After chatting with Kang Dingen for a while, Pang Yue found that his description of the bird gun was similar to what he had learned in his previous life. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 info bird gun, Jiajing period from Europe through Japan to the Ming Dynasty, after the Ming Dynasty official a large number of imitations, because of its bolt shape like a bird's beak, so it is also known as the bird's beak gun. The bird gun is composed of a barrel, a powder pool, a bolt, a front sight, a gun handle and other parts, the fire rope is pre-ignited when firing, and then the bolt is pulled to drive the fire rope to ignite the compacted gunpowder in the powder pool, and with the explosive force of gunpowder gas, the lead projectile in the barrel is ejected, so as to kill and injure the enemy. Compared with the hand-held guns used in the early Ming Dynasty, the bird guns can be said to have made revolutionary progress: the barrel is long, the caliber is smaller, and it can fire round lead bullets of the same caliber, with a longer range, up to about 100 steps, and greater power; In addition, the front sight and the door were added, and the ignition method was changed from hand ignition to gun firing, and the gun handle was also changed from a straight wooden handle inserted in the tail of the fire gun to a curved wooden support that held the gun tube, and the gun can be held from the back of both hands to the front of one hand to the front of the gun body, and the other hand to hold the handle of the gun back, thus greatly improving the stability and accuracy of shooting.

But it is a pity that this kind of relatively advanced weapon, made by the hands of the Ming craftsmen, but often exploded, so that the soldiers who used the bird gun did not kill the enemy before hurting themselves, and later almost all the Ming soldiers were afraid of the bird gun, and no one even dared to use it anymore. Therefore, Pang Yue asked Kang Dingen about the explosion of the bird's gun.

"Don't worry about this adult." After listening to Pang Yue's question, Kang Dingen said, "The explosion of the bird gun is not because there is a problem with the firearm itself, but because some craftsmen are not skilled enough and are in a hurry, resulting in uneven thickness or poor welding, or it may be that inferior materials were used in the construction, which caused the explosion." However, as long as there is enough high-quality iron and the craftsmen are skilled, the problem of the bore can be solved. At the very least, I'm sure the bird's guns I've hit before won't blow up. ”

Pang Yue nodded: "Very good, then the matter of building the bird gun will be handed over to Lao Kang to you." You go back and gather all the firearms craftsmen who know how to make birds, and you don't have to do anything else to focus on making birds. For those who are not at the same time, you can also let them fight them. When the time comes, I will ask the Commander of the Ordnance Bureau to give you the best fine iron. In addition, you go and tell the craftsmen that as long as you work hard, wages are never a problem. On top of that, I will give an additional reward for every qualified bird gun that the craftsmen hit. By the way, Lao Kang, what was the monthly salary I promised you last time? ”

Kang Dingen said with trepidation: "If you go back to your lordship, it will be five taels of silver." ”

Pang Yue waved his hand: "You are now a craftsman, five taels is a bit less, in this way, ten taels a month." "For a senior technician like Kang Dingen, since Pang Yue will not be stingy with such a small salary.

Kang Dingen was stunned for a moment, and then burst into tears: "Lord Xie! To be honest, as a craftsman, who wants to make a firearm that is not up to standard? It's just that our craftsmen have a hard life, and we can't even eat a few full meals throughout the year, so where do we still have the heart to work? Now, thanks to the compassion of adults, I just fight this old bone to create the best bird gun for adults! ”

"Lao Kang's words are serious," Pang Yue smiled and comforted, "As long as you can contribute to Ganzhou Town, what is it for me to pay a little salary?" You go back and make arrangements, if you need anything else, just come to me, and try to start building in these two days! ”

"Your Excellency, don't worry! We will definitely start work as soon as possible. Kang Dingen nodded, and there was a determination in his tone.

After Kang Dingen left, Pang Yue looked around again, and soon he found that in addition to the sixty or so craftsmen he sent from the camp, most of the craftsmen who belonged to Ganzhou Wei were in rags, their faces were dim, they were weak to work, and they had little enthusiasm for work. Seeing this, Pang Yue couldn't help but sigh, the craftsman system in the Ming Dynasty was really a bit of a failure! If a person is a craftsman, his descendants will be craftsmen for generations, and no matter how well they work, they can only get a pitiful amount of grain and rice, which is almost equivalent to voluntary labor. That's it, but no matter what class it is, it is full of discrimination against artisans and regards them as a lowly industry. It's no wonder that they grind foreign workers and make things that are not up to standard. Pang Yue knew that although he had now asked Huang Wenyuan to forcibly recall the craftsmen back, if he didn't untie the knots in the craftsmen's hearts and dispel their concerns, the Ganzhou Guard Ordnance Bureau would probably still go down the old road of closing its doors and closing its business. As for how to do it, Pang Yue already had a general idea in his mind, but this kind of thing can't be done overnight, it can only be done step by step. …,

Listening to the clanging sound in the workshop, Pang Yue suddenly thought of another thing, so he walked towards Huang Wenyuan, who was standing in the direction of the gate.

"Lord Huang, I want to ask you something." Pang Yue asked.

Huang Wenyuan smiled and owed: "Just ask, my lord." ”

"Oh, is there an iron mine near Ganzhou?" At this time, Pang Yue asked what he really wanted to ask. Because, he had read a little information in his previous life, and vaguely remembered that Ganzhou was a mineral-rich region, and he should not worry about the raw materials for making weapons.

Huang Wenyuan hesitated for a moment and replied, "Yes." ”

Pang Yue was a little puzzled: "Then why does Ganzhou Wei still worry about iron?" Wouldn't it be okay to just go to the miner? ”

Huang Wenyuan nodded: "What my lord said is that Ganzhou Wei originally also had an iron factory, but it was just ......"

"What do you say? Ironworks!? Pang Yue was a little excited, his eyes were round, and his voice raised a few points, "Then why didn't you say it earlier?" ”

Huang Wenyuan's small eyes also widened, and his face was full of innocence: "I haven't asked about my humble position before." ”

Pang Yue waved his hand: "Don't mention these first, tell me, what is going on with this iron factory?" Why does Ganzhou Weiming have an iron factory and worry about iron? ”

"My lord, that's right. As early as ten years ago, the imperial court ordered restrictions on mineral mining in various parts of Jiangxi, and only a few government-run iron factories in Jiujiang and Fuzhou were retained in the whole of Jiangxi, and it was at that time that the iron works of Ganzhou Wei were closed. "Huang Wenyuan came from 1510.

After hearing this, Pang Yue thought for a while: "Banned by the imperial court? Where is the ironworks? How far is it from Ganzhou City? ”

Huang Wenyuan said: "In Longjiagou, 20 miles southeast of Ganzhou City, there is a mine next to it. It's just that after ten years, the various iron-making equipment there is probably no longer dilapidated. ”

The corners of Pang Yue's mouth had gradually become a smile: "Very good!" Lord Huang, please take me over after lunch. ”

"Huh?" Huang Wenyuan was a little surprised, "My lord, you shouldn't be thinking about ......?"

Pang Yue interrupted him: "Lord Huang, I haven't said anything yet, have I?" Just to check it out. Even if something happens, I'll take care of it. ”

Hearing Pang Yue say this, Huang Wenyuan had no choice but to arch his hand: "Obey orders." ”

*********

In the afternoon, Pang Yue led a group of personal soldiers, led by Huang Wenyuan and several family members, to the Longjiagou Iron Factory, which had been abandoned for ten years.

As soon as I entered the old site of the iron factory, I saw that the surrounding grass and trees were overgrown and inaccessible, and it was a desolate scene. Two of the iron-making blast furnaces in the ironworks have completely collapsed, and the rows of iron-making workshops and artisans' residences beneath the towers are in dilapidation. However, according to these rough outlines, Pang Yue can still imagine the scene of this iron factory at its peak.

"My lord, behind this is the mine. Back then, miners mined ore and sent it directly here for smelting. There is also a river in the vicinity, from which the iron works usually get their water. Huang Wenyuan kept introducing Pang Yue.

"It's a pity, it's a pity! Such a good iron factory is about to be abandoned. Looking at the scene in front of him, Pang Yue shook his head again and again.

"My lord, this is the will of the imperial court!" Huang Wenyuan reminded in a whisper on the side.

Pang Yue turned around and stared at Huang Wenyuan's eyes: "Then how about I ask the imperial court to open an iron factory again?" ”

Huang Wenyuan was taken aback: "My lord, this ......"

Pang Yue ignored his expression, and just smiled slightly: "Lord Huang, don't worry, I will report to the court immediately, and no matter what happens, I will bear it alone." However, I have to ask Lord Huang to help me a lot in the specific things I do. ”

The reason why Pang Yue proposed "one person to bear" was not because he didn't know the importance or "high wind and bright festival". If you go back ten years, it is really a big crime to open iron mines privately in violation of the imperial court's prohibition, but now the small court of the Southern Ming Dynasty only has a few provinces left in the south, and the constraints on the local area are not as good as before, and I am afraid that I can't take care of these things. In addition, Pang Yue knew that he had a life-saving grace for Emperor Longwu, and now was the time to employ people, it was unlikely that Emperor Longwu would embarrass himself because of such a trivial matter, and even if he did not explicitly agree, he would probably turn a blind eye at that time. …,

Therefore, this Longjiagou Iron Factory, Pang Yue is decided! He knows very well that only by opening an iron factory can he get a steady stream of iron, can he build more weapons and armor, can the strength of Ganzhou Town get a qualitative leap, and in the face of the ferocious Jiannu and traitor army in the future, he can have a fight, and his ultimate ideal can be realized! As for some of the old customs and gossip, to hell with them!

Looking at Pang Yue's determined eyes and listening to his almost undeniable tone, Huang Wenyuan suddenly found that no matter what kind of attitude he held, it was impossible to affect the decision of his boss.

"In short, I will bear the responsibility alone, but I will not enjoy the merit alone." Pang Yue threw out another bait that was not too big or small.

Huang Wenyuan hesitated for a while, and finally stomped his foot, hugged his fist to Pang Yue and said, "The humble position is all up to the orders of the adults." ”

In the evening of the same day, after Pang Yue and Huang Wenyuan returned to Ganzhou City, they began to discuss the reopening of the iron works, such as rebuilding the iron works, transferring mining personnel, hiring mining technicians, and summoning various iron-smelting craftsmen. Fortunately, Ganzhou City is both the seat of government and the Acropolis, and it is not difficult to find all kinds of technicians and craftsmen. Although the iron-making blast furnace and other equipment of the iron factory have collapsed a little, the foundation is still there, and there is no need to start from scratch. As for the problem of mining manpower, Pang Yue had already thought about it, and transferred 300 auxiliary soldiers from the baggage battalion, and then sent a few hundred strong soldiers from Ganzhou Wei to Longjiagou.

In this way, under Pang Yue's worry, the Longjiagou Iron Factory, which had been silent for ten years, was finally about to regain its former vitality.