In the R&D center, after Chen Yuan and Master Lu sorted out the recorded cast iron artillery test power, they took the craftsmen in the R&D center to start the manufacture of the next cast iron cannon.

Lin Chuan had already communicated with Chen Yuan and other craftsmen in the R&D center when he was the first cast-iron cannon to be manufactured, and he had to take into account the portability of cast-iron artillery.

It's just that the cast iron cannon made for the first time still weighs a thousand catties, and it takes a two-horse carriage to pull it, and if it weren't for the cement straight roads in Hanzhong County, I'm afraid it would take three horses.

After this test, Chen Yuan found that the power of the cast iron cannon was enough, but the gun body was still too heavy, so Chen Yuan and Master Lu began to study how to reduce the weight of the cast iron cannon itself as much as possible while ensuring the power of the cast iron artillery.

Soon after, the second cast iron gun was built in the R&D center.

This time, because Lin Chuan was going to Hanzhong Vocational Training School to give science courses to students, he did not personally participate in the testing of cast iron artillery.

However, after the first test of cast iron artillery, Chen Yuan and Master Lu, as well as other craftsmen in the R&D center, have mastered the method of testing the performance of cast iron artillery.

So the craftsmen of the mine factory were once again given a half-day vacation.

Soon the roar of cast iron cannons sounded again in the mine, and Chen Yuan and Master Lu on the side were observing the strength of the cast iron artillery, while other craftsmen from the R&D center were assisting in recording the power of the cast iron artillery.

An afternoon passed in a hurry amid the roar of cast iron artillery and the continuous records of Chen Yuan and Master Lu.

Lin Chuan, who finished the science course for the students of Hanzhong Vocational Training School that night, rushed to the R&D center as soon as possible after class.

"What is the power and range of the improved cast-iron artillery?"

Lin Chuan, who came to the R&D center, couldn't wait to ask the two about improving the performance of cast iron artillery as soon as he saw Chen Yuan and Master Lu.

"Back to Lord Hou of Hanzhong, the improved cast iron cannon weighs about 800 catties, and the firing range is about 500 meters, and it can still smash the rock wall of the mine!"

Chen Yuan first answered the question of the power and range of the artillery to Lin Chuan.

"Lord Hou of Hanzhong, the improved cast iron cannon can fire twenty consecutive iron solid projectiles, and after exceeding this number, small cracks will appear in the barrel."

Then Master Lu reported to Lin Chuan the firing life of the cast iron artillery.

"Very nice! Do you have any ideas for further improvement? ”

After Lin Chuan heard Chen Yuan and Master Lu's report, he was very satisfied with the performance of the two's improved cast iron artillery, you must know that the current Great Wei archers generally fire hard bows twenty times in a row, with a range of about 100 meters.

However, Lin Chuan hoped that after Chen Yuan and Master Lu passed this test, they would have more ideas for improving cast iron artillery.

After Chen Yuan and Master Lu heard Lin Chuan's inquiry, they couldn't help but glance at each other, and then Chen Yuan told Lin Chuan about his improvement ideas.

"Lord Hanzhong, I do have some ideas to improve the power of cast iron artillery, that is, to increase the power of firing gunpowder!"

Then Chen Yuan began to talk about some of the disadvantages of firing gunpowder as a cast iron artillery.

"The first is that the gunpowder is not burning enough, and the smoke is too large.

The second is that the gunpowder is too susceptible to moisture, which will greatly affect the power of cast iron artillery, and if it is fought in rainy or wet weather, the power of cast iron artillery will be greatly reduced.

So in order to ensure that cast iron artillery can be used at its maximum power anywhere and at any time, it is important to improve the gunpowder and the way it is stored! ”

After Chen Yuan mentioned the shortcomings of the existing gunpowder, he explained his own solution.

Then Master Lu also put forward his own improvement ideas.

"Lord Hou of Hanzhong, the weight of cast iron artillery, if more high-quality iron ore is used for casting, I am confident that the weight of cast iron artillery will be shortened to about six hundred catties.

Another point is that the accuracy of the current cast iron artillery can only be determined by at least five test shots, which is also a great waste of solid iron projectiles and the loss of the life of cast iron artillery.

So in my opinion, one is to use better iron ore to cast cast iron artillery, and the other is to use a better method to determine the accuracy of cast iron artillery. ”

After Master Lu finished speaking, he waited for Lin Chuan's response with Chen Yuan.

Lin Chuan agreed with Chen Yuan and Master Lu's improvement ideas, but in terms of gunpowder, he couldn't provide a better recipe now.

The direction of research and development of Master Wang in the explosives making workshop is also different from that of cast iron artillery.

However, in terms of the calculation of the crosshairs of cast iron artillery, Lin Chuan could give Master Lu's method on the spot.

"Master Chen and Master Lu, the ideas for improving cast iron artillery proposed by the two of you are very feasible and very good!"

Lin Chuan first vigorously praised Chen Yuan and Master Lu's idea of improving the cast iron artillery, and then Lin Chuan was ready to explain in detail how to calculate the landing point of the cast iron artillery to Master Lu and Chen Yuan.

"Regarding the calculation of the landing point of the cast iron artillery, that is, the quasi-head, Ben Hou has a good way here!"

Master Lu and Chen Yuan couldn't help but be very interested when they heard this, the calculation method they used before was actually a reference to the trebuchet, and now Lin Chuan has a better method, of course it must be adopted.

Later, Lin Chuan told Master Lu and Chen Yuan about the method of calculating the impact point of cast iron artillery, which was invented by the British, who used cast iron artillery on a large scale back then, and told them that they could follow this method and engrave the corresponding mark on each cast iron gun that had been measured by the impact point, so as to save the time of repeatedly measuring the impact point of each cast iron artillery.

When Master Lu and Chen Yuan heard this, they both threw themselves on the five-body body that Lord Hou of Hanzhong admired.

Then Lin Chuan brought up the matter of high-quality iron ore and artillery firing gunpowder.

"As for the high-quality iron ore, there is only the iron ore near Yecheng that Master Lu knows, so in order to ensure that a large number of cast iron cannons can be manufactured, Ben Hou decided to set up a manufacturing factory for cast iron cannons in Yecheng."

Lin Chuan first finished talking about the solution to high-quality iron ore, and then said to Master Lu and Master Chen: "There is also the problem of gunpowder, which can also be solved to a certain extent in Yecheng."

Because the factory that secretly developed grenades and firecrackers in Xuchang has also moved to Yecheng.

Therefore, Master Pu Yuanpu, who presided over the research and development of grenades and firearms, may be able to provide suitable gunpowder for cast-iron artillery as a . Launch. Medicine. ”

After Lin Chuan proposed a solution for high-quality iron ore and gunpowder, Chen Yuan and Master Lu understood that in order to further improve the cast iron artillery, they must have to go to Yecheng.

"Since that's the case, then please ask Lord Hanzhong Hou to arrange for us to go to Yecheng as soon as possible."

Chen Yuan, on behalf of the R&D center, directly proposed to Lin Chuan to go to Yecheng to improve the cast iron artillery.

"Okay, this king will prepare a carriage for you to Yecheng tomorrow!"

Lin Chuan immediately agreed.