The arrival of the airship brought a lot of panic to the Qing army below the city, because this thing was very strange, and everyone always had an inexplicable fear of the unknown. Tens of thousands of people didn't even bother to attack the city, and all looked up in a daze.
Looking at the airship, it seemed as if everyone had nosebleeds, the drummers were playing out of tune, and the officers in the supervising team could no longer whip their whips. Everyone was wondering: Could it be that the gods in the heavenly palace have descended to earth?
The people on the city wall no longer had the time to care whether they were coming from the Heavenly Palace or the Underworld. They were only concerned about the enemy in front of them. Both sides were elite soldiers. The exchange ratio was almost one to one. Many soldiers from the Iron Guard and the Death Battalion were
He fell on the south gate tower. The last reserve team had not been used yet. Li Yan did not dare to send it up. It is not known how many follow-up troops the Qing army would have. Except for the south gate, there were Qing troops at the other three gates.
The troops are on the offensive and cannot slack off at all, nor can they free up manpower to support them.
The ground was covered with greasy blood, internal organs, brains, stumps and severed limbs, as well as hot "wax juice" poured on the ground. The soldiers fought hard, and the sounds of gold and iron and the sound of sharp weapons piercing flesh could be heard one after another.
, Liu Ziguang saw that there were fewer and fewer of his people. Anthony and Duncan were still fighting hard, but their movements were not as sharp as before. The Qing army gradually occupied the surface of the city wall, and gradually forced Liu Ziguang and others into the enemy tower.
, the remaining soldiers of the Death Battalion used iron shields to form a small square formation, blocking the red-eyed Qing army from outside. The two panting company commanders wiped the blood from their faces and asked each other: "
How many have you killed?"
"I killed sixteen," said Duncan.
"Then I'm better than you. I killed twenty of them." Anthony said.
"I killed forty-five, more than you two combined." Liu Ziguang also did not forget to PK his results.
Seeing more and more Qing troops outside, Liu Ziguang shouted upstairs: "Li Yan, what are you waiting for!"
What Li Yan was waiting for was the situation where the Qing army occupied the city. He saw that his own people had withdrawn into the enemy tower. Two black gun barrels protruded from the second floor. The barrels of the guns were raised, and the muzzles were lowered, pointing directly below.
The Qing soldiers were densely packed. After two explosions, thousands of blacksmith scraps of different sizes were struck down in a fan shape, as if two huge-caliber shotguns were fired at close range. The Qing troops covered by the iron rain suddenly fell down.
In a large area, due to the shooting angle, many people were shot in the head and chest, and died immediately. Those who were lucky enough to survive were also blinded, with their hands covering their heads and banging around in pain.
"Come on! Drive the Tatars out."
Liu Ziguang roared, led the remaining soldiers to fight out of the enemy tower, and killed the remaining Qing soldiers in one go. The Qing soldiers who ran down the horse paths on both sides and tried to open the city gate were also shot by ambushed crossbows.
They were completely wiped out, leaving only candied haws-like corpses on the ground. Thick crossbow arrows often nailed the people behind after piercing one person. The crossbows with few arrows were specially used to guard the city gates.
It just comes in handy now.
The two steam cannons instantly changed the situation. The defenders seemed to have turned back, but there were still thousands of ladder soldiers below waiting to climb the city. Looking at the city walls, there were only a hundred or ten people, and the ground was full of corpses and
The wounded soldier couldn't move even if he walked.
The airship flew slowly in the sky, and no gods descended. This rapidly produced airship was not equipped with any weapons, and the propulsion device was driven by manpower. The only commendable thing is that the gas used to provide buoyancy is not hot air.
But more advanced hydrogen.
Originally, Addison planned to make a hot air balloon in the form of an enlarged Kongming Lantern. The iron factory was indeed rich in resources. Even the air bags were ready-made. These were semi-finished products used to make gas storage bags. He first found a gas tank.
For a round air bag, a large basket is hung below, and an oil-burning stove is placed in the basket. Use a manual exhaust fan to fill the air bag and then heat the air. The large air bag will slowly float up, really like a large Kongming Lantern.
However, such a hot air balloon cannot control the flight direction at all. It can only float with the wind under the control of ropes on the ground. The stove controls the production of hot air to control the balloon up and down. At most, it can be used as a high-altitude reconnaissance tool, which is still far from Liu Ziguang's requirements.
It was very far, but the genius Edison immediately came up with a countermeasure. He found another oblong airbag, lined it with bamboo slices as a bracket, and stretched out a fixed oblong shape. This aerodynamic shape was suitable for flying.
Problems with power and control also did not trouble Addison. He imitated the rudder of a ship and added a wooden rudder controlled by wires at the back. He originally wanted to install an alcohol internal combustion engine in a bamboo basket as the power source for the propeller, but the weight of the internal combustion engine
It was too big. In order to place the machine, the overall strength of the cabin had to be strengthened. This suddenly increased the weight several times, and the buoyancy during liftoff was not enough, so we had to use a pair of pedal propellers on a powered parafoil instead.
, it would have been perfect to be able to do this, but Addison suddenly wanted to try a gas with greater buoyancy. Time was limited and he had no time to study gas knowledge, so he had to find it from the gas readily available in the iron factory. The iron factory
An important by-product of the coking workshop is coal gas. The specific gravity of this gas seems to be heavier than ordinary air, which is obviously inappropriate. There is also another kind of gas that is the exhaust gas discharged from the chimney of the coking oven. Although it is mixed with some particles of dust such as coal ash,
However, after simple filtration, the test results were amazing. The air bag filled with air was much more buoyant than the hot air heated by the furnace. The excited Addison immediately named the gas "hydrogen"
.
The airbag is ready, the hydrogen is ready, and the propeller is also ready. The only things that need processing are the cockpit and rudder. With the direct intervention of the eldest lady, the skilled craftsmen of the iron factory completed the cockpit and steering system in only one day.
The cockpit is made of wicker and wood, and key parts are reinforced with iron sheets. The rudder is made of wooden thin iron sheets. Four iron wires connect the rudder and two joysticks. Pushing the joystick forward and backward can control the rudder plate to swing left and right, affecting the level of advancement.
Direction. Some sandbags are placed in the cabin as ballast, which can be thrown away to increase buoyancy when necessary.
The final problem is that the airship's armaments, ballistas and steam cannons require a large space and a lot of related fuel or ammunition. Besides, it is difficult to hit targets on the ground when flying so high, so it is only equipped with the pilot's saber and bow and arrow.
.
The main mission of the airship is reconnaissance, battlefield observation and the transmission of military intelligence. The radio transmitter removed from the Lu Song submarine was installed on it, and the radio receiver was left on the ground to receive intelligence and dispatch troops.
Addison took a few courageous assistants to make a test flight in person, and the effect was very good. However, the temperature and strong wind in the sky were really unbearable. After coming down, he had someone make a leather jacket and a leather hat, as well as a cover over his eyes.
The crystal windshield on the car was put on, and it was tested several times. The speed of the airship was still very impressive in the wind and calm conditions. The eldest lady was worried about Liu Ziguang's safety on the front line, so she decided to take the newly developed airship and radio to the front line to help.
After several days of training, the talented Peng Jinrong has become a so-so radio receiver. If there is an airship to help detect the various arrangements of the Qing army, and then pass it on to the ground command in a timely manner, it will definitely be able to help Liu Ziguang and the iron.
The factory has made a big contribution.
Factory owner Peng couldn't resist his daughter, so he had to send 500 troops to escort them to the front line, called the Iron Factory Airship Brigade. It was not easy to replenish hydrogen in the airship, so he had to install a lot of ballast and float it in the sky, dragging it on the ground with ropes.
It moved forward, taking with it in addition to the airship three uninflated hot air balloons.
The airship team walked for two days and arrived in Yanzhou. After asking the people left behind in the camp, it turned out that the battle line had moved north, so the eldest lady continued to move forward with the airship, and did not stop until it encountered the rear team of the Ming army. Yuan Chonghuan was there
In the midst of his busy schedule, he met with the Tiechang airship team. During the conversation, he learned that the Ming army had lost contact with Liu Ziguang's troops. Hundreds of thousands of troops were fighting in front. It was not safe for a small force of 500 people to act alone, so the airship team
Temporarily serving Yuan Chonghuan, several hot air balloons rose into the sky as fixed lookout posts. Soldiers with good eyesight took telescopes and sat on them to keep watch. They could have a panoramic view of troop movements within a radius of dozens of miles. The airship flew directly to Jinan.
To investigate the movements of the Qing army, there were two members on the boat. One was a Ming army intelligence officer who was familiar with the terrain, and the other was the pilot and radio operator Addison. The two sat facing each other in the gondola, with their feet stepping on the pedals to drive the propeller.
At the same time, use a telescope to observe the situation below.
The airship took advantage of the south wind and quickly arrived over Jinan Mansion. Unexpectedly, it was discovered that Jinan City had been occupied, and the Qing army was desperately attacking the city. Addison, who served as the radio operator, picked up the telescope and looked over. On top of the city,
It was the flags of the Iron Guard and the Death Battalion that were flying. A desperate struggle was unfolding, and even from the air one could see the bloody red on the south gate of Jinan.
Addison was horrified. The number of troops on the city was already very small, but the Qing army below the city was still preparing to attack. There were seven or eight thousand troops. Even the military intelligence officer on the airship couldn't help but sigh.
: "The city of Jinan was destroyed in an instant."
Addison hurriedly rushed to the transmitter and started a telegram frantically. According to the telegraph signal agreed in advance, the message sent had two contents: Hundreds of thousands of people marching in an urgent manner! Liu Ziguang was found.
Suksaha looked at it with a telescope for a while and concluded that the big pumpkin-like thing in the sky was a military equipment of the Ming army. The Southern Dynasties had so many tricks and skills that it was not surprising that they could create things that could fly. He immediately sent an order to the archers.
Shoot arrows together to shoot down this thing that affects the morale of the army. In addition, step up the siege and be sure to capture Jinan City before the Ming army arrives.
Some strong archers showed off their bows and shot at giant eagles, riding horses to chase the airship and shoot fiercely. The compound bows of the Qing army were very powerful, and such a large target was easy to hit. More than a dozen feather arrows were stuck in the air bag.
, Hydrogen gas puffed out, and the flying height of the airship gradually dropped as the hydrogen gas leaked out. Addison and the intelligence officer pedaled desperately, throwing all the sandbags in the ballast out of the cockpit, hoping to make an emergency landing in Jinan City, but
I don't know when the south wind has stopped. The speed of the human-driven airship is far less than that of the war horses. As the altitude drops, the Qing army's bows and arrows become more and more accurate. The proud archer thought
The Ming army who was controlling the airship was shot to death, and the cunning and vicious arrows were shot specifically at the hanging basket. The intelligence officer picked up his bow and arrow and fought back, and was hit by several arrows and died. Addison, a scholar, could still remain calm in such a dangerous situation.
He felt that the airship could no longer be saved, but the precious radio station must be saved. Fortunately, he had taken precautions and installed a new type of powered flight parafoil above the gondola, which came in handy at this moment.
While using his shield to block the flying arrows, Addison took off the radio and carried it on his back. He climbed onto the seat of the parafoil and pulled the release handle. The tight rubber band connected to the parafoil suddenly loosened.
, popping the parafoil forward, Addison pedaled fiercely, and the propeller behind the parafoil whirred, flying quickly towards Jinan City.
Liu Ziguang on the city wall has also discovered the airship. He knows that it must be something developed by the iron factory, but at this moment he has no ability to assist the attacked airship, because the Qing army under the city has begun to climb up again...
The hydrogen airship, which had lost its power, was stranded in the air. The Qing army fired random arrows at it. The leakage of hydrogen gradually fell to the ground, and a large number of curious Qing soldiers gathered around to watch.
"Monster! Don't come near!"
A shaman who accompanied the army shouted that when he saw the complex and strange machinery, he was as frightened as if he saw the devil. Hearing this, the Qing soldiers retreated hurriedly, but their fear was still no match for their curiosity. They bravely gathered around and touched it.
The air bag made of thin sheepskin, the propeller, the rudder, and the propulsion device driven by the chain pedal, I praised it continuously: "The things made by Nanmanzi are so exquisite."
"This is a monster, burn him quickly!" The shaman who accompanied the army recited a spell in a serious manner. He must not make the soldiers have a good impression of anything in the Ming Dynasty. This is the shaman's duty.
The Qing army took out a match, lit the pine oil torch they carried and threw it over. Hydrogen itself is an extremely explosive gas. Although it has leaked a lot and the air bag is no longer a completely sealed space, there are still many remaining hydrogen gases inside.
The concentration of hydrogen in the air reaches the minimum explosion limit when it reaches four percent. The concentration near the airship reaches at least ten percent, and in some corners it can even reach as high as eighty percent.
Another unexpected big explosion was inadvertently ignited by Qing soldiers. The shaman wanted to burn the airship, but failed and took his life. Hundreds of soldiers around the airship were not spared.
.The men and horses further away were also overturned by the air wave of the explosion. Fortunately, it was daytime, and the Qing army did not trample and collapse in all directions, but only lost a lot of men and horses.
Suk Saha and Obai, who were watching from a distance, looked at each other in confusion. Why are Han things so easy to explode?