In the first half of the 17th century, smoothbore guns, whether they were arquebuses or flintlock muskets, whether they were "ramming fires" or "revolving fires", were actually handmade products, and the requirements for craftsmen were quite high. Even if the same type of firearm is made by the same craftsman, there are bound to be many differences. Therefore, in later generations, under the conditions of mechanized large-scale production, whoever owned a handmade smoothbore gun from the 16th and 17th centuries must have treasured it as a handicraft and a work of art.

"Old Marfa, a few days ago we talked about the opening of the research institute, Xuan Ye mentioned the standardization of weapon production, do you still have an impression?" Hongyi is quite patient, but any point of view that is too far ahead of this era will try to leave enough time for those who are intelligent to grasp slowly, and will never resort to cramming.

"What the master said that day, every word is beautiful, how can the old minister forget it? In the past few days, the old minister has been thinking a lot in his spare time, although it is pure benzene, but he still has some experience. Today, I saw Sun Yuanhua's masterpiece again, especially the 'comparison degree' and 'proportional calculation' he said, and finally woke up to the essence, and there was a feeling of opening up in an instant! Tang Ruowang said with feeling.

"Ha, that's good. I wonder what you think of what I mean by standardization? ”

Hongyi's heart is so beautiful! It seems that John Tang was able to understand the importance of "standardization of weapons manufacturing" so quickly, and now it seems that it is completely a coincidence! This is evident in his words. If Kong Sizhen hadn't presented these two books "in time", it is estimated that it would have taken a lot of time and energy for him to figure out this "standardization" when the industrial revolution had not yet begun and he did not even have a single hair!

"Sir. The old minister didn't dare to speak in front of you. According to Lao Chen, this so-called standardization is easier said than done! Unexpectedly, John Tang decisively gave Hongyi a large basin of cold water!

"What, isn't it possible?" Hongyi never thought that even if he wanted to use the golden finger, people would not accept it at all.

"It's inconvenient." John Tang's answer was still affirmative, and he looked directly at Hongyi's lost eyes.

"Why?" Hongyi was a little deflated and asked reluctantly.

"Master, it's because of the limitations of the craftsman himself."

Really! Sure enough, that's the reason! Hongyi nodded. motioned for John Tang to continue.

"Sir. Nowadays, whether it is the Celestial Empire or Tessie, the production of firearms must rely on the hands of skilled craftsmen. In the second year of Shunzhi, the imperial court issued a decree to remove the craftsmen of the provinces that were excluded, and exempted the craftsmen from the Beijing class. An example of foresight. The people are divided by nationality. Therefore, there are official registrations, civilian registrations, military registrations, medical craftsmen and other registrations. So the 'craftsmen' got rid of it. They often inherit ancestral crafts from generation to generation, and are recruited by the government when they need it. Nothing to do on weekdays. to make ends meet. Among them, the key points of craftsmanship rely on mouth-to-mouth, hand-to-hand professors such as father-to-son and off-child teaching, rather than others. Therefore, the understanding of the subtleties will also vary from person to person. Even if the same person makes the same firearm, there will often be differences here and there. ”

"Well, with people's livelihoods, this move is very beneficial." Hongyi slowly concentrated, planning to listen to Tang Ruowang's analysis, maybe there was a turnaround. After all, the abolition of the "craftsman household system" in the early Qing Dynasty in the Yuan and Ming dynasties was historically conducive to the development of the handicraft industry.

"The so-called 'standardized manufacturing' you mentioned in those days is nothing more than to have a unified standard, and then whether it is the gunpowder grinding configuration, the barrel casting, or the grinding of parts, no matter which craftsman is replaced, the firearm that comes out is the same, and any part removed from any firearm can be used as usual on any other firearm." Tang Ruowang repeated Xiao Xuanye's statement that day, to show that he did not pay attention to it or did not want to do it, but that he really couldn't do it.

"Not bad." Hongyi hurriedly affirmed John Tang's retelling, and said that what he said was accurate from the perspective of the "original creator".

"But herein lies the problem. The so-called standard rules are easy to determine. Lao Chen thought that on the basis of Sun Yuanhua's "Western Law Divine Machine", as long as it was clearly organized, supplemented by the current general data and formulas of the Taixi countries, it could be roughly clarified. But this use, I'm afraid ......" John Tang looked embarrassed.

"I'm afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid that no one can use it, and the result can only be a dead letter. Master, almost no one of the craftsmen who need to abide by these standards can understand it. And among the scholars who set these standards, no one will do it! John Tang put the biggest and insurmountable obstacle he analyzed in front of Hongyi.

"Oh......" Hongyi also nodded helplessly. The reason is very clear, this is that "technology" and "technology" cannot be coordinated and unified!

Those craftsmen, or craftsmen, actually represent the current level of craftsmanship in the manufacture of firearms in the Great Qing Dynasty. However, firearms experts such as John Tang and Sun Yuanhua were able to master relatively advanced scientific and technological theories and standards. However, craftsmen can't understand science and technology, and scholars can't play craftsmanship, which is really helpless!

"In this way, this matter is really not urgent." Xiao Xuanye said faintly.

"Master Yingming, this matter really can't be done." John Tong's words were convincing.

"Old Marfa, what I'm talking about is that I can't come in a hurry, not that I can't do it." Hongyi patiently corrected.

"Ah, it's not in a hurry...... It's not that you can't do it? John Tang didn't understand.

"It seems that our research institute will expand it again."

"How?"

"On the basis of the original 30 children of the banner people and 10 children of the people, an additional 40 children of craftsmen will be accepted! Divided into two classes, the previous forty children are called ...... 'graduate students'. The children of these forty craftsmen are called 'mechanics'. For the children of these craftsmen, not only do we not take a penny, take care of food and housing, but also give their families a reward of silver every month, telling their parents that after their children have completed their studies in the future, the outstanding ones can also enter the ranks of scholars, and even get official status! Hongyi finally found a tortuous way - anyway, there is still time, so let's "start from the baby" on the basis of standardized production!

"It's ...... Oh! Lao Chen understands, you are going to set up a European-style 'college'! ”

John Tang finally came to his senses. In his hometown, from the Middle Ages onwards, various parishes, monastic schools and archbishopric schools were established, which became the prototype of the later city university. Here, parish children can learn the so-called "Seven Free Arts", or "Seven Arts", with grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy as their main contents. What Hongyi is talking about now is similar to this kind of school.

"Yes, it does look like the prototype of the academy. However, we are here to train specialists in firearms! The artisans are now illiterate and uneducated, and can only rely on family traditions. In a hurry, we are powerless to change. But if we start with their sons, give them the opportunity to read and write, and then teach them the science of firearms, and in the future, their parents will teach them by word and deed, so that there will be both experience and practice? Hongyi couldn't help but smile with relief, but continued to say:

"Moreover, the first batch of 80 children will run in with each other in the future, and the theory of graduate students and the operation of technical students will inevitably collide from time to time, and at that time, the so-called complement each other, complement each other, haha......"

"I see, the master is so strategic! Haha...... "John Tang also smiled knowingly......

The two people in the second of the five institutes in Qiandong were very happy at this time, and they couldn't see that they still looked sad a few minutes ago!

Although the attempt to achieve "standardized production" as soon as possible was ruthlessly shattered by reality, after this exchange of ideas, Hongyi, who returned home, finally understood a truth - even if you really want to use the golden finger, the various fetters inherent in the era you have crossed will make it difficult for you to move an inch and break your head. Instead of hitting a wall everywhere and going against the trend, it is better to take advantage of the situation and follow the temptation, which is the so-called "No-zuō-No-die"!

"A limerick poem? Hidden Head

Reading literature and reading history is only a long breath

I was saying that there was an opportunity back then

The layout is a long-cherished wish

It's hard to come and go

Get up and spend a hundred years

Point out the suffering and diseases of the world

The edge of the town was razed to the sea

Wen'an Wuding happy teardrops (to be continued......)