The construction of the catapult was not something that could be done in a day or two. It required Ma Jun to experiment repeatedly, and he even had to tear it down and start over again when he was halfway through the construction.

Ma Jun seems to have an eccentric temper and is lazy and undisciplined, but when he is really doing things, he is very focused and forgets to eat and sleep, as if he is a different person.

Cao Liang admired his level of concentration.

The reason why Ma Jun ranks among the best among ancient inventors is that in addition to his innate ingenuity and intelligence, acquired diligence and hard work are also inseparable. To engage in invention research, what is needed is patience, perseverance, and being ahead of others.

The road not traveled.

This road is undoubtedly full of thorns, or in other words, there is no road at all. You must rely on your own intelligence to find a way. Without the courage and will to be the first in the world, you will not be able to get out of this road no matter what.

road.

As a modern man, Cao Liang enjoys the fruits of modern scientific and technological civilization, and even has a contemptuous attitude towards the inventions and creations of the ancients.

Why was it so difficult for the ancients to create a very simple thing?

Are ancient people too stupid?

When he truly integrated into this era, Cao Liang realized that he was completely wrong. Even if he knew the principle of a counterweight catapult, could he build it? He knew the chemical name and manufacturing method of yellow explosive, but he

Can it be created?

In this era of low productivity and low technological level, any invention and creation is great. They are like pedals, building the steps for human progress. They are the cornerstone of modern civilization. Without these inventions and creations, modern civilization would have become

Castles in the air or mirages.

Seeing Ma Jun's meticulous and dedicated look, Cao Liang suddenly felt respect in his heart. The inheritance passed down from generation to generation by these people is the real driving force for social progress. The so-called emperors and generals fought for power and profit, and fought with blood.

, cannot make society progress, only they are the true cornerstone of civilization.

Regarding the mechanical structure, Cao Liang knew basically nothing. Even for those seemingly simple keel waterwheels, every manufacturing step and link was extremely rigorous, and the requirements for any part were extremely strict.

Although Ma Jun said he was not interested in building a keel waterwheel, when he actually built it, he couldn't help himself when he saw the craftsmen's mistakes and gave him personal instructions with a stern attitude.

An old man in his sixties should be able to live a long life and ignore worldly affairs, but Ma Jun was different. He was simply an invention madman, and his obsession with mechanical inventions reached the point of obsession.

Cao Liang felt that he had really found a treasure. Compared with Ma Jun, any famous minister or general was really weak. No wonder when Qian Xuesen wanted to return to China, the Americans tried their best to stop him, "No matter where he is, he is worth five

"A division", and facts have proven that Qian Xuesen is worth more than five divisions.

Science and technology are combat effectiveness. If Ma Jun can develop a counterweight catapult and equip it with the army, it can completely improve the army's combat effectiveness and ability to attack difficult problems.

There is also the powerful repeating crossbow, which is also a heavyweight weapon. These two pinnacles of the cold weapon era will definitely improve the combat effectiveness of the army.

Sima Yi was wily and resourceful, and even Zhuge Liang had to admire his wisdom, but all his intelligence and wisdom seemed to be used on the officialdom. For a talent like Ma Jun, who was as beautiful as jade, he regarded it as a stubborn stone and discarded it like worn shoes.

I don't know if this is Ma Jun's sorrow or Sima Yi's loss.

In short, recruiting Ma Jun is definitely Cao Liang's biggest and most beneficial gain. Thinking about Wen Qin, Liu Jing, and Qian Hong who are currently working under his father's account, as long as nothing happens, they may all be under his account in the future.

These talents will be Cao Liang's weapon against the Sima family in the future.

The more of these sharp tools the better.

The construction of the counterweight trebuchet and the construction of the keel waterwheel were carried out simultaneously. The wood pulled was piled up like a mountain. Because Cao Liang sent people to build a barricade and sent out sentries around it, it was difficult for outsiders to approach.

here.

Moreover, Cao's Farm itself is an independent farm. Except for the tenants living on the land, there are obstacles around the farm. Other idlers are prohibited from approaching the farm land.

Because the farm not only grows grain and grass, but also grows vegetables and raises animals such as pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks. In order to prevent criminals from stealing, the cattle manager usually manages the farm very strictly. Tenants are not allowed to leave the farm at will, and outsiders are not allowed to give permission.

Entry to the Grange is prohibited.

It's no wonder that Ma Jun was rejected. Perhaps Manager Niu regarded him as a bad person who wanted to fish in troubled waters in the farm.

In short, Cao Liang inspected the farm and felt that the farm was relatively safe. Even if a spy sneaked in, it would be difficult to find anything unusual.

A non-professional person would not be able to distinguish among a pile of wood which one is used to build a catapult and which one is used to build a keel waterwheel.

Since there is an essential difference between a counterweighted catapult and a human-pulled catapult, as long as it is not loaded with stones for projection, few people in this era would be able to recognize it as a catapult.

Cao Liang is really cautious in this regard. He also knows that Sima Yi has a very sensitive sense of smell. It is really difficult for some things to escape his eyes and ears. The only way to hide it is to hide it from the old fox.

.

Currently, the counterweight catapult is only in the research and development stage. It only needs to be successfully developed and detailed drawings can be drawn.

As for mass production, the time is not yet ripe. Cao Liang does not want to manufacture hundreds of catapults in the suburbs of the capital. If the court discovers that he possesses ordnance on such a large scale, he will definitely be charged with treason.

This kind of crime is something Cao Liang cannot bear.

The huge catapult cannot be hidden, but the small and exquisite repeating crossbows are no problem. The Cao family farm covers an area of ​​thousands of acres and has built countless cellars. There seems to be no problem in hiding some repeating crossbows.

Ever since he got the design drawings of Lian Nu, Cao Liang couldn't hold back his excitement and wanted to build a few real objects to have a look.

This weapon, known as the "machine gun" of the Cold Weapon Age, has long been lost. Later generations only hear its name but never see its physical form. Cao Liang was lucky enough to see it. He felt extremely lucky.

What's more, this is a Liannu whose efficiency is almost several times that of Zhuge Liannu. It has never appeared in history. Cao Liang is really looking forward to it.
Chapter completed!