It seems that Lieutenant Colonel Horns has figured it out.
He could never become a general just by relying on loyalty, bravery and patience. He was actually very grateful to Sean, especially since Sean invited Bass boss over and did some very speculative seduction in front of him.
:
"Mr. Bess, I admit that the 1825 rifled gun produced by your company is very good, especially when compared with the muskets currently commonly equipped in the army.
But you should also realize that this rifle still has many shortcomings. Its loading speed is too slow. In the time it takes a smoothbore rifle to fire three shots, it can fire at most two shots. Due to the existence of rifling, the residue of gunpowder is too long to clean up.
Too much effort. Some veterans are still used to slamming the butt of the gun on the ground before aiming, just like using a musket, to simplify the loading process, but this is more likely to cause misfire.
After a fierce battle, the damage rate of a rifled gun is almost twice that of a smoothbore gun. What's even more frightening is that its price is half as much as that of a smoothbore gun.
This is why your business has never grown bigger. The whole world knows that the court is short of money."
Bass bosses have heard similar words countless times:
"But our enemies have been equipped with a large number of rifled guns. Learn from our enemies. This is what a good commander should do. Know yourself and the enemy, and you will never be in danger in a hundred battles. This is the military thought of the Xia people, and our soldiers should also do it.
"
"You should tell the big shots in the military headquarters what you said. It's useless to tell me." Sean smiled, "There is a good opportunity now. It depends on whether you can seize it."
"What chance?" Bass Boss.
Sean showed the reward notice:
"Following the order of the lieutenant colonel, I have assembled a 250-man troop with the goal of capturing or killing the evil gangster Benjamin Tang. Now we need some equipment, two trained horses for each person, and two best-quality horses for each person.
A good rifle so you can replace it at any time, as well as ammunition, food, boots, tents, sleeping bags, quilts, etc."
Boss Bass glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Horns, who was silent next to him, and shrugged:
"Does this have something to do with me? Without profit, a businessman will be indifferent. A businessman who is not loyal to his own interests will achieve nothing. This is my motto, and I give it to Mr. Second Lieutenant for free.
Of course, we have reached a tacit understanding in some aspects before, but this matter really has nothing to do with me, especially what you just said about the advantages and disadvantages of the Bess 1825 rifled gun."
Sean smiled slightly: "As an experienced user of the Bass 1825 rifled gun, including my experience with rifled guns captured from the enemy during the war, I found that I suddenly had some inspiration in the manufacturing of rifled guns."
"I'd like to hear the details." Bess remained unmoved.
He can spend 2,000 gold louis to buy a famous horse and prepare to give it away because of the profit. But when it comes to money, he has his own principles. He will never spend an extra shilling if he should spend a penny.
"An invention that can greatly improve the reloading speed of bass rifles and also reduce the failure rate. Are you interested?" Sean asked.
"Have you never heard that Mr. Connery is also an expert in gunmaking?" Boss Bess said sarcastically, "Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, is there a great inventor under your command?"
Horns doesn’t know what kind of medicine Sean is selling, but this does not prevent him from protecting the reputation of his subordinates:
"I believe Sean is not a big talker. Mr. Bass, please take a few more minutes to listen. There is nothing to lose, right?"
"Okay." Bess moved her fat buttocks to make herself more comfortable.
"Actually, the enemy's rifled guns are not much better than those produced by your company. However, in the early days of the war, we failed to predict the enemy and aimed at the same distance of 100 meters from the enemy on the training ground. But they could always
They were far away from us and fired first. The first round of shooting cost us a heavy price. An army that is not tenacious in fighting will collapse immediately when encountering such a situation."
Horns also added at this time: "Later, it was not so easy for the enemy. The 21st Infantry Division discovered this earlier, so when we faced the enemy, we used shotgun soldiers like Sean to confront the enemy. Similarly,
Even if we use rifled guns, we won’t suffer any loss. But the troops using smoothbore guns will charge back at any time, approaching the enemy with a disregard for death, and using speed to repel the enemy. The enemy will fire 2 shots, and we will fire at least 3 shots!”
"At that time, because your 21st Division was abandoned and isolated, you had to hold on there." Boss Bess said sharply, "This is called risking your life to survive."
"Okay, let's not talk about this. Especially when I am the only one left among the 500 officers and soldiers of the 21st Infantry Division's Chasseur Battalion." Sean looked very unhappy.
"Sorry!" Boss Bess apologized, "Salute to the heroes of the 21st Infantry Division!"
"We just mentioned that one of the shortcomings of rifled guns is the difficulty in loading ammunition. In the past, when we used smoothbore guns, the projectiles were smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel and were easy to load. If they were wrapped in paper or linen, they could be poked with a purl
It can also increase the ability to hold your breath." Sean said,
"Rifled guns are different from this. In order to ensure that the lead shot matches the rifling, the lead shot is usually made slightly larger than the inner diameter of the barrel. Lead is a soft metal, but it still needs to be pushed hard to deform. In this way
It must match the rifling. This seriously affects the loading speed.”
"Indeed." Boss Bass nodded and admitted.
"When I was a recruit, the rifled gun my commander issued to me had much larger bullets than others. The manufacturing level of your company is really disrespectful. I had to spend money to find someone to sharpen the lead bullets myself.
Smaller, I've seen someone's gun with slanted rifling."
Seeing Boss Bess blushing, Lieutenant Colonel Horns made up for it:
"Arms are always made by the contractor with the lowest bid, always."
"Well, this will make me lose a little advantage in the negotiation." Bess smiled awkwardly.
"So, I thought that if the lead shot was smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel, it would be easier to load, and it would be no worse than a smoothbore gun," Sean said.
"Lieutenant Connelly, you have just explained the difference between the two principles. With all due respect, there is no explanation. The lead shot is too small and cannot fit the rifling. It cannot guarantee the air-holding properties. The muzzle velocity and range will be reduced," Bess said.
.
"No, no, Boss Bess. There are always more solutions than difficulties. This is my motto, and I will give it to you for free."
"Okay, I'd like to hear some advice."
Horns listened on the sidelines. Seeing Sean's confident expression, he also became interested and scolded:
"Sean, please tell me how you can do this."
"Sir, my method won't work if I say it. It involves a small patent. Of course, I haven't had time to apply for this patent yet. In order to prevent others from plagiarizing, I can only keep this secret. Maybe there are other weapons.
The merchant is interested in this secret. Sir, how much do you think this patent will be worth?"
Speaking of this, Sean started to sell things: "Imagine that such a rifle has the accuracy and range of a rifled gun, but also has a loading speed that is not inferior to that of a smoothbore gun, which is enough to offset the cost of a rifled gun compared to a smoothbore gun.
The rise in prices can offset at least two-thirds of it. I think if this inspiration of mine is realized, it will cause a revolution."
Bess looked a little nervous:
"Sean, Mr. Lieutenant, do you mind if I call you this? Are we considered friends?"
"No, no, my only friend is dear Monsieur Louis!"
"Mr. Lieutenant Colonel." Bess turned to Horns and said, "Look, your subordinates really don't look like soldiers."
"It's not very similar." Horns nodded, "But if Sean's inspiration can really be realized, it will indeed be of great value. You must know that it is precisely because of its shortcomings that the current rifled guns have no advantages over smoothbore guns.
You think so big."
"Okay. As God testifies, if Sean can tell you about his 'great discovery', I am willing to pay 20,000 gold louis to buy it, including all the equipment of the 250-man army just mentioned. In addition, this patent belongs to
It is owned by Bess Machinery Manufacturing Company and will also apply for patents in the name of Bess Company."
"50,000." Sean stretched out a hand.
"25,000. It can't be higher."
"Your Bass 1825 rifled gun sells for 30 gold louis, and I just ask you to pay a one-time payment of 50,000. I dare say that as long as you make it according to my inspiration, you will at least sell it in the next five years.
200,000 pieces! Moreover, manufacturing is not difficult. It is simple, effective and low-cost. If I am willing, I can find two skilled blacksmiths to help me." Sean said.
"200,000?" Boss Bass's eyes shone, "If it's as simple as you said, 50,000 is not impossible. Dear Imperial Hero Lieutenant Colonel Horns, are you willing to be a witness for me?
If the facts are indeed as Sean said, simple, effective and will not increase the cost much, I will not only agree to these conditions, but also give you an additional 10,000 gold louis as the cost of witnessing a great invention."
"Of course." Horns said viciously, "If you break your promise, I will kill you with my own hands. I guarantee that no one will know this."
Bess shrugged. He believed that Horns meant what he said, but his eyes were fixed on Sean. At this point, he didn't quite believe it, but God testified that he hoped he would believe it.
The rifles manufactured by his company have not been sold yet, and they are facing competition from other competitors, which has always been a headache for him.
"If when manufacturing a rifled gun, the size of the projectile is set to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel, but slightly larger than the rifled bore, the increase in cost will be almost negligible."
The room felt a little cold for a while.
Bess's eyes widened, his mouth opened wide, and he breathed heavily through his nose, with a complicated expression.
Surprise, accident, enlightenment, regret, and most of all, excitement.
The projectile is smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel, so it is easy to stuff it in, but it is larger than the bottom chamber. When you poke it with a purge, the lead bullet will deform and closely fit the rifling of the bottom chamber, ensuring the air sealing property.
Sure enough, as Sean said, this inspiration won't work once it's spoken. It's a very simple invention, and it can be revealed at a glance.
It's a shame that the gunsmiths under his command, who earn huge annual salaries, didn't think of this.
Boss Bass happily left two checks and ran away.
Horns took his own check, 10,000 gold louis, which was not a small amount for him, and murmured:
"Sean, I seem to have done something stupid. I should advise you to raise the price."
"Sir, believe me, he will come and give us a check. Next time, we can raise the price again. Just like today's example, I'll give you five for one!"
"Did you save anything?"
"No, keep a few hands!"
"Oh, now I understand somewhat why you don't want to stay in the army."