Chapter 157 Machine Tools "Squeak" Craftsman Qian Shiwu blew the whistle fiercely, his dark face set tightly, as if he was facing thousands of troops in front of him.
Four shirtless blacksmith apprentices quickly bowed down, carried the newly cast bronze cannon on poles, and walked towards a long stone platform not far away with small steps.
The cannon body had not yet completely cooled down, and the iron chains that passed through the front and rear cannon ears were boiling with heat.
The four apprentices were also sweating profusely.
However, everyone did not dare to free their hands to wipe it, for fear that if they were distracted, the cannon would tilt and hit themselves or their companions.
If you encounter it, you will lose at least half your life.
The bronze cannon weighs only a little over 530 kilograms.
Even if it completely falls on a person, it may not be able to crush him to death.
However, the temperature of the copper cannon is extremely high, and if you rub it casually, it will give off a burnt smell.
If it accidentally touches something, your life will be sealed, and even gods cannot save it.
Last month alone, six apprentices were scalded to death because they were distracted while working.
Three others did not die on the spot and are still suffering in the medical clinic run by Semu.
However, there is still an endless stream of people coming to the workshop to apply as apprentices.
Without him, being an apprentice here not only takes care of food, but also pays wages.
After the two-year apprenticeship period is over, you can get the salary of a regular worker.
If smoke comes out of the ancestral grave by accident, and you are promoted to a master craftsman or even a master craftsman, you will have enough food and clothing for several lifetimes.
Although you have less freedom of movement after becoming a craftsman, look at the prodigal women in Huai'an City who are the most lavish spenders.
Some of them are not relying on the men who are craftsmen, even the three aunts and six women in Huai'an City.
Everyone unanimously regarded the craftsman as the first choice for choosing a son-in-law.
He also summarized several of the most attractive conditions for women, "First, make more money.
Second, there is a workshop to take care of food and clothing, so you spend less.
Third, every day is either a day shift or a night shift, and you are as busy as a spinning top.
There is absolutely no need to worry about them going out to visit casinos and brothels.”
"Zhizhi" Qian Shiwu's whistle sounded again, ordering the apprentice to stop.
He stepped forward, rubbed the pig iron track on the table with his fingers, and ordered loudly, "Old Liu, has the pulley been wiped well?
Get on the pulley and hurry up."
"Coming, coming, coming."
A famous old craftsman with a beard directed two apprentices to quickly place an iron pulley with four wheels underneath on the track.
"Wipe it three times to make sure it is clean."
Gotta be able to slip a fly" "You are the only one who talks too much," Qian Shiwu scolded unhappily, and then quickly turned his head to the apprentices who were carrying the cannon, "Hurry up and put the cannon into the pulley, quickly.
Zhao Da, Zhao Er, you two fix the cannon in front.
Ears.
Zhang Wu, Xu Liu, you two fix the rear cannon ears.
Lao Liu, you and your two apprentices are responsible for flattening the body. " Six apprentices and a master craftsman, under his command, quickly put the copper cannon into the iron pulley, and tied it tightly with the keyhole on the pulley with the iron chain that passed through the ear of the cannon.
The pre-made triangular spacer was carefully inserted into the contact point between the front end of the artillery and the pulley.
The muzzle was raised step by step and steadily, and the barrel was aligned with the grindstone at the end of the track in a straight line.
Craftsman Lao Liu made another visual inspection and was convinced that the barrel was completely level.
Taking a deep breath, he stuffed the big balls of mud into the gap between the pulley and the cannon.
"Chichichichi" The clay was burned until white smoke billowed out, and the smell of animal urine filled the air, making people's eyes turn red.
Craftsman Qian Shiwu, craftsman Liu Laoshi, and all the apprentices, none of them bothered to rub their eyes.
His eyes were fixed on the millstone at the end of the track.
The front end of the grindstone is oval, and its maximum diameter is equal to the barrel of the gun.
The second half of the grindstone was inserted into a thick and straight iron rod.
The iron rod is about six feet long, and the end is forged with a thicker iron rod.
The thicker iron rod passed through several fine iron brackets and a thin wall, leading outside the work shed to the large waterwheel that was two stories high.
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"Zhi" Qian Shishi's whistle sounded again.
Everyone exerted their arms at the same time, pushing the pulley slowly towards the grindstone.
The muzzle and the millstone are close, close, little by little.
Suddenly, a harsh friction sound was heard, causing everyone's internal organs to tangle together and roll up and down.
Golden sparks spurted out from the muzzle, brilliant and dazzling.
"Zhizhizhi" Qian Shishi's whistle changed its tone, becoming short and exciting.
A master craftsman, a craftsman, and six apprentices.
Following the rhythm of the whistle, continue to push the cannon forward, push forward, push forward.
Full attention, eyes fixed.
Sweat flowed like a river from everyone's bronzed skin, illuminated by sparks and exuding a charming color.
The shoes under my feet soon became wet, and the stone-paved floor became slippery.
However, they did not dare to pause or lower their heads, and continued to push the pulley forward with all their strength.
Their angular faces exuded the unique piety of the creator.
"Boom" The muzzle of the gun collided with the baffle at the end of the rail, making a hollow sound.
Qian Shiwu's face lit up, he quickly turned the whistle around and blew from the other end, "Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss) Following the sound of the whistle, everyone began to push the iron cart and stride back.
The red star was still emerging from the muzzle, but it was much dimmer than before.
Suddenly, the muzzle of the cannon lit up again, and a golden river sprang out.
Immediately, the cannon body completely broke away from the grinding stone, and under the action of inertia, it quickly slid towards the position where it came from.
"Old Liu, measure the barrel of the cannon.
Zhang Wu and Xu Liu, go to water the millstone and check the millstone by the way.
Zhao Da, Zhao Er, go to prepare the chisel."
"Yes" The craftsmen and apprentices breathed a sigh of relief and trotted to the next step.
Soon, Liu Laoshi returned with a big stick of butter wax and a cross made of wood.
First, hold the candle and shine it into the muzzle several times.
Then he slowly rotated the wooden cross and probed in.
As he probed, he reported loudly, "The surface was smooth and the front section detected no burrs.
There were no burrs in the middle section.
At the end section, near the tail of the gun, there were two , three, there are four bulges.
It is not clear from the muzzle and needs to be taken outside to be polished by hand. " "Okay, Zhao Da, Zhao Er, put the serial number of our group on the barrel and send it to the next work shed.
Old Liu, take the people to continue cleaning the pulley.
Zhang Wu, Xu Liu, you two go to the last work shed and take a look.
When will their next round of gun barrels be cast?"
Qian Shiwu continued to give instructions loudly while writing down in his notebook.
"Yes" the apprentices agreed happily, chiselled the words "Shed No. 2, Fifteen, Money" on the tail of the gun, then unloaded the barrel from the pulley, loaded it into a trolley, and sent it to the next shed.
Craftsman Liu Laoshi left the task of cleaning the pulley to his apprentice.
He took a look around, quietly approached the craftsman Qian Shishi, and asked in a very low voice, "Qian Jiang, you said, at the end of this month, we How much bonus can I get?”
"Hua Hong, Hua Hong, Hua Hong, Hua Hong, how big are you?"
Craftsman Qian Shishi hit him on the head with the account book in his hand and said loudly, "I said, Lao Liu, can you think more about serious things this month?
Three gun barrels have been returned to the team.
If there is one more, my grandmother will have to be demoted to an ordinary craftsman, and you, Old Liu, will have to become an apprentice again.
Don't you think you will be too miserable to be an apprentice at such an old age. ah" "Well, that's not because you work the night shift.
No, aren't you used to it?"
Old Liu, the craftsman, took two steps away and defended in a low voice, rubbing his red forehead.
"Besides, although three of our team's gun barrels were returned, we still made seven more than others.
Not counting the three that were reworked, there are still four more."
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"My Uncle Liu, how many times have I told you that the accounts can't be settled like this?"
Qian Shishi was so angry that his eyes turned black.
He slapped his head hard and begged loudly, "I just made a few more.
I just made more money."
A few cannons are worth money.
But if the barrel explodes during the test, you will not only destroy the jobs of our group, but also those of the previous group who built the cannon and the next group who was responsible for hand-finishing.
Sometimes, even if I don’t cause trouble for you, they still have to find you.”
"They dare.
Bald Wang from Shed No. 3 was recruited by me when he first entered the workshop for the exam.
According to his seniority, he has to call me master."
Liu Laoshi glared, seven of them dissatisfied and eight of them angry.
But soon, he softened like a frustrated toad.
He quickly looked around and asked in a lower voice, "I said Qianjiang, Qianjiang master, Huang Laowai wouldn't be really cruel.
We were the first ones to follow him."
"The key is that the batch they recruited from Huai'an are easier to use than us."
Qian Shishi glanced at him and sighed helplessly, "You were a hoe maker back then, and I was a door knocker with my father. , and locks.
We are not very skilled at it, but people here in Huai'an are just doing hairpins and hairpins.
Those who make gold chains, silver bracelets, and bronze mirrors.
The worst are those who make wine bottles, silver cups, and bronze chamber pots.
That's a small job that needs to be done by our governor and craftsman Jiao.
These water hammers, rhinestones, and horizontal and vertical grinders that have come out, think about it, can the things they produce be any worse?"
"Then, let's, let's just let the people who come after us climb up on our heads."
Liu Laoshi sighed and murmured in protest.
"If we don't want others to climb on top of our heads, we have to work harder ourselves."
Qian Shishi hit him with the ledger again and scolded him in a low voice, "Usually work more seriously.
Don't think about it too much after work.
Wandering around, take the time to recharge your batteries and wait.
Take the next class.
Our captain is the most fair, and he will never treat you badly as long as your subordinates work.
Ah, the captain came to see us again.
Stand up and wipe your face.
Come over here, be here soon.”
Note: By at least the Tang Dynasty, Chinese craftsmen had begun to operate primitive lathes of various types.
In the Ming Dynasty, there was a monograph describing the structure and usage of grinders.
It can be said that until the early Qing Dynasty, China's industrial development did not lag far behind the world.
Then: