Considering that this is the imperial palace and it is not suitable to make too much noise, the experiment on the explosion of black powder was not done in the end, but Zeng Zhilin explained to Chai Rong and others about the manufacturing process and its own characteristics. Although I didn't see the actual explosion effect, the propellant used in the flintlock pistol test firing just now was black powder, which can be regarded as a demonstration of the power of black powder from the side. Anyway, Chai Rong now has 200 catties of black powder sent by the "delegation" in his hand, and he can find a suitable time and place to experiment at any time to verify its power.

In a sense, the explosive properties of black powder itself were more attractive to Chai Rong than flintlock pistols. On the one hand, the process of making black powder was much simpler than that of flintlock pistols, it was only necessary to collect enough raw materials and produce them according to the recipes and processes provided by the "delegation". On the other hand, it is now the end of the second year of Xiande, and Chai Rong has already decided to carry out the southern expedition, and the army will be drawn after the New Year, and the powerful destructive power of black powder will help the Zhou army to conquer those fortified cities in the process of the southern expedition.

Whether it is Chai Rong or Zhao Kuangyin, and even the minister surnamed Zhang, whose names are not known to the brothers of the "delegation", they are all people who know the soldiers, and they know very well how difficult it is to attack a strong city. Now with black powder, it is possible to combine it with traditional siege battles and try to blow up the city gates or blow up the city walls, so as to reduce your own losses.

Therefore, on the way back to the side hall, Chai Rong and others carefully asked Zeng Zhilin about the use of black powder and the precautions in the process of use. In this regard, Zeng Zhilin answered them one by one, and told the three of them all kinds of information about black powder that he had obtained from Liu Wendong and other brothers in the Ministry of Science and Technology without reservation.

While everyone was talking, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly asked Zeng Zhilin with some understanding: "If it is like what Zeng Zhuangshi said, this black powder has such great power. So, if we made the flintlock pistol bigger and loaded with more black powder, wouldn't we be able to fire larger projectiles and kill more enemies? ”

Speaking of this, Zhao Kuangyin paused slightly, and said with some yearning: "If this projectile is big enough, even if it is as strong as a city gate and a city wall, it must be able to be shattered." That way, the siege will be a little easier. ”

Zhao Kuangyin's idea decreed that the brothers of the "delegation" were very surprised, they did not expect that Zhao Boss could actually deduce the concept of artillery that had not yet appeared in this era from the flintlock pistol. Although in a sense, it is a matter of course to go from gun to cannon, but it is not easy for Zhao Kuangyin to have this idea in such a short period of time. It seems that Boss Zhao is indeed a smart and insightful figure, otherwise he would not have become the emperor so easily in the history of traveling through the previous lives.

Zeng Zhilin immediately affirmed Zhao Kuangyin's idea, and he said: "What Lord Zhao said is very true, and this is exactly what the villain wants to talk about to Bixia and the two adults. Soon after the advent of the flintlock pistol, there were people in the armies of overseas island nations who put forward similar ideas to Lord Zhao. Later, after many attempts, the craftsmen finally turned this idea into a real thing, and made a musket with a much longer barrel, much thicker walls, and much thicker caliber.

Since this 'musket' was already very different from the previous flintlock pistol, it also had a new name, called 'artillery'. The artillery used by overseas island nations is usually made of steel or bronze, and most of them are two to four inches (about 66-130 mm) in caliber, and mainly fire solid iron projectiles or flowering shells of comparable caliber. In some cases, they also fire a large number of small, small iron projectiles to kill groups of enemies at close range, and these shells are often called 'shotguns' overseas.

In the case of the same caliber, the price of the gun cast in stainless steel is moderate, the power and life are large, and it belongs to the cost-effective, well, that is, the ratio of the effectiveness of the gun to the price is compared to the haode type. Although the price of iron cannons is lower, the life span and power are lower than those of steel cannons and bronze cannons. Although the bronze cannon is slightly stronger than the steel cannon in terms of life and power, the price is much higher,"

The function and power of the artillery obviously attracted Chai Rong more than the flintlock pistol, and after listening carefully to Zeng Zhilin's introduction, he nodded and said; "If this artillery is really as powerful as Zeng Zhuangshi said, its role in war is probably even higher than that of a flintlock pistol." ,

After speaking, he turned to Wang Kunjun again and asked, "Wang Kunjun, is there any artillery in the gift you gave me?" ”

Hearing this, Wang Kunjun hurriedly replied: "Bixia, as the twenty-sixth brother of Caomin said just now, this cannon is made of steel and even bronze, and it is much larger than a flintlock pistol in terms of size and weight, and the weight of a three-inch gun (100 mm) has reached more than 1,000 catties. The grass people and their brothers came to Kaifeng for a long way, and it was really inconvenient to carry them. Therefore, there is no artillery in the gifts given to Bixia by the grass people and others, and I hope that Bixia will forgive his sins. However, although the gun was much larger and heavier than the flintlock pistol, it was much simpler in construction than the flintlock pistol. Even if there is no sample to refer to, a skilled craftsman can create it according to the pattern. ”

Hearing Wang Kunjun say that there was no artillery in the gift, Chai Rongjun and the three of them were somewhat disappointed, but they didn't blame it. After all, Youzhou and Kaifeng are more than 1,000 miles apart, and now they belong to two countries, and it is indeed very, very difficult for Wang Kunjun and others to transport it over. Fortunately, Wang Kunjun said that this thing is simpler to build than a flintlock pistol, and it doesn't matter much if there is no sample.

Of course, while being very interested in artillery, Chai Rong also realized that since this thing was much larger than the flintlock pistol, he was afraid that its price would also be much more expensive. Even if it is calculated according to the lowest cost iron cannon that Zeng Zhilin said, how much money will be paid for this more than 1,000 catties of iron. This is only the cost of materials, other expenses such as the cost of smelting in the casting process, the wages of craftsmen; After the casting is successful, the cost of training the soldier, the cost of transportation to the battlefield, etc., is not a small amount.

However, unlike the hesitation when equipping the army with flintlock pistols, Chai Rong's determination to equip the forbidden army with artillery was still very great. Therefore, after Wang Kunjun said that because of the inconvenience of transportation, he did not carry artillery with him this time in Kaifeng, Chai Rong immediately said: "What is the crime, it is indeed difficult to transport such a heavy thing for thousands of miles, and it is reasonable that you did not include it in the gift." Let me ask you, have you ever cast artillery in Youzhou? ”

Wang Kunjun replied truthfully: "The grass people and others once cast a few cannons in Youzhou to guard the courtyard outside the city. ”

Chai Rong then asked: "Since you have been cast, then you should naturally know the cost of casting a cannon, and tell me, how much silver does it cost to cast a cannon?" ”

"This grass man knows it," replied Wang Kunjun, "according to the grass people's calculations, it costs about 800 yuan to cast a three-inch caliber artillery, and about 1,000 yuan to cast a three-inch and 6 centimeter caliber artillery." ”

Although Chai Rong had expected the high cost of artillery, it was still a little surprising to him that a cannon would cost 800 to 1,000 yuan. However, at this time, Chai Rong was determined that even if the price was high, he would make a concoction. Therefore, Chai Rong said: "The cost of this artillery is really not small, and one cannon is worth the food and salary required by a battalion of soldiers for a year." However, if it really has the power you say, a little money is not enough. ”

After speaking, Chai Rongyi turned his head and asked Zeng Zhilin: "Since Zeng Zhuangshi is so familiar with flintlock pistols and artillery, he must also make such guns, right?" ”

Zeng Zhilin hurriedly replied: "Qi Qi Bixia, because the grass people used to be in the army when they were overseas, they know a little about guns. But the grass people only know how to use these weapons, and they know very little about how to make guns. ”

Seeing Zeng Zhilin say that he didn't know how to make cannons, Chai Rong turned his eyes to Wang Kunjun again and asked, "Wang Kunjun, are there any other companions of yours who are good at making cannons?" ”

Hearing Chai Rong ask if anyone in the "delegation" could build artillery, Wang Kunjun and the other three committee members were all moved. Because this question seems simple, but it is not enough to simply say yes or no.

At the enlarged meeting of the committee that discussed the trip to Kaifeng, the participants had already considered that Chai Rong might leave Jishu talents to serve him, so the people who came to Kaifeng this time were basically non-Jishu personnel, or non-critical Jishu personnel. Although these people know something about the related jishu, they are all characters who know it but don't know why. They can explain to Chai Rong and others the performance, characteristics, and usage methods of related gifts, but if they really want to make them, they basically don't know anything. The main reason why the crossing team did this was to maintain the independence of the team to a certain extent, and to grasp the initiative of team development as much as possible in the future, so that they could make more contributions and improve their status in the Later Zhou court before finally taking refuge in the Later Zhou court, so as to win more benefits for themselves.

Of course, these thoughts must not be said to Chai Rong, and Chai Rong's question cannot be answered simply with the word "no". After all, the object of this gift is the emperor, and the emperor will generally give a certain reward after receiving the gift. In the case that the person responsible for making the gift is his own righteous brother, Wang Kunjun and others have no good reason not to let these people who have worked hard to see and receive the reward and feel the emperor's grace. If the identity certificate when I first met Chai Rong was the first level, then now I am afraid it is the second level for everyone.

Therefore, Wang Kunjun answered this question very carefully, and he said: "Qiyu Bixia, the brothers of the grass people who are good at making cannons have been busy making all kinds of firearms recently, and they can't get rid of them, so among the brothers who came to Kaifeng to see the driver this time, there are no people who are good at making cannons. ”

Hearing that the person who could make the cannon didn't come, Chai Rong couldn't help but be a little disappointed, and said, "I see, it's a pity that I didn't have the opportunity to meet such a talented person this time." ”

"If Bixia wants to see these people, he can make a holy decree and ask Wang Kunjun and others to take them back, or send someone directly to Youzhou and summon them to enter Beijing immediately to see them," the minister surnamed Zhang proposed, "The minister thought that it was undesirable for these people to be able to see Bixia's dragon face, and after seeing the holy decree, they would come to see the driver day and night." When the time comes, Bixia can not only give rewards in person, but also order them to help make guns and cast cannons, wouldn't it kill two birds with one stone? ”

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