What can seamless steel pipes do?
In this era, making firearms would undoubtedly be the best choice.
Although Fang Er had never built a gun before, he understood the principle. As an eighth-level fitter, once he knew the principle, he could make it. It was only a matter of time.
Fang Er chose the muzzle-loading flintlock rifle. This thing actually didn't have much technical content. The most difficult part was the quality of the barrel, and seamless steel pipes were sufficient for the gunpowder he, a novice, concocted.
He calculated in his mind while drawing on the ground.
Soon, the ground was covered with various lines and symbols.
It wasn't until Zhuzi and the others delivered the steel that Fang Er looked up.
Looking at the delivered steel, Fang Er's eyes were filled with fervor.
He took out a steel pipe and cut it into four equal sections with a small steel saw.
Then he began to make the various parts of the gun mechanism.
The trigger.
The breech.
The hammer.
~~~~
As time slowly passed, Fang Er was busy in the house until the afternoon before he finished all the parts needed for one gun.
Various shaped parts were neatly placed on the table. Fang Er assembled them according to his design.
With the clinking sounds coming from the parts in his hands, a killing weapon that had never appeared in this era was born in Fang Er's hands.
Fang Er patted the steel monster to his satisfaction and took it out of the room.
"Young Master, what are you holding?" Zhuzi, who had been waiting outside the door, asked when he saw Fang Er carrying out a strange object.
"This is called a firearm. Like the cannons, it's a ranged weapon. However, we still need bullets. I'll show you later." After Fang Er's introduction, he went to the blacksmith's furnace, melted some copper plates, and easily cast some copper bullets.
After polishing the bullets smooth, he went to an open space.
Under the expectant gaze of a group of servants, and for safety reasons, Fang Er only loaded an ounce of gunpowder.
Then he inserted the bullet, took out the ramrod, and pressed the bullet and gunpowder down.
Fang Er aimed the gun at a large tree in the distance.
The tree was over a hundred paces away.
Three points in a line, after aiming, Fang Er decisively pulled the trigger.
With a "bang," a flash of fire erupted from the muzzle, and then a tuft of wood chips was seen splashing on the trunk of the distant tree.
Everyone ran over in surprise and found that a pit the size of an egg had been blown into the trunk, and the copper bullet had firmly embedded itself in the trunk. Fang Er was quite satisfied with the power and casually threw the gun to Zhuzi.
"Like the cannons, this thing needs to have its barrel cleaned after firing. Be careful and don't load more than an ounce of powder."
After the instructions, Fang Er returned to the house to continue hand-making guns.
In the following days, with his superb craftsmanship and ready-made barrels, Fang Er produced fifty flintlock rifles in one go. All the strong young men in the manor got one, and enough copper bullets were cast for use.
The cost of the bullets alone made Fang Er feel the sting. There was no lead, and the sealing property of iron bullets after heating did not satisfy Fang Er. Copper bullets were the only option, but each projectile cost three copper coins.
In these few days, these young men had also figured out how to use firearms.
One morning, Fang Er asked Zhuzi to gather all the strong young men at the workshop. He gave the craftsmen there a holiday to prevent any leaks.
At Chen Shi, everyone gathered in the workshop.
They had vaguely guessed what Fang Er had been doing these days.
Not long ago, the Fang manor was bombed, and Fang Er had been tinkering with cannons and firearms. It was expected that he was going to seek revenge.
"Everyone here are heroes of the manor. Aristocratic families are rampant. Just because I offered the salt-making method to the Emperor, allowing common people to afford salt, I touched their interests. That's why the Fang manor was attacked not long ago. I, Fang, cannot tolerate this. What about the aristocratic families! They are also human, why can they decide the life and death of others! Therefore, I have decided to seek revenge! The targets are the Zheng clan of Xingyang and the Cui clan of Qinghe. I won't say much, but let's be practical. For those willing to help me, besides the monthly wages, there will be a resettlement fee of five taels of silver per person. Those who have concerns, I, Fang, will not blame you. You can withdraw now."
Standing on a stone platform, Fang Er spoke to everyone about the purpose of this gathering. After finishing, his gaze swept across the faces below.
"Young Master Fang, you look down on us like this. None of the old and young men of Fang Family Manor are cowards! Just tell us what to do, and we will do it!"
Zhao Hu stepped out from the crowd and said to Fang Er, then turned to the others: "Since Young Master Fang came, how have our lives been, you know well. Do you want to go back to the days of not having enough to eat and not having enough to wear?"
"No!"
The others shouted in unison.
"If the aristocratic families want to cut off our path to survival, then we will follow Young Master Fang and fight them!" Zhao Hu roared.
"Let's fight them!"
"Let's fight them!"
"Let's fight them!"
The manor folk's thinking was simple: whoever made their lives better, they would listen to. Since Fang Er arrived, he first gave them a resettlement fee of two taels, then a monthly wage, and three meals a day. This was something they would never have dared to imagine before.
"Zhuzi, distribute the guns!" Fang Er commanded the Zhuzi beside him.
Dali and Gouzi were also called back from the restaurant to help.
Boxes of firearms were carried out from the workshop.
Zhuzi took out a firearm and handed it to Fang Er. Fang Er personally distributed the guns one by one.
After the guns were distributed, Fang Er spoke again: "Once you accept these firearms, you are no longer ordinary civilians. From today onwards, you are the Fang Family Guards! Your monthly wage will double, to two taels of silver per month. There will be rewards for merit and compensation for injuries. All you need to do is obey orders! Can you do it?"
"Young Master Fang, rest assured, we will listen to everything you say!"
Everyone was incredibly excited. A monthly wage of two taels of silver was enough to support a family, and they already saw a bright future beckoning them.
"The Guard will be divided into four teams. Zhuzi will serve as the captain, and Zhao Hu, Sun Zhou, Ma Chao, and Liu Meng will each lead a team. I will give you an incense stick's time. Now, begin free grouping."
As Fang Er's words fell, the crowd began to move.
Zhao Hu, Sun Zhou, Ma Chao, and Liu Meng each selected their brothers who they had closer relationships with and had them join their respective teams.
Before the incense stick was even finished, four neat lines of teams stood before Fang Er.