For Zhu Yijun, Daming now has two very important plans, which are not only important, but also extremely confidential. This is also why when Shen Shixing was there, Zhang Jing didn't even say anything, because Shen Shixing couldn't know about this matter.

These two plans are responsible for the implementation of the Ming Royal Academy of Sciences, and the tenth-level person in charge is Xu Guangqi, and one of the plans is the Invincible Cannon Plan.

The so-called invincible cannon plan is actually very simple, that is, to create an epoch-making cannon.

This kind of cannon is epoch-making from the beginning of the design, this plan began three years ago, by Xu Guangqi in charge, Zhu Yijun has invested a lot of manpower and material resources in the past three years, so far there is no production. It is precisely because of such a large amount of investment that Xu Guangqi is wholeheartedly invested in the project.

In the past three years, Xu Guangqi has entered the palace only a limited number of times, and every time he comes, there is a big event.

Coming to the front, Zhu Yijun saw Xu Guangqi at a glance, the young man who was trained by Zhu Yijun back then, and he already had a lot of bearing at this time. Especially in scientific attainments, he has long surpassed Zhu Yijun's half-ass. In addition to some insights from later generations, Zhu Yijun has long been inferior to Xu Guangqi.

As the president of the Ming Royal Academy of Sciences, Xu Guangqi is definitely a great existence, and no one dares to refute this.

"Minister Xu Guangqi, see Your Majesty!" Seeing Zhu Yijun coming over, Xu Guangqi hurriedly bowed and saluted.

Nodding, Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said, "Aiqing is exempt!" Saying that, Zhu Yijun asked directly: "Is there anything important for Aiqing to enter the palace today?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the yellow flame has been successfully developed!" Xu Guangqi bowed.

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Yijun stood up from the throne in shock, although he had been looking forward to this day for a long time, but when it really came to this day, Zhu Yijun still couldn't believe that he had succeeded? Of course, this yellow dynamite is not nitroglycerin, nor TNT, but trinitrophenol, which is picric acid.

Because it is a yellowish crystalline at room temperature, it is called yellow gunpowder.

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, picric acid was still the best gunpowder, until the beginning of the 20th century, when it was replaced by TNT, known as the king of explosives. Compared to black powder, this thing is really much better, how could Zhu Yijun not be happy.

Zhu Yijun didn't know much about picric acid, he just remembered that this thing was used as a yellow dye when it was born, and Zhu Yijun only mentioned it once when he was formulating the invincible cannon project. Zhu Yijun didn't expect Xu Guangqi to really surprise himself, he actually got this thing out.

"Tell me, how did you do that?" Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Guangqi and asked with a little excitement.

This matter can't help but Zhu Yijun is not excited, once the picric acid is applied, then the cannon of the Ming Dynasty will definitely be able to go to the next level.

"Back to Your Majesty, there are many problems to be solved in the Invincible Cannon Plan, among which gunpowder is the most important one. The black powder used now cannot meet the requirements of invincible cannons at all, and His Majesty mentioned yellow gunpowder, and the minister was interested. The minister had all the yellow dye collected, and then continued experimentation. ”

"A few days ago, the experiment finally worked, and we succeeded in making yellow powder."

"In addition, we have also made certain achievements in the production of thundermercury, and I believe that in a period of time, we can also make a breakthrough."

Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction, the so-called invincible cannon plan is actually to create a reliable rear-loading cannon. Metal fixed shells, single shots, the most typical example of which is the cannon later known as the Italian cannon, in fact, this kind of cannon is the French 1897 75mm field gun.

When Zhu Yijun proposed this plan, it was basically a lifetime series.

Although I don't know if I can make it, I must try it, and maybe a lot of new things will be produced in the process, and these things will be epoch-making.

"Aiqing, let's talk about the overall progress!" Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Guangqi and asked.

"Yes!" Xu Guangqi agreed, and began to introduce the process of the entire project to Zhu Yijun: "The minister divided the whole project into several groups at the same time, one of which is the research and development of artillery shells, including several groups, such as new gunpowder and firing charges, including the design and production of artillery shells. ”

"On gunpowder and firing charges, yellow gunpowder is already done, and thundermercury is also in progress."

"In terms of shells, the hydraulic press can only forge copper shells, and the minister is constantly improving this aspect, although some of them have been solved, but the effect is not very good. It can only be used reluctantly until a new power source is obtained, and the power source will require progress in the steam program. ”

Zhu Yijun nodded, the second of his two lifetime plans was the steam plan, that is, the research and development of the steam engine.

The progress of that project is much slower than the Invincible Cannon plan, and there has been no substantial progress so far, although he is a little disappointed, but Zhu Yijun also knows that that thing is not so easy, so he can only take his time. Who made himself not an engineering student, if he was an engineering student, Zhu Yijun would carry a sledgehammer on his own.

"In addition to the cannonball, the cannon itself is the cannon, and the minister carefully studied the alphabet cannon and tried to forge a new type of cannon barrel, and the overall progress is not slow."

Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Guangqi, his face was full of gratification, if he could really make a reliable rear-loading gun, then it was really an epoch-making product.

Once the invincible cannon plan is realized, it will promote the development of the entire military industry of the Ming Dynasty, and at the same time radiate the overall industry of the Ming Dynasty. The realization of metal fixed shells and rear loading guns is enough for Daming to create metal fixed rear loading guns, that is, the famous M1841.

Once successfully manufactured, rear-loading guns and Italian guns will come out from the Ming Dynasty, which represents a significant significance.

"Keep working hard, I want people to give people, and I want money to give money!" Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Guangqi and said with a smile: "The steam plan should also be grasped and get things out as soon as possible, even if it is simple, it doesn't matter, we can improve it little by little, it doesn't have to be perfect." ”

Although he is a liberal arts student, Zhu Yijun also knows that the technology of the steam engine is not developed in one step.

The earliest steam engines were very rudimentary, and there were many problems of all kinds, such as not being able to build ships or use them in trains, but they would provide a stable and continuous power source that could advance the industrial level of the Ming Dynasty, whether it was mining iron smelting or military technology.

This is really important to Daming, and many things cannot be manufactured because of insufficient power sources.

The problem that the hydraulic press cannot solve, the rudimentary steam engine is okay.