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

"Fuck! So fast? Mr. Bi is awesome!"

Zhang Shikang exclaimed in surprise, causing Emperor Chongzhen to frown.

I thought that I had never seen this guy so happy when the commercial tax reform and land reform were successful. How could a cannon and black gunpowder make him so surprised?

Bi Maokang seemed very calm, after all, he was seventy years old.

"This is all thanks to the advice from the Lord."

Then Bi Maokang told Zhang Shikang the general process of improvement.

The three main raw materials for gunpowder, charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter, have been used for thousands of years, needless to say.

After a long period of use and improvement, the current black powder formula has reached the optimal ratio at the current technological level.

Zhang Shikang had previously suggested that he try adding some sugar, but Bi Maokang did not take it seriously at first, thinking that sugar was something to eat and how could it be added to gunpowder.

But after thinking about it for two days, Bi Maokang still had no idea, so he actually added a little sugar and tried it.

At first the effect was not ideal, and the right proportion of sugar to add was unknown. But after two days of testing, Bi Maokang discovered that it seemed to really intensify the combustion of gunpowder.

But soon a new problem arose: the sugar could easily separate into layers and blend with the gunpowder. The sugar could be separated from the gunpowder by simply shaking the container.

But this did not pose a problem for Bi Maokang, as this was actually an old problem with gunpowder.

This is because charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter have different specific gravities. During transportation, they are shaken several times, and every shake of the wooden barrel will cause the various raw materials to separate into layers.

However, if the powder reaches the front line and the soldiers try to remix it, the powder and air will be fully mixed, and a dust explosion will easily occur.

Later, craftsmen would try to add liquids such as water, wine, and even urine during the processing of gunpowder.

Bi Maokang mixed sugar and water in proportion and added it into black powder.

Then a miracle happened. The dried gunpowder was soaked in sugar water, which not only formed particles with stable structure and proportion.

The gaps formed by the cracks inside the particles make the burning speed of the gunpowder have a qualitative leap, which can almost be called a deflagration.

After a distance of three or four miles, the group quickly returned to the workshop in Xishan Camp, and Bi Maokang began to demonstrate to Zhang Shikang.

He took out the old black powder, as well as the black powder that had been dried and mixed with sugar water, and crushed the compacted black powder with a wooden pestle, forming a shape with coarser particles than the original black powder.

Then Bi Maokang poured two equal amounts of black gunpowder onto a stone slab and rolled the gunpowder into a length of about one foot with his hands.

Bi Maokang took out two fire sticks, blew them and said:

"My lord, please take a look."

As he spoke, he placed two tinder sticks in his left and right hands at the same time on two long gunpowder dragons of the same length and weight.

Black smoke suddenly rose in the workshop, and Zhang Shikang's eyes were fixed on the burning gunpowder.

But the gunpowder mixed with sugar water burned very quickly. When the old formula black powder had just burned one-third, the new black powder had already burned more than half.

After the experiment was completed, Zhang Shikang was overjoyed.

"Have you let Tang Ruowang know about this?" Zhang Shikang asked cautiously.

"My Lord, no, most of the matters concerning the imitation of the bronze cannon were handled by Pastor Tang. Pastor Tang was very serious and rigorous in improving firearms and never paid attention to anything other than this matter.

Aside from always telling people about his Lord, Pastor Tang is a pretty good person.”

Bi Maokang said in a deep voice.

In fact, he really didn't understand why such a thing had to be kept secret from Johann Adam Schall von Bell. He had come from afar to this small workshop and put all his energy into completing the task of replicating the bronze cannon.

Not only did they have to keep the matter of gunpowder secret, they also had to keep several other projects secret.

"Mr. Bi, do you think I'm a little petty?" Zhang Shikang said with a smile.

"Sir, I dare not."

Bi Maokang would never admit it, but he immediately figured out who Zhang Shikang was:

"Hahaha! Mr. Bi is lying.

As the old saying goes, music has no borders, but musicians have borders, and scientists also have borders.

Mr. Bi may not understand it now, and perhaps none of the civil and military officials in the court will understand it, but they will understand it in the future."

Zhang Shikang said seriously.

Zhang Shikang thought about it and concluded that the reason why people nowadays do not block technology strictly enough is probably because of inconvenient transportation.

Just like Europeans and the current Ming Dynasty, the distance between them is so far that the West has not had any communication with the East for thousands of years since historical records began.

The real war between Europeans and Eastern dynasties began in 1840.

But after the First World War, the technological blockade by various countries accelerated rapidly.

The reason is very simple. I have created powerful weapons. Once they are passed on to other countries, those countries may really use their research results to attack me.

In contrast, nowadays, even if a war breaks out, it is basically a war between mortal enemies, so no one would think of blocking any technology.

For example, the French and the Dutch today, the copper cannons sold to him by the French are the best cannons in their country at present.

Fortunately, Zhang Shikang didn't know any powerful Dutch people, otherwise Zhang Shikang would have tried to ask, and he would definitely be able to buy a galleon.

But Zhang Shikang heard that the Netherlands, as the coachman of the sea, possessed the most advanced shipbuilding technology in the world and could now start building three-deck battleships.

Therefore, when the Ming Dynasty took the lead in a certain aspect, the first thing Zhang Shikang thought of was to keep it strictly confidential.

"Oh, by the way, has this new gunpowder ever been tried with muskets or cannons?" Zhang Shikang asked again.

"My Lord, we have tried it. Both the power and the range have increased. However, if too much new gunpowder is added, it will easily cause the musket to explode." Bi Maokang said.

"Hmm...that's a problem." Zhang Shikang stroked his beardless chin and fell into deep thought.

Gunpowder and sugar can cause deflagration, probably because the reaction between sugar and gunpowder releases more gas, allowing the gunpowder to burn more fully and quickly.

This results in a greater power, but the current manufacturing technology means that the muskets produced are not strong enough, and are even unable to match the more powerful gunpowder.

This is also related to the backward smelting level and rough forging technology.

The artillery was better, after all, the barrel was thick enough, and the melting point and ductility of copper were better than iron at that time.

But if the barrel of the musket is also made of copper, the Minister of Revenue Hai Zhongqi will not agree, and Chongzhen brother probably won't be able to do anything about it.

The Ming Dynasty was really short of copper.

The new copper cannon has just completed research and development, and if it is to be mass-produced, more and more copper will be needed.

As he was thinking, Zhang Shikang suddenly had an idea:

"Mr. Bi, do you think we can do this? Too much gunpowder will cause the chamber to explode, but too little will affect the power.

So can we measure the gunpowder in a fixed quantity, roll it into a tube with cardboard, put in the weighed amount of gunpowder, and even put the bullets in it?

This way, not only will we not have to worry about the barrel exploding, but it may also speed up the process of changing ammunition."

……