The next day, Li Yan went to the blacksmith workshop, and at this time, Ma Chaodong and the others had already come to the blacksmith workshop and provided their data requirements to Blacksmith Zhou.

Li Yan listened to them quietly before asking, "Is there a problem?" ”

Blacksmith Zhou said: "There is no problem, but this mold takes time. And now it's hot, so it's not suitable for molding. ”

Blacksmith Zhou said that the lost wax method, the weather is too hot, and the wax is not easy to form, so it is generally selected to make molds after autumn, and the clay molds after that are dried in the winter when the air is dry. Therefore, this casting method not only takes a long time, but also has a certain time limit.

Li Yan thought for a while, called the old coppersmith over, and asked, "When making molds, can you not use wax?" ”

The old coppersmith said, "If you don't need to lose wax, then use the clay mold method." He looked at the figure drawn by Wang Renhui and said: "This is simple, use dry Nanmu or Binmu to carve the shape, and then put on the mud, and when the mud is dry, you can make a mud mold out of the wooden heart." After roasting the clay mold, it is ready to melt the gold and cast. ”

After Li Yan listened, he frowned and asked, "In other words, the clay mold can only be used once each time?" ”

"Yes, after casting, break the clay mold, and you can take out the cannon." The old coppersmith nodded, "Otherwise, how can you get the cannon out?" ”

"So how do you make sure that the cannon is exactly the same every time?" Li Yan asked while thinking. He wanted a lot of armament, not a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

The old coppersmith explained: "If the craftsman does more, he can control it, and he can basically do the same." ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and asked, "Then can you use an iron mold to make it?" Isn't it possible to use it multiple times if you make it in half, put it together when you use it, and open it after you make it? And wouldn't it be more convenient to cast all the guns with the same specifications? ”

The old coppersmith shook his head and replied: "I haven't heard of this method, so I don't know if it's feasible. ”

Li Yan looked at Blacksmith Zhou again.

Blacksmith Zhou said embarrassedly: "When the molten iron and the iron mold meet, they will stick together, but you can't do this way." ”

Li Yan was very disappointed after hearing this, he obviously had the word "iron mold casting cannon" in his mind, how could he say that it couldn't be used? So he said uncertainly: "Is there something missing in the middle?" For example, what can make the molten iron and the iron mold not stick to each other? ”

Blacksmith Zhou shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

Li Yan asked the old coppersmith again, but the old coppersmith had no choice.

Li Yan was helpless and said, "Then you make an iron mold first, there is no problem with this, right?" Since it is not suitable to make a clay mold now, and I don't know if I can find a suitable Nanmu and Binmu, so you will make an iron mold first. As for the problem of preventing adhesion, let's find a way. ”

Blacksmith Zhou and the old coppersmith had no choice but to agree. Although they felt that this was a little difficult, they were still willing to share Li Yan's worries.

Li Yan and Ma Chaodong left first, and Ma Chaodong asked, "General, how long will we wait?" ”

"I don't know," Li Yan replied absentmindedly. He was still thinking about how he could use the iron mold to make a cannon. Now such a simple cannon barrel is just right for experiments. If a suitable solution can be found, then it will not be a problem to equip a large number of iron cannons in the future, bronze cannons are too expensive.

Ma Chaodong and the three of them saw that Li Yan was thinking about something else, so they had to leave first.

Li Yan immediately ordered: "Don't slack off, in addition to acting as an apprentice, you must continue to adjust the formula of gunpowder, the more powerful the better." ”

Ma Chaodong and the three of them arched their hands and said, "General, don't worry, we will continue to work hard to experiment." ”

"Hmm. Stay safe. Li Yan instructed: "Be sure to use a small amount of gunpowder to test, and keep away from the place where the gunpowder is stored." Also, the storage of gunpowder should also be paid attention to, moisture-proof, but also fireproof! You make a charter for everyone to abide by and prevent dangerous accidents from happening! ”

"Subordinates obey!" Ma Chaodong and the three of them hugged their fists and bowed in agreement.

Li Yan left the blacksmith workshop and returned home, he had to rest first, and he had to go to the south in the afternoon. Recently, a lot of displaced people have come from Taikang, so the reclamation of wasteland has begun to develop far away, not limited to the suburbs of the county, but to the county border. The recruits have also received a lot, and they are about to start formation training.

As soon as he returned home, he saw Wu Niang.

"It's really not easy to wait for you." Wu Niang first said Wanfu, and then said a little unhappy.

Li Yan smiled: "It's a busy day these days. After he sat down, he continued: "I told you to be the bookkeeper last time, please help me manage my personal belongings, okay?" ”

"Aren't you in charge?" Wu Niang asked suspiciously.

Li Yan said with a smile: "Those people, after using it for a long time, began to have other ideas. So use you as an outsider. ”

"You're really stingy," Wu Niang sneered and said, "Others give you errands and earn some family business for yourself, as long as it's not too much." ”

Before Li Yan could reply, Zhang Yi came in and reported: "Son, Steward Wang is here." ”

"Huh?" Li Yan was a little puzzled, and he didn't know why Steward Wang came. But he decided to meet him anyway and said, "Please let him in." ”

After that, he said to Wu Niang: "You go to the back and wait for a while." ”

Wu Niang shook her head and said, "I'd better go back." I'll do the accounting business, even if it's settled. ”

happened to be when Wu Niang went out, and met Steward Wang who was brought in halfway. Zhang Yi didn't say that he was the steward of the palace, and Wu Niang didn't care. When she saw it, she found that this Wang Steward was the third chief manager in the palace, and she had seen it several times. But it was too close, and it was too late for her to hide. She had no choice but to bow her head and stand on the edge of the cloister to dodge, like a maid.

Steward Wang also saw Wu Niang, but he was only surprised, and there was nothing unusual after that. The prince has an order, so if there is no Wu Niang, he will not see it.

After Steward Wang followed Zhang Yi over, Wu Niang hurriedly left. She was going back to pack her things and prepare to continue her escape. She thought that this steward Wang was here to arrest her.

But Steward Wang came to Li Yan, and from beginning to end, he didn't mention a word about Wu Niang. He came this time to deliver 10% of the harvest from the Grange to Li Yan.

After he reported Li Yan's request to the palace and went back, the prince actually agreed. In the three hundred years of the Ming Dynasty, there has never been a prince who paid any taxes and fees to others, and now the prince of Zhou will actually pay protection fees to a small military attaché, which is really absurd! However, the prince promised to give it, and he, as a subordinate, could only comply with it.