Often a blunderbuss fires one shot, but a new musket can fire three shots. In terms of range, accuracy, and lethality, a flintlock gun is far superior to a blunderbuss. What's even more rare is that the new muskets can also be equipped with bayonets.
.
You don't have to worry about having a bayonet anymore, so you don't have to worry about being unable to resist in close combat.
A few days later, the new musket had a new and impressive name - Fenwu Gun.
With the introduction of new muskets, the firearms workshop also made a breakthrough with the addition of Sun Yuanhua, the first generation of new field artillery.
The new gun has increased flexibility, uses burst ignition, and uses a cone pattern for the shells.
On the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the first shot of the new field artillery was fired in the western suburbs of Zhangbei, and the effect was very good.
The new field gun fully meets Tie Mo's requirements in terms of combat performance, but there is one thing that Tie Mo can't stand, and that is that it is too expensive.
A field cannon costs 10,000 taels, and a shell costs 50 taels.
Tie Mo's heart trembled when he thought about the cost.
Although the cost was expensive, Tie Mo still insisted on building field artillery despite all objections. The knowledge from later generations made Tie Mo understand how important artillery was. The reason why firearms can be used in field operations has allowed cavalry to gradually disappear in the long river of history.
One of the reasons is the emergence of field artillery. Artillery can be said to be the natural enemy of cavalry.
Because of the artillery matter, Chang Minyue complained a lot. Now Chang Minyue is responsible for all the expenses of the firearms workshop. How can he bear to see the money being thrown into this bottomless pit like running water?
No, taking the opportunity of Tie Mo coming to inspect the workshop, Chang Minyue locked him in the room directly, "I just don't understand you. If you keep talking, I'll have to prepare some for you."
One hundred thousand taels of silver, do you really think that I am a fairy who can make money at will? Can’t the artillery project be started until next spring?”
"You woman, what do you know?" Tie Mo immediately became a little annoyed. In the past two years, troops have been deployed everywhere and artillery support is needed at any time. Now, where is the time to save money? If there is no money, you have to find a way to rob it.
Come.
Tie Mo's words completely pissed off Chang Minyue. She threw the teacup on the ground, stared at her beautiful eyes and said coldly: "Tie Mo, what do you mean by this? I'm guarding this for you.
I've made a mess and tried every means to save you money, but you're still complaining about me? Yes, I'm a woman and I don't understand your wars, but I know that if the funds are cut off later, let alone the artillery, even the artillery
Your new musket will also be affected..."
At this time, Tie Mo also felt that what he had just said was a bit too much, so he quickly cupped his hands and helped Chang Minyue sit down.
"Min Yue, it's all my fault for this mouth. However, I really don't mean to look down on you. I don't have enough money now, and I know it. But, I can't help it."
Tie Mo sat next to him and explained with a sullen expression, "Facing a large number of cavalry, without artillery, how many more people would we have to die? With artillery, we no longer have to be afraid of cavalry, and we also have one more thing to attack the city with.
Sharp weapon. It’s not that I’m impatient. In the current situation, a war may happen at any time, so there’s no way this matter can be delayed.”
Chang Minyue had to accept this reality. She knew what Tie Mo said was very reasonable, but she also had difficulties, "But the funds we use for the firearms workshop are only more than 700,000 taels of silver. We have to invest a lot of money in advance for the firearms."
There is so little money, if we continue to invest in artillery projects, the money will not be enough."
"Of course, we can borrow some money from Duofu for urgent use. However, recently you gave Empress Zhang more than one million taels of silver with a wave of your hand. Duofu doesn't have much spare money left. Our Chang family
, the Cao family, the Qiao family, and several others have invested almost all of their net worth, and will not be able to withdraw any more money until the funds are gathered in the spring of next year."
The more Chang Minyue spoke, the angrier she became. Her beautiful eyes wanted to see a few holes in Tie Mo, "You just want to talk and move your mouth. Why don't you give so much money to Queen Zhang so generously? How can I, the young lady, be so stubborn?"
Baba’s life?”
It's not that Chang Minyue is talking big. The Shanxi merchant alliance composed of Chang, Cao and Qiao can be said to be as rich as the country. Chang Minyue, the great housekeeper, has a lot of money in his hands, but no matter how much money he has,
, I can’t bear the thought of someone above me who can spend money.
Chang Minyue can make money, but Tie Mo can spend even more money.
In just one year, Tie Mo has been talking about millions of taels of silver projects, especially the firearms workshop, which has already invested more than 4 million taels of silver.
Fortunately, great progress has been made in the research and development of firearms, otherwise Chang Minyue would have vomited blood.
Recruiting troops, raising troops, changing equipment, clearing wasteland, developing Zhangbeicheng, and sending troops to the grasslands cost at least 21 million taels of silver.
Twenty-one million taels of silver, even the imperial treasury and internal funds could not come up with so much money. Only the wealthy Shanxi merchants could withstand Tie Mo's hustle and bustle. But no matter how rich the local rich people in Shanxi were, they could not afford it.
When it comes to money.
Shanxi merchants control many industries, and it will take some time for the money earned from these industries to be withdrawn. But now General Tie is spending money at a rate that far exceeds the speed at which the funds are withdrawn.
After listening to what Chang Minyue said, Tie Mo was also a little embarrassed. However, the amount of capital invested in the early stage should be understood by people like Chang Minyue.
Now is the time to lay the foundation. When the stall is set up and the foundation is laid, the investment will be reduced sharply in the future, and a lot of benefits will be received every year.
However, Chang Minyue's words also revealed a signal, that is, there is really not much money left on hand at the moment, and only until the spring of next year will more money be invested in new projects.
No money? It’s a big problem, but Tie Mo still doesn’t want to wait.
"Min Yue, tell me the truth, what should we do now? Anyway, artillery must be built!"
"Huh?" Chang Minyue dug her eyes out unkindly and said angrily, "If you insist on getting artillery, you have to get more money. Right now, there is no other good way, unless you become a robber.
"
"Robbers?" Tie Mo narrowed his eyes, suddenly became happy, and clapped his hands vigorously, "Yes, we have no money, but we can go and rob. What can we do to get money the fastest? Robbery!"
"Pfft" Chang Minyue had just taken a sip of tea, and before he had time to moisten his throat, he tilted his neck and sprayed it all on Tie Mo's face.
"Ahem... I just said this casually... Do you take it seriously?"
"Why not take it seriously? We have no money, but the Kang family has money, and those gangsters also have money."
The more Tie Mo talked, the more excited he became, with inexplicable heat in his eyes. Chang Minyue's heart trembled, and she couldn't help but hold her forehead, "Are you crazy?"
"I'm not crazy. Don't worry about this. Just wait and get the money! Also, those weapons are ready. After the New Year, I will try to trick Dorgon."
After leaving these words, Tie Mo left in a hurry. Chang Minyue shook her head in disbelief. She thought Tie Mo was joking, but she soon realized how ridiculous her idea was.
As evening approached, Tie Mo called a few of his close men together.
Zhou Dingshan, Liu Guoneng, Li Wanqing, Xie Kela, Sha Diao, and Shi Hu whispered among themselves, and after listening to Tie Mo's instructions, they dispersed.
Two days later, a major incident occurred in Zhangjiakou that shocked Shanxi.
Kang Zhenyue, the eldest son of the Kang family, was kidnapped!