At the new artillery range of Yunzhou Jiangying, Li Chengmao heard Zhang Cheng ask him how many Hongyi cannons the artillery bureau could produce per month. He replied with a slightly nervous expression: "Come back to the commander, this Hongyi cannon is extremely time-consuming to manufacture. Not only is it
The mud film method is complicated to operate and requires extremely high accuracy in terms of gun barrel thickness.
It took nearly three months to build the first cannon, but now that the craftsmen are a little more skilled, it is estimated that three Hongyi cannons can be made every month."
Zhang Cheng shook his head and said: "The manufacturing progress is too slow, I'm afraid it won't be enough!"
Shi Tiegen stepped forward at this time and said: "Commander, although this Hongyi cannon has complicated craftsmanship and high accuracy requirements, its main problem still lies with the craftsmen. Although our craftsman camp has always recruited apprentices on the North Road,
However, results cannot be seen in a short time. Even if you are talented, you need to be at least old enough to become a disciple.
Especially the making of firearms is no different from other skills. Not only is the craftsmanship exquisite, but also the control of the heat of many processes often requires more experience, which is why the manufacturing progress is so unsatisfactory.
Now if we recruit craftsmen from the Fire Gun and Artillery Bureau, it will affect the preparation tasks of other standard guns and cannons!"
Zhang Cheng also knew that what he said was the truth. In fact, he had no intention of blaming him. He just considered that such a lethal weapon would be more powerful if there was a numerical advantage. If there were only a few of them, the huge volley would be lost.
power.
But the reality is so cruel, he has no choice. When he goes to rescue Jinzhou this time, he may not be able to use the Hongyi cannon to cheer up his army!
Zhang Cheng looked at the Hongyi cannon and said to Shi Tiegen: "Master Shi, see if you can allocate some firearms craftsmen to make the Hongyi cannon without affecting the production of firearms. By the way, Fran cannons and
It won’t be a problem if the progress of the Crouching Tiger Cannon is smaller.”
Hearing this, Shi Tiegen hurriedly answered: "Okay, old man, give it a try."
Zhang Cheng added: "I think the name of this Red Barbarian Cannon can be changed. Otherwise, it can be called the Barbarian Cannon. When I have hundreds of these cannons, the first bombardment will chill the slaves and thieves, the second bombardment will make the slavers bile."
Boom can bring peace to the world."
He continued: "One more thing, this gun is so heavy and heavy, not only is it difficult to transport it, but it is also difficult to turn it on the battlefield. Can four wheels be installed on its gun mount?
In this way, it is not only easy to transport with the army, but also easy to rotate to adjust the direction of the bombardment when the battle is approaching. You, the Artillery Bureau, and the Carpentry Bureau will have a good time thinking about it."
Shi Tiegen continued: "Old man knows, he will definitely follow the commander's wishes and first increase the production progress of the Hongyi...oh, no...it's the manufacturing progress of the bombardment cannon, and then study the four-wheeled gun mount."
"Okay, very good, thank you craftsmen for your hard work!"
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he stood up and walked out to the shooting range. Shi Tiegen caught up with him and asked, "The commander-in-chief didn't have a meal at the craftsman's camp. Why don't you rest for a while before returning to Chicheng?"
"No. The military affairs are busy, and I have to rush back to Chicheng today."
Shi Tiegen, Li Chengmao and other leaders of the craftsman's camp sent Zhang Cheng out of the craftsman's camp and watched him gallop away with Wei Zhice and other generals.
…………
Guliang
On April 24th, in the central hall of Chicheng Castle Counselor's Office, Zhang Cheng was sitting firmly behind the chief case, and two rows of officers and generals were sitting in the dark below.
On the left are Kaiping Guard Commander Jin Xinpeng, Yongning Guard Commander Yan Qingrong, Kaiping Guard Commander Tongzhi Gao Jinggong, Yongning Guard Commander Tongzhi Liang Cixin, General Town Fu He Biao, and Kaiping Guard Town Fu Liu Zhi, experiencing the battles of Cao Jinwang and Yongning Guard.
Zhen Fu, experience and other officials.
On the right are Wu Zhizhong, Wei Zhice, Zhang Guodong, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng, Lin Fangping, Li Jiyu and other generals, as well as Jin Yong guarding Chicheng, Sha Zhongwang guarding Dushikou, Chiyuan guarding Yunzhou, Ren Jilong guarding Maying, and Longmen guarding
Xu Jinyong, Yongning garrison Tong Shouxin and others.
The only special person is Liu Minshen, the magistrate of Yongning County. He came to Chicheng to congratulate Zhang Cheng on the birth of Lin'er. However, he came a few days early. When he learned about today's military meeting, he insisted on attending it. Although he was of a lower rank, he was still a civil servant.
, it was difficult to sit in a row with all the military attachés and generals, so Zhang Cheng ordered someone to bring a chair and asked him to sit next to him.
Although Zhang Cheng is currently serving as the deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, supervising the military affairs of the Yongning Guards, Baoan Guards, Huailai Guards, Yanqing Right Guards, Kaiping Guards, and Longmen Guards, the only ones he has full control over are Kaiping Guards and Yongning Guards.
It's just two places.
It's not that he doesn't want to control the remaining four guards, it's just that he hasn't freed up his hands to torment them. He led his army to Yu Province to help suppress the intruders, and Wu Zhizhong has made a series of adjustments to the Yongning Guards in accordance with his instructions.
Yongning was originally the territory of former deputy commander Zhang Guowei, and it has been leaderless since his death. What's more, Zhang Cheng used the remaining power of wiping out the bandits on the East Road in one fell swoop to conquer Yongning garrison Tong Shouxin, and then reorganized Zhang Guowei's original group.
There were soldiers and horses, so the adjustment on the east road did not encounter big resistance.
Although Zhang Cheng only relied on the territory of the North Road and the East Road, it was still extremely difficult to support his army. Even with private border trade as a supplement, it was still stretched.
However, he doesn't want to take the risk of touching the cakes on the territory of the other four guards yet. As long as they don't hinder him, as long as they can contribute some money and food to him to feed his army, he can let him go for the time being!
In the official hall, Jin Xinpeng held a message from the Ministry of War in his hand and said: "Commander, the Ministry of War has sent two messages in succession to urge you to send troops as soon as possible."
Zhang Cheng glanced at the officers and generals in the official hall, and then said calmly: "This trip to Liaodong to rescue Jinzhou is different from the previous trip to Henan Province to aid and suppress the bandits. We cannot use the army lightly unless we make complete preparations. Please command Jin.
The envoy wrote a memorandum on my behalf, saying that I was raising a large army and that I would raise troops to go east soon."
After Jin Xinpeng received the order, he said to the officers and generals: "I would also like to ask everyone here to try your best to raise the grain, fodder, gunpowder and other military supplies needed for our army to go out to war, so that the army can set off as soon as possible."
Zhang Cheng then shouted in a deep voice: "Wei Zhice, Zhang Guangda, Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng, Li Jiyu and Lin Fangping obey orders."
Several people heard the sound and stood up at the same time, clasping their fists and shouting: "The end will be here!"
Zhang Cheng looked at the six men and said loudly: "You generals, from today onwards, you must prepare your troops and horses. As soon as everything is ready, you will set off."
He went on to say: "The soldiers of the battalions, infantry, and chariots who will go out with me this time will each receive one liang of silver, light cavalry, Mongolian cavalry, three liang, heavy cavalry, and tiger guards.
I will give you five taels to stimulate the morale of the troops. As long as the officers and men can use their lives in front of the battle and defeat the enemy with all their strength, I will not hesitate to reward them."
Zhang Cheng then looked at Jin Yong and other defenders, and said in a deep voice: "I will lead the army to fight in the future, so you must keep an eye on my family status on the North Road and East Road!"