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Even so, the companion finally asked doubtfully: "Ya Ming, are you... really a cannon?"

"Well, that's right!" Pan Yaming didn't look up, he was just writing something with charcoal, and it seemed that he was about to finish writing.

After his companion was confirmed, he was even more surprised. He pointed at the pattern and asked, "But...but why is the barrel of your cannon not round?"

Pan Yaming did not answer immediately this time, but concentrated on finishing his work.

Others were a little curious when they heard the conversation. To them, Pan Yaming, who was born as a scholar, was indeed a smart man in the cannon foundry. Otherwise, he would not have been accepted as a disciple by the master from the capital and given personal guidance. Now, what has he created?

With this thought in mind, others also flocked over curiously. The people who arrived first looked down and were just as surprised as the first person, and they all said, "Ya Ming, why isn't the muzzle of your gun round?"

At this time, Pan Yaming seemed to have finished writing, put down the charcoal in his hand, stood up and said to everyone with a smile: "The book written by the emperor said that the advantage of rifled guns is that there are riflings in the barrel, so the cannonballs fly After exiting the muzzle, it rotates forward. This can achieve stability and greatly improve the accuracy. However, the rifling in the gun bore is not only very troublesome to pull, but also easy to wear. A rifled gun cannot be used. How long will it take before he loses his most important precision?"

This shortcoming of rifled guns is well known. It is precisely for this reason that when Zheng Zhilong personally came to inspect the cannon foundry, he repeatedly expressed regret over this issue. Now, when these onlookers heard Pan Yaming's words, they couldn't believe it. The fat man who had spoken before pointed at the drawing and said, "You don't think your strange cannon can solve this problem, right?"

"That's right!" After hearing this, Pan Yaming immediately responded with a smile, "I was wondering if there were other ways to make the shells come out of the barrel to rotate forward. After thinking about it for a long time, I felt that this kind of six-sided Shaped artillery should be possible. Of course, the cannonballs also need to be specially made."

In the eyes of disbelief, Pan Yaming added: "I decided to apply to the master to cast this kind of artillery and try it out!"

The onlookers looked a little doubtful after hearing this. They understood that it would be impossible for Pan Yaming to say such a thing if he had no confidence at all, and would have to apply to the master to test it. However, is this design really reliable?

While they were talking about this, one of the masters, Pan Yaming's master, happened to come back. After hearing his apprentice's request, his eyes widened. After listening carefully to Pan Yaming's explanation of the principle design, his master finally said: "When I was in the capital during the military battle, I heard with my own eyes that the emperor repeatedly said, okay. Things come from experiments. Don't be afraid of failure, just do it if you have an idea. Only we can't think of it, there is nothing we can't do! This is the craftsmanship of our Ming Dynasty! You have an idea for this method, why don't you try it? Cost Whatever, don’t worry, I’ll take care of it!”

Upon hearing this, Pan Yaming couldn't help but nod vigorously. He heard his master say it more than once, and he admired the words "There is nothing you can't think of, and nothing you can't do." Hearing it again at this time, he couldn't help but long for it. It would be great if he could see the emperor one day!

The other people who were watching were also a little excited after hearing this. If the cannon foundry can really improve the cannon, the entire cannon foundry will benefit. However, only Pan Yaming, a disciple of the master, can conduct experiments as soon as he proposes it.

Just as they were thinking about it, Pan Yaming's master changed the subject and said: "However, at the beginning, let's try a gun of this shape first. As long as the gun can be made, it means that the cannon can also be used. ."

"Master is still thoughtful!" Upon hearing this, Pan Yaming quickly agreed, "The principle is the same, and it can be built earlier without wasting more manpower and material resources. Master is so awesome!"

"Haha, do a good job!" Master Pan Yaming was very helpful and said with a smile.

Doing what you say is the true nature of Ming craftsmen. At the Hoi An Cannon Foundry, Pan Yaming took the lead and immediately set up a team. With the endorsement of his master, experiments soon began.

The result is not bad without experimentation. After experimentation, the conclusion is as expected.

Judging from the manufacturing process, this kind of musket is no faster than an ordinary rifled gun. It is even slower and more labor-intensive. Of course, this is also related to the fact that they are making new types of guns for the first time and are constantly making adjustments. But even if these factors are removed, overall, this kind of hex gun costs more and is slower to build.

With great difficulty, three new types of muskets were finally created. At this time, the enthusiasm of the project team had actually been exhausted, because they felt that Pan Yaming's original purpose of designing this artillery had not been achieved. Most people are no longer optimistic about this project.

Think about it, if it was so easy to improve, would you wait until Hoi An? The Jingshi Military and War Bureau has stronger technical strength and more funds, and has been able to experiment and improve for a long time.

On this day, the weather was fine, and the special shooting range of the foundry was testing new muskets.

If it were before, there must be many people coming to watch the results. But this time, there were not many people, and even only half of the members of the hexagonal musket project team came. Everyone else made excuses not to come. Rather than slap yourself in the face with what you have worked so hard for, it is better to keep out of sight!

Pan Yaming was naturally there, standing alone beside the gun he had built, waiting for the master to arrive.

"Ah, Lao Liu, your apprentice's project has yielded results, why are you so inactive, and I have to pull you over!"

As the voice came, two old men appeared at the shooting range. The so-called Lao Liu is Pan Yaming's master. But his face didn't look good at this time.

After he learned about the creation process of this hexagonal gun, he originally didn't want to come. Because he was not optimistic about it, he felt that the project had failed. However, Lao Wu, who came from the capital with him, forcefully pulled him over.

Seeing his apprentice looking at him, Old Liu forced a smile on his face and said: "I was busy and temporarily forgot about the live ammunition test today. It's okay, master is here to watch, let's get started!"

He still admires himself as his apprentice. It was precisely because of this that after Pan Yaming told him a lot of truths, he felt it was okay to brag to Lao Wu, and as a result, he was now passive.

It was because he was so mean-mouthed that he was laughed at by Old Wu! He thought so, but on the surface, he still wanted to encourage his apprentice.

The old Wu smiled happily, waved his hand and said: "Let's get started, we are just sitting here, eager to see the results!"

When Pan Yaming saw it, he pursed his lips and started to operate without saying anything else.

The loading speed of ordinary rifled guns is already slow, but unexpectedly, upon comparison, it can be seen that the loading speed of this hexagonal gun is even slower. Because the bullets are also specially made, they have to match the bore of the gun.

Seeing the speed of reloading, Old Wu chuckled: "Old Liu, this hexagonal gun is so weird. Why did you think it was better than a rifled gun? Forget it, young people like Yaming have little experience. , you are the master!"

"I'm too lazy to pay attention to you!" Lao Liu responded with his eyes widened after hearing this, "Just laugh if you want, it's okay anyway. The emperor has said, don't be afraid of failure!"

When Old Wu heard what he had said, he opened his mouth and finally stopped refuting. Turning his head to look at Pan Yaming, he found that the loading had been completed, so he smiled again and said: "Come on, come on, don't be stunned, let's start!"

The target shooting test of muskets already has a mature technology for Ming craftsmen. In order to prevent human interference, the firearms are bound for target shooting after aiming.

The operation was completed, and the sound of musket firing was heard. Then clean the barrel of the gun, continue loading, and shoot again. Of course, in the musket experiment, winning or losing is not determined by one shot.

At this time, Lao Wu suddenly seemed to have discovered something extraordinary. He patted Lao Liu on the shoulder and said with a smile: "See, it seems that this hexagonal gun is relatively fast at cleaning the gunpowder residue in the chamber! Not bad! "

Lao Liu slapped his hand away and said impatiently: "You old man, don't do anything!"

He could tell that although his old companion was praising the advantages of the hexagonal gun, compared with the disadvantages of the hexagonal gun that had been concluded before, this advantage could really be ignored. Saying this in front of yourself is actually trying to outdo yourself!

The target shooting test continued, and the gunfire filled the air. Later, because there was no wind that day, the operator could hardly see clearly.

After finally waiting until the target practice was over, Lao Liu stood up and wanted to leave. Because the general situation has been seen, although the hexagonal gun cleans the gunpowder residue in the chamber faster, in general, the loading speed is still slower. From this conclusion, the effect is not ideal.

Seeing him like this, Old Wu grabbed him and said with a smile: "Don't leave in a hurry, I haven't looked at the target paper yet! Maybe it's very accurate!"

If compared with ordinary muskets, Lao Liu believes that the accuracy must be higher. However, today's comparison object is also a rifled gun. No matter how high the accuracy is, how high can it be? He didn't believe it anymore. When Old Wu said this, he was obviously trying to make a profit on himself.

At this moment, Pan Yaming's surprised voice suddenly sounded from the other side of the shooting range: "Master, master..."

Hearing this cry of surprise, the two prison chiefs were slightly startled. Could it be...that there was a real surprise?

But then I thought about it, where can I be surprised? Pan Yaming is a young man, and youth means impulsiveness. If the project that I finally took the lead in didn't have any merit, it would definitely be a loss of face. The accuracy is estimated to be a little higher, so it's like grasping at straws.

"Master, look, master, come here..." Pan Yaming personally held a target and ran over without even taking off the target paper. Behind him, several workers from the cannon foundry also came with several targets.

"Haha, Old Liu, look how happy your apprentice is. He is almost as happy as when we first built the rifled gun at the Capital War Bureau!" Old Wu said, standing up from his chair with great interest. At the same time, he stretched out his hand and said, "Come, show me!"

"You old guy, you still don't know what you want to do!" Old Liu also stood up at this time, and Old Wu said a little dissatisfied, "Why are you trying to see what belongs to my own apprentice?"

When he said this, he knew very well that this old man must have wanted to tease his accuracy and hit his apprentice, how could he let him get what he wanted!

At this moment, Pan Yaming had already ran over. Naturally, he stood on the master's side, stretched out his hand and handed the target to him, and said in a voice still full of surprise: "Master, look at this accuracy!"

From the angle just now, Old Wu did not see the situation on the target paper. Hearing Pan Yaming's voice of surprise, I couldn't help but want to see what was going on. However, Lao Liu obviously did it on purpose. He turned around and blocked his view, not wanting him to see it.

He then looked at the target and couldn't help but be surprised. He immediately asked in surprise: "Hey, is this a target shot by a hexagonal gun?"

"Yes, it's made with a hexagonal gun. This one has the highest progress." Pan Yaming responded with obvious excitement.

The conversation between master and apprentice made Old Wu very curious. But what he was thinking more about was whether this old guy was playing double act with his apprentice and treating the accuracy of his big fart as a treasure!

However, at this time, Old Liu no longer cared about his old buddy. Holding the target in his hand, he quickly looked at the other targets he had just obtained. After just one glance, he looked up to the sky and laughed. At the same time, he turned his head and said to the somewhat surprised Old Wu: "Old man, come and see for yourself what my apprentice has designed!"

When Lao Wu heard this, he felt something was wrong. He didn't bother to argue with Lao Liu. He quickly looked at it and was shocked. This...the accuracy has been improved too much, right?

At this time, Lao Liu stopped trying to exploit his old buddy. He quickly ordered his apprentice: "Quickly, adjust the parameters and continue testing this hexagonal gun! Hurry up..."

"Yes, master!" Pan Yaming was also very excited, and immediately turned around and ran to the shooting range with the helping workers.

Watching him leave, without the need for Old Liu to say anything, Old Wu already sighed: "This accuracy is really amazing!"

At this time, he no longer needed Lao Liu to defend himself. Facts speak louder than words. Being a technical person, it’s that simple!

The final test results showed that the accuracy of this new type of hexagonal gun is much higher than that of ordinary rifled guns. At a distance of about 500 meters, the diameter of the scattering area of ​​ten bullets is about ten centimeters. An ordinary rifled gun is about seventy centimeters, and the further the distance, the more obvious the gap becomes.

According to this accuracy, a hexagonal gun can hit a carriage at a distance of about one thousand meters, while ordinary rifled guns have to rely on luck. At a distance of nearly two thousand meters, the hexagonal gun still has a chance of hitting an elephant, but the bullets of ordinary rifled guns will not know where they will go.