"Master Su, my firearms are two fire guns."
Zhu Biao replied.
Firegun?
Su Jing was stunned, and immediately drew a simple tube-shaped object on the paper. It could roughly be seen that it was the shape of a gun barrel.
"Is it roughly like this?"
Su Jing turned the drawing around and asked Zhu Biao.
Zhu Biao took a closer look and said: "It's roughly the same, but it's a little shorter than the one drawn by Master Su."
That's a gun!
This hot weapon is an area that Su Jing is good at.
"What about the firing method?"
Su Jing continued to ask Zhu Biao.
"Light the fuse."
"How is the gunpowder filled?"
"Fill the gunpowder from the nozzle."
…
Su Jing kept asking, and Zhu Biao kept answering.
After asking and answering questions, Su Jing also easily understood the principle of the Ming Dynasty's firecrackers.
Quite simple.
To put it bluntly, the gunpowder is ignited in a tubular confined space, and then the filling, that is, the ammunition, is guided through the iron pipe to the corresponding direction and fired.
Both range and accuracy are quite low.
However, the firecrackers of this period were mainly used in large-scale wars.
An entire battalion of firecrackers held up a row of firecrackers and fired. It was completely a saturation shooting method, and accuracy was not that important.
"Master Su, do you also have research on firearms?"
Zhu Biao asked Su Jing.
Zhu Biao knew very well that firearms were extremely powerful, and his father Zhu Yuanzhang also attached great importance to them.
Shenji Camp is the best proof.
At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang also invested considerable manpower and material resources in the production and modification of firearms.
The role that firearms can play on the battlefield is huge.
In the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, firearms were very useful against the cavalry of the Yuan Dynasty.
No matter how good the Yuan people's equestrian skills were, they were useless in front of firearms.
Firearms are not only useful on land, they are equally effective in water battles.
During the Poyang Lake battle between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang, Zhu Yuanzhang had already equipped the warship with firearms.
Provided guarantee for him to win this crucial victory.
Therefore, after the Ming Dynasty was officially established, Zhu Yuanzhang did not lose even one cent of his attention to firearms.
Nowadays, the firearms of the Ming Dynasty are all the responsibility of the Baoyuan Bureau, which mints coins.
"It's okay, I just know a little bit."
Su Jing replied with a smile.
Know a thing or two?
This was not the case when Su Jing's words fell on Zhu Biao's ears. Su Jing knew a little bit about it, so he probably understood it very well.
"Mr. Su, can you make a firecracker?"
Zhu Biao asked quickly.
These words made Su Jing stunned for a moment. After a pause, Su Jing said: "If it is the kind of fire gun you mentioned, it would not be difficult to make it with a blacksmith."
Su Jing was really confident in making this kind of basic firecracker.
"Really?"
Zhu Biao said with some surprise.
Su Jing smiled and said: "Of course it's true, but such a firecracker is too simple, and it doesn't make much sense to create it."
Su Jing, who had seen various advanced thermal weapons in her previous life, naturally didn't like this old-fashioned fire blunderbuss.
Once it's made, it's just a large toy.
Simple?
Zhu Biao looked at Su Jing and said, "Master Su, are fire guns simple? Master Su knows how to make better fire guns?"
The power of the fire gun, no matter who saw it, would have to shout loudly.
Zhu Biao really didn't expect that in Su Jing's mouth, the fire blunderbuss was such an ordinary thing.
"Well, let me think about it."
Su Jing started to think.
If it were his previous life, he would have been very confident in making pretty good firearms, that is, firearms.
It may not meet the standards of a military factory, but compared to these old-fashioned firecrackers, it is still a dimensionality reduction strike.
But this was in the Ming Dynasty.
The basic industry has not been well developed. It is not that easy to create a qualified modern firearm.
Even the most common and simple double-barreled shotgun embodies the wisdom of modern industrialization.
Now, it is really a challenge for Su Jing.
"If it's just better than the fire gun you mentioned, it shouldn't be difficult, but what can be improved is limited. After all, the level of industrialization in the Ming Dynasty is too low now."
Su Jing said slowly.
It is relatively easy to communicate with Zhu Biao, because many things have been discussed before and there is no need to explain each one.
"Really? Can Master Su teach students?"
Zhu Biao immediately said to Su Jing, with uncontrollable joy and excitement on his face.
The improvement of firearms must be outstanding in enhancing the military strength of the Ming Dynasty.
"Have I not been teaching you all along?"
Su Jing looked at Zhu Biao and laughed.
Have you been teaching?
Zhu Biao was really stunned at this moment. He had been studying with Su Jing all day long. He really didn't know when he learned how to make and improve firearms.
"Master Su, please speak clearly."
Zhu Biao cupped his hands towards Su Jing and said.
Su Jing then picked up the glass fragments on the ground and asked, "Niu Yi, why do you think it exploded while I was doing the experiment?"
Zhu Biao looked at the wreckage and replied: "Of course the explosion occurred because the saltpeter and sulfur were ignited."
Su Jing shook her head, but did not directly refute anything.
I saw him taking out another portion of saltpeter and sulfur and grinding them into powder.
"Go to the kitchen. There should be some unburned charcoal in the stove. Bring some over."
Su Jing said to Zhu Biao.
"Yes, Master Su."
Zhu Biao nodded, immediately ran to the kitchen and got some charcoal.
Su Jing used a glass cup as a measuring tool, one part sulfur powder, two parts saltpeter powder, and three parts charcoal powder.
"Monosulfide, dinitrate, and charcoal, you know this, Niu Yi."
Su Jing asked Zhu Biao while mixing three parts of powder.
Zhu Biao nodded and said, "I know, this is black gunpowder."
The ratio of black powder is no secret. For example, in Lishui County now, some people have started selling firecrackers.
Among the raw materials for firecrackers, the core is black powder.
"Find me two more bamboo tubes, the smaller one will be fine."
Su Jing said to Zhu Biao again.
"Okay, Master Su."
Zhu Biao quickly found two small bamboo tubes.
Su Jing filled the bamboo tube with black powder, made a simple fuse, and then plugged it in and closed it.
"Master Su, aren't you just making a firecracker?"
Zhu Biao looked at the bamboo tube in Su Jing's hand and said.
Su Jing nodded and said: "Yes, these are firecrackers! Come on, give it a try."
"Um."
Zhu Biao took the firecracker, lit the fuse, and ran away.
Snapped!
A small amount of gunpowder exploded in the bamboo tube, bursting out with dazzling fire, and the fragments of the bamboo tube were blown away. The effect was very good!
Then Su Jing spread a portion of black gunpowder directly on the paper, placed the paper on the ground, rubbed a fuse and put it on: "Here, light this and take a look."
Zhu Biao immediately followed the instructions and saw sparks quickly igniting the black gunpowder on the paper along the fuse.
呲呲呲呲……
The gunpowder burned and released a large amount of smoke, but no explosion occurred.
"Niu Yi, look, it's all black powder. The one placed in the bamboo tube exploded, but the one ignited directly didn't. What does this mean?"
Su Jing asked Zhu Biao.
Zhu Biao replied: "Black powder cannot explode when ignited directly. It must be placed in a relatively small space."
As Zhu Biao finished speaking, he realized that something was wrong.
Small space!
In other words, black powder alone cannot explode.
"It seems you understand, the same goes for firearms."
Su Jing continued with a smile: "The fundamental cause of the explosion is that a large amount of energy is released in a very short time, high temperature is generated, and a large amount of gas is released, causing a high-pressure chemical reaction or state change in the surrounding medium."
"If there is a barrel or barrel, the energy generated by the explosion of gunpowder in the firearm can be excited in a fixed direction, allowing the cannonball to fly very far."
"In the end, it's all about force."
The effect of force!
Mechanics is exactly what Zhu Biao has been studying recently.
"So, Master Su, if you learn mechanics well, can you transform better firearms?"
Zhu Biao looked at Su Jing and asked very seriously.
Su Jing nodded: "Yes, as long as you study hard, you can also improve your firearms in the future."
"Thank you Master Su for your teaching. The students understand."
Zhu Biao bowed towards Su Jing.
The moving pulley allowed Zhu Biao to see the role of science. Now the relationship between firearms and mechanics has strengthened his confidence in learning physics.
Whether in life or military, science has infinite power.
"Okay, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The road must be walked step by step. You go back and continue to learn. I will clean the yard."
Su Jing said to Zhu Biao.
"Yes, Master Su!"
Zhu Biao nodded, turned around and returned to the room to continue studying.
Su Jing took a broom and started cleaning the yard. The glass fragments caused by the explosion were all over the yard.
Su Jing was thinking about firearms while cleaning the glass debris.
I really never thought about this before.
About half an hour later, Su Jing finished cleaning the yard.
Then, he began to try to design a firecracker of his own.
The cold wind of late autumn blew, and Su Jing could not feel the slightest bit of coldness. In the yard, Su Jing kept scribbling and correcting on the paper, writing and drawing.
Su Jing didn't stop until the sky became dark and she couldn't see clearly.
At this time, on the drawing in front of him, there was already a simple prototype of a firecracker.
In other words, it is called the prototype of the flintlock gun.
The industrial level of the Ming Dynasty was not high, and it was too difficult to create modern firearms.
The first thing Su Jing wanted to solve was the firing problem. The way of lighting the fuse was really too slow.
The flint firing method of the flintlock gun is simple and easy to make, and it was the easiest device to implement in the Ming Dynasty.
"Not bad!"
Su Jing looked at the drawings and felt extremely satisfied.
"Master Su, what are you doing?"
Zhu Ru came to Su Jing's side and asked. He looked at the drawings with confusion on his face.
Su Jing replied: "Niu Su, this is a firearm that I just designed."
"Master Su, have you designed a firearm?"
Zhu Biao heard Su Jing's words and quickly came to Su Jing's side.
Only a few hours had passed since the discussion just now, and Su Jing had already designed a firearm, which surprised Zhu Biao.
Su Jing nodded and said: "It has been designed, but it has just been designed. We will not know until it is built whether it can be used."
After all, it was the first time to design a firearm. Although the structure was simple, Su Jing did not dare to make a guarantee.
Everything needs to be actually done to know the result.
"Then Master Su, let's quickly build it and take a look."
Zhu Biao immediately urged.
Zhu Biao was both curious and excited about the firearms designed by Su Jing.
"Don't worry, I'm afraid the blacksmith won't understand my sketch. I'll wait until I learn casting for a few days as a master."
Su Jing replied.
Su Jing did not adopt the convenient and quick method of directly sketching out the parts and giving them to the blacksmith for casting.
The main reason is that I am afraid of not being precise enough and my sketches are rather sloppy.
It's best to do everything yourself.
"Master Su, do you want to make it yourself?"
Zhu Biao looked at Su Jing in surprise. Making firearms was not a simple matter.
"Yes, I may have to spend half a day every day going to the blacksmith shop."
Su Jing nodded and said: "I also want to study more, there is no end to learning."
In the following days, Su Jing taught Zhu Biao and Zhu Ji in the morning, and went to the largest blacksmith shop in the city as an apprentice in the afternoon.
Of course, if money opens the way, Su Jing will directly learn the core technology.
At the same time, a blacksmith furnace was also being built simultaneously.
The good thing about having money is that you can do anything very efficiently.
…
the other side.
Ying Tianfu.
The matter of a group of princes raising a cauldron in the Fengtian Palace also started to rise. Three princes, no, four princes to be precise, including the sixth prince Zhu Zhen also raised the cauldron.
The prince lifted the cauldron, which was a large copper cauldron weighing more than 700 kilograms.
Such a feat is rare even in historical records.
Even with the use of tools, it is still extremely shocking.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
In Fengxian Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the memorial in front of him, and he was very happy.
Many ministers wrote that the prince's lifting of the cauldron was a blessing to the country and should be announced to the world.
When the people know the majesty of the royal family, they will respect it even more.
There are many such memorials, and Zhu Yuanzhang was quite happy to read them.
How could he not agree with this, which increased the prestige and popularity of his old Zhu family?
With one stroke of the pen, it was all correct.
But as soon as the approval was completed, Zhu Yuanzhang realized a problem.
What should Su Jing do if she finds out?
If this matter were to be directly publicized, it would be too obvious.
With Su Jing's intelligence, she might be able to guess the prince's identity immediately.
"It's really a troublesome thing."
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the memorial in front of him, looking a little embarrassed.
He is building momentum for Su Jing, but there is no time to reveal his identity yet.
This time, I still have to hide it.
"We can only suppress it first."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it and decided to wait until later to promote it.
After all, the prince's lifting of the cauldron was such a sensation, so it would be good for it to spread in the capital.
After all the officials and family members know about it, further publicity will be more effective.
After deciding on the solution, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at other memorials.
But the more he looked at it, the more uncomfortable it became in his mind.
The ministers wrote down some of the family's quarrels.
Zhu Yuanzhang's head hurt when he saw the content about the minister wanting to take a concubine and the minister giving his son a certain position.
Just when Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and was about to get angry, he suddenly noticed a memorial from Shijiabao, the Minister of Rites:
There was an alchemist who spent three years refining a golden elixir.
(End of chapter)
