The next day, Jia Rui and Ma Fushan went to the Gongyuan to attend the Luming Banquet.

The Luming banquet that will be tested is similar to the township test, except that the examiners have changed, and there is basically no new content.

The quality of the wine and food at the banquet is not as good as the deer banquet in Jinling Township.

It is said that this was not the case in previous years, but this year it had to be done because of the lack of money in the imperial court.

Naturally, the Gongsheng didn't dare to say anything, in fact, they didn't care about it now. What people are more concerned about is actually the possibility of being sent to the northwest to become an official.

But because there is no exact official information, it can only be discussed in private.

Jia Rui even suspected that this might be a deliberate release of news from the imperial court to test the reaction of these tribute students.

Both the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials came, spoke some clichés, drank a few glasses and left. After the completion of the fixation ceremony, the deer feast ended hastily.

Jia Rui and Ma Fushan walked down the street, also feeling a little interested.

"Take a walk around Dashilar? It's a bustling place in the capital, haven't you been there yet? ”

Jarry suggested.

"Okay, I'm looking for a set of clothes."

The two of them walked towards Dashilar.

Not far from Zhengyang Gate, it is the entrance of Dashilar. As soon as I entered a short distance, I saw a group of people gathered together.

"Hey, how about you come to my house and lead me on horse?"

A rich boy said.

"You put a stick of grass on your head and sold yourself, and I will buy you for ten taels of silver, and you will make me a servant."

Another person said, causing a burst of laughter from the onlookers.

Jia Rui and Ma Fushan squeezed in, and saw a blonde Westerner with a paper sign on his chest with a few big words written on it: Apply for gunner.

What is this Westerner going to do? Overseas workers, looking for a job here?

Look at the tattered clothes he wears, his body is very thin, and he seems to be living quite down.

"I'll pay fifteen taels of silver to buy you, will you do it?"

"No, no, no, I don't sell myself, I only accept employment. I'm a gunner, a Franc gunner. I will shoot a cannon, at least ten taels of silver a month. ”

Although this Westerner is not very fluent in Chinese, he can explain the meaning clearly.

"It turned out to be a Westerner, probably from Xiangshanao, let's go."

Ma Fushan is leaving.

Xiangshan Macao is Macau, which has been leased to the Portuguese as early as the previous dynasty.

Many Portuguese came from their homeland to the East to pan for gold, and some soldiers even went to Dongying and Nanyang as mercenaries, even from the Tatars. Of course, there were also people who joined the ranks of pirates as gunners.

"Wait."

Jia Rui suddenly had an idea and walked up to the Westerner.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Don? If hot? Domingo? Paul? Bagdoro? Anatasio? Pinheiro ....... ”

"Stop, just say your own name, as for your father's surname, mother's surname, godfather's surname, godmother's surname, grandfather's surname, etc., needless to say."

Oh my God, who can remember your list of names.

"You can call me Paul."

That's pretty much it.

"Ancestors are nobles?"

There is a "Tang" character in the name, which basically means that Paul's ancestors were noble.

However, now that it has fallen to this point, it is clear that the family has declined.

"Yes, my grandfather was still an earl."

"I'll invite you to drink, and we can talk. If you can answer some of my questions, I might consider hiring you. ”

"No problem, sir, I'm willing to serve you."

A few people soon arrived at a nearby restaurant.

Jarry ordered food and drinks, and Paul struck up a conversation.

"My name is Jia Rui, and I am from Rongguo Mansion. Duke Rongguo is equivalent to your duke. I'm still a Jinshi, equivalent to your doctor, or rather, taller than your doctor. This is also a Jinshi, and his name is Ma Fushan. ”

"I know what Jinshi is, Tongsheng, Xiucai, Juren, Jinshi."

Oh, even knowing this, it's much easier to speak.

"What nationality are you?"

"Portuguese."

"How did you get here?"

"It's a long story......

Even this colloquialism?

It turned out that Paul was a member of the East India Company, and later resigned from the company and became a mercenary in the East India. During a battle with pirates, the ship was sunk. He was picked up by a passing merchant ship and arrived at Tianjinwei. From where to wander all the way, to get here.

Paul was originally the captain of the mercenary army, and he would not do anything else, and at this time he wanted someone to hire him as a gunner.

In fact, when he came to the capital, he came to the wrong place.

It is not close to the sea, and only the army has artillery, and the army generally does not hire foreigners at a high price.

"What are you running?"

"Front-loading smoothbore cannon, that's what you call a redcoat cannon."

"What's the range?"

"Three nautical miles. The extent of our territorial waters there is determined by the range of coastal artillery. The range of coastal artillery was three nautical miles. ”

Three nautical miles, about 55.5 kilometers, that is, about ten miles, this range, for now, is indeed far enough.

"How many pounds of your cannon weigh?"

"More than 3,000 pounds."

"Is it a bronze cannon or an iron cannon?"

"Iron cannons. Most of the cannons you make yourself are bronze cannons. Although the weight of the copper cannon is relatively light, it also has many disadvantages. ”

"Tell me about it."

When the food and wine came up, Jarry and Paul chatted while eating.

Paul was probably very hungry, and the bowl of rice went down quickly, and the food went down more than half of it.

Jia Rui ordered four more dishes and two large bowls of rice for him to eat.

At present, most of the weapons of the Great German army are copper cannons, generally called fire guns.

According to Paul, firecrackers are made of copper, but copper is more expensive, so the cost is high. Copper is made of soft material, and each shot causes the chamber to expand, reducing the range and rate of fire. The gunpowder charge was small, the gun chamber was poorly sealed, and the firing range was short.

Moreover, the service life of the firebolt is also low.

Although the redcoat cannon is heavier, it does not have the disadvantages above.

Although Jia Rui did not know much about the manufacturing technology and specific advantages and disadvantages of artillery, with his knowledge background as a science and engineering man, he immediately realized that what Paul said made sense.

This shows that he is an expert.

"Paul, if you want, I can hire you, and I can sign a ten-year contract with you. The price is as you say, ten taels of silver per month. ”

"I need to pay a year's salary upfront."

"No problem. You can come with me in a moment. When you get to me, sign the contract, and I'll pay you. ”

"I want to know, what do you want me to do? I wouldn't do anything else. ”

"Also be a gunner, or help me train a gunner."

"Do you have a cannon here?"

"There is no here, you need to go south, someone will take you somewhere. That's where I am. ”

"Well, I choose to trust you."

"You believe me, and if you satisfy me, I'll give you back the money. You'll need to go out and buy a few outfits in a moment, though. ”

"You dress like this, it's an insult to my identity. This is a silver ticket of ten taels to buy you clothes and some supplies. It's not included in your salary, it's a gift from me. ”

"What a generous man, sir, is a true gentleman."

"Well, then, I wish us a happy cooperation, come, have a drink, and do it."

"."

Jarry and Paul's cups collided.