Sun Chengzong has always attached great importance to artillery, and he believes that firearms are enough to make up for the lack of mobility of the Ming army. Sun Chengzong is also very familiar with the firearms in the Ming army, and he has seen the two people carrying artillery in Xu Guangqi's mouth. It was a kind of cannon carried by two people, which was easy to carry, but the range was very unsatisfactory, only a mile away.

Sun Chengzong couldn't help but think in his heart that if granular gunpowder was used according to Xu Guangqi's statement, the range of this two-person cannon would be able to answer two miles. The firing range of two miles is already the range of the little Frankie's gun, which is more convenient to carry than the little Frankie, and naturally plays a vital role in improving the combat effectiveness of the Ming army.

As for Xu Guangqi's big Franc machine gun, Sun Chengzong is naturally no stranger, this kind of Frankie is a kind of rear-loading gun, which is composed of two parts: a child gun and a mother gun. Because of the peculiarities of the shells, the rate of fire of this kind of artillery is very fast, the sub-cannon (shells) are loaded from the rear, the firing interval is short, and when shooting shotshots, one shell carries 500 rounds, which can block the front 60 meters wide, and the power is amazing.

For this kind of artillery, Sun Chengzong also likes it very much, which is simply a sharp weapon against cavalry. When Qi Jiguang faced the onslaught of the Mongol Tatar cavalry, he used this kind of Frankie. At most, 200 guns fired scattered bullets together, and no matter what kind of cavalry they wanted, they didn't want to rush over.

However, after the three major expeditions of Wanli, the treasury of the imperial court became increasingly empty, and the results of Zhang Juzheng's reform were exhausted, and the imperial court had not cast this kind of artillery on a large scale for many years. Originally, there were about 4,000 Frankie guns in the entire Ming army, but many of them were no longer in use, and now there are not many such artillery pieces in the Ming army.

If this kind of artillery can really be improved and the problems of firing range and handling can be solved, this will definitely be a magic weapon for the vertical and horizontal battlefield. But everyone in the court knew that the cost of casting such a cannon was too high. I'm afraid that the treasury will be overwhelmed!

Thinking of this, Sun Chengzong couldn't help but look up at the Emperor of the Apocalypse, he didn't know how expensive firewood and rice were if he didn't have a family, and hoped that His Majesty would have his own way. In Sun Chengzong's view, reform is the only way to solve the problems of the Ming Dynasty and improve the current situation that is difficult to return. But now he didn't know what the Emperor of the Apocalypse was thinking, and since ancient times, reform has been a problem that anyone should be careful about.

Sun Chengzong pondered. The Emperor of the Apocalypse nodded slowly, and said to Xu Guangqi in a deep voice: "Have you studied the rifling problem that I told you?" Is there any progress? ”

For any later generation, as long as they have a little understanding of military affairs, they will not be strangers to rifling. It can be said that the emergence of rifling is a qualitative leap forward in the entire firearm and the possibility of replacing cold weapons in an all-round way. Of course, there are rifled muskets, and now the Emperor of the Apocalypse doesn't have to think about it, the equipment is too backward, and if it is portrayed manually, the success rate is too low. Even if you can increase the success rate. There is also no way to solve the problem of speed.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse sometimes regretted that he didn't study science and engineering. Even if you know how to turn the lathe, you can do it! But I can only sigh.

After a slight groan, Xu Guangqi shook his head with a wry smile, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the ministers are developing it, and there has been some progress, and there is still a little distance from success." ”

This result had long been expected by the Emperor of the Apocalypse, if it really was that easy. The rifling appeared. However, the Emperor of the Apocalypse was very confident in his heart, as long as he told Xu Guangqi about this thing. Those who are full of wisdom will surely be able to make it.

Nodding slowly, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a soft tone: "You don't have to be too anxious about this, take your time, it's not an overnight thing." ”

Sun Chengzong on the side nodded approvingly, as long as he has this goal, he will work hard in this direction. Sooner or later, there will be a successful day.

Glancing at Xu Guangqi, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said with a smile: "Xu Aiqing, I didn't come to you for this matter, you are now the squire of the Ministry of Industry, right?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Although Xu Guangqi didn't know why the Emperor of the Apocalypse asked this. I could only reply respectfully. Although Xu Guangqi is a waiter in the Ministry of Industry, he rarely goes to the Ministry of Industry, just to make things more convenient.

Glancing back at Wang Chengen, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice: "According to the decree of the celebrant supervisor, Xu Guangqi will be promoted to the rank of Ronglu doctor, and the title of the processing department will be allowed to enter the cabinet!" ”

The people in the hall were all stunned, Xu Guangqi had reached the sky in one step, although there was only one vacant bachelor in the current cabinet, and that was the scholar of the East Pavilion University. Even if it's a scholar of Higashitokaku, it's a scholar! Dr. Rong Lu is a literary introduction from a product, and it has no substantive significance, but the title of the processing department in the back is meaningful. Although in the official position of the Ming Dynasty, this is just a fictitious position, but it is very useful when it comes to Xu Guangqi.

"Minister Xu Guangqi thanks Lord Longen, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" After being slightly stunned, Xu Guangqi hurriedly knelt on the ground and said loudly.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse walked down slowly, gently helped Xu Guangqi up, and said in a deep voice: "I have seen everything Aiqing has done, and I will not be stingy with rewards for this meritorious person." For those who truly serve the country and the people, I absolutely reuse them. ”

Glancing back at Sun Chengzong, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice: "Sir, after the holy decree is passed down, the cabinet must handle it as soon as possible. ”

"Your Majesty, rest assured!" Although Sun Chengzong is not in Beijing, and the affairs of the cabinet are also handled by Liu Yijing, the second assistant of the cabinet, no one dares to underestimate Sun Chengzong, the first assistant of the cabinet.

Glancing at the people behind Xu Guangqi, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice: "I didn't come to Aiqing today for firearms, last time I said to Aiqing that I hope Aiqing will find someone who knows how to build ships, I don't know how Aiqing is looking?" As he spoke, the Emperor of the Apocalypse glanced at the young man behind Xu Guangqi.

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister has found it!" Xu Guangqi bowed to the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and then pointed to the young man behind him and said.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse nodded, and at this time, the Emperor of the Apocalypse and Sun Chengzong began to look this person up and down, giving the Emperor of the Apocalypse and Sun Chengzong the only impression that this person was really young. It looks like he's a few years old, but the spirit is good, and he doesn't look arrogant or impatient. Facing the Emperor of the Apocalypse and Sun Chengzong, there was no tension on his face, and this indifference was already a rare identity.

Seeing the man kneeling on the ground, the Emperor of the Apocalypse slowly walked back to the back of the dragon book case, and asked in a deep voice, "Xu Aiqing, why do you recommend this person?" ”

Laughing softly, Xu Guangqi said with a straight face: "Back to Your Majesty, as the so-called internal move does not avoid relatives, and external moves do not avoid revenge, this person is called Sun Yuanhua, and he is a disciple of the minister." ”

Emperor Tianqi and Sun Chengzong were both stunned, neither of them expected that this person was actually Xu Guangqi's disciple. It seems that this person is not ordinary, as Xu Guangqi's disciple, he must have two brushes, and now that he dares to nominate him, he must be a very suitable candidate.

Smiling playfully, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice: "Sun Yuanhua, what I want you to do, your teacher must have already told you, tell me what you think!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty! The student's home is at home, and he used to study with teachers in Jiading. Because of the teacher, the students got to know a lot of Westerners. And because I grew up by the sea, I love boats. Later, I saw many warships of hope, and the students studied them attentively, and there were many places where the warships of the Frankians were stronger than the warships of the Ming Dynasty, and there were many places where they were not as good as ours. Sun Yuanhua said very cautiously, and stopped here when he said that he wanted to see the attitude of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

Emperor Tianqi already felt that this Sun Yuanhua was talented, after all, he had been exposed to opera and Western studies, and he was able to see the two cultures equally, which was rare in this era. Seeing that Sun Yuanhua had stopped, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice: "Get up and continue!" ”

"Emperor Xie!" Sun Yuanhua stood up and said in a deep voice: "The students have collected a lot of information about the shipbuilding of the Ming Dynasty, a lot of information on the warships of the Francis, and some materials on water battles and naval battles, and the students have come to a conclusion. There is only one factor that determines the outcome of the current naval battle, and that is the strong ship and the sharp artillery. Sun Yuanhua's voice was not loud, and his tone was very flat, but the words he said were the heart of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

This simple truth will be understood in later generations, but there are not many people with this vision in this era! After a slight pause, the Emperor of the Apocalypse asked in a deep voice, "Then what do you think should be done to build a powerful water division?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the students felt that the construction of warships must be strong, and that we could combine the warships of the Frankes with our own shipbuilding technology to develop a new type of warship. Students already have an idea, but they haven't implemented it yet. Another issue is artillery, if the improvement of Frankie's cannon can be successful, it may be possible to erect new guns on the battleship. Liu Fenghua finally understood that when the teacher mentioned the Emperor of the Apocalypse, Xu Guangqi would praise the Holy Lord of the Ming Monarch, and the emperor who could have such a vision must be because of the wise lord.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse nodded slowly, and said in a deep voice: "In this case, this shipyard cannot be placed in Liaodong, it is too far away from the Beijing Division, and the transportation of artillery will be a problem in the future. "The Emperor of the Apocalypse will never put artillery in Liaodong to make it, and such a fateful thing must be placed here for himself.

Sun Chengzong on the side was stunned for a moment, bowed to the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the best place to build a shipbuilding is really Tianjin, which is close to the sea and close to Jingshi. ”

The Emperor of the Apocalypse nodded approvingly, but Sun Yuanhua on the side looked like he wanted to speak and stopped, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse couldn't help asking: "Sun Yuanhua, just say what you want, don't swallow it." ”