Chapter 283: Tower Method

"This batch of flintlock rifles is now handed over to you. Next, you must train hard for me. Soldiers must fire four or even five times from loading to firing in one minute. Read М" Zhao Xu said.

The maximum firing rate of a flintlock rifle is five shots per minute.

But only very skilled soldiers can do this.

Generally speaking, the most basic is three shots.

This is much better than the matchlock rifle, which can fire at most two shots per minute.

It is also one of the reasons why flintlock rifles replaced matchlock rifles in the later period.

Zhao Xu asked Chang Wei to increase training to improve the soldiers' proficiency in loading.

In this way, the maximum firepower output can be guaranteed on the battlefield.

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei clasped his fists heavily, and then he asked: "Your Highness, what is one minute?"

"This is twenty breaths." Zhao Xu said.

People's breathing is basically within three to five seconds, he can only give a rough idea.

Chang Wei nodded after hearing this.

After handing over the flintlock rifles, Zhao Xu and Wang Ying left.

He would not delay the soldiers' training.

On the way back, Wang Ying had a smile on his face.

The generals were happy because the army had added a powerful weapon.

And he was happy because the test firing was successful.

The Arms Department had gained a mature technology.

However, Zhao Xu remembered some problems during the test firing.

He observed that the soldiers could not accurately grasp the amount of gunpowder to be released each time.

Some soldiers even stuffed two lead bullets into the barrel.

This was caused by the soldiers' nervousness.

In fact, during the two hundred years when the flintlock dominated the world.

In the early days, the flintlock was loaded with gunpowder and ammunition in a bag.

When shooting, gunpowder and lead bullets were taken from the bag.

But the same problem of the soldiers' test firing just now appeared on the battlefield.

Some soldiers loaded too much gunpowder or stuffed too many lead bullets.

If the quality of the barrel is poor, the explosion of the barrel is inevitable.

But later, summing up this lesson, people wrapped a certain amount of gunpowder and bullets with paper like firecrackers.

This solved the problem, and this is paper shell ammunition.

When firing, you just need to bite open the paper shell, pour in the ammunition, and finally put the lead bullet and paper in together.

This little trick is not very complicated. If you have this experience, just use it directly, and there is no need to go through the wrong path again.

Thinking of this, he told Wang Ying this experience.

Wang Ying usually only considers technical issues.

He didn't think about how to make it more convenient to load ammunition into the musket.

Hearing this, he nodded. Although this would increase the work of the Arms Department, it must be said that it is still very convenient for the soldiers.

He replied yes, and said: "Your Highness, you said you would teach me a convenient way to make lead bullets. I wonder what this method is?"

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "Let's talk about it when we return to Nanfang District."

The group returned to Nanfang District.

Zhao Xu asked someone to bring a basin of water. Wang Ying and many craftsmen gathered around, wanting to see what magical things the King of Yan was going to show them.

"Look carefully." Zhao Xu said, and suddenly lifted the water to the sky.

Then the water scattered in the air into countless drops and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, everyone looked at Zhao Xu, bewildered.

What is this?

"What shape was the water drop just now?" Zhao Xu asked.

Wang Ying frowned, and first came to his senses, he said: "It is round."

"That's right, when the lead melts, it will be round just like water, as long as it falls from the air, do you understand?" Zhao Xu said.

"But why is it round?" Wang Ying was curious.

Zhao Xu didn't want to explain now, this question was too complicated.

He said: "When you have time, go to the Science and Technology School of the Arms Department to listen to the lecture, the king will tell you, now you just need to understand that there is such a thing."

Then, he asked someone to bring paper and pen and draw a picture.

This is a 30-meter-high tower.

There is a furnace for melting lead on the tower, as well as a funnel, and a water tank under the tower.

The melted lead drips through the funnel, forming a spherical shape in the air and cooling at the same time.

The water in the water tank plays a decompression role to prevent the lead bullet from deforming.

Most of the lead bullets obtained in this way can be used directly, and those that are slightly deformed can be polished.

In this way, mass production of lead bullets is not a problem.

The problem of ammunition is solved.

"This is called the high tower method." Zhao Xu explained while drawing.

The drawing is completed.

Wang Ying breathed a sigh of relief, and he said: "I really have to take time to listen to your lectures. This science and technology is indeed profound."

Zhao Xu smiled lightly, patted Wang Ying on the shoulder and left.

With the advancement of technology in the four northern counties in the future, Wang Ying's past experience will naturally become more and more useless.

It is for this reason that he set up the Science and Technology School. For the same reason, the Political Affairs School and the Military School are also for getting rid of the old and welcoming the new.

In this way, his fiefdom can get rid of the fateful cycle of the rise and fall of the feudal dynasty.

On the way back to the palace, Zhao Xu felt much more relaxed.

The expansion of production capacity has been done, the production of flintlock rifles is on the right track, and the South Camp has flintlock rifle sample gun training.

Now we just need to wait for the day of sending troops to come.

Of course, we also need to make a sand table for Jinzhou and work out several tactics with Chang Wei.

At the same time, there is one more important thing, that is food and grass.

This time, the soldiers of the royal palace will leave Yanzhou for the first time to attack Jinzhou.

They will inevitably face logistical problems.

When conscripting civilians to transport food, the soldiers will eat a portion, and the civilians who transport the food will also eat a portion.

After all, if you don’t mention giving money to others, you can’t let them go hungry.

This means that he will consume a lot of food.

It can be seen that war is really a waste of money and manpower.

If the rebellion in the northwest is caused by the Dou family, it shows how insidious it is.

If it were any other prince in the four northern counties.

After Ichiban and Xiliang were exhausted, they would basically be in ruins.

But Dou Wei was wrong if he thought of tormenting him like this.

It's just that although he is confident, food and grass are indeed a problem.

Not to mention the cost of fighting, the food rations for the Jinzhou people recruited now are a problem.

To solve this problem, it depends on the attitude of the Xie family.

Otherwise, he would have to spend money going south to purchase food.

However, his worries were resolved after just a few days.

The Xie family arrived in Yancheng.

The person who came this time was not Xie Yu, but Xie Lan.

"The Queen is grateful that Your Highness is still thinking of her and His Highness the Crown Prince. When she came, she told me that whenever Your Highness has anything to ask for, as long as the Xie family is able to do so, I will help Your Highness."

Zhao Xu looked at Xie Lan. Compared with Xie Yu, this person seemed kind and honest.

It seems that Queen Xie is afraid that another self-assertive person like Xie Yu will come and ruin her good deeds.

It can also be seen that the Xie family urgently needs his support.

With a smile on his face, he said: "Thank you very much for your love, your Majesty. I am not short of anything else, but I am short of food."

Xie Lan had already learned about this from Xie Yu when he arrived.

So he asked: "How many stones of food does Your Highness need?"

"Three million stones." Zhao Xu said lightly.

"Three million stones!" Xie Lan picked up the teacup and wanted to take a drink of water, but the teacup in his hand almost slipped.