The First Lackey Under The Empress

#240 - A form of firearm that appeared hundreds of years earlier

Before long, the group entered the Celestial Master's Mansion and, following a small path along the side gate, arrived at Gongshu Tianyuan's residence.

That is, the place where Zhao Du'an lectured that day.

However, this time, they didn't meet in that messy room, but in a relatively clean small hall.

"Envoy, since our last farewell, I have repeatedly pondered your lecture that day, and the more I think about it, the more profound it seems..."

Gongshu Tianyuan had a posture of eager thirst for knowledge.

Zhao Du'an cleared his throat and smiled, saying:

"Brother Gongshu, we can discuss these matters another day."

"Oh! Right, right, let's talk about the main business first," Gongshu Tianyuan said with an embarrassed expression, scratching his head:

"You said you were looking for me about something?"

Zhao Du'an gave an "En" sound and, unhurriedly, described the matter in brief.

"Firearms?" The short, fat divine official was stunned for a moment before suddenly realizing:

"The imperial court seems to have indeed sought me out, but firearms are mundane objects and not the same as what I am skilled in... Of course, since the Envoy personally opened his mouth, I will definitely assist with all my strength."

Only then did he turn his head and look at the skinny, goatee-bearded official:

"What specific difficulties are you facing? Please explain it carefully."

Chen Huoshen didn't dare to breathe loudly from the moment he entered the door, having an instinctive reverence for divine officials.

Hearing the inquiry now, he couldn't hide his excitement.

He didn't expect Zhao Du'an's influence to be so useful, and immediately, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, he listed the many difficulties one by one.

Gongshu Tianyuan listened quietly and, after pondering for a moment, said:

"Regarding what you mentioned, I can indeed solve some of it. Many things that your mundane artisans cannot do, I can accomplish with magic.

However... many of your ideas are too far-fetched.

Although the Artisan God is a deity, he is not a statue in a temple. He can't just grant whatever you wish for. He's not that magical, and he can't directly help you perfect your firearm ideas...

Heh, I won't hide it from you, the more creative the field, the less I can help.

The more specific... for example, if you want me to control the fire temperature and perfectly cast copper and iron into the required shape... these, on the contrary, are very easy..."

Chen Huoshen's eyes lit up at first.

But hearing the latter part, he couldn't suppress the disappointed expression on his face.

In short, if the research of firearms is divided into "design" and "casting," then Gongshu Tianyuan can use the methods of a warlock to almost perfectly realize "casting."

The precision that mundane artisans find difficult to control due to many technical limitations is just a matter of pinching a magic seal for the divine official.

It's like a humanoid tool machine... or rather, a humanoid 3D printer...

But regarding "design," Gongshu Tianyuan himself is also worried... otherwise, he wouldn't have created so many strange things.

But precisely, what Chen Huoshen wants most is "design"... for example, the trouble of reloading the fire lance, how can it be solved?

For example, after the fire lance becomes smaller, how to ensure its power?

After it becomes larger, how to maintain accuracy, etc...

This requires not only flashes of inspiration in the mind, the creativity of a genius, but also a large number of experiments to compare and find the optimal solution.

He originally placed his hopes on the "Artisan God" warlock, but at this moment, he felt frustrated and lost.

After all, without a good design plan, even if the warlock takes action, it will only make the "fire lance" cast better.

However, Gongshu Tianyuan's next sentence made the Firearms Bureau Director raise his head in astonishment.

"However... although I can't help you in this area, Envoy Zhao might be able to."

Gongshu Tianyuan rubbed his hands, staring at Zhao Du'an, his small eyes flashing with cunning light:

"Envoy, since you brought him here, you must have strategies in your chest, right?"

Chen Huoshen was stunned, not understanding why the other party would instead ask Zhao Qian Shi for advice.

In his eyes, although Zhao Du'an had some understanding of firearms, it was only limited to that.

Zhao Du'an was calm and composed, smiling and nodding his head:

"Indeed, I have some ideas."

This was his purpose.

It was to use the two people in front of him to manufacture the new firearms in his mind.

Chen Gui has extremely rich experience in firearm manufacturing, Gongshu Tianyuan has a genius mind and comprehension, as well as the blessing of術法.

Coupled with what he knows, the finished design plan that has been verified in another world by the wisdom of countless craftsmen.

It can be called perfect.

He really doesn't understand firearms, but it doesn't matter, he only needs to copy out the key designs, and the remaining two can complete it for him.

"That's great, I'll go prepare right now!"

Gongshu Tianyuan was overjoyed, turned his head and rushed out like a whirlwind.

In a moment, he came back carrying the small whiteboard from last time, as well as the writing brush, inkstick, paper and inkstone.

Zhao Du'an then familiarly got up, preparing to explain.

Chen Huoshen, Qian Kerou, and Hou Renmeng looked at this scene blankly.

The latter two were thrown out to guard the door.

And Chen Gui, who was known as the "Firearm God of Dayu," quickly realized what was happening.

Zhao Du'an stood in front of the "blackboard" and said:

"Just as Chen Gui said, the future of firearms should develop in two directions: 'guns' and 'cannons.' How should they be designed specifically? I also have some guesses about them, and today I will share the two that I envision."

He wrote down two words on the board separately:

Matchlock Gun

Red Barbarian Cannon

Then, Zhao Du'an simply hung a large piece of paper on the wall and used a brush to outline the structure of the "matchlock gun" on the spot:

The gun is two to three feet long, straight on the outside, with a tube inside, made of metal;

The inside is connected, and the bottom end is closed;

There is a curved rod on one side, which is the path for igniting the fire.

It belongs to a type of fire tube, and it is also, in his judgment, the most suitable small firearm to develop given the current situation of Dayu.

When he was observing it in the museum in his previous life, he was very surprised because the "matchlock gun" was already quite similar to a rifle in appearance.

The key structure is a metal hook, one end fixed on the gun, which can rotate around an axis.

The other end clamps the fuse. The soldier only needs to push the metal hook into the flash pan with his hand, so that the fuse ignites the black gunpowder, and then the bullet loaded in the barrel is fired out.

It can kill the enemy.

As for the fuse for ignition, it is made of hemp rope and cloth strips treated with salt solution, which is equivalent to a fuse to solve the problem of firing speed.

And accompanying Zhao Du'an's explanation, Gongshu Tianyuan was fine.

As for Chen Huoshen, he was completely dumbfounded.

In just a quarter of an hour of explanation.

The thoughts in the mind of this "Firearm God" who has been devoted to firearms for most of his life seemed to have experienced a series of gunpowder explosions.

Zhao Du'an's casual sentence, a "structure" that was casually outlined on the paper, was like a thunderbolt in his ears.

It overturned the old concepts of this great country's craftsman into a mess.

His eyes almost popped out, and his body stood up involuntarily.

He didn't dare to blink his eyes, for fear of missing any details.

In his mind, he used his rich experience to judge the feasibility of what Zhao Du'an said.

His blood was surging, and his face was flushed.

Feasible.

Still... feasible!

Although it has not been tested, the firearm on the white paper is clearly very similar to the shape he has depicted in his mind for most of his life.

Zhao Du'an's words were like a big hand, clearing away the fog that covered his eyes.

Let him be able to brighten his eyes and get a glimpse in advance of the firearm form that should have been developed hundreds of years later on Dayu's original timeline.

"Lord, may I ask... If this matchlock gun is really feasible, although it can greatly improve the firing effect, I am afraid it is still not as easy to use as bows and arrows on the battlefield..." Chen Huoshen couldn't help but ask excitedly.

This was the argument that Zhao Du'an used to criticize his fire lance.

At this moment, it came back like a boomerang.

Zhao Du'an smiled slightly, not panicking, and said:

"You're right, even to this point, it's still a bit slow, so I also designed a method for infantry to use muskets, called the 'three-rank volley' method.

That is, the soldiers are divided into three rows in a team. After the first row shoots, they retreat to the end, and the second row becomes the first row... This cycle repeats...

In addition, if you want to unleash powerful firepower in a short period of time, you can also make slight changes, so that the first row kneels on one knee, the second row squats halfway, and the third row stands upright... This can solve it."

Three-stage rotation... three rows firing at the same time...

Chen Huoshen just imagined it in his mind, and he clenched his fists tightly, so excited that he couldn't restrain himself, and murmured:

"Yes, this is possible, this is possible..."

Zhao Du'an smiled slightly, removed the white paper, and replaced it with another one.

He began to outline the structure of the Red Barbarian Cannon, and at the same time said:

"As for artillery, the focus is different..."

"...For artillery, the range will be farther, but the accuracy of the landing point becomes difficult."

"For this reason, we need to use some calculation methods to calculate in advance how to adjust the muzzle..."

When speaking, he naturally outlined coordinate systems and parabolas on the paper.

Zhao Du'an didn't know much about this part.

But it doesn't matter, he believes that as long as he gives the general principle, Gongshu Tianyuan's intelligence will complete it on his own.

As expected.

When explaining the musket, Gongshu Tianyuan was still lacking in interest.

But when he saw the parabola, he was shocked, his bean-sized eyes burning with heat and greed.

He smelled a taste similar to "light."

And Zhao Du'an's next explanation really confirmed that this also belongs to the category of "physics."

...

Outside the room door.

Qian Kerou and Hou Renmeng stood with their arms folded, one on the left and one on the right, like two door gods, guarding the outside.

The round-faced little secretary yawned, turned her head to look at the tightly closed door, and could vaguely hear the discussions inside.

With a frustrated expression:

"What exactly is the meaning of what the adults are saying? Why can't I understand it?"

Hou Renmeng, with a rebellious expression, looked indifferent, raised his chin, and said confidently:

"I don't read much, do you think I can understand?"

Qian Kerou looked admiring:

"How does the lord know so much? He can be a scholar in the Xiuwen Hall, and when he comes to the Divine Machine Camp, even that 'Chen Huoshen' becomes a student."

Hou Renmeng thought for a while, shook his head and said:

"Perhaps, this is genius."

At this moment, the two suddenly raised their heads at the same time, looking vigilantly ahead.

In the courtyard, the air was distorted.

Outlining a petite figure, wearing a black divine official robe, with unfocused eyes, and long hair scattered behind her head.

Jin Jian tilted her head and said with some confusion:

"Zhao Du'an, he... is here?"

...

In the room.

"The general idea is like this, is there anything else you want to ask?"

Zhao Du'an dropped the writing brush, splashing out ink stains one by one.

Asking the two people listening below.