Daming: From the end of Hongwu

Chapter 89
The attitude towards firearms in the Ming Dynasty was still more important.

In the early days, the central government made and distributed troops, but it developed with time. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, due to various reasons, the products made by the Ministry of Industry were not only expensive, but also the quality was getting worse and worse. They could not meet the needs of the frontier army at all, so local manufacturing was opened. s right.

And because the frontier army belongs to the front line of the battlefield, they are more sensitive to firearms, have stronger demand, and have repeatedly innovated firearms, so firearms are gradually blooming.

For example, the tiger crouching gun, the five thunder machine, the bird's beak gun, the palladium gun, etc., as well as the flint gun and red cannon influenced by foreign countries.

quite developed.

If you know these things, no one can imagine that hundreds of years later, the people on this land will be thrown up and down by a few guns from the small country, and they will even be frightened into thinking that the other party knows magic.

It's somewhat ridiculous to say it.

What Zhen Wu thought of now was the flint gun, and he asked Mu Zhong with a smile, "How do you usually make fire? Do you use a fire scythe or a scythe?"

Mu Zhong didn't understand what Zhen Wu meant: "It's all useful, why? Could it have something to do with firearms?"

"Of course it has something to do with it. The biggest trouble with these firearms now is that it takes time to reload, and in rainy weather, the matchlock is difficult to burn, which further reduces the effectiveness of the firearm. Since you know how to make a fire, why don't you think of a way? Install the flint into the firearm, we can design a small mechanism, as long as the mechanism is pulled, whether it is a wheel rubbing the flint or an anvil hitting the flint, sparks are born and the gunpowder is directly ignited, isn’t this much faster than a matchstick?”

As soon as these words came out, both Mu Zhong and Liu Sheng fell into deep thought.

What Liu Sheng thought was that if it became like this, it would be beneficial on the battlefield.

But what Mu Zhong wanted was a possibility that could be realized.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Zhen Wu's words were reliable, and gradually his eyes became brighter and brighter.

However, at this time, Zhen Wu said again: "Let's go back to the issue of loading. Now firearms are fired by pushing the gunpowder to fire the projectile. Since we know that the filling ratio is set in advance, why don't we think of a way to directly press the projectile and gunpowder?" The ratio is put into a small iron shell, and there is a primer primer at the bottom of the iron shell. Pulling the mechanism can directly hit the primer and shoot out projectiles, and the projectiles can also become sharp and have stronger penetration, which is not more convenient for filling. "

Liu Sheng was shocked. If loading is not a problem, and the projectile can be shot out quickly, once this kind of firearm is realized, it will become a magic weapon.

If this kind of firearm is on the battlefield, it can definitely determine the outcome.

But Mu Zhong shook his head at this moment.

"No, any iron casing can't withstand gunpowder, and it will definitely explode."

Zhen Wu rolled his eyes and said, "There was no gunpowder before. Why don't you think about it? Make the gunpowder more stable to achieve this goal? As long as you work hard, you will always gain something."

This involves chemistry. Zhen Wu doesn't know the specific composition ratios of bullet gunpowder in later generations, but he knows that these are all researched on the basis of current gunpowder, and he only knows the concept of smokeless gunpowder.

Zhen Wu knew that it would be difficult for Ming to make bullets at this stage, which required the improvement of the overall strength of the industry, but he threw out this concept now. As long as someone studies it, it is not too much to invent it hundreds of years ahead of Europe.

And isn't the industrial system just a matter of point to point, in order to pull it all together?

In fact, a lot of things are just a matter of thinking. When you think of it in a flash of inspiration, you think of it.

Maybe it will lead to detours.

Mu Zhong pondered carefully, and found that the two points proposed by Zhen Wu were really a good direction for improvement. The point of studying gunpowder will not be mentioned for the time being, and he can study it slowly in the future, but the point of firestone can be realized at this stage. of.

Thinking of this, Mu Zhong was excited, couldn't stand it any longer, turned his head and planned to go out.

"Why are you going?" Zhen Wu quickly pulled Mu Zhong back.

Mu Zhong said excitedly: "I will go to His Highness King Yan and ask His Highness to equip me with materials, and I will improve them myself."

"I said, did you forget something?" Zhen Wu's face darkened.

Mu Zhong rolled his eyes, and said twice, "You want to be someone else's master at such a young age? Don't worry, I, Mu Zhonghuo, am not a person who doesn't keep his word at such an old age. Just based on your few suggestions just now , so what if I call you Master Sheng."

After finishing speaking, he snorted arrogantly.

Hey.

Who said this bet?
This old man is really successful.

However, the old man yelled Master, turned around and was about to go out again. Zhen Wu did not forget the purpose of his coming, and quickly grabbed Mu Zhong again.

Zhen Wu didn't say anything polite to Mu Zhong any more, and said directly with a dark face: "Since I called the master, let's make something for the master as a gift, don't go out of the frame."

"Why are you not finished? I am in a hurry to see His Highness."

"You said just now that you were told to go east, but you would never go west. What's the matter? Are you cheating at such an age? How about I go find His Highness with you and let His Highness comment, or I'll go out and call someone now, and let everyone Criticism?"

Old Mu Zhong blushed, thinking that he was in the wrong, so he said angrily: "Okay, okay, tell me what to do."

Zhen Wu explained the clockwork device and Mu Zhong carefully.

Mu Zhong rolled his eyes and said, "Just this thing?"

Zhen Wu nodded.

Mu Zhong curled his lips and said, "What else am I supposed to do, that's all right, I'll make it for you later." After speaking, Mu Zhong wanted to go out again.

Zhen Wu held him back again and said, "I'm in a hurry to use it."

"Oh, are you annoying? Let me tell you, if you pull me again, I will turn my face and scold you... Aiya... Don't be impulsive... Let me down... Let me down, oh, my ancestors, three No, Tiancheng, I will make it and send it to you within three days."

Only then did Zhen Wu put Mu Zhong down, grandma's, and this thing really can't be too polite.

Liu Sheng on the side was already dumbfounded, he just thought that Zhen Wu could do everything.

After Mu Zhong left, Liu Sheng came up and asked about firearms.

Zhen Wu picked out some things to talk about, and started flirting with Liu Sheng. After a while, Liu Sheng's eyes were full of anticipation, as if if one day the firearms could really develop into what Zhen Wu said, even if he died, he would be willing .

……

Mu Zhong went to see Zhu Di immediately, and Zhu Di immediately paid attention to Mu Zhong's words. On the same day, he set aside a place in the camp for Mu Zhong, and then transported all kinds of equipment and materials in.

Mu Zhong did not break his promise, and he really made the clockwork device on the third day. Looking at the clockwork device, Zhen Wu had to marvel at the dexterity of ancient craftsmen. Mu Zhongzhen made such a delicate thing with his skillful hands. out.

It's just a little bit bigger, but it doesn't matter.

Zhen Wu began to design the shape. He picked a log the size of a football, and cut out a short wooden stake that was one palm high. Then he hollowed out the center of the stake and installed a clockwork device. After a few times, I finally made them one by one and installed them.

In order to make the appearance look better, Zhen Wu also hired a carpenter to carve a small figure of a beautiful woman in ancient costume, a tree, and a house.

After all the work was completed, Zhen Wu felt a little surprised and liked the appearance of the music box. The wooden pile was used as the base, with a tree growing on it, and the green grass grew vigorously under the tree. With the back against the horizon, a woman in ancient costume stands in the middle, with fluttering clothes.

After Zhen Wu winds up the clockwork, the woman in ancient costume slowly rotates in the music, as if dancing lightly.

very perfect.

However, after Zhen Wu looked at it again, he felt that the round side was flat and somewhat hollow. After thinking about it, he picked up a small carving knife and carved eight characters on the round side.

"Beautiful lady from the North Country, with outstanding demeanor."

In the end, on a whim, the two small characters Zhen Wu were engraved on it.

Zhen Wu nodded in satisfaction, this will definitely be the most special gift Zhu Yuying received.

He also broke his heart for the fourth and fifth sisters.

……

(End of this chapter)