Tall iron-making furnaces stood erected inside, emitting thick black smoke and a pungent smell. The smoke filled the air and almost formed clouds.
Dozens of guards in golden uniforms were protecting Zhu Cixi as he walked inside. He was followed by Wu Xiang, Wu Weiye, Tang Ruowang, Shen Tingyang and others, while Song Yingxing on the side was vigorously admiring these sources of industrial pollution.
"Your Highness, the method you mentioned before is really useful. Now half of the iron-making furnaces in the Beijing Iron Works have been replaced by the converter steel-making method. Not only has the speed of steel-making been greatly improved, but also the The quality of liquid steel is very good, and the barrels hammered out of them will not crack easily."
Song Yingxing was currently walking in front, and he continued: "We have also improved the fuel now. Instead of using ordinary charcoal, we have started to use coke, which can further increase the temperature inside the furnace - but there is still a problem at the moment. ....."
"What's the problem?"
"The amount of iron ore from Huguang and Jiangnan is still far from enough. These iron-making furnaces alone are enough. If all the remaining iron-making furnaces are changed to this kind of converter, then the iron ore will need to be increased by one times, enough to run it around the clock... At the same time, coal and charcoal also need to be increased."
Song Yingxing had a slight wry smile on his face, and his eyes couldn't help but look at the converters with a somewhat complicated meaning.
As soon as this method came out, I was afraid that the entire chapter of "Tiangong Kaiwu" would need to be rewritten.
However, this is impossible, because Lin Jing has ordered that the outflow of technology is strictly prohibited. Not to mention the converter iron-making process and the new minigun technology, even the "Tiangong Kaiwu" that has been widely circulated is also fully recycling it.
Hundreds of spies from the Epidemic Prevention Bureau rushed to various places to recover these "Tiangong Kaiwu", which were not many, in order to prevent the technology from leaking out.
Fortunately, "Tiangong Kaiwu" was not published widely, so the difficulty of recycling is not high. At the same time, other technical books, such as Bi Maokang's "Illustrated Weapons", are also within the scope of restrictions.
Lin Jing nodded slightly, looked at Shen Tingyang aside, and said: "Ji Ming, this matter is indeed very important right now. The production of steel must be increased to meet the needs of the gun factory, and the iron ore at the source Stone, including pig iron, must be purchased in large quantities. As for funds..."
"Your Highness, the Shachuan Gang still has a lot of money, and they are willing to give it to Your Highness to buy iron materials."
Shen Tingyang has always had a very cheerful attitude in this regard. It's not that he doesn't love money, but he understands that some things are more important than property.
Lin Jing shook his head and said: "No, Ji Ming, I just want to borrow the transportation capacity of the Shachuan Gang. As for money, Fang Gongqian will provide it to you when the time comes... You have to understand that ironmaking is very important. But the Shachuan Gang is also very important."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Shen Tingyang breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Although he was the young leader of the Shachuan Gang, he had to support a large family. Now that the prince was considerate, the pressure on him was naturally much less.
The expressions of the people on the side changed slightly. In fact, they really didn't expect the prince to be so considerate... Not everyone can put the huge wealth in front of them without being moved, at least if it were Emperor Chongzhen. , he would probably give Shen Tingyang an official position and then accept it without mercy.
Of course, Lin Jing is not completely high-profile. He just understands that it is much better to let a hen that can lay golden eggs lay eggs than to kill him for meat.
"All the remaining iron-making furnaces need to be rebuilt. You don't have to worry about the iron materials. I believe that the iron materials we will need in the future will only far exceed your imagination-"
Lin Jing looked at Song Yingxing with a smile. In addition to manufacturing firearms, he was also planning to open a plate armor workshop and produce a large amount of plate armor to arm cavalry and infantry——
Indeed, in the face of miniguns, iron armor has basically lost its effect, but for the bows and muskets still used by the Qing army at this time, plate armor is still very useful, at least in hand-to-hand combat.
The army suffered a loss.
Therefore, based on this calculation, the amount of iron required is basically a truly astronomical figure.
Song Yingxing nodded slightly and said: "Your Highness, please rest assured that the remaining iron-making furnaces will be renovated before the end of the month."
After leaving the iron factory, Lin Jing led everyone to the gun workshop without stopping. He could only hear the sound of hammering inside, which seemed to form a pleasant tune.
Bo Jue came forward and said, "Your Highness, Bo Jue, has met."
Lin Jing smiled and said: "Has the assembly line in the workshop started now?"
"That's right, Your Highness, please follow me."
With a slight smile on his face, Bo Jue quickly led Lin Jing and others into the gun factory. He heard the beating sounds getting louder and louder, and waves of heat came from inside.
Lin Jing looked curiously at the shirtless craftsmen inside who were swinging hammers hard, and asked curiously: "Is this the barrel rolling room?"
Bo Jue nodded and said: "Actually, your Highness does not know that this is not the first link. The first link of the real assembly line is in Tongzhou, where iron sheets have been forged with water hammers. By the time they complete the first link,
After the first step, the hammered iron sheets will be sent over to carve the rifling and roll the barrel. But even so, the speed of producing barrels is far faster than in the past. Before, it took about half a barrel to produce a barrel.
It takes many months, but now one hundred gun barrels can be rolled in three days——"
Lin Jing became interested as soon as he heard this number. He stepped forward and picked up a gun barrel. He felt that it was slightly hot. When he looked inside, he saw
The rifling has appeared very clearly inside, forming a beautiful curve.
"Okay, have you ever tried this kind of barrel? How is the quality?"
Bo Jue smiled and said: "I have already had people try it. The new type of musket loaded with this kind of barrel is not a problem at all. It can fire at least a hundred rounds, but after a hundred rounds the rifling will be smoothed out -
—”
"One hundred rounds, from the current point of view, is not too little. It can at least last two major rounds."
war."
There was a bit of excitement on Lin Jing's face, and he smiled and said: "I can't wait to see the new muskets more and more, but since we are here, you are the host and we are the guests, so we should listen to you."
"I would rather be respectful than obey my orders."
Bo Jue deliberately did not take out the new musket first, but continued to take everyone to watch the step-by-step production process of the new musket. Obviously, this was also to demonstrate the power of streamlined technology.
As for other people, in addition to being deeply shocked, they even have some doubts about whether these are true. After all, they have never encountered such a thing in their previous lives.
"His Royal Highness is really not an ordinary person..."
Wu Xiang couldn't help but sigh, he was really convinced now. This chapter has been completed!