Zhang Dou, the commander of Ningqian Bingdao in Liao Zhen, usually focused on military affairs and had his own ideas about fire blunderbuss. However, neither generals nor soldiers in Liao Zhen liked to handle bird blunderbuss, and they preferred three-eyed blunderbuss.
There are many reasons for this, including the habit developed over many years, the strong wind all year round in the North, and the gunpowder in the gunpowder pool is often blown away, and there are also incidents where match ropes often burn the eyes of soldiers.
Of course, the most serious thing is that the risk of a bird cannon exploding its chamber is very high. Many soldiers were not killed or injured at the hands of slave thieves, but were injured by the exploding bird cannon.
However, during the previous Liaodong War, he had hardly heard of any explosions in the muskets and artillery operated by the Yongyi Army soldiers, which made him very puzzled.
Now, at such a close distance, he saw with his own eyes the soldiers of the Yongyi Army skillfully wielding muskets and shooting without any worries about the explosive barrels of the muskets, and he immediately became very interested.
In fact, like Cao Bianjiao, he and Cao Bianjiao both saw that the Yunzhou gun was not only made of fine iron but also very finely crafted, but its power was not due to the fire, but to the fixed potion.
The use of fine iron and the careful crafting of the gun barrel are just to ensure that the Yunzhou gun will not explode easily. Its ability to crush thick wood at a distance of eighty steps definitely shows that there is a lot of knowledge in gunpowder and marbles.
He did not participate in the discussion, but walked up to Uncle Yong Ning with the shotgun and asked him for advice: "I have some questions, and I would like to ask Uncle Yong Ning to help me. Is it okay?"
Zhang Cheng had always had a very good impression of him, and he immediately said with a smile: "If Zhang Bingxian has any doubts, there is no harm in talking about it."
Only then did Zhang Dou say: "Donglu Zi's medicine is very powerful. We have some blunderbuss. I'm afraid that the barrels of the blunderbuss won't be able to withstand it and may explode, and..."
Uncle Yongning did not wait for him to finish his words, and immediately said: "Haha. Among Zhang Bingxian's entourage, if there are any soldiers carrying blunderbuss, you might as well compare them and it will be clear at a glance."
Seeing Zhang Cheng talking like this, Zhang Dou didn't care for a long time, and immediately called his personal soldiers. Although among the twenty soldiers they brought, they only had five muskets, but it was enough for comparison.
He looked at the gun carried by his own soldiers in his hand. Although it was also made with precision, the mouth of the gun was different in size and thickness, and there was almost no customization.
On the other hand, the Yunzhou guns used by the officers and soldiers of the Yongyi Army are very consistent in size and thickness. There is no need to use a ruler to measure them. They look almost exactly the same just by looking at them.
“This can be called ‘precision workmanship’!”
Zhang Dou sighed, and his previous doubts suddenly became clearer. After looking left and right for a while, he added: "The Yongyi Army's Yunzhou blunderbuss is not only strictly selected from materials, but also more sophisticated in workmanship. The only difference is the thickness of the barrel."
There is no difference.
Only in this way can you use this custom-made medicine."
As he spoke, he raised the bird blunderbuss brought by his entourage and said: "It looks like the bird blunderbuss we use in Liao Town. Although the workmanship is quite fine, there is no unified standard for the blunderbuss tubes. They vary in size and thickness. If you use
It’s a fixed-loading drug, so I’m afraid there will be explosions from time to time.”
When Zhang Dou was comparing the Yunzhou blunderbuss and the bird blunderbuss just now, all the generals and generals from Jiliao also gathered around. Now after hearing what he said, they couldn't help but grab the bird blunderbuss and compare them carefully.
In fact, this problem about the gun tube is relatively obvious, but no one noticed it before. They were all attracted by the Yunzhou gun's extremely high hit rate and flint firing system, but ignored the simplest gun tube.
This may also be because in their eyes, the barrels of large open fire guns are mostly the same, and there is nothing more special about them.
At this time, the Ming Dynasty was more strict only when casting artillery, and had detailed standards and regulations for caliber. However, due to the inherent concepts of stewards and craftsmen, the muzzles of many artillery ended up being different sizes.
Invisibly, it also increases the difficulty of supplying ammunition for logistics!
Now under the intuitive comparison, the advantages and disadvantages of Yunzhou gun and ordinary bird gun are immediately apparent.
Cao Bianjiao handed back the blunderbuss, but he still held the Yunzhou blunderbuss from the Weiyuan camp soldiers in his hand. He was very reluctant to part with it. He murmured to himself: "In addition to firing with flint and not being afraid of wind and rain, the more important thing is the selection of the blunderbuss tube.
Fine iron, then finely ground to make it uniform in thickness.
In this way, you can use the sub-charges that have been installed in advance. Not only is the loading fast, but also because the tubes have the same thickness and the sub-loads are of equal size, they can be loaded directly without the worry of exploding the chamber."
Zu Dabi also added: "Yes. We usually use a three-eyed blunderbuss, and we originally thought about the whole package of medicine. Now that I see it, I'm afraid it won't work."
Liu Zhaoji also said: "Not to mention the three-eyed blunderbuss, even the pitiful bird blunderbuss in our camp cannot use this specially designed medicine!"
After Wu Guogui glanced at Xia Longshan, he also interjected: "Several handsome men, if you want to use custom-made medicine, I'm afraid you can only buy Yunzhou blunderbuss. Whether it is a three-eyed blunderbuss or a long blunderbuss in our camp,
The barrels are of different thicknesses, and the charge depends on the experience of each gunsmith.
If a custom-made sub-drug is used, there will probably be even more explosions!"
While several people shook their heads and sighed, they fell in love with the Yunzhou gun in their hands even more. From time to time, they would raise it and aim at the target in the distance.
At this time, Xia Longshan reminded everyone: "I just don't know the price of Yong Ningbo's fixed medicine."
After he reminded him like this, Zu Dabi, Cao Bianjiao and others looked at each other and were speechless. Liu Zhaoji even touched his head and shouted: "What should we do?
Uncle Yongning's Yunzhou gun is so cheap, he won't cheat us by cheating on the fixed potion!"
Cao Bianjiao looked at him with some disdain when he heard this, but Zu Dabi said indifferently: "Don't be afraid. We can also make this custom-made medicine ourselves. We don't have to buy it from Uncle Yongning!"
Wu Guogui got a fixing pill from Weiyuan Camp at some point. He had already spread it out in his hand and showed it to everyone. At the same time, he said: "Master Zu, let's make this fixing pill ourselves."
The medicine is indeed possible, but I’m afraid it won’t be as powerful as Yongyijun’s custom medicine.”
Seeing that everyone was attracted, he all looked over to observe the broken gunpowder on his palm, and then continued: "Their gunpowder is different from ours. Even if we made custom gunpowder, I'm afraid it wouldn't be as good as this."
Wait for the power to break through the iron armor from eighty paces away."
Wu Guogui didn't wait for anyone to react, and said: "Look at this lead again. It has a smooth surface and is extremely hard. It seems that it is mixed with other materials."
Zu Dabi reached out and picked up the lead, squeezed it hard, and saw that it was still round and not deformed. He opened his mouth and said, "It is indeed much harder."
Cao Bianjiao was more interested in the gunpowder particles in the paper bag. He also picked up a small handful of granular gunpowder and said with some surprise: "It turns out to be granules. Why isn't it a medicine?"
His words once again aroused everyone's curiosity, and everyone snatched up all the gunpowder particles. After a while, Liu Zhaoji said with a gloomy face: "Yongning Bo is a better chess player. Except for the Yunzhou gun, this custom-made gunpowder
Gunpowder also needs money to buy."
Zu Dabi came here to represent the ancestral army headed by Wu Sangui. Compared with Liu Zhaoji, he was naturally wealthy. After he glanced at Liu Zhaoji, he said in a deep voice: "Things that can be solved with money are not big things."
As he spoke, he scattered the particles of gunpowder in his hand, clapped his hands again before walking towards Zhang Cheng, and asked directly: "May I ask Uncle Yong Ning, what is the price of this fixed gunpowder?"
"Ha ha……"
After Zhang Cheng laughed heartily for a while, he said: "The madman Zu Er is quick to talk to people. It is not a lie."
As soon as his words came out, everyone burst into laughter. The atmosphere at the shooting range instantly became harmonious, and everyone even joked with each other amidst laughter.
After everyone laughed, Zhang Chengcai slowly said: "This medicine bag is not complicated to make. It only requires a few details on the preparation of gunpowder. Our Xuanfu can supply all Ji Liao's needs."
His face suddenly straightened up, and he continued: "The fixed powder package used by our Yongyi Army contains three cents and three cents of special granular gunpowder, plus a lead weighing three cents.
Let's talk about the granular gunpowder first. The preparation procedures are complicated, but it is not difficult. If we calculate it by kilogram, it will be divided into three cents and three cents of silver per kilogram. Calculating in this way, it is calculated that the silver powder will be divided into one cent per hundred rounds.
Two to five points.
Commander Zu thinks it’s feasible?”
After listening to Zhang Cheng's words, Zu Dabi opened his mouth so wide that he couldn't close it for a long time. "Ten thousand grass mud horses" were roaring in his heart.
In the late Ming Dynasty, prices skyrocketed due to shortages of materials. Not to mention the difficulty of buying food, even all other materials were sometimes in short supply due to rogue bandits and poor transportation.
Just like the Ministry of Industry of the Ming Dynasty, it was also short of supplies. Either this or that was lacking. Even if the materials were available, the manufacturing process was extremely simple and most of them were perfunctory.
It’s no wonder. Just imagine that when a person has trouble even having enough to eat, what else can you expect him to do?
The Yunzhou Guns and Fixed Packing Drugs produced by Yunzhou Craftsman Camp are an exception. At least in the eyes of Zu Dabi, Cao Bianjiao, Liu Zhaoji and others, they have brand guarantees.
I think back then, when they were fighting against the slave thieves in Liaodong, the sharp guns and cannons of the Xuanfu army left an excellent impression on them. Even if the price is a little more expensive now, it is still worth it!
Several people just briefly discussed and made a unanimous decision.
Zu Dabi, the chief military officer of Jinzhou garrison, came over and said to Uncle Yongning Zhang Cheng on behalf of everyone: "Uncle Yongning is so happy, our ancestors are also happy. The price of Yunzhou gun and medicine is according to uncle Yongning."
It’s done.”
Although he said this, Zu Dabi sighed in his heart: From now on, all the Liao salary income will be transferred to Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng's pocket!
But "plans can't keep up with changes." Although Wu Sangui also gave instructions before leaving, it seems that the Yunzhou gun and the fixed medicine must be bought, and they are still tied together and completely inseparable.
Fortunately, Wu Guogui and Xia Longshan, two confidants of Wu Sangui, came with them, and they could help him prove his innocence. It was not that he was greedy for Wu Sangui's money, but that Yong Ningbo was too shady.
Next, they discussed with Zhang Cheng and finalized the price of the Franco cannon, the musket, and the flying cannon.
Zhang Cheng didn't care about the various types of Fran cannons. Naturally, he could supply as many as he wanted. However, the flying cannon was different. This was the big killer of the Yongyi Army, and Zhang Cheng didn't want to take it lightly.
Once something changes in the future, they will most likely use it to deal with the Yongyi Army, but under the current situation, it is not easy to refuse them directly.
The final agreement was that the Yongyi Army could only sell them a certain number of flying cannons. Each soldier was limited to no more than fifty, and each of the cannons was also a flying cannon, and a maximum of twenty cannons could be sold together.
son.
Although it is somewhat unsatisfactory, everyone from Jiliao is also happy. After all, Zhang Cheng did not particularly squander their money. Relatively speaking, whether it is fire blunderbuss, artillery, or gunpowder, gunpowder, or gunpowder, in terms of price
All are still very reasonable.
However, Liu Zhaoji, the commander-in-chief of Jizhen, had a bitter look on his face. He said to Zhang Cheng with a slight embarrassment: "Uncle Yongning, my brother, I originally just wanted to buy some sophisticated new fire blunderbuss, but now besides fire blunderbuss, there are also
I need to buy the older fixative medicine.
Alas, I still want to buy some artillery for use, but I am short of money and I can’t afford that much money at the moment. What should I do?”
Liu Zhaoji started here, while Zu Dabi and Cao Bianjiao were also crying. They kept sighing and talking about their own difficulties.
Zhang Cheng also knew this very well. Liu Zhaoji probably really couldn't afford that much money. When he was in Liaodong, in order to keep his position as commander-in-chief, he vigorously curried favor with Zhang Ruoqi and indeed gave up a lot of his family wealth.
Cao Bianjiao was not good at amassing money on weekdays. Although he had some savings, it was really difficult to come up with so much at once, but for him who was not very greedy for money, it was not a big difficulty.
As for Zu Dabi, he was a miser who was reluctant to spend money. His ancestral family had a great business, and he had accumulated an unknown amount of money during his many years in Liaodong, but if he spent even a penny, he would still feel distressed.
Uncle Yong Ning looked at Liu Zhaoji, a man who was usually very forthright, and now had a bitter look on his face. Although he felt a little funny in his heart, he said calmly on his face: "Brother Liu, you and I have also killed each other."
Tartar, that is a life-and-death friendship, how can I bear to see you in trouble."
Zhang Cheng pondered for a while and then said: "I think that's it. You first order three thousand guns and ninety thousand rounds of ammunition. As for the artillery, just press the Xiaofo Lang machine to have one hundred guns, and fly the gun."
There are fifty cannons, and the muskets and cannons are equipped with ten rounds per cannon.
You don’t have to settle the money to buy firearms and medicine at once. You can settle half of the money first, and the rest can be paid off slowly in the future, or you can use grain, rice, cloth, coal, iron, wood, salt and other items to convert it.
Brother, do you think it’s possible?”
After listening to Uncle Yongning Zhang Cheng's words, Liu Zhaoji immediately felt relieved and his expression became much more relaxed. He was so moved that he beat his chest loudly and said loudly: "Uncle Yongning didn't say anything, I won't lose half of the silver."
One cent, the remaining money, food and other goods must be sent to the Xuan Mansion before delivery."
He then added: "If anything happens in the future, just let me know. Uncle Yong Ning's business is my, Liu Zhaoji's business."
Seeing this, Cao Bianjiao said very solemnly: "The same is true for so-and-so!"
Even Zu Dabi said eagerly: "And me...and my second son, Zu."
He continued proudly: "Don't worry, Uncle Yongning. I will definitely give you enough money and food to buy firearms and medicine within two months."
Seeing how everyone looked like this, Zhang Cheng was also very happy. He said: "You don't have to be like this. We are all brothers who have shed blood together. I will continue to fight side by side with you!"
Looking at Zhang Cheng's various behaviors, a strange look flashed in Xie Sixin's eyes: "This Zhang Cheng is really good at winning people's hearts."
Zhang Douze thought: "Uncle Yongning is really not that simple, he can control all the generals in Liaodong with just a few words!" (End of Chapter)