Bi Maokang benefited greatly from these foreign books and Xu Guangqi's attention and opinions.
He also became more aware of the technological gap between Ming Dynasty and overseas countries, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of weapons.
The Red Mao Yi's advanced manufacturing technology and the development of firearms were beyond his knowledge. He worked hard to develop the Shenwu self-generating fire gun.
Actually, Western countries had already developed it decades ago, but it took a long time for them to be deployed into the army.
Their artillery was also much more advanced than that of the Ming Dynasty. He had never even heard of the names of many excellent artillery pieces.
The Hongyi cannon that the Ming army has always been proud of is just one of their most commonly used artillery pieces. This is really amazing.
Therefore, he made up his mind and vowed to forge an artillery for the Ming Dynasty that was far superior to the red-haired barbarians. However, compared to the red-haired barbarians, his professional knowledge and craftsmanship of artillery were really too shallow.
He had no choice but to take a step back and improve a type of artillery for temporary use.
Because of the new gun, he put most of his energy and time on the artillery.
The artillery currently commonly used by the Ming army, whether it is the Folang machine gun or the Hongyi cannon, are all imitations of the Hongmaoyi.
Only the relatively light cavalry Crouching Tiger Cannon is an authentic domestic product. As for general cannons, their quality varies. (The Crouching Tiger Cannon has been widely used in cavalry combat at this time because it is light in weight, easy to carry, and suitable for mountain and forest warfare.
reason!)
Because of the craftsmanship, it can be said to be extremely difficult to make. Out of ten casted ones, eight were scraps.
Regardless of the power or range, it was far inferior to the red-haired artillery. Bi Maokang didn't spend much thought on it. He had already ordered to stop all working processes of the general's artillery.
Therefore, the manufacturing techniques and knowledge of Hongmao Yi are extremely valuable to him.
Through Xu Guangqi's path, many red-haired barbarians were hired at a high price to serve as instructors in the arsenal. Even he also studied in class honestly.
It took him two months, relying on his own hard work and study, as well as the red-haired barbarians' troubleshooting, guidance and corrections, to finally update and improve the Franco machine gun.
The most critical point is to reduce the gap tolerance between the sub-cannon and the barrel by more than half.
This can be said to be a leap forward improvement. The Folan cannon is different from the general cannon in that it is equipped with a front sight and a rear sight.
However, because the gap between the sub-cannon and the belly of the gun is too large, it results in a mismatch between the front and rear, resulting in a huge error after the artillery is fired, and the functions of the front sight and rear sight are not played at all.
But now the improved Folan cannon will no longer have such a huge error.
Within three hundred meters, it doesn’t matter where you point to hit, but as long as the front sight and rear sight are aligned, you can basically hit within a range of ten meters.
Bi Maokang also slightly lengthened the barrel, enlarged the caliber of the artillery, made many improvements to the sub-cannon, and added carefully prepared gunpowder.
The Folang machine gun, which originally had a range of less than 600 meters, can now reach an effective range of 800 meters, but the premise is that the angle of the muzzle must be adjusted to the highest level, and at such a long distance, the error will also be
Infinitely expand.
Zhu Youxiao was very happy after hearing this. He didn't care whether the shot was accurate or not. In this era, who cares whether your shot is accurate or not. As long as you can hit it correctly, it is a good shot.
He didn't treat him as a sniper rifle. When the time came, he aimed at the enemy's camp and fired hundreds of artillery fire. After several rounds of artillery fire, the enemy would have been shattered to pieces.
Because the manufacturing technology of the Ming Dynasty was too crude, the equipment was also very backward, and the technology mastered by the craftsmen did not support them in making such excellent cannons.
Therefore, Hongmao Yi has always been the key technical personnel in artillery casting.
The casting process and the finishing work of gunning depended entirely on them, and Bi Maokang was helpless about it.
Colonel Zhu You was particularly interested in the improved Franco machine gun, and immediately proposed to go to the artillery foundry to inspect it.
The Ming Dynasty was on par with the West in terms of firearms.
But in terms of artillery, it is indeed far behind, and there is no independently developed cannon to represent it.
The knowledge and emphasis on thermal weapons are also very different. Confucianism is really harmful.
When Zhu Youxiao arrived at the factory where the new Franco machine guns were cast, he saw many red-haired and blue-eyed Westerners here.
Even though he came from a later generation, he couldn't tell which country they were from.
After the red-haired barbarians learned that the young man who came to review was actually the ruler of the empire, they all came forward to salute with great respect.
Zhu Youxiao also greeted and chatted with them enthusiastically. Although he was resisting in his heart, the situation was not controlled by others, and now he still needed their technical support.
After a conversation, several red-haired barbarian foremen looked surprised. Zhu Youxiao asked them curiously, why is this so?
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we are surprised. I didn't expect His Majesty to have such a deep understanding of firearms and such a wide range of knowledge. It is really unbelievable!"
"We have been in the Ming Dynasty for a long time. According to our understanding of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty is a rigid empire that despises technology!"
"The officials and wealthy businessmen of the Ming Dynasty were extremely contemptuous of firearms. They looked down on advanced firearms at all. Instead, they paid more attention to those spears made of wooden sticks!"
"If we were in Europe, a country as old-fashioned, backward and unprogressive as Ming Dynasty would already be the target of powerful countries!"
"We originally thought that His Majesty the King of the Ming Dynasty was like this too, but after we came to the arsenal of the Ming Dynasty, we realized how much His Majesty the King attaches great importance to firearms technology!"
"The conversation we just had has overturned our understanding of His Majesty the King. It seems that Ming Dynasty is not a rigid empire that is unwilling to accept the development of advanced technology!"
These words can be said to be full of contempt for Ming Dynasty, which made Zhu Youxiao's followers feel angry.
And Bi Maokang has been dealing with them for so long and has long been accustomed to being familiar with their personalities and ways of speaking, so he only showed a hint of bitterness. This is the fact, and he can only accept it.
Although Zhu Youxiao also felt uncomfortable, he did not lose his composure, nor did he act like an emperor to show off.
This red-haired barbarian is right. Today's Ming Dynasty is indeed old-fashioned and not enterprising.
Seeing that the faces of the people around him were wrong, the red-haired Yi quickly pressed his left shoulder with one hand, bowed his head and apologized:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for my abrupt words. I just told the truth. As far as I know, His Majesty's people rarely tell the truth!"
Zhu Youxiao's pupils shrank, this Westerner really understands China.
But now the Ming Dynasty knows nothing about the West!