But what made Fang Zhenghua feel embarrassed was that when Dongjiang Town was fully engaged in fighting against the Jianlu, the imperial court was still without food and salary, and the promised ordnance and supplies had not arrived. They should have been detained in Juehua.
To put it bluntly, everyone in Jinzhou is now contributing to the victory over the Jianlu. Only he, the eunuch who supervises the army, and the few imperial guards he leads are eating white rice, and nothing can help.
The feeling of keeping a distance, Fang Zhenghua realized more and more clearly, and it was very uncomfortable.
Even Chen Jisheng, a very loyal and honest man, stopped asking the court to restore food and salary and supply equipment and supplies, which shows the depth of disappointment.
Obviously, Fang Zhenghua was not ignored, but he was ignored behind the greetings from others.
"Get out of the way, don't you have eyes?" Jiang Baohe yelled, interrupting Fang Zhenghua's thoughts.
An old man who was shoveling snow hurriedly avoided the situation. His feet slipped and he fell.
The official who was sent to accompany him had his face darkened, and he wanted to stand up and dismount.
Fang Zhenghua glared at Jiang Baohe fiercely and saw that some people had already helped the old man up, but they all bowed to avoid him by the roadside, not even daring to raise their heads.
Sighing slightly, Fang Zhenghua scolded Jiang Baohe: "Look carefully when riding and don't touch the common people. Clear snow is a clear road to facilitate the transportation of military supplies to the Nanguan front line."
Although it was directed at Jiang Baohe, it was also for others, especially those officials and soldiers sent by Chen Jisheng to accompany him. After giving the instructions, Fang Zhenghua took the initiative to slow down his horse.
Except for some sections, the snow on the road has been cleared, and the people have returned to the village with their tools, and there are not many people on the road.
Fang Zhenghua and others were moving faster and slower, getting closer and closer to Nanguan, with fewer pedestrians, but soldiers appeared from time to time, and there were checkpoints for inspections.
In order to prevent enemy spies, there is a warning zone on the Nanguan defense line. Although this possibility is very small, it is necessary to guard against it.
Especially when the war is approaching, the atmosphere becomes more tense and the interrogations become more stringent.
Fang Zhenghua and others did not encounter any difficulties or obstacles. After the interrogating sergeant learned the identity of the group, they all saluted and let them go.
The closer we get to the Nanguan defense line, the more we feel the heavily guarded atmosphere and the high morale of fighting.
Flags were waving in various training grounds, people were crowded, armors were shining, shouts of killing were loud, and bursts of musket roars could be heard from time to time.
Although gunpowder is precious, live-fire training is also necessary. Whether it is a musket or an artillery piece, how can soldiers be at ease on the battlefield without live-fire shooting?
"Most of the Dongjiang Army is already here, and they are going to fight to the death with the invading Jianlu." Fang Zhenghua looked at the several Jinyi guards and said seriously: "The battle plan is quite thorough, you can't speak nonsense."
Jiang Baohe, Shen Zonggui and others hurriedly agreed. These two people, in particular, were sincerely afraid of Guo Dajing. In the chilling atmosphere of the military camp, they became much more honest.
Soon after receiving the notification, the officer who was waiting to receive Fang Zhenghua and others rushed over. After saluting, he led them to their residence.
"Master Supervisor, would you like to inform the generals to come and see them and wait for instructions?" the officer asked politely: "The advance guard of Jianlu has arrived at Gaizhou Acropolis, and the war will break out soon. Now, you generals still have time.
; From now on, it’s hard to say.”
Fang Zhenghua thought for a while, shook his head and said, "Everyone is nervously preparing for war, and the Za family doesn't have any instructions, so we won't waste their time."
After a pause, he added: "Tomorrow, you will lead us, and the Zajia family will inspect various ministries."
"General, I will obey your orders." The officer bowed and saluted, and agreed happily.
Fang Zhenghua and others went to their residence to rest, and news of their arrival was also conveyed to various ministries.
Generals such as Guo Dajing and Li Weiluan did not think much of the eunuch sent by the imperial court to supervise the army. Since there is no need to go to see him, that's fine, so as not to waste time.
Without the authority to command operations, and unable to help Dongjiang Town obtain food, wages, and materials from the imperial court, Fang Zhenghua's role as supervisor of the army was simply in vain.
Well, apart from reporting to the emperor, Founder's role was nothing more than that. No wonder the officers in Dongjiang Town ignored him.
But Guo Dajing didn't think so, because with the addition of Fang Zhenghua, at least he could give Chongzhen some words and make Chongzhen believe him.
Then, the true situation of the Liaodong battlefield, Yuan Chonghuan's blockade and suppression of Dongjiang Town, and the peace talks with the rebels can be reported to Chongzhen through Founder.
The cool air made Guo Dajing's mind clearer and his thoughts clearer. The corners of his mouth also pursed slightly, giving him a little bit of a bad smile.
"The last general has met the general." Someone greeted him, which made Guo Dajing take back his thoughts.
It's Jin Zhongguo. He originally went to the Dongjiang Army to study or be trained. But this guy seems to be addicted to fighting. He has stayed here until now and has sent away two or three batches of Korean martyrs for internship and further training.
Guo Dajing nodded with a smile and said: "We worked very quickly and the road was cleared."
Jin Zhongguo said: "Back to the general, there is no problem with the movement of the artillery. This must be guaranteed."
Behind the position, there are nearly three hundred mortars, and solid roads have been built to move the artillery. The flatbed trucks carrying the artillery can quickly concentrate the artillery and carry out high-density bombardment according to the enemy's attack range.
The distance of the artillery strike has been calibrated through repeated trials. The artillery can quickly adjust the firing angle and direction according to the officer's instructions, load and launch.
In other words, the artillery in Dongjiang Town already possesses the technology of indirect aiming. They do not need to see the enemy and only listen to the guidance and command of officers at high places.
For the enemy, they can't see the opponent's artillery, and they can't figure out the reality, which adds to the psychological shock.
The heavy mortar weighs just over 100 kilograms with a thick wooden base. It is like a short and stubby tank, and equipped with a specially built trolley, it is very maneuverable.
Guo Dajing patrolled along the road built for artillery vehicles. He looked at the busy artillerymen and nodded repeatedly, feeling very satisfied.
"Old Jin, you are already an artillery expert." Guo Dajing glanced at Jin Zhongguo who was accompanying him, and said with a smile: "You are very proficient in Hongyi artillery and mortars. You can teach others and become an instructor!"
Jin Zhongguo chuckled and said: "Those who have returned to China after studying are also good. They teach artillery, and it will be the same if someone doesn't go back."
After a pause, he said sternly: "The edge of a sword is sharpened, and if it is practiced without fighting, it will eventually be sharpened. I would rather fight with the Jianlu in the Dongjiang Army than go back and do nothing."
"You stay to kill the Jianlu, which is what I wish for." Guo Dajing said: "We have fought side by side since we aided the DPRK. When the Jianlu are eliminated, I hope that I can have a drink with everyone and celebrate the victory together."
Jin Zhongguo laughed and seemed quite confident, saying: "With General Guo here, we will definitely succeed in destroying the captives and pacifying Liao. I have no doubt about this."
Guo Dajing patted Jin Zhongguo's arm hard. There was no need for unnecessary words. The feelings between comrades are that simple.
What Jin Zhongguo said makes sense, and the so-called tempering refers to actual combat experience, which is difficult to make up for through training.
Im Gyeongye and Choi Hyo-il of North Korea must also understand that constantly sending people to the Dongjiang Army is not only to receive training, but also to fight at least one battle before they can be recalled.
It is impossible for all the more than 10,000 soldiers under Lin Qingye to undergo such actual combat training, but it is also very important to ensure the quality of the officers.
At the Nanguan defense line, there were two small troops of Korean martyrs, each with about three hundred people, sent by Lin Qingye and Cui Xiaoyi respectively.
In the war with Jianlu, Guo Dajing could not accurately determine what role North Korea could play and how big its role would be.
Although there are many friends and many paths, North Korea still provided a lot of help for the development and growth of Dongjiang Town. Although this was only a private action by pro-Ming officials.
These Koreans sent were trusted by Lin Qingye and Cui Xiaoyi and would not leak information and cause Jianlu to put pressure on the Korean royal family.
Guo Dajing arranged them at the Nanguan Defense Line for safety and confidentiality. If the defending party could still be captured, how unlucky and stupid it would be.
Sometimes he is surprisingly bold, and sometimes he is too cautious. Guo Dajing doesn't know if he is a little divided?
If you take into account the thinking of later generations and the current behavior, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is divided.
Guo Dajing stopped and looked at the shells on the ground, wondering if they could be modified into explosive fuses.
If it is a simple mechanism, like a flintlock gun, it can be made, but the effect may not be good, and it is also time-consuming and labor-intensive to make, and the cost is very high.
Moreover, there are benefits to explosion, and delaying is not useless.
The smoke-laden artillery shells fell to the ground and rolled, who couldn't help but rush to avoid them? It would be more beneficial to the Jianlu's psychological shock and disrupt their offensive formation.
Jin Zhonghui misunderstood. He stepped forward and pointed at the round wooden board with a hole in the middle, saying: "This little thing is very useful. With it, the range is improved compared to the original."
The manufacture of artillery shells is basically manual. Due to tolerances, in order to ensure that they can fit into the barrel, they are usually made smaller.
This is the same as a musket. Lead bullets cannot jam the barrel of the gun. If they are small, they can still be used, but if they are large, you have to use a hammer to smash them in.
Because of this, the air tightness is poor and the power of the propellant package cannot be fully exerted.
In order to solve this problem, a round thin wooden board that is wedged with the caliber of the muzzle was invented. It is as simple as that.
After the thin boards are processed and transported to the front line, the artillerymen will try them one by one and make minor repairs if they are not suitable.
Not only were the mortars improved in airtightness, but the Hongyi cannon shells were also wrapped in grease-permeable linen, improving range and accuracy.
In order to keep the musket in a ready state while marching, the musketeers were also equipped with grease silk cloth to wrap the bullets so that they could be stuffed into the barrel of the gun without falling out.
From these subtle considerations, we can see how far the training of the Dongjiang Army has reached. Without a long-term experience summary, these small problems cannot be discovered.
But no matter how small the problem is on the battlefield, it may have an impact on the battle between the enemy and ourselves.
A horseshoe affects the outcome of a war and the survival of a country. Guo Dajing knows this story.
Regarding Jin Zhongguo's explanation, Guo Dajing smiled and nodded, but did not say that this was his own suggestion. He also stepped forward to pick up a piece of wood and put it into the muzzle of the cannon to try.
The round hole in the middle of the board is not only convenient for access, but also the key to using the spray of propellant to ignite the delay fuse.
"The rate of fire can reach ten breaths per shot." Guo Dajing nodded vigorously and said without concealing his appreciation: "It's really fast, almost the same as a musket."
In ancient times, one breath was equivalent to two or three seconds, and ten breaths was equivalent to about half a minute. It is already amazing that a front-loaded artillery can reach this speed.
Of course, the high rate of fire is related to the mortar's lightness and short and thick barrel.
Load the propellant package, thin board, and shells, use a sharp cone to pierce the propellant package at the fire door, plug in the fuse, ignite, and launch.
Although the procedure is basically the same as the Hongyi cannon and musket, because the barrel is very short and several people work together, it is easy and fast to operate.
Although cannonballs are more troublesome to make, and the cost of iron materials, gunpowder, and labor is also high, but Guo Dajing doesn't care too much.
If Jianlu could be killed with silver, Guo Dajing would definitely agree first and then ask for the price.
Even if one cannonball could only injure one Jianlu, several thousand shells would be enough to make the Jianlu retreat in disgrace.
From another perspective, Guo Dajing would not consider the cost issue at all if he could use powerful firepower to eliminate Jianlu and reduce casualties.
In war, what is fought is money and food, and what is fought is logistics. As long as we can produce a strong army and win victory, what is money?
At this time, the artillery had cleared the firing positions. The gun positions were relatively fixed, with special marks and orientation instructions.
"If the time is later, there will be artillery shipped." Guo Dajing is still not satisfied. The more artillery, the better. The arsenal is working overtime and is using copper purchased from the Japanese.
"I'm afraid we don't have much time." Jin Zhongguo also knew some information about Jianlu and estimated that it would take at least another half month. "More than three hundred mortars are enough."
Guo Dajing smiled faintly and did not reveal the goal in his heart.
Each association has 100 mortars and 1,000 artillery to initially meet the standards for field operations. In other words, it is still short of more than 100. When the army expands, more artillery will be needed.
As for the rockets, it is estimated that they will be used up in next year’s big operation, and Guo Dajing is not willing to use them easily. It is estimated that the rockets will not be deployed on a large scale in the army until the year after next.
Mortars and rockets have similar performance, so there is no question of one completely replacing the other.
After inspecting the artillery in the war zone, Guo Dajing went to the defensive position and conducted a careful inspection.
The morale was high, and the officers and soldiers were quite confident in attacking the Jianlu. This was not unexpected by Guo Dajing, and it could be seen usually.
Just as ordinary people will be honest and contented if they meet the minimum living requirements; the same is true for soldiers, if they have low requirements, can support their families and have a full belly, they will obey orders and fight with the enemy.