These mule carts were equipped with the first batch of guns manufactured by the arsenal.
Su He is rushing to the Guards Brigade training camp.
He sent a messenger to inform Zhang Yuliang and asked him to lead the elite artillery to the training camp.
Su He rushed to the camp, and the camp was quiet.
The Guards Brigade is training new recruits. More than 10,000 people stand in military posture here without making any sound.
Li Dazhuang got the news and was already waiting in front of the camp gate with his guards.
"Commander Su, the training of new recruits has begun to bear fruit. In a few days, they will be assigned to various units."
Li Dazhuang thought Su He was here to inquire about the progress of the recruits' training.
He knew that the current situation was urgent and new recruits needed to join the army as soon as possible.
"Wait a moment, we have new equipment. Once the soldiers are proficient in using flintlocks, we will distribute them to them."
At this time, the transport team transporting guns and artillery had arrived at the gate of the camp.
Su He asked Li Dazhuang to send a group of soldiers to help the transport team carry guns and ammunition.
Everything was carried to the camp, and the heavy artillery pulled by ten mules had just arrived.
This time the cannons are no longer mounted on vehicles, they already have their own mounts.
The gun mounts were all equipped with wheels and could be towed by mules.
The wheels of the heavy artillery have sunk into the ground, and the transport team continues to add gravel to the ground in front of the wheels.
Only the heavy artillery can be dragged away by mules without sinking directly into the soil.
It weighs 4,500 kilograms. It will definitely not be able to travel on mountain roads in the future and will have to be transported on plains and waterways.
It is so difficult to walk with heavy artillery because there are no roads built here.
Su He is waiting for the cement to be fired successfully and is preparing to build cement roads in various places.
At this stage, he has not launched a large-scale road construction plan in Hanzhong City.
Zhang Yuliang led the artillery and arrived just in time.
When he looked at this huge iron cannon, his eyes shone.
"Commander Su, our iron cannon has been successfully manufactured. This is great.
This is the authentic Hongyi cannon. With this kind of cannon, we can defend any city."
"Zhang Yuliang, transport all these cannons to the training ground.
The arsenal has made modifications to the cannon based on the opinions of the staff department.
They are completely different from the bronze cannons you used before, and you must record the data of these cannons in detail."
Su He issued an order for Zhang Yuliang to test the cannon.
Zhang Yuliang took the artillerymen and dragged the cannon to the training ground to test the cannon.
Su He asked the craftsmen to follow Zhang Yuliang and explain some cannons to Zhang Yuliang.
…
Inside the military camp, the new recruits were still standing in military posture, ignoring the soldiers transporting items.
When Su He saw Wu Jie and other Ming generals who had surrendered, he also obeyed the order and stood in military posture.
All the bad habits of the Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers have disappeared from them.
"Li Dazhuang, you found a group of soldiers who know how to use matchlocks in the military camp.
I first taught them how to use a flintlock, and then they taught other soldiers.
The flintlock is easy to learn, and soldiers can learn it quickly."
Li Dazhuang asked the guards to convey the order, and soon found a group of soldiers who were proficient in using matchlock guns.
Su He looked at these people. Most of them were prisoners of the Ming army, and the leader was Wu Jie.
Wu Jie was the one with the best performance among all the Ming Dynasty military generals who surrendered.
He also persuaded many prisoners of war to join them.
Based on his performance, Su He promoted him to brigade commander.
Wu Jie took the initiative to train with the new recruits and get to know their unit from the beginning.
Su He walked over and ordered: "Commander Wu Jie, take these soldiers and seriously learn how to use the flintlock with my guards.
After you learn it, teach it to other soldiers.
You can also test the range of the flintlock gun."
"yes."
Wu Jie took the order and said.
Wu Jie led the soldiers, received flintlock rifles and ammunition, and followed the guards to learn how to operate the flintlock rifles.
Su He looked at the guards, teaching the new recruits how to use flintlock rifles.
Soldiers carry a certain amount of gunpowder bags with them.
Granular gunpowder is wrapped in light silk.
The guard directly used a purge to stuff the gunpowder bag from the muzzle of the flintlock gun to the bottom of the barrel.
The guard took out lead bullets wrapped in oil-soaked linen from the leather pouch on his waist.
Oil-impregnated linen provides lubrication and sealing.
This makes it easier for soldiers to put lead bullets into the barrel of a flintlock gun.
The guard poked again with the rod to compact the lead bullets and gunpowder packets.
The guard took out a bamboo tube from his waist and filled it with granules of gunpowder.
He poured the grains of gunpowder into the powder tank of the flintlock gun.
The guard picked up the flintlock gun and moved the hammer of the flintlock gun.
He held the flintlock in both hands and rested the wooden butt on his shoulder.
Aim at the target ahead.
He pulled the trigger, and the flint clamped on the hammer hit the fire door, sparks flying instantly.
Directly ignites the granular gunpowder in the powder pool.
There was a bang, and a burst of white smoke came out of the flintlock gun.
The target in front has been hit by lead bullets.
Wu Jie had experience in using a matchlock gun. He only fired a few shots before mastering the flintlock gun.
After he learned how to shoot, he looked at a small dagger hidden under the flintlock gun. He studied it for a long time but couldn't figure out how to use it.
Wu Jie walked over and touched the wooden butt of the flintlock gun.
He said in surprise: "This flintlock gun is great. Its effective range can reach one hundred meters, which is much stronger than the matchlock gun.
The manufacturing is also very exquisite. The barrel is actually one piece and there are no interfaces on it, so you don't have to worry about it suddenly exploding.
Commander Su, what is the small dagger under the flintlock gun used for?"
Su He took a new gun and showed Wu Jie how to install the bayonet.
He told Wu Jie the simple way to use the bayonet.
Now the bayonet of the flintlock rifle can only be stuck in the muzzle. After the bayonet is installed, it cannot be fired.
After Wu Jie saw it, a surprised expression appeared on his face.
"This, this is so amazing. After installing the bayonet, the musketeer becomes a spearman.
Even if the gunpowder is used up, you can still fight on the battlefield."
…
The soldiers learned quickly, and they all mastered the use of flintlock rifles.
Su He looked at these soldiers who had learned how to instruct other soldiers to practice.
He smiled. This is why firearms replaced cold weapons.
A musketeer only needs three months of training before he can skillfully use a musket.
Even if he only trains for ten days, he can carry a musket on the battlefield.
In a state of emergency, just go to the battlefield with your musket and learn.
It is also a long-range unit, and the training time for archers is very long. It takes five to ten years to become an elite archer.
Su He asked Li Dazhuang to start leading the troops and train the tactics of lining up and shooting.
They have the foundation to stand in line, so it is not difficult to master the line and shoot.
…
Su He summarized the data reported by Wu Jie and Zhang Yuliang.
He obtained detailed data on flintlocks and cannon.
The flintlock gun has a caliber of 15 mm, a length of 1.5 meters, a weight of 11 kilograms, and an effective range of 100 meters.
Iron cannons have undergone significant changes compared to the previous bronze cannons.
According to previous combat experience, the density of iron is smaller than that of bronze, and the same volume of iron is lighter.
The arsenal only manufactures three types of artillery, which are 75 light artillery, 110 medium artillery and 150 heavy artillery.
They are both company and platoon-level support. The Tiger Crouching Cannon and the 75 light artillery have similar calibers and are very similar in power.
Based on the opinions of the General Staff, the arsenal reduced the size of the 75 light artillery piece.
75 light artillery, with a caliber of 75 mm, a length of 0.75 meters, and a weight of 75 kilograms. Its effective range is 900 meters.
It only takes four people, two to carry the cannon and two to carry the gun carriage, to take it away.
110 medium-sized artillery, with a caliber of 110 mm, a length of 1.2 meters, and a weight of 1,600 kilograms. Its effective range is 1,500 meters.
150 heavy gun, with a caliber of 150 mm, a length of 3 meters, and a weight of 4,500 kilograms. Its effective range is 3,000 meters.