The end of the Ming Dynasty swept the world

Chapter 197 Telescope and Cannon

In this way, Ding Yi used Japanese knives and other things from the shogunate, plus 1000 taels of silver, to replace the two shipments of Pilut, plus a gun and three telescopes.

Tomita Takakazu didn't let him wait too long, and he shipped [-] knives that afternoon, and he immediately paid Pilut first.

Then I took Pilut's goods to find a local merchant.

Because Tomita Takato had no money, and Ding Yi didn't want too many Japanese knives, he was introduced by Tomita Takato and sold the spokespersons of two Japanese daimyos.

What he sells is not expensive, silk costs two hundred and eighty-two hundred catties, white sugar is 12 catties, silk loses money, white sugar makes a small profit, and Dutch specialties make less than a few hundred taels, and the cheese is kept for his own use. Overall, he took it. Pilut's goods changed hands at a loss of more than 2000 taels.

But he took Pilut's goods not for making money, but for Pilut's guns.

Pirot unloaded a cannon from the ship and presented him with five shells and some powder.

Ding Yi and others returned to the boat, first gave the binoculars to Ruan Siqing and the others, and everyone took turns to look at it, very surprised.

"This thing can see from a distance, it's so clear, no wonder the adults have to buy a few if they lose money?" Wei Jiye immediately saw his military value.

In the early 17th century, Hans Ripas, a Dutch spectacle maker, discovered that stacking a convex lens and a concave lens could make distant objects larger, so the monocular telescope was born.

Because the telescope has the function of being able to observe from a distance.So it was quickly used in the military.The craftsmen developed military binoculars according to the needs of the war.

The quality of the binoculars given by Zheng Zhilong last time was not as good as that given by Pilut. It seems to be made in China. Maybe they were made by Zheng Zhilong’s own craftsmen. But this time Pilut gave Ding Yi three, all of which are of military grade. , significantly better than Zheng Zhilong's.

To make a telescope, you must first make glass.

In fact, in the 4th century, the ancient Romans had already applied glass to doors and windows. By the 12th century, there were commercial glass in the world.

In 1291, Italy's glass manufacturing technology was already very developed.

At that time, Italian glass craftsmen were sent to an isolated island to produce glass, and they were not allowed to leave the island during their lives.

So right now in Europe, glass technology has been perfected and developed.

The situation in China is not bad. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, a large amount of Egyptian glass was transported from the Indian Ocean to the southern coast of China. Soon this glass technology was mastered by artisans in Jiaozhou and Guangzhou.

Unfortunately, after the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the glass-making technology mastered by craftsmen in Jiaozhou and Guangzhou was lost.

The glass made in the Tang Dynasty was still very brittle, and it would explode if it was too cold or too hot.

During the Song Dynasty, they did business with the Arabs and finally figured out the secret of the high temperature resistance of glass. It turned out that Nanhu sand (sodium carbonate and borax) was added to the raw materials for refining. It took more than 200 years to find the formula of sodium salt. no.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Zheng He went to the West and hired Arab glass-making artisans to come to China. They taught Chinese craftsmen the new technology of firing sodium-potassium glass, and China began to produce glass that can adapt to sudden cooling and sudden heating.

At present, the domestic artisans who can make glass are basically still in the coastal areas. Don’t count on those in the capital. The artisans in the capital have low income and poor treatment. Time is lost, that is, in the artisan camp of the Ministry of Industry in the capital, there are no artisans who can make glass.

So Ding Yi decided that after returning this time, he would immediately send people to the south coast to find craftsmen who can make glass.

As for asking him to do it himself, I'm sorry, he's not this major, and he didn't have this skill when he traveled, so he really can't.

Everyone played with the telescope for a while, and Ding Yi and Ruan Siqing talked about looking for craftsmen in the future.

Then everyone went to see Pilut's naval gun together.

The Dutch at this time called their cannons cannons.

The standard for a cannon is that the length of the gun body is 16-22 times the caliber, which is called a cannon.

Pilutken sells the cannon because it is an old-fashioned cannon, and they have developed a new type of cannon domestically.

It will probably be assembled next year, and the Dutch decided to fight Zheng Zhilong in 1633 precisely because they were equipped with new cannons.

The cannon sold to Ding Yi was a 12-pound bronze cannon.

Ruan Wenyan's first sentence made everyone laugh: "This is copper coins, and you can make a lot of them."

Everyone laughed together.

The Dutch 12-pound bronze cannon weighed more than 2000 catties. If the copper coins were really melted, Ding Yi would not only be able to earn back the money for the cannon, but he might also make a small fortune.

But of course Ding Yi couldn't do that.

"Europeans now call cannons whose body is 16-22 times the caliber, called cannons." Ding Yi explained to everyone, and everyone listened attentively, especially the Xilao Sutra, because he was not very good at plain language. Sometimes I would ask Ding Yi.

"The cannon is lighter and used to fire heavier shells, so the range is shorter."

According to Pilut, their 12-pound guns have a direct or effective range of 400 meters and a maximum range of 2000 meters.

"He traded range and accuracy for mobility and power."

The Dutch 12-pound bronze gun has a movable gun mount, and the gun is not very heavy, so three or four people can push it on the boat, which is more maneuverable.

When Ding Yi was talking, Wei Jiye and the others pushed the cannon with great interest, and it turned out that it was not difficult to push.

"Can this thing be used to defend the city?" Shen Shikui asked with a smile.

Ding Yi thought for a while: "Yes, the range is a little shorter, and the solid bullets are quite powerful to hit the dense formation of infantry from a long distance."

Wei Jiye and others immediately thought of the scene of Xu Dabao last year, when Ding Yi shot the Fran cannon at Hou Jinbing at close range. It was a tragedy in the world, and everyone shuddered.

But if Ding Yi wants to use this cannon, he still prefers to use it in field battles.

Then at close range, put on shotguns and ride on horseback, that's so sour.

Everyone talked about cannons for a while, and Ding Yi suddenly asked the Xilao Sutra, who had been listening all the time: "How is it compared to your Portuguese cannons?"

Xi Laojing blushed slightly and thought for a moment: "Better than us."

"You were also on their ship just now. What did you find? How is it different from our Ming warship?"

Xi Laojing slowly said in plain language: "The Dutchman's warship is medium-sized, but it has a lot of guns."

"I just took a rough look. There are 30 long cannons, including 20 heavy long cannons and 10 cannons. The sum of four warships of the same model as our Ming army is barely equivalent to one of his artillery, and the artillery The quality performance is far inferior."

The Xilao Jing now says that we are the Ming army, and we regard ourselves as Ming people.

"In addition, I found that his long cannons are divided into two types. There are more than 20 iron cannons, and two seem to be made of composite metal. I don't know what kind of composite metal they are. If they are made of steel, their cannons It will be more powerful."

Xi Laojing is very professional, and he can actually tell what material the opponent's gun is made of.

The heavy-duty long cannon mentioned by Xi Laojing is equivalent to the Hongyi cannon, which has a long range and is relatively heavy.

Because the barrel of the long cannon is very long and thick, it is relatively heavy. Basically, it is fixed in place and cannot be moved. It does not have the mobility of a cannon.

In Europe, the length of the gun and the caliber of 16-22 times are called cannons.

25 times -45 times, called long guns.

The Dutch long guns have long barrels, thick barrels, and can hit a long distance. They are quite good for defending the city.

After discussing with Xi Lao, Ding Yi felt that if he could have his own two-thousand-material warship in the future, he would have to put at least eighty cannons on it.

Put 60 long guns and 20 cannons, so that you have the advantage of fire suppression.

But adding guns to such a ship would cost at least 10 taels of silver.

Ding Yi has traveled to Japan now, and feels that money is not difficult to earn, but the key is the inability to build ships and the lack of sailors for the navy.

The century-old navy is no joke, there is no time for this thing, it is really uncertain.

He is just planning now, preparing for the future.

After seeing the Dutch boats and guns, everyone put away their contempt.

Before following Ding Yi, they won hundreds of battles on land, but now at sea, they have seen the pinnacle of European military civilization, and they all feel the gap between Ming Dynasty and European countries.

Ding Yi found that running around like this is pretty good. Next time he has the opportunity, he will bring out more Lushun officers to let them see the military construction of European countries, recognize the gap, and pay attention to the navy and artillery warships.

These are the important foundations for ruling the world in the next three to four hundred years.

Sure enough, he soon received a surprise news.

Ruan Siqing found Ding Yi, and he said that he thought the Dengzhou Salt Inspection was boring, he was not afraid of war, and wanted to learn from Xilao to learn about the navy.

Moreover, he has a good language talent, and he can speak Japanese and Korean at present.

Feel like a fit for the Navy.

Ding Yi thought about it for a while, and made Ruan Siqing a small official, mainly because the Ruan family stayed behind and didn't want him to go to the front to fight. Ruan Wenlong was also very happy.

Now that Ruan Siqing has seen the Dutch boats and guns, as well as the profits of overseas trade, she has made up her mind to help Ding Yi build a navy.

Ding Yi transferred Song Fei to the Economic and Economic Department of Xilao before, intending to let Song Fei work with the navy or artillery in the future.

But Song Fei was illiterate. Ever since Ding Yi called on officers to be literate, and it was not mandatory, Zhao Dashan studied it very seriously. Song Fei didn't care. Basically, he spent three days fishing and two days drying nets.

In this era, the requirements for artillery are not very high, and it is estimated that illiterates can be mixed up. After all, artillery in this era is not accurate.

But naval sailors must be literate.

Or let Sein Fei and the artillery, Ruan Siqing and the navy?
"I want to ask your father about your matter. You are the only man in the Ruan family. If he doesn't agree, I definitely don't agree." Ding Yi said immediately.

"Ah..." Ruan Siqing didn't show any displeasure on his face, because he felt that he had a good chance of persuading his father: "Then my father agrees, and I will go to the navy."

"Okay, next time as long as there is a battle, you will definitely be promoted." Ding Yi regarded him as his brother-in-law, so of course he should take care of him first.

"Thank you Master Ding." Ruan Siqing was overjoyed.

"But the inspection department in Dengzhou can't let it go." Ding Yi's current salt in Dengzhou is more than 1 taels a month, which is also an important income, so Ding Yi thought for a while: "Yes Go for someone else."

Ding Yi looked left and right, and finally saw Wei Jiye.

Wei Jiye was more afraid of death when he ran out of Daxing Castle with him. Ding Yi asked him to be the captain of the personal army, so he didn't have to go to the battlefield.

Thinking about it now, this inspection is quite suitable for him, but I don't know if he is willing or not.

That night Ding Yi approached Wei Jiye, and after asking, Wei Jiye thought about it, and he was really willing.

But he also has a request, and he still needs to serve in the army. In the future, he might want to return to the army, so Ding Yi naturally agreed.

In this way, his personal captain is gone again, and Ding Yi plans to transfer Xiang Huailai to be the personal captain when he recovers.

Captain Ding of other generals of the Ming army may have to go out to fight, but Ding Yi's personal captain is basically the same as a bodyguard. He doesn't need to go to the battlefield, which is safer.

In the next two days, Ding Yi arranged for someone to pick up the goods at the pier, and Tomita Takawa continuously brought Japanese knives and other materials from the shogunate to Ding Yi.

He followed Tomita Takawa to drink and communicate with the local dignitaries every day, make friends, and met many local celebrities in Hirado for a while.

On the fourth day, Zheng Zhilong sent someone to notify Ding Yi to have dinner at Longxin's house in the evening, so don't be late.

For the dinner tonight, Ding Yi did not bring Shen Shikui after consideration, but brought Xi Laojing and Ruan Siqing.

The two of them will be the main generals of Ding Yi's navy in the future, and it is just right to take this opportunity to make friends with the local tycoons.

Before six o'clock in the afternoon, Ding Yi brought people to the gate of Songpu's house.

Songpu is the local feudal lord. The family covers an area of ​​over a thousand acres. The gate is heavily guarded and has a large number of armored soldiers.

Seeing Ding Yi bring people over, the soldiers of the Songpu Clan were startled.

There were more than 20 people behind Ding Yi pushing small carts, the line was long and there was no one knowing what was in the small carts.

But when they were startled, the people who pushed the carts stood up straight after stopping, like an army, and remained motionless.

"Who is here? Do you know this is the Songpu clan." The leader of the Japanese armored soldier, Zheng, drew his sword, and many armored soldiers around him also held swords and guns, watching them vigilantly.

"This is our Ming Dynasty General Ding Yi." Ruan Siqing said loudly in Japanese: "I am invited to the dinner."

"It turned out to be General Ding." The captain on the opposite side immediately turned polite, quickly retracted his knife, and bent down: "I'm sorry, General Ding, I'm sorry." After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand.

Ding Yi was stunned for a moment, and immediately handed over the waist card given by Zheng Zhilong.

The captain took it over and took a look, with a more friendly expression on his face: "Please, all distinguished guests, please come inside."

Then he raised his head, looked at the car behind him strangely, and probably wanted to ask, what did you send?Want so many cars?

(End of this chapter)