Yang Zhen only knew a little about the term "iron cannon casting". He only knew that someone discovered this method some time two hundred years later. From then on, casting cannons was no longer a difficult task, and front-loading smoothbore cannons were directly used.

His worth suddenly dropped to that of his grandma's house, and within a few years, he was eliminated by more advanced artillery.

However, he didn't know how to make iron molds to cast cannons, especially how to make iron molds for various types of artillery.

However, he believed that since the ironworks had already produced seven mortars that were five in diameter and three in thickness, it should not be difficult for them to use the existing mortars as a model and follow the gourd to create a sophisticated iron model.

.

As for other more complex types of artillery, we can only talk about it later. With his current situation, especially the scale of the current ironworks, if he wants to cast a heavy artillery with a large caliber and magnification like the Hongyi cannon, it is still not possible for the time being.

Nothing can be done.

Such a heavy cannon weighs several thousand kilograms each. Even if the iron materials in Songshan City were used up, how many of them could be made?

And now in Songshan City, there is already a Hongyi cannon used by Jin Guofeng when he was in office on the fort in the northwest corner. Let's make do with it for now.

However, when Yang Zhen saw Wang Shoutang stand up and bow to him, saying thank you, he quickly stood up, supported Wang Shoutang, and said to him with a smile:

"I also had a sudden idea. If Mr. Wang thinks this is a secret technique and it is really useful, I would like to ask Mr. Wang to try it out in the ironworks and keep this secret technique for the time being!"

Wang Shoutang listened and said repeatedly: "That's it! That's it! If the news spreads to the Manchu Tatars, and the Manchu Tatars are asked to forge hundreds or even thousands of heavy cannons, we will not be able to fight in the future wars.

Got it!"

Upon hearing this, several other people realized that this was still possible. Their expressions changed. Zhang Degui and Pan Wenmao all told Wang Shoutang not to spread this method again.

Wang Shoutang quickly agreed again.

When everyone sat down again, Zhang Degui said: "Sir! Just now everyone said that there is a shortage of iron in Songshan City. We finally found a way to use black tin lead instead of iron projectiles, which saved some iron.

material!

"But now that you are talking about it, if this method of casting cannons with iron molds is implemented, the iron materials in Songshan City will probably be even more insufficient for use! If the problem of iron materials is not solved, it will not be a solution after all!"

After everyone heard what Zhang Degui said, the previous relaxed and cheerful atmosphere suddenly dissipated. They all looked at Yang Zhen again, hoping that Yang Zhen would pay attention, but what ideas could Yang Zhen have.

Yang Zhen nodded silently, and finally said to Wang Shoutang: "Mr. Wang has lived in western Liaoning for a long time and has always been established in the iron smelting industry. If Mr. Wang is familiar with the mineral deposits in western Liaoning, you can talk more about it today! Let's think about it together.

A countermeasure!"

At this point, Yang Zhen sighed and continued: "Right now, we are short of everything in Songshan City! Not only is there a shortage of iron, but there is also a shortage of saltpeter for making gunpowder, and there is also a shortage of sulfur! Although I asked the imperial envoy for some

, but when it is dialed down, I don’t know when it will be!

"In the future, if we can find certain mineral deposits for these important things in western Liaoning, just like the black tin mine in Luhong Mountain, then our Songshan City will really have peace of mind from now on!"

Yang Zhen had previously heard Wang Shoutang say that there were many mineral deposits on the ground in western Liaoning. Thinking of these words, Yang Zhen immediately had many fantasies in his heart. He hoped that one day Songshan City would be self-sufficient in saltpeter and sulfur.

In particular, if we can find better quality natural saltpeter deposits, then the supply of gunpowder will not be a big problem in the future. Not only will quantity no longer be a bottleneck, but the quality will definitely be improved to a higher level.

But Yang Zhen looked at Wang Shoutang expectantly, but saw Wang Shoutang think for a moment, and then said to him: "This may disappoint you! The young man was born in a craftsman's family, and his ancestors have been working in the world of iron industry No.

For more than a hundred years, I have never heard of anyone discovering saltpeter deposits on the ground in western Liaoning!

"So, if you want to make saltpeter, I'm afraid there is only one way! That is to send more people to the abandoned old houses near Songshan to collect more saltpeter soil! And if you want to make pure saltpeter, I am afraid that only Pan

Which method is the most effective for raising the salt-making room under my command?"

When Wang Shoutang said this, he saw that Yang Zhen suddenly looked disappointed, and immediately continued with a smile: "Of course! Although I have never heard anyone say that there are saltpeter deposits on the ground in Western Liaoning, I have lived in Western Liaoning for a long time.

To say that I have traveled all over the mountains and rivers here is not an exaggeration!

"If you think it's not easy to send people around to scrape the saltpeter, I know a few places where there is some saltpeter, and it's easy to get it in large quantities!"

After Wang Shoutang finished speaking, he stroked his goatee on his chin and looked at Yang Zhen with a smile.

Previously, Yang Zhen told Tie Fan the method of casting cannons without hesitation, which made Wang Shoutang feel really grateful. Now seeing Yang Zhen humbly asking for advice and showing great interest, he suddenly felt that all the things he knew were finally revealed.

It came in handy, and he immediately said with a smile:

"A little further away, in the north of Yiju, on the north bank of the Daling River, there is a place called the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall. I don't know which dynasty or generation dug countless caves there. In those caves, in addition to countless Buddha statues

, is a thick layer of saltpeter accumulated over many years!

"As for places that are a little closer and more convenient, there is a place called Guanyin Cave in the north of Jinzhou, on the north bank of the Xiaoling River. It is the same! But it is a natural cave, and the depth of the cave is unknown. It is said that the Jinzhou garrison was here in the past.

Where to dig for saltpeter!”

Wang Shoutang mentioned two places in one breath, but Yang Zhen's ears were filled with joy when hearing these two places. His originally high interest gradually dissipated after hearing this.

At this time, Zhang Degui, who had been paying attention to Yang Zhen's face, suddenly interrupted and said: "Old Wangtou! Wang Tiju! Don't talk about the ones that are far away, just talk about the ones that are closer to us!

"Especially the ones north of Daling River, don't mention them now! It's just north of Jinzhou City, north of Xiaoling River, what's the use of talking about it?! Just talk about the ones south of Xiaoling River, away from us

It’s not too far!”

Wang Shoutang saw that Yang Zhen looked a little disappointed, and Zhang Degui was even more anxious. He then stroked his beard and thought about it, and after a while he said:

"To the south of Jinzhou, there are some that are closer to our Songshan City, but they are not that close! To the south of the upper reaches of the Wuxin River, there is Hongluo Mountain! There are several natural caves in Hongluo Mountain, and there are

There are several mines left behind from unknown dynasties and generations!

"More than ten years ago, the little old man went to Hongluo Mountain to look for iron ore. He couldn't find any good iron ore, but he personally smacked the soil in the caves. The spicy smell was pungent, and he thought it was the best.

There’s no doubt it’s saltpeter!”

Speaking of this, Wang Shoutang himself sighed first and said: "Unfortunately, this Hongluo Mountain is a bit far away from our Songshan City, so it is not very convenient! And the amount of saltpeter is too small, isn't it?

The quantity is large and it is difficult to transport. After all, water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the nearer!"

Everyone nodded after hearing Wang Shoutang's words. At this moment, Yang Zhen suddenly thought of the Nv'er River. He knew that the Nv'er River a few hundred years later would be the so-called Wuxin River now, and immediately said to Wang Shoutang:

"How far are the caves and mines in Hongluo Mountain from our Songshan City, and how far are they from the upper reaches of the Wuxin River?!"

"It's a bit far away from our Songshan City. It's even further away than the Guanyin Cave in the north of Jinzhou City, about eighty miles away!——

"But when it comes to the bank of the Wuxin River, it is much closer, only seven or eight miles away! And in Hongluo Mountain, there is a small river Hongluo River that is the confluence of mountain streams, which is connected to the Wuxin River!"

When Yang Zhen heard this, he immediately beamed with joy, but before he could speak, Pan Wenmao on the side suddenly said with joy on his face:

"That's great! That's great! I have heard the name of Hongluo Mountain many times, but I didn't know that it is near the upper reaches of Wuxin River! As long as it is close to the river bank, it is not far away from Songshan City.

What!"

After Pan Wenmao said these words, he looked at Yang Zhen with a smile and continued: "Didn't your Excellency bring back many large and small ships this time?!

"If they are idle, they are idle. Why not ask them to go up the Xiaoling River, at the mouth of the Wuxin River outside Jinzhou, and then transfer to the upper reaches of the Wuxin River! In this way, the problem of nitrate and soil will be easier to deal with!"

Of course Yu Liangtai, Qiu Zhenhai and the others will not be idle, but no matter how busy they are, there will still be no problem if they are asked to allocate some manpower and ships to transport nitrate soil in the direction of Hongluo Mountain.

After hearing Pan Wenmao's suggestion, Yang Zhen immediately nodded in agreement and said to Zhang Degui: "Remember this matter, and you can make arrangements with Yu Liangtai in the next few days!"

After saying this, Yang Zhen said to Pan Wenmao and Wang Shoutang: "Old Pan! Mr. Wang! This is the first trip to Hongluo Mountain, you should also go and see it!

"If this matter is confirmed, then from now on our advance camp will leave a team of people on Hongluo Mountain to set up camp there and specialize in collecting and transporting saltpeter!"
Chapter completed!