"What's going on? Why did the cannon stop? Zhang Rubao rushed to the edge of the dock with an arrow, and this speed made his two personal soldiers afraid that Zhang Rubao would fall into the water, so they hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed him.

Zhang Rubao waved his arm to shake off the pull of his own soldiers, and scolded in his mouth: "There is a problem again." I really don't know how. ”

On the river, a small sailboat slowly and leisurely sailed towards the pier. The appearance of this small sailing ship is quite strange, the hull is still like the sailing ship of the Ming Dynasty, chubby, and the ship is also a hard sail, but there is a circle of wooden planks around the edge of its deck, but there are many shooting holes in the plank. In particular, there are several large holes in the side of the ship, and the guns at the entrance of the hole have not yet shrunk back.

Finally waited for the small sailboat to land, and before the people on the boat jumped off the suspension, Zhang Rubao shouted and asked, "What went wrong this time?" Is it a ship or a cannon? ”

"Your Excellency!" The leader hurriedly quickened his pace and came to Zhang Rubao, "It's a boat." When the cannon was fired, it was found that there was a crack in the floor under the cannon, so I stopped firing the cannon first. ”

"So what are you going to do?" Zhang Rubao suddenly became a little angry. After the construction of this small sailboat, Zhang Rubao has been on trial voyage with a group of craftsmen for four or five months, but the ship has been experiencing such and such problems, so that Zhang Rubao has been taking the craftsmen to tinker, and until now it has not been finalized, which makes Zhang Rubao not annoyed?

"We're going to thicken the planks under the artillery." The Artisan Leader replied.

"Still reinforced? Fortify the ship and it's all planks. Zhang Rubao immediately couldn't suppress his anger, "Now the speed of this boat is already a turtle climbing, and if you add wooden planks, can you still drive the boat?" Do you want the enemy to drive in front of us and give us a fight? ”

"It can't be helped!" The leader of the craftsmen is not as frightened as a leopard, and the status of the craftsmen of the Runing Army is very high. The leader of this craftsman is also a master craftsman, and his official position is not much smaller than Zhang Rubao, so he still dares to argue with Zhang Rubao, "The requirements of the chief soldier are too high, and it is impossible to install so many cannons on such a small ship, and it is no longer possible to tear down the east wall and make up the west wall, so it can only be continuously reinforced." If you want artillery, you can only give up speed. ”

"You fart!" Zhang Rubao immediately became angry, "You think I haven't opened my eyes?" I have also been to Fujian ships, and I have seen those Western gunboats. How did they put it on? They can't, you can't, you feed the three taels of meat to the dog's belly every day? "These craftsmen of the Runing Army are also treated very well, and they can ensure the supply of three taels of meat every day, so Zhang Rubao is using this matter to stimulate them.

Verbal abuse is heard. The leader of the craftsmen was furious, and he raised his voice. replied: "I said no at that time. Equipping Western artillery in the shape of Fukubune and Hirobune? That's definitely going to go wrong. But what do you say? Say that the ship is about the same, and the cannon should be fine! ”

"What's the problem? From the size of the ship it looks about the same, but the shape, the sails, the structure of the ship, the wood used. It's all very different. You brought us a donkey, but let us learn how to plow the land? Hell it wouldn't be a problem if it didn't go wrong. ”

"Then you asked the Gang Legion, did they have any?" Zhang Rubao asked again.

"Why haven't you asked?" The leader of the craftsmen replied angrily, "It's not useful at all. When they were on the ship, they drank and talked about women. I want them to say that the cannon is a clear door. Do you want them to say the ship? It's like being blind. ”

Gonzalez, these Portuguese officers were all army firearms officers hired by Sun Yuanhua back then, and they had no problem shooting artillery on the ship, but they could let them operate the ship and design and build the ship? They're blind.

After getting angry, Zhang Rubao also felt that the quarrel was useless, he slowed down his breath and asked with a frown: "Then Master Wang, what do you think should be done now?" ”

Seeing that Zhang Rubao began to discuss the problem, Wang Dajiang also lowered his voice and said, "Either give me a Western gunboat, or reduce the artillery on board." I calculated that by reducing the number of doors by two, I would be able to solve the problem at hand, at least not much slower than an ordinary ship. ”

"Two fewer doors? You're talking about lightweight, two ships were enough, but now you need three. And the ship is full of turnips and pits, and it costs fifty percent more sailors, which is too much money. Zhang Rubao immediately objected.

Wang Dajiang didn't answer, just made a gesture that he couldn't help. As a master craftsman, all he has to think about is the issue of jishu, and as for the matter of silver and sailors, it should be Wu Shigong and Zhang Rubao to consider.

"So be it! I'll have to tell you about it. You do it here first, strengthen the ship first, and let the cannon not have problems first. Then do a good jihua, reduce how the two guns will be modified. As soon as the adult gives the order, we will immediately modify it here. Zhang Rubao Zuihou decided.

"If Master Wang is sure, then let's reduce two doors first!" Wu Shigong glanced at Zhang Rubao, who came on purpose, "If it doesn't work, then reduce the cannon." This boat is only useful when it runs, otherwise, it will not be able to chase after others to fight. ”

"This matter is a little ill-considered, but it is mainly a matter of the official, you don't have to worry too much. We must respect the master craftsmen and them, they can decide this matter of craftsmanship with one word, and we can't follow our own hearts. Otherwise, if we can't build a qualified ship and a qualified gun, then our soldiers will have to pay with their lives. Wu Shigong said to Zhang Rubao again.

"But my lord! What will happen to the extra silver and the sailors? Zhang Rubao asked again.

"Then build a few fewer ships!" Wu Shigong said with a smile, "The main property of our Runing Army is now placed on the army, and the water division's silver can only be spent less. But you must be ready, ready for us to occupy the coastal shore at any time, and at that time, at least this official will not let Zheng Guerrilla eat alone, and your big ships will be endless. ”

"So what are the sailors afraid of? By that time, you may feel that you don't have enough sailors. Recruit more of those children and cultivate them from an early age, and there are too few people here in Henan who want to beg for a living on the water. Don't be afraid that the money is not enough, if Mr. Deng gets stuck, you can come to me directly. You see, aren't our craftsmen trained? In the past, I could repair ships at most, but now I can build small boats, so everything needs to be prepared for a rainy day! ”

Zhang Rubao nodded, tried hard to write down all Wu Shigong's words, and when he left, Zuihou said: "It would be nice if I could get a Western gunboat!" ”

Seeing Zhang Rubao complaining, Wu Shigong immediately hahadaxiao. (To be continued......)