Zhang Yanling couldn't wait to conduct a live ammunition test on this machine gun. The test was conducted in the empty material yard on the north side, because Zhang Yanling did not want the people playing in the Xishan Reservoir in the south to be disturbed by the roar.
The machine gun wrapped in oilcloth was placed on a stone platform made of bluestone. The chassis frame below was pressed and fixed with several pig iron ingots weighing tens of kilograms. Zhang Yanling asked Huo Shijian and Tan Changshun who were accompanying him to help operate such a large machine gun. At least three people were needed to operate such a large machine gun.
One is responsible for aiming, one is responsible for shaking the handle, and the other is responsible for feeding ammunition to prevent the bullet belt from getting entangled and misaligned.
Everyone has taken protective measures. Everyone wears two layers of armor and a helmet. Pig iron ingots are placed on both sides of the machine gun as a cover. This is not a trivial matter. The more powerful the firearm, the more powerful it is.
Every test launch is extremely dangerous.
Although the fine steel smelted in the arsenal and the technology of making gun barrels have matured, it is reasonable to say that no accidents will occur. However, this new weapon is a highly integrated, relatively complex mechanical structure, and the technical content of the primary heavy firearm is still in its rudimentary state.
It's hard to guarantee that accidents won't happen.
The venue has long been cleared of personnel. Currently, this is a top-secret weapon. Apart from Zhang Yanling and Xu Youtang, there are only Tan Changshun and more than a dozen accompanying personal guards.
The guards were stationed at the entrance of the material yard to enforce martial law, and no one was allowed to get close to watch. When the machine gun was moved out, it was tightly wrapped in oilcloth to prevent it from being seen by other people, so that the news would be exposed.
Before the test firing, Zhang Yanling and Huo Shijian, Tan Changshun, explained the essentials and operation sequence, and rehearsed it several times. After everything went smoothly, the test firing began.
Tan Changshun held up the cartridge belt with both hands, inserted one end into the cartridge slot, and held the cartridge belt with both hands to make it smooth. Zhang Yanling held on to the fixed guard on the rear seat of the gun, stabilized the machine gun, and then gave instructions to Huo Shijian
Order.
"start!"
Huo Shijian shook the handle, the front barrel began to rotate, the machine spring at the rear of the machine gun made a clicking sound, and a whole set of machinery began to operate. When a barrel and the rear firing device form a complete shooting channel,
Zhang Yanling clearly heard the clicking sound of the breech of the gun barrel being inserted into a fixed position.
That was the sound of the forward-retracting slot fitting tightly into place. This slot is a semicircular device connected to a spring. The barrel can only rotate in one direction. When it slides into the slot, it will be tightly tightened by both sides.
Locked to form a tight and complete firing path. After the barrel is fired, there is a trigger on the handle that Zhang Yanling grasps. The semicircular bayonet on one side of the trigger is hooked and retracted. After shooting, the barrel moves to one side.
Turn away. Turn the next barrel over and repeat the previous action.
Although this structure seems cumbersome and complicated, it also requires timing and tacit understanding between the person turning the handle and the shooter holding the machine gun to make it smooth. However, this design is already extremely sophisticated and impressive these days.
What an amazing mechanical structure.
You must know that the mechanical connection and transmission inside the entire machine gun is divided into several mechanical systems. The power obtained from the shaking of the handle will be dispersed to the rotation of the barrel, the firing of the flint, the cutting of the bullet into the chamber, and the chamber cover.
The cover hoop of the mouth reciprocates repeatedly, and the one-way slot prevents the barrel from leaving the firing position before firing.
The integration and unification of these mechanical systems is a daunting problem. There are hundreds of parts such as axle teeth, reed blades and so on. Xu Youtang's ability to integrate them has made it clear that this
People who find things difficult are astonished.
How could Zhang Yanling ask for more?
The roar sounded, and fire and smoke erupted from the muzzle of the machine gun. Although the speed of each shot was not very fast, the continuous and uniform shooting was extremely stable without any hindrance. A whole bullet belt of thirty rounds was carried in a very short distance.
It was cleared within a short period of time. The wooden plank in front as the target had been beaten into a hornet's nest.
After a simple inspection and cleaning, the second test firing began. This time a small accident occurred, that is, the bullet belt could not be fired smoothly, because the last ten or so rounds failed to enter the chamber.
I had to make manual adjustments, but the impact was not big.
After two rounds of tests, Zhang Yanling was basically satisfied with the efficiency and performance of this machine gun.
Although this machine gun is too bloated and complicated, with too many systems integrated, the failure rate must be very high. Moreover, the barrel of a long-barreled bird gun is simply copied, and the range and power are not as expected.
The average firing rate of one shot per breath is also slow. It cannot be compared with the firing rate of the machine guns that Zhang Yanling knows. It cannot reach the intensive speed of hundreds of rounds per minute. But this is not something that can be improved at this time, because of the gunpowder and structure.
The limitation is here, relying on flintlock shooting, which is already very good.
"Brother, what do you think?" Xu Youtang stepped forward and asked with concern.
Zhang Yanling took off his helmet and armor, raised his fingers and said, "I am very satisfied. Tang'er, you have made a great contribution. With this new type of firearm, we will be invincible in the world."
Xu Youtang said happily: "The credit doesn't matter, as long as it satisfies you. Is there anything that needs to be improved on this thing?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "In my opinion, this is already perfect. It can be used on the battlefield. However, I know that you strive for excellence and perfection in your work, so I will make some suggestions for you to consider as appropriate. If you think it is feasible, adopt it.
, if you think it’s not feasible, then let me talk nonsense.”
Xu Youtang smiled and said: "How can your suggestion be nonsense? You said, I will continue to improve. When making something, it is natural to make it perfect."
Zhang Yanling said: "Well, let me mention a few points. The first point is to create a special chassis for the firearm. Such a firearm needs a stable chassis and a device that facilitates angle adjustment left, right, up and down. My suggestion is
, refer to the door mortar-shaped device, connected with a spherical slot, so that the shooting angle can be controlled at will. Once fixed, it can shoot in the air from the top, shoot down the valley from the bottom, and swing left and right to shoot. This greatly enhances the flexibility of shooting. "
Xu Youtang nodded and said: "This is not difficult. I plan to do the same."
Zhang Yanling nodded and continued: "The second thing that needs to be improved is the bullet feeding method. This winding bullet feeding method is too easy to make mistakes. I suggest using an ammunition tray. Add ammunition guide grooves to fix the position and angle of the bullet.
.The weaving method of the ammunition belt has also been improved to ensure accurate spacing and avoid entanglement and entanglement, which will affect the shooting efficiency."
Xu Youtang said: "This is not difficult."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "The third requirement is difficult. I hope this firearm can be more powerful. The barrel should be thicker, the chamber should be larger, and the bullets can be fired farther and faster. The barrel should be at least doubled.
caliber. If a new type of firearm made with such great effort has the same power as a blunderbuss, it would be a waste of resources."
Xu Youtang frowned and said: "Doesn't it mean that everything needs to be overhauled? The layout needs to be reorganized? In other words, we have to start from scratch. This is not easy."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "My request is too much, but that's just what I said. You can give it a try, and if it doesn't work, give up. My idea is that it can be made into two models. This one is a lightweight, remade
The one with larger caliber and greater power will be classified as heavy duty. Both are useful."
Xu Youtang nodded and said: "Okay, I'll listen to you. In fact, with this thing in front of me, it is much easier to build a larger caliber. At least the structural principles are the same, and there is no need to rack your brains for layout and integration. This saves a lot.
Things. I will make one with a larger caliber and more power as you said."
Zhang Yanling said: "You do it slowly, don't be in a hurry. I don't want you to spend all your time focusing on this thing. Just do it when you have time, no need to force it. Now this firearm can be divided into parts and manufacturing processes to create a batch of them."
.First make ten or eight spares."
Xu Youtang said: "Okay. I will let the blacksmith workshop start making parts. Then I will assemble it myself."
Zhang Yanling nodded and smiled: "Tang'er, I have another request to ask for your approval."
Xu Youtang smiled and said: "Why are you so polite? Is there anything else that needs improvement? That's all you say."
Zhang Yanling said: "It's not an improvement, but asking for your consent. This new firearm is of great significance. You have spent a lot of effort to invent it, and your hard work has been great. Therefore, I want to name this firearm after you."
What do you think?"
Xu Youtang covered his mouth and smiled and said: "How good is that? How can I name someone? Isn't it like being called here and there? How can my best friend be called randomly in the army?"
Zhang Yanling said: "What I mean is that I only need to identify you and don't use your maiden name. For example, what do you think about calling Mrs. Xu Machine Gun?"
Xu Youtang smiled sweetly: "This...how is this good? Doesn't this make me flattered?"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Throughout the ages, naming something invented or manufactured has been an honor. Because it will be remembered by future generations. This firearm is destined to be passed down to future generations and change the situation of the war. Youtang worked hard to create it.
Originally, it would be best to name this thing after you. But you don’t want people to call you by your given name, Mrs. Xu.
Three words is the best way to call it. If you don’t object, I think that’s what I’ll do. You can cast a steel seal and put it on this firearm. From then on, people in the world and all generations will know that it was you, Xu Youtang, who created this weapon.
Planting firearms. I will also take advantage of it, so that people will know how lucky I, Zhang Yanling, am to have such an ingenious and ingenious craftsman, Mrs. Xu, as my wife."
Xu Youtang chuckled and waved his hands: "I don't dare to be a peerless master. You can name it whatever you like. I don't want to be famous, as long as you are happy."
Zhang Yanling's move was originally to make Xu Youtang happy. But what he never expected was that Mrs. Xu's machine gun would become a world-famous super firearm decades later, and became a major weapon used by the Ming Dynasty to expand territory and fight enemies.
He made great achievements in battle.
To the extent that for quite some time, the mention of Mrs. Xu caused all countries in the world to change their expressions upon hearing it. It became the deepest fear in their hearts.
Under the setting sun, Zhang Yanling stroked the lukewarm Mrs. Xu machine gun and felt quite emotional in her heart. The advent of the machine gun will obviously change many things. But what Zhang Yanling values most is whether the machine gun can be manufactured under conditions that he thinks are impossible. This
It fully explains one thing.
That is, in the Ming Dynasty, the invention of some things was actually possible. The machine gun, a firearm that was first invented in the Western world in later generations, was invented in the land of the Ming Dynasty, which shows that everything is possible.
It is not just Western countries that have the foundation to develop science and technology. The Ming Dynasty could do the same.
In this way, it actually shows that as long as the soil is suitable, there are capital and people, things that will appear in other countries in the future can sprout on the land of the Ming Dynasty. What is needed is the accumulation of capital, wealth and a large amount of basic production means.
, liberating a group of people who are trapped on the land, allowing them to have the leisure to study things in all directions. This is the so-called soil.