Chapter 217 Fortunately, the technology is in the hands of Daming
The election by the leaders ended quickly, and a middle-aged businessman named Li Wen was elected.
People from Yangcheng.
But he is not a salt merchant.
He was just a man who drove a pack to sell furs and groceries from north to south.
The key to this kind of recommendation is familiarity.
Even if they are all in the Zelu area, few people are familiar with simple farmers. After all, if you go hundreds of miles away, you have to find a way. A farmer will probably never leave his county or even his hometown in his life. Although people around him may be familiar with him, choose
He is the head of the capital, but in this kind of election among the heads of the capital, it is difficult for others to trust him.
In fact, these are all heads, and most of them are not farmers.
Mainly businessmen.
Their influence is wide.
Military households have their own group, and they will only choose those in the military household system, and many people in the military household system know each other, after all, they are in-laws and so on.
After all, a well-known craftsman among craftsmen is likely to be known to craftsmen from other places.
"I have long said that even if flintlocks are used on a large scale, bayonets will still have to be used in the end of the war."
Pingyang…
After all, the lifespan of those field guns is only a few hundred rounds.
And the loss is not small.
In addition to the commander-in-chief Li Wen, there are more than a dozen commanders, who are selected by the governors of each county. Among them are three military households, all of which are small banners. They are from Ningshan Guard and Luzhou Guard, and the other one is Qin
The governor of Qianhu Station.
The entire Tianjingguan battle resulted in more than 3,000 casualties.
Very proud.
"Pingsheng!"
Even craftsmen have an advantage over farmers.
"It's not about how talented they are, but the officials in the imperial court. Apart from reading a few more sage books than them, their real talents are only at their level. Li Shan is a small official, but he still creates a court for the emperor as the head of civil servants.
The real talents of the officials selected by the imperial examination are not much better than those of ordinary businessmen. It’s just that they are good at bragging about themselves. After bragging for a long time, they brag to each other for generations, and naturally they deceive the common people into thinking that they are literary stars. However,
In troubled times, which scholar can achieve success?
Merchants can also create a yellow nest.
Yang Feng shouted quickly.
Half a month passed quickly, and Shenji Camp did not open Tianjing Pass after all.
A businessman!
It's quite dark too.
Then Li Wen fully demonstrated his talents that he had developed over decades of traveling all over the country, and quickly completed the responsibilities of these commanders. A military household commander was responsible for hiring a specialized security force. As for the required expenses, he only needed a loan from the bank. This one
The armed forces do nothing else but serve as thugs for the commander-in-chief. After the latter's order is issued, anyone who dares to disobey will be arrested. How to deal with it depends on the situation. If necessary, you can let them die accidentally. Especially those who are senior citizens.
The sages raise donations. After all, war costs money. Although you can find a bank loan, the loan must be repaid. If you force the sages from the elderly to donate, you don't have to pay it back.
The emperor's grandson took him out of the Zhai Palace with a smile...
he said.
There is no generational difference in weapons between the two sides.
he said.
A newly built three-story Huanqiu has stood on the empty plain.
Yang Feng said with a smile.
So a large amount of copper coins and even bells from nearby temples were put into the furnace for smelting.
"These unscrupulous people suddenly seem like different people when they have a new career."
Therefore, farmers must have the least advantage in this kind of selection.
Zhaoyi Society.
One hundred thousand kilograms of gunpowder alone were used, and the cannons were basically replaced several times due to lifespan issues.
He came here with all of them. After all, he was the middleman and had to ensure the safety of these people.
The emperor's grandson said solemnly.
Yuan Rong immediately stood up, then raised his hand and waved forward.
Lao Zhu finally fully understood what Yang Feng said about the age of firearms: war is about using money to kill your opponent.
One man can pass a pass that cannot be opened by ten thousand men, the defenders are united and united, and the rear is constantly supplied with supplies. If this cannot last for half a month, then the attacking Shenji Battalion will be too powerful.
He didn't see any dissatisfaction at all...
Logistics and transportation.
…
Then it was located in Zezhou City.
Of course Pingyang is the same.
Although the diameter is larger, it was still built according to the records of Huanqiu in the Northern Song Dynasty, including the Xiangdian above. It is just very similar in scale. It is better to say that it is Huanqiu Xiangdian than a large earth temple, but no matter what,
This idea has arrived.
Satisfy the young man’s vanity!
But if it were a plain, those unruly people might not be able to stop the Shenji Battalion's offensive.
However, fortunately, technology is in the hands of Ming Dynasty.
Arms manufacturing.
His position was suddenly stable, and this trip to deal with the River God allowed him to appear in front of the Ming Dynasty subjects in advance.
That's enough, he doesn't need to take care of it here.
To the south of Kaifeng City was the former Huanqiu of the Song Dynasty.
Firepower is king.
"Your Majesty, the cannon is ready."
"Then I need to experience it."
Zhang Ying looked with emotion at Li Wen, who was sitting in the main hall of Zhaoyi Society, writing and calculating, arranging various affairs in an orderly manner in front of a group of busy leaders.
"Indeed, these unscrupulous people have tested the Shenji Camp for the imperial court. In the future, we will know how to use firearms to attack the city. In fact, I have prepared new siege weapons. If I had not promised these unscrupulous people to summon them today
, I’m afraid it won’t take a few days to open the patio gate.”
Everyone, including those with heads, quickly knelt down and kowtowed to the future emperor.
There is a commander responsible for everything.
The commanders all acted neatly according to their tasks.
The latter looked at them silently, probably wanting to shoot them to the ground with the butt of their rifle.
"put!"
He was already eighteen years old at this time, and now he was wearing the robes of a prince to worship the heavens, and on his head was the nine-shaped crown to worship the heavens. He was a proper little emperor, and with both his uncles captured, he became Zhu Yunwen's biggest foreign aid.
After that, King Yan seemed to have lost interest in competition and focused solely on building ships.
"Then let's get started!"
This alone can cost over a million.
There are three craftsmen in charge, one Yiguoye craftsman is in charge of gun manufacturing, the other two are in charge of ammunition and cold weapons, and three businessmen are in charge of supplying their materials, especially saltpeter and sulfur. Fortunately, Shanxi produces both.
It's just a matter of coordinating procurement. The required manpower is directly selected among the young people who have gathered in Zezhou. How many people are needed go directly to those who have no tasks yet, and the latter will take the young people from the capital to follow them on the errand. The required number
Spend money with the person in charge of accounting...
Yang Feng said.
It can be said that the organization equivalent to the Zelu Provisional Coalition Government was quickly born in this way.
he said.
"The emperor's grandson's divine artillery is invincible, and the Ming Dynasty's soldiers are in awe of all directions!"
There was just a striking gap in the city wall.
In order to avoid suspicion, I simply called it "she", which was directly borrowed from the Tang Dynasty.
Under the personal guidance of Ambassador Yang, the provisional government was elected in Pingyang in the same way. The name was also borrowed from the Tang Dynasty's Huguo Society. Then he went north to Taiyuan and elected the provisional government Hedong Society in the same way. This was how the three Jin Dynasties were
It was divided into three provisional governments. Because it was certain that the imperial court would not attack in other directions, the ammunition of Huguo Society and Hedong Society immediately began to be transported to Zezhou, especially Taiyuan. After all, there were six guards here, so the ammunition was according to real war standards.
Reserved.
But it’s really difficult for farmers.
Your emperor is a peasant.
In this Zhaoyi Shrine, which is borrowed from an ancestral hall, everything started in a very orderly manner, like a machine running. But just over an hour ago, they were just a ragtag group of small businessmen, farmers, craftsmen and military households.
Now the efficiency of their work is not inferior to that of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries of the imperial court.
The emperor's grandson is being arrogant. It's not that he can't open Tianjing Pass, it's just because he has to keep his promise. When the date he promised comes, naturally he can't continue fighting. He has to let the chiefs from all over Shanxi come and choose to return.
Song has returned to the Ming Dynasty. If he had not kept his promise, he could have easily opened Tianjing Pass as long as his new weapons were put into the battlefield.
The shell hit again.
You still have to fight!
…
I am afraid that in his eyes, both the Shenji Battalion and the unruly people who died in battle are actually just numbers. There is no need to fall out with Yang Feng over a number. In other words, in his mind, he and Yang Feng both surpassed these soldiers and civilians.
A higher level of existence. Just like he and Yang Feng played a game with these ants, and he lost in the game, just like they lost when they played chess in the past. There is no need to care at all. It just destroyed a few people.
What a chess piece! Besides, although Tianjing Pass was not opened, the Shenji Battalion was truly tested. Veterans like Xie Cheng rated the Shenji Battalion as the most powerful army of the Ming Dynasty. Although there was some element of complimenting him, it should be
Still very pertinent.
But it's understandable.
Next to the first cannon, the gunner immediately lit the fuse, and then retreated into the protective wall. Immediately after the fuse burned out, the muzzle flame suddenly spurted out. Along with the sound of the cannon that shook the wilderness, the whizzing shells instantly hit the city wall.
superior.
Although the attack on Tianjingguan failed, it was only a trivial matter after all.
Because even the bravest soldiers cannot break through the opponent's firepower under the intensive rapid-fire artillery bombardment of the defenders. Even if they can rush to the city wall, they will still be blown away by the opponent's shotguns. If the opponent uses firearms, one must also use firearms, and one's own side
Firearms are also used, so in the absence of a decisive advantage, war is a battle of attrition. But in the past, only soldiers were consumed in wars. Now, wars consume not only soldiers, but also money!
The era of a strong warrior riding a horse, armed with a bow and arrow and a spear is over.
"Let's go to Pingyang!"
The emperor's grandson said majestically.
As for the battle at Tianjing Pass, it has stopped. After all, both sides are a little tired. This is mainly because the tactics are becoming more and more perfect, resulting in lower and lower cost-effectiveness. When both sides are hiding in the trenches and shooting at each other, the most terrifying thing in the battle is not the dead.
, but the money is flowing continuously. In less than a month, the emperor's grandson's military expenditure has exceeded one million. You must know that the current system of the Ming Dynasty is actually the most economical.
It’s not just Li Wen.
His grandfather's body ached.
The emperor's grandson said.
In the equally small Zhai Palace, Ambassador Yang, who had just returned from Shanxi, was looking out with the emperor's grandson at the leaders who were being brought in with murderous intent by the Shenji Battalion like they were escorting prisoners. Because this time they were being eliminated.
All the prefectures and counties in Shanxi outside Datong Prefecture, as well as all the guards including the two guards of the Jin Dynasty, so the number of people participating in the conference exceeded one thousand. Because they had just won the battle of Tianjingguan, these were all very confusing.
Proudly, everyone held their heads high and showed no fear at all. Some even laughed at the soldiers of the Shenji Battalion.
Then the second cannon opened fire.
Yuan Rong quickly stepped forward to salute.
Therefore, the artillery of the Shenji Battalion in the later period also learned this tactic. They also used trenches and artillery forts to shoot at the defenders. They even learned to use trenches and zigzag trenches to cover the advance, get close to the foot of Guancheng, and then concentrate their fire.
The thunder gun bombarded the city wall. However, this advanced tactic ultimately achieved little due to the insufficient power of the grenade and the unstable fuse. Instead, the Ming army generals realized that although the firearms were good, the soldiers' cold weapon fighting ability still seemed to be poor.
decisive force.
Yuan Rong roared.
On the contrary, the casualties of the defenders were smaller than those of the Shenji Battalion, less than 2,000 people, of which there were only a few hundred military households. Especially after they learned trench tactics, the casualties caused by the Shenji Battalion's artillery shells plummeted, and sometimes even a day of shelling would only
Killed dozens.
There is no shame in being unable to open Tianjing Pass. That place is not easy to attack in the first place. If it were so easy to open, it wouldn't be a battleground for thousands of military strategists.
The city wall made of stone probably didn't use cement, it was just ordinary yellow mud, so when a cannonball of at least 18 pounds hit, a large area collapsed immediately.
But it won't work if you don't fight like this.
The distance is only about a hundred meters.
The Mongols slaughtered everyone except the craftsmen.
"How's this gun?"
Then the third one, the fourth one...
Yang Feng said as he watched this scene.
"Where is the lonely cannon?"
Signal flags were waving on the hot air balloon overhead, and next to four things covered with red cloth not far away, the soldiers opened the red cloth, revealing four huge artillery pieces at least so far. Looking at this thing,
The leaders looked at each other, and then looked towards the four giant cannons. There was a section of city wall that was the same as Tianjingguanguan City.
So they are the ones the emperor feels most at ease with. After all, for the emperor, the most important thing when choosing his subordinates is not talent, but the assurance that they will not threaten themselves. Your emperor also had the same idea, so he killed Li Shanchang and others, and then used
The imperial examination selects literati."
However, Shenji Battalion was at Tianjingguan and fired more than 30,000 artillery shells. After the artillery was scrapped, it was sent back to the gun foundry in Weihui to be recast, and then transported back to Tianjingguan for continued use. Now Henan and Shandong
All the cannon-casting craftsmen in the country are working here day and night to cast cannons for the emperor's grandson, and he also wants heavier bronze cannons.
But has there ever been a scholar since ancient times who achieved great things?
not a single one!
Because this shell hit not far from the first one, the already severely collapsed city wall even collapsed directly to form a slope.
Yang Feng shouted.
"His Royal Highness the Grandson of the Ming Emperor has arrived!"
The emperor's grandson said.
There was silence all around.
The signal flag overhead waved again.
"Long live the great grandson of the Emperor!"
He shouted towards those heads.
"Long live the great grandson of the Emperor, long live the great grandson, we are in awe of God's grace!"
Li Wen and others immediately woke up and quickly knelt down and shouted long live the mountain.
The emperor's grandson stood there with satisfaction, enjoying the feeling of all the people bowing their heads and worshiping him in advance.