Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 110 Zhu Yuanzhang: We don't know much, only a tiny fraction.
"What are you doing?"

Before they even reached the shipyard, a sharp shout rang out.

However, it was soldiers with guns questioning people on the gate tower of the shipyard.

Although the Bao Shipyard is no longer in a state of war, it is still under the jurisdiction of the Jiangshui Waterway Division due to some systems left over from the early years and its special status.

It remains an important location.

Normally, soldiers patrol the area, and it is not open to the public.

You need to undergo checks both when entering and leaving.

The soldiers and craftsmen at the Treasure Shipyard were all under the management of the Treasure Ship Management Office.

You could say that once the door is closed, it's a completely independent world.

This is a major reason why Wu Zhen, Wu Liang, and others dared to set their sights on large ships.

"Delivering timber."

The person in the middle quickly stepped forward and spoke up to respond.

Delivering timber?
There was already a lot of unused timber stored inside the shipyard.

They haven't built many ships in the last two years, so why are they sending timber here again today?

Moreover, the amount of timber delivered is far too little.
"We did not receive any notification that timber would be delivered today."

Suppressing his doubts, the guards responded.

"Sir, it's timber that's frequently requested."

The man bowed and spoke.

Upon hearing the words "Chang Tiju" mentioned, the soldiers guarding the gate instantly perked up.

Their tone softened considerably.

"Since it is someone who frequently gives instructions, you should be allowed to enter directly, but we have not received such instructions today."

Please wait outside for a moment, I will go and ask for instructions.

With that, he turned to leave.

However, they discovered that someone had already taken the lead, but it was their team's lead.

"You continue your mission here, I will go and report to the Prefect."

The sound drifted up from the stairs.

The soldier had no choice but to stop and stand at attention again.

From his somewhat unnatural expression, one could tell that he was probably silently sending his sincerest greetings to the team leader, who was known for always grabbing benefits.

The messenger outside was extremely anxious, wishing he could immediately inform Chang Jinshu of the news.

But at this moment, they didn't know if there were any members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard lurking around in the shadows.

In order not to alert the enemy, I could only suppress my anxiety and wait here.

I just hope Chang Jinshu can get out soon, so as not to delay important matters...

……

"Did someone come to deliver the timber? Or did I order it?"

Chang Jinshu, who had been in a noticeably good mood these past few days and still smelled of alcohol even in broad daylight, asked in confusion.

The squad leader who came to report the matter became uneasy upon seeing Chang Jinshu's reaction.

broken!

I was cheated by the timber delivery man!

I told you, there's plenty of timber in the shipyard, so how could there be a shortage of timber?
How could the Prefect possibly personally concern himself with such a matter?

Even if it was the magistrate who ordered the timber to be delivered, it would be absolutely impossible for him to only send such a small amount.

Unfortunately, it's too late.

I originally thought it was just a matter of flattering the governor and showing off to him.

Who would have thought that his buttocks would be exposed!

I should have known better than to argue with Zhao Sancai and just let him come and report.

At the same time, they also hated the merchant who dared to deceive and trick them.

Next, these people will definitely get what's coming to them!

"Your Excellency, these unruly people are so audacious! I will go and drive them away immediately!"

He spoke up and turned to do it.

At this moment, Chang Jinshu's expression shifted.

"Wait a minute! I remember now, it really was something I instructed them to do before."

I was so busy that I completely forgot about it.

As he spoke, he stood up, seemingly intending to personally greet them.

This action stunned the man for a moment, then filled him with joy.

It turns out the merchant was telling the truth!

It turned out to be an order from the magistrate.

It seems that the timber will fetch a high price here.

It should be at least ten times the size of normal timber.

Then, recalling how, not long ago, in a moment of panic, he had called them "troublemakers" and threatened to drive them away, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret and unease.

"You did a good job on this."

Chang Jinshu's praise followed, dispelling the man's worries.

They keep saying it's what they should do...

Chang Jinshu strode forward, almost as if he were running.

This matter is likely to be quite significant!
It's unlikely to end well!
Otherwise, such an abnormal thing wouldn't have happened!
Seeing Chang Jinshu's reaction, the team leader became even happier.

It's good that you came to report it yourself!

This matter will surely earn me the favor of the Prefect.

"Go and have someone open the door and let them in."

I hurried along and arrived at the gate.

Chang Jinshu suddenly stopped and looked at the man, giving him instructions.

Upon hearing this, the man understood, responded, and then jogged off to get to work.

Instead of letting someone else open the door, he opened it himself.

Not only that, after the door opened, he went outside and bowed and scraped as he invited the people who were transporting the timber in.

Indeed, there is no shortage of people who want to improve, anywhere.

Chang Jinshu stood there, his eyes fixed on the doorway.

His breathing seemed heavy.

His hands clenched unconsciously as he prayed incessantly for the blessings of his ancestors.

Hopefully, he's just overthinking things.

A false alarm.

Please, please don't let it happen; it's the last thing he wants to see.

As he prayed, the anxious people outside were also calling to the timber-carrying workers to come to the shipyard.

The team leader was very attentive, personally helping to push the cart, without any airs whatsoever.

He was eager to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to make a good impression on the Prefect and leave a lasting impression...

……

"You can also use steel to cast gun barrels."

It doesn't necessarily have to be forged.

At the Firearms Bureau, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at a half-finished cannon barrel made of steel in front of him.

He slowly opened his mouth and offered another solution.

Tao Chengdao, who was eagerly waiting to hear what brilliant solution the emperor might come up with, was stunned when he heard Zhu Yuanzhang's words.

No... this is the better method His Majesty was talking about?

Some of these things were truly beyond anyone's expectations.

It's not that it's brilliant, but rather... it's like talking nonsense.

If possible, who wouldn't want to use steel as the material and directly manufacture cannon barrels by casting?
Using this method, the cast cannon barrel will definitely not have any air leakage problems.

The problem is, it can't be done!
There's simply no way to melt the steel.

Li Baiqiang, Tao Chengdao's apprentice, was also completely dumbfounded.

They were astonished by the method the emperor had proposed.

However, he soon realized that something was wrong.

Not long ago, when my teacher spoke with His Majesty, he mentioned that steel cannon barrels could only be forged, not cast.

Thanks to Your Majesty's wisdom and your excellent suggestion of a copper-clad iron solution.

It's obvious at a glance that His Majesty has a very deep understanding of these matters and is an expert.

They would never suggest such an obviously unreliable method.

Since that's the case, there's only one possibility left.

That means Your Majesty really has a way to melt steel and then use casting to make cannon barrels!

At this point, we didn't need to have any questions; we just needed to wait for the emperor to continue.

After this thought arose, Li Baiqiang suddenly remembered his teacher, and his heart tightened.

To be on the safe side, I prepared to speak first and quickly guide His Majesty to continue.

To prevent one's teacher from saying anything inappropriate.

Unfortunately, he spent too much time scheming in his mind.

It's too late.

"Your Majesty, steel cannot be melted, so it cannot be cast."

"I'm afraid Your Majesty's method won't work."

Listening to what my teacher said, and then looking at my teacher's serious expression.

Li Baiqiang had no choice but to swallow the words that were about to come out.

And she silently lowered her head considerably...

"Haha, ordinary methods won't work to melt it, but if we think of a way, we can always melt it."

Iron was called "bad metal" back then, far inferior to copper, simply because the furnace temperature wasn't high enough to produce high-quality iron.

Didn't we overcome it later?

We have a way to melt the steel.

Not only can it be melted, but if done well, it can also be used to produce batches of steel, just like iron smelting.

No more hammering steel!

Zhu Yuanzhang was quite tolerant of those who were truly capable.

This is especially true for people like Tao Chengdao, who are not only capable but also very pure.

Therefore, after hearing Tao Chengdao's words, he did not feel dissatisfied with Tao Chengdao or look down on him, as Li Baiqiang had thought.

I feel that my teacher is not smart enough.

Instead, she smiled and explained, her attitude very amiable.
"Really? Your Majesty, is this true?!"

Tao Chengdao became so excited that he forgot all about the proper etiquette between ruler and subject.

He looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked questions repeatedly.

His eyes sparkled.

After verifying how useful the new gunpowder production method obtained from the emperor was...

Tao Chengdao developed an extremely strong interest in the cannons that the emperor had given him, which, once completed, would undoubtedly have greatly increased power.

I can't wait to make it.

However, due to limitations in materials and technology, it could not be completed.

This feeling was incredibly unpleasant for someone like Tao Chengdao.

Unlike a lustful ghost, how much better is it when faced with a peerless beauty who seems within easy reach, yet always falls short and cannot be obtained?

In this situation, they were suddenly surprised to hear the emperor say that there was a way to melt steel, which could not only be used to cast cannon barrels, but also produce a large amount of steel.

If he could take it all in stride, he wouldn't be Tao Chengdao!

If this is true, it means that not only can the problem of casting cannons be solved all at once.

The problem of muskets can also be solved at the same time.

With steel-cast cannon and gun barrels, coupled with the new gunpowder developed under His Majesty's guidance, the power of firearms will be increased significantly!
In the future, firearms will surely shine even brighter!
Not only him, but even Li Baiqiang, whose mind works faster than that of an average craftsman and who is quite adept at interpersonal relationships, and who felt that his teacher's behavior in front of the emperor was somewhat inappropriate, couldn't afford to think too much about it.

They both looked up, their eyes fixed on the emperor without blinking.

"The biggest reason why steel cannot be melted is that the furnace temperature cannot be reached."

The key to solving the problem is how to increase the furnace temperature.

There are only a few points to consider when trying to solve this.

The first step is to find a fuel that can generate more heat to replace the current fuel.

There are ways to make the fuel burn more completely.

It should be able to dissipate as much heat as possible in a short time. By using refractory materials and a more reasonable furnace construction method, a furnace that is better at retaining heat and promotes complete fuel combustion can be built…

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke eloquently, having done some research on these matters in later generations.

Although I haven't actually tried it out.

But I do remember some of the key points.

Tao Chengdao nodded repeatedly, feeling that what the emperor said made a lot of sense.

But he was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

Although the emperor's words were strange, upon closer examination, they were all truths that everyone knew.

The key is how to find a better fuel than charcoal, and what methods to use to make it burn more vigorously.

What are refractory materials, and how should a furnace be made?

These are the top priorities.

If these issues cannot be resolved, then His Majesty's words will be meaningless.

"This fuel is coal."

In the future, coal can completely replace charcoal.

Compared to coal, charcoal is no good; it doesn't burn as well and the temperature is too low.

The solution Zhu Yuanzhang proposed dimmed Tao Chengdao's bright eyes considerably.

"Your Majesty, this... there's no way to use coal to make steel."

Iron produced by smelting iron from coal is particularly brittle and difficult to use.

It's not as good as charcoal.

Coal cannot melt steel.

Although Tao Chengdao was obsessed with firearms, he was not completely ignorant about iron smelting.

After all, casting guns and cannons requires the use of metal materials such as iron, copper, and steel.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Ordinary coal is indeed not good; it contains many impurities."

But here, we can use a method similar to burning charcoal to first burn the coal and remove all these impurities.

We'll use the remaining coal to make steel.

In fact, mineral resources are not evenly distributed in China.

Moreover, the quality of some mines is also poor.

For example, the iron ore market is generally not very good; it's not only scarce but also of low quality.

The same applies to coal; it is unevenly distributed.

Shaanxi, north-central Shanxi, and the Ordos region are rich in coal resources, including a significant amount of high-quality coal.

When I was in high school, my geography teacher emphasized the rich resources of the Ordos region.

In short, it's a triumphant moment – ​​cashmere, coal, rare earth elements, and natural gas.

However, those places are really too far away from the present-day capital.

Given the current transportation conditions, it is not realistic to transport coal from those places to this area.

Therefore, it takes more effort to make steel.

We need to coke it first, turning low-quality coal into high-quality coke.

Coking is a highly polluting process.

But there's no way around it; before development takes hold, there's little right to consider pollution.

This was something that was unavoidable in the early stages of industrial development, and Zhu Yuanzhang was also unable to solve it.

The only option is to try to choose sparsely populated areas when selecting coking sites in the future.

We should try our best to take measures to reduce the harm.

Upon hearing this, Tao Chengdao's dimmed eyes lit up again.

Yup!

Wood cannot be used directly for iron smelting; it needs to be burned into charcoal.

Since wood can be burned into charcoal, why can't coal be burned as well?
Coal burns longer than wood and generates a higher temperature.

After being fired, the resulting product will definitely be hotter and more useful than charcoal!
How come I never thought of such a simple truth before?

So many people, how come no one thought of that?

Your Majesty is truly a god!
"Refractory bricks can be made from bauxite."

High-alumina bauxite, in particular, is extremely heat-resistant.

In the Ming Dynasty today, refractory bricks are generally made of clay.

This thing works fine for regular stoves.

However, it is not quite enough for steelmaking.

However, this was not a problem for Zhu Yuanzhang.

High-alumina bauxite became a widely used refractory brick material in later generations.

This thing can withstand temperatures above 1700 degrees Celsius.

Steel has a melting point of just over 1,400 degrees Celsius, which is sufficient for building steelmaking furnaces.

"As for how to make the coke burn more completely, the simplest way is to send air into it."

For example, a larger bellows could be built to send more air into it.

After some experimentation, we discovered that directly blowing cold air will lower the temperature somewhat, thus reducing its effectiveness.

This is easy to understand when you think about it.

When a cold wind blows, it will definitely consume some heat before it becomes hot.

So, is there a way we can use to turn the air sent into the furnace into heat?

In this way, the air entering the furnace can make the fuel burn more completely.

It also doesn't lower the furnace temperature by much.

For example, next to the steelmaking furnace, one or several small furnaces can be built, connected to each other by flues.

When steelmaking, a fire is also lit in the small furnace, and a large bellows or blower is used to blow air into the small furnace.

After being heated by the small furnace, the air enters the steelmaking furnace through the flue…

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke eloquently, readily offering various methods for steelmaking.

Tao Chengdao's eyes gleamed with wonder as he listened.

Your Majesty is absolutely right!
That's exactly what happened!

That's the principle. He had some understanding of these things in the past, but it was never as clear as it is now.

Hearing His Majesty say this, I felt as if the clouds had parted and the fog had cleared, and everything became clear.

Even if he wasn't a specialist in iron smelting and steelmaking, and even if His Majesty hadn't actually put what he said into practice and hadn't seen any results.

But Tao Chengdao was already convinced that if he followed His Majesty's method, it would surely succeed!
Because what Your Majesty said was all substantial.

It's the kind of statement that, with just a little thought, makes it clear to others that it's correct.

The principle is simple and easy to understand.

It is far superior to those who only engage in empty talk and speak in a vague and incomprehensible way.

"However, the copper-clad iron cannon barrels should not be left out next."

We need to get started immediately.

We'll try to build as many of the cannons we told you about as possible in the shortest amount of time.

We'll need this very much later.

Whether firearms can establish their reputation, gain public recognition, and have their role fully understood is crucial.

Going straight for a high-performance weapon would be the best option.

But steelmaking is not something that can be accomplished overnight.

Even though he knew a lot about steelmaking, he spoke fluently and knowledgeably about it at this moment.

However, putting these things into practice and successfully producing steel is not something that can be accomplished in a short period of time.

From theory to practice, and then to getting things done, there is a long way to go.

Even if you talk a good game, when it comes to actually implementing it, you'll always encounter all sorts of unexpected problems.

Solving these problems one by one will take a lot of time.

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's estimate, from the time he starts working on it now until everything is completed and a usable steel with a reasonable output is produced, it will take at least half a year.

It will take at least three more months to cast a considerable number of these red-coated cannons.

It's been too long, delaying the start of the fishing season.

Therefore, it was still necessary to make the copper-clad, iron-coated cannons.

Upon hearing this, Tao Chengdao immediately agreed, saying that with the copper-clad iron method provided by His Majesty, he was confident that he could forge a successful new cannon within half a month.

With the experience of successfully casting the first cannon, the subsequent casting process would be much faster.

"However... Your Majesty, this means the Firearms Bureau will not have enough copper."

Tao Chengdao said with some difficulty.

At this time, copper was basically equivalent to money.

The Ming Dynasty was short of money and suffered a currency shortage, so naturally, it was also short of copper.

Even if it's just a cannon barrel made of copper and iron, if you make a lot of them, you'll still need a lot of copper.

"Don't worry about the bronze. We've already ordered the prefect of Fengyang to melt down the Hongwu bronze bell in Zhongdu City."

Other bronze artifacts, including the large bronze cauldron used for sacrificial rites at the Circular Mound Altar in Zhongdu, were also melted down and will be sent to the capital in a short time.

They'll all be allocated to your artillery battalion then."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was calm, as if he were talking about something extremely ordinary.

But these words struck Tao Chengdao and his apprentice like a thunderbolt.

"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!"
That Hongwu bronze bell was made by collecting copper coins from tens of thousands of households who voluntarily contributed, as well as copper coins from many noble families in Huaixi, which were then melted down and cast.

The large cauldron used for sacrificial rites in Zhongdu was also of this type.

This foreshadows the flourishing of our Great Ming Dynasty, a time of great prosperity and abundance, and is of extraordinary significance.

It's such a waste that they melted all of these down to make cannons.

Tao Chengdao, who had previously displayed the imposing manner of setting up cannons to bombard the heavenly dog, panicked upon hearing the emperor's words.

He hurriedly spoke up to dissuade them.

"What's so significant about it? It's nothing but the people's hard-earned money!"
Do you think ordinary people are willing to pay this money?
It was only because the government was pressuring us that we had no choice but to do it.

Even the money contributed by those nobles was still hard-earned money from the people.

In Zhongdu, they are nothing but decaying things; no matter how much hype they generate or how eloquently they are spoken, it is all useless.

Instead, they should be melted down and cast into cannons; those would be true national treasures, ensuring the prosperity of our Ming Dynasty!

Tao Chengdao was deeply moved, and it seemed as if he had countless words he wanted to say.

But in the end, he didn't say a word.

He simply knelt down and faced Zhu Yuanzhang.

He said with utmost seriousness, "Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust. I will definitely produce the new cannons within fifteen days!"

Li Baiqiang and Han Dapao also knelt down along with their teacher, Tao Chengdao.

Although he didn't speak, the determination in his eyes was palpable...

……

"...Don't blame the Marquis for the appointment."

The Marquis didn't want to do this either, but things went wrong, and the Emperor was inhuman..."

The visitor lowered his voice and spoke to Chang Jinshu.

Chang Jinshu's dark complexion appeared pale at this moment.

"How could I blame the Marquis? Without the Marquis, I wouldn't be where I am today."
Following Lord Hou, I have received and enjoyed everything I was entitled to and shouldn't have received.

"We've been raising an army for a thousand days, but now it's time for me to serve you, my lord."

However, my family, especially my son, will all depend on the Marquis's care.

I don't ask him to be rich or powerful, I just want to save his life as much as possible.

I'll also entrust my youngest son to the Marquis..."

Chang Jinshu's eyes reddened as she spoke of her son, her voice filled with reluctance.

"Rest assured, the Marquis always keeps his word and will never fail to owe you or treat your family unfairly."

Upon hearing this, Chang Jinshu knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed towards the direction of the Jiangshui Waterway Administration Office, saying, "Chang Wu thanks Your Excellency for your great kindness and virtue."

"Let's act quickly to avoid any further trouble."

If that happens, even this little bit will be lost.

Even the Marquis himself is in dire straits.

After saying this, the man bowed respectfully to Chang Jinshu.

Given the situation, Chang Jinshu could have simply accepted his greeting without paying any attention.

But thinking of his family, especially his son, he quickly and solemnly returned the greeting and saw the man out.

He then immediately summoned his trusted men and set fire to the shipyard.

Winter is dry, so it's quite reasonable for a fire to start...

(End of this chapter)