Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 117: The Development of Firearms Begins!
Zhu Di's four sons were all shrewd individuals. The eldest was calm and composed, the second was hot-tempered, the third was sinister, and the fourth was a "maverick" who could always come up with new ideas.

They could naturally glean from the subtle clues their father's tacit approval of the fourth prince's "Eucommia ulmoides" business. The eldest prince, Zhu Gaochi, would only be more determined to support the fourth prince in increasing revenue, since the better the pearls sold, the more tax revenue the court would receive; even if the second and third princes harbored resentment, they could only swallow their anger at this moment.

With the Emperor's attitude set out in the open, who would dare to openly obstruct this "money-making" business for the court?

Zhu Di calmly closed his eyes.

He was happy to see it happen; the fourth prince could produce good things, and in the end, it was he, the emperor, and the empire who would benefit.

As for whether the Eucommia ulmoides gum would actually work, and whether it would be as miraculous as the fourth prince claimed, Zhu Di harbored curiosity and anticipation. He decided to let the fourth prince take the plunge, only needing to give him a gentle push when necessary, or tighten the reins when appropriate.

The air inside the warm pavilion was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the emperor's thoughts were hidden deep within the tranquility of the nine-layered palace.

Meanwhile, Zhu Gaoshuo, far away in Xunzhou, was leading his craftsmen and wife into the vast Eucommia ulmoides forests. An exploration centered on the ancient bark and concerning the prototype of future industry had just begun.

A few months later.

The successful extraction and application of Eucommia gum, like a strong east wind, dispelled the gloom over the export of Xunzhou pearls and made Zhu Gaoshuo's blueprint for an industrial empire even clearer.

The tough and elastic Eucommia gum not only perfectly solved the sealing and moisture-proofing problem of pearls during long-distance sea transport, greatly enhancing the value of "Xunzhou Pearls" in Southeast Asia and the reputation of Xunzhou, but also, under the guidance of Zhu Gaoshuo, quickly penetrated every corner of the Xunzhou workshops.

It became a key sealing material for watertight compartments, significantly improving the anti-sinking capabilities of the ships built by Xunzhou.

It encased in ingenious gears and drive shafts, making the operation of new spinning machines and ore crushers smoother and more efficient; it was even made into simple waterproof ponchos and boots, which were issued to patrolling militiamen and became very popular in the humid and rainy coastal areas.

Eucommia gum, a miracle born from ancient tree bark, is quietly changing the industrial landscape of Xunzhou.

However, Zhu Gaoshuo was not satisfied with this. The glorious victory at Wanghaijiao, created by "everyone being a soldier", was inspiring, but it also exposed the shortcomings of the Xunzhou armed forces.

The main weapons were cold weapons, while firearms were scarce and outdated.

The local people's bravery and the terrain were enough to deal with the small vanguard of the Japanese pirates, but if they encountered the well-equipped and larger main force of the Japanese pirates, or other maritime threats that might appear in the future, the cost would be incalculable if they relied solely on their flesh and blood and simple weapons.

"The entire population must be mobilized for war; it cannot be just a slogan, nor can it be merely courage! It must be equipped with sufficiently sharp claws and teeth!" Deep within the workshop of Prince Qi's mansion, Zhu Gaoshuo stood before a huge workbench, his voice resolute.

On the workbench lay a series of ink-stained drawings, depicting various oddly shaped metal components and complex cross-sectional diagrams. At the center was a sketch of a long-barreled firearm whose design was quite different from the standard firearms of the Ming army.

Beside the platform, there were several captured Japanese pirate matchlock guns, as well as three-barreled guns and handguns commonly used by the Ming army, and a pile of material samples collected from various places, labeled with their names and characteristics.

For months, Zhu Gaoshuo practically lived and worked in the workshop area, immersing himself in the research and modification of firearms. His goal was exceptionally clear: to develop a new type of firearm that was reliable, easy to mass-produce, and could be equipped by trained militiamen.

While the cultural significance and aesthetics of cold weapons deserve respect, efficiency and lethality are paramount on the battlefield where life and death are at stake. Firearms, especially those capable of sustained firepower, are the only viable option for enhancing Xunzhou's overall defense and deterrent capabilities.

"Your Highness, this is a list of materials that can be reliably obtained in Xunzhou and the surrounding areas and can be used for firearms manufacturing, as you instructed. Please take a look." Wang Ao respectfully presented a thick booklet.

He is now in charge of Zhu Gaoshuo's industrial planning and has a thorough understanding of the reserves and sources of all kinds of materials.

Zhu Gaoshuo took the booklet, his eyes sharp as he quickly scanned it.

The iron material is mainly pig iron, with some wrought iron. High-quality steel is scarce. Pig iron is brittle and hard, suitable for casting cannon barrels and rough gun barrels. Wrought iron has good ductility and is suitable for forging gun barrels. It needs to be repeatedly forged and folded to remove impurities in order to improve its strength and to make parts such as springs and hammers.

Iron can be mined from the small mines that already exist in Xunzhou. The quality is uneven and low, so it needs to be carefully selected. It can also be obtained through mining trade with the border area between Fujian and Guangdong. Iron materials captured from Japanese pirate ships need to be smelted and refined, as well as recycled scrap ironware from the public.

Copper is a material with excellent ductility and castability, and is corrosion resistant. It can be used to cast cannon barrels, make touch doors, powder bath covers, complex firing mechanism parts, and bullets. However, the technology is not yet advanced enough, and no craftsman has been able to produce it in large quantities.

The local copper mines in Xunzhou are scarce, so they may need to be purchased in large quantities through trade or obtained as spoils of war.

Timber is mainly used for gunstocks, handguards, and gun beds. Eucommia ulmoides glue can be used to bond and seal the gunstock to metal parts. It is also the easiest to find. Hardwoods from Xunzhou and the surrounding mountains, such as oak, jujube, and elm, are all suitable. Alternatively, you can purchase high-quality walnut and pear wood from other regions through trade.

Gunpowder raw material, saltpeter, was also the biggest problem. It mainly relied on purchasing it from the northern Shanhe Prefecture and Xichuan Trade Zone. The price was expensive and the supply was unstable. Local attempts to boil saltpeter using rudimentary methods in toilets resulted in extremely low yields and poor purity.

Sulfur can be purchased from volcanic areas such as Qiongzhou and Ryukyu through trade, or refined from sulfur-containing minerals such as pyrite, and is relatively easier to obtain than saltpeter.

Charcoal can be produced in large quantities locally, and the best choice is loose-textured and fast-burning woods such as willow and cedar.

The most critical issue is the gunpowder formula, which contains 75% saltpeter, 10% sulfur, and 15% charcoal, with saltpeter making up the largest proportion. A stable supply of saltpeter is the lifeblood of the continued use of firearms. Gunpowder granulation technology needs to be tackled, and research should be conducted on how to improve combustion efficiency.

Other materials, such as lead, tin, and coal, are readily available.

Zhu Gaoshuo closed the booklet, his brows furrowed.

The materials list clearly outlines the current predicament: basic materials, especially high-quality iron and saltpeter, are heavily dependent on external inputs, leaving us at the mercy of others; processing technologies, such as steelmaking and gunpowder purification and granulation, are outdated; and there is a lack of precision processing equipment, such as smooth gun barrels for drilling deep holes.

The path to mass-producing reliable firearms is long and arduous.

“There are many difficulties, but there is no way out!” Zhu Gaoshuo picked up a charcoal pencil and heavily marked the key parts of the musket sketch.

(End of this chapter)