"I am not a descendant of Gongshu. It's just a coincidence that I have seen the remnants of Gongshu's lineage."
When Zhao Tuo faced Lu Jun, he did not dare to make excuses and hurriedly repeated what he had said before.
"Gongshuzi was so clever that even Zimozi often praised him. It's a pity that we didn't have the opportunity to see Gongshuzi's legacy, otherwise we would have benefited a lot."
Lu Jun felt sorry again and again, because Zhao Tuo said that the remnants of the writings had been lost in the war, and no one knew where they were.
Hearing the teacher's praise of Gongshuzi, Zhao Ji, who was just over 20 years old, was dissatisfied. He sneered and said: "Master, why should you feel sorry? Although Gongshuzi is said to be highly skilled, his siege deduction was not defeated by Zimozi. According to me,
It seems to be nothing more than that. As for these hundred generals saying that they can create a device that can launch hundreds of kilograms of rocks and conquer Jicheng, I think they are talking big words. If there really is such a thing, why has it never been recorded in the Mohist classics?
."
After saying that, Zhao Ji glared at Zhao Tuo, especially the crown on Zhao Tuo's head, which represented the permanent title.
Before Zhao Tuo could speak, the black buttock behind him was already furious.
He shouted: "Shu Zi's mouth releases arrow energy!"
"Since my generals say they can be made, they can be made. If you don't understand, just shut your mouth."
Zhao Tuo turned around and scolded: "Black buttocks, shut up."
"oh."
Black Butt bared his teeth at Zhao Ji, who was so frightened that he took a step back before he stopped talking.
Zhao Tuo apologized to the two Mohists and said: "The soldiers are from the countryside and do not understand the rules. Please forgive me."
"It doesn't matter, it's all caused by my disciple's lies."
Lu Jun had a very good attitude and educated his disciples: "You kid is telling lies. It is recorded in our Mohist classics that Gongshu once cut bamboo wood into a magpie, and it flew into the sky without falling for three days. This skill can be called a miraculous craftsmanship. You
I don’t know how high heaven and earth are, how dare I be so arrogant here.”
Zhao Tuo nodded after hearing this. Lu Ban's craftsmanship was indeed superb. He could make a wooden magpie that could fly in the sky and never set for three days. He didn't know how he made it.
So when Zhao Tuo was looking for reasons for his invention, the first thing he thought of was Lu Ban.
Compared with Mozi's founding of a sect, he passed on a large number of disciples and descendants.
Lu Ban was a pure craftsman. He was obsessed with invention and creation and came up with all kinds of good things. However, no one knows whether he left any legacy behind his death.
No one could tell clearly, which gave Zhao Tuo an opportunity to exploit every opportunity.
"Master said, I know I was wrong."
Although Zhao Ji was not angry, he still lowered his head and did not dare to argue anymore.
Lu Jun then raised his hands to Zhao Tuo and said: "My disciple's nonsense made Zhao Baijiang laugh. Baijiang said that he had seen the Gongshu remnant inscriptions with equipment that could project hundreds of kilograms of boulders and conquer fortified cities. How to build them?
Please give me some advice, General."
After saying this, Lu Jun stared at Zhao Tuo with burning eyes.
As a descendant of Qin Mo, Lu Jun doesn't care about age or inferiority, all he longs for is technology.
"Mr. Lu, don't be impatient. Let me take a look at the slinging equipment in the army before I think about it."
Zhao Tuo cupped his hands and said.
Although Lu Jun felt itchy and unbearable, but Zhao Tuo said this, he couldn't ask further questions, so he could only stretch out his hand and said: "Please."
The two Mohists led the way, but did not take Zhao Tuo into the depths of the craftsman camp. Instead, they walked in the direction facing the city wall.
Because the trebuchets of this era had a fatal flaw, that is, they were very heavy and had to be set up in a fixed place and were difficult to move. Therefore, they were only found in front of the city walls, but not in the camps.
Today, Dongying was not returning to the main attack, but everything was calm in front of the city wall. Zhao Tuo soon saw the slinging equipment of this era.
The trebuchet was not a mainstream instrument in the wars of the pre-Qin era. It was only used as an auxiliary during sieges. Most of them were made temporarily and there were no certain regulations.
It was not until the Song Dynasty, after more than a thousand years of development, that this type of heavy weapon began to become a standing weapon for the army.
Therefore, the number of trebuchets manufactured by the Qin army was not large. They were only used to suppress firepower before attacking the city and intimidate the defenders. When it came time to attack the city, the old guys like ladders, carts, and anemone were more effective.
Zhao Tuo observed carefully and found that the trebuchets of this era had a shaft horizontally placed on a wooden frame, and a long and flexible wooden pole passed through the middle of the shaft as the trebuchet's gun bar. At one end of the gun bar, a A spoon-shaped leather nest (kē), with dozens of ropes tied to the other end of the barrel.
When it was time to eject, the soldiers put the stones (cannonballs) into the leather shells, and then many people pulled a rope each. At the command of the commander, the soldiers pulling the ropes yanked hard together, using the principle of leverage and The centrifugal force throws the shells in the shell towards the target.
This trebuchet is an instrument that utilizes the principle of leverage. It can shoot flying stones two hundred steps away. Once it hits a soldier, no matter how strong the armor is, it cannot withstand it.
But again, this weapon also has major flaws.
Because manpower is used to pull and launch, a large amount of manpower is often required to launch heavy stone projectiles.
Even in the Song Dynasty, when trebuchets were most developed in later generations, hundreds of people were needed to throw a stone weighing twenty-five kilograms. If the weight of the stone increased, the number of manpower required would also increase significantly.
Moreover, because there are many operators of trebuchets, often dozens or hundreds of people are needed, it is difficult to effectively cooperate with each other, making it difficult for the thrown shells to hit the target they want to attack. They often hit the target from the front to the back or to the east. West.
Once there is a problem with accuracy, this thing becomes even more useless, so it can only be used as an auxiliary in siege battles, and cannot take the lead.
After walking around several trebuchets, Zhao Tuo had a more intuitive understanding of this siege equipment and became more confident.
Seeing the smile on the face of the young Baijiang in front of him, Lu Jun couldn't help but ask: "May I ask what the Baijiang is going to make, what is the instrument that can launch hundreds of kilograms of boulders? Is it because he wants to increase the number of soldiers pulling the rope to achieve greater results?" Strong strength?"
Zhao Ji, who had been patient for a long time, couldn't hold it anymore. He was young and energetic, and followed his master's words and said: "If we just increase the number of people pulling, launching a hundred kilogram boulder, I'm afraid it won't take 500 people. And the rope wood is But it may not be able to hold it. Even if it can be held, a stone of this weight cannot be shot very far. At most, thirty steps is the farthest distance. Don't even think about conquering Jicheng."
Zhao Ji sneered, after all, these hundred generals were talking about breaking through the wall of Jicheng.
Let’s not talk about whether it can be created. Even if it is created, how can we attack the city at that distance?
In his eyes, this kind of thinking is like nonsense.
Just thinking about it seems impossible.
Faced with doubts, Zhao Tuo smiled slightly.
"No."
"Not only will I not increase the number of soldiers, I will also reduce them."
"Don't say five hundred people. Even if you give me a hundred people, it's too many."
No record of the form of trebuchets in the Pre-Qin or Qin and Han Dynasties has been found. Here we refer to the artillery carriage in the "Taibai Yin Jing". If any book friends can find earlier records about the form of trebuchets, you can leave a comment and the article will be modified accordingly.
"Taibai Yin Jing·Siege Tools": There is a horizontal pole between the majesty, a neutral pole, and the head is like an orange. The height and length of the pole are based on the city. The size of the pole is determined by the strength of the pole. Made by people, people take the end and throw it
"Mozi·Lu Wen": Gongshuzi whittled bamboo and wood to make a magpie. When it was ready, it flew away and stayed there for three days.