Chapter 229 Rockets, the eyes and ears of the capital
He was not just idle, like Mao Wenlong and Chen Jisheng, who engaged in matchmaking in order to win over him. Guo Dajing really wanted Zhao Qingshan to live a good life.
After building a house and settling in Dalian, the original villagers and neighbors were in another village. Not only did Axiu need a period of time to adapt, but craftsmen from Guanglu Island such as Zhao Qingshan were also in a relatively unfamiliar environment.
A grown man, after working in the workshop, has to go home to light a fire for warmth and cooking. Just thinking about it makes him feel tired.
Guo Dajing sat in the room, perfecting the drawings of the new weapons that would be developed, and thought of another measure to improve the workshop.
While doing the work at hand and conducting research and upgrades, Guo Dajing wanted to maximize the production efficiency of the workshop.
The increased power of muskets will bring the Dongjiang Army's combat effectiveness to a higher level. Artillery, known as the "God of War," will play a greater role. The role of Hongyi cannon in the defensive battle of Lushun Fort can be seen.
Although the trebuchet is simple and easy to build, like the Hongyi cannon, it is bulky and heavy, which is a problem that is difficult to solve. The light weight has a short range and has great limitations.
Rockets powered by gunpowder or other propellants, as well as mortars that were not complicated to manufacture, naturally became Guo Dajing's first choice.
In the Ming Dynasty, rocket technology had developed quite maturely. Grandpa Qi, the famous anti-Japanese general, equipped the army with a large number of rockets. The arrows were more than 5 feet long, attached with gunpowder barrels, and could shoot 300 paces, which frightened the Japanese pirates.
But in practical terms, it is far from enough. This may be due to the limitations of the technology at the time, or the development of science and technology has gone astray.
Like "Godly Fire Flying Crow", "Shaking Sky Thunder Cannon", "Fire Dragon Leaping Water", the names are cool and mighty, but the actual effect is not flattering, and it has not even been used in actual combat.
You know, the structure of the rocket is much simpler than that of the front-loading artillery, and there is not much difficulty in manufacturing it.
As for the principle, you can refer to the "Flying Sky Monkey". Even the shape can be like the Flying Sky Monkey, with the addition of a flying balance rod.
According to Guo Dajing's speculation, the most likely reason why rockets were not commonly used in the Ming army was that the propellant was not scientifically accurate enough, which prevented the rocket's range from meeting the requirements.
Therefore, he made some improvements to the rocket to be manufactured. It mainly consists of three parts: the cartridge (containing propellant), the explosive or incendiary warhead, and the tail fin. The cartridge is rolled from iron sheet.
For the most critical propellant gunpowder, Guo Dajing used a mixture of sugar, saltpeter, and sulfur in a certain proportion. This was a propellant commonly used by amateur rocket enthusiasts in later generations.
There is another type of rocket that uses fast-burning black powder as propellant. It is a traditional upgrade and improvement. This rocket is easier to manufacture than the nitrate rocket, but it is slightly lacking in range.
In addition to rockets, Guo Dajing also planned to manufacture mortars, which were mortars in ancient times and oil barrel cannons in later generations.
Of course, it is a very heavy barrel or cylinder with an extremely simple structure and extremely easy to manufacture. It is just a short and thick barrel fixed on a base made of thick wooden boards.
Because the barrel of the mortar is much thicker than other artillery pieces, it can be loaded with a large amount of propellant to increase the range.
Because of its simplicity and lightness, the mortar can be regarded as a "light" artillery, and it is also a "cheap" weapon.
Limited by the current financial and resources of Dongjiang Town, Guo Dajing had to consider the limitations of technical level and low cost.
Rockets should be weapons that can be developed immediately, while mortars, or mortars, have to wait for the results of the trade between the Lin family and Japanese merchants.
Sulfur and copper are raw materials that Guo Dajing urgently needs. Whether they can be purchased in sufficient quantities and relatively cheaply is related to whether the army's ammunition is sufficient and whether the manufacturing of new weapons can proceed smoothly.
It's a pity that the imperial court basically gave all the resources to Liaoxi, and its prevention and suppression of Dongjiang Town was so unkind.
Guo Dajing was helpless, but he was not discouraged and was still making every effort to prepare for the big turn next year.
In fact, he didn't know that field artillery would be the main force on the battlefield in the future. It weighed three to five hundred pounds and could be pulled by a horse.
But you have to eat your food one bite at a time, and being too far ahead is crazy. Before the Dongjiang Army has the ability to fight Jianlu in the field and win, they can only rely on strong defense or defend in formations.
The soldiers came in to report, and the workshop sent someone to ask Guo Dajing whether he was dining in the workshop or going back.
Guo Dajing did not hesitate too much and decided to have a meal in the cafeteria in the workshop and summon the relevant craftsmen in the afternoon to hand over the work of rocket development.
The reason why Zhao Qingshan is not too concerned about starting a family is that on the one hand, the pain of bereavement has not yet healed, and on the other hand, the workshop has a canteen.
Guo Dajing attached great importance to the weapons workshop, so he was willing to invest in it. The food was basically the same as the food in the military camp. The largest supply was naturally fish and other seafood, and occasionally there were duck and goose eggs that ordinary people could not eat.
Naturally, if you eat in the canteen, you will not receive the money and food you should be paid. Some craftsmen who have families to support have no choice but to go home and eat rough meals in order to save money.
If you are alone, you really don’t have to think too much, and you don’t have to save up when you eat and drink everything.
Guo Dajing chatted with Zhao Qingshan and others while eating his food.
It consists of multigrain rice, soup made from kelp and shrimp, and chopped pickles. It’s not rich, but it’s filling, and it’s quite reasonable from a nutritional point of view.
Moreover, such food is already a rare delicacy in the eyes of ordinary people.
"Everyone knows about the issuance of military coupons, right?" Guo Dajing casually took out a few, put them on the table, and said, "Guo has received his military pay."
Zhao Qingshan nodded repeatedly and said: "Everyone has heard about it, but they haven't gotten it yet. I think it's the same as long as you can buy food and things."
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "Not only food, but other commodities can also be purchased with military coupons. It is the same as silver, and it is very convenient to spend it."
"Moreover, military coupons will be the only currency in circulation in the future. For example, in this canteen, military coupons will be collected. According to the increased wages, even if you eat all in the cafeteria, you will have a monthly balance, which can be used to buy other things.
"
Zhao Qingshan blinked his eyes and said with a smile: "That's good for catching up, I can buy some wine."
Some people may still have doubts, but this is inevitable and has nothing to do with the overall situation. As for military households, as long as there are no excessive demands, they are satisfied if they can have a full stomach.
But Guo Dajing's explanation and the fact that he took out his own military tickets should also have an effect.
He is not worried about poverty but about inequality. His official position is already something that ordinary people can't look up to. He has received military votes. Who dares to openly complain and oppose him?
In order to reduce the initial burden of transporting grain to various parts of Jinzhou, there are also restrictions on people buying grain. They can purchase grain five times a month, and the total amount must not exceed the previous ration.
In this case, there is no need to worry about the lack of grain shipped to some places. If the common people receive military stamps, they will exchange them all for grain, which will lead to a run or even no grain to sell, which will cause panic and damage the credibility of the military stamps.
Everything is difficult at the beginning, and the same is true for issuing military coupons. Many details must be taken into consideration. It is by no means just issuing military coupons and everything will be fine.
Of course, after two or three months, the common people can calm down and recognize the value of military tickets, and this reform will be more than half successful.
Out of the feudal mentality of superiority and inferiority, Mao Wenlong and Chen Jisheng were obviously not too worried. They were both military households, and it didn't matter what the superiors said or what they did. Even if there was a famine, there was no possibility of rebellion.
Guo Dajing doesn't like this kind of tradition, this kind of thinking and practice, and even hates it very much.
If the king wants his minister to die, he must die. What kind of bullshit logic is this? Instead of starving to death in peace, just imitate the mantis with its arms. How high-minded is this to say such shameless words?
Therefore, he tried his best to do his best for both soldiers and civilians. Most importantly, he naturally showed kindness and equal respect in his words and deeds.
For example, eating at a big table is not the first time in the workshop. The old people in Guanglu Island are accustomed to it, but the newly arrived craftsmen are very surprised.
Explanations and explanations were still needed, and Guo Dajing felt that he should fulfill his responsibility. It was just a few words with a little effort, even if it had no effect at all, what could he lose?
In fact, Guo Dajing also knows whether it works or not.
Just like the soldiers whose names he remembered and called, the wounded who were treated by him, and even the soldiers who fought with him, can't you tell what their attitude towards him is?
Exchange your heart with your heart, Guo Dajing has always believed in this sentence.
And those who don't understand or know this sentence, such as Chongzhen, will end up betraying their relatives and leaving.
After having lunch with the craftsmen without any pretense, Guo Dajing added "Old Zhang", "Old Li" and "Old Wang" to his mouth, which made several old craftsmen happy to see more wrinkles on his face.
After lunch, Guo Dajing summoned several craftsmen, including those who were good at making fireworks, and explained the rocket drawings based on the "Sky Monkey" principle, and took out the method and samples of sugar nitrate.
"Can sugar replace charcoal?" A craftsman asked in surprise.
White sugar, saltpeter, and sulfur. This is the formula of saltpeter. It is similar to that of black gunpowder. It is normal for craftsmen to have questions.
Guo Dajing believes that nitrate can be used as both a propellant and an explosive, but it is not needed now. As for the difference between sugar and charcoal, he is not sure.
Anyway, not only powdered sugar can explode, but flour can also explode, but the environment required is more rare and harsh.
"That's not the point." Guo Dajing avoided the important and said calmly: "Whichever rocket you can build with two types of propellants will be your credit. Of course, it must meet a certain set standard."
Range was the first priority, and Guo Dajing set a minimum requirement of one and a half miles.
You don’t need to think too much about the accuracy of the rocket, and naturally there is no effective range. The Sky Monkey can fly dozens of meters. The maximum distance of the rocket is one and a half miles, which is not too much.
Of course, the farther the range, the better, but the size and weight of the rocket cannot be exaggerated.
The explosive head is loaded with one kilogram of black powder. The total weight of the rocket does not exceed thirty kilograms and its length does not exceed one and a half meters. One person can load it.
The launch device is an iron cylinder with a supporting frame, which mainly enables the rocket to fly in a predetermined direction; the frame can be simply adjusted in height, which is the launch angle of the rocket...
The specific parameters are listed. Except for the range, they are basically the upper limit. As long as it does not exceed it, it is considered qualified. Passing is not the final decision, and Guo Dajing needs to make final guidance and adjustments.
Even if he has this ability, Guo Dajing rarely does everything personally. It is not because he is afraid of tiredness or hard work, but because he wants to cultivate more technical talents.
Even he can't guarantee that what he designs and manufactures is the best. Wouldn't it be better to let the craftsmen gain insights during the development process, or even have a flash of inspiration and come up with something more powerful?
Apart from expressing surprise and doubt about the role of nitrate, the craftsmen did not have too many difficulties in making rockets.
This is it, an enlarged version of the Yitian Monkey. There is no difference at all except that the balance bar is replaced by a relatively new tail wing.
After the discussion was over, Guo Dajing did not stay long and left the workshop with a few soldiers and returned to his temporary residence.
Fujino Hide and his daughter are directing the construction of the house, and it will take at least three to five days to complete. Guo Dajing also took advantage of this time to quickly arrange all the work.
Military production is the most important, and the expansion of the port has also begun. In addition, we are arranging eyeliners and making long-term plans.
Liu Xingzuo was busy expanding his cavalry, intensifying training, and handed over all the spies he had to Guo Dajing.
Guo Dajing didn't have much energy, so he summoned his old acquaintances Zhou Qing, He Guizhong, and Li Haidong to take charge of espionage work.
As the first step to expand the intelligence front outwards, Guo Dajing selected Tianjin and the capital and decided to set up intelligence stations in these two places.
To be precise, Tianjin and the capital were not the first. In Denglai and Qingdao, Shandong, Guo Dajing had already deployed strongholds and arranged manpower.
Of course, Tianjin and Beijing were the first intelligence stations whose main purpose was to collect intelligence and spread public opinion.
The intelligence network that Guo Dajing wants to establish overlaps with that of Dongjiang Town, or is an opportunistic use of power. However, it will have more functions than Dongjiang Town and extend its tentacles longer.
"Farewell Brother Li, Brother He shouted, you are now a general!" Li Haidong still looked smiling, although he was scolding Guo Dajing, "Leave Tianjin to Li, and let Lao He run the capital."
He Guizhong nodded repeatedly and agreed with Li Haidong, "Yes, yes, we can no longer have a hierarchy like before. We know your temperament and temperament, and we don't have a status just because you were promoted. But we must have this consciousness and cannot let it happen.
Outsiders gossip."
Guo Dajing smiled helplessly and said: "Then call me Lao Li, Lao He, Lao Zhou. If you are outside, be more serious."
Now that everyone was satisfied, they began to discuss the establishment of an intelligence station. Sending eyes and ears to find out information was not a new job, although they still didn't know Guo Dajing's long-term plans.
"It's best to run a store that can reach a lot of people." Guo Dajing said: "Set your feet first, don't rush to find out the news, let's take a long-term view."
He Guizhong said: "We have Liaodong specialties in Dongjiang Town..."
Guo Dajing immediately waved his hand and said: "Don't have anything to do with Liaodong. This is for safety."
Li Haidong blinked. Although he didn't understand Guo Dajing's intention, he still changed his mind and said, "That's easy, just do whatever you want, as long as you don't lose money."
"I'm here, you don't have to worry." He Guizhong puffed up his chest confidently and said, "Business is my specialty. It all depends on how big the deal is and how much money you can make."
Guo Dajing pushed the two burdens to Li Haidong and He Guizhong, and said: "Each of you will take two hundred taels first, and bring your family members with you. There will also be people outside to take care of them."
Two hundred taels is definitely a huge amount of wealth. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, ordinary people could earn about one tael of silver a month. One hundred taels was enough to buy a tile-roofed house in Beijing.
"This -" Li Haidong and He Guizhong did not expect to receive so much money, and looked at each other with surprised expressions.
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "Settling down in Tianjin and the capital as soon as possible and establishing a communication line is your most important task."
With that said, he turned to Zhou Qing and said, "Old Zhou, I leave the job of training spies to you."
"Don't worry!" Zhou Qing said confidently: "Besides, the spies sent to the mainland are just to deliver letters or something, so there is no danger."
Speaking of letters, Guo Dajing couldn't help but ponder for a moment, and said slowly: "It is not very safe to communicate by letter. I have thought of several encryption methods. Let's discuss it carefully and finalize it."
There are encryption methods in ancient and modern times. Guo Dajing didn't want to make it too complicated, so he discussed it with several people and decided on a simpler one.
After all the work was handed over, Guo Dajing was in a good mood. While chatting, he actually helped Li Haidong and He Guizhong think of ways to run the business.
"The mutton shabu-shabu is good, the kebabs are also good, and the teppanyaki is not very complicated. I'll invite you to demonstrate it another day." Guo Dajing said with saliva in his mouth, and he was also greedy.
Roasted until sizzling with oil, add chili powder and some cumin, the taste is not too beautiful.
A fresh trick that can be eaten all over the world.
No matter whether what Guo Dajing created was different or not, there was no such way of eating it at that time. If he brought it out first, it would be the standard and it would be authentic.
"Brother Guo wants to treat you, so you have to notify us in advance." Zhou Qing smiled and joked, "I'll just skip a few meals and wait to eat the delicious food you mentioned."
"No problem." Guo Dajing said with a smile: "Let me prepare it first. The main thing is that this shabu-shabu utensil has to be made by the workshop. It doesn't take much time."
No matter how difficult things are in Dongjiang Town, as a senior military officer and a general second only to the two coaches, it is not difficult to eat mutton.
What's more, Guo Dajing is rich, not ordinary rich. It's not too much to be extravagant once in a while. He should be a farewell party to a few good brothers.
As for whether he would make money by setting up a mutton-shabu-shabu or kebab shop, Guo Dajing didn't really care. He just wanted to make suggestions based on good things.
Copper hot pot and Teppanyaki are very simple to make and easy to eat. It is much easier and cheaper than hiring a chef and purchasing many ingredients.
Although he didn't have high demands on Li Haidong and He Guicai, Guo Dajing still had some thoughts in his heart.
In his opinion, it is best to have a restaurant or teahouse, where he can not only hear news from the diners in the market, but also hire a storyteller to publicize the achievements and difficulties of Dongjiang Town.
Of course, making this request now would put pressure on Li Haidong and He Guicai. Therefore, Guo Dajing said it was easy and let them settle first and then look at the specific situation.