Chapter 006 Shut up, give me the gun

Looking at these simple machine tools, Lin Ziran directly asked: "Can they be used to make guns?"

It was only then that Luomazi realized he seemed to have misspoken: "My lord, please do not be angry!"

Upon careful observation, Lin Ziran was able to discern that this was a large low-pressure steam engine, specifically a single-expansion steam engine, and moreover, it was an old-fashioned steam engine from the first year of Yongchang.

If all else fails, Lin Ziran would not mind directly putting the gun to Boss Wang's forehead, and it is likely that Boss Wang would voluntarily lower the price or even forgo payment altogether

Receiving an affirmative response, Lin Ziran slightly nodded to Luo Mazi

What is currently lacking is merely a design idea

If he were to know that the officials standing before him are actually a group of bandits, it would likely frighten him to the point of losing control of his bladder

Benefiting from the information explosion of later generations, and given that Lin Ziran is a person with a strong thirst for knowledge, he enjoys inquiring about everything he encounters, resulting in a rather chaotic and eclectic understanding of various subjects

It will become the renowned time-travel artifact 'Mini Rifle'

Boss Wang cautiously took it and looked at it, somewhat uncertainly asking: "Should this type of rifling be engraved in the chamber? Or should it be spiral rifling?"

This firearm is produced by the Fuyuan Armory in Nanhai Prefecture, featuring a caliber of 18 millimeters, an overall length of 1.4 meters, and a weight of only 4.3 kilograms, utilizing a flintlock firing mechanism

Such a primitive steam engine is clearly unable to meet Lin Ziran's expectations for the industrial standards of this world

Lin Ziran showed no interest in the agricultural tools and a few swords and knives displayed in the iron workshop; he directly bypassed these items and turned his gaze towards the furnace equipped with a bellows and several machines that appeared to be very primitive.

But who would have thought that this clever fellow would take the initiative to speak up, and right from the start, demand the blacksmith's workshop to produce a hundred guns

After listening, Lin Ziran nodded slightly. Although this workshop is somewhat rudimentary, it does have basic machinery, so making a gun or something similar is not a problem. However, do not expect a large output.

The drawings in Lin Ziran's notebook cannot really be considered detailed designs of firearms; they are merely simplified diagrams of a rifled barrel.

When saying this, Boss Wang's breath was somewhat uneven. In this day and age, a soldier's monthly salary is only around 7 to 8 yuan, and the price of a smoothbore gun is about 20 yuan. Lin Ziran only asked him to modify the rifling, yet he offered a price of 10 yuan.

In fact, after Lin Ziran nodded just now, it was not over yet; he would still extend his hand and say: "Give me the gun!"

The arrival of a group of officials clearly left Boss Wang at a loss, appearing extremely panicked, to the point that he seemed somewhat unsteady on his feet

Such fortunate events are not something one encounters at all times, so naturally, one should seize the opportunity when it arises

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziran's face broke into a smile

Isn't it just money? It's a trivial matter. He just received 2,000 Hengyuan. If that's not enough, there should be more in Qingshan Town.

Lin Ziran directly handed over the gun, then took out a small notebook from his pocket. After opening it, he said: "Boss Wang, can you engrave this type of rifling on the gun?"

Upon hearing this, Boss Wang revealed a hint of confidence, yet he still cautiously replied: "Your Excellency, my workshop is capable of manufacturing guns; many of the firearms used in the town are crafted in my workshop!"

Having said that, he also gave Lin Ziran a toothy grin of flattery.

If rifling is engraved into a smoothbore gun, what does it become

It must be said that this is largely thanks to the fact that the world I have traversed into is already in the Industrial Revolution period, where the industrial foundation was already sufficient to manufacture the Minié rifle

Well, this thing is not new; rifled firearms have existed in this world for a long time. However, people have always struggled to solve the issues of bullet loading and the fit between the bullet and the rifling of the barrel. Loading is extremely difficult, which is why they are not very common and not many people use them

What will happen when these two are combined

There are neighbors next door

The firearms equipped in the 'Fifth Garrison Battalion' are Fuyuan rifles

It is evident that the steam engine before us is incapable of achieving this

Unfortunately, Lin Ziran, who came from Earth, has such an idea

Lin Ziran could no longer contain himself: "Shut up, give me the gun!"

After observing the steam engine, Lin Ziran was taken by Wang Jinquan to the iron workshop, as it was the only place in the entire town capable of forging steel products such as agricultural tools, swords, and firearms

Therefore, Lin Ziran has developed quite a few expectations

This workshop is set to produce hundreds of firearms, yet it remains uncertain when the production will conclude

Of course, even in this world that has already entered the Industrial Revolution, it is still a very difficult task to mass-produce and equip the Mini rifle, at least in this small town of Qingshan, it is absolutely impossible

Upon hearing this, Boss Wang's previously cautious expression immediately changed, and even Lin Ziran could see the greed on his face: "Rest assured, my lord, even if I have to make the craftsmen work day and night without food or drink, I will ensure that these guns are modified to your satisfaction!"

On the way, Lin Ziran learned from Wang Jinquan that this iron workshop was not only capable of producing agricultural tools, swords, and other products, but also responsible for manufacturing firearms and even cannons for the officials and soldiers in the town

Although it is said that what I know is merely superficial and far from mastery, it is sufficient for daily communication and to feign an appearance of erudition in front of those who understand even less

However, Lin Ziran is also preparing to create several molds for manufacturing hollow conical lead bullets in Boss Wang's workshop, in order to produce Minié bullets

He is aware that steam engines in this world can already be used as power sources for ships and trains. To achieve this, it requires high-pressure steam engines, as well as multi-expansion and multi-cylinder steam engines

Due to the fact that the performance of this gun is not considered poor, and most importantly, its price is inexpensive, it is therefore favored by numerous fiefdoms in Nanhai Prefecture and Lin Prefecture, as well as various bandits.

Regarding the steam engine and, more broadly, the Industrial Revolution, Lin Ziran does not claim to understand a great deal, but he is aware of what early steam engines were like, knows the distinction between low-pressure and high-pressure steam engines, and understands the differences between multiple expansion and multi-cylinder designs

Speaking without thinking, and yet claiming to be highly skilled, this is merely a workshop, not a professional arms factory

The owner of the iron workshop is a man in his fifties, with the surname Wang

Lin Ziran had just nodded when Luo Mazi immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly: "The army is about to enter the mountains to eliminate the bandits, and we are still short of one hundred firearms. You all hurry up and produce the firearms!"

It did not take long for them to arrive at the iron workshop in the town

In Lin Ziran's view, apart from having a few fewer rifling grooves, this Fuyuan musket is essentially no different from the Minie rifle on Earth

Taking the firearm from Luo Mazi's hands, Lin Ziran then turned to say: "Boss Wang, the servants are ignorant, I hope you will not hold it against them"

Therefore, Lin Ziran directly stated: "Money is not an issue; for each modified weapon, I will give ten yuan!"

However, Lin Ziran did not expect to engage in large-scale production of weapons in this iron workshop, nor did he ever anticipate the large-scale manufacture of smoothbore guns, as that would be unrealistic

This thing, placed on Earth, is at most at the level of the 18th century

Luo Mazi, this sycophant, was constantly attentive to Lin Ziran's actions and expressions

Boss Wang naturally did not dare to be presumptuous, immediately bending his waist and saying: "I dare not, I dare not!"

However, upon hearing this, Lin Ziran had already furrowed his brows into a shape resembling the character "川".

Boss Wang scrutinized the simple diagram on the notebook for a long time before cautiously saying: "This rifling can be engraved, but it will require modifications to the equipment, and the cost is likely to be considerable"

Lin Ziran smiled and said, "Well, it's just a matter of engraving a few spiral grooves inside the chamber!"

He merely wishes to have this iron workshop, which possesses a few simple machine tools, engrave rifling onto the existing more than 100 smoothbore guns

It is naturally a breech-loading rifle

Based on this gun, it has been modified into a Mini rifle. Although its performance is not on par with that of a small-caliber Mini rifle, it should be barely usable