During the morning inspection at Blue Weapons Company, the situation he saw was roughly satisfied with Li Fushou. In view of the current tension in the north and south situation, he specifically urged the company to reduce external orders and focus on the weapons and equipment needed in the local area.

Now the Blue Weapons Company is holding 650 orders of various caliber artillery in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as some orders of weapons from Argentina, Chile, the Ottoman Empire and Fuso. Currently, the execution can only be suspended and focuses on the needs of local troops.

Among them

The production of light infantry equipment is sufficient. The annual output of 85,000 rifles is not only used to replace the loss of rifles of active troops, but also reserves 30,000 to 40,000 rods per year, and the remaining part is all used for export.

The main market was in the Qing Dynasty and was used to equip the new army.

The Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau produces no more than 5,000 rifles a year. In addition, the officials are seriously fed up, corruption is rampant, the factory system is lax, the product quality is often not up to standard and the prices are extremely high, so the governors from all over the country are willing to use Australian rifles with low prices and good quality.

The German 1871 Mauser rifle produced by the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau requires 18 taels of silver, and the workmanship is rough and often stuck in shooting. However, the Mauser casing riding rifle with more advanced technology in Australia only requires 9 taels of silver, which is more accurate in design and more reliable in quality. It is easy to choose.

Nowadays, in addition to the new army organized by Gu Yanshan, the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, the Governor of Huguang, the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, the Governor of Northern Zhili and the Governor of Grain Transport have all arranged new army, and more than half of the weapons required are imported from Australia.

According to the reserve list;

Nowadays, more than 130,000 rifles are stored in arms warehouses in various places. This year, another 38,000 are planned to be purchased to supplement the inventory. In addition, the civilians have a large number of rifles, so there is no shortage of infantry weapons. This part of the export order can continue to be implemented.

Currently, it is mainly about large-caliber artillery. All export orders involved will be stopped, and all outputs will be used to supply the military needs.

The main gap is the large-caliber shore defense artillery in various places, mainly 280mm 305mm and the latest 343mm shore artillery, supplemented by some advanced 150mm caliber artillery, and its main purpose is to defend fortresses and equip the army artillery units.

Of course, these heavy artillery on the coast are not used to deal with southern states, but to prevent problems before they happen, and to protect the naval main battleships in the ports and prevent them from being caught off guard by the British.

Think of everything from the worst and work hard in the best direction.

The last of the inspection

Accompanied by Zhang Qishan, general manager of Blue Weapons Company, Baron Grezka, director and chief engineer, Major General Conrad Adenner, chief of the Army Staff, Li Fushou visited the Light Weapons Research Center.

This is a two-story building hidden by green trees. The backyard has a long side room. The yard is covered with thick shade and cool breeze. It is a quiet and deep place.

The director of the Light Weapons Research Center is American Professor MacDonald Cleveland. He is an extremely enthusiastic scholar in the research of light weapons. He was once the technical director of H-S-Maxine Weapons Company. As an assistant to the famous weapon designer Mr. H-S-Maxine, he participated in the research and development of Maxine semi-automatic rifles throughout the process.

The world's first real automatic rifle was invented by American engineer H?S?Maxim in 1883. Cdoner Cleveland, as the main technical assistant, participated in the entire research and development of the gun and had a profound research on the shooting principle and launch mechanism of the automatic rifle.

When a rifle is fired, the gunpowder gas produced not only shoots the bullet out of the barrel, but also causes the gun to recoil.

American engineer Maxim used some of the gunpowder gas power to complete a series of actions such as unlocking, reshuffling, sending bullets and relocking, thus realizing automatic continuous shooting of the rifle and reducing the recoil of the gun's impact on the shooter.

Drawing on the technical characteristics of Winchester rifle, Maxim conducted innovative modifications and experiments, and finally successfully manufactured the world's first semi-automatic rifle in 1883.

In this field, the research and development of Russian scholars is also at an advanced level. In 1886, Russian engineer Rudnitz developed a model of a semi-automatic rifle, but due to economic conditions, it was impossible to create practical guns.

The semi-automatic rifle uses the gas-guided automatic principle invented by H?S?Maxim. It does not require a single shot or a bolt. It mainly uses the reverse seat power of the gunpowder gas to push the shell out, but pulling the trigger can only fire one bullet.

The semi-automatic rifle launched by Mark Xing Weapons is revolutionary in the history of light weapons development, but it was a complete commercial defeat.

At this time, Winchester lever guns were popular in the western United States. They were a rifle that was loved by the Federal Mounted Police, law enforcement, desert gunners, Texas cowboys, and bounty hunters. They were in the limelight. The so-called Maxine semi-automatic rifle could not compete with it at all.

The entire US Army has only two cavalry divisions, and the weapons required are extremely limited, and the Department of the Army cannot help.

This has led to the huge investment in R&D work that cannot be recovered, and the large number of semi-automatic rifles produced have become unsold products and are difficult to sell.

The company's economy is in trouble, and huge conflicts arise between the company's major shareholders.

In order to survive the company, Mr. Maxim reluctantly cut off the semi-automatic gun project, while Professor MacDonald Cleveland, who loves light weapons research, strongly opposed it. The two had a fierce quarrel because of the sharp opposition in their positions and the contradictions could not be reconciled.

In July 1889, after receiving a heavy gift from Blue Weapons Company, Professor MacDonald Cleveland resolutely left the United States and traveled across the ocean to Australia to continue his dream.

He vowed to develop a semi-automatic rifle with excellent performance.

"The combat environment of soldiers is very harsh. They may fight in forest swamps or in deserts. Therefore, the reliability of semi-automatic rifles must be placed first. Whether they are buried in the soil or soaked in mud and water during the test, they must be able to fire when they are dug out."

Li Fushou had a very little understanding of the design of light weapons. He drew on the behind-the-scenes I had seen in his previous life. He put forward extremely high requirements for the design of this first semi-automatic rifle, hoping that what he designed was a classic.

Anyway, this Civil War will definitely not be able to catch up, so he is not in a hurry.

After hearing such a harsh request, Professor MacDonald Cleveland exclaimed in a burst of voice, "Oh, God, this is impossible!"

"Mr. Professor, there is nothing impossible in this world."

"Grand Lord Earl, science is rigorous and realistic, and there is no need for any subjective imagination. In terms of gun design, semi-automatic rifles require more precise components. During the process of pushing the bullet into the chamber and launching the anti-mount shell, a series of actions such as unlocking, re-locking, sending the bullet, and re-locking are completed. The entry of mud, sand and stone will inevitably lead to mechanical lag. This is an unsolvable fate and cannot be solved by manpower. Your requirements are surprisingly outrageous. I am very forgivable to not be able to do it."

Li Fushou was quite disappointed when he heard such an answer.

To the best of his knowledge;

Decades later, a batch of excellent semi-automatic firearms were indeed developed. The first one to equip the army was a semi-automatic rifle designed and invented by Mexican general Mondragon. In 1907, it first officially armed the Mexican army.

In fact, today's technological development level can completely design a very advanced semi-automatic rifle, which only requires enough funds and a little inspiration.

So Li Fushou said regretfully;

"It's a pity that the army needs a reliable gun that can fight in harsh environments and continue to exert firepower. The rifle is the protector of the lives of soldiers. It is not a delicate lady. Such a semi-automatic rifle has absolutely no market and cannot be accepted by the army.

Compared with the advantages of semi-automatic rifles, the military pays more attention to the reliability of rifles under harsh conditions. If this contradiction cannot be resolved, the developed semi-automatic rifles will have no vitality. How can we persuade the military to spend a lot of money to replace them with a new gun?

Professor, I admit that you have a deep knowledge in the major of guns, but compared with the genius Mr. Maxim, you still lack some innovative thinking.

Please forgive my outspokenness. I cannot design weapons that make people's eyes shine. Maybe we are all wrong."

What is meant

He had no confidence in Professor MacDonald Cleveland at all, and his disappointment was beyond words, and he expressed his distrust in a tactful manner.

In full view of everyone

Professor McDonald Cleveland had an old face red with shame, but he had to admit that what Lord Earl said made sense.

If a semi-automatic rifle cannot solve the reliability problem, then the epoch-making firepower advantage is completely unavailable. If it is really a battle in a muddy trench on a rainy day, and even half of the warrior guns cannot be fired, then how about the firepower advantage?

Especially the words of the Earl, Mr. Maxim was extremely respected, which made Professor MacDonald Cleveland difficult to accept. He said with a red face. "Great Earl, I admit that what you said makes sense, but if anyone in this world can fulfill your strict requirements, I am definitely the best."

"As long as I ask?" Li Fushou asked seriously.

"Yes. My research group and I will do our best to fulfill your request, turn the impossible into possible, and I can swear with my reputation and will definitely do it."

"It's great. I never believe that there are peaks in the world that cannot be climbed. When you step on it, you will feel extremely glorious."

"God, Lord Earl, I look forward to such a glorious day, and will make all efforts to do it, may God be the witness."

"I believe you can do it, Professor MacDonald." Li Fushou was very satisfied with the effect of the provocation method, and he expressed his solemn expression; "I firmly believe... you will be proud of today's decision. Human beings are showing themselves through continuous breakthroughs. No one would have thought that Queensland would have the current prosperous situation, and I did... I believe you can do it too. Continuously breaking through the limits and turning the impossible into possibility... This is the true meaning of life."

"Thank you for your teachings, honorable Count, I will humbly offer you all my intelligence and wisdom. May God bless Queensland, amen!"

"God blesses!"

Li Fushou looked at him deeply. He estimated that this Tongxin Ling chicken soup should be effective. If this old guy dares to play tricks, hahaha... the political and emotional state is not a vegetarian, and it will definitely make him dying of an ecstasy.

Americans of this era still can't stand the fooling...
Chapter completed!