As the weather got colder, the coppersmiths finally started to make mud molds for artillery. Li Yan came to the casting workshop and took a look at the preparations for the coppersmiths.

The data for casting cannons were finally finalized before. The cannons were five feet long (about one meter six), with a diameter of two inches and five minutes (about eighty millimeters), and the barrel thickness was two inches (about sixty six millimeters). The thickness of the gun barrel at the rear reached three inches (about ninety six millimeters), gradually thinning from back to front, and at the position of the muzzle, it became two inches and five minutes thick, used to configure the weight so that the center of gravity of the cannon will not be too backward. Both the muzzle and the tail left space to install sights and gates.

Everything was tried. Li Yan didn't dare to make the cannon barrel thinner. If something went wrong, all preparations would be in vain.

"General Li," asked Master Mu, "What pattern do you want to put on the barrel?"

Li Yan thought for a while, waved his hand, and said with a smile: "Forget it, just get your name on it. If the cannon is successful this time, it will be considered to be for you Yang Ming. If something goes wrong, it will be better to cure your sins."

Master Mu also smiled and said, "Then I thank the general for letting us keep our name in history."

Li Yan smiled and said, "You can do it with peace of mind. Even if it fails, we will do it again. Also, the tiger squat cannon needs to make more molds, and the iron model must be made. The cannon requires a lower requirement and the probability of success is much greater."

"The villain understands, please don't worry, General." Master Mu nodded and replied.

Li Yan did not disturb the copper smiths' work anymore, and then went to the blacksmith's workshop next to him.

He went directly to the small room where Zhou Blacksmith was doing the test. Now Zhou Blacksmith is basically concentrating on testing and building the bolts, and his apprentices can finally create short barrels. Although the pass rate is less than 50%, this is also a significant improvement.

"Young Master is here." Zhou Blacksmith saw Li Yan coming in and greeted him.

Li Yan nodded and asked, "How is it? Have you done it?"

Blacksmith Zhou pointed to a hand gun that had been made and said, "I changed the size of the parts and it's OK now. However, there are still cases where I don't get angry. There are always two or three times in ten times that I can't hit it."

Li Yan frowned and said, "Have you found the reason?"

"Not yet." Zhou Blacksmith said helplessly: "Since it can make 70% or 80% of the probability of ignition successful, it should not be a problem with the bolt."

Li Yan picked up the pistol and looked at it, saying, "Is it a problem with flint? Even if you hit it with your hands, you have to hit it a few more times."

Zhou Blacksmith nodded and said, "Well, this is the only possibility. Just get some high-quality flints, which should increase the rate of ignition. By the way, you must also adjust the length of the flints in time to avoid being unable to hit the iron after wear."

Li Yan asked: "Have you tried it? How is the situation of launching the projectile?"

"After shooting a few shots, there should be no problem with safety." Zhou Blacksmith didn't dare to make a promise. After all, the handle is not far from the tail of the barrel, and it is not as far as the three-eyed gun. The barrel is farther away from the hand. If something goes wrong, the handle may be blown up.

Li Yan didn't dare to try it himself, so he ordered: "Bring gunpowder and projectiles, let's go to the test site to try it."

"Oh, okay, I'll explain it." Zhou Blacksmith agreed and quickly explained it to a few managers, and then followed Li Yan.

Li Yan also asked someone to go to the gunpowder workshop, called Ma Chaodong and the other three to go to the artillery test site together.

After arriving at the test site, when all the personnel arrived, the test began. After loading the ammunition, the soldiers in the test site fixed the gun on a table, placed the target at a distance of thirty steps, and then pulled the trigger far away with a rope.

With a "bang", a stream of white smoke rose. The target was moved thirty steps away, and the surface projectile hit the target.

Then he took the pistol, loaded the ammunition, and continued to test. He fired twenty times, and five of them did not fire in the middle. As long as he moved the iron up again and fired it again, he could basically successfully launch it. Only once was after two consecutive failures, he launched it on the third time.

This gun barrel uses the original three-eyed gun barrel, so the gunpowder and projectiles are both original. However, after being replaced with a hand gun, it is easier to shoot and the accuracy is also improved.

Li Yan asked Ma Chaodong: "Do you have fixed gunpowder to reduce the charge for the musket?"

Ma Chaodong replied: "The new gunpowder is more powerful than the old gunpowder, but it should be no problem to use it on the musket, and it can increase the range. However, we can only decide after testing it myself."

Li Yan ordered: "It's still the original requirement. Thirty steps to be able to penetrate the armor. You should still make the projectile and gunpowder into an oil paper bag. The gunpowder inside not only needs to have a launching medicine, but also includes ignition powder. The gunpowder is on the mouth and the projectile is at the bottom. Finally, after putting the projectile into the barrel, it is convenient to put the oil paper in to enhance the sealing property."

"I understand," Wang Renhui and the other three said with fists: "I will do my best to do my best."

Li Yan ordered Zhou Blacksmith: "If it is finalized, start producing. Get out five pieces first and give them to the gunpowder workshop, and let them test the amount of gunpowder."

Zhou Blacksmith reminded: "This requires the cooperation of the woodworking workshop."

"Let's go, let's go to the woodworks workshop now and tell them." Li Yan said anxiously. The successful test of the hand gun is a big deal. If the long fire gun is produced in the future, it will be much more powerful than the current crossbow arrows. In addition, the cannon will be invincible.

A group of people followed Li Yan and came to the woodworking workshop in a mighty manner.

The woodworking workshop was relatively idle at this time, and the spare cannon trucks and ammunition trucks were all ready, and the tower had been prepared long ago, so they had nothing to do. Now many carpenters are making some small things with scraps, but fortunately they can exchange some grain and vegetables during the Chinese New Year. They themselves felt that they were free to take the food and salary given by Li Yan for nothing, and they felt a little disgusted.

After Li Yan came, Master Huang immediately agreed happily as soon as he told them about the magus and gun handles that asked them to make pistols.

"Oh, everyone is idle." Master Huang said: "If the young master doesn't give him work, we won't be able to get the food and salary he gives him."

Li Yan nodded and said, "You are a little busy this time. As long as the musket is set, you will have no time to rest."

"It's better to be busy, it's better to be busy." Master Huang said with a smile: "I made the wooden pieces of this pistol, and the size is kept, so I can start making it right away."

Li Yan reminded: "Make five first. Don't dig the hole that is equipped with a thread. This thread is too thick. As long as the head in front is as big as it is now, it's fine. The pistols are still a bit heavy now. After the blacksmith's workshop has set the thread, they will give you the size. Other places may also change somewhere."

"Okay, no problem." Master Huang nodded and agreed.

Li Yan reminded Zhou Blacksmith again: "You need to add sights and door photos."
Chapter completed!