Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

Chapter 431 Smokeless Gunpowder
If the strength of the tie rod is not enough, it will not be able to bear the torque and deform when broaching.

Because the caliber of the gun barrel is divided into four quarters, the diameter of the tie rod cannot exceed four quarters. There are only two ways to keep the draw rod from deforming without increasing the diameter.

One is to improve the rigidity of the tie rod through quenching.

Another is to reduce the amount of broaching each time.

And if the cutting amount of each broaching is reduced, the number of broaching times will be very large.

In this way, four-point broaching is more time-consuming and labor-intensive than single-point broaching.

Chongzhen is now using the quenching method to improve the rigidity of the tie rod.

"Returning to Father, the steel of the tie rod is enough after quenching, but the toughness is not enough." Zhu Cijiong said with some shame, "It broke after a few cuts, and we need to continue to improve the quenching process."

"Is the toughness insufficient again?" Chongzhen frowned.

It seems that there is really no hesitation in materials science, but countless attempts.

"How about this, while continuing to improve the quenching process of the tie rod, at the same time use single-point broaching to support it first. If single-point broaching, the rigidity of the tie rod is always sufficient?"

"Single point broaching is sufficient."

"Then single-point broaching first."

Chongzhen knew that the exploration of quenching technology was a long process.

Then this period of time cannot be wasted. You can use single-point broaching for the time being, and try to process the first batch of rifled rifles before the end of April.

"My son leads the order."

Zhu Cijiong received the order and returned to the arsenal.

Zhu Cihong did not go together this time.

Because tonight Zhu Cihong was going to represent Chongzhen to entertain representatives of chambers of commerce from various provinces, and at the same time set rules for the chambers of commerce to avoid such incidents as grain merchants hoarding.

Letting Zhu Cihong attend this banquet is also to train him.

The relationship between Chongzhen and Zhu Cihong is somewhat similar to that between Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao and his son.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not worried at all that the prince Zhu Biao would rebel. If Zhu Biao really raised his troops to rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang might feel relieved, and then transfer some troops to Zhu Biao.

Chongzhen was even less worried that Zhu Cihong would rebel.

Because Zhu Cihong had neither the ability nor the confidence to rebel, let alone the will to rebel.

Taking advantage of an hour before dinner time, Chongzhen took Pascal, Boyle and other 36 Western scholars to Qingliangfang to demonstrate the steam engine.

Seeing a steam engine that can be moved by burning a fire,
Pascal, Boyle and others were amazed.

Turning around the steam engine again and again, I can't wait to take it apart and study it.

This was actually arranged by Chongzhen deliberately, because he was worried that Pascal, Boyle and others would not be able to keep them.

Right now, Pascal and the others are newcomers, and they don't know much about Ming Dynasty, especially because of the existence of him, an emperor who admires science so much, they are all full of beautiful fantasies about Ming Dynasty.

But as time goes by and the novelty passes, they will find that the academic atmosphere in Ming Dynasty is very bad.

Because China has only emphasized experience and practicality since ancient times, the research on basic theory has been blank. By the Ming Dynasty, research on basic theory has lagged far behind the West.

The only exception is medicine, and Chinese medicine has formed a systematic theory.

But such knowledge as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and astronomy is only scattered and unsystematic.

So Pascal, Boyle and the others had a hard time finding people or institutions for academic exchanges. If they wanted to exchange ideas, they had to wait until the Ming Dynasty students they taught grew up and reached a level similar to theirs.

This will definitely be a long process, Chongzhen is worried that Pascal and the others will not be able to wait.

In view of this, Chongzhen wanted to bring Pascal and the others to see the steam engine, the purpose was to tell them that it was not that the Ming Dynasty did not have science and technology ahead of the West.

Pascal and others were really interested in steam engines.

After circling the steam engine a few times, Pascal couldn't hold back in the end, and asked Chongzhen, "Your Majesty, can we disassemble this machine for research?"

"Of course." Chongzhen said happily, "But today's time is too late."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, you are extremely generous." Pascal was extremely happy when he received the affirmative answer, and then asked again, "However, why is it too late today?"

Chongzhen laughed and said, "Because it's time for dinner soon."

"Oh no, we don't want to have dinner." Boyle shook his head again and again, "We want to disassemble this amazing machine to see its structure."

"Yes, dinner can be had anytime."

More than 30 other Western scholars also echoed.

At this point, Chongzhen also had a preliminary understanding of these 36 scholars. This is a group of fanatical scholars.

But then again, if it wasn't for their fanatical love of science, they wouldn't have come to Daming after listening to Boym's tricks.

"Alright, then postpone the welcome banquet."

Chongzhen was as good as he was, and immediately ordered craftsmen to dismantle the steam engine.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of the craftsmen dismantling the steam engine, Chongzhen asked Pasbu through a Latin interpreter: "Blaise, are you a student of Galileo?"

"Does His Majesty know about Galileo?"

"Of course, this is a true master of science."

"Yes, he is also a respectable elder. I have had the honor to have many academic exchanges with him, but unfortunately he is not his student, but Viviani and Torricelli are both his students. .”

"Really? Did Viviani and Torricelli come to Daming?"

"No, Father Boym also invited the two of them, but they both refused, but if His Majesty really needs them, I can write a letter to them."

"I believe they will definitely leave for Daming after receiving my letter."

"That would be great, then please write to them both."

"Of course, it's a great honor to be able to serve you, His Majesty the Emperor, but may I ask, why does His Majesty the Emperor respect the disciples of Master Galileo so much?"

"That's right. I heard that Galileo invented many scientific instruments, including astronomical telescopes, thermometers, and barometers. These instruments are urgently needed by Ming."

Astronomical telescopes are not the most urgent need, but thermometers and barometers are really urgent.

Because if you want to make an industrial steam gauge, you can’t do without a thermometer and a barometer. If you don’t have a reliable instrument to measure the pressure, it is easy to explode the cylinder or even explode.

Pascal smiled and said, "If it's just astronomical telescopes, thermometers, and barometers, I can actually make them for your Majesty the Emperor. Of course, a group of skilled craftsmen are needed."

"There is no problem with craftsmen. The most important thing in Ming Dynasty is craftsmen."

Chongzhen was overjoyed, and asked while the iron was hot: "Then can you make a microscope?"

"Microscope? Of course there is no problem." Pascal said without thinking, "As long as high-quality glass and experienced craftsmen, it is not a problem to make a microscope. After all, the principle of a microscope is not very complicated."

"Great." Chongzhen immediately said, "Pascal, your main work will be two different. One is to compile a set of physics and mathematics textbooks for the Imperial College based on the textbooks of European universities, and then reduce the difficulty appropriately. A set of less difficult physics and mathematics textbooks suitable for children to learn."

"Of course, as the dean of the School of Physics and the School of Mathematics, this is an unshirkable responsibility."

Pascal agreed, and then asked: "Is the other job to make astronomical telescopes, microscopes, thermometers, and barometers? This is no problem, and it can be done easily."

After arranging Pascal's work, Chongzhen approached Boyle again.

"His Majesty the Emperor, is there anything I can do for you?"

Facing Chongzhen, Boyle seemed a little flattered, mainly because of a guilty conscience.

Among the 36 young people who came to Daming this time, their families were the worst.

"Boyle, have you heard of mercury fulminate?" Chongzhen went straight to the point, he only knew that the primer was mercury fulminate, but when was mercury fulminate invented and who invented it? I don't know anything.

Even if I accidentally read it in my previous life, it is impossible to memorize it as a knowledge point repeatedly.

After all, who would have imagined such a thing as time travel?Otherwise, you have to memorize the encyclopedia from scratch.

"Mercuric acid?" Boyle looked at Chongzhen in bewilderment, and then wondered if the translation was wrong.

At that moment, Boyle struggled with the Latin interpreter for a long time, but in the end he still failed to get the desired result.

Boyle suddenly panicked, thinking that this is over, he has never heard of mercury fulminate at all, and now he has revealed his secrets, what should we do?Do you want to tell a lie?
Chongzhen's face collapsed, it seemed that Boyle didn't know about fulminate.

Seeing Chongzhen's face turn cold, Boyle's head also drooped. It seems that the title of dean of the School of Chemistry must not be kept, at most he will be a professor.

Chongzhen continued to ask: "Then, what about Lei Suan?"

"Your Majesty, I'm very sorry, I really don't know what leucic acid is?"

After listening to the interpreter's translation, Boyle almost burst into tears. Now the position of professor can't be kept, at most he can only be a lecturer. Well, as long as there is a salary, the lecturer is also acceptable.

Chongzhen sighed, he didn't know about mercury fulminate, it seemed that fixed-loaded metal bullets were hopeless.

However, there is no rush for fixed-loading metal cartridges. Let’s first get out the nitrocellulose, that is, smokeless powder. It is also a huge leap from black powder to smokeless powder.

With smokeless gunpowder, which are also firearms, Ming's guns and cannons will be able to obtain greater kinetic energy with smaller calibers, and the range and lethality will greatly increase.

It can also form a crushing dimensionality reduction blow.

Immediately Chongzhen asked again: "Then you've heard of nitric acid, haven't you?"

"Of course, I know about nitric acid." After hearing the interpreter's words and gestures, Boyle was immediately refreshed.

(End of this chapter)