CHAPTER XXXVI

Zhang Xuan shook his head and said, "Let's look at the next one." ”

It's not that Zhang Xuan doesn't know that copper cannons are good, but Zhang Xuan knows that China lacks copper. Of course, even if China lacks copper, only a few or even dozens of artillery pieces can be cast, and this copper can still be taken out. Not even anything else, just collect some copper coins and melt them, and there you have them.

But the artillery planning in Zhang Xuan's heart is not a matter of dozens of guns.

Not to mention, in the face of the Qing army's attack on various city passes, Great Xia needs artillery, not to mention, Zhang Xuan just issued an order that merchant ships can load artillery. It was Zhang Xuan who, according to his plan, distributed the running soldiers as an independent branch in every battalion in the army.

Just the needs of the army, let alone thousands of doors.

Of course, these thousands may not all be such cannons. But on the whole, it is estimated that tens of thousands of artillery pieces will be needed on land and at sea. Not to mention that the artillery still needs to be updated.

If all copper cannons are used, how much copper is needed?

As an important auxiliary currency in China, the large-scale use of copper is not only a problem of shortage, but also causes financial problems, such as money shortage?

No matter what Zhang Xuan thought, he also dispelled this idea.

So the Great Xia cannon can only be made of iron. This is determined by China's national conditions.

Xiao Wannu didn't know why Zhang Xuan had such an attitude, but he felt that Zhang Xuan felt very strange. So he waited for him to go to the iron cannon workshop.

Zhang Xuan also found the difference, he found that as far as the interior of the cannon factory is concerned, the importance of copper cannons and iron cannons is different, and it can be seen from the skin color of the craftsmen that there are some Western craftsmen in the copper cannon workshop, but it is the Han people who really work hard.

But this is not the case in the Iron Cannon Workshop, which is not only more dilapidated than the Copper Cannon Workshop. And none of them are foreign craftsmen, they are all Han craftsmen.

Xiao Wannu said: "These cannons are inferior compared to bronze cannons, and they are only used by some poor pirates at sea. ”

Zhang Xuan listened to Xiao Wannu's words, and he didn't take it to heart.

It is true that in this era, there is a gap between copper cannons and iron cannons. However, Zhang Xuan believes that with the advancement of technology, these gaps will gradually disappear. The use of iron cast cannons is also a trend. However, when Zhang Xuan finished watching the Iron Cannon Workshop, he was a little disappointed in his heart.

Although the Chinese cannon casting technique is somewhat different from the Western cannon casting technique. Zhang Xuan seems that Macao's cannon casting method is a little more rigorous. But there is no essential difference.

"Cannon Foundry." Zhang Xuan secretly said in his heart: "Cannon Foundry." I should have thought of it a long time ago. Zhang Xuan originally thought that the Macao Artillery Foundry, known as the No. 1 Artillery Factory in the Far East, should be used to use a boring machine to directly cut out the artillery. But it turned out that Zhang Xuan was thinking too much.

At least during this time period, there is no obvious gap between the technical level of China and foreign countries.

As for the specific technical details, Zhang Xuan is not a craftsman, and many places seem to be understood. However, when he looked back, he saw Xian Zijing in a personal soldier outfit following behind Zhang Xuan, looking at everything here hungrily.

For today's matter, Zhang Xuan had already brought Xian Zijing here. Zhang Xuan said secretly: "With Xian Zijing here, I don't have to worry about these things." ”

Zhang Xuan looked at all the equipment of the Macao Artillery Factory one by one. Seeing that it was almost over, Zhang Xuan asked Xiao Wannu and said, "Mr. Wannu, are you willing to serve Da Xia?" ”

Xiao Wannu said, "Is it like John Tang? ”

Zhang Xuan said: "Yes, casting artillery for Great Xia. As long as there is merit, I am willing to ask for a knighthood for my husband. ”

Xiao Wannu shook his head and said, "No need, I'm already old." I am only willing to guard this artillery factory and build this artillery factory into the largest artillery factory in the Far East and a world-class artillery factory, as for the rest, it is not my mind. ”

Zhang Xuan didn't expect that Xiao Wannu would refuse to answer.

Of course, among the Western pirates, many of them are down-and-out nobles, in order to return to the glory of the nobility, many people are willing to do their best, and some people are also here for money, as long as they can make money, they are willing to do anything. But there are some people who don't care much about that.

Little Wannu is one.

Zhang Xuan sighed slightly in his heart, but he couldn't rob talents.

Not to mention, whether the people who have been robbed can serve him sincerely, just to maintain the reputation of the Great Xia Imperial Court overseas, he will not do this. He said, "So, sir, do you mind if your craftsmen work for Great Xia?" ”

Xiao Wannu also knew Zhang Xuan's identity, and after refusing to accept it once, he didn't dare to refuse again, and said: "As long as they are willing, I naturally have no opinion." ”

Xiao Wannu secretly said in his heart: "The real casting technology is in the hands of their own people, and they will never go to Great Xia." "The people in Xiao Wannu's heart are all foreign craftsmen in the cannon factory, and although the Han craftsmen also have some skills, they are not looked at by Xiao Wannu.

Zhang Xuan pointed to the iron cannon workshop, and a leading craftsman said, "It's him." ”

Xiao Wannu frowned slightly, but only frowned, and said, "Since the Duke has opened his mouth, how can I not agree." He immediately called this man, whose surname was Huang, and his name was three. There's no big name, just a ranking.

Many low-level people in Daming are like this.

When Huang San heard that Zhang Xuan was the Duke and the general of Zhengnan, he was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground, did not dare to raise his head and said, "The villain greets the general." ”

Zhang Xuan looked at him with such a frightened look, and didn't talk to him much, just asked him to gather the whole family and leave together when he left later.

Zhang Xuan took a turn from the artillery factory, and then took a circle around the shipyard along the way. Compared with some of the processes in the artillery workshop, because Zhang Xuan personally participated in the casting of cannons. Many things can still be understood, but in the shipyard, Zhang Xuan looks even more confused.

I won't go into details.

Finally, he summoned the maritime merchants in Macao, who had heads and faces, and so on. They were instructed that at the beginning of next month, the Macao Customs will be officially operational. As long as you obey the laws of Great Xia, you will be treated equally, and so on.

In fact, all the laws of Daxia now follow those of the Ming Dynasty. As a new dynasty, there was simply no time to revise the law.

After all this, Zhang Xuan had to leave Macau.

Although he has not been away from Guangzhou for a long time, there are some things that must be handled by Zhang Xuan. One of the most important things is that Guangdong's will try.

When the new emperor ascends the throne, it is customary to open Enko. Although when Nanjing had just been conquered, Cao Ying at that time drove Enke once. But at that time, Luo Rucai had not yet ascended the throne and became the emperor, and in a sense, this imperial examination was the first imperial examination in Daxia.

There are many various affairs, which need to be decided by Zhang Xuan.

Although it is said that among the officials of the former Ming Dynasty, someone presided over a provincial capital examination. But no one dared to bypass Zhang Xuan to do this thing. The time is approaching. They had to write letters to urge Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan could only settle the affairs of Macau. Immediately took a boat escorted by sailor and returned to the city of Guangzhou.

Back in the city of Guangzhou, Zhang Xuan faced the first tricky thing, that is, there were no candidates from other places to come to Guangzhou.

"What's going on?" Zhang Xuan frowned and asked Fu Shangrui, "Aren't the counties notified in place?" ”

Fu Shangrui said: "General, this matter is personally supervised by the officials, and no county has missed it. All counties have put up billboards to proclaim. ”

"Then why?" Zhang Xuan said.

Fu Shangrui looked like he wanted to speak and stopped.

Zhang Xuan said: "Have something to say? ”

Fu Shangrui said: "The folk atmosphere in Guangdong has always been to advocate loyalty and righteousness, and to respect the three heroes of the late Song Dynasty. I've heard rumors that some people are encouraging students not to be second ministers. ”

Zhang Xuan snorted coldly and said, "Good means, but Qu Shiyun's handwriting? ”

It's no wonder that Zhang Xuan immediately thought about it, it has been less than a year since Daxia occupied Guangdong. Where can you cultivate your own talents at this time, most of these students who have the ability to take the exam have the fame of the Ming Dynasty.

Encourage them to be less than two ministers, in more than ten years, I am afraid that Zhang Xuan will not have a single Cantonese person available.

So Zhang Xuan's first feeling was a conspiracy?

Fu Shangrui didn't dare to say it, but he didn't dare not say it, he said cautiously: "General, Qu Shiyun is certainly a capable minister, but he doesn't have the heart to care about Guangdong's affairs at the moment. Xia Guan thought that this was not Qu Shiyun's handiwork. ”