Eunuchs who traveled through the Qing Dynasty

The prepared crude fulminate needs to be separated from the mother liquor by filtration, and the mercury fulminate crystals are filtered out with filter paper.The process of pouring out is dangerous, because the crude fulmercure produced by this method is extremely unstable.Explosions of varying degrees occurred in two consecutive tests, and a servant who was acting as an assistant was injured in the arm.

For the third time, Rolto personally operated the knife, using his skillful operation, and finally carefully separated the rough thunder mercury crystal.Then rinse it repeatedly with distilled water to remove the remaining mother liquor, including the stability of mercury and various impurities and acids harmful to the metal parts of firearms.Finally, after drying, on the second day, some gray-brown crystalline powder - thunder mercury, finally appeared in front of everyone.

As early as 1808, French firearms engineer Baoli used paper caps to invent paper-wrapped bullets. In 1814, British American Qi Shuya & #8226; Shaw successfully invented the copper thunderbolt flash cap.With the current technology and equipment of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is not realistic to mass-produce copper flash hiders, so they can only produce paper-wrapped bullets.Fortunately, Dai Tong is very good at this thing. Under his guidance, put a small amount of thormercury between two sheets of paper, add nitrocellulose, roll it into a roll, and then put a long lead shot in the front end. Even if the paper bag bomb is made.

As for the elongated projectile, it was specially melted and cast according to Xiao Ran's suggestion. Its advantage lies in that on the one hand, it can reduce the air resistance during flight. Better insertion of the rifling reduces the depth of the rifling while increasing range and accuracy.

After finishing the bullets, the group rushed to the Beishan hunting ground excitedly.The results of the test shocked everyone: the range of the ordinary rifle has reached 400 meters, and the rate of fire is about 10 rounds per minute; while the effective range of the long sniper rifle has reached 700 meters, if it can be equipped with optics Sight, it is no exaggeration to say that at this distance, even flies don't even think about flying over!

This also shows that the rymercure produced by Rolto fully meets the requirements.Although this method is a bit rustic and not efficient, it can basically meet the needs as a primer for the cap.As for smokeless gunpowder, the process is much simpler.The next step is to properly improve the process and expand the production scale. Without Xiao Ran's order, Dai Tong has already started drafting the brochure and preparing to submit it.

The biggest problem now is the barrel.It seems impossible to rely solely on foreign procurement, and it is impossible to solve a series of technical bottlenecks in a short period of time by self-production.It seems that this problem can only be left to find a way to solve it later.

In the [-]th year of Xianfeng, the Qing government did not open a formal arsenal. Although the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs had their own processing plants, the scale was really limited, so most of the military production relied on private workshops.Raw materials including gunpowder are also entrusted to manufacturers to produce, which is somewhat similar to OEM in the modern home appliance industry—that is, the so-called OEM production.The biggest disadvantage of this system is that the manufacturing standards are not uniform and cannot meet the requirements of standardization. Most of the parts and ammunition of weapons are not universal.

On the other hand, the product quality is uneven.Under the system based on riding and shooting in the Qing Dynasty, the cost of manufacturing weapons, especially new types of firearms, was always fixed.But prices and wages have been rising. For example, gunpowder was purchased at 2 cents per catty during the Yongzheng period, and 6 cents per catty during the Jiaqing period.Instead of making a profit, the maker loses money.Manufacturers have to bribe officials and cut corners in order to prevent damages.

For example, in 1835, Guan Tianpei, the admiral of the Guangdong Navy, made 40 new cannons. As a result, 10 of them exploded during the trial release process, killing one soldier, injuring one, and 5 other artillery pieces had other problems.He inspected the blasted cannon and found that "there are too many scraps of iron and dross, the bore is uneven, and there are more holes", and there is a hole in it that "can store four bowls of water"!This kind of bean curd project actually appeared on the cannon that guards the gate of the country, which is really outrageous!

In this situation, Guan Tianpei could only look up to the sky and sigh: "China's official cannons, official ships, its craftsmen and supervisors only know how to avoid fatigue and save money. Cracked? The ship is fragile and rotten, not medium-range, not enough to meet the wind and waves, but how can it meet the enemy?"

(Writing this, Donkey’s heart is very heavy. Why can the [-] British expeditionary army defeat the [-] regular army of the Qing Dynasty? Why did the foreign barbarians fight from Guangzhou all the way up the coast to Dagukou, and they were invincible? The rulers of the Qing Dynasty, you Under the tall and glamorous appearance, what kind of ignorant and cowardly soul is hidden?...)

Therefore, Xiao Ran put forward two points and asked Dai Tong to strictly grasp them: ♂ First, establish strict production standards, rather than sacrifice production, but every component and every bullet must meet the design specifications to ensure that they can be exchanged on the battlefield General; Second, the quality must be strictly controlled. If the funds are insufficient, the production can be postponed, but there must be no phenomenon of cutting corners and shoddy. ♀

Dai Tong patted his chest and assured: "Don't worry, there are a total of 300 rifle barrels. If I only make 299 rifle barrels, I don't need you to tell me. Old Dai will take off the tops by himself!"

After writing down the formula and production process of smokeless gunpowder and thunder mercury in detail, Dai Tong was going to rush back to the capital to start production immediately.A guy like Xiao Ran who would feel uncomfortable if he didn't take advantage of it was naturally reluctant to let him take those two precious guns away.Dai Tong raised his eyebrows and beard in anger, but he had nothing to do with him.

But Xiao Ran didn't want it in vain. In return, he drew several bayonet graphics and gave them to Dai Tong, asking him to find a way to assemble them on the rifle.Ranked first is the triangular bayonet that was once commonly used by the People's Liberation Army, the kind that can drain blood from the whole body with a small triangular wound.Dai Tong was overjoyed, took the baby blueprint and rushed back to the capital happily.

While these people were busy testing guns, a news came from Xueyao: This girl was also trying to make nitrocellulose, but something went wrong in some process, and what she made turned out to be a pile of nitrocellulose. The waste product of the explosion is crying anxiously.After hearing this, Rolto volunteered to guide him, but after watching Xiao Ran raise the muzzle of the black hole expressionlessly, he finally shut up wisely and in time.

Xiao Ran rushed to Xueyao's place to have a look, and was immediately taken aback.Holding it in his hand and looking left and right, he is very familiar with this pile of milky white waste products, it is actually - plastic! ! !

With the keen sense of smell unique to heavyweight money fans, he realized that this time he was hit by a pie falling from the sky again.But how should it be applied?This is a head-scratching question.Do you make some plastic pots and barrels to sell on the street, or get some plastic sheets to hold a greenhouse, a solar greenhouse or something?After much deliberation, I can't make up my mind.It's not that I can't think of it, but the use of plastics is so wide that I don't know how to start.

"I, I didn't do it on purpose..." Seeing Xiao Ran's hesitation, Xueyao thought that the pile of waste products she had made had offended her husband.Xiao Ran couldn't help laughing and said: "Good wife, you are my husband's little god of wealth, this time you have found a treasure!" He kissed her hard on the face.

"Really?" Xueyao said half-believingly, "Can these waste products still come in handy?"

"It's not capable, it's very capable!" Xiao Ran excitedly grabbed a piece of plastic, "Well, let me think about what it can do. For example, plastic basins, plastic bags, plastic sheets, plastic tables, chairs and benches... Hey, there are so many uses It’s gone. It’s no exaggeration to say that in the next few years, plastic will become an indispensable thing in people’s lives. …By the way, how did you make such a good baby?”

It was only then that Xueyao believed that she had really hit the ground wrong, and couldn't help laughing through tears.I explained the preparation process in detail, and it turns out that the problem lies in the concentration of nitric acid and the ratio of sulfuric acid to it.

Nitrocellulose is also divided into many types, which also have multiple uses.In addition to being used as explosives, it can also be used as a medicine to treat heart disease.At the same time, it is also a kind of plastic itself, which mainly depends on the nitrogen content of nitrocellulose.The nitrogen content of nitrocellulose used as explosives is relatively high, at least 14% or more; the nitrogen content used as plastics is relatively low, so it will not explode.

This kind of plastic is also called collodion, which is a very viscous liquid. It is often applied to wounds in Western medicine, and it will solidify into a thin film to protect the wound, stop bleeding and prevent infection.The solidified collodion is milky white and translucent, with certain elasticity.If camphor is added as a plasticizer, it can be made into plastic.Table tennis is made of this material.

This time Xueyao used a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, in which the proportion of nitric acid was slightly less, and the concentration was also slightly lower, so she accidentally produced this magical material.Xiao Ran said excitedly for a moment: "It's amazing, I didn't expect my wife to be a great inventor! She just invented nitrocellulose and plastic, and my husband doesn't know how to praise you. Alas, it's a pity that there is no promise now. Bell Invention Award or something, otherwise it must be you!"

After hearing this, Xueyao said happily and shyly: "How can I invent anything? It's just a blind cat meeting a dead mouse. Well, what is that Nobel you're talking about?"

"Nobel? Haha, he is really nothing. Strictly speaking, he is with you, and he is also an inventor. What he invented is... is... nitroglycerin!!!"

Xiao Ran suddenly jumped up!

Nobel, the most outstanding gunpowder expert in history, the most acclaimed invention besides the detonator is nitroglycerin!In particular, the "fried glue" (a type of plastic bomb) made of nitroglycerin mixed with nitrocellulose is the pinnacle of work. Until more than 100 years later, a horror master named Laden was still using it to make human bodies. bomb.

What would happen if China possessed this indestructible explosive?Military, industrial, water conservancy, construction... This time Xiao Ran was completely frightened by himself, his face was flushed red, and he couldn't say a word.Xueyao thought he was possessed by an evil spirit, her face turned pale with fright, she beat her back and pinched someone, she worked hard for a long time, but she saw him jump up and run out of the house like crazy.

Xiao Ran went straight to Rolto's place and immediately asked, "Have you heard of Nobel?"

Seeing his nervous expression, Rolto shivered immediately: "I haven't heard of it, I really haven't. He owes you money?"

"Fart! ... And what about nitroglycerin? Nitroglycerin, powerful explosives, you must have heard of that, right?"

"Dynamite???" Rolto was taken aback for a moment, and then he covered his stomach and laughed, panting, "Mr. Xiao must be crazy about explosives, or are you just joking? Nitroglycerin is used to treat heart disease." , What kind of explosives! Hehe, if it wasn’t because I am a pharmacist, I would have been cheated by you almost!”

"Healing heart disease?!"

Rolto was right, nitroglycerin, like nitrocellulose, was indeed a special drug for treating heart disease.This drug was first invented in 1847 by the young Italian chemist Sobrello.In clinical application, people usually dilute nitroglycerin with alcohol to treat heart disease.

The instability of nitroglycerin has actually been discovered long ago.In fact, Sobrello himself was the first victim.One day in 1857, Sobrello wanted to make pure nitroglycerin, so he heated and concentrated it.Suddenly, with a bang, the nitroglycerin exploded, shattering the glass beaker and wounding Sobrello's hands and face.For this reason, Sobrelo also wrote a special paper, in which he wrote: "This liquid will explode due to heating or vibration. Only future experiments can tell us what it will be used for in the future." Tor has left London and gone into exile in China, and has never come into contact with this magical substance.

In fact, it was in 1860 that Nobel decided to use nitroglycerin to make explosives because of this paper.The real development of nitroglycerin with practical value was in 1865, which is the fourth year of Tongzhi after 5 years in history.What's more interesting is that in his later years, Nobel suffered from severe heart disease, and the medicine he used to treat the disease turned out to be nitroglycerin used to make explosives!

Xiao Ran didn't have the heart to discuss heart disease with him at this time, so he slapped his head in anger: "Damn you bastard, I said it was explosives, it is explosives! Cut the nonsense, can you get me some nitroglycerin come out?"

"Just do it, why are you still beating people?" Rolto dared to be angry but did not dare to speak, and said with an aggrieved face, "Old glycerin has been purchased, and nitric acid is also ready-made. The preparation method is very simple. It should be mixed glycerin with a solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid..."

"Okay, then you can do it now. Remember, you need pure nitroglycerin." Xiao Ran watched him take out a beaker, nitric acid, etc., turned around and ran out the door, "you can do it boldly, this thing is not It's dangerous. Then what, I'll wait outside first, and call me when it's done."

Rolto's efficiency was astonishing, and pure nitroglycerin was quickly produced.Without waiting for him to greet, Xiao Ran already knew about it, because he heard a loud noise from inside the room.

♂ Volume 5 Military Age ♀

→Chapter 041 - Three Wives in One Drama←

The power of nitroglycerin is really astonishing, just a little bit floating on the surface of the beaker has blown up the laboratory into a mess.Rolto was blown into a pig's head again. Seeing his bruised nose and swollen face, Xiao Ran couldn't help giving a thumbs up and said, "Fate! Damn it won't kill you!"

"..." Rolto once again burst out with the desire to fight.

Although the preparation of nitroglycerin is easy, it is a very long process to make real explosives.Even a talented player like Nobel has developed it for more than 30 years and still thinks he can't fully master it, let alone Rolto, a part-time inventor with two knives?But the difference is that Nobel is groping in the dark by himself without any clear direction, while Rolto has more Xiao Ran, the dog-headed military adviser.

Xiao Ran's biggest feature is that although he doesn't know how to make these inventions, he can provide accurate ideas and directions.In fact, to put it bluntly, this is the typical kind of swaying of a bottle full of half a bottle, which is most despised by those who are truly learned.But for people like Rolto and Dai Tong, it is equivalent to pointing out the best shortcut to success for them.

What needs to be done now is to mix nitroglycerin and collodion according to a certain ratio to make fried glue.The performance of this kind of fried glue is very stable, even if it is ignited with fire, it will not explode. After soaking in water, it will not get wet, and its explosive force is stronger than pure nitroglycerin.But this kind of explosive needs a primer, which is what we usually call a detonator.And the thunderbolt produced by Rolto is just the raw material for making detonators!

Of course, the actual operation is definitely not as simple as it is said, and it needs repeated trials.Xueyao absolutely can't do such a dangerous job. After weighing it, she thinks that this glorious and arduous task should be entrusted to Rorto to complete.In this way, even if something unexpected happens, Xiao Ran will feel less distressed.It's a pity that Xianfeng is very busy with the matter of health care products. Rorto is now working on two things at the same time, and the two inventions are being made at the same time, so the progress is naturally affected to some extent.

As for Xueyao, her task is also very difficult - to invent plastic.Try different ratios to produce plastics with various characteristics. Although I still can't figure out what to use for a while, it is not a bad thing to have one more invention.

But there was also one thing that made Xiao Ran very depressed.Ever since Xueyao became obsessed with chemical experiments, she spent all day in the laboratory, except for eating, drinking, and lassing, the rest of her time was almost completely occupied by endless chemical experiments, and her average sleep was only two or three hours a day.Sometimes when I get sleepy, I just climb on the operating table and take a nap, and then resume work after waking up.Seeing her snow-white and pink face getting more and more haggard, Xiao Ran tried to dissuade her repeatedly, but this girl has a very stubborn temper, so she couldn't persuade her no matter what.

And the direct result of this incident was that the number of couples' lives plummeted, especially after the invention of plastic, it was extremely cruel to deprive Xiao Ran of the right to serve her bed.

I don't need to elaborate on what kind of pain it is to guard a beautiful wife but not be able to have sex.In desperation, Xiao Ran naturally set his sights on those young maids in the mansion, but he didn't expect that there would be traitors among the people again, Baolu, this kid somehow took sides with Xueyao, consciously He took on the job of the director of the anti-pornography office, guarding him against thieves one day, saying a word to some girl, or even making an eye contact, and immediately ran to Xueyao's place to make a small report, and he almost found out A chastity belt or something.So when Xiao Ran saw Baolu, he gritted his teeth with hatred: Fuck a traitor!Why didn't I see it earlier?

Sometimes Yu Ting can still show mercy, taking the opportunity to come to see him, give alms once or twice.It's a pity that she is the queen's personal maid, and the chances of slipping out of the palace are pitifully rare.For the young and energetic Xiao Ran, this is undoubtedly a drop in the bucket.At this time, Xiao Ran was infinitely envious of Xianfeng, at least he had Yujiao.If you didn't give up this little slut to Xianfeng back then, talk about your life, tsk tsk, it would be so easy!

That monster marries a wife and looks like a slut in the bedroom, the ancients never deceived me!Thinking of what inventions Xueyao was asked to invent in a moment of confusion, Xiao Ran felt regretful.

At noon that day, Xiao Ran was bored and wandered around the yard in a ragged cotton robe.He suddenly heard a woman's sigh, turned his head and saw a charming little woman leaning against the railing in a daze in the pavilion next to her.Even though his face was turned away, Xiao Ran recognized Yu Jiao at a glance.It turned out that I had walked into her yard unknowingly.

Yujiao is also very depressed these days.Since the case of Tianzihao Bank in Beijing, the number of Xianfeng's visits has also been significantly reduced. Firstly, there are constant worries, and secondly, the body is too much to bear after the two rounds of tossing.And this kind of thing can't be hidden from the imperial physician, when Chen Quanhai checked his pulse, he was so frightened that his soul flew out of his mind, and he risked his life to enter the book, saying that no matter what, he could not have sex again, otherwise his life would be in danger.Xiao Ran and Ming Quan also followed suit to persuade them that the Zichan Rejuvenation Post was definitely not daring to use it anymore, and there were two times when they couldn't bear it anymore, so they boiled a bowl of traditional Chinese medicine according to Xun Jing's prescription to support themselves. .

Yujiao is different, she is usually a flirtatious woman, now that she has inherited the emperor's rain and dew, of course she dare not touch the flirtatiousness in the past.Originally, he hoped that Xianfeng would be a super strong man, but now that he thinks about it, he must have been fooled by Li Ran.So far, Kaizi can't hang it, it's really lonely, but what can I do if I'm already on the pirate ship?In addition to being sad, I can't help but sigh with regret.