"Well, since we wait until the official model comes out, we will prepare to put it into production. I hope to have 200 guns next year."
On the testing ground, Xiao Ming patted Chen Qi on the shoulder.
But he remembered something and asked: "Can this gunpowder can withstand the impact of a gunpowder explosion? Will the clay pot not be blown to pieces?"
Strictly speaking, the Tiger Zun Cannon is a modern mortar. This kind of direct-fire artillery is truly The power is that of an exploding cannonball. As such, the combination of the gunpowder can and the Tiger Cannon can exert its true power, because the gunpowder can is already equivalent to a bomb.
The only disadvantage is that it is difficult to control the time when the gunpowder cans explode. When the gunpowder cans were used to attack the city last time, many gunpowder cans either exploded early or delayed at the top of Shanhaiguan City, and even misfired.
According to Niu Ben, it would have been good if only half of the gunpowder cans could actually explode at the top of the city.
It is precisely because of the instability of this original blooming bomb that blooming bombs were not favored by the military when they first appeared. Especially the blooming bombs on battleships that need to be ignited are equivalent to a time bomb.
Because once stored improperly, it is easy to send yourself to heaven.
"Your Highness, I forgot to mention this matter. The gunpowder jar cannot withstand the power of the gunpowder explosion, so the military workshop casts hollow iron eggs."
With that, Chen Qi directed a craftsman to take out the gunpowder jar from the wooden box on one side. An iron ball was given to Xiao Ming.
Seeing this iron ball the size of a baby's head, Xiao Ming suddenly laughed out loud. This was the original explosive bomb called a time bomb in the West, and it was also the legendary explosive bomb that was lost in the Ming Dynasty.
This kind of explosive bomb is an iron ball. There is a lead in front of the iron ball that goes into the inside of the iron ball. The gunner cuts the lead according to the distance to achieve the purpose of explosion. Therefore, it is as unstable as a gunpowder can.
This most primitive explosive ammunition was rarely equipped in the ammunition of Western armies, accounting for only one-tenth of the ammunition at the time.
"Yes, yes, but the explosion time of this kind of shell is unstable." Xiao Ming said with a smile.
He was not angry, but happy. In any case, these were explosive bombs. This was an improvement for the military workshop. Only with this foundation can we continue to develop the next generation of explosive bombs.
Xiao Ming's words made Chen Qi look ashamed, "Your Highness, one of the reasons why we have been experimenting with the Tiger Cannon is the problem of shell explosion. I found that using the Tiger Cannon to fire such shells is very dangerous, and it is not even as good as throwing stones." It is safe to fire a car because the explosion of gunpowder in the barrel will ignite the match. "
"You could probably put a hollow wooden tube in the bullet hole and stuff the slow-burning match in the tube while rotating the wooden plug. Extending and shortening the length of the burning match rope will be safer than directly inserting the match rope into the bullet hole," Xiao Ming said.
When Xiao Ming could not invent the fuse, he could only improve the safety and practicality of this kind of explosive ammunition. The problem with this kind of explosive ammunition is that the gunpowder in the barrel directly ignites the match, so no matter the length of the match, the match will be fired. The vicinity of the hole is ignited, and because of this, the shell can become dangerous.
By inserting a hollow wooden plug, the length of the burning match rope in the plug can be adjusted by rotating it, so that the stability of the blooming bullet is higher.
However, this kind of blooming ammunition has not yet reached the level of the Napoleonic period in the 19th century. It can only be said to be a generation and a half of blooming ammunition.
"Yes, yes, why am I so stupid?" Chen Qi immediately whirled around excitedly after hearing this. He said: "Your Highness, I will study this kind of corked cannonball."
Xiao Ming nodded, and did not disturb Chen Qi. Yes, he knew that once Chen Qi found a new idea, he would study it all the way without sleep and food. Talking to him at this time was no different from talking to a piece of wood.
After seeing the Tiger Zun Cannon, Xiao Ming did not leave immediately but went directly to the artillery workshop. At this time, the craftsmen in the artillery workshop were producing artillery.
Because of the huge demand for export artillery this year, the iron molds in the artillery workshop have now tripled, and the artillery for export is being produced day and night.
At the same time, the number of the other two types of iron molds has also increased threefold. One of them is the city defense artillery currently being used in Qingzhou, and the other is the naval gun.
Because the Galen ships require a large number of artillery pieces this year, the production of naval guns is also in full swing. The twelve newly added Galen ships require at least a thousand artillery pieces. This is not only a heavy task for the military workshop, but also a financial burden. A huge expense.
Even if the cost of a thousand artillery pieces is two thousand taels, this is something that can only be accomplished with two million taels of silver, and this does not include the cost of ammunition and shells.
If you don't become a farmer, you don't know that firewood, rice, oil and salt are expensive. Now Xiao Ming deeply understands the pain of cutting meat.
It is precisely because of this that he decisively ordered a defensive posture against the barbarians. He cannot continue to fight like this because the economic benefits brought by fighting the barbarians are too little. If this continues, the war will drag him down.
It was also because of money that he sold arms. If he didn't sell arms, how would he get the money to make cannons and guns?
After walking through the artillery workshop, he gradually made up his mind to continue to expand the sales of export-type artillery in the country. At the same time, the export sales of matchlocks must also be put on the agenda. It is not easy for this military workshop to achieve profitability.
After coming out of the artillery workshop, Xiao Ming entered the musket workshop. At this time, Song Changping was supervising the production of muskets.
In the workshop, he saw some craftsmen already assembling matchlock guns. It seemed that Song Changping responded quickly, and he started to implement the order as soon as it was given.
"Your Highness, this matchlock gun is very simple. Five thousand matchlock guns can be delivered in two months." Song Changping said confidently.
Xiao Ming picked up an assembled matchlock gun and looked at it. This kind of matchlock gun has no bayonet, only a barrel, which is much inferior to a flintlock gun.
Compared with the profits of artillery, this matchlock gun is more profitable, so Xiao Ming attaches great importance to the export of matchlock guns. He said: "Now that the gun workshop has a business, it can consider expanding production like the artillery workshop. Each type of gun is responsible for part of it." Production, this way there will be no confusion."
Song Changping nodded, "Yes, Your Highness, I will arrange this later."
Xiao Ming continued: "This production is one thing. The development of this new type of gun cannot be delayed. Chen Qi has the Tiger Cannon. You must work harder to improve the range and accuracy of the flintlock gun."
"Your Highness, your Highness's team is currently conducting research on new types of firearms. I believe it won't be long before Your Highness will see a more powerful flintlock gun," Song Changping said
.
Looking at the busy workshop, Xiao Ming glanced at Song Changping with admiration. This guy has always been very honest. If he says he is developing something, he must be developing it.