I Build an Aircraft Carrier in the Ming Dynasty

In Suzhou, after capturing hundreds of craftsmen, Wu Changqing came to inspect the weapons workshop.

Today, the weapon workshop in Suzhou has undergone a large-scale expansion, covering an area of ​​thousands of acres, and is guarded by soldiers at all times to prevent anyone from stealing secrets.

The guards in the outer areas where ordinary swords and guns are made are not very tight, but in the core area of ​​the workshop, the guards here are quite tight.

Inside is the place where new-style guns and gunpowder are made, and those production processes are super secret. No matter what kind of secret is leaked, it will greatly increase the strength of the enemy.

The craftsmen here must stay in the weapon workshop and are not allowed to leave.

The person in charge of the weapon workshop is Liu Baojun, an old man who followed the uprising in Jiading and is very loyal.

Liu Baojun walked in front and introduced Wu Changqing to the current situation in the weapons workshop.

"At present, there are 20 master craftsmen who make flintlock guns in the weapon workshop, and 112 apprentices, who can make 4 flintlock pistols on average every day. Several of the apprentices have already learned something, and the output of flintlock pistols is estimated. A daily average of 10 can be achieved next month.

There are 22 master craftsmen who make gunpowder, and currently there is only a shortage of saltpeter, and the output of grenades can already supply the army.

There are 8 master craftsmen who make artillery, and only two thunderbolts have been made so far.

There are more than 150 master craftsmen who make cold weapons, and 700 apprentices. The output of swords and swords can be supplied to the army, but the output of armor is seriously insufficient, mainly due to lack of iron......"

"How powerful are these cannons?"

Wu Changqing came to inspect the place where the cannon was made. The cannon is known as the god of war. When it appeared, it was destined to become a protagonist on the battlefield.

Without artillery, attacking the city is too difficult, as Wu Changqing felt when he attacked Suzhou before.

Relying on the sneak attack of the grenade, they only attacked the city head. If Wu Shengzhao was not under control, he would definitely be able to dispatch reinforcements in time to drive out the few rebels in the city.

If they missed this sneak attack, it would be even more difficult for the rebels to get to the top of the city next time.

But with cannons, it's different. Aiming at a place and bombing is enough to knock down a section of the city wall.

The previous Jiangyin City was broken by the Qing army in this way.

It can be said that when the artillery appeared, the defensive role of the city dropped a notch. When there are no cannons, the defense of the city is terrible.

Even in the field outside the city, the role of the cannon is quite critical. The side with the cannon can give the opponent a great psychological shock.

Before the two armies face each other, bombarding them with artillery can greatly reduce the morale of the enemy troops. If the number of cannons is large enough, the will of resistance of the enemy can be destroyed even by shelling alone.

"General Qi, this is a Thunder Cannon, its power is much worse than that of the red-clothed cannon."

"Then why don't you make a red-clothed cannon, won't you?"

Wu Changqing asked, Thunder Cannon is a small artillery, with a range of only one kilometer, and its power is also very general.

"It's not a big problem to manufacture. The key is that it's too expensive. This red-clothed cannon must be made of copper, and iron can easily explode. A red-clothed cannon weighs three thousand catties and needs more than two thousand catties of copper."

The craftsman replied.

When he said this, Wu Changqing understood, copper is a currency in circulation now, and more than 2,000 catties of copper can be cast into 2,000 copper coins, which is 2,000 taels of silver.

Two thousand taels of silver to build a gun is too expensive, and they can't afford it for the time being.

"Liu Baojun, you need to find a way to buy some copper first. It's as much as you can make. I'll find a way for the money."

Wu Changqing ordered them to go on, and they would definitely attack some fortified cities in the future. Without artillery, it would never work. As a modern man in the 21st century, he values ​​the lives of soldiers more, and is reluctant to take the lives of soldiers in exchange for victory.

Even if it is not a siege, as an army of hot weapons, cannons must not be missing.

Wu Changqing's territory is still too small, and he lacks resources to build a few cannons. Otherwise, he wants to get the howitzer out now.

Artillery units are a must, and it is time to start developing professional artillerymen.

"Yes."

Liu Baojun took it down.

After making a round of inspection, Wu Changqing summoned the core master craftsmen, rewarded a few fast and skilled craftsmen with some silver taels, and named them a ninth-rank official to show his attention to them.

This made the few craftsmen burst into tears. In this era, craftsmen were still low-ranking, with extremely low social status, and they did not have the qualifications to be officials at all.

Wu Changqing did not give them an official position, but gave them a chance to change their fate.

You know, the household registration system formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang stipulates that household registration is to be passed down. In other words, the son of a craftsman can only be a craftsman in the future, let alone an official, even if he changes his profession.

Sons of soldiers who are soldiers can only join the army in the future, and are not allowed to change careers.

Wu Changqing didn't know what Zhu Yuanzhang thought about this kind of brain-dead system.

The descendants of some soldiers are timid, but because of this system they can only be soldiers. Some craftsmen's children are talented and intelligent, but they can't read the imperial examinations.

Since ancient times, the Han people have believed in princes and generals, and this household registration system can be said to have created a backlog of dissatisfaction among the people. If it wasn't for this reason, Li Zicheng wouldn't have been able to get tens of thousands of followers.

After all, Daming

The disadvantages that have been accumulated for hundreds of years are only completely detonated at this time.

"As long as you work hard, work hard, and make more weapons for our army, I will never be stingy with the reward. This reward is just the beginning, and I will reward more craftsmen in the future. In my territory, your Future generations can also study for the imperial examinations."

Wu Changqing paid more attention to craftsmen than even those officials.

Because there is no shortage of officials in this era, but there is a huge shortage of craftsmen. In the future, if he wants to build a better world, it is impossible for him to use a hammer to beat and beat, mainly rely on these craftsmen.

He not only wanted to improve the social status of these craftsmen, but also to increase their income and improve their cultural knowledge.

"General Wu is really our Master Qingtian, our living Bodhisattva..."

Many craftsmen knelt down and gave thanks one after another. The feeling of being recognized is very touching.

Of course, Wu Changqing's formulation of such a policy can gain the support and love of craftsmen, but it will also be disgusted and boycotted by the scholar community. There are only so many cakes, and if someone gains, someone must lose.

This Wu Changqing can't take care of that much for the time being, and he needs to slowly find a way to solve this kind of contradiction. Changing a society is not easy, Wu Changqing can only do it step by step.

The step is too big, it is easy to pull the egg.

Like land reform, he didn't dare to try it now, otherwise the big landlords would not hesitate to rebel against him.