The gunpowder barrel was invented by Chen Qing when he was defending Jianxiao Pass. In fact, it had already appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty army. Chen Qing invented the rope-type fuse. In the past, a long-nosed gunpowder tube was inserted into the gunpowder barrel and used
If the red-hot iron is ignited and then thrown down, the gunpowder tube and barrel will easily become separated and become a squib. The success rate of the explosion is not high.
However, the success rate of rope-type fuses is much higher. Especially after several years of development and the introduction of double-layer gunpowder barrels, the explosion success rate has reached more than 95%, and the timing is very precise, and it can basically explode as soon as it hits the ground.
There is no time for the enemy to react.
When the Song Army rolled out the gunpowder barrel, they began to study how to prevent it. At first, they set up ax hands to chop it up before it exploded.
Later, it was discovered that there was no time to smash them to pieces, so they began to train the soldiers again. They immediately lay down and protected their heads with a shield. This trick was very effective and could basically reduce the lethality of the explosion by 90%.
The gunpowder barrel itself is not very powerful, mainly because the poisonous nails inside are scary, but the poisonous nails shoot in all directions at an angle upward. As long as you lie down, you will basically not be hurt by the poisonous nails.
Last winter, Song Army craftsmen sewed a thirteen-layer linen cloth with a layer of asbestos inside. It has a very good fireproof effect. It is also called fire-resistant cloth. It also has a good protective effect on gunpowder barrels, which makes it easier to use.
This gave rise to the fire cloak. Each attacking soldier wore a fire cloak. It could prevent the body from being burned by fire.
However, during the experiment, it was unexpectedly discovered that it could also withstand the penetration of poisonous nails from powder barrels. This discovery made Chen Qing overjoyed and he immediately started sewing on a large scale. So far, only four thousand cloaks have been sewn.
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In other words, among the six thousand siege troops, two thousand were not equipped with this kind of fire cloak.
They still can only protect themselves by lying down, but the soldiers on the siege ladder are equipped with fire cloaks, and they are not afraid of gunpowder barrels and poisonous nails.
This was also one of the purposes of Chen Qing's attack on the city, to test the effect of this fire-huan cloak in actual combat.
There are one hundred and twenty siege ladders, and there are five firearms soldiers under each siege ladder. When the opponent's powder barrel is thrown down, the firearms soldiers immediately shout, "Get down!"
The soldiers fell down one after another, and with a bang, the gunpowder barrel exploded and poisonous nails flew in all directions. The soldiers lying on the ground were not hurt, while the soldiers on the siege ladder wrapped their bodies and faces with fire cloaks.
, the poisonous nails crackled on Huo Huan's cloak, but it was indeed not able to pierce.
There was no danger, the Song soldiers continued to climb up, and the two sides started a fierce battle at the top of the city.
The Song Army's firearms soldiers began to counterattack, spraying fierce fire oil, throwing gunpowder barrels, and throwing torches one after another.
There were constant explosions and blazing fire on the top of the city. The soldiers guarding the city became panicked. Some Song soldiers began to break through the defenses and rush to the top of the city.
When Li Cheng saw that the powder keg was ineffective and the opponent's counterattack was sharp, he was suddenly shocked and angry.
Li Cheng did not want to imitate Chen Qing too much in defending the city. Although he had prepared 5,000 barrels of kerosene, he would not use it unless he had to. But now he could not care about his appearance. If he did not use kerosene, the Song army would attack in full force.
On top of the city.
He yelled the order: "Pour out the kerosene!"
The soldiers at the top of the city poured barrels of kerosene down the siege ladder. Many soldiers were splashed all over their heads. This move was the ultimate poisonous move for defending the city. There was basically no solution. The puppet Qi army was completely
Thirty-six hundred barrels of kerosene were dumped.
Even if there is a fire cloak, it can only be used to open a passage, but it still cannot extinguish such powerful fire oil.
Countless torches were thrown down, and blazing fires were immediately ignited up and down the siege ladder and around it. Suddenly, thick smoke billowed and flames billowed into the sky.
At the same time, Chen Qing issued a withdrawal order: "Retreat!"
'Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!'
The retreat bell rang, and the soldiers of the Song Army began to retreat backwards, wrapped in fire-coated cloaks. Many soldiers with burning bodies jumped into the moat, but many soldiers were still seriously burned and injured and were carried back by other soldiers.
At this time, there was also chaos on top of the city. The puppet troops had no experience in putting out fires. The thick smoke and fierce fire caused them to rush left and right, forming a chaotic mess.
Not long after, thousands of troops retreated, and Niu Gao stepped forward to report: "To report to the capital, 844 of our brothers were killed in action. Basically, they were killed during the siege. Because they retreated in time, no one was burned to death."
Soldiers, but more than 300 were burned, more than 100 were seriously injured, and more than 100 were injured by arrows during the attack."
Chen Qing nodded, "Falling soldiers will be given double pensions, and wounded soldiers should also be nursed back to health."
"I humbly obey my orders!"
After a pause, Niu Gao continued: "I feel that the opponent has no experience in fire attacks and firearms attacks. Finally, we have soldiers with seven siege ladders on the city. We can actually capture the city!"
Chen Qing shook his head, "To capture the county, we have to fight in the streets with the opponent's 20,000 troops. Even if we win, it will be a tragic victory. At least 10,000 people will be killed and the city will be devastated. This is not the victory I want."
Niu Gao felt ashamed and said: "I understand the humble position!"
Chen Qing asked again: "Did the soldiers who went up to the city withdraw in time?"
"Reporting to the capital, they have all been withdrawn!"
Chen Qing then said to everyone: "Let's talk about it, everyone! Where is the experience of this siege? General Niu Gao just said that the opponent is not good at defending against fire attacks and firearms, but other than that?"
Yang Zaixing clasped his fists and said, "The Fire Huan Cloak is very good. It can protect against the poisonous nails of fire weapons, and it can also withstand strong fire. The soldiers escaped this time thanks to it. I suggest that we make it in large quantities, so that each person can have one."
Chen Qing nodded, "Huo Huanpao has made his first contribution, and the effect is very good."
Everyone talked a lot, each telling his own feelings.
Chen Qing turned his eyes and saw Zhao Yong's face turned red and hesitated to speak. Chen Qing smiled and said, "What do you think, General Zhao?"
Everyone looked towards Zhao Yong. It is said that this Zhao Yong is brave and resourceful and is highly valued by everyone. I wonder what shocking words he has to say?
Zhao Yong was a surrendered general who had just surrendered. He was still a little embarrassed in front of everyone. He blushed and said: "I am humble enough to observe the fire under the city. It is not that the entire city wall was destroyed by the fire. In fact, there are only more than a hundred fire points. The opponent is surrounded by fire."
I poured kerosene on the siege ladder. I was thinking if our siege ladder could move laterally and leave the fire scene quickly after the fire broke out, so that no matter whether we were sieging the city or retreating, it would not be affected by the fire."
Everyone's eyes lit up. This was indeed a good idea. Liu Cui frowned and said, "But there are hooks on it, which can hold the city wall firmly. What should I do?"
Niu Gao smiled and said: "This problem is not big. There is a telescopic siege ladder that can solve this problem."
Liu Qiong also suggested: "You can wrap a layer of fire cloth on the siege ladder, so you are not afraid of fire."
When Yang Zaixing saw that Chen Qing was deep in thought and was silent, he smiled and asked, "Do you think this plan is flawed?"
Chen Qing smiled and shook his head, "Everyone said very well, and I was deeply inspired. In fact, I was thinking that the reason why we were attacked by kerosene when we attacked the city was mainly because we were too close to the city wall. If we were far away
If the city wall is attacked outside the moat, can it be protected from the burning of kerosene?"
Everyone laughed and said in unison: "Then use a ladder!"
The cloud ladder has always been a weapon for sieges in the past dynasties. It is actually a large platform with wheels. A ladder is installed on the platform and leads directly to the city head. The fire ladder in later generations is the cloud ladder.
But its shortcomings are also huge. It is large and difficult to transport. In addition, when soldiers climb on the ladder, it can easily become an arrow target. Of course, if the protection is good, it will not become an arrow target, such as making a gangway.
There are thick wooden boards to cover both sides, and the bottom is solid, so it is not afraid of arrows. It all depends on how the craftsmen design it.
The cost of the ladder is very high and it is impossible to produce it in large quantities. It can only be used with the siege ladder like the nest car.
Chen Qing looked at Pingliang City again and sighed slightly: "It seems that we are indeed not ready. Send my order and the army gives up attacking Pingliang Mansion and retreats to the west!"
He then ordered: "Send an order to the defenders of Mianyang County and order them to abandon Mianyang and withdraw to Qinzhou!"
No one objected to this order. If Pingliang Prefecture could not be captured, Liyang County would not be of much significance. Moreover, without the restraint of the Wu-level army in Heshangyuan, the Jin soldiers would send a large army to kill at any time, capture Liyang County, and use Liyang.
The county is easy to attack but difficult to defend. Thousands of people cannot defend against an attack of ten thousand people, so the coach's decision to abandon Miyang County is very wise.
Chen Qing smiled at everyone again and said: "We will retreat westward to seize Longshan Pass and Liupan Pass at the same time. As long as we strictly guard these two passes, we can come back at any time."
