Taking the firearm, Han Zhen tapped it lightly with his finger and asked, "Tested?" ”

The appearance of the firearm is uneven, resembling a pineapple, which is already very close to the grenades of later generations, the only difference is that it needs to be ignited with an open flame.

Chu Nan replied: "Second Brother Han is relieved, the craftsmen in the workshop have tested it no less than a hundred times, and Dean Yuan has also seen it with his own eyes. ”

Hearing this, Craftsman Yuan on the side echoed: "That's true, because there is more gunpowder filled, the power is even more than before. The key is that it's easier to make. ”

The original firearm was to stuff gunpowder into a bamboo tube, and then put the bamboo tube into a clay pot, filled with iron nails and thistles, the mouth of the jar was sealed with yellow mud, and the outer layer was wound with straw rope.

The workmanship is complex, and a variety of materials are required, such as clay pots, bamboo pipes, iron nails, iron thistles, and straw ropes.

Although the workshop uses assembly line work, the efficiency is not much higher.

Now it's different, just pour the iron shells with pig iron, bring them in, the workers fill the iron shells with gunpowder, insert the lead, seal the mouth, and a firearm is made.

Several steps are omitted in the middle, and the efficiency naturally comes up.

In addition, the shell of the firearm made of cast iron is also more worry-free when transporting, and the clay pot is easy to shatter when it is bumpy.

Han Zhen smiled and asked, "Who developed it?" ”

Chu Nan replied: "The craftsman of the No. 3 assembly line of the assembly workshop is named Xu Gong. ”

"Reward!"

Han Zhen waved his hand.

Out of the warehouse, he inspected various workshops under the leadership of Chu Nan and contacted the orphans.

An hour later, Han Zhen and his entourage walked out of the gunpowder workshop.

Han Zhen turned his head and admonished: "The sun is fierce outside, so there is no need to send it." ”

"Okay."

Chu Nan nodded.

Patting him on the shoulder, Han Zhen said: "While ensuring the efficiency of the workshop, safety must be taken seriously, once this thing explodes, you know the consequences better than me." ”

Chu Nan said solemnly: "Second Brother Han is relieved, for the sake of the safety of my younger brothers and sisters, I will pay attention to it." ”

"You just have to know what you know."

Han Zhen said and strode out of the cave.

On the way back to the town, Han Zhen asked, "Yuan Qing, how is the progress of the research and development of the iron siege artillery?" ”

Craftsman Yuan said with a sad face: "The craftsmen have come up with a lot of methods, and the more prominent ones are the forging method and the iron mold method. The iron mold method is fast, can form an assembly line production, and has a high output, but there is a problem that cannot be solved, the bubble problem when pouring molten iron, can never be solved. Fifteen barrels were poured in a row, but the effect was not ideal, and after cooling, many honeycomb holes appeared inside the barrels. ”

The bubble problem is a layer of window paper, once it is pierced, it will be found to be very simple.

But this layer of window paper is not so easy to pierce, no one can say for sure about inspiration, if you are lucky, it will take several years or decades, and if you are unlucky, it will take three to five hundred years.

Han Zhen asked, "What about the forging method?" ”

Craftsman Yuan replied: "The forging method is made of wrought iron, so the strength is higher than that of the cast cannon, but because the siege cannon is too large, it cannot be forged in one piece, so it can only be manufactured in sections, and then the two sections of cannon barrels are reheated and spliced, and finally reinforced with iron hoops at the splicing place, but even so, the air tightness cannot be guaranteed, and the risk of exploding the bore is not lower than that of the cast cannon." ”

He has been following Han Zhen for so long and has learned a lot of new vocabulary.

Hearing this, Han Zhen fell silent.

Casting and forging have their own advantages and disadvantages, and they also have problems that cannot be solved temporarily.

Casting can't solve the honeycomb bubbles in the barrel, and forging can't guarantee the airtightness of the splicing.

After a while, Han Zhen said helplessly: "First use brass to cast a hundred siege cannons!" ”

In this day and age, copper is money.

A siege cannon cast from brass is five or six thousand catties, plus loss and labor costs, no less than five thousand.

The cannons of the Ming and Qing dynasties and even the early Western period were all cast in copper, and they were gradually replaced by steel later.

It's not that the strength of steel cannons is higher than that of copper cannons, but the cost of copper cannons is so damn high that the East and West are forced to have no choice but to constantly change technology, and finally replace copper cannons with iron cannons.

The cost of a cast iron cannon is 500 yuan, which is one-tenth of the copper cannon.

But the problem is that the war is about to start, and he can't wait for the military industry to study it slowly, so he can only cast a hundred doors with brass first.

Fortunately, green money gradually became popular in Qi State, no longer limited to rich businessmen and magnates, and many ordinary people also began to accept green money, so the demand for copper money was not so great.

Recently, banks have proposed to issue one, two, and three denominations.

However, it was vetoed by Han Zhen, the cost of green money is too high, even if the number of printing goes up and the cost is diluted, it is still as high as fifty wen a piece, printing a small amount of green money is too bad, he has other plans.

Craftsman Yuan replied: "Weichen takes the order!" ”

Han Zhen advised: "Don't fall five hundred field guns." ”

Because the field gun is only one meter long, it is easy to forge, there is no need to splic, and there is no problem of poor air tightness.

Craftsman Yuan nodded: "Weichen knows that the workshop under the jurisdiction of the Military Industry Institute has been ordered to start forging two months ago, and before the end of the year, five hundred field guns will be delivered." ”

After explaining some more matters, Han Zhen led his guards back to Jieshou Town.

Stayed in the town for one night, and hurried back to Licheng on the second day.

……

On the incense cart, Zhao Fujin lifted the curtains, looked at the cement road with interest, and said in surprise: "Husband, this road is smooth, and the carriage travels on it, which is faster than the flying road." ”

Nowadays, the cement road has been repaired from Jimo to Licheng, forming a main road.

With the cement road, it is greatly convenient for businessmen and visitors.

In the past, it took five or six days to sell goods from Licheng to Yidu at the earliest, but now it only takes three days to arrive, which is twice as fast.

In order to facilitate Zhao Fujin's return to the palace, Zhao Ji built a flying road between the imperial city and the princess's mansion.

Flying Road, just by listening to the name, you know how well this road is built.

But at this moment, Zhao Fujin felt that Feidao was nothing more than that.

Zhao Fujin explained: "Sister, the highway is built with cement, which is naturally not comparable to other roads. ”

"Cement?"

Zhao Fujin was stunned.

"I heard that it was invented by a master craftsman under the command of my husband, and I don't know much about it, in short, it is a good thing for the benefit of the country and the people." Zhao Fujin actually didn't understand much, and only heard Han Zhen say a few words.

"Daddy, is it true that my aunt said that there are singing mermaids in the sea?"

Sheng Nu snuggled in Han Zhen's arms, blinked his big eyes, and asked in a milky voice.

The little guy has lacked father's love since he was a child, and since he entered the palace, he has been very clingy.

Han Zhen said softly: "Yes, but my father hasn't seen it." ”

"My aunt also said that there were many beautiful seashells on the beach."

"Yes."

"Wow, I'm going to pick up some more and bring them back to Sister Heyue."

As he spoke, the carriage turned a corner and headed for the side of the road.

"Husband, are we here?"

Zhao Fujin was obviously out of Beijing for the first time, and he felt strange when he saw everything, and when he saw the carriage leaving the highway, he couldn't help but ask.

Han Zhen hugged the Shengnu and said with a smile: "This is not out of the boundary of Jinan Mansion yet, and there are still two days to go to Yidu." ”

Zhao Fujin was curious: "Then where is this going?" ”

"Sister, this is the service station."

Without waiting for Han Zhen to answer, Zhao Fujin on the side said first.

When she came to Beijing, she had already experienced the service station.

"Service station?"

Zhao Fujin's beautiful little face was full of doubts.

Since she came to Shandong, she feels like a dirt bun.

"A service station is a ......"

Zhao Fujin was speechless for a while, not knowing how to explain.

Seeing this, Han Zhen chuckled and said, "It's similar to a large post station, providing services such as food and lodging for past merchants. ”

"I see."

Zhao Fujin nodded as if he didn't understand.

The highway does not pass through the town, because the master of the Academy of Engineering first considers the distance when planning the path.

With Yidu and Licheng as the two points, how to plan how to get close.

After all, the highway pays attention to a fast word.

Therefore, the service station is particularly important, responsible for providing all services for passing merchants.

From small cattle and horse forage to large foot shop inns, there is everything.

Every 50 miles, a service station is set up, which not only generates income, but also drives the employment of people in nearby villages.

The service station is equipped with a town watchman, a tax collector and a fast shift catcher, who is responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining law and order.

The momentum of the 300 Xuanjia Army was extremely strong, attracting the merchants and customers at the service station to look around.

The supervisor led the tax collector and the catcher, and hurried to pick up the driver.

"Wechen greets Your Majesty!"

Lao Jiu lifted the curtain of the door, and Han Zhen walked out of the carriage with Shengnu in his arms.

Official!

At this moment, the service station completely exploded.

The official saint face is not common, if you miss it, you will never have a chance to see each other again in this life.

For a while, the merchants who were still sitting in various tea shops and foot shops came out one after another, bowed down to salute, and shouted: "Your Majesty is blessed!" ”

Han Zhen said loudly: "I don't need to be polite when I go out on patrol, you just wait and disperse." ”

Hearing this, the merchants got up and dispersed.

However, they still got together in twos and threes, and their faces were full of excitement.

Han Zhen looked at Jian Zhen condescendingly and asked, "What's your name?" ”

Jian Zhen replied respectfully: "Back to Your Majesty, Weichen Qiu Yu." ”

"Take a look around with me."

Han Zhen stepped out of the carriage and commanded.

"Wechen obeys."

Qiu Yu was overjoyed and walked to Han Zhen's side.

This is an opportunity to perform, not to mention that you can reach the sky in one step, at least leave a good impression in the hearts of the officials, and you can't say that the officials will be able to think of themselves in the future?

You know, there are more than 10,000 officials under the rule of Qi State, how many officials do they know?

Step by step, step by step!

The service station is bigger than Han Zhen imagined, and there are five or six foot shops and inns alone.

Han Zhen asked, "How many merchants pass by every day?" ”

Qiu Yu replied: "Back to Your Majesty, there are no less than 100 of them." ”

"So much?"

Han Zhen was a little surprised.

Qiu Yu patted a little fart: "Thank Your Majesty Hongfu, since the completion of the expressway, there have been more than several times more businessmen from other places who have come to Shandong, and they are generally engaged in all kinds of sea wrong business. ”

Han Zhen asked again: "What is the income of the service station?" ”

"There's no fixed number, but it's not less than a hundred every day."

100 times, after deducting various costs, the net income is almost 20 times.

It doesn't seem like much, but it's just one of the service stations.

From Licheng to Yidu, the whole journey is more than 300 miles, with a total of seven service stations and a monthly income of nearly 5,000 yuan.

It is 60,000 yuan a year, and it will take about 20 years, and all the investment in building highways can be earned back by relying on service stations, and then it will be a pure profit.

This is not counting the industrial chain driven by the highway.

If you want to get rich, build roads first!

As he walked, Han Zhen suddenly paused and asked, "Why is there still a gambling house?" ”

Hearing the dissatisfaction in His Majesty's tone, Qiu Yu hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty doesn't know anything, there are a mixture of passing merchants and customers, and everyone has it, and they often gather in tea shops and inns to gamble. ”

"So, Wechen simply built a gambling house, and if the passing merchants want to gamble, it is good to have a removal, and it is also convenient to manage."

Hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Han Zhen's eyes: "You did a good job." ”

There is no way to put an end to gambling.

It won't be possible in the future, let alone now.

It can only be strictly controlled and heavily taxed.

Once the casinos are completely banned, countless underground casinos will only pop up, leading to the re-emergence of underworld forces.

The period when the power of the old American underworld expanded the fastest was when alcohol was banned.

Qiu Yu was overjoyed, and said modestly: "Your Majesty has a good reputation, this is a matter within the scope of the ministers." ”

Han Zhen waved his hand: "Let's go back to the public office, I will rest and leave." ”

"Wechen retired."

Qiu Yu bowed and turned to leave.

This goal has been perfectly achieved, leaving a good impression in the hearts of the officials, and in the future, they only need to make political achievements, and they will not worry about not being promoted.

After eating in the foot shop, Han Zhen and his party set off again.

Three days later, they successfully arrived in Yidu.

After a few words of greeting with the official who took over the car, Han Zhen stayed in Shaoyang Palace.

In the past few days, the sheng slave was tired, and after dinner, he cried out sleepy.

Zhao Fujin hugged the little girl and entered the dormitory to rest.

Han Zhen sat in the courtyard sipping tea and ordered, "We will rest in Yidu for two days, and Fujin will lead your sister around." ”

"The concubine knows."

Zhao Fujin knew that Han Zhen had government affairs to do, so he responded obediently.

At this moment, a female officer hurriedly walked over and saluted, "Your Majesty, General Luo asks to see you." ”

Han Zhen said: "Let him wait for me in the study." ”

……

When he came to the study, Lao Jiu and Zhuo Lou's shopkeeper were already waiting there.

This shopkeeper's surname is Wang, and he is the first batch of spies in the development of small worms.

Today, he serves as a thousand households in the secret spy department.

He came to ask for a meeting, which showed that the matter was not small.

"I've seen Your Majesty."

The king's treasurer bowed and saluted.

Han Zhen sat behind his desk and asked, "What happened?" ”

The shopkeeper Wang said with excitement on his face: "Your Majesty, Weichen has found traces of the puppet Song Emperor. ”

"Zhao Huan?"

Han Zhen's face was indifferent, and his tone was casual.

The shopkeeper replied, "Exactly." ”

"Where is he?"

"It's in Yidu County!"

"Huh?"

Han Zhen raised his eyebrows, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Boy!

Zhao Huan is not a little bold, and he actually played a game under the light.

Keyi is his own base camp, and it has long been operated without leakage, how dare he?

The shopkeeper Wang proposed: "After Wei Chen found out, he did not act rashly, but only sent his secret agents to monitor day and night, did Your Majesty order the arrest?" ”

"No need."

Han Zhen waved his hand and suddenly smiled: "I'll see you tomorrow." ”

(End of chapter)