living in 16th century england

Chapter 36
The foundry was by the river, but the proving grounds were in the woods.

Trees make good targets.Blacksmiths believe that if a tree of a certain thickness can be broken, all hulls can be smashed.

There is nothing to say about artillery.The outside is rough, there are a few hoops in the back half to strengthen it, and the inside is not smooth.There are no "machines" these days, pure handwork.

Matthew suddenly had a strange idea, if anyone in modern times made an iron cylinder with only one opening, would it count as making munitions?
Shouldn't it count?
But didn't I build a cannon?

Earth pits were dug near the artillery as bunkers.A guy was shivering and lighting a long fuse.

No way, this is the first time to test heavy artillery, and everyone has no experience, so Matthew asked them to dig a hole after seeing it.

With a muffled sound of "pass", the rear of the test gun was torn apart, and the tube was thrown several meters away.White smoke rises.

A group of people rushed over immediately.The blacksmith took the lead.

Helmet man: "Look, what did I say?"

Matthew: "...you crow mouth."

Helmet man: "..."

The blacksmith over there shouted: "Xie Te!... Pick up all the fragments, and there is no one missing... Who is that! Are you dead?"

In the bunker, the guy who fired the gun suddenly started yelling, his voice full of excitement.Matthew couldn't help but suspect that if he was given a firecracker, he would definitely stuff it into cow dung.

After waiting patiently for more than ten minutes, the blacksmith finally came to report, and there was still a fragment in his hand: "It's still an impurity problem... There are still some air bubbles."

Matthew looked at it and sighed: "Haven't you found the slag remover?"

Blacksmith: "No, this thing...does it really exist?"

Matthew said nonsense: "This is a method from the East...it must exist. It's just that we don't know the specific materials."

At this time, Europeans were extremely yearning for the far east.

Because there are too many legends in the East, coupled with a small amount of land trade and the evidence of Eastern goods sold by Arabs and Persians, Europeans have known the existence of that legendary country for a long time.But in the middle of the 15th century, when Byzantium fell, Central Asia was in chaos, and the Arab trade routes were interrupted.And European churches and high society are already inseparable from all kinds of magical commodities from the East.Opening up new routes has become an inevitable choice.

All of Europe's famous voyages took place after the fall of Byzantium in 1453.

So you can see that the sponsors of famous sailing operations are either Spain or Portugal.It was the extreme extravagance of Catholic "monks" that opened the age of great voyages.They have enough motivation and money to send those brave sailors to sea.

Just like those intrepid British fishermen, who traveled thousands of miles across the ocean, just for the salty fish in the tank.

However, no matter what the reason is, the sailors embark on this endless journey, wrestling with the huge waves and fighting against the ocean.It is a hymn to human courage.

Matthew suddenly had a deeper understanding of the term "extreme things must be reversed".

It is now May 1510, but it will take another 5 years for the Portuguese to sail to a certain eastern country.

All oriental things are lofty.The blacksmith believed it immediately.

"I've tried a lot of materials, but nothing seems to work."

Matthew thought for a while: "This thing should be very common and very cheap... Maybe it doesn't cost money at all. Although it is not available everywhere, it must be in huge quantities. By the way, it should be the same as iron ore, and it can also be melted. The melting point may be Pretty much the same."

The blacksmith wondered: "...couldn't it be a stone?"

Stone? !Matthew was a little confused.Still he said, "... have you tried stones?"

Blacksmith: "Iron ore is also stone...but there are many kinds of stones."

Matthew: "...then go and try."

The so-called deslagging agent is silica.It can absorb impurities in molten iron and greatly improve the quality of cast iron.If it is elemental silicon, it can also improve the fluidity of molten iron and reduce the possibility of air bubbles.

However, none of these Matthews knew that he was not in this line of work before.only know a noun.

A noun can improve a technology.

Matthew beckoned, ready to leave.

Helmet Man: "Technology from the East?"

Is this guy a rabbit?The ears are so long?Matthew didn't bother to pay attention to him, and got on his horse.

The man in the helmet hurriedly followed, except for the followers, everyone was riding a horse.

After slowing down for a while, the helmeted man couldn't help but said: "Mr. Baron, can't you hurry up? Didn't you say that there is still... a meeting?"

Matthew: "I can, but I don't want to."

Helmet: "Why?"

Matthew: "Most of the time, there are people on the road."

Riding a horse across the market is not a small crime in the East. To put it bluntly, it is easy to hurt people.Although it is not downtown.But occasionally there are pedestrians, and the entourage even walks, and it can't be fast.

The man in the helmet looked up at the sky, then adjusted his helmet again: "You should give him a donkey. It's like that maid...uh..."

"...Where's your maid?"

Matthew suddenly turned his head and smiled, and the helmet man couldn't help but feel a little hairy.

"She is no longer a maid, because I plan to marry her as my wife... I will call her the baroness in the future."

Everyone is stupid.

The man in the helmet stammered: "You...you...does the king know?"

Matthew looked surprised: "It's just marrying a wife, why bother the king? He is very busy."

The helmet man: "But... isn't she a commoner?"

Matthew said with a simple and honest face: "That's right. We are childhood sweethearts, childhood sweethearts."

I can't see the expression of the helmet man, but I guess it looks like a fool.Maybe they are still slandering him as an idiot who doesn't understand anything.

Matthew is satisfied.Henry VIII should hear soon.

Of course Andrew was against it yesterday, but he didn't fly into a rage.He just said:

"You rejected others last year, but now you want to marry a tenant's daughter, what will they think?"

Daisy agreed: "That girl is good, I thought it was suitable for our family before."

Anna and Danny not only have no opinion, but also gossip.

However, after Matthew talked with Andrew alone, his position immediately turned 180 degrees.

As a former yeoman, the king was too far away from him.Matthew's current situation has exceeded his imagination.

Matthew: "So, the three thousand acres of land, the manor, the flock, the winery, and the one hundred looms, give it all to Danny."

Andrew: "But he doesn't understand business, and he doesn't want to learn. He wields swords all day long, and only thinks about going to sea... Sigh..."

Matthew smiled and said, "Anna understands."

Andrew snorted: "There's a guy who comes to her all day long, don't tell me you don't know...she's just stubborn...will always get married."

Matthew: "If I inherit it, Danny will definitely go out and take risks. Do you have the heart to watch him live and sleep? Life and death are unknown?"

Andrew: "..."

"Have you ever thought about letting Danny inherit and then recruiting a son-in-law?"

Is there such a thing as a door-to-door son-in-law in Europe?Of course there are, and there are a lot of them.Any queen you've ever heard of recruits a door-to-door son-in-law, without exception.

Hmmm... the Virgin Queen certainly doesn't count.

This is basically the case for rich noble widows.Many aristocratic children who have lost their inheritance rights can often turn around with this, and even have the title of nobility.

Children of nobles are not nobles.But the overall quality is no different from the nobility.Losing the right of inheritance does not necessarily mean that the family relationship is absent.There are not a few people who have deep brotherhood.There is also the effect of marriage.

As a modern person, how could Matthew see Danny and Anna penniless in the future?In his opinion, this is not a problem at all.Anna wants to get married?No problem, is the dowry of 1000 gold coins enough?Do you want the manor?How many do you want?

If Andrew didn't pay attention to it, he wouldn't even bother to think about it.

Andrew was moved.

Danny's inheritance means that the son-in-law who comes to visit cannot take away the family property.

Daisy must be happy that her daughter doesn't have to marry far away.

He is actually very clear about the reason why Matthew is unwilling to inherit, and he is actually relieved in his heart.Although Danny seems to have no ability, he is also his son.

As for Matthew, he has nothing to worry about.Couldn't even give him better advice.

Andrew suddenly said: "The next parliamentary election, they may elect me as mayor."

Matthew immediately had an insight into Andrew's mentality, but he would not expose the old man.This is his father, who has been kind to him in nurturing him.

Son, take a look, your father is also pretty cool.

Matthew said in surprise: "Mayor? I have to say, father, you make me so proud."

Andrew was full of self-satisfaction, hey hey: "I will definitely be able to get a gentleman title in the future."

Local city councilors are not public offices, magistrates and mayors are.Even in modern times, Western parliamentarians are not considered civil servants.

In the normal way, rich people who have held public office for a certain number of years may obtain the title of low-level nobles.

remember?There were no more than 16 gentlemen in England for most of the 5000th century.

Matthew is still unhurried.The man in the helmet was in a hurry, and he couldn't help whispering to a soldier.This one immediately turned the horse's head and galloped away.

Matthew never felt that he needed to marry any nobleman.The nobles of the Tudor dynasty are actually weak chickens.This was the era of centralized power in England.

It might work if in other European countries, but not in the Tudors.The frontier earls with real power had no power to resist—Henry VIII abolished them less than a year after he came to power.It can be seen how powerful the royal power system left by Henry VII is.

Without a strong centralization, there would be no subsequent Reformation in England.

Without a solid foundation for ruling, how can the royal family survive?
What was the basis of Tudor rule?
Under mercantilism ~ merchants, landlords, ranchers, handicraft owners, self-cultivators, public book farmers.These people have multiple identities, just think about Andrew.

What is the state of the traditional aristocracy?Henry VII destroyed more than 300 nobles of all sizes.The so-called real nobles, in fact, are only in their early 50s, and marrying other nobles is no different from joining the national army in 49.

Does Matthew look silly?Henry VIII just gave him a few islands, and then married?Is this treating the king as a fool?I don't know if others will be unlucky, but he must be the most unlucky guy in England.

The Helmets only know that noble marriages require the king's approval, but they don't know what this system is for.Of course, maybe he knew, but pretended not to know.This is also very common.

The Foundry is not far from Plymouth, first along the river and then along the coast.Then there is the port.

Yes, the location of the foundry was carefully chosen so that ships could dock directly up the river to unload.

Matthew walked into the tavern.There are surprisingly many people inside, most of them are their own sailors.There was a moment of silence.Whether it's the status of nobility, the rich boss, or the armored knight behind Matthew.Enough to make everyone stand up involuntarily.Even some drinkers were inexplicably frightened by the situation, and they didn't dare to sit still, subconsciously following the crowd.

Matthew was upset, too high-profile is not a good thing, next time he will go through the back door.

However, this is also a good opportunity.

He beckoned, and the tavern owner Hawkins immediately leaned over: "Master, would you like a glass of beer?"

Matthew: "I mean, give everyone here a drink, and I'll pay for the drinks."

Ahhh, the tavern suddenly burst into cheers.

The tavern owner smiled and said, "Does that include me too?"

Matthew laughed and said, "Just drink."

"Are they all here?"

Tavern owner: "Except for Jack who hasn't come back yet, the other 5 captains and 15 first mates are all in the backyard."

(End of this chapter)