Yuyang Port (now Tianjin Port), Jizhou, Hebei Province.
Li Guangbi, together with a group of Fan Yang generals, stood on the dock and looked at a giant warship in the port. He opened his eyes wide and held his breath.
The warship in Yuyang Port is called "Zhenwei" and is the flagship of the Hebei Navy. It has three floors of buildings. The height from the bottom of the ship to the top of the fort is about 13 meters. It is the largest warship of the Tang Dynasty.
, modified from the deepest-draft building ship.
The battleships of the Tang Dynasty are arranged according to their size, including building ships, fighting ships, walking boats, mongooses and yachts. There is another type of ship called Haifal, which is a special type of warship and will not be included here for the time being.
As a "battleship" in the Tang Dynasty battleship series, the building ship generally has weapons such as crossbows, racquet sticks, and trebuchets. It has about 800 sailors. Its advantages are sufficient firepower and extremely strong, but its disadvantages are slow speed and poor maneuverability.
.
As for the Zhenwei ship, compared with ordinary tower ships, the entire ship is nearly nine meters longer and can accommodate nearly a thousand sailors. It combines the characteristics of Tang tower ships and Western multi-masted warships. It not only has parapets but also a battle layout.
, crossbow window and spear hole, shaped like a fort; and there are also side waterlines, corner sails, gaff sails, square sails, watertight compartments and other devices, which achieve a balance between speed and sturdiness.
Moreover, the most critical thing is that the Zhenwei ship has canceled all crossbows, shooting poles and trebuchets. Instead, there are more than twenty movable gun windows on both sides of the ship.
Li Guangbi looked at the cannons with a white metallic luster in the gun window, and asked Du Huan beside him: "Is that the long cannon that I mentioned before?"
Du Huan cupped his hands and replied: "There are twelve medium-sized long cannons on the left and right sides respectively, with a range of about 700 steps (1050 meters). There are one large long cannon on each bow and stern of the ship, with a range of about 900 steps (1350 meters).
."
After hearing this, Li Guangbi couldn't help but clicked his tongue.
The range of the medium-sized long cannon is almost the same as that of the Tang Dynasty's longest-range weapon, the Qianniu Crossbow. As for the large long cannon, there is no cold weapon in the world that can compete with it.
Following Du Huan, Li Guangbi boarded the Zhenwei ship.
Looking around the deck, Li Guangbi saw that the deck, parapet, and ship castle were connected into one, as solid as a fortress. He nodded at first, but then frowned and asked: "Why are the racket poles and long ropes gone? What if the enemy
When fighting at close range, how should we face the enemy?"
Du Huan signaled Li Guangbi to squat down, and saw hidden gaps under the female wall, and each gap had a small gun mount.
Du Huan: "If the enemy approaches with a speedboat, tiger squatting cannons will be deployed on the deck, and then attack with shotgun shells; if an arson ship attacks, there will be propellers and blocking ropes on the lower level of the hull, which can prevent the enemy ship from approaching.
, just block it.”
When Li Guangbi heard this, he nodded with satisfaction.
Du Huan opened the hatch on the deck and said to Li Guangbi: "Captain, why don't you go to the gun cabin and take a look."
Li Guangbi ducked into the hatch and followed the stairs to the gun cabin on the middle level.
The gun cabin is located on the second floor and consists of a corridor and multiple gun rooms.
Gunpowder, shells, and artillery are placed in separate compartments to minimize explosions caused by operational errors or enemy attacks.
Li Guangbi entered the gun room and saw long bronze cannons spread out in a row. There were pulleys under each cannon, and the pulleys were inlaid on the rails.
Du Huan pointed to the gun mount equipped with pulleys and said: "There are storms and waves on the sea. If the artillery is not fixed with pulleys and guide rails, the accuracy will be greatly deviated."
After finishing speaking, Du Huan pointed to the rulers on both sides of the guide rail and said: "There are lifting rulers here to measure the retreat distance, and a water ruler to determine the degree of bumps. Before the artillery is fired, the experienced artillery lieutenant will use the two rulers to measure the distance.
Scale to determine the best opportunity to fire a salvo."
Hearing this, Li Guangbi became interested: "In that case, why not have a round to open everyone's eyes."
Du Huan nodded after hearing this, walked onto the deck, and ordered the sailors to set sail and leave the shore.
The Zhenwei ship slowly sailed to the sea two hundred meters away from Yuyang Port. Du Huan found an outcropping of rocks in the sea and loudly informed the gun cabin of the shooting target.
A deputy lieutenant came into the gun cabin, pointed at the reference object for the bombardment, and after some calibration, rang the iron bell in the gun cabin.
A shaking vibration spread throughout the entire hull in an instant.
Accompanied by the huge explosion and the diffuse white smoke, the Zhenwei ship moved slightly on the sea surface. More than ten shells passed over the sea surface and shot forward quickly.
As he breathed, a series of sprays rose up from the sea where the cannonball hit.
A cannonball, by coincidence, hit the reef. After a dull explosion, the entire reef turned into mustard powder.
"Okay!" Li Guangbi was overjoyed. He clapped the handrails on the side of the boat and shouted loudly: "With this sharp weapon, there is no need to worry about the uncertainties in Hebei!"
Li Guangbi thought for a while and asked Du Huan: "How many warships are equipped with artillery in the Hebei Navy?"
Du Huan: "Three tower ships, six fighting ships, and one hundred and ten guns."
Li Guangbi: "How many ships are there that can transport people and horses?"
Du Huan: "The big ship is thirty-five and the small boat is one hundred and three, which can carry three thousand cavalry."
Li Guangbi remained silent and paced back and forth on the deck.
After a while, Li Guangbi said to Du Huan: "I want you to capture Laizhou Port!"
Du Huan was stunned: "Laizhou Port? The main force of the Yan Army's navy is gathered there. There are about eighty warships..."
Li Guangbi: "How? Can it be done?"
Du Huan gritted his teeth and said, "Yes!"
Li Guangbi looked pleased, nodded and said: "Let me tell you why we want to capture Laizhou Port."
"Shi Siming's army is gathered in Handan City. If the war goes against him, he can withdraw from Hebei, go down the Yellow River, enter Qizhou City (today's Jinan), and hold on to it."
"Qizhou City is strong and has sufficient food and supplies. If Shi Siming crosses the Yellow River and then enters Qizhou City, he can defend the city and our army will never be able to defeat him."
Du Huan understood somewhat: "Does the Protector want to capture Laizhou Port, and then have ships transport the army, bypass the Yellow River, and land directly in Henan?"
Li Guangbi: "Yes, most of the Yan army's troops are stationed in the Yellow River area. Henan's rear defense is empty and lacks preparation. I plan to let Pugu Huai'en lead three thousand fine cavalry, board the ship, and set off from Yuyang Port.
Land directly at Laizhou Port, and then go west to capture Qizhou. Your mission is to defeat the enemy forces at Laizhou Port and clear the way for Pugu Huai'en."
Li Guangbi patted Du Huan on the shoulder: "Shi Siming is treacherous and cunning. Once he sees that the situation is not right, he will definitely flee south and cross the river. Before that, there is not much time left for you. The battle of Laizhou Port must be fought quickly. Once this happens,
If it is postponed for too long, the entire Eastern Front battlefield will be in a disadvantageous situation."
When Du Huan heard this, he bowed and said: "When the general receives the order, he will definitely not disappoint the Protector!"
This chapter has been completed!