Zhao Tai came to the test firing site. Several craftsmen were trembling with fear, surrounding the remaining five prototype cannons, and seemed to be preparing to continue the test firing.
Zhao Tai frowned, showing displeasure, "Go! Let them stop the test firing! Since five guns were exploded, this batch of sample cannons should be destroyed. There is no need to fire again!"
Wang Chengshun quickly ordered people over and stopped the cannon test. After hearing the order, the craftsmen couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief, as if they had been granted amnesty.
At this time, a craftsman was brought over, and Wang Chengshun pointed out: "Your Majesty, this is him. He was originally a craftsman from the Kingdom of Jin."
Zhao Tai looked at the man. He was in his forties, wearing black work clothes from the workshop, and his expression was quite cramped and reserved.
"The villain Liu Shun pays homage to the king!" The craftsman stepped forward and saluted.
"In the army and in the workshop, there is usually no need to salute." Zhao Tai supported him and then said: "It was you who proposed the new cannon-casting plan?"
Liu Shun was a little frightened, and his legs were weak from fear, "The villain also looked at the forged iron cannons, which often exploded, so he thought about whether there were other methods."
Zhao Tai made a request to the Firearms Bureau to make iron muskets and iron cannons.
Zhao Tai did not expect that because it was him who made the request, the management of the workshop and the craftsmen did not dare to use other materials and methods in the face of repeated explosions of iron cannons.
Liu Shun only thought of his opinion and questioned Zhao Tai's decision-making, feeling a little scared in his heart.
Looking at his expression, Zhao Tai guessed the reason and immediately smiled and said: "Don't panic. I'm not Yuan Shao, your opinion is very good!"
In an official-based society, when a decision is made by a superior official, it is rare for the officials and people working below to raise different opinions.
Because the people below feel that this will refute the Shangguan's face, and if the Shangguan loses face, it is very easy to punish the people below.
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Therefore, even if Shangguan makes a wrong decision, the people below rarely dare to express opinions. After all, you don't know whether Shangguan is Yuan Shao or Li Shimin.
In any era, there are many Yuan Shao and few Li Shimin.
Most people are afraid of meeting Yuan Shao for their own sake, so few people dare to be Tian Feng.
Zhao Tai is unable to change this situation for the time being. All he can do is to be good at accepting advice and encourage his subordinates to give him opinions.
Liu Shun was a little surprised after hearing what Zhao Tai said.
He mentioned it to his superiors several times and wanted to improve the plan, but the people above him had concerns and did not adopt it.
At this time, Zhao Tai pointed to the remaining artillery pieces and asked, "Why do you think the iron cannons exploded?"
When Liu Shun saw that Zhao Tai did not blame him, he became bolder and said, "Report to your Majesty, when we cast iron cannons, we melt the iron blocks, pour them into the mold, and then cool and solidify to obtain the cannon body. This method is easier. We obtained a cannon body of several hundred kilograms, but during the solidification process of the molten iron, the cannon body was not forged, so it is inevitable that the texture of the cannon body is uneven and contains impurities. I believe that the reason for the explosion is that the cannon body has uneven texture and contains impurities."
Zhao Taizu knows a little bit about everything, but is not proficient in anything.
Zhao Tai can still figure out those simple things by himself, but for slightly more complicated things, he only knows a rough idea.
After all, he was not a science major, and before soul piercing, he didn't bother to see how guns were cast.
Therefore, Zhao Tai's role is only to point out a direction. How to create what he wants depends on his craftsmen.
Zhao Tai said that water power could be used, and the Tianjin Bureau developed a waterwheel forged by water conservancy. He said that iron should be used to replace the bamboo tube, and the original firecracker was born.
Now Zhao Tai told them that what artillery is, craftsmen still need to figure out how to make it.
Zhao Tai nodded: "So you proposed to try it with copper?"
Liu Shun nodded, "According to the villain's observation, iron cannons are hard and brittle, copper is not easy to rust, and stretches better than cast iron, so the villain thinks it can be given a try. However, if copper is used, it will be too expensive to build the frame."
At present, Zhao Tai has no copper mines. If he wants to cast copper cannons, he must melt the copper coins.
Nowadays, Shandong is already short of money. Melting money to cast cannons will undoubtedly increase the money shortage and make it difficult for Shandong to develop.
Zhao Tai asked again: "Tell me about the other method you proposed."
Liu Shundao: "The texture of the cast iron cannon is uneven. However, if the iron block is repeatedly forged and beaten, the impurities can be removed. The villain thinks that the iron cannon casting method is not mature now, and maybe the forging method can be used instead to make the forging The gun body is heated and assembled into a long tube, and the joints are reinforced with iron hoops. This is just the idea, but the effect needs to be verified."
Before the mid-16th century, iron cannons in various countries around the world basically used forging technology, while bronze cannons used casting technology. After the mid-16th century, due to the improvement of cannon-casting technology, cast iron cannons gradually replaced forged iron cannons and Cast bronze cannon.
Zhao Tai didn't understand this, but since the current method of casting iron cannons was not successful, it would be better to try Liu Shun's method.
Zhao Tai nodded and then said: "I am now promoting you to be in charge of the firearms workshop. You will lead the craftsmen of the firearms workshop to make artillery using the two plans you proposed. Do you dare to take this job?"
According to Zhao Tai's request, the vassal government paid very high wages to craftsmen, definitely better than those in the Southern Song Dynasty and Mongolia.
If you can become a manager of a firearms workshop, your salary will be several times higher than that of a craftsman.
Suddenly faced with such an opportunity, Liu Shun was excited, but also a little timid, fearing that he would be incompetent, mess up the matter, and ultimately betray Zhao Tai's trust.
Seeing his expression, Zhao Tai understood the complicated emotions of ordinary people when faced with opportunities. He smiled and said: "If this thing is accomplished, I will reward you with another five hundred coins!"
Liu Shun was shocked, and the craftsmen around him were also shocked.
Zhao Tai knew that the continuous bombing of artillery had dampened the enthusiasm of the craftsmen, so he said to everyone: "I will make another decision. From now on, the feudal government will allocate a sum of money to support the families of craftsmen who died in the line of duty in the workshop. In addition, for those who are unable to work due to disability, the feudal government will continue to pay them monthly wages and allow their descendants to enter the engineering school."
Due to the financial problems of the vassal government, the craftsmen in the Ordnance Supervision can only receive wages, pensions and compensation, but no benefits.
Zhao Tai saw that the craftsmen in the firearms workshop were already afraid of making and testing cannons, so he decided to gradually provide some benefits and security policies to the craftsmen so that they would have no worries and stimulate their enthusiasm.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Wang Chengshun reacted and quickly greeted the craftsmen to salute.
Zhao Tai waved his hand and asked Liu Shundao: "Have you thought carefully about whether you are willing to take this job?"
Liu Shun saluted and said: "I am willing to die for the king and accept this mission!"
Zhao Taixi said: "Very good, I will stay in the workshop and work with you to overcome the difficulties and build the cannon."
