I want to be emperor

Luo Zhi learned about Jinshan City's inspection, so the headquarters base of Song's Clothing Company naturally became a must-visit place.

After all, the size of Song's Clothing Company is very large for the local area, and it is a representative local enterprise.

Under such circumstances, Song Erniu was lucky enough to meet Luo Zhixue for the second time. However, after the experience of meeting the Saint in Berta City, Song Erniu seemed much more relaxed and relaxed this time.

During the accompanying inspection, Luo Zhixue was also very calm when introducing the company's situation.

"Your Majesty, please look, the building in front is our company's R&D center!"

"Our Song Clothing Company has been deeply involved in the textile industry for a long time and continues to conduct research and development on new textile materials and new processing techniques!"

As everyone walked into the building, Song Erniu took Luo Zhixue to see the many R&D successes in the exhibition room of their R&D center.

"This is a soft canvas we developed. It uses a special process and a self-developed softener to make the produced canvas softer and more suitable for wearing while retaining its wear-resistant properties."

"This is a blue canvas that we dyed based on soft canvas using our self-developed dye. This dyed blue canvas has a more transparent and soft color, and is less likely to fade."

"We used this blue soft canvas to launch a series of denim brand clothing to the market, which was recognized by our customers and deeply loved by the working people!"

The soft canvas and blue dye introduced by Song Erniu... seem simple and ordinary, but in fact these things are already their company's core patented products, even secrets... If His Majesty hadn't come to inspect, their company would not have taken them out at all. Give people a tour.

Everyone has canvas... you can even find a textile company to produce it... and then dye it in various colors such as cyan or blue... However, these ordinary canvases on the market are generally 'hard' It has many shortcomings such as "serious fading" and is not suitable as a clothing material.

But the blue soft canvas produced by Song's Clothing Company is different. While retaining the wear-resistant properties of the canvas, it is also soft and suitable for wearing. The color is also very good and does not fade. Its quality far exceeds those on the market. Other canvases.

Therefore, only their soft canvas is suitable for use as clothing material... Others are not impossible, but there are many problems. If you have to do it, you can only do it by Song Erniu's earliest handmade products. Like those canvas clothes, the quality is very poor, so only people in special industries such as miners will buy them for their wear-resistant properties.

However, the soft canvas of Song's Clothing Company is very suitable for wear, so in addition to being used as work clothes, it can also be used as daily casual wear.

And as Song Erniu continued to introduce, Luo Zhixue discovered... This Song's clothing company is said to be a garment company, but its R&D is similar to that of a chemical company... Its R&D center is full of all kinds of messy things. In the research and development of chemical materials, those researchers have nothing to do with textiles. They are all people specializing in chemistry.

After enjoying the benefits of the new textile industry department and new processing technology, Song's clothing company has invested heavily in the research and development of various new materials and new processes.

And judging from their introduction, it is true that they have developed many strange things, including explosives... They are also studying rayon and nitrocellulose... Although they have not been able to develop rayon with market prospects, But a lot of explosives were produced...

If this continues, Luo Zhixue estimates that this company that produces jeans will sell explosives one day in the future...

This is not an exception either!

How did the smokeless gunpowder of the Dachu Empire come from?

In the process of researching rayon, Sun Xu accidentally came up with a stabilizer for nitrocellulose. Zhenjiang Gunpowder Company then used this stabilizer and finally created smokeless gunpowder.

So... the explosives industry and the textile industry actually have a lot of technical similarities... even the raw materials of both are similar: both use cotton!

The main raw material of smokeless gunpowder is actually cotton... After a series of processing, the cotton is turned into nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose is then subjected to a series of treatments to finally obtain stable smokeless gunpowder.

Using smokeless gunpowder, the Dachu Empire formulated a new eight-millimeter smokeless powder rifle bullet, and it used a brand-new bullet design, using a semi-flange design, which also meant that the Chu army completely abandoned the use of smokeless gunpowder. Many years of flanged bullets.

Flange-type bullets are good and good, such as simple technology, easy processing, etc., but they also have disadvantages, that is, it is difficult to adapt to the magazine supply. Soldiers must pay great attention when loading the magazine to ensure The flange of the previous bullet is in front of the next bullet...otherwise it will not be fired.

This problem was very serious in the early 11mm era repeating rifles... This is the case with the Type 25 repeating rifle. If the soldiers install it incorrectly, they will get stuck and unable to feed the ammunition when shooting.

Later, in the Type 26 rifle, because its eight-millimeter black powder bullet still used a flange design, this problem also existed!

During this period, Huguang Arms Company's solution was very simple. They made a magazine with a certain tilt angle... After the bullets were loaded, the arrangement of the bullets was not straight, but tilted. The previous bullet was Located at the front, this avoids the problem of getting stuck.

But... this thing is a special product and cannot be used by other companies. Therefore, when Hebei Arms Company was developing the emergency Type 26 rifle, after trying various methods, it was forced to add a blocker to the bolt... Through this blocker, the bullets are forcibly spaced to avoid the flange jamming... However, in actual use, the jamming problem will occasionally occur. At this time, it is time to test the soldier's foot strength: directly kick Go up, maybe you can push it open and use it smoothly.

This problem has made many soldiers in the military quite dissatisfied with the Type 26 rifle... We are all serious about fighting, and you suddenly kick the trigger of the gun and come to the battlefield to make fun of it?

It is precisely for this reason that Hebei Arms Company has specially improved the design of eight-millimeter black powder bullets to solve this problem.

In view of the fact that flanged bullets may get stuck when using the magazine, this problem was taken into consideration when designing the new generation of smokeless powder bullets and a new design was adopted.

At the beginning, they tried using flangeless bullets... but this requires relatively high materials and processing technology, not to mention the high cost. Moreover, the bullet shells produced are not strong enough and can withstand relatively low chamber pressure, resulting in a range and The accuracy is not very good.

At the same time, the Chu army of this era still paid more attention to the range of rifles... People would rather shoot and kick, but they also wanted to ensure an effective range of at least several hundred meters.

But we really can’t use flanged bullets... What should we do? In the end, the designers had no choice but to come up with a compromise plan to fool the generals above.

They fused the rimmed bullet and the rimless bullet to create a semi-rimmed bullet... Actually, they reduced the flange in the rimmed bullet, and then also reduced the groove in the rimless bullet...

This family took a little bit and produced a semi-rimmed bullet.

Not to mention... When black powder was used for various tests in the early stage, the test results were quite good... At the same time, this design scheme is relatively simple in technology and low in production cost. It can smoothly use the magazine while ensuring the range. .

So after the smokeless gunpowder was developed, this semi-flange design was used directly.

As a result, a new generation of semi-flanged rifle bullets appeared. Major domestic arms companies designed new guns based on this new bullet, including rifles and machine guns... At the same time, the previous Type 24 and Type 26 rifles also not available.

At the same time, because the bullets are all different, even if the caliber is eight millimeters, one is semi-flanged and the other is flanged... these are two completely different things.

At the same time, the length of the two bullets, the diameter of the projectile body, and the warhead design are actually completely different.

The previous eight-millimeter black powder bullet was a round-nose bullet, but the new eight-millimeter smokeless powder bullet is a pointed-nose bullet.

These are two completely unrelated things, so although the caliber is the same, they are not universal.

Type 24 rifles and Type 26 rifles cannot use the new semi-flanged smokeless powder bullets. The new rifles being designed cannot use the old eight-millimeter flanged black powder bullets.

Although this will cause serious compatibility problems with old rifles and bullets after the new generation of bullets and rifles are replaced, the military...well, to be precise, the grassroots soldiers have had enough of the Type 26 rifles. The stuck bullet problem makes me want to throw this thing into the garbage dump long ago.

So despite the many problems of one kind or another, the top military officials unanimously decided to switch to brand-new semi-flanged smokeless powder bullets and matching rifles and machine guns.

As for the retired Type 24 rifles and a large number of eight-millimeter black powder bullets, they can continue to be used in the second-line troops, and may also be used in the Foreign Legion in the future.

But the Type 26 rifle, this thing will most likely be sealed... and then directly abandoned.

The military really doesn't like this thing. The bullet jam is too serious... The same situation exists with the Type 25 rifle that still uses 11mm bullets. This thing was also sealed early. If nothing else, it cannot be used. See the light of day again.

The military's new generation rifle is currently in the final selection stage. All major arms companies have come up with their own designs to participate in the bidding. However, the main competitors are still Huguang Arms Company and Hebei Arms Company, two major traditional rifle manufacturers. The design and production company, and the other three weapons companies are also running with it.

Among them, the Shaanxi-Gansu Weapons Company has actually given up the project of a new generation of standard rifles internally. Instead, they are focusing on improving their Type 42 heavy machine gun based on the new eight-millimeter smokeless powder bullet. At the same time, they have found Mark Qin. Working on so-called lightweight machine guns... They have accumulated considerable technology in the machine gun project and made huge profits. They want to continue to grow bigger and stronger in the machine gun project, but they have no spare time to develop new rifles.

As for Jiangnan Arms Company... they have always been at the top in the field of rifles... After so many years of establishment, except for the early Qiming tube magazine repeating rifles that made a splash, they have not made much achievements in other aspects, but Their shotguns sell very well, especially in the civilian market.

Therefore, their company didn't pay much attention to the new rifles. They couldn't compete anyway, so they just fooled around and continued to improve their civilian shotguns... That stuff was more profitable.

The remaining Guangdong and Guangxi weapons companies are somewhat ambitious, but their strength is not enough to support their ambitions... so it is also very embarrassing.

The competition between new rifles is the competition between Huguang Arms Company and Hebei Arms Company... And according to the test results of the recent period, Huguang Arms Company has a great chance of winning.

The new rifle developed by Hebei Arms Company has many advantages on paper, but the new thing has just come out and is not yet mature. There are many problems. The performance in the live ammunition test was unsatisfactory... But on paper it is indeed powerful and has high accuracy. It has a long range, well-controlled recoil, long barrel life, low technical requirements, and relatively low production costs.

Just looking at the data on paper, many generals in the army will swallow their saliva after reading it... However, this thing is good, but the new thing still needs time to settle and solve many problems one by one.

On the other hand, the new rifle of Huguang Arms Company uses a lot of the technology of the Type 24 rifle. Because it is technically very mature, the live ammunition test performance is also very good. However, it also inherits the same stinky problems as the Type 24 rifle, and it is difficult for the production process. The requirements are relatively high and the cost is relatively expensive.

It is also relatively delicate and requires careful maintenance when used. At the same time, it is less adaptable to harsh environments. For example, it is easy to jam when there is sand, mud, etc. However, the Army believes that this gun, as the main individual weapon of soldiers, How can you fight when you are so delicate? Is it possible that before going to war, you have to serve your parents with your gun before you can shoot it?

On the contrary... Hebei Arms Company's Type 25 and Type 26 rifles, a series of rifles of Hebei Arms Company origin, are not so messy. What stands out is that they are cheap and durable, and can be used casually on the battlefield...

Well, the premise is that you have to load the bullet correctly, otherwise it will be embarrassing if the bullet jams in you, so these two things are also disliked by the Army.

The Army's opinion on the new rifle is: it must be durable, easy to maintain, and cannot jam bullets... and finally it must be cheap!

Once the Army decides to change its equipment, it will be a huge purchase order starting with millions of units. An extra Chu Yuan will be a price difference of several million, so even a few Chu Yuan difference will be huge in the Army's view. price gap.

In addition, maintenance and durability requirements are due to the fact that the Army is stationed all over the world and has various terrains and climates, so the adaptability requirements for firearms are also high.

In short...according to the Army's current opinion, the Army actually doesn't want any of the models used before and those that have been developed now...

Only the unfinished new gun from Hebei Arms Company is barely acceptable on paper...

But God knows when Hebei Arms Company will be able to implement all the paper designs... If it cannot be implemented and it is just a paper design, it will naturally not work. Although the Army gives less money and does more, they are not stupid.

If you don't implement all the paper designs, the Army will not easily give you an order.

In the munitions procurement of various military services in the Dachu Empire, the characteristics of each company are quite obvious:

The navy has high performance requirements for equipment... As long as the performance is met, price is not an issue; even if it is a bargain, the navy knows that you get what you pay for, and it will not have too strict requirements on things if you pay less.

As for the Guards... we don't seek the best but the most expensive. If something is cheap, it doesn't matter whether you are good or not, and you won't even take a look... Selling it so cheaply, the cost must be extremely low... At such a low cost, I If you don’t believe it, you can still guarantee the quality!

Their purchasing philosophy is: expensive ones may cost you money, but cheap ones will definitely cost you money...

He is a very different kind of advocate who gets what he pays for!

Because the combat needs of the armed tax police are different from those of the army and navy, they are more inclined to look at the weird things of the orthodox military, such as the early lever-action Qiming repeating rifle. But as long as you come up with things that meet their combat needs, it's easy to give them money.

Patrol police procurement in various places heavily favors local defense manufacturers...No matter how good the products are, foreign manufacturers will not want them. Unless you come here to set up a branch factory, recruit local workers, and provide jobs...otherwise, they will not even give you the qualification to bid!

As for Army procurement, their characteristic is: they pay less but do more, and they are notoriously difficult to maintain!

The competition between new standard rifles has also been fed back to Luo Zhixue, but Luo Zhixue's attitude is the same as before: no matter!

Anyway, no matter which one you use, it's almost the same...you can beat those natives!

Under this premise, Luo Zhixue actually doesn't care what kind of gun is used. As long as the people below balance the interests of all parties and obtain a mutual compromise result that everyone is satisfied with, then Luo Zhixue will agree.

However, this matter has been delayed for too long. No matter which rifle is chosen, it must be finalized... Many major rifle factories in the country are waiting for orders for new rifles, and the workers are also waiting to start work.

After smokeless gunpowder came out, the military has stopped placing new orders for Type 24 and Type 26 rifles... In recent years, these rifle production factories have mainly produced old orders, but the old orders were originally It’s time to finish production and then switch to production of new rifles.

However, it is difficult to produce new rifles, and those rifle factories can only drag their feet, producing old orders at a low speed like squeezing out toothpaste... Otherwise, all the old orders will be produced at once, and then everyone will have to take a vacation together for several months or even a day. It's been two years.

This kind of low-speed production makes the factory uncomfortable, and the workers also feel uncomfortable... There has been feedback to Luo Zhixue: The battle between the superiors is a battle of methods, but new guns have been made, just choose one... Otherwise, continue to procrastinate like this If this goes on, those rifle factories will go bankrupt and the workers will lose their jobs.

Therefore, after spending the 48th Spring Festival of Chengshun in Jinshan City, when he was about to embark on his journey back to China, Luo Zhixue also gave instructions on this matter. After returning to China, he would take a look at the live ammunition tests of various new rifles, and then We will go to the Military Affairs Council to discuss and finalize the model of the new rifle.

After this news was transmitted back to China via telegram, some people were happy and some were worried... The Huguang Arms Company was naturally happy... Their new gun design had already completed the main design, and they confirmed that there were no problems, so they were waiting for the bidding. .

But it is different at Hebei Weapons Company. Because they are pressed for time, they are testing while designing and improving. Now His Majesty has to personally watch the live ammunition test after returning to China. For them, this means that they only have the last few months. It’s time to improve their design and solve many problems exposed in the early stage.

At the same time, some other defense manufacturers and teams are also more concerned about Luo Zhixue's live-fire test after returning to China... and then they start to promote their own projects.

For example, the Shaanxi-Gansu Weapons Company wants to have its new water-cooled heavy machine gun appear in front of His Majesty and fire continuously...

The machine gun research team under the Huguang Arms Company also wants to show off its new air-cooled heavy machine gun.

In fact, the so-called new machine guns of these two companies are just adaptability improvements for new bullets, and there is no major technological innovation!

The Guangdong and Guangxi Arms Company has developed a so-called new nine-millimeter magazine-fed automatic pistol, and they want to perform it in front of the emperor. This automatic pistol is relatively novel... but in fact it has many problems, and it is not used in actual use. It has no advantages over revolvers, but has many disadvantages!

They just hope that they can attract His Majesty's attention. When the time comes, it doesn't take much, and His Majesty's words are quite good... Then it can give their new project a chance to survive.

Many manufacturers and design teams in the defense industry want to take advantage of the competition for new standard rifles to sneak in and perform in front of the emperor, and then win orders and research and development funds.