Chapter 53: Begging

Soon after Marin returned, he sent two armed merchant ships to demonstrate artillery battles in Hamburg and Lübeck. However, before sending the warship, Marin was not happy to let Lubeck and Hamburg know that they were equipped with iron guns on a large scale. So, the frivolous Marin made the craftsmen paint a layer of copper paint outside the cannon on the ship.

In this way, even if Lübeck and Hamburg saw the cannon on Marin's ship, they had to hesitate whether they should learn Marin's method. Because-the cost of such an artillery is too high ...

Copper price is so expensive, you have so many copper heavy guns, is there no place to spend the money? Even the rich Lübeck and the burger have to hesitate. Even if they want to equip heavy artillery, they must consider the terrible cost. Even if equipped, only a small amount ...

The guns on these 250-class armed merchant ships are no longer the original 12-pound guns. Since the establishment of the iron and steel factory, the foundry gun factory has a supply of molten steel, so it is natural to improve the artillery. Although, because of the level of artisans, the carbon content has always been inaccurately controlled. For example, Marin's craftsmen who want low-carbon steel may smelt medium-carbon steel. If you want to make medium-carbon steel, you make low-carbon steel ... Of course, high-carbon steel will not be wrong, because smelting of high-carbon steel requires furnace walls with graphite substrates and the environment is different.

However, even so, whether it is medium carbon steel or low carbon steel, it is suitable for casting guns, which is much stronger than wrought iron. Therefore, the foundry factory quickly changed the 12-pound gun to 18-pound without changing the size. Moreover, the total weight dropped from 2 tons to 1.8 tons.

Even so, if calculated according to the price of copper, such a "copper cannon" would be worth as much as 2,800 gold coins. Malin is equipped with 20 heavy "copper guns" on an armed merchant ship. Doesn't the cost of light artillery cost 56,000 gold coins?

When they saw a total of 40 heavy "copper cannons" on the two ships, Lubeck and Hamburg, two local tyrants and Hanseatic cities, were also stunned by the Marlin local tyrants ...

Where is this war? It's totally taking out the golden bricks and PK with others' bricks ......

However, Captain Kidd, who led the team, explained that the copper was cheap copper that Columbus bought from India. In fact, the value is only one tenth of the European price ...

In this way, the two Hanse local tyrant cities barely accepted ...

Indeed, the artillery on a ship is worth 5,600 gold coins. Although it is also a local tyrant, it is much easier to accept than 56,000 gold coins. The opening of the Indian route is known to the Hanseatic League. It's just that whoever first discovered India first in Columbus and Dagama, the two countries have been arguing.

For the huge profits of India's spice trade, the Hanseatic League is also very jealous. It's just that they don't have information on ocean navigation, nor do they plan. Because, even if they follow the route between West and Portugal, they are not willing to bear the common anger of West and Portugal.

After all, the Hanseatic League can't even handle Denmark, and then to provoke Portugal, it is to find death ...

Eastern prices are cheap, and the Hanseatic League is also heard. They also have no doubt that Marin can get ten times cheaper copper. Even they understood why Marin only had 23 warships. A warship needs so many bronze guns. Want more warships? Not so much cheap copper ...

After the exclamation, the two warships started the demonstration of naval warfare under the watch of the representatives of Lübeck and Hamburg ...

This time the two warships 2505 and 2506 were sent. The sailors and gunners were very experienced veterans. In fact, Marin deliberately picked a group of the best sailors and gunners to display. Therefore, when maneuvering sailboats and firing guns, they move like clouds and flowing water without dragging them.

An old 200-ton merchant ship of the Hanseatic League used as a target ship, after being watched by representatives of the two cities, was fired by two 250-class warships at a distance of nearly 100 meters at a distance of 100 meters. , Was smashed to the side, sunk into the sea after entering the water ...

"Sure enough, the power is extraordinary!" The representative of Lübeck praised.

"It's just too expensive ..." The Hansa representative shook his head bitterly.

The two representatives didn't know that the guns on the Marin ship were all medium and low carbon steel, and the cost was not much lower than copper. It's just that Marlin, the wicked guy, painted copper paint on the outside of the gun body, deliberately misunderstanding the representatives of Lübeck and Hamburg ...

In fact, the city representatives sent by Lübeck and Hamburg today are their respective naval officers. They came over today, not only to check the authenticity of Marin's claims, but also to spy on the new tactics of Marin's navy. To put it bluntly, I just want to steal the teacher ...

However, now they steal the teacher. But it's no mistake to learn, so many copper-made copper guns, even the very rich Lubeck and Hamburg, may not be willing.

Of course, it's not that two cities can't afford it. Instead, the Parliament will definitely not approve ...

Both Hanseatic cities are parliamentary. The parliament has to consider the interests of many parties and involves a wide range. Members of parliament in both cities are big Hanse merchants. What are the characteristics of merchants? Carefully ...

Do you let the Hansa merchants in two cities spend 56,000 gold coins to equip a ship's artillery? Are you kidding me? Certainly rejected ...

Know that at the cost of 56,000 gold coins, you can buy thirty commercial ships of 200 tons or more. For these Hansa merchants, merchant ships can make more money, can artillery?

It was just that the scene of heavy artillery volley was too shocking. After the two representatives went back, they still tried to persuade the parliament ~ www.wuxiaspot.com ~ to buy a few heavy artillery and come back to study new naval warfare ...

Eventually, the parliaments of the two cities agreed with the delegate's proposal. As a result, the two Hanseatic cities of Lübeck and Hamburg not only recognized the combat effectiveness of the Marin Navy, but also issued orders for heavy "copper guns". Among them, Lübeck ordered 10 heavy artillery. For Hamburg, 8 orders were ordered.

This heavy artillery was actually tested by two cities. The point is, you need to show your power to Parliament. Only if the Parliament approves, will it agree to allocate funds to buy more heavy artillery ...

After receiving the order, Marin immediately invited old John and other top artillery craftsmen to create a pair of iron molds from cast iron for casting 18-pound bronze guns.

Before, because of the rich experience in the use of iron molds, plus 18 pounds of cannon casting, several teachers are also familiar, but it is not difficult.

Moreover, casting bronze guns is much simpler than casting iron guns. Because the bronze liquid is much more stable than the hot metal, and it is not easy to get out of the way. Unlike the molten iron, if the iron mold is used, the cooling speed is too fast, which easily causes the iron body of the gun body to become iron, which causes brittleness and affects the strength of the gun body. But using bronze liquid, there is no such concern at all ...

Happens to be that the hundreds of tons of copper that Marin had brought back from India are still being stored in large quantities. Therefore, Marin used the friendly price of 350 gold coins per gun to provide two cities with successfully cast bronze 18-pound guns. At the same time, Marin also provided standards for the loading of artillery shells and gunpowder to prevent the other party from unqualified gunners arbitrarily loading explosives and damaging the barrel. Of course, this standard is formulated in accordance with the standard of powder gunpowder. After all, the Marlins now use granulated gunpowder in Europe.

In addition, Marin also agreed with Lübeck and Hamburg-after the autumn harvest, the Swedish representative was invited to hold the second four-party talks to determine the hands-on time and details ...