Chapter 423: Flintlock Muskets and Steel Cannons

But now his subordinates were very enthusiastic, and he definitely had to go see for himself. Zhu Youxiao was very clear on this point—this was encouragement for his subordinates.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Bi Maokang and said directly, "I'll go with you."

Hearing this, Bi Maokang immediately became excited and hurriedly said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Go out and wait first. I need to prepare a bit." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

"Yes." Bi Maokang acknowledged and turned to walk out.

Bi Maokang had left, and Zhu Youxiao indeed intended to go to the Hundred Crafts Institute, but there were still some matters to arrange.

So Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Chen Hong and said directly, "Have them prepare. We're going to the Hundred Crafts Institute shortly. Oh, and the rewards that should be prepared—get those ready too, understand?"

Regarding his inspection visit, Zhu Youxiao was very clear in his heart: he had to do this properly. He definitely had to bring rewards and gifts—he couldn't go empty-handed, or it would cause dissatisfaction among his subordinates.

Although he was the emperor, it wouldn't do to have meritorious deeds go unrewarded. Even in later generations, when leaders went on inspection tours to local areas, they brought along many preferential policies.

If you can't solve problems and can't bring benefits, then why did you come? To cause trouble?

No one welcomes that kind of leader.

Though Zhu Youxiao was the emperor, he too had to follow this rule.

This kind of matter was not Chen Hong's first time handling it, so he knew what to do. After hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Chen Hong replied, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant will see to it that everything is done properly."

When the emperor was to leave the palace, the preparation time naturally would not be short.

As for security and protection work, there was no special preparation needed for that. Because Zhu Youxiao had always maintained a guard unit. Besides, this was within the capital, so there was no need to make a big show of it.

By the time Zhu Youxiao had changed his clothes and finished preparing, Qi Yuangong was already waiting outside.

Beside Qi Yuangong stood Zhu Youxiao's guard unit. These men's equipment was different from that of ordinary guards—not so flashy and ornate, but rather looking somewhat bulky.

That was because these men were loaded down with equipment. Though there were only three hundred of them, that was enough to fight a small-scale battle. Their firepower was more than sufficient.

The group left the palace and headed straight for the Hundred Crafts Institute.

The people at the Hundred Crafts Institute had naturally received word long ago and were already waiting at the gate.

Upon arriving at the Hundred Crafts Institute, Zhu Youxiao looked at the people kneeling on the ground and said directly, "Everyone, no need for formalities."

After everyone had stood up, Zhu Youxiao said, "You have all worked diligently and devotedly at the Hundred Crafts Institute, allowing its tasks to be completed very well. I am deeply gratified. I hear you have produced something excellent again, so I have come to take a look."

"I have brought some wine and meat. Eat and drink your fill. After I have seen the items, I will reward you according to your merits."

The wine and meat Zhu Youxiao brought were all distributed to the craftsmen of the Hundred Crafts Institute. You see, although they normally ate quite well, drinking alcohol was prohibited for them.

Now that the emperor had come, this prohibition was naturally lifted. And the meat the emperor brought was good quality too—enough for these craftsmen to have a proper feast.

"Long live Your Majesty!"

"Long live!"

The sound of "long live" rang out all around.

After these people had left, Zhu Youxiao looked at Bi Maokang and said, "Take me to see it. Since you so sincerely invited me here, I imagine you already have things arranged."

"No one is more wise than Your Majesty." Bi Maokang said hurriedly.

Guards had already been posted at various locations throughout the Hundred Crafts Institute.

Bi Maokang led Zhu Youxiao further inside. After passing through a corridor, Bi Maokang pointed to the courtyard ahead and said, "Your Majesty, this is the Firearm Research Institute. The finished flintlock muskets are stored here."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao said, "Then let's go in and take a look right away."

Zhu Youxiao was extremely, extremely interested in flintlock muskets, and he liked them very much as well—after all, these were the most advanced firearms of this era.

Though wheellock firearms existed too, their failure rate was too high and the results were poor. Most critically, they were expensive to produce and could not be equipped on a large scale.

Under Bi Maokang's guidance, Zhu Youxiao stepped into the Firearm Institute and soon saw a group of people inside.

Those who were able to greet him here were all the heads of the Firearm Institute. They stood by in attendance, ready at any moment to be questioned by the emperor.

Soon, someone carried out a box with its lid open, and inside were arranged the finished flintlock muskets.

Without waiting for Chen Hong to make a move, Zhu Youxiao reached out directly and picked up a flintlock musket.

The cold touch of the weapon pleased Zhu Youxiao greatly.

After quickly inspecting it by turning it over in his hands, a smile appeared on Zhu Youxiao's face.

This flintlock musket before him finally gave Zhu Youxiao a feeling of familiarity. The only difference from the original flintlock muskets was that the catch under the front of the stock hadn't been designed yet—that was where the bayonet would attach.

He checked the trigger, looked at the muzzle, and nodded with satisfaction.

Turning to look at Bi Maokang, Zhu Youxiao said, "Take it to the firing range later to test its power."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Bi Maokang hurriedly replied with a smile.

That His Majesty was satisfied with the fruits of their research was the greatest praise for him. Bi Maokang's heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

"Does the Firearm Institute have anything else?" Zhu Youxiao asked, looking at Bi Maokang.

"To answer Your Majesty, we have also developed a repeating short firearm." Bi Maokang looked at Zhu Youxiao with a somewhat awkward expression and said, "However, research has only just begun, and there are still many problems that have yet to be resolved."

"Is that so? Bring it out for me to see." Zhu Youxiao looked at Bi Maokang with considerable interest and said, "Do you have a sample?"

"To answer Your Majesty, yes, we do." Bi Maokang hurriedly acknowledged.

Following Bi Maokang's words, someone nearby brought the item over.

It really was a short firearm—only about the length of a man's forearm, yet very thick and stout. The muzzle was even the size of a bowl opening, and it was quite heavy.

No matter how you looked at it, this thing didn't resemble a short firearm at all—rather, it looked like a clumsy little cannon.

Bi Maokang explained from the side, "Your Majesty, this is only a first-generation sample. This square box underneath is where the shot pellets are loaded. There's a push rod here beside it—after firing, the push rod can be pushed up, and the pellets are pushed into the barrel."

"The propellant is loaded in the back here. There's a switch here—as long as you flip the switch, the powder will drop down. This here is the flint striking mechanism. As long as you pull the trigger, the flint strikes to ignite the powder, which propels the shot out of the barrel. Each time it can fire roughly thirty pellets, striking a wide area in front."

"However, there's one problem right now: we can't solve the issue of airtight sealing. After the powder drops down, when it ignites, it can easily set off the powder in the powder reservoir, causing the entire short firearm to explode. We're still working on a solution, and for now it can't be mass-produced."

No matter how Zhu Youxiao looked at this thing, it seemed neither one thing nor another.

Seeing His Majesty's expression, Bi Maokang explained from the side, "Using granular powder would easily solve this problem, but it tends to jam. We're also working on that. Once this problem is resolved, it should be possible to make improvements."

Hearing Bi Maokang's words, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "Very good. You must be bold in your attempts."

Though this thing looked neither one thing nor another, it actually already contained very advanced concepts within it. For example, using gunpowder to propel steel pellets—that was the approach of a shotgun.

If it could actually be made, it would really be a fine thing. It's just that the current size won't do.

In a word, without solving metal-cased ammunition, many things simply won't work.

"Study it slowly, no need to rush." Zhu Youxiao gave this instruction, then handed the heavy object in his hands to someone nearby.

Holding this thing in hand for a while really was quite tiring—Zhu Youxiao's arm had gone sore.

"Let's go take a look at the next place." Zhu Youxiao said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Bi Maokang acknowledged, turned around, and led the way ahead.

After passing through several more courtyards, they finally reached the rear courtyard. Clearly, the distance between the two research departments was more than sufficient.

Pointing at the courtyard before them, Bi Maokang said: "Your Majesty, this is the Artillery Research Institute."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and followed Bi Maokang inside.

Stepping through the entrance, there was a spacious square before them. Cannons of various sizes were arrayed in front, and judging from the material, they had already moved beyond bronze—these were steel cannons.

A large portion of the Hundred Crafts Institute's effort was actually devoted to materials research. Because only by improving materials could costs be reduced, they put great care into this area.

In fact, by this point, the Hundred Crafts Institute had reached a dead end with muzzle-loading cannons.

Large caliber, small caliber, even muzzle-loaders that fired grapeshot—the Hundred Crafts Institute could manufacture them all. As for the red-coat cannons of history, the Hundred Crafts Institute had no trouble making those either; it was merely a matter of materials.

Now that materials were no longer a problem at the Hundred Crafts Institute, their main research direction had shifted to fixed ammunition shells.

Without solving metal-cased artillery shells, it would be very difficult to greatly increase the power of cannons.

"Your Majesty, regarding the detonating compound, we have trial-produced mercury fulminate, but we cannot solve the problem of mass production. We will continue our efforts in this area—we have already produced one metal-cased artillery shell."

Bi Maokang said before Zhu Youxiao: "But as for mass production, I estimate it will still take quite a long time."

On this matter, Bi Maokang truly dared not make any guarantees. The gap between a test sample and mass production was simply too vast, and the one fixed shell made previously still had many problems that needed solving.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Bi Maokang, nodded, and said: "Don't rush, take it slowly. If you can produce it within five years, that would be a remarkable achievement."

Although Zhu Youxiao had told Bi Maokang many things, what Zhu Youxiao provided was only the end result—the specific research process still needed to be worked out by Bi Maokang and his team.

The things involved here were too complex, but with the answer already known, the process of deriving and solving would be somewhat easier.

Bi Maokang hastily bowed and said: "Yes, Your Majesty. Your servant understands."

Seeing that Zhu Youxiao showed no sign of disappointment, Bi Maokang finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with some excitement: "The rocket Your Majesty spoke of—we have already produced it."