After Li Yan returned home, Qiu Niang had already prepared all the ingredients. After knowing that Li Yan hadn't eaten yet, he immediately went to cook. After a while, more than a dozen dishes were served, both large and small.

"Childe, hurry up and eat." Qiu Niang greeted.

Li Yan also beckoned: "Come, sit down and eat together." ”

The two are not hypocritical, and it is not the first time they have eaten together anyway.

Li Yan was already hungry, so he started eating after a polite sound. While eating, he praised: "Not bad, not bad, the taste is right." ”

Qiu Niang said happily: "If the son likes it, then take Qiu Niang to Guide Mansion." ”

After Li Yan swallowed the food in his mouth, he said, "It's not right now, the matter there hasn't been dealt with yet." ”

"That is, when the son takes care of the matter, let us pass" Qiu Niang asked excitedly.

"There's no hurry, I'll talk about it later." Li Yan said casually. After that, he began to devour again.

Qiu Niang was a little disappointed, and Wu Niang just ate Sven from beginning to end and didn't speak.

After eating and cleaning up, Qiu Niang and Wu Niang went home together. Wu Niang reminded on the road: "Let me tell you, men don't have a good thing. Don't fall too deep, or you'll be the one who suffers."

Qiu Niang said with some loss: "Li Gongzi is not that kind of person, even if he suffers a loss, I am willing." But now I want to suffer, and I don't have to. ”

"You just wait to regret it," Wu Niang said hatefully: "When you regret it in the future, you will even cry dry." ”

Qiu Niang shook her head silently and did not continue the topic.

The next day, Li Yan went to the blacksmith's workshop to see how the lead tube of the hollow bullet was doing. Although he also knew that the time was a little short, he still wanted to take a look, after all, if the hollow cannonball could be ready, then his artillery team would have another killer feature.

Li Yan came to Blacksmith Zhou's laboratory and found that Master Huang, a carpenter, was also there.

When Blacksmith Zhou saw Li Yan, he scolded his apprentice: "What's the matter, the son didn't report it earlier, and there are no rules." ”

After that, he arched his hand to Li Yan and said: "These boys don't understand the rules, the villain will clean him up for a while." ”

Li Yan waved his hand and said, "I let them not report it, so as not to let you toss and turn and affect your work." ”

Master Huang also arched his hand and said, "My subordinates have seen the general." ”

"What are you doing here?" asked Li Yan.

Blacksmith Zhou explained: "It is more difficult for Gongzi to make iron pipes, so I invited Master Huang to see if I can replace them with wood. ”

"Wood," Li Yan said suspiciously. After thinking about it for a while, he nodded, "That's a good idea, and it should be okay." ”

Master Huang said: "Master Zhou has already told me the request, I brought a cork pole and am now doing threading. ”

Li Yan took the cork pole and looked at it, and said, "Well, the weight is relatively light. However, it can also be made lighter, which can be made into a conical shape, which can fill the hollow ball with more gunpowder. The key is how to ignite it."

He then instructed his own soldiers: "Go and call Wang Renhui, let's study it together." ”

Blacksmith Zhou said with a smile: "Let's treat this eye to the same thickness as the lead, just put a lead in it." ”

Li Yan shook his head and said, "Let's let Wang Renhui take a look, only he knows whether it can be used or not." ”

After waiting for a while, Wang Renhui came over. Taking advantage of this time, Blacksmith Zhou made the threads of the cork rod.

"My subordinates have seen the general." Wang Renhui clasped his fists and saluted.

Li Yan raised his hand and said, "No need to be polite." Let's see if you can put a lead in this cork pole."

Wang Renhui took the cork pole, looked at it carefully, and nodded: "It should be possible." ”

"That's good, you guys study it and make this hollow shell." Li Yan immediately ordered: "It's better to make a cylindrical shape like the cannonball of the Tiger Squat Cannon, so that this lead head is always in front, so as not to spin in the barrel." ”

Wang Renhui hugged his fists and said: "Obey orders." ”

Li Yan then instructed: "The key is to test how much propellant this hollow iron ball can withstand. If you can't have a range of more than 200 paces, it's not very useful. And the lead must be reliable, if it explodes in the chamber of the gun, it will be dangerous. ”

"My subordinates understand." Wang Renhui immediately agreed.

Li Yan instructed Blacksmith Zhou again: "You can get a few more four-inch hollow cannons for the Tiger Squat Cannon to pop out, and see how the situation is with the Tiger Squat Cannon to fire." ”

Blacksmith Zhou agreed: "Okay, I'll get another iron mold." ”

Li Yan instructed: "You must start the test as soon as possible, we may be about to fight, these new weapons will be of great help to the victory of the war." ”

"The subordinates must do their best to share the general's worries." Wang Renhui, Blacksmith Zhou and others all clenched their fists and loudly expressed their confidence.

Li Yan nodded and said, "You can continue to work, and you must pay attention to communication and cooperation with each other." ”

"Yes," the crowd replied loudly.

After Li Yan left the blacksmith workshop, he went to the artillery test site non-stop. He first went to see the training of the musketeers.

The firecrackers were still training in rotation under Sun Tianyang's orders. "Bang", "bang" gunshots were constantly ringing out, and white smoke was also filling their heads.

Now there were 200 musketeers, and although the production of muskets had increased, the musketeers would have 20 rounds of live ammunition every day. Therefore, the loss of muskets is also very large, but the benefits of this are also obvious. Now the musketeers, the veterans are skilled and can already teach the recruits. And the recruits are also making rapid progress, and they can master combat skills in a month.

Although Li Yan equipped the musketeers with a leather pad draped diagonally over their right shoulders at Sun Tianyang's request, the musketeers quickly formed calluses on their shoulder sockets. In this way, when fighting in the future, there should be no problem at all in dealing with a major war. After all, firing twenty rounds of ammunition is enough to repel the enemy's attack.

Li Yan was very satisfied with the training of the musket team, he did not disturb Sun Tianyang's training, but went to a distance to find Wang Renjie.

Wang Renjie: They are still training the gun crew of the three-inch gun, and by the way, they will solve the new grapeshot shell.

"Did you get a new grape bomb?" asked Li Yan directly.

Wang Renjie replied, "Well, we use thicker linen. Then add some wood chips to the inside to wrap the projectile tighter, which can reduce some of the wear and tear on the gun chamber. ”

"Is there less projectiles in there?" asked Li Yan.

Wang Renjie nodded and said, "It's a little less, but the impact shouldn't be very big." ”

Li Yan didn't have any dissatisfaction, after all, it wasn't something that could be done overnight. He nodded and encouraged, "Keep up the good work and see if we can find a better way." The training of artillery crews should not be delayed, and more artillery crews should be able to operate three-inch guns proficiently. ”

"Please rest assured that the general will continue to work hard and not let the general down." Wang Renjie agreed loudly.

Li Yan reminded: "We have to discuss more with everyone, maybe there will be new ideas." ”

"Humble duty understands."

...