Chapter 2005 The Problem with Firearms
Xi Junmai and Gao Kan were inexplicably excited, but Xue Rengui looked worried: "In this weather, we have to march a long distance straight to the north of the Great Wall. I'm afraid the number of troops will be seriously reduced... I don't know whether Xue Yantuo took the wrong medicine. It's cold in this cold weather." It’s freezing, why are you so provocative?”
From ancient times to the present, marching in winter is the most taboo. Not to mention the cost of baggage doubles, the thin military uniforms cannot keep warm, and the soldiers who freeze to death and suffer from frostbite are not much less than the cost of a big battle. This is especially damaging to morale.
Obviously, Xue Rengui didn't think he could fight. This time he went to the northern part of the Great Wall to practice the army's ability to adapt to cruel weather conditions...
Strong armies are built by fighting, but if they neglect training, how will they be able to fight on the battlefield?
This is why you sweat more in peacetime and bleed less in wartime.
Fang Jun nodded and said: "The military situation in northern Xinjiang is urgent. There are less than 20,000 border troops in Shuozhou. Usually there are Turks descending in front to block the front, so there is no risk. But this time Xue Yantuo invaded in large numbers, and his troops Many of the tribesmen were under the command of Jieli Khan in the past and had long-standing contacts with the Turks. If anyone among them rebelled, Shuozhou would be in danger, and we could not put all our hopes on Ashina. Although Ashina Simo is the leader of the Turks, the comfortable life in Chang'an has already made this eagle on the grassland lose its boldness and become a golden bird in a cage. Que, no one knows how much bravery he still has to fight to the death. Therefore, no matter how difficult the conditions are, we must not delay sending troops."
Xue Rengui was awe-inspiring and responded with vigor: "Here!"
As a soldier, how can we complain about shrinking because of the difficult marching conditions? If a general feels conflicted, the morale of his low-ranking soldiers will be completely lost.
Fang Jun nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "But don't worry, everyone, I am not a strict person. Later, I will mobilize all the cotton clothes in my farm and send them to the army. Five thousand elite cavalry will set off first, and the rest of the soldiers will follow." Before setting off, the marching doctors should prepare a lot of medicines to treat frostbite. If there is insufficient storage in the army, they will buy out all the medicine stores in Chang'an City to ensure that the soldiers have medicine to treat frostbite. "
After a pause, he looked at several generals and said: "Later, I will go to the Foundry Bureau and bring a lot of firearms. Regardless of whether there is a war or not, this trip will be an excellent opportunity for outdoor training. The northern border is vast. , there will always be small groups of horse bandits, it is just a good time to practice the use of firearms, become proficient in tactics, and also be able to find fire in actual combat. In the future, firearms will be the main means of warfare. Whether Youtun Guard can become the most elite firearms force in the Tang Dynasty depends on whether you can lead your soldiers to perfect the tactics of firearms! At the forefront of the whole world, we must not let the honor of the best army in the world be given away to anyone else!”
"Here!"
The three people stood up from their seats and agreed with a bang, their eyes filled with excitement!
Throughout the Tang Dynasty, no one knew the power of firearms.
Although the current firearms still have shortcomings of one kind or another, every person with insight can realize that firearms will definitely become the protagonist of war. It is easy to operate and powerful. Even a child, village woman, or old man can kill the enemy with it after simple practice.
Just imagine, if one day all the people of the Tang Dynasty became soldiers, who else in the world could rival them?
And the person who is most proficient in firearms in the world must be the commander in front of him who invented firearms!
The Youtun Guards are naturally at the forefront of all the armies of the Tang Dynasty. With the right time, place and people, they will surely become the army that is best at using firearms! Once Youtunwei becomes the trump card in the Tang army, everyone here will naturally rise to the top, and great achievements will be easily achieved!
What an honor it is to control the most powerful army of the Tang Dynasty? !
*****
Amidst the heavy snow, the usually busy Foundry Bureau also calmed down.
Fang Jun was in a workshop, inspecting a simple lathe.
Since it is a simple lathe, it is naturally the most primitive one. An iron frame is fixed on the ground, and several gears bite together. They are connected to the impeller in the water at the other end through an iron rod. The water conservancy impeller is driven by the flowing water, which will drive the gears to rotate. The front gear is fixed with A hard and brittle high-hardness scraper, when rotated, will drill a solid iron rod on the lathe into a hollow iron pipe.
One barrel is complete...
Although it is simple, Fang Jun thinks that this is probably the first lathe in the family. It not only makes the production of gun barrels faster, but also makes the gun barrel smoother and more symmetrical. At the same time, its significance is absolutely extraordinary.
It's just that it's freezing cold at the moment, so there's no running water to drive the gears...
Liu Shi followed Fang Jun, took a finished musket, and introduced: "Now the quality of muskets is getting better and better, and there are very few cases of explosions, all thanks to the better and better barrels. The barrel If the quality is good, you can charge more powder and the gun will be more powerful.”
Fang Jun took the musket, weighed it in his hand, and observed it carefully.
This is a drawing he drew based on the rifles of later generations. The iron barrel is shiny and the wooden stock is polished extremely smooth. It is very comfortable to hold in the hand. It looks like it makes people feel like they have traveled through time and space...< br>
"This is a medicine pack made according to your suggestion of the Marquis, after uniform dosage. There is no need to weigh it. During the battle, you only need to tear up the medicine pack and pour the gunpowder into the barrel, then place the lead bullet and tamp it down with a purge bar. It can be fired, simple and safe, Mr. Hou is truly a god!”
Liu Shi was flirting at the side...
It's not that he has no moral integrity, it's just that since he took on the role of the chief of the foundry bureau, he suddenly realized that the energy contained in it was too great! In the past, hundred-refined steel, which was extremely rare, was refined here one after another, forged, cast, and all kinds of techniques were available. Endless various instruments were produced, plus the manufacturing of muskets and artillery... With such resources in hand, he, Liu Shi, was not only a popular figure in the eyes of all the armies of the Tang Dynasty. To ask for equipment, he had to talk to him in a low voice, and even exchange interests. Even those wealthy businessmen looked at him with red eyes. Lean next to you.
There is no other way. Shovels, hoe heads, saws, plows...the largest and best quality tools in the entire Tang Dynasty can all be sold throughout the country. What kind of profit is that?
However, after all, the foundry bureau's output is limited, and it is not Liu Shi who has the final say whether the tools produced are given to whom?
In the past, Liu Shi also relied on his family background to have a little respect in the court, but the Liu family in Hedong has gradually declined over the years, who still recognizes him? Not only that, King Jin was imprisoned, and he, the uncle of Princess Jin, became a street rat. Everyone yelled and beat him up, but it was human nature to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, so everyone stayed away from him. I'm afraid I'll be implicated one day...
But it's different now.
With such resources in hand, no matter whether he is a general or a merchant, who can't smile in front of Liu Shi?
The taste of power is so wonderful...
And for Fang Jun, who gave him all this, no matter how flattering he is, it is not too much.
He knew that Fang Jun's initial impression of him was not very good. What if he worked so hard to build the foundry bureau, but Fang Jun replaced his confidants to manage it? The loss of hard work is nothing, but if this power is gone, it will be worse than killing him!
It was just that he had never tasted the wonderful taste of power before, but now that he had tasted it, he could no longer give it up...
"How much inventory is there?"
Fang Jun ignored Liu Shi's flattery. He had experienced so much in his past life and this life, and he would never change his stance just because of two nice words. If Liu Shi does a good job, he will naturally not hesitate to promote him. After all, with such a person standing in front of him, he will have a lot less troubles. Otherwise, wouldn't it be annoying to have people come to him for resources? If something goes wrong, he will never be kicked away without even a frown.
Liu Shi obviously knew the casting bureau well: "There are about five thousand rods in total, but only about two thousand of them have been tested."
"Very good. Immediately load the two thousand tested rods into the truck, equip them with ten basic ammunition, and send them to the Youtunwei camp. Also, take five thousand thunders with you at the same time."
The performance of current muskets is still lacking. Although flintlock guns are not afraid of snow, they are too slow to load and cannot become the main battle weapon of the army. They can only be used as auxiliary weapons. I brought firearms on this trip just to practice tactics and look for flaws in actual combat.
As for the musket to become the main battle weapon of the army, a primer must be developed...
Only with primers can bullets and artillery shells be produced, and thermal weapons can officially step onto the stage of war and sweep across everything.
The shells of bullets and artillery shells are very easy to forge with a mold and a hydraulic forging hammer, but without a primer, the warhead cannot be fired...
Fang Jun had watched a documentary before and remembered that the original primer was made with mercury nitrate.
But how is mercury nitrate made?
He was confused. We are just studying agriculture, but chemistry is scum... (End of Chapter)