the future, the thieves really haven't appeared yet." We can destroy them right before our eyes!"
"That's quite interesting!"
Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Same goes for Bingkuan. It's such a good thing, why don't you ask me to go with you?"
Li Rongdao: "Perhaps it's because the cannon has just come out and needs a lot of testing, so its safety cannot be guaranteed. When it can be cast in large quantities in the future, your Majesty will naturally check it in person."
"well!"
Zhu Youtang already wanted to meet Zhang Zhou, but now that Li Rong was "covetous", he became even more restless.
"By the way, Prince... are you going well with your recent studies?" Zhu Youtang can't find anything to do now.
Except for an earthquake in Shaanxi in the next year, there are actually no major events. All the summaries that need to be done have been completed before the year. Many yamen in the court are actually still in a state of rest, and the daily court meetings are just routine matters. At the end of the first year, with the beginning of spring plowing, the court meeting will have some substantive content.
Of course, the Tatars must give face.
If things go as usual, even during the Chinese New Year, the Tatars will not stop and will bring all kinds of troubles to the court.
It was precisely because of Zhang Zhou, Wang Shouren and others who had decided on border military affairs and other matters that the Tatars no longer violated the border as often as in the past few years, so the emperor had a Spring Festival holiday.
Li Rong said: "The prince is fine."
In fact, Li Rong didn't know how Zhu Houzhao's recent studies were.
The minister still has a few days to rest, but Zhu Youtang has very high requirements for Zhu Houzhao. In addition, Zhu Houzhao sneaked away for several months before. In order to let his son catch up with the progress of his studies, Zhu Youtang only has the first day of the new year after the new year. On that day, Zhu Houzhao was allowed to rest for a day, and then the daily lectures in the East Palace never stopped.
Zhu Youtang sighed: "This prince... his temper is too naughty. But fortunately, I still have Bingkuan, so even if I have some shortcomings...forget it, let's not mention him! Bingkuan has been competing against Yanwutang recently. What suggestions do you have?"
Li Rong took out a handwritten list from his arms and said: "Your Majesty, this is what I mentioned to Mr. Zhang when I came back. I have all written it down."
"Yeah?"
Zhu Youtang glanced at Li Rong.
That look in his eyes seemed to say, you are quite a thief. You went to chat with Zhang Zhou about everyday things, but it turned out to be just for the sake of making excuses? Zhang Zhou said who can use it, why do you come here so secretly?
After Zhu Youtang read the list, he sighed: "There are not many surprises."
Li Rongdao: "Your Majesty, you see, there are still some, such as Wang Chun, the Marquis of Weining, Zhang Rui, the eldest son of the British Duke, and the elder brother of Anbian Marquis... Zhu Lin, the eldest son of Chengguo... and for example, the Marquis of Weining His younger brother, Wang Shi, is also related by marriage to Mr. Zhang."
"Um."
Seeing this, Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded.
It seems that they are all people who have a close relationship with Zhang Zhou, which means a bit of "nepotism", but Zhu Youtang seems to like this tone.
The closer I am to the person, the more I like to use it.
Because I can use it easily, I feel at ease.
(End of chapter)
