Chapter 284: Tower Method

"I am handing this batch of Flintlocks over to you. From now on, train with your lives on the line for this Prince; the soldiers must reach four or even five shots per minute from loading to firing," Zhao Xu said.

The maximum firing rate of a Flintlock is five shots per minute.

But this is something only very skilled soldiers can achieve.

Generally, the baseline is three shots.

This is significantly stronger than the Matchlock, which fires at most two shots per minute.

This is also one of the reasons why the Flintlock eventually phased out the Matchlock.

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Zhao Xu having Chang Wei increase the intensity of training was to improve the soldiers' proficiency in loading.

Only in this way can maximum firepower output be guaranteed on the battlefield.

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei cupped his fists heavily, then he asked: "Your Highness, what is a minute?"

"This is twenty breaths," Zhao Xu said.

A person's breath is basically within three to five seconds; he could only give a rough estimate.

Upon hearing this, Chang Wei nodded.

After handing over the Flintlocks, Zhao Xu and Wang Ying departed.

He would not delay the soldiers' training.

On the way back, a smile remained on Wang Ying's face.

The generals were happy because the army had gained a sharp weapon.

And he was happy because the test firing was a success.

The Armory Bureau had gained another mature technology.

However, Zhao Xu recalled some problems during the test firing.

He observed that the soldiers could not accurately control the amount of Gunpowder poured each time.

Some soldiers would even stuff two Lead Bullets into the barrel.

These were all caused by the soldiers' nervousness.

In fact, during the two hundred years that the Flintlock dominated the world.

In the early days, Flintlock loading also involved keeping the Gunpowder and ammunition in separate bags.

When firing, one would take the Gunpowder and Lead Bullet from the bags respectively.

But the same problems the soldiers just had during the test firing also appeared on the battlefield.

Some soldiers loaded too much Gunpowder, or stuffed too many Lead Bullets.

If the quality of the barrel was poor, a barrel explosion was unavoidable.

But later, after summarizing this lesson, people wrapped the measured Gunpowder and projectile in paper like a firecracker.

This solved the problem; this is the Paper Cartridge.

When firing, one only needs to bite open the paper shell, pour in the ammunition, and finally stuff the Lead Bullet and paper together into the barrel.

This kind of small trick is not very complicated; since this experience exists, use it directly—there is no need to walk the wrong path again.

Thinking of this, he told Wang Ying about this experience.

Wang Ying usually only considered technical issues.

He had not thought about how to make loading the musket more convenient.

Upon hearing this, he nodded; although this meant more work for the Armory Bureau, it had to be said that it was very convenient for the soldiers.

Acknowledging the order, he said: "Your Highness, you said you would also teach your subordinate a convenient method for manufacturing Lead Bullets. I wonder what this method is like?"

Zhao Xu smiled, "We will talk about it when we return to the Nanfang District."

The group returned to the Nanfang District.

Zhao Xu ordered someone to bring a basin of water. Wang Ying and many craftsmen gathered around, wanting to see what magical thing Yan Wang was going to show them again.

"Watch carefully," Zhao Xu said, then suddenly lifted the water and tossed it high into the air.

Then the water scattered into countless droplets in the air and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the crowd looked at Zhao Xu with blank expressions.

What was this for?

"What shape were the water droplets just now?" Zhao Xu asked.

Wang Ying frowned, and was the first to catch on. He said: "They were round."

"That's right. Lead, when melted, is just like water. As long as it falls from the air, it will take on a round shape. Do you understand?" Zhao Xu said.

"But why would it become round?" Wang Ying's curiosity was piqued.

Zhao Xu did not want to explain now; this question was too complex.

He said: "When you have time, go to the Technology Academy of the Armory Bureau to listen to the lectures. This Prince will tell you. For now, you just need to understand that such a thing exists."

Then, he ordered someone to bring paper and a brush, and drew a diagram.

This was a tower thirty meters high.

At the top of the tower was a furnace specifically for melting lead, as well as a funnel, and at the bottom of the tower was a water trough.

The melted lead would drip down through the funnel, forming spherical shapes in the air while cooling.

The water in the trough would serve to cushion the impact, preventing the Lead Bullets from deforming.

In this way, most of the Lead Bullets obtained could be used directly, and those slightly deformed could be polished.

Thus, mass-producing Lead Bullets would no longer be a problem.

The ammunition problem was easily solved.

"This is called the Tower Method," Zhao Xu explained while drawing.

The drawing was finished.

Wang Ying let out a breath and said, "This subordinate really must find time to attend Your Highness's lectures; this field of technology is truly profound."

Zhao Xu smiled lightly, patted Wang Ying on the shoulder, and left.

As technology in Yanzhou advanced in the future, Wang Ying's past experience would naturally become increasingly useless.

It was precisely for this reason that he established the Technology Academy; by the same logic, the Government Academy and Military Academy were also for the purpose of discarding the old to welcome the new.

Only in this way could Yanzhou cast off the fatal cycle of the rise and fall of feudal dynasties.

On the way back to the Wangfu, Zhao Xu's mood was much lighter.

The matter of expanding production capacity had been handled, the production of the Flintlock was on the right track, and the South Camp had sample Flintlocks for training.

Now, he only needed to wait for the day to dispatch troops to arrive.

Of course, he also had to finish the Sand Table of Jinzhou and formulate a few sets of tactics with Chang Wei.

At the same time, there was another more important matter, which was provisions.

In this campaign against Jinzhou, the Wangfu Army would leave Yanzhou for the first time.

They would inevitably face logistical problems.

When conscripting civilians to transport grain, the soldiers had to eat a portion, and a portion also had to be given to the civilians transporting the grain.

After all, not to mention giving them Silver, one could not let them go hungry.

In this way, it meant he would consume quite a lot of grain.

From this, it could be seen that war truly consumed financial and human resources.

If this rebellion in the northwest was indeed the work of the Dou Family, it showed how insidious they were.

If this had been any other Imperial Prince in Yanzhou.

After a round of attrition with Xiliang, they would basically be crippled.

But if Dou Wei thought he could wear him down like this, he was mistaken.

It was just that although he had confidence, provisions were indeed a problem.

Not to mention the expenses of fighting a war, the rations for the Jinzhou commoners he had recruited were currently a problem.

And to solve this problem, it depended on the attitude of the Xie Family.

Otherwise, he would only be able to spend Silver to purchase grain from the south.

However, his worries were resolved just a few days later.

People from the Xie Family arrived in Yancheng.

The person who came this time was not Xie Yu, but someone named Xie Lan.

"Empress Xie Huanghou is grateful that Your Highness still thinks of her and the Crown Prince; she instructed me upon my departure that as long as it is within the Xie Family's power, we shall certainly assist Your Highness with whatever you require."

Zhao Xu sized up Xie Lan; compared to Xie Yu, this person appeared more honest and steady.

It seemed Empress Xie Huanghou was afraid of another person like Xie Yu who acted on their own initiative and ruined her plans.

From this, it could also be seen that the Xie Family was in urgent need of his support.

Revealing a smile, he said, "Many thanks for the Empress's kindness; this Prince lacks nothing else, except for grain."

Xie Lan had already learned of this matter from Xie Yu before coming.

So he said, "How many shi of grain does Your Highness require?"

"Three million shi," Zhao Xu said calmly.

"Three million shi!" Xie Lan picked up his teacup intending to take a sip, and the teacup in his hand nearly slipped.