After Bi Maokang finished introducing everything, Emperor Chongzhen paced to the drill frame, and then pointed to the drill frame and said: "Bi Qing, I think you might as well consider improving this drill frame, the drive of power...... It is to change from two-person pull to hydraulic pull. ”

What he mentioned was actually a hydraulic machine tool. This is simpler, and after the steam engine is built, it will be more convenient to use steam power instead of water power.

Bi Maokang has naturally seen the water power used in farmland, and when Emperor Chongzhen pointed out this, he was naturally easy to relate. He is a technical official, and he naturally understands the use of this hydraulic power. However, he hesitated a little and said: "What Your Majesty said is extremely true, but there is no river to use here in the Ordnance Bureau......"

Emperor Chongzhen was speechless when he heard this, it seemed that the brain of the technology was also a tendon, so he interrupted him and said: "It's not for Qing to apply water power on a large scale, but just for Qing to test to see if this method can be successful, which can effectively reduce the waste of manpower and speed up the construction of self-generated fireworks." Qing can completely let the craftsman make a hydraulic drive to try it. ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he paused slightly, then patted his forehead, showing a very embarrassed smile, and then rubbed his hands together and replied sincerely: "Your Majesty is right, Weichen is really confused!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen didn't care, and after smiling, he asked people to take a flintlock pistol, look left and right, look up and down, and even look at the pipe. He lifted his beak and pressed the trigger again, and tried the feeling of firing.

As soon as Bi Maokang saw it, he introduced the performance of this self-generated fire gun on the side, introducing various parameters. After listening to this, Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said to Bi Maokang: "In the future, let's call it a flintlock pistol, it's done well." But it would be better if the range was a little longer! ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty, this is self-generated...... If the flintlock pistol is to increase the firing range, the barrel will be lengthened and thickened, and more gunpowder will be used for firing. This makes it even more difficult to build. And even if it is built, it may be that the weight of the flintlock pistol, as well as the force generated when fired, are beyond the control of a single soldier. ”

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the length, weight, etc., of the firecracker, in fact, have been improved over the generations, and there is already a set of mature regulations. Bi Maokang thought that Emperor Chongzhen didn't know this, so he explained it in detail.

But what he didn't expect was that Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and said with a smile: "I don't mean that, I mean you see, arrange someone to pull out the rifling on the inner wall of this pipe, the kind of rotating type." When such a softer buckshot is plugged and fired, it flies in a rotating direction, which has stronger kinetic energy and more stability than the smoothbore. In this way, not only can you hit more accurately, but you can also hit farther. ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he paused for a while, and when he thought about it carefully, with his knowledge, it was still difficult to understand, and he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. He is known as the first person in firearms and is proficient in firearms, but as soon as the emperor came, he pointed out a few places, and he could still listen to and know how to do it, but he didn't expect it; But right now, the emperor said that he still doesn't understand, this is ...... What a shame!

Thinking so, he asked a little curiously: "Your Majesty, can this really shoot more accurately and farther?" ”

"Hehe, Bi Qing doesn't need to ask me." Emperor Chongzhen smiled and handed him the flintlock pistol in his hand, and then said, "Bi Qing made it himself and tried it, then everything will be clear!" ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he also laughed, this is indeed the most convincing method, but he looked at the flintlock pistol in his hand and thought for a while, but then frowned and said: "Your Majesty, but it is not easy to carve a rotating rifling on the inner wall of the pipe." If such a process is added, I am afraid that the man-hours consumed will be longer, and the cost will be much higher. ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he said disapprovingly: "It's okay, let's try it first, and then evaluate how much the cost will increase after making it?" Then compare it with a normal flintlock pistol to see how much the performance has improved? Then it will be decided whether this rifled flintlock pistol is to be built and whether it is to equip the army. ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he understood that the emperor did not give an order directly, but only conducted an experiment first, and then decided when there was a result, so that the pressure on himself would be much less.

Thinking like this, he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and immediately replied respectfully: "Weichen obeys the order!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen walked to the warehouse where the flintlock pistols were stored, and saw that more than 300 flintlock pistols were displayed there, and his heart was happy. However, the new army has been deployed, and at least for the first time the battle will not be able to use flintlock pistols. When we come back after the battle next year, we should be able to have an extra fleet of flintlock muskets.

Thinking so, he said to Bi Maokang, who was following him: "I will explain to Master Mao, let him select sergeants from the Beijing camp, and then buy flintlock pistols for training. When the output of the Qing side goes up and the cost goes down, it will be time to install the army on a large scale. ”

Bi Maokang was overjoyed when he heard this, and the Ordnance Bureau had now embarked on the road of innovation and had to take responsibility for its own profits and losses. The flintlock pistol created by this is the fist product of the War Bureau, and if it can be recognized, then the road will be much smoother.

Thinking so, he immediately responded in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured, Wechen will definitely improve the manufacturing process as soon as possible, increase the production of flintlock pistols, reduce the cost of flintlock pistols, and at the same time, we will strictly control the quality of flintlock pistols." ”

Emperor Chongzhen was very satisfied, and immediately went to the War Bureau after leaving the Ordnance Bureau. Ever since the last time he depicted the prospect of a self-propelled warship to Zheng Zhilong, he had already instructed the War Bureau to build a steam engine. Just now I mentioned the steam engine again in the Ordnance Bureau, so I stopped by to see how it went.

To his slight disappointment, the construction of the steam engine did not go well. Emperor Chongzhen asked for the drawings and checked the whole process. He then pointed out several design errors on the drawings, then emphasized the importance of the steam engine, and ordered to mobilize skilled craftsmen to build one first.

With the technology of Daming at this time, regardless of the cost, it is not difficult to build a steam engine by hand, at most the sealing is not enough, the power is lower, and the cost is a little higher.

When he returned to the palace, the chamberlain came to report that the auxiliary minister Zhou Yanru had returned and was waiting for the audience.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he glanced at the piece that had already been placed on the imperial case, and then lightly ordered Zhou Yanru to see him.

It didn't take long for Zhou Yanru to go to the Wenhua Hall to meet him. Emperor Chongzhen can see that he has a better complexion than at the beginning of the year, and he seems to be a little fatter.

Zhou Yanru at the bottom is indeed in good spirits. And he looked forward to it in his heart, and the emperor would reward him for a while.