Chapter 144: Casting Cannon

Yanjun, Wang Ying's house. ReadМ

The cock crows three times.

It was still dark, so Wang Ying sat up from the bed.

His wife Wang was awakened and glanced at him, "Why is it so early today?"

"His Royal Highness came back from Shanggu County. Yesterday, someone handed me a message, asking me to go to the War Department early. He said that there was something new to be developed." Wang Ying rubbed his eyes and yawned, but his words It was full of excitement.

"Then I'll warm up the porridge for you. You can go ahead after eating. Your Highness's affairs can't be delayed. Our family can afford to buy a yard in Yancheng now because of His Highness's appreciation of you." Mrs. Wang got dressed and stood up. .

When Wang Ying was in despair, he had not changed his clothes for five years and was always mending them again and again.

She thought she would be so poor all her life, but she didn't expect that her husband, who was foolish and blessed, would be appreciated by His Highness King Yan and become an official in an instant.

After eating porridge, Wang Ying tidied up his official uniform and was about to go out, when a dark figure blocked the door.

"Dad, you can also take me to see His Highness. I can bring tea or water to His Highness," said the black shadow.

"Just stay here, Your Highness needs someone like you to serve tea and pour water?" Wang Ying scolded angrily.

The black shadow is none other than his son Wang Chong.

"Husband, just take him there. Chong'er is not young anymore. It's time to let him go out and do something." Mrs. Wang begged.

Wang Ying frowned. His son Wang Chong had traveled with him since he was a child. He was immersed in it. He didn't like the classics and histories, and he also preferred various skills.

Since King Yan took charge of Yan County, it was possible for children from poor families to study and become officials, so he asked his sons to study and become officials.

But Wang Chong's nature was still hard to change, and he even wanted to go to the Military Division.

Wang Chong had despaired of studying and becoming an official. He sighed and said, "Let's go. As a father, I beg your highness to see if I can find you a miscellaneous job in the Military Department. Otherwise, you Yeah, it’s hard to get a wife.”

The father and son arrived at the Bingzhan Division.

At the entrance of the office, he saw the palace guards standing there.

He hurriedly led Wang Chong in.

"Your Highness, I'm guilty, I'm late." Wang Ying looked ashamed.

Zhao Xu sat where Wang Ying usually sat.

He raised his head and said with a smile: "It's not that you're late, it's that I came early. It's okay. I took the opportunity to inspect the Military Department."

Then he glanced at the young man next to Wang Ying.

Seeing that his facial features were somewhat similar to Wang Ying's, he was convinced. He knew that Wang Ying had a son who was seventeen years old and had not yet been married.

"Wang Chong, a common man, has met His Highness." Seeing Zhao Xu staring at him, Wang Chong immediately saluted.

"No courtesy." Zhao Xu looked Wang Chong up and down.

Wang Ying hurriedly said: "Today, I came to the Military and War Department, and Quanzi wanted to come because he kept clamoring to serve His Highness, so I agreed. It would be good for him to stay in the Military and War Department to do odd jobs."

"Your Highness, who among the young men in Yan County doesn't want to serve His Highness? The common people have been working with their father since childhood and have experienced various skills. If His Highness dislikes it, the common people are willing to do their best for His Highness."

"Oh, really?" Zhao Xu laughed.

In ancient times, it was common for sons to inherit their father's business.

Wang Chong's words are not self-promotion.

Nodding, he said: "In that case, you can stay with your father and assist him."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Wang Chong was delighted, and Wang Ying also smiled.

"Your Highness said that something new was developed today. I wonder what it is?" Wang Ying thought of business.

Zhao Xu pointed at the drawings on the table and said, "That's it, the artillery!"

"Artillery!" Wang Ying and Wang Chongwang looked at the drawing.

Wang Chong said: "Why does this look like a firecracker?"

"The principles are similar, but the power is very different." Zhao Xu said, "Fireguns can only drive stone bullets a hundred meters, but artillery can drive iron bullets three to four miles, or even farther."

Wang Ying and Wang Chong were stunned when they heard this. This was simply beyond their imagination.

"If it is true as His Highness said, if this cannon goes out, it will beat the enemy to pieces." Wang responded.

Zhao Xu nodded noncommittally, "Today, my king is here to teach you the art of making artillery. You can watch and develop it."

After that, he turned to the page below, which showed a process drawing.

The process drawings are also marked with text, which Zhao Xu wrote in his own language in order to make Wang Ying understand as much as possible.

"Iron mold casting method!" Wang Ying read.

Then he looked down, "The method of casting cannons from iron molds is divided into four to seven sections according to the size of the cannon. The clay cannon is made first, and the iron mold is made according to the number of sections of the cannon. Each section of the clay mold is divided into two parts, and the wooden board is rotated. On the inner surface, make the surface smooth and regular in shape, and then dry it for later use.

A prefabricated handle is placed in the clay mold and is integrated with the iron mold during pouring.

When turning the iron mold into a clay mold, place the muzzle section upside down on a clay flat plate, fill one of the sections with mud, dry it, cover it with a mud flat plate, tighten the mold, and obtain the first iron mold section after pouring. "

While reading, Wang Ying nodded.

These words were paired with the pictures, and he gradually understood the key points.

Wang Chong said: "Your Highness, isn't this just making a cannon out of clay first, and then using the clay cannon to pour out an iron mold? This is what farm tools do."

Zhao Xu nodded when he heard this. Iron molds are not a new thing. The ancients have already mastered them.

The iron mold casting method simply borrowed this mold to enable low-cost, mass-manufacturing of artillery.

This method was invented by an official named Gong Zhenlin in the late Qing Dynasty.

He participated in the Opium War and was impressed by the strength of the ships and artillery of the great powers in the Opium War, so he worked hard to develop this method of making artillery.

However, the Qing court at that time was not only corrupt, but also had limited technology.

Cannons were still made of pig iron. Although the output of cannons increased, the quality did not improve, and they often exploded.

This also led to the fact that the cannon-making technique was not taken seriously.

Now, he took out this method.

In this way, he can produce cannons in large quantities at low cost.

And because the military department has mastered the technique of refining liquid steel, cannons can be made of steel.

After all, liquid steel technology only appeared in the 18th century, matured in the mid-to-late 19th century, and then was used on a large scale to make guns and cannons.

Although his crucible steelmaking method can only be said to be elementary and the output is low, it is enough for him.

From the 16th to the 19th century, the main material of cannons was iron, which was not hard enough and had the disadvantage of easy explosion.

So many countries at that time chose to use bronze.

Bronze has good toughness, and the cannons made are very reliable.

But the disadvantage is that it is expensive.

Steel avoids these two disadvantages, being cheap and tough.

"In that case, I will wait for your iron mold." Zhao Xu said to Wang Chong.

Wang Ying's temperament is somewhat introverted and dull, but Wang Chong seems to be the opposite of his father.

For him, it is good to have a young man in the Armory.

It can liven up the atmosphere and serve as a talent reserve.

"Yes, Your Highness." Wang Ying said.

They, father and son, had made clay models and other things by themselves before.

This thing is not unfamiliar to them.

Zhao Xu nodded and remembered something else.

He called Wang Chong over again and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Can this be done?" Wang Chong was delighted.

"Dare you? This is very dangerous." Zhao Xu smiled.

Wang Chong patted his chest, "Your Highness, leave it to me."