Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

After hearing Wang Chengen's explanation, Zhu Youjian fell into deep thought.

Under his strong promotion, the weapon design of the Ming Dynasty was progressing rapidly. The various firearm models made by craftsmen out of wood almost caught up with the era of flourishing firearm design more than 200 years later in history.

However, manufacturing has not kept up, especially the current industrial level of the Ming Dynasty, which is still in the handicraft era.

Prussia, the first country in history to be equipped with breech-loading rifles, encountered this problem. It took them 26 years to produce enough Dreyse needle-fired rifles to equip 320,000 troops.

The current technological level of the Ming Dynasty was far inferior to that of Prussia at that time, and various machines for making firearms had not been invented. Relying on a huge manpower, it was only possible to produce about 6,000 breech-loading rifled muskets every year.

At this production speed, it would take about 20 years to re-equip the troops in the capital, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of troops in the Great Wall, Liaodong and other places.

Therefore, it is obviously impossible to equip all of them with breech-loading rifled muskets.

There was also a need for a weapon that was low-cost and easy to produce to go with the breech-loading rifled musket.

However, Zhu Youjian rejected Wang Chengen's proposal to produce a muzzle-loading flintlock musket without hesitation:

"The ignition rate of the flintlock musket is too low, and the army is very dissatisfied with it."

"Now there are better muskets, there is no need to continue to equip it."

The ignition rate was about 50%, and even with the second ignition, it was only 75%. The ignition rate was too low, and the generals and soldiers in the army were very dissatisfied with it.

Otherwise, the sniper rifle would not continue to use a spring wheel for ignition instead of a flintlock.

Wang Chengen used to work in an armor factory, so he was naturally very concerned about the weapons group. In addition, he knew the emperor's emphasis on firearms, so he worked hard in this regard.

After the emperor rejected the idea of ​​equipping a flintlock musket, he made another suggestion:
"The ignition rate of the flintlock is low, so you can switch to a percussion cap."

"It is very easy to convert a flintlock musket into a percussion cap musket. You can just use the existing musket directly."

This is a feasible path. Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, believing that it can be reformed.

But he still did not think that percussion cap rifles should be produced:
"After the self-priming flintlock musket was changed to a percussion cap musket, there was an extra step of installing the percussion cap when using it, and the firing rate would be reduced."

"Moreover, the muzzle-loading musket does not meet the tactical needs of the Ming army. It is not suitable for ambushes."

The results of the Korean War showed that long-range muskets were very useful in ambush operations, and the Jianlu had basically no means to threaten them.

Snipers who were good at long-range shooting were therefore able to thrive in combat and ushered in their golden age.

During this war, many snipers and observers were knighted. Almost all the soldiers who were good at archery were transformed into snipers.

Ordinary armies have also absorbed the experience of sniper warfare and prefer ambushes.

The breech-loading musket was popular because it could be loaded while lying on the ground and was suitable for ambush operations.

They discarded the muzzle-loading muskets that required standing or half-kneeling to load.

In addition, the firing rate of the percussion cap musket was slower than that of the self-flowing flintlock musket. Zhu Youjian felt that if he forcibly equipped the army with this type of musket, there would be resentment in the army.

This was naturally unacceptable to him. Especially since the firing rate of the muzzle-loading musket was too low, there was not much difference between well-trained soldiers and ordinary people.

That was the era when revolution was most likely to happen, and he wanted to avoid it as much as possible. He was the reason why the expensive breech-loading musket was equipped.

In the era of breech-loading muskets, the danger of revolution was much smaller. A well-trained army could easily suppress a civilian population with little training.

In particular, the breech-loading musket has a high rate of fire and requires high logistics. Without the support of soldiers and the seizure of arsenals and arsenals, the revolution will basically fail.

Therefore, even though it was difficult to produce, Zhu Youjian was inclined to equip the breech-loading musket. Especially after the invention of fulminate of mercury, metal fixed bullets could be put into use, which could greatly reduce the leakage of breech-loading muskets.

If it really doesn't work, he will equip himself with a break-type musket similar to the shotgun of later generations. The single-headed bullet has a range of about 100 meters, and when combined with an arrow-shaped bullet with a longer range, it can basically meet the needs.

This kind of musket that does not require a receiver or rifling has a very low production cost. Zhu Youjian intends to urge the improvement of this musket as soon as possible:

"How is the development of the pistol and hunting rifle going?"

"Make this folding musket as soon as possible and see if it can be used in the army."

Let Wang Chengen go and urge them to deliver the wooden model even if they cannot produce the finished product.
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At this time, there was more than one group in the Equipment Academy who were developing rear-loading muskets.

After fulminate of mercury was discovered years ago, almost all the craftsmen in the Equipment Academy who were good at designing were devoted to the design of breech-loading muskets.

Because they all know what the emergence of fulminate of mercury and primers means. Many designs that were previously unusable due to the limited ignition method will become practical after the emergence of metal fixed ammunition.

For example, the revolver, which previously had many shortcomings such as air leakage and backflow of gunpowder, was the first to complete its evolution after the appearance of metal fixed ammunition.

The new revolver can fire six rounds in succession by simply pressing the hammer and pulling the trigger.

The shooting range has also been greatly increased, and the effective range of the revolver can reach nearly fifty meters.

The revolver musket with an extended barrel has an effective range of hundreds of meters, which is truly close to the muzzle-loading musket, and it can fire continuously.

This made the personnel of the Equipment Research Institute even more excited. Without exception, they chose to give up their New Year holidays in the hope of developing a more practical new musket.

Lu Xiang, who had become a viscount, took the lead personally and lived and ate at the institute.

When Wang Chengen went over, he saw Lu Xiang, who was dishevelled, arguing with a group of engineers:

"The direction of the revolver is wrong. There is a gap between its cylinder and the barrel that will leak air."

"Your Majesty has long said that it is only suitable for hand cannons and short cannons that do not require a high range. It is impossible for it to become a main weapon."

"You can improve the revolver musket, but the Equipment Institute cannot grant you the one thousand taels of funding."

Xu Sen said angrily:

"Without conducting experimental research, how can Dean Lu know that it is wrong?"

"The revolver musket had a short range in the past, but now with metal fixed bullets, its air leakage has been greatly reduced, and its range is close to that of a muzzle-loading musket."

"If we invest more money, we can find a way to fix the leak and make it completely better than a front-loading musket."

"What is Dean Lu thinking when he refuses again and again?"

"You are researching the rapid-fire musket, so others can't do the same?"

"With the precedent of the flintlock musket, is Dean Lu going to make the same mistake again?"

When Lu Xiang heard this, he was so angry that veins appeared on his forehead.

Bo Jue's early success in igniting the flintlock has always been considered a big stain on him. Especially those who were rejected for funding at the Equipment Academy often used this incident as an excuse.

This gradually made him unable to listen to this sentence, and he said angrily:
"If you are confident, you can apply for funding from the Technical Committee."

"Anyway, the Equipment Academy won't approve money to research this. What the military needs is a musket with a more secure lock."

His application was rejected again and no funding was approved for him.

Xu Sen was also annoyed now and said loudly:
"Don't think that my Xu family has no money. Who can't come up with one thousand taels?"

"I'll let you watch. The revolver gun will definitely solve the leak!"

He was so angry that he had to take his men away and spend his own money to research a more tightly sealed revolving fire gun. Obviously, he also knew that the technical direction rejected by the emperor would not be easily passed by the technical committee.

Moreover, the review and allocation of technical funds is relatively slow, which may cause delays at this time when the development of muskets is in a race against time.

He planned to use his own money to research the revolver musket.

Wang Chengen watched this scene and became interested. He knew this Xu Sen and knew that he was a descendant of Xu Gao.

During the Jiajing period, the three main halls were damaged and it was Xu Gao who presided over the reconstruction. As a result, he was trusted by the Jiajing Emperor and was given the title of Minister of Works as a carpenter.

Then he fell into bad luck during the Longqing period, and was attacked by eunuchs and civil officials, imprisoned and exiled. As a result, the Xu family fell into decline and was far worse than before.

After the current emperor ascended the throne, he once again attached importance to craftsmen. In particular, Lu Xiang, who was granted a title because of his carpentry background, was regarded as a role model by many craftsmen.

Xu Sen's ancestor Xu Gao was even worshipped in the Lu Ban Temple.

Relying on the skills passed down from his ancestors, he was recruited by Lu Xiang into the Equipment Research Institute.

As a person who was personally recruited by Lu Xiang and whose ancestor Xu Gao was also recommended by Lu Xiang to be included in the Lu Ban Temple, Xu Sen should have been Lu Xiang's staunch supporter.

But he was quite jealous of Lü Xiang and had always been somewhat dissatisfied with him in his heart. He believed that Lü Xiang's skills were far inferior to those of his ancestors and that he was just lucky enough to usurp the position.

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Now that his application for funding was rejected, he suddenly exploded. He planned to successfully develop a new generation of fire guns like Bo Jue did and embarrass Lu Xiang.

Wang Chengen still trusted his craftsmanship, so he stopped Xu Sen and said:

"Are you interested in establishing a joint venture with the Ordnance Group?"

"According to the system, your family's money cannot be used privately for equipment research and development, but after you set up your own company, there will be no problem."

"You two can jointly invest 1,000 taels, and the weapons group will also invest 1,000 taels. We will split the shares in half and form a company together."

This made Xu Sen a little excited, but he said hesitantly:

"The Emperor said that revolving guns are only suitable for short ranges. Can the inner court afford to develop them?"

"Besides, after I leave here, will there be any rewards for the results of my research and development?"

As a descendant of Xu Gao, his family is not rich, but they are not short of money either.

Therefore, he did not value money very much, but wanted more to obtain a title and restore the prestige of his ancestors.

If he can't get any reward from the Equipment Academy after starting a company, he would rather not go out.

After Wang Chengen knew his plan, he laughed and said:

"The Emperor only gives a general direction and never completely rejects a path."

"You use your own money for research and development. Whether you succeed or fail, it's a gain. Of course, the emperor won't care."

"As for the money invested by the Ordnance Group, that is for you to buy tools. If the research and development fails, of course it will be taken back."

Wang Chengen, who knew the emperor's temperament well, knew that the emperor didn't care about these things at all. He even arranged for him to find some restless craftsmen to invest and strengthen the civilian weapons industry.

Wang Chengen saw that Xu Sen was not a quiet person, so he continued to persuade him:

"Whether or not they are court craftsmen, as long as the firearms they develop are confirmed as standard firearms, they will receive corresponding rewards."

"But the military won't pay patent fees for use, you can only collect it from the public."

"Although Xu Gong's family is rich, it is impossible for them to have unlimited wealth."

"The Ordnance Group will give you equipment research and development, production and sales licenses. If your weapons are well made, you can sell them to the public and make money."

He encouraged Xu Sen and others to start their own equipment companies, and even used the example of listed companies to encourage him to make big money.

Although Xu Sen and his team were busy designing muskets, they had heard about the companies listed on the stock exchange. When they heard that their company might also be listed in the future, they were all tempted.

But Xu Sen was still a little hesitant, because deep down he wanted to continue to work as an official in the court.

However, after seeing Wang Chengen constantly looking at Lu Xiang, and obviously anxious to discuss matters with Lu Xiang, he became angry and decided to go out and do it himself:
"In the Equipment Institute, you will be under the supervision of Lu Xiang, and he will get a share of all the credit."

"I'm going to go out and do it myself, let's see how he divides the credit!"

Looking at Lu Xiang from the corner of his eye, Xu Sen said loudly:
"Thanks to the kindness of Eunuch Wang, I dare not disobey your orders!"

"We also need the prince to say hello and transfer us to the weapons group."

He still had not completely left the court and planned to take up a position in the Inner Court Armoury Bureau.

Wang Chengen didn't care about it and ordered a young eunuch to take them to go through the formalities. Then he walked up to Lu Xiang and asked about the progress of the breech-loading musket:
"How is the development of the breech-loading musket going? The emperor has been urging us to do it!"

"Even if the continuous-fire musket is difficult to use, you should at least take out the single-shot musket, right?"

"Without a final design for the new musket, the workshops of the Armament Department and the Armory Bureau can only produce the old muskets."

"It's all money wasted every day!"

Everyone knows that the new generation of muskets will definitely be far superior to the previous ones.

However, before it was finalized, the production of the old musket could not be stopped.

This was not only needed by the army, but also to provide work for craftsmen.

So much so that the imperial court, knowing full well that the old muskets were outdated, still went ahead and produced them.

Lu Xiang was also very anxious about this, otherwise he would not have missed the New Year. He even sent people to support the Gunpowder Research Institute to improve the firearms they used for ballistic testing.

Listening to Wang Chengen's question, he said:

"The single-shot musket at the Gunpowder Research Institute is already being perfected."

"There are also several groups at the Light Weapons Research Institute that are developing rear-loading muskets."

"What Eunuch Wang saw just now was one of the groups."

"Because they didn't get funding from me, they were poached by Eunuch Wang."

Wang Chengen smiled awkwardly and did not respond. He knew that the emperor valued Lu Xiang, so he would not make things difficult for him.

After explaining the emperor's policy, he said to Lu Xiang:
"The emperor intends to let the restless craftsmen work on their own and let them develop their own firearms and sell them to the public."

"Without these troublemakers, it will be easier for Lu Gong to manage."

"Don't spend too much time on those people."

Lu Xiang nodded thoughtfully, thinking that this was indeed a solution.

Some people just don't obey discipline for inexplicable reasons. It would be better to let them go out and work on their own.

At the same time, this also puts more pressure on him to come up with a better design. (End of this chapter)