In addition, the modification of ships is still continuing.
Just like the ships that were completed several months ago, transforming the semi-finished products into warships that can accommodate artillery is an arduous task for the craftsmen.
Once the transformation is thoroughly understood, shipbuilding, that is, building a complete Western-style sailing ship, will be within easy reach.
Of course, Zhu Yixi was also well prepared. In addition to cultivating his own craftsmen, he also invited a large number of shipbuilders from Macau to go north.
However, after all, sea-going ships are different from inland ships. Considering the port, they were relocated to Ningbo.
As the emperor came to inspect, although there was a clanging sound in the dock, most people knelt down to greet him.
"Can the ship now accommodate red artillery?"
The emperor looked at the black muzzle and couldn't help but become ambitious.
This is a step in transformation, but it is also a big step forward for Ming Dynasty.
The practice of absorbing advanced Western technology for one's own use has been going on continuously since the late Ming Dynasty. It was rare for people in the Ming court to be as conservative as they imagined.
Xu Guangqi even proposed the concept of Western learning to save the country, and translated large-scale translations of geometry and so on.
In this way, the Crouching Tiger Cannon, Franchise Cannon, etc. became popular in the world.
"Your Majesty, the red cannon can move several thousand kilograms. The river navy can only carry a thousand materials at most. The red cannon is enough to cause the skeleton to collapse."
The craftsman on the side couldn't help but said.
The so-called material refers to the volume unit, that is, the volume of ten feet in length, width and height. To be specific, one hundred tons is equivalent to approximately four hundred materials.
In other words, a large ship with a thousand materials is just a small ship of two to three hundred tons, let alone many ships with only three to five hundred tons.
For such a small boat, the recoil of the red artillery can be enough to break it apart with just a single blow.
There are only those large-scale ships, such as the long-distance ships of the British East India Company, which are over a thousand tons in size.
The reason why Zheng Zhilong crossed the China Sea was to rely on the ants to kill the elephants, thus crushing the Spanish and Dutch.
"I understand!"
The emperor nodded: "The French cannon is enough."
As the saying goes, I have no enemy but one.
To abuse a novice like the Manchu Qing, even with the numerical advantage, it is enough to crush them, not to mention the addition of artillery.
The emperor really couldn't understand the structure of the ship. After a cursory look, he left directly.
In a blink of an eye, he arrived at the firearms factory.
Unlike artillery and muskets, firearms factories are specialized in producing some gunpowder weapons, which are more experimental than practical.
For example, landmines, grenades, and various gunpowder weapons.
Stuff nails into the grenade, or use explosive shells to make it more powerful.
Of course, the purpose of this trip was that Zhu Yixi just heard that Vietnam donated a lot of fire oil, so he came here to check it out.
The so-called fierce fire oil is petroleum.
It can never be quenched by water, and it can be said to be a weapon of ancient war.
Logically speaking, the invention of gunpowder made fire oil gradually obsolete.
However, as the Manchus and Qing Dynasties gradually gained control of the artillery, the emperor naturally used all possible means, and he also took a fancy to the fierce fire oil.
The firearms factory did not disappoint the emperor and also developed its uses.
"boom--"
An ordinary French cannon was stuffed with a strange ammunition and then fired hundreds of steps away.
After the ammunition hit the ground, it exploded and burst out with a large amount of fire oil.
The radiation range is about tens of square meters.
"Your Majesty, please look!"
Immediately, there was another cannonball, this one was specially designed to ignite fires. Once it came into contact with the strong fire oil, it immediately ignited a fire that burned ragingly and lasted forever.
"Kerosene bombs and ignition bombs?"
The emperor was quite curious.
"Your Majesty is wise!" The leading craftsman said with a proud look on his face: "If the two bombs cooperate with each other, they can burst out with immeasurable power. If used in water battles, our navy will be invincible in the world."
"Why can't we use land?"
the emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, its range is relatively long, and the chance of two bullets touching each other is very small..."
For men, it can't help but be much smaller.
The range of artillery on land is long, and the angle and gunpowder are different. The probability of two shells hitting the same house is zero.
Therefore, it can be said to be a useless effort.
"Hmph!" Mr. Wang Yi said with a worried look on his face: "Now our enemy of the Ming Dynasty is Jiannu. We should be exploring weapons for land warfare. Why do we focus more on naval warfare?"
Although this statement was reasonable, the emperor was satisfied and said: "Although this is true, how can it be regarded as wasted effort?"
"With these sharp weapons, water battles are worry-free."
Although the emperor spoke, Wang Xi looked unhappy.
Obviously, he has been patient with these people at the firearms factory for a long time.
The Ministry of Revenue has a limited budget for each yamen, and the firearms factory's research losses are too great, dragging down the entire Ordnance Department and affecting other departments.
Unfortunately, there are no results yet, which would be disgusting to anyone else.
His immediate boss was dissatisfied, and the man looked horrified, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, regarding the fierce fire oil, we also used mines."
"Oh?" The emperor was greatly surprised: "What do you mean?"
The so-called landmines in the late Ming Dynasty were different from those in modern times. They basically used the fuze method.
That is, lay a mine, light the fuse and then explode.
"Your Majesty, please see——"
Immediately, the group was introduced into the experimental area and saw the fierce fire oil mines.
The so-called fire oil mine is to bury a large amount of gunpowder in the ground, add some fire oil, and then detonate it.
But the way it was detonated surprised the emperor.
That is, in a mine, flints and springs are installed. Once someone steps on them, the two flints will rub up and down. After repeated friction, the gunpowder will ignite.
Immediately, fierce fire oil was ignited, causing a large amount of gunpowder to explode.
"With dozens of ignition mines, as long as one ignites, it will explode."
The man said proudly: "The fire oil is extremely flammable and will spread all over the ground in a short time, and all the gunpowder will explode in an instant."
"Yes!" The emperor nodded: "This is indeed the best way to ambush."
With the rapid burning and flammable properties of fire oil, it is enough to set off a big explosion.
You can even build a large-scale minefield.
However, this method can only be used for the first time. The Manchu Qing Dynasty can do this by taking the common people by surprise and clearing mines.
Unfortunately, there is no detonator or nitroglycerin. Such flammable and explosive things are really the best partners for grenades and mines.
Immediately, the test began.
The igniting mines were dug and a donkey was driven back and forth.
Along with the up and down elasticity of the spring, the two flints are also constantly rubbing up and down.
After going back and forth about seven or eight times, the ignition mine suddenly exploded, and the blazing fire could not even be covered by the soil, but erupted directly.
Of course, a jar of gunpowder lying nearby also exploded.
The donkey was so frightened that the meat on its buttocks was burnt.
"Very good!" The emperor clapped his hands with satisfaction: "Although it is a little slow, as long as it can ignite, it is enough."
He was satisfied that this was a truly self-igniting mine that did not require artificial ignition.