wild trail

Chapter 339

Mu Feng looked at the shattered cannon in pain, it was made by the Ministry of Works with a lot of painstaking efforts, and it was scrapped just like that.

Looking at the broken copper pieces scattered all over the floor, Mu Feng's body trembled slightly, his eyes were a little blank.

Wang Lang walked over and patted him on the shoulder, saying: "It's much better to explode now than to explode on the battlefield. By then, it will not be this mound that will be flattened. Twenty soldiers of our army will correct any problems they find. That's enough, we have plenty of bronze, take these pieces back and melt them, and then make it."

Mu Feng nodded dumbly, and said: "Thank you Your Majesty, I understand."

"It's good if you understand." After saying that, Wang Lang walked to a broken cannon barrel, and asked Mu Feng to cool down the cannon body with water.

"Look at this, the reason for the explosion is that the gun body is not thick enough, and more importantly, these potholes are the main reason for the explosion." Wang Lang said slowly.

Mu Feng stared intently at the inner wall of the gun barrel for a long time.

"It's impossible. The molds we use are all extremely smooth. How could this happen?" Mu Feng said a little puzzled.

Wang Lang stroked his chin and thought for a while, "What kind of mold did you use when casting the cannon? Is it a clay mold?"

Mu Feng nodded and said, "Of course it's a clay model. Aren't all the weapons we produce are made of clay?"

"Mud molds naturally have the benefits of mud molds, but artillery is different. The inner wall of the artillery must be extremely smooth. Mud molds will more or less cause trachoma. You have also seen that the artillery with trachoma is basically put into use instinctively. Yes, I haven't hurt anyone, but I've already hurt myself." Wang Lang said in a deep voice.

This kind of technical pottery wheel, others can't get in the way, they can only stare and listen to the scriptures.

"Your Majesty, can we use other things besides the clay model?" Mu Feng asked.

"The mold is just to make it easier for us to get the shape we want. Whether it is mud, stone, or wood, it can be used as a mold. Since mud is not good, then we have a different way of thinking, such as using iron to make molds."

"Iron model? Can this work?" Wooden Feng asked.

Wang Lang said with a smile: "I'll know if it works, just try it out, and besides using bronze, you can also try to use steel to make this cannon, to compare which one is more reliable, if you can use iron instead of copper , then we can make more cannons. After all, we have only discovered such a copper mine in Xiaguo so far. If all of them are used to make cannons, we will not have enough copper for coinage. Try to try some other ones. Material."

Mu Feng admires Wang Lang's divergent way of thinking. He has been trying to learn from Wang Lang for so long, but the more he understands, the more he feels that Wang Lang's knowledge is extremely profound. In his head, Wang Lang is like a real god in his heart.

Inspired by Wang Lang, Mu Feng's thinking was greatly expanded. If the iron mold can really succeed, then this thing can not only be used to make cannons, but even the output of iron pots will be greatly increased by more than several times.

Today's test can be said to be a failure or a success. Although the cannon exploded, it let everyone see the real power of firearms, not just explosives or grenades. This cannon is a weapon of war.

And the magic arrow also opened people's eyes to these two weapons, and the generals couldn't wait to equip these two great killers in their teams.

Kong Er, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, said with emotion: "Before, I discouraged His Majesty from investing too much in the firearms department. Thirty percent of Xia's tax revenue was spent here. Now it seems that His Majesty is right. The money can be exchanged for These two weapons are really worth it."

Wang Lang smiled and said, "Since you have been in charge of Xia's money and food, you have become more and more stingy. Getting some money from you is simply more difficult than killing a dinosaur alone."

Kong Er smiled awkwardly and said: "Your Majesty, don't make fun of me. You also know that every place in the Xia Kingdom needs money. If you give it away at will, the household department will be emptied long ago. This money must be paid for." Use it where it's useful."

Wang Lang nodded and said, "It's because of this that I chose you for this position."

At this time, Kong Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Kong Er, I watched him grow up. He has thought a lot since he was a child. Even when I went to him to approve some money and food to renovate the yamen, I didn't get a single coin out." , I said that the yamen of the Ministry of Criminal Justice is big enough, so I can send it away without refurbishment."

Wang Lang smiled and said: "That's right, how many people are there in your Criminal Department, what are you renovating?"

Kong Yi smiled sheepishly, and said: "Your Majesty, believe it or not, the yamen is also a place that Chinese people often go to. No matter what, it must be made more attractive."

Wang Lang put away his smile and said with a straight face: "It's enough to have a place to work. The Chinese people's awe of officials is not because they live in beautiful and spacious houses, but because they can really benefit them and solve their troubles. Our own rights are domineering, and there are so many people in our country that we can only fear but not respect, if that happens, it will be a sign of the country's subjugation."

As soon as Kong saw Wang Lang's attitude change, he quickly said: "Your Majesty said yes, I will remember that our Ministry of Punishment will definitely uphold justice for the people of our country."

Wang Lang nodded and said, "That's it for today, Mu Feng!"

"The minister is here!" Mu Feng said respectfully.

"The firearms department is stepping up the development of these two weapons, improving their reliability as much as possible, and striving to equip them to the troops within a year. The artillery will be equipped on warships in the future. My coastal defense in Daxia depends on this to protect."

"The minister obeys the order!"

"Go back to the palace!" Wang Lang boarded the gorgeous deer cart and returned to the palace.

In the northern district of Yancheng, in an ordinary campus near Daxia Academy, Wu Feng closed his math textbook, resting his chin on the circle on the paper, thinking.

"Why is pi [-]?" Wu Feng muttered to himself.

This problem has troubled him for a long time. In mathematics textbooks, although the formulas for calculating the circumference and area of ​​a circle are written, there is no specific deduction method. To Wu Feng, he just knows it but doesn't know why.

For him who is determined to become an outstanding Daxia Ministry of Industry official, it is very distressing not to know the process.

Sometimes he even wanted to meet Wang Lang through his relationship with Wang He to clear up his doubts, but for some reason, he was very resistant to this method in his heart. He knew that Wang Lang must know the secret of it Yes, maybe this way made him feel very unfulfilled.

At this moment, the courtyard door was pushed open, and a woman walked in carrying a pole. Seeing Wu Feng staring blankly at the desk, she couldn't help saying:

"Feng, are you still studying? Take a break!"

Wu Feng came back to his senses and said, "Oh! Mother is back, how are the goods selling today?"

"It's not bad. The women like the jewelry I made very much, and they sold a lot today." The woman smiled.

"The things my mother makes are naturally beautiful. You have come to class for a day, and I will cook." Wu Feng got up and walked towards the stove.

The woman smiled and said, "Let me come, where's your brother?"

"Sleeping in the house." Wu Feng said.

"Next year he will reach the school age. If your younger brother is half as smart as you, I will be satisfied." The woman said slowly.

Wu Feng laughed and said, "I'm not smart, it's just that I have worked harder than others. Shui is very smart, and I believe I will get good grades in the academy."

"Feng, is it really okay for you not to go to the academy now?" the woman asked.

"The teacher said that it's useless for me to stay in the academy now. The rest of the knowledge can only be learned through self-study. By the way, mother, the academy informed me a few days ago that I will give lectures to the students next month." Wu Fengdao .

The woman was overjoyed when she heard the words, and asked quickly, "Feng, are you going to be a teacher?"

Wu Feng nodded and said: "It's not an official teacher either, it's just teaching those children to read and count, and they don't need to go every day."

"That's a teacher too. I didn't expect my child to be so capable. When your father comes back tonight, ask him to buy some wine and meat to celebrate." The woman said happily.

"Mother, don't worry about it. There are still a lot of money in the family. It's almost the Chinese New Year. You and your brother will also add some new clothes."

"How much money can be used to buy some wine and meat is a big deal. I heard from others that as long as you are a teacher for a few years, you may become an official in the court in the future. Our Wu family has also produced an official." The woman said excitedly.

Seeing his mother's happy appearance, Wu Feng didn't want to dampen her interest, he said: "Mother, I will teach, and I can get a salary of one hundred copper coins every month. You keep the money, and I will pay you back all these years." It has worked hard to raise you."

The woman's eyes were a little moist when she heard this. Wu Feng was not her first child. The previous children basically died. Thinking of her past life, if she hadn't come to Xia Kingdom, Wu Feng must have grown up at this time. I will leave myself like those savages, how can I hear these touching words? Same."

Wu Feng said: "The book says that filial piety is the first thing to do, and honoring parents is the duty of a son of man. Reading has made me understand a lot of truths. Today's Xia Kingdom is more and more literate. In the future, Xia Kingdom will definitely Different."

The woman nodded and said: "Mom, I'm afraid I won't live until that time. When you visit me at my grave, tell me about the changes in Xia Kingdom."

"Mother is still young, what are you talking about?" Wu Feng frowned.

"Although my mother doesn't know the truth, people will die anyway. If it weren't for coming to Xia Kingdom, life would be much better. Before, people at my mother's age were basically dying. I don't know if I can still die." How long will you live?" The woman sighed.

"Mom, don't say such bad things. The gods will bless you. Mom, today I will cook and let you taste my cooking skills. I have learned some good dishes from the chef." Wu Feng laughed.

"Okay, my son has grown up." The woman smiled.

The woman's words made Wu Feng a little sad. He knew that what his mother said was right. Although there were some old people in Xia Kingdom, those old people might only be in their 40s. The many wrinkles are the best proof, he understands that his mother's time is running out.

After carrying the wooden bucket, he came to the big river to fill up the water tank at home, and Wu Feng went to the trading station to buy some fresh food.

At night, Wu Feng's adoptive father came back and heard the news that his son would soon become a teacher. He laughed from ear to ear. This dull old craftsman said a lot of words to praise Wu Feng's Feng on this day. , which moved Wu Feng very much.

Wu Feng's culinary skills are pretty good, with four side dishes and a pot of good wine, the four members of the Wu family happily celebrated for Wu Feng.

The sky was getting dark, and after everyone else fell asleep, Wu Feng came to the small courtyard alone, staring at the stars in the sky in a daze.

During the day, his mother's words made him feel very heavy. For the first time, he felt that death was so close to him.

"Will a person really go to the gods after death? In the story, the soul of a person will become a star. I don't know where my star will be." Wu Feng murmured to himself.

Looking at the twinkling stars in the night sky, Wu Feng suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

If those adjacent stars are connected into a line, it is a polygon, if it is a regular figure.

Thinking of this, Wu Feng suddenly stood up from the wooden bench, found a wooden stick in the firewood room, and drew figures on the ground with the faint moonlight.

From triangles, squares, pentagons, and hexagons, every time Wu Feng draws a figure, he calculates it once.

As the number of sides gradually increased, Wu Feng discovered that these polygons would become closer and closer to circles, and when the sides of the polygons were infinitely small, they would completely become circles.

This discovery made Wu Feng so excited that he almost forgot the time.

At dawn, when the woman got up to cook, she saw Wu Feng fell asleep lying on the woodpile.

When the woman was about to wake Wu Feng up, she saw that the ground under her feet was covered with polygons and some characters she didn't understand.

The woman sighed, carefully avoided these patterns, walked to Wu Feng's side, patted it lightly, and said, "Feng, go back to sleep in the house!"

Wu Feng woke up in a daze, rubbed his eyes, yawned, and said, "Mom, is it dawn yet?"

"Why did you fall asleep outside? It's easy to get sick." The woman said worriedly.

Wu Feng shook his head, seemed to think of something and suddenly jumped up from the ground. Looking at the figure on the ground, he couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, and murmured: "It's really not a dream."

"What dream?" The woman asked suspiciously.

Wu Feng scratched his head and said, "It's nothing, I'll go to sleep for a while, don't call me for breakfast."

"Are these patterns on the ground still useful?" the woman asked.

Wu Feng waved his hands, yawned and said, "It's useless, don't bother with them."

The woman looked suspiciously at Wu Feng who entered the room, shook her head, and prepared for today's breakfast.

(End of this chapter)