Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

After the artillery was fired, the black smoke became thicker, and coupled with the dust raised by the shock, visibility around the gun mount was very low.

The target thirty or forty steps away had fallen to the ground, which meant that there was no problem with the artillery firing.

So Zhang Shikang ignored the smoke and dust, covered his mouth and nose and walked towards the bronze cannon.

He wants to see if there is any problem with the gun barrel. This is the key.

Emperor Chongzhen followed him for some unknown reason. Bi Maokang, Johann Adam Schall von Bell and others also walked towards the cannons.

But the huge bronze cannon was still squatting there steadily, the entire barrel was intact, only the traces of burning black gunpowder remained at the firing port.

"Is this... done?" Emperor Chongzhen asked in a low voice.

"At least the first step has been accomplished, but this doesn't explain it completely," Zhang Shikang replied.

After all, he knew a little about artillery. The initial firing only proved that it was usable, but its accuracy, range, power, how many times the quality of the barrel could withstand firing, etc. all required a long period of testing and verification.

For more than half an hour, Zhang Shikang ordered the craftsmen to conduct continuous test firings and began to comprehensively test the properties of the new bronze cannon, even bringing out the sample cannon from Xiao Franji for comparison.

After continuous test firing and statistics, about twenty shots were fired in succession, and no problems occurred with the replica copper cannon barrel.

In terms of power, accuracy and range, it is almost identical to the prototype of the Little Francois, which preliminarily indicates that the new gun is a success.

There was a hint of joy on Zhang Shikang's face. When Johann Adam Schall von Bell promised to successfully copy the technology within four months, Zhang Shikang was unsure and thought the priest was bragging.

Now, Johann Adam Schall von Bell and Bi Maokang have exceeded the research and development target in just over two months, which is enough to prove that this priest has real ability.

What Zhang Shikang didn't know was that in order to preach, Johann Adam Schall von Bell had put a lot of effort into studying Western firearms and even wrote a book called "Essentials of Fire Attack".

Although Bi Maokang was proficient in firearms, he was only proficient in the old-style firearms of the Ming Dynasty, such as the Shenfei Cannon, the Thunder Gun, the multi-barreled Thunder Gun, the old-style French cannon, etc.

The most crucial difference between the two lies in their thinking. After completing the Renaissance, Europeans are better at standardizing the details of all industries.

Use as much material as you want, strictly following the limits of the scale, but Daming is better at using experience, such as a little or the right amount.

As for how much is a little and how much is the right amount, it all depends on the experience of the master craftsman.

Of course, it may not be so exaggerated in the research of firearms, but at least in other industries, this situation is very common.

If Bi Maokang were left to copy it alone, he would probably not be able to complete it within four months.

This is not due to experience, but backward thinking.

"Your Majesty, this cannon is very important to our Ming Dynasty. Once this cannon can be mass-produced, it will probably only be a matter of time before we can conquer the north and recover the lost territory."

Zhang Shikang whispered to Brother Chongzhen, and then rubbed his fingers at him, implying that he would be rewarded.

Zhang Shikang attaches great importance to scientific research, but emphasis alone is not enough. When the craftsmen have completed their tasks beyond the target, they should be rewarded.

Only in this way can craftsmen maintain high morale and devote themselves to work better.

Since Brother Chongzhen is here, of course he has to do this job.

The craftsmen around looked at Zhang Shikang with burning eyes. Zhang Shikang often came to the Xishan camp, and most of the craftsmen knew him.

At this time, they didn't know who the people around Zhang Shikang were, they just thought they were Zhang Shikang's noble friends in the capital.

But I heard Emperor Chongzhen raise his voice and say:

"Bi Maokang and Johann Adam Schall von Bell have made contributions to the development of artillery, which makes me very happy and they should be rewarded.

Bi Maokang was promoted to the rank of Senior Light Cavalry Commandant with a reward of three hundred taels of gold.

Tang Ruowang was promoted to the rank of Light Cavalry Commander, with a reward of two hundred taels of gold.

As soon as he said this, he was a fool, and he knew the identity of the person in front of him. The craftsmen around were shocked.

Emperor Chongzhen had only visited the Xishan Camp two years ago. At that time, the Imperial Guards were not called the Imperial Guards, and there was only one big boss in the workshop, Mao Yuanyi.

These craftsmen were seeing the emperor for the first time. They were so excited that they immediately knelt on the ground and excitedly kowtowed to Emperor Chongzhen.

"Your Majesty, we in the Ming Dynasty don't have that much gold. You always give fake gold as a reward. It would be better to give silver directly. There is still a lot of silver in the treasury.

Also, the craftsmen must be rewarded, as they are the main force in the mass production of bronze cannons in the future."

Zhang Shikang whispered a suggestion to Brother Chongzhen.

The Ming Dynasty lacked gold. For thousands of years, this land had always lacked high-quality gold mines.

As a result, emperors of all dynasties rarely rewarded meritorious people with gold. Before Emperor Chongzhen, all the rewards were large copper ingots gilded with gold.

If copper is also in short supply, just use large lead ingots. In short, it's an honor.

Fortunately, Emperor Chongzhen listened to the advice very much and immediately changed his words:

"The reward of 300 taels of silver was changed to 3,000 taels of silver, and Johann Adam Schall von Bell was awarded 2,000 taels of silver.

All the craftsmen have also made contributions, and each of them will be rewarded with 100 taels of silver."

Before his retirement, the highest official position Bi Maokang held was the third-rank minister, so Emperor Chongzhen bestowed on him the third-rank title of Shangqingche Duwei.

This is an official position among the twelve ranks of the Ming Dynasty's Military Merits. The Ming Dynasty's Military Merits and Civil Merits are basically honorary titles.

But ever since Zhang Shikang raised the salaries of officials, anyone who held an official position, even if it was an honorary title, would receive a generous salary, and at least they could live a decent life relying solely on the salary.

Before this, Johann Adam Schall von Bell had always been a commoner. He never dreamed that he would one day become an official of the Ming Dynasty simply by imitating artillery. The rank of Light Cavalry Commander was a third-rank official, one level lower than that of a Vice Minister.

He was very happy and together with Bi Maokang, verbally expressed his gratitude to Emperor Chongzhen.

The craftsmen around were even happier. Their monthly salary was only a little over one or two taels of silver. The reward of one hundred taels of silver was enough to cover their salary for several years.

As a result, the dilapidated workshop was filled with words of gratitude praising the emperor's grace.

But Emperor Chongzhen did not actually realize how much of a change a firearm could bring to the Ming Dynasty. He just did it out of his respect for Zhang Shikang.

"You must do your job well here. Whatever Wuji asks you to do, you must do it well. I will not treat you unfairly. Stand up."

After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he and Zhang Shikang got on the carriage.

Zhang Shikang waved his hand and asked Bi Maokang to get on the carriage as well.

Bi Maokang is already seventy years old this year. Zhang Shikang cherishes this old scientist very much and was reluctant to let the old man walk even for the three or four mile return journey.

As the carriage creaked back, Zhang Shikang asked again about the improvement of black gunpowder.

After all, there are only two ways to increase the power of firearms: one is to improve firearms, and the other is to improve gunpowder.

He thought that improving black gunpowder was not easy, so he just wanted to ask about the progress and see if he could come up with other ideas to help Bi Maokang.

Unexpectedly, Bi Maokang spoke directly:

"Sir, if you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten that I had made some progress on the black gunpowder just a few days after you left to patrol the border.

Today’s black powder burns 20 to 30 percent faster than before.”

……