Based on the observed errors, Hale re-finely adjusted the elevation and azimuth angles, and the other guns were also fine-tuned accordingly and loaded with live ammunition.
"Mr. Paul, it seems that this cannon is not as accurate as you said." Zheng Zhifeng, who was also observing with a telescope on the other side, was a little dissatisfied after seeing the impact point of the cannon. In fact, these cannons can fire like this at such a long range.
High accuracy is unprecedented in this time and space. The Zheng family spent huge sums of money to purchase red barbarian cannons from English, Portuguese, Macau and even Greek merchants in Manila. The difference is astonishing. But he has already seen the power of Australian cannons.
, Hale's shooting seemed a bit eclipsed.
"This is called calibration firing. In fact, artillery calibration firing means that after the first shell is fired, it is difficult to hit the target with the first shot due to various factors such as the barrel temperature, operating techniques, firing force, various calculations, weather conditions, etc. The purpose of calibration firing is
In order to correct the shooting parameters of the artillery, so that the shells fired in the future can accurately hit the target." These professional terms that had never been heard before came out of Hale's mouth, which really shocked Zheng Zhifeng. For most Chinese at that time
For people, firing a cannon is just a matter of pointing the muzzle of the cannon in the general direction of the enemy and holding a match. Very few people care about the so-called artillery skills, and even fewer people really understand it.
"The first shot was able to hit the target. It was either God's will or guidance..." Hale stopped talking and looked at Zheng Zhifeng, who looked confused and rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but feel that he was being tricked, and continued.
: "In fact, the general experience is to conduct two test firings to determine the error amount in the middle to be safe, and then it is easy to compensate and correct the shooting elements according to the error amount; if the site environment and artillery performance are familiar, you can also do it only once.
Test firing, like now."
Zheng Zhifeng struggled out of a lot of unfamiliar terms and asked: "You mean, you can definitely hit it now?"
A sneer appeared on Hale's confident face: "We'll see."
An order was given. Six artillery pieces spit out tongues of fire ten feet long, pushing the shells out of the barrels at a speed invisible to the naked eye and hitting the target. After three or four seconds in the telescope, several groups of fire appeared on the mound, and a few seconds later there were several muffled thunders.
Sound like.
"It turned out to be a blooming bomb?" Zheng Zhifeng couldn't help but gasped. Not only did most of the shells hit, but they were also explosive shells with huge power! Could this be the blooming shells rumored to be used in Australia? The power was indeed extraordinary.
It's rare to be so accurate!
After witnessing the devastating power of the Australians using grenades to shoot at the fleet, Zheng Zhifeng highly praised this weapon - but he did not expect to get such a "big killer" from Hale.
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, European grenades had flowed into China. However, due to the technical level at the time, the power of the grenades was very small and did not play a major role in land and sea battles. Therefore, they were not taken seriously. It was not until the Australians used high-density loading
The emergence of black powder grenades made explosive bombs fearful.
"Yes, grenades - or explosive shells." Hale said, "Although its power is limited in land battles, in sea battles, once a wooden ship is hit, its effect is far better than dozens of solid bullets."
"Mr. Feng, are you satisfied with the goods this time?" Hale had a slight smile on his face but his voice was still cold.
"I'm very satisfied. Paul never breaks your promise when doing things." Zheng Zhifeng returned to reality from shock and fantasy;
"Our deal?"
"It's a lot of money. I, Zheng, also said that as long as your goods are good, your money will not be less." After saying that, he asked people to carry over two large boxes, which were filled with white silver. Black
A glimmer suddenly lit up in your eyes, and you rubbed it with your slender fingers. Feeling the cold texture of the silver, you closed the lid of the box and asked someone to carry it away. He said, "According to our previous agreement, each of the six large and small cannons will be removed."
In addition to the corresponding solid bullets, there are 20 blooming explosive bullets. I will keep the gun list and teach the gunners you sent until they learn it all."
"It's a pity that there are less."
Zheng Zhifeng was thinking about how the situation would change if such a cannon was installed on his newly built three-masted ship. Not to mention the Zheng Cai brothers, Liu Xiang's lucky ship and Guangzhou ship were the red-haired barbarians in Macau.
The big plywood boats were also wiped out! Although the Australian boats can move without wind, at least they can fight on a relatively equal level with their own guns, instead of becoming a living target on the sea.
After Operation Hunger, Zheng Zhifeng reorganized the remaining ships and used the old wood to build Dafu ships to make up for the shortage of trading ships. At the same time, he resettled the shipyard on Kinmen Island, spent a lot of money to purchase dry materials, and began to build new special-purpose warships-these
The parent warships are the unfinished improved fuchuan found in the new shipyard of Zhongzuo Institute. These ships are the result of improvements made by local shipwrights based on the advantages of European ships.
Hale seemed to know what he was thinking, and said with a sneer: "With all due respect. If you continue to install the artillery I gave you on your wooden boxes, you are still no match for the Australians."
Zheng Zhifeng was shocked. Although he wanted to refute Hale's words, the tragic defeat of the Zheng family's fleet in Weitou Bay made him speechless. Finally he said:
"We also have several Red Mao Yi boats, but they are no match for the Australians..."
"Their ships suffer from the cannons. With my cannons installed, they can still deal with the Australians. Those wooden boxes of yours - I advise you not to build them again. It would be more cost-effective to dismantle them and burn them as firewood."
"
"you mean?"
"Those Chinese ships you built, no matter what their names are, I have carefully observed them. They may be good as trading ships, but they are very inappropriate as battleships. They have no decks and their center of gravity is too high. It is difficult to deploy artillery. Your
Those ships can deploy three or four cannons, but they cannot be powerful enough to fire a salvo."
"To build Western ships, I don't have craftsmen who are familiar with Western shipcraft." Zheng Zhifeng said, "I have enough ship materials and many craftsmen. It is no problem even if I start building ten ships at the same time."
"What do you think of the brig you saw in Manila harbor?"
"Very good, but don't you think it's a little too small?"
"When the Australian fleet attacked Zhangzhou Bay, most of them were small and light boats like this. Of course they were too small compared to your wooden boxes. But their speed was fast enough to rival the Australian patrol boats. Moreover, they were fast.
Its small body can also be equipped with four cannons." Hale made a gesture, and a Tagalog servant brought a glass of red wine, "You should have seen an Australian patrol boat."
"Yes. But they are unable to fight against the Australian Clippers..."
"You don't have to worry about this. As long as you are willing, I will soon build a larger warship that can compete with them. Of course, I will also sell it to you." Hale said calmly.
Zheng Zhifeng's eyes lit up. But he soon realized that this was just a cake to satisfy his hunger. Even so, those light boats coupled with Hale's cannons could at least play a certain role.
"Then what will it cost me?"
Hale laughed: "You are really a first-class businessman." He put down the empty wine glass, "Will your Anhai ship come to Manila again?"
"If I guess correctly, your nephews Zheng Sen and Zheng Cai brothers will also send ships to Manila - after all, this is your largest remaining trade channel."
"And Japan."
"Unless you send a fleet to Japan to eradicate the Australian influence, I don't see what advantage you have in trade with Japan. I don't care about that for the moment. I think you must be willing to monopolize Manila's trade - at least
Leave those pesky relatives out of the equation."
Zheng Zhifeng's eyes widened: If these two competitors can be excluded from the Manila trade, Zheng Lian, Zheng Cai brothers and Zheng Sen, who have lost their financial resources, will soon decline, and it will be easy to deal with them.
"Your condition is..."
"You need to send enough ships to Manila. During the trade season, at least four to five Anhai ships should arrive every month. The more, the better..."
"How is this possible?" Zheng Zhifeng shook his head and interrupted him, "How can the Spaniards have so much money to buy my goods?"
"The Spaniards don't have it, but I have cannons and maybe some battleships in the future."
"You mean," Zheng Zhifeng was a little surprised and asked in surprise, "I can directly use the goods to pay for the value of the ship's guns?!"
"That's right." Hale said, "Of course, it's up to me to decide which goods can be compensated."
"As long as it's not something too unpopular."
"You can rest assured that everything I want can be easily obtained." Hale took out a page from his pocket and said, "This is the specific list of goods."
Zheng Zhifeng took it. The goods listed on the paper were all ordinary things. There were hundreds of items, and Zheng Zhifeng himself didn't know what they were. The most important ones were pig iron, copper, lead, mercury and various other items.
kind of metal.
"The things are not difficult. But these are cold goods. You can't sell them at a high price if you want them..."
"Haha, my dear friend, your concept is still a businessman from beginning to end." Hale laughed, "You don't have to worry about my financial problems. The more goods you provide, the more weapons I can provide you. and ships. Of course, you can transport and sell silks, porcelain, groceries, etc. as you wish.”
"Okay, it's a deal!"
"Finally, I need more people - they can also be counted as a kind of goods."
"Population?" Zheng Zhifeng hesitated, "Don't you know that the Spaniards are very afraid of Chinese immigrants?"
Throughout the colonial history of the Philippines, the Spaniards have always been suspicious of Chinese immigrants but had to accept them. At this time, it was only a few decades after the so-called "Chinese riots" in the Wanli year. (To be continued, please search for Piaotian literature and novels. Better updates faster!