However, it is very regrettable that Chongzhen did not have rich knowledge about modern firearms. He did know the structure and working principles of many modern weapons, but this was of no use at all.
Because it simply cannot be made with the materials and techniques of this era.
In addition, Chongzhen was extremely lacking in engineering knowledge in the late Ming Dynasty. He didn't even know the structure of a steam engine. He only knew the working principle of a steam engine and a teapot.
Of course, I have also read some Mingchuan novels, which also contain engineering knowledge.
For example, how to produce glass, fertilizer, cement, etc., but who would take it as knowledge when reading a novel? So Chongzhen had already forgotten everything.
Perhaps by chance, a flash of inspiration will remind you of a certain piece of knowledge.
But now that Chongzhen is thinking about it, he really can't think of it even if he wants to.
So there is no need to think about climbing the technology tree. He doesn't even know the structure of a flintlock gun.
But it’s not like he didn’t remember anything. Chongzhen still remembered three very important trends of the times.
First: Flintlock muskets have a crushing advantage over matchlocks. Not only does the misfire rate become smaller, but the key is that due to improvements in firing technology, musketeers can evolve from large intervals to dense infantry shoulder to shoulder.
formation, thus greatly increasing the unit firepower output density of the infantry.
[Note: The distance between infantry in the matchlock era was at least 0.96 meters.
In the flintlock era, the distance between infantry can be reduced to 0.32 meters (sideways).
Therefore, for an infantry line of the same width, the theoretical firepower output density of fusiliers is three times that of matchlocks, but the actual firepower output density is more than three times because the misfire rate of fusiliers is lower and the reloading speed is faster.
With the flintlock musket and sleeved bayonet, the musketeer could truly get rid of the protection of the spearman.
Infantry armed with flintlocks formed a hollow square formation and could even engage in field battles with cavalry.
It is precisely because of the emergence of the flintlock that the cavalry degenerated from a main combat arm into an auxiliary arm. Heavy infantry such as the Jiannu White Armored Soldiers wearing triple armor completely withdrew from the stage of history and only appeared in museums since then.
Facing the intensive firepower of flintlock muskets, the heavy infantry was already unable to move even an inch on the battlefield]
Second: There was no concept of standardization in the Ming Dynasty, either in the manufacture of firearms or in the use of firearms.
Firearms manufacturing is all based on the experience of craftsmen, and students are taught based on their own experience. There is no such thing as textbooks or teaching aids. The use of firearms relies on the guidance of veterans. There are also no operating specifications and standardized teaching.
Things don't exist at all.
[Note: There was no standardization in the Ming Dynasty. This can be seen from the two academic monographs dedicated to introducing firearms, "Fire Attack Deeds" and "Weapon Illustrations".
》There are no detailed and precise parameters, they are all just general introductions, and the accompanying pictures are only simple drawings, the size is not proportional, and there are no parameters.】
Thirdly, the gap between Eastern and Western firearms technology in this era does not seem to be obvious.
After determining these three points, the focus of the next work will be clear.
A flintlock gun cannot be made just because the manufacturing process is not mature enough. Not only is it expensive, but its performance may not be better than a matchlock gun.
Therefore, you can try to develop a flintlock gun, but there is really no need to forcefully promote it.
It is impossible to achieve a breakthrough in the artillery casting process in a short period of time. The evolution from front-loading guns to breech-loading guns, and the evolution of gun barrels from casting to rolling are all unrealistic and wishful thinking.
Therefore, the only thing that can be improved in a short period of time is standardization.
Not only the manufacture of artillery and muskets needs to be standardized, but the operation of artillery and muskets also needs to be standardized.
However, neither the standardization of firearms manufacturing nor the standardization of firearms operations is that easy, but no matter how difficult it is, it must be done, and it must be done separately and simultaneously.
Chongzhen asked Ma Mingluan: "Ma Qing, how many factories does the Military War Bureau have in Nanzhi?"
Ma Mingluan replied without thinking: "There are nine factories including gunpowder factory, gun foundry, gun factory, etc. In addition, there are 61 workshops of various sizes, and more than 100 mines of various types."
Hearing this, Chongzhen's face fell. This was Han Zanzhou's fault.
Nine factories were the original industries of the imperial court, but the 61 small workshops and more than a hundred mines must have been plundered. There are countless blood and tears hidden behind these two numbers.
But Chongzhen doesn't have time to meddle in such noisy matters now.
It will be the end of July soon, and we have to take the soldiers northward, and we can't delay it any longer.
At that moment, Chongzhen said to Ma Mingluan again: "Ma Qing, you sold sixty-one workshops and more than a hundred mines, and merged nine factories to form an arsenal. The name is Daming Arsenal."
"Daming Arsenal?" Ma Mingluan nodded and asked, "What next?"
"Then the auction will be open to merchants from eight prefectures and one state in the south of the Yangtze River." Chongzhen said, "Whoever pays the most money will take over the Ming Dynasty Arsenal. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will only retain 30% of the shares and will not participate in the operation. By the way, the previous
Sixty-one workshops and more than a hundred mines must also be auctioned according to this method."
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment." Ma Mingluan said suddenly, "I will record it for you."
After speaking, he asked Zhu Cihong: "Your Highness, can you borrow some paper and a pen?"
Zhu Cihong personally brought some paper and a brush, and Ma Mingluan stood up and thanked him.
Chongzhen stepped forward and took a look, and saw that Ma Mingluan had written neat regular script, which looked like printed script.
I have to say that Eastern soft-pen calligraphy is really the ultimate artistic enjoyment. If you don’t master the know-how, the words written with a soft pen will be unreadable. But if you learn to control the soft pen, the words you write will be amazing.
The magnificent artwork gives people the ultimate visual enjoyment.
But if you want to learn how to use a soft pen, you have to work hard for ten years!
Which official like Ma Mingluan, who was born in Jinshi, has not been practicing calligraphy since childhood?
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! So from the perspective of promotion and popularization, soft-pen calligraphy is incomparable with hard-pen calligraphy. Writing with hard pens such as quills and pencils, even if you haven’t learned it for a day,
The dots you write are just dots, one stroke after another. Even if you are drawing, you can still draw a character that is barely legible, but a soft pen cannot.
Chongzhen really has no ability to point out technology trees, but he can promote hard pens.
But this matter is not urgent at the moment, there are more important things at the moment.
"Since you want to record it, Ma Qing, you might as well record a few more items."
After a pause, Chongzhen continued: "Article 1: The Ming Dynasty Arsenal only produces the final products, Hongyi cannon, tiger crouching cannon, Lumi gun, sleeved bayonets and finished gunpowder."
Ma Mingluan said: "Only produce finished products? Don't you care about other things?"
"Yes, I don't care about anything else." Chongzhen said solemnly, "Pig iron, wrought iron, steel, beeswax, casting sand molds, lathes, drills and other tools needed for processing gun tubes are all bidding for merchants from eight prefectures and one state in the south of the Yangtze River.
Whichever company provides the most reasonable price and the best product quality will be used, and there must be no favoritism in the process.”
Now that we have decided to rely on the military industry to drive the development of other industries, we cannot build large and comprehensive arsenals, but we must create a specialized and sophisticated industrial chain as much as possible.
Let every link in the industry chain be the most professional.
Driven by the policy of profit and excellence, the Ming Dynasty may not invent the jenny yarn frame before the British, but it is likely to come up with a real steam engine before the British.
"Yes." Ma Mingluan wrote it down in a pen.
Chongzhen added: "Second, the firearms manufacturing in the Ming Dynasty Arsenal must be standardized."
"Standardization?" Although Ma Mingluan had some interpretation in his mind, he was not sure yet and asked, "What is standardization?"
Chongzhen replied: "The so-called standardization, as the name suggests, means that all parts must be interchangeable. That means that the base of the A-size Hongyi cannon can be replaced with the B-size Hongyi cannon, and the tiger claws of the C-size tiger squatting cannon can be replaced with the T-size tiger cannon."
The squat gun can also be used without affecting the accuracy, and all accessories of the Lumi gun including the sleeve bayonet can also be used universally."
"This!" Ma Mingluan stopped writing and asked, "Your Majesty, although I have never supervised the making of firearms before, I also know that it is not easy to achieve the standardization mentioned by Your Majesty."
"If it were easy, why would you, the deputy director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, take charge personally?"
Chongzhen snorted and added: "But it is difficult at the beginning. Once you get on the right track, you will find that after standardization, production becomes simpler and product quality is greatly improved."
Kang Wanwan suddenly interjected: "The standardization mentioned by the Holy Spirit can actually be achieved, but it requires craftsmen to repeatedly refine and polish it, but this will take a long time and the cost will double."
"No, no, no, in-laws, what you are talking about is not true standardization."
Chongzhen waved his hand and said: "Once true standardization is achieved, it will not only improve product quality, but also greatly improve product production and processing efficiency, and the cost will become much lower."
"Oh, really?" Kang Wanwan said in shock, "Is there such a thing?"
Ma Mingluan asked solemnly: "Can your Majesty explain this standardization in detail?"
The standardization mentioned by Chongzhen is so magical, but Ma Mingluan has no idea.
But Chongzhen couldn't explain this clearly because he had never participated in production and management.
Although I also know some knowledge points, it is very scattered and it is difficult to form a complete theoretical system.
"I can't explain this at the moment." Chongzhen pondered for a moment and then said, "But I know that the Bugalao Cannon Factory in Macau has achieved standardized production. When they make Hongyi cannons, they have strict requirements for every process.
According to the requirements, and there are also special measurement tools, the Ming Dynasty Arsenal can learn from the Bugalao Artillery Factory."
"The Bojialao Artillery Factory in Macau?" Ma Mingluan said with a look on his face, "Your Majesty, maybe there is no need to go to Macau. In the past few days, a Xiyi red fan named Bu Hege has been coming to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to submit comments.
But I have been busy issuing bonds these days, so I never took time to see him."