Chapter 502 I Want to Build a Cannon

"Look carefully, everyone, this is the West, and it can also be called Europa."

The first class this morning is Fang Xing's, and the students are also looking forward to his class.

Fang Xing often digresses during his lectures, but the content he mixes is very fresh, quoting from many sources, making people addicted.

There was a large map hanging on the blackboard, Fang Xing was holding a pointer, and was talking eloquently.

"Everyone thinks Europa is small?"

The students below all nodded one after another, and they could tell with the naked eye that Europa was not as big as Ming Dynasty.

This is because Fang Xing counted the grasslands into Daming's territory, adding up to at least 15 million square kilometers of land in Daming.

"Although it is small and there are many countries, it should not be underestimated."

"The Europas are undergoing a revolution, a revolution in thought."

Fang Xing's pointer slid down to the seashore, "What will this innovation bring? It will bring expansion, for food, for resources, and for slaves."

"There is a big ball under our feet. I have already said that, but on this ball, the land occupation is not very large, and more is the ocean."

The students below were all listening intently. Fang Xing's pointer slid back and forth between the east and the west, and said in a deep voice, "Expansion and communication are inseparable from the ocean. When we work hard to open it again with the help of horses and camels." On the trade route leading to the Western Regions, the Europa people would ride big ships, hold muskets, snatch all the wealth that could be taken away with a grin, and drive other races of skin color to mine and farm..."

"That's why we need oceans!"

Fang Xing saw that the time was almost up, so he summed it up: "Da Ming can't leave the ocean, because wealth comes from the ocean, and danger also comes from the ocean. We can't avoid it, let alone close the country's gate, and then dream of the dream of going to heaven. , until awakened from dreams by saber and musket."

After class was over, Fang Xing walked out of the classroom slowly, thinking of the words "hard boats and guns", he went to Jubaoshanwei with a heartbeat.

When they arrived at the barracks, it was the morning drill time. Lin Qun'an welcomed Fang Xing in. The two of them couldn't help but feel happy when they saw the formation that rotated smoothly.

Rotation speed is related to the output density of firepower, so it must be practiced, and it must be practiced frequently.

After Fang Xing watched it for a while, he went to the workshop when it turned to assassination practice.

The scale of the workshop is larger than before, but the manpower is still the same.

Zhu Fang is leading the craftsmen to create a new type of flintlock gun. After a series of procedures, the finished products are placed on the side, looking full of power and beauty.

"Can you build a cannon?"

Fang Xing took out a blueprint, on which was a thick pipe with several hoops and a cross-shaped bracket.

Zhu Fang looked at the drawing and frowned: "Uncle, is it the same as musket?"

"almost."

Fang Xing pointed to the hole and said, "First load the gunpowder, then the iron ball, and finally ignite the fire from the fire door behind."

"This needs to be put on a shelf."

Zhu Fang picked up the pencil pinned to her ear, drew a shelf under it, and said dissatisfiedly: "It's still not interesting,

This recoil force must be very large, this shelf has to take this into account. "

Fang Xing wasn't worried about the cannon mounts, this wasn't a problem at Zhu Fang's level.

"Take a closer look and see if you can build a gun like this out of iron."

Zhu Fang frowned and calculated on the paper, and then said with a frowning face: "Uncle, I'm afraid it won't work with iron! I guess it won't be used many times before it will be scrapped."

Seeing Fang Xing's bewildered expression, Zhu Fang hurriedly explained: "Uncle, if this kind of gun is made of iron, the charge must not be much, and the range will not be good!"

"Where's the steel?"

Fang Xing thought that the steel should be fine.

But Zhu Fang smiled wryly: "Uncle, the steel is still unstable, and if you cast steel cannons, the cooling process is difficult to control!"

Fang Xing had no choice but to say, "Try more on your side. If it really doesn't work, then bronze will do."

Bronze is a copper alloy with good performance and is a good material for making cannons.

It's just that Daming is short of copper. If you use bronze to cast cannons, the cost really makes Fang Xing a little moved.

But you have to try, otherwise, when facing the enemy's group attack, Da Ming lacks long-range strike firepower.

The small trebuchet is good, but the first is that the range is insufficient, and the second is that it can only throw clay pots or cast iron bombs.

Think about the scene where the artillery roared, and the iron balls rushed out bloody paths in the enemy's formation. The visual impact would definitely make the enemy's morale drop.

Just do what you want, Fang Xing hurried to find the military department.

"Is Jin Shangshu there?"

The porter of the Ministry of War said with a sad face: "Master Shang Shu is seriously ill."

I go!

Fang Xing had no choice but to settle for the next best thing, and found Shi Kui.

"Want copper?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Kui shook his head and said, "Uncle Xinghe, it's not for lower officials to make decisions about copper materials. You still have to go to our Lord Shangshu."

have to! Fang Xing had no choice but to go to Jin Zhong's house.

Jin Zhong's family looked very ordinary. After Fang Xing announced his name, he waited for half the salary before someone came to greet him.

The one who came to greet him was the housekeeper, seeing his expression, Fang Xing's heart skipped a beat, thinking that Jin Zhong wouldn't belch!

If Jin Zhong burped when he came to visit, his reputation would be bad.

God of decline!

When we arrived at the bedroom, there was a strong smell of medicine as soon as we entered.

Jin Zhong, who was sitting on the head of the bed, looked at his old age, his face turned pale.

"I am suffering from serious illness, Xinghe Bo, please forgive me for being rude."

Jin Zhong spoke in a weak voice, pointed to the chair beside the bed, and began to pant.

After Fang Xing sat down, he pondered for a while, and finally said why he came.

"Copper material?"

Jin Zhong frowned and said, "My Daming's copper materials are scarce!"

Fang Xing recalled the documentaries he had watched later, where tons of copper coins were unearthed from ancient tombs, and couldn't help frowning: "Da Ming is short of copper, but Fang thinks there is still some copper for casting cannons."

"How powerful is the cannon that Xing Hebo mentioned?"

"The shooting range is less than a thousand feet, and the iron ball is used, which is very powerful."

Jin Zhong closed his eyes and thought for a while, and finally said cautiously: "Take some and try it first. If it works, His Majesty will naturally have an explanation."

"no problem."

Fang Xing originally just wanted to try it out first, and he couldn't help feeling more fond of Jin Zhong when he heard this.

This person is not only Zhan Shi's mansion, but he was also ordered to assist Zhu Zhanji. It stands to reason that he and Fang Xing should be relatively close.

But Jin Zhong never took the initiative to meet with Fang Xing, nor did he give Fang Xing any opinions.

So this is the first time the two meet.

Jin Zhong pondered for a while, turned his gaze to Fang Xing, coughed and said, "Xing Hebo, it's not easy for grandsons, you often advised me."

Fang Xing was startled: "Why did Master Jin say that?"

Conscience of heaven and earth, Fang Xing felt that Zhu Zhanji was good enough, apart from some beauty lovers and some indecision, Zhu Zhanji could be regarded as a qualified heir.

Hearing what Jin Zhong meant, he seemed very dissatisfied.

"Don't let Taisun become the target of public criticism!"

Jin Zhong breathed heavily, and after he recovered, he continued, "With His Highness the Crown Prince here, wouldn't it be better for the grandson to hide his power and bide his time? You have aroused the anger of all the ministers like this, and you are the target of public criticism!"

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