Marin negotiated terms with Duke Ulrich of Württemberg, paid half of the deposit, and left Stuttgart under the protection of 800 guards. But instead of immediately returning to the North Sea Kingdom, he led his men northeast to Nuremberg in search of a gunsmith and a clockmaker.

Marin remembers that the first rifled gun in history probably appeared in Italy in 1476. But that invention is not famous, just a legend. Moreover, when Marin sent people to Italy a few years ago to find someone, the gunsmith who made the rifling also died. But Gort, the blacksmith who invented the practical rifled gun in 1520, is recorded in history. This proves that this person's rifled gun has a lot of use, otherwise it would not go down in history.

And Nuremberg, a blacksmith named Gort, probably invented the first practical rifled gun in 1520. He can go down in history as proof that he made practical rifling and made rifled guns practical. In 1476, Italy did not take it seriously because it failed to produce a practical finished product. Otherwise, the Italian craftsman will go down in history.

In addition, there was a name in Nuremberg called Johann. Kievers' watchmakers. It is said that the clockwork musket was invented by this buddy in history. And the time of invention is probably 1515, that is, next year.

Although Marin had already made a clockwork musket in the North Sea Country, he still had great respect for the craftsman who had invented the clockwork musket in the original history. This time over he was going to take John. Kiefus beckoned to go, and it would be nice to get himself a clock. After all, this guy is also a good watchmaker.

As for the blacksmith Gort, although it would take a few years to get a rifled gun, it seemed to be rifled, and Marlin decided to take him with him. Whether he can get a rifled gun depends on his luck, and if he is happy, Marin can also instruct him to "invent" a rifled gun......

……

Speaking of which, Nuremberg in this era was really a cow. Two of the most important inventions in the history of firearms actually came from here. Moreover, the interval is only 5 years. It seems that there are many talented craftsmen here.

It is no wonder that, according to the laws of the Holy Roman Empire, Nuremberg was the custodian of the royal treasures of the Holy Roman Empire. Of course, this is only an honor, and the emperor does not actually put the treasure here. But because of its special political status, Nuremberg flourished, making it the sixth largest city in the Holy Roman Empire after Milan, Prague, Genoa, Gent and Cologne.

Upon entering Nuremberg, Marin found that the city was indeed prosperous and wealthy. Nuremberg's streets are full of shops and people, and it is very bustling and bustling. At least, it's more prosperous than any city in the North Sea Country. After all, Beihai is mainly agricultural, and it is not very developed commercially. Moreover, the Beihai business was also monopolized by the Beihai Chamber of Commerce in Marin. Unlike Nuremberg, it is full of flowers, and it is much healthier than the one in the North Sea country.

Trying to find someone in such a large city with a population of tens of thousands (well, it is a big city in this era) is tantamount to looking for a needle in a haystack. So, Marin took the people to one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. Then, he sent his subordinates to directly find the relevant handicraft guild and spend money to inquire about the industry.

During this era, handicraft guilds of all walks of life were common in Germany. These artisanal guilds had a great influence on the industry, and they worked together to set uniform prices and avoid the loss of profits caused by the vicious competition of their peers. Of course, there is also the meaning of bullying and dominating the market. Without the support and recognition of the guild, you can't get along in this industry.

And the first head of the famous Fugger family, Hans. It was because he married the daughter of the leader of the weavers' guild that Fugger quickly became a leader in the industry from a weaver in the countryside and became a tycoon in the textile industry. Then, the family business grew bigger and bigger, and it also entered the banking industry and became a wealthy family.

In short, in Germany in this era, if you want to open a store with craftsmanship, you must be recognized by the handicraft guilds of the relevant industry. Otherwise, it will be difficult to move an inch. As a result, the handicraft guilds of various industries also hold a list of the city's practitioners in their respective industries.

Marin asked people to show their identity as the Grand Duke of Beihai Kingdom, and was willing to give money, and soon got information about the two craftsmen he was looking for.

But unfortunately, the history of the invention of the clockwork musket John . Kievers had been recruited by Frederick III, Elector of Saxony. As for the reason for being recruited, it was because he copied the clockwork musket of Beihai Country last year according to the news of the clockwork musket of Beihai Country. When the news reached Wittenberg, Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, sent to recruit him. So, Marin pounced.

Marin didn't regret it. He just felt guilty about robbing others of the merits of invention rights, and wanted to compensate for it, and he didn't have to recruit him. Since he was recruited by Frederick III to prove that his future prospects are not bad, there is no need for Marin to look for him.

Besides, Marlin chose to use a clockwork musket instead of a simpler and cheaper flintlock pistol, not because the clockwork musket was easy to use, but to establish a cost barrier that would make it difficult for others to equip it on a large scale. After all, a clockwork musket, clockwork is the key. It was now made purely by hand, and the cost was very high. Only Beihai has made a simple carbon spring steel, and the cost is much lower. If it is made of pig iron rods, a steel wheel spring is worth more than 20 gold coins, which is more than the annual income of ordinary people, and the army of ordinary countries really can't afford to equip it.

However, the Elector of Saxony, Frederick III, is a big man, and it is estimated that he has the financial resources to equip a batch. The next time the war encounters, Marin estimates that he will have to be more careful.

But the next time the two sides meet, it is probably the time of the War of Religion. When the time comes, Marin will not take out an ordinary smoothbore musket. Even if it is not a rifled gun, it will be a single-headed bullet with a wind grille, and the range and power are not of the same level.

And the reason why Marin does not dare to openly use rifled guns or single-headed bullets now is that he is afraid that others will learn it. When the time comes, the other party will use it to beat himself, and it will be unbearable. In particular, if the princes' alliance army exploded more than 100,000 troops, and brought more of these firearms, Marin's army would not be able to stop it no matter how fierce it was. Just like in the Crimean War, no matter how many troops Maozi had and how brave he was, the French were armed with mini rifles, and charging was equivalent to sending them to death. In desperation, Maozi, who was overwhelmed, had to admit it.

……

As for whether to use rifled guns in the future or single-headed bullets with higher process requirements, Marin also did not think about it. However, Gort, the blacksmith who originally produced the rifled rifled gun, Marin still had to take it back. Anyway, it's best not to leave this thing out of someone's hands.

But after Marin sent someone to the blacksmith's guild to inquire, he was a little dumbfounded. For, the men of the Blacksmiths' Guild told Marin's men that there were three blacksmiths called Goth in Nuremberg, including a young blacksmith apprentice who had not yet graduated......

Marin first sent someone to call two blacksmiths named Gort, who had opened their own shop, to talk to them and see if they were the Got he imagined. As a result, neither of them knew how to build muskets, and they had little interest in forging muskets, which left Marin a little speechless......

"Is it the young apprentice?" Marin couldn't believe it. However, when I think that the blacksmith named Goth only invented the rifled gun in 1520, it was six years later, and maybe he was still young......

So, Marin sent someone to invite Gort, an apprentice blacksmith, to exchange words with him. As a result, Marlin found out that Gort, the blacksmith's apprentice, was really interested in building muskets. And the master he studied with was also good at making arquebuses...... And Gort, a young blacksmith apprentice, is also in the last year of his seven-year career as a blacksmith apprentice. Next year, he will be qualified to open a blacksmith shop on his own......

Marin didn't say anything about this kind of unfamous little blacksmith, only expressed a little intention, and the young blacksmith Goth immediately agreed to go with Marin without hesitation. After all, a small blacksmith apprentice like him, who has no reputation, seems to have a brighter future with the big nobles......