"Brother Wan, Taishifu has replied." At noon that day, Zhao Xueer hurriedly ran into Wan Lei's room and directly woke up Wan Lei who was taking a nap. Fortunately, the security in Beiping City was good, and Wan Lei would no longer wait for trouble, otherwise
Zhao Xueer, who barged in rashly, had to be chopped down by him with his sword.
"So fast, read." Wan Lei jumped out of bed and said while getting dressed.
"Liu family Moye, her life experience is unknown. She may be the widow of a wealthy businessman, or she may be a magician, or she may be a nun. The queen gave her a female scholar, so she is famous in the capital. She has many friends, and may have a big plan."
"Why so many? Could it be that even your master couldn't figure out the origin of this old woman?" Wan Lei was disappointed for a while. It seems that he still overestimated the strength of this master Zhang.
"Oh, Mrs. Liu is mysterious and doesn't look like a good person at first glance. Let's expel her out of Beiping City to save her from causing trouble for us," Zhao Xueer said.
"Haha, no matter how messy she is, she can't compare to our Nvxia Zhao. Our city of Beiping can accommodate Nvxia Zhao, but can't we accommodate Mrs. Liu?" Wan Lei smiled slightly and said this.
"Don't worry, it's okay! She is just a little old lady. No matter how noisy she is, she can't make any big waves. Let's ride on the donkey and read the songbook - we'll see." After Wan Lei finished speaking, he took the basin.
After washing his face and regaining his composure, he said: "I'll go to the top of the city to test the cannon in a moment. Will you go?"
"Go, of course you go, who will protect you if you don't go?" Zhao Xueer immediately became excited when she heard that she was going to play with the firecrackers.
"Then hurry up and call those lazy guys?" Wan Lei said and hurried to the laboratory.
This test is not only to test the performance of the newly cast iron cannon, but also to test the power of the new smokeless gunpowder. Compared with black gunpowder, which emits black smoke after burning, there is no residue after burning.
, no smoke or only a small amount of smoke occurs.
Compared with the black powder commonly used in the Ming Dynasty, smokeless gunpowder burns more fully and more rapidly, which can increase the range of the projectile and improve the straightness and shooting accuracy of the ballistics. It can completely replace black powder as the propellant for muskets and artillery. It is produced by
Not easy. At the same time, the quality requirements for the artillery barrel are higher. After all, its explosive power is much stronger than traditional black powder.
The main component of smokeless gunpowder is nitrocellulose. To put it bluntly, it is cotton nitrated with nitric acid. Dissolve the nitrocellulose in alcohol and ether, add an appropriate amount of stabilizer, make a gel, and then press it into tablets.
After cutting into strips and drying and hardening, relatively safe smokeless gunpowder can be made. The process is not too complicated, but the difficulty lies in the preparation of nitric acid, so mass production is still not possible and some can only be made for experimental use.
In fact, gunpowder can also be divided into propellant, projectile powder and blasting powder according to its purpose. Each type has a specific purpose and a specific ratio, which cannot be generalized. For example, the propellant used in artillery is
There are specific dosage and quality requirements. If the explosive power is too strong, it will explode; if the explosive power is insufficient, it will affect the range, so multiple experiments are needed to determine the ratio and dosage of gunpowder.
The test point was on the West City Tower. More than a dozen artillery pieces of various sizes were installed on the gun mounts and aimed at the open space outside the city. A small flag was set up every fifty meters in the open space to facilitate visual inspection of the range. There were another cannon under the city.
There were several sentries responsible for measuring various values, and there were dozens of original artillerymen from Beiping City on top of the city, who, under the leadership of the artillery chief Liu Wenxiu, participated in the cannon test.
Although these artillery pieces of different sizes are newly cast, their styles are the same as those of the Ming army. They are all front-loading guns. Their full name should be called smooth-bore front-loading guns. There is no rifling in the barrel, and the ammunition is loaded from the muzzle. Because of the smooth-bore
The shell of the gun is not tightly connected to the barrel, the gunpowder gas leaks out, the gunpowder thrust is reduced, and the range is shorter.
Moreover, there is another disadvantage of muzzle-loading guns, that is, after each shot is fired, the primer must be poured with water and wiped dry before charging and reloading. Even if several of the most skilled gunners cooperate with each other, it will take at least a minute.
This complete set of operations is completed, so the rate of fire is slow. This kind of cannon can be placed at the top of the city for deterrence, but it will probably be destroyed if taken out for field battles.
Of course, it is not impossible to use cannons in field battles. That is to miniaturize the cannons and make them into small horse cannons that are easy to carry. When going into battle, pull up hundreds of them, and before the battle, set up several large rows, one row after another.
Taking advantage of the enemy's formation being disrupted by several rounds of artillery fire, our cavalry swarmed up and killed him while he was sick. After the cavalry assault, the artillery troops followed behind under the protection of musketeers, swords and shields and other troops.
Advance to consolidate the battlefield.
This is the tactic of combining artillery and cavalry. It can be summarized in three points: first bombardment, then cavalry charge, and finally infantry. Don’t underestimate this tactic. As long as the artillery and cavalry cooperate well, the Mongolian cavalry can be restrained. And later generations
A dwarf relied on this method of warfare to defeat Auroba and ascend to the throne.
For this tactic to be truly practical, the range of the artillery must be far enough. In fact, on the battlefield, the deterrent effect of artillery fire is greater than reality. If you want to deal with particularly mobile cavalry, especially those with strong bows as their main lethality,
Mongolian cavalry and archery troops have the smallest artillery range
It must be more than 300 meters, because the range of the strong bows used by the Mongols is about 300 meters. If the range of the artillery is not enough, the artillery on the battlefield has only one role, and that is to hold back the cavalry of one's own side, and eventually the entire army will be defeated.
The Mongolian cavalry shooting team turned into hedgehogs with random shots.
Since these newly minted cannons had just been unsealed and were being used for the first time, Wan Lei did not dare to overdo it, so he asked the gunners to fill them with ordinary black powder and fire a few shots to see if they would explode. After confirming their performance,
Then slowly add the smokeless gunpowder to ensure safety.
"boom!"
A loud noise came from the largest artillery. Dozens of small lead bullets were shot out. In the blink of an eye, they hit the open space outside the city heavily, leaving a big crater and dust flying everywhere.
The effect was quite good, and the fellows standing next to Wan Lei felt very satisfied when they saw it.
"Four hundred and twenty meters, the explosion diameter is two meters." Soon, the sentry under the city reported the data.
"It's still not very good." Wan Lei shook his head. A gun emplacement with a height of more than ten meters can only fire 400 meters. If it is mounted on flat ground, the range will be 300 meters at most. This range is not enough.
"Sir, do you want to increase the amount of gunpowder?" Liu Wenxiu asked.
"No need, let's reload according to this ammunition ratio first, and try out all the remaining new cannons. By the way, we'll also try it out with the old cannons on the top of the city, and get the data for comparative study."
"My subordinate understands."
The gunners were busy again, and then the sound of cannons started to ring out. Fortunately, Wan Lei had posted a notice saying that today was just a test of cannons, not a war, otherwise the people in the city would have been frightened.
After a round of shelling, Wan Lei got the first set of data. Generally speaking, compared with the old artillery, the range of newly cast artillery is almost the same, both are around 400 meters, while the range of small artillery is only three meters.
About 100 meters. Obviously, this is unqualified and needs to be greatly improved before it can be used in actual combat.
"Make half of the original gunpowder and half of this new gunpowder and try again." Wan Lei took out a pack of newly made smokeless gunpowder and handed it to Liu Wenxiu. At the same time, he did not forget to remind: "Pay attention to safety and walk far away."
Light the fire again at one o'clock."
"My subordinate understands."
This time we started with the largest new cast-iron cannon. After a round of charging and loading operations, we fired it. There was a loud "boom" and the pellets flew out wildly. When the pellets hit the ground, another large bomb exploded.
pit, the sentry immediately rode up to check it out.
"Five hundred and forty meters, the explosion diameter is two and a half meters." The sentry horse quickly reported the data.
"Sir, the gunpowder you gave me is really effective. It can shoot over a hundred meters in one shot." Artillery Chief Liu Wenxiu said with a grin.
"It's too early to say this now. Let's try this ratio with other artillery pieces." Wan Lei glanced at this flattering guy and said flatly.
"Okay."
Liu Wenxiu personally mixed the gunpowder, and asked the gunner to quickly load it, ignite it, and launch. "Boom!" This time, he did not see the slingshots flying wildly. He only felt the hot wind carrying a piece of slingshots flying out.
Wan Lei shouted: "Lie down and protect your head with your hands."
A blast wave swept past wildly, leaving a mess near the fort. Wan Lei looked up and saw, good guy, the artillery fell from the gun mount to the ground, making a big crater. It was obvious that it had exploded. Fortunately, the gunner
They were relatively far away, and no one died except for the one responsible for igniting the fire who was slightly injured.
"Sir, my subordinate made a mistake and caused the chamber to explode. Please punish me, sir." Liu Wenxiu knelt down in front of Wan Lei in disgrace.
"Forget it, I can't blame you for this. If I want to blame, I can only blame me for being too hasty and causing the accident. Fortunately, there were no casualties." Wan Lei shook his hand and said: "Immediately send someone to check the operation process and find out the explosive chamber.
For the reason, I will try here today. You go back and have a night’s rest to calm down.”
"My subordinates are ordered to find out the cause of the explosion as soon as possible." Liu Wenxiu assured him by repeatedly beating his chest. Wan Lei comforted the slightly injured gunner for a few words before letting Chi Xin and others use hammers to open the door.
Explode the cannon and take samples for analysis to see if the problem lies in the poor quality of the pig iron.
The newly-cast cannon exploded after just one shot. Wan Lei's mood was certainly not much better. A cannon that exploded so easily could not be equipped in the army. Otherwise, an explosion accident would occur during the battle and no one would be injured.
If the enemy hurts oneself first, that is called a tragedy.
+++000+++
Xu Huizu, who was only a few hundred miles away, certainly got wind of the roaring artillery play here in Beiping City. He learned from the secret agent's letter that the Peiping Army not only conducted large-scale military training, but also engaged in iron-making and cannon casting.
Therefore, his brows were even more furrowed. He didn't need to think about it to know that the Peking Army was preparing for war!
Just when Xu Huizu once again convened his civil and military officials to discuss whether to take a preemptive strike against the Peking Army, Xu Jing quickly entered the meeting hall and whispered a few words in his father's ear. After hearing this, Xu Huizu's expression suddenly changed and he asked in surprise
Said: "Is this serious?"
"It's absolutely true, it's a letter from Eunuch Liu in the palace." Xu Jing looked anxious.
"Master Yang, please stay. The others will retreat first." Xu Huizu waved his hand and waited until everyone had retreated before saying: "Master Yang, there is news from the palace that the Holy Master is preparing to summon me back to the court. You are responsible for this.
Have you heard of it?"
"I haven't heard of it yet." This Lord Yang is actually just a sixth-grade officer in the Staff Department of the Ministry of War. He is a petty official who is as good as a mung bean. In the army where princes and other super-rank officials gather, he is called "Sir."
That was really flattering to him.
However, this Chief Yang has a very good background. He was recommended by Fang Xiaoru and could be regarded as Shang Xiaoru’s spy. Xu Huizu kept him and asked him if it was him who had set him up. Otherwise, why would the court suddenly have a fit?
Call him back to Beijing at this most critical moment.
"If it's not your master, then who else can persuade the Holy One?" Xu Huizu was even more suspicious.
"My lord Mingjian, I am here just to patrol the border, and I am not someone's spy." Chief Yang became even more anxious and hurriedly clarified.
In fact, this Chief Yang's name is Yang Shiqi. He is not considered a student of Emperor Fang, because he has never participated in the Imperial Examination, let alone a Jinshi. Instead, he joined the Hanlin Academy as a commoner and served as an editor. After participating in
In the process of compiling "Records of Taizu", I was fortunate enough to be appreciated by the president Guan Xiaoru who was responsible for compiling "Records of Taizu", so he was made an exception and promoted to the sixth rank chief, and was sent to the north to inspect the border situation and be responsible for mapping the Yanyun area.
Customs and defense map.
"If it's not you, then who is it?" Xu Huizu frowned and thought deeply for a while, then waved his hand and said to Yang Shiqi: "Step back."
"Master, could it be from Shuntian Mansion..." Yang Shiqi hesitated for a moment and then reminded.
"No matter who it is, that person has to transfer me away from here. It's a shame that the imperial court doesn't know the situation in the north and acts haphazardly." Xu Huizu cursed and said to his son: "Qin'er, prepare some pen and ink and work hard all night.
Report to the imperial court, state the situation of the war in the north, and request to stay."