Developing and improving firecrackers is scientific research, and scientific research needs two things most, the first is people, and the second is money.
There is no doubt that Zhao Yuan is a talented person, but the money may not be that much.
Firearms research is not just about staring at a bunch of dead metal every day. Whether it is making tools, mixing gunpowder, or testing fire blunderbuss, these all cost a lot of money, and in this era, regardless of
Whether it is refined iron or refined copper, or even consumed gunpowder, fuel for making utensils, etc., these all cost a lot of money.
The Ministry of Industry may have funds to support Zhao Yuan to do these things, but the Ministry of Industry is not just a Yuhengqing official department. Even if there is money allocated to Zhao Yuan, it must be the kind that will see results and be rewarded. From Dingguo Gong
It can be seen from the government's regular donations to Zhao Yuan that Zhao Yuan may not have much financial resources in this regard. At least, if he wants to continue to refine firearms according to his own ideas, he will not be very wealthy.
Jiang Wan clearly remembered that when he met Xu Caining for the first time, Zhao Yuan thought that Xu Caining was here because he had spent more money last month!
One thousand custom-made improved Lumi guns, even if calculated at twenty taels of silver each, would be twenty thousand taels of silver. If Zhao Yuan could put more thought into reducing costs, at least half of it would be earned.
More importantly, Jiang Wan said, "Gunpowder projectiles are not counted separately!"
This means that as long as these one thousand firecrackers are sold, even if Jiang Wan no longer buys the customized firecrackers, the gunpowder and projectiles consumed by these one thousand firecrackers will be a steady stream of income.
In addition to giving enough income to the yamen, the rest, no matter how you calculate it, is enough for him to do a lot of things he wants to do!
Jiang Wan's proposal was slowly accepted by Zhao Yuan after careful consideration.
After agreeing to make no less than ten prototype guns within a month, Jiang Wan left here satisfied.
He was in a very happy mood, and even looked at Xu Caining with much friendlier eyes. If it weren't for Xu Caining's introduction, he would have never known that a great god like Zhao Yuan was hidden in the capital. And during the recent trip, if nothing unexpected happened,
If so, it means that his Nanhai Guard is probably the first fusiliary musket team in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
If Owen and the others had not deliberately concealed it, in fact, it could be seen from the muskets of the Francois that even in today's powerful European countries, they already had musketeers, spearmen and halberdiers.
The cooperative team combat technology, and even their improved version of the Spanish Grand Phalanx, which was talked about by military fans in later generations, is still the mainstream of large-scale operations among European powers.
However, their main muskets are matchlocks, and flintlock muskets are still rare and high-end goods. If Nanhaiwei can form an army with flintlocks, it will definitely be an army equipped with the most advanced muskets in the world.
"You seem to be very sure that Zhao Yuan can make the firearm you want!"
Xu Caining felt his emotions, and for some reason his mood suddenly became much happier: "But, are you serious about a thousand such blunderbuss? If the Ministry of Industry does not receive this money, even so.
Even if the gun is made, the Weapons Bureau will not start work!"
"Don't worry about that!"
Jiang Wan smiled. Nanhaiwei had a base of ten thousand taels of silver allocated by the palace. Even if there was a gap, it would not be short of money. Besides, is Nanhaiwei now short of money? What if he looked down?
, in this area of Xicheng, at least there is plenty of oil and water, and even Jin Yiwei will not compete with him for profit.
With Gao Jin's Thousand Households and the Hundred Household General Banners recruited, they basically wiped out all the kings of the underground world in Xicheng.
Who dares to compete with Nanhaiwei for profit in Xicheng!
Of course, in Jiang Wan's mind, this method of getting money was really unpalatable. If he hadn't been at a loss, he would never have used such a method.
"Now I feel that you are really planning to do something!" Xu Caining looked at Jiang Wan, who seemed to be confident: "There is one last question. After you ask it, I will have no problem!"
"you say!"
"The Nanhai Guards are stationed at the Royal Forest Garden and are pro-military guards!" Xu Caining said word for word: "You are trying to equip the army with these firearms. Is it approved by His Majesty?"
"Do you think I have such courage and skill to do such a thing by myself!" Seeing the other party's cautious look, Jiang Wan smiled and shook her head: "Of course it was approved by His Majesty, you have no doubt about it!"
"Then His Majesty wants to establish a new army!" Xu Caining's eyes suddenly lit up: "My Xu family wants to participate in this matter!"
"When you say the Xu family, do you mean it by you or by the Duke?" Jiang Wan was stunned, but when he saw the excited look in her eyes, he was slightly confused.
If it was what Duke Ding Guo wanted, he would definitely reject it immediately. The Nanhaiwei he had worked so hard to establish was naturally not for people to come in and look for peaches. However, if it was just Xu Caining's own wish, well, this would be
It can be discussed...
"In the past two years, Mr. Zhao has been supported by our Dingguo Palace. Strictly speaking, the money provided by this funding is only in the name of Dingguo Palace, and all the money comes from our Qingyuan Building. Now Zhao
The thing the chief has made is expected to be deployed in the army. At this time, it would be inappropriate to kick me aside!"
"Of course, I'm not threatening you. Since I can fund Chief Zhao's firearms research, I can also play a bad role in it. Is this a flint gun? Maybe it can be made, maybe it can't be made, maybe it takes a month.
It may take three months or one year to create, no one knows!”
A strange smile appeared on Xu Caining's face: "Commander Jiang, you understand what I mean!"
"No, I don't understand!" Jiang Wan shook his head: "Just tell me what you want to do! You funded Zhao Yuan to develop firearms. If they are developed, you can naturally make them yourself as long as you have money. I
I can’t stop you, what do you mean by this!”
"But, I have no one to use!" Xu Caining sighed: "I don't have soldiers, you do. Moreover, if your Nanhai Guards really use these new firearms and are full of combat power, it will not be the same for our Ming Dynasty.
Isn’t this a great good thing? If such sharp firearms can be introduced to the entire army, why should the Ming Dynasty be afraid of establishing slaves and invading the borders and poisoning the people!"
"What do you mean by participating in this matter?" Jiang Wan had a strange look on her face. Looking at the gentle girl in front of her, she became more and more pleased with her. Dare to do what she wanted to do and herself.
What you need to do is essentially the same!
"If you agree, my brother Xu Renzhi wants to seek an official position as a Nanhai Guard!!"
Xu Caining pulled over Xu Renzhi, who suddenly looked like "it's none of my business": "Of course, I'm the one who went to Nanhaiwei to take up the post. If you don't have any objections, leave the rest to me!"
Jiang Wan looked at the hopeful girl in front of her, who seemed worried about her rejection, and nodded slightly: "...Okay!"