Steel Dynasty - Chapter 538

[Chapter 538 Expanding the Military Factory]

“Hmph, hum…”

The sound of the steam engine pulling the hook knife back and forth to cut metal kept ringing.

Song Changping and the craftsmen in the musket workshop were a little shocked when they looked at the steam-belching steel monster in front of them. Although the craftsmen in the steam engine workshop had used a steam engine to drive the craftsmen to cut rifling two days ago, this unprecedented machinery still made them stunned. Time cannot be accepted psychologically.

“Supervisor Songfang, now that we have this steam engine, won’t cutting rifling mean nothing for us?”

Song Changping watched the hook knife expand and contract back and forth in the barrel, while a craftsman was responsible for rotating the barrel so that the hook knife could move in the barrel. Perfect rifling in the draw.

“How could anything happen without us? Even if the steam engine pulls the hook knife instead of us, we still need to watch the machine carefully to get the rifling.” Song Changping said.

“I mean, if this steam engine is so powerful, it will leave many craftsmen with nothing to do in the future.” The craftsman said worriedly. This was not nonsense.

In fact, due to the use of steam engines in lathe workshops, a large number of craftsmen in the lathe workshops were idle, and these craftsmen were transferred to their workshops to be responsible for the production of flintlock muskets.

Now that the steam engine has appeared here again, they can’t help but worry.

“Your worries are unnecessary. There is currently a shortage of firearms in Qingzhou. So far, we have only produced 45,000 flintlock muskets. Most of the armies in the feudal state have not popularized muskets and artillery. Now the situation in Chongqing is like this. The situation will definitely require more firearms in the future,” Song Changping said, and he understood why these craftsmen had such thoughts.

Nowadays, the salaries of craftsmen in military workshops are very high. Even though most of the craftsmen are still slaves, they do not want to lose their current job.

“Song Changping is right. Even if steam engines have replaced some craftsmen, the output of the military workshops is insufficient now. What you should worry about now is how to meet the army’s equipment procurement.”

Xiao Ming’s voice suddenly came from outside.

Hearing this voice, Song Changping and the craftsman turned their heads and saw Xiao Ming walking towards them while shaking his fan.

“Your Highness.”

Song Changping led a group of craftsmen to salute Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming asked everyone to excuse themselves, and he walked towards the hook-knife combination of the steam engine that was cutting rifling. At this time, the steam engine was stretching and retracting the hook knife back and forth through the connecting rod to make a linear motion.

Every time the hook knife enters and exits the barrel, a shallow mark will be drawn. The craftsman in charge of the care is supervising the cutting of the rifling. There are now more than thirty gun barrels in the steam engine pile, and six steam engine hook knives allow the cutting of rifling. The efficiency has been greatly improved.

“How is it? How many rifle barrels can be pulled out in a day now?” Xiao Ming asked.

Song Changping replied: “Compared with the previous one a month, the steam engine can pull out one a day. Lin Wentao now allows thirty hook knives in the military workshop to cut rifling through the steam engine. If there are no scraps, the cost will be nine hundred a month.” There is still no problem at all.”

“Well, this quantity is enough. At present, we still need to focus on the production of smoothbore flintlock guns. Do you understand?” Xiao Ming nodded with satisfaction. There are both human and mechanical products. Regarding the scrap rate, he saw some scrapped gun barrels being thrown aside. Song Changping said that there were 900 gun barrels without scraps. If the scraps were excluded, there would be only 700 or 800 rifled barrels in a month.

Xiao Ming is already very satisfied with this number. Now he is still adopting an equipment plan that mainly uses smoothbore guns and rifled guns as a supplement. After all, he does not have much time to wait for the equipment to be updated. Now he needs it even more. is the quantity needed to respond to the current crisis.

As for the large-scale equipment of rifled guns, they can only be replaced step by step during the war.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Song Changping said.

After a pause, Xiao Ming said again: “By the way, this time I have allocated another group of craftsmen to you. Now your musket workshop can be expanded into one workshop, and both workshops can produce flintlock muskets at the same time.”

“Another group of craftsmen have arrived?” Song Changping was a little excited, and the other craftsmen also breathed a sigh of relief. This proves that Feng’s country is really in urgent need of muskets.

Liang Dahai has not returned yet, but the first batch of slaves has been delivered. According to Liang Dahai’s people, Liang Dahai will arrive with the last batch of slaves.

After struggling at sea for such a long time, Liang Dahai brought back 8,000 slaves this time. Before Qingzhou merchants could divide the slaves, 5,000 of them were assigned to the military workshop.

Although these people don’t know anything yet, it won’t take long to use the old to introduce the new. After all, the assembly of flintlock guns is not an advanced technology.

“Five thousand people, this time I gave you the musket workshop as a priority. You have to keep up with the production of this flintlock gun. Now the feudal country may face war at any time. If the king loses, everything in the feudal country will be destroyed.” It will all disappear.” Xiao Ming frowned and said.

Song Changping’s expression became serious. He suddenly felt very brave. He patted his chest and said, “Your Highness, even if you don’t eat or drink, I will definitely complete this batch of equipment on time and in quantity.”

“Well, I believe it. You, by the way, part of the flintlock guns produced from now on will be distributed to the armies of Cangzhou, Yizhou and Laizhou.”

Song Changping responded.

After explaining the production of firearms, Xiao Ming suddenly asked, “How many rifled guns do you have?”

“Back to Your Highness, there are still sixty rifled guns.” Song Changping said.

“Sixty?” Xiao Ming’s eyes narrowed. The range and accuracy of this rifled gun were not comparable to that of a smoothbore gun. It could be used as a sharpshooter in the army.

After all, even in cold weapon troops, a group of archers will be selected to take charge of some special tasks, and he needs rifled guns to complete some special operations tasks.

“Bring these rifled guns to me, I will use them for my own use.” Xiao Ming showed a smile.

Hearing this, Song Changping asked the craftsman to take out three long wooden boxes, which contained rifled guns.

When Xiao Ming came in person this time, he wanted to take a look at the production of the rifled gun, talk about the slave, and ask Song Changping to increase production.

After an inspection, he no longer disturbed the production of the workshop and asked the guards following him to return with the flintlock guns.

Since King Zhao entered Chang’an, in addition to Zhao Long and Zhao Hu, Xiao Ming also had a team of one hundred elite soldiers responsible for protecting him. In troubled times, the enemy may use all means.

Especially assassination, this method is cheap and has great rewards. He didn’t want to die before he left the army, so he complied with Pang Yukun’s wishes and added a hundred personal guards to protect his safety.

(End of chapter)