Chapter 535: Expansion of the military workshop

"Huh, hum..."
The sound of the steam engine pulling the hook knife back and forth to cut metal continued to sound.
Song Changping and the craftsmen in the gun workshop looked at the steam-spraying steel monster in front of them. Although the craftsmen in the steam engine workshop used the steam engine to drive the craftsmen to cut the rifling two days ago, this unprecedented machine still made them feel a little bit shocked. Time cannot be accepted psychologically.
"Supervisor Song Fang, now that we have this steam engine, wouldn't this cutting rifling have nothing to do with us?"
Song Changping watched the hook knife stretch back and forth in the barrel, while a craftsman was responsible for rotating the barrel so that the hook knife could draw a perfect rifled line in the barrel.
"How could nothing happen to us? Even if this steam engine replaces us to pull the hook knife, we still have to look at the machine carefully for the rifling," Song Changping said.
"I mean, this steam engine is so powerful, won't it leave many craftsmen with nothing to do in the future?" The craftsman worried, this is not his nonsense.
In fact, because of the use of steam engines in the lathe workshop, a large number of craftsmen in the former lathe workshop were idle, and these craftsmen were transferred to their workshop to be responsible for the production of flintlock guns.
Now that the steam engine is here again, they can't help but worry.
"Your worries are superfluous. Now Qingzhou's guns are lacking. So far, we have produced only 45,000 flintlocks. Most of the armed forces in the closed country have not popularized guns and artillery. Nowadays, the country is like this. The situation, the future will inevitably need more guns." Song Changping said, he understood why these craftsmen have such thoughts.
The salaries of craftsmen in the military workshops are now very high. Even though most craftsmen are still slaves, they don't want to lose their jobs.
"Song Changping is right. Even if the steam engine replaces some of the craftsmen, the output of the military workshop is insufficient now. What you should worry about now is how to satisfy the army's equipment procurement."
Xiao Ming's voice suddenly came from outside.
Hearing this sound, Song Changping and the craftsman turned their heads, and saw Xiao Ming walking towards them while shaking the fan.
"Your Highness."
Song Changping led a group of craftsmen to salute Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming asked everyone to avoid the ceremony, and he walked towards the steam engine hook-knife combination that was cutting the rifling. At this time, the steam engine was pulling the hook knife back and forth through the connecting rod to make a straight motion.
Each time the hook knife enters and exits the barrel, a shallow mark is drawn. The craftsman in charge supervises the cutting of the rifling. There are now more than 30 barrels in the steam engine. Six steam engine hook knives allow the cutting of the rifling. The efficiency is greatly improved.
"How? How many rifled barrels can be pulled out in one day now." Xiao Ming asked.
Song Changping replied: "Compared with the previous one in January, the steam engine can pull out one in a day. Lin Wentao now allows 30 hook knives in the military workshop to be able to cut rifling through the steam engine. If there is no waste, 900 per month. The root is still no problem."
"Well, this quantity is enough. At present, the production of smoothbore flintlocks is still the main focus, understand?" Xiao Ming nodded with satisfaction. Both human and mechanical products have a scrap rate. He saw some scraps. The barrels of his guns were thrown on one side. Song Changping said that there were nine hundred barrels without waste. If the waste is removed, it is estimated that there will be seven or eight hundred rifled barrels a month.
Xiao Ming is already very satisfied with this figure. Now he still adopts a musket-based equipment plan, supplemented by rifled guns. After all, he does not have much time to wait for the replacement of equipment. Now he needs more. It is the quantity to deal with the current crisis.
As for the large-scale equipment rifled gun can only be replaced step by step in the war.
"Yes, Your Highness." Song Changping said.
After a pause, Xiao Ming said again: "By the way, this king has allocated a group of craftsmen for you. Now your musketeer workshop can be expanded into one workshop, and the two workshops produce flintlocks at the same time."
"A group of artisans here?" Song Changping was a little excited, and the other artisans were also relieved, which proved that there is a real shortage of muskets in the closed country.
Liang Dahai has not yet returned but the first batch of slaves has been sent. According to the people under Liang Dahai, Liang Dahai will follow the last batch of slaves.
After tossing at sea for such a long time, Liang Dahai brought back 8,000 slaves this time. Before the merchants in Qingzhou divided up the slaves, 5,000 of them were assigned to this military workshop.
Although these people don't know anything now, it doesn't take long for the old to bring the new. After all, the assembly of flintlocks is not advanced technology.
"Five thousand people, this time this king has given priority to you the musket workshop. You have to keep up with the production of this flintlock. Now the country may face war at any time. If this king loses, everything in the country will be sealed. It will all disappear." Xiao Ming said with a frown.
Song Changping's expression became serious. He suddenly felt that his body was very courageous. He patted his chest. He said, "His Royal Highness, even if you don't eat or drink, the lower officials must complete this batch of equipment on time and according to the amount."
"Well, I believe you, by the way, part of the flintlocks produced from now on will be distributed to the army of Cangzhou, Yizhou, and Laizhou."
Song Changping answered yes.
After explaining the production of this gun, Xiao Ming suddenly asked, "How many rifled guns do you have?"
"Back to Your Highness, there are still sixty rifled guns," Song Changping said.
"Sixty?" Xiao Ming's eyes narrowed. The range and accuracy of this musket are not comparable to that of a musket. It can be used as a sharpshooter in the army~EbookFREE.me~ after all. A group of archers from the Cold Weapon Unit will also be selected to take charge of some special tasks, and he needs rifled guns to complete some special operations tasks.
"Bring this batch of rifled guns to this king, this king is useful." Xiao Ming smiled.
Hearing that, Song Changping asked the craftsman to take out three long wooden boxes, which contained rifled guns.
Coming in person this time, Xiao Ming wanted to take a look at the production of this rifled gun one by one, one about the slavery, and let Song Changping increase the output.
After some inspections, he no longer disturbed the production of the workshop, and asked the guards who followed him to carry the flintlock back.
Since King Zhao entered Chang'an, in addition to Zhao Long and Zhao Hu, Xiao Ming has a team of elite soldiers with a hundred people to protect him. In troubled times, the enemy may use all means.
Especially for the assassination, this method is cheap and rewarding. He didn't want to die before leaving the teacher, so he complied with Pang Yukun's intention and added a hundred guards to protect his safety.