Shang Wen asked the question he wanted to ask. The use of smokeless gunpowder allowed the gun to gain a faster muzzle velocity, and it was this change that allowed the gun to easily shoot up to 300 paces.

However, there are other changes that need to be mentioned. Rifling. The original yin line was changed to a yang rifling line. This subtle difference greatly increased the initial velocity of the bullet, and the yin line was specifically designed for black powder shooting. Because there is a lot of gunpowder residue, the use of a negative line can effectively ensure that the gunpowder residue does not affect the shot, but this design cannot provide a higher muzzle velocity for gunpowder bullets using smokeless gunpowder.

Folk manufacturers are aware of this problem. More powerful charges, plus rifling. can increase the initial velocity of the bullet. However, another question led Shangwen to raise his concerns.

"Your Majesty, this gun is very good. But it will not be able to produce and equip our troops in large quantities. Shang Wen said.

"Why?" King Qin asked.

"We have very low steel production. And this production has always maintained a delicate balance with the production of arms. But if there is a mass production of such rifles. Our balance will be broken. Shang Wen said.

"The yield of steel." King Qin said.

"Yes, Your Majesty, some of our mainstream and practical building materials, as well as a large number of train tracks, are used rails. It's all iron, not steel. There is a big difference between steel, ductile iron, and iron. Shang Wen said metaphorically.

"To produce such a musket, it is not only necessary to produce steel, but also to use some special metals for this firing pin. For example, some alloys. None of these conditions can be met. This is a harsh reality for us. "Shang Wen is very aware of the current industrial level of the Qin State. The scale of the iron-smelting plant in the north has expanded more than ten times, but it mainly produces some building materials and a large number of rails, and some civil iron ingots. The train line in the north, although its capacity was limited, greatly reduced the volume of transportation of the Xianyang munitions department.

Coal and iron became important raw materials for the production of the Qin State. Coal has become widespread in the Guanzhong region, and the fuel provides a calorific value that exceeds that of charcoal. This allowed the Qin state to smelt iron on a large scale, plus the use of coke. The rate of iron production has increased considerably. But a lot of problems have been exposed.

"Your Majesty, the Qin State has just made iron an important metal, and it is not yet possible to make steel a mainstream metal and use it on a large scale in a short period of time. Moreover, the way steel is produced is very backward. Hammering is still used instead of chemical solutions. Moreover, the yield of electricity is also very low, only in batteries. and limited power plants. Shang Wen snapped his fingers and calculated for King Qin. Shang Wen's duties are equivalent to that of an economic minister. King Qin didn't know anything about it, because he hadn't received this knowledge at all.

"Not only that, but we only have two sources of iron and only one source of coal, and so far, we have not explored a single place for coal. And oil, some of our places have been extracted from shallow oil. They are extracting another shallow oil, but sooner or later we will run out of oil. Shang Wen said.

"Wait. Why do you say this, sir? King Qin asked with some confusion.

"Your Majesty, these are important industrial raw materials for the Qin State. The calorific value of coal, i.e., the higher temperature emitted by coal than charcoal. This is also the reason why our Qin State was able to smelt iron on a large scale. With such an explanation, King Qin understood.

"In other words, there is only one place where my Daqin's coal is produced. That's okay. "King Qin is obviously also in a hurry.

"Yes, the Qin State needs large-scale exploration and utilization of these resources. If these things are not further popularized, it will be difficult to stimulate the production of steel. Because steel will only be processed when the production of iron is abundant on a large scale. Shang Wen said.

"Yes." King Qin nodded.

"Sir, can you be a good doctor?" King Qin asked.

"This can only be done if more people get in." Shang Wen said.

"More people?" King Qin asked.

"For example, there is only one company engaged in railway construction now, Wenyang Railway Company. They are building three railway lines. East, north, and west. But because of the Qinling Mountains in the south, they have no plans to build a railway. Moreover, the capacity is also very unsatisfactory. It could not replace the carriage transportation of the Qin State on a large scale. This point is very detrimental to the development of the next step. Shang Wen said.

"But if more people come in, there will be competition. As a consequence of competition, a lot of things will emerge. Fierce competition will lead them to use new technologies, or adjust the scale of production, management, and the use of funds. If there is no competition. Well, I'm afraid this speed can't be raised. Shang Wen said.

"What you mean is to add a few more competitors to Yu'er and let her run forward." King Qin said.

"Yes. This requires King Qin to let some private capital enter some important places. For example, train transportation, electricity, mineral mining, etc. Shang Wen said. Actually, this is not a relaxation, but the time has reached a certain level. The degree of primitive capital accumulation in the Qin State has far exceeded Shang Wen's imagination. Qin's large-scale foreign expansion occupied not only land, but also a large amount of capital accumulation. There are many people who have made a fortune, but they have poured all their money into the land. The main reason is that more and more people are buying land to become farmers, which is a great hidden danger for the Qin State.

More and more people are growing grain, and the output of grain remains high, and the Qin State relies on the futures market to regulate. If the food is high. It will seriously dampen the enthusiasm for growing grain. Not only grain, but also a lot of meat. It's okay to say this year, but next year. This number has multiplied several times at once. Agricultural development is already possible. The next step is to let the excess capital go into other areas. The entry of these fields not only solves this potential hidden danger, but also provides sufficient capital support for the development of Qin's large industry. Technology, people, equipment, all of this costs money.

"Yes. The widow supported Mr. 's idea. Go back and quickly draw up a plan to solve this problem. That's right. The widows also set up private companies to compete. Let Yu'er, a little girl, not be relaxed. "King Qin figured this out. Only large-scale competition could solve the current needs of the Qin state.

After Shang Wen returned, he would convene a cabinet meeting to make a preliminary summary of the current situation and then come up with his own plan. The general idea is that free competition will accelerate the economic development of the Qin state.