Chapter 122 Mortars and Negotiations to Buy Industrial Machinery
On August 7, 1868, the Peruvian and Bolivian border guards arrived at the Acre border area, and immediately launched an attack on the local Brazilian defenders and recaptured more than a dozen small towns occupied by Brazilian troops.
Two days later, the reinforcements sent by the Brazilian Empire arrived in the Acre area. The offensive momentum of the coalition forces composed of Peru and Bolivia was blocked, and the war temporarily entered a stalemate. Benefiting from the war conflicts provoked by Peru and Bolivia, the Brazilian Empire was temporarily distracted.
It will be difficult to concentrate superior forces to launch a counterattack against the Chinese Independence Army within a short period of time.
At the training ground outside Porto Alegre, rows of Chinese soldiers were scattered around to prevent strangers from approaching.
In the center of the training ground, a group of senior officers gathered together, staring at the soldiers playing with artillery in front of them.
Two Chinese soldiers took off the marching bags they were carrying, took out a dark gun barrel from the bag, then installed two brackets, raised their right hands to aim at the target in front of them to test the direction, and then put a completed small artillery
It is fixed on the ground and preparations for launch are completed.
A soldier turned around and asked for combat instructions. The commander of the training ground quickly waved a small flag with his right hand. The soldier understood and squatted down to take out the ammunition and put it into the barrel. At the same time, the two soldiers blocked their ears and quickly lay down, almost in front of the two soldiers.
As the soldiers lay down, the shells flew out of the barrel and hit the wooden house built in front.
The "bump" shell hit the target and the cabin collapsed instantly.
Li Mingyuan stood in the center of the crowd watching the test firing. After the shell hit the target, he was the first to show a satisfied smile.
After the Chinese Independence Army stabilized, the rifles and ammunition production facilities seized from Peru were placed nearby in Porto Alegre. A production factory for hand grenades with simple production processes was also officially established, and was unified and arranged to be managed by the Weapons Production Bureau under the name of the Ministry of Industry.
The Chinese Independent Army still has a lot of muskets, and rifle ammunition can be produced by itself using the newly established ammunition production factory. However, the production and construction of artillery and artillery shells has been unable to find a solution.
Compared with muskets, artillery and artillery shells are weapons with higher technical content. The Chinese Independence Army also seized some small-scale artillery production factories during the continuous fighting. However, the captured artillery production equipment seriously lags behind the current war level. Some time ago, it was used
A small artillery piece seized from a local artillery production factory was tested for test firing. Less than five shells were fired in total, and the artillery exploded. The three Chinese soldiers operating the artillery died on the spot, and two soldiers near the test firing site were also killed.
Wounded by shell fragments.
The equipment for producing native artillery is backward and aging, and the performance of the artillery produced is poor. Using such weapons to fight the enemy seriously weakens the combat effectiveness of the Chinese Independence Army.
Achieving self-sufficiency in artillery and artillery shells is a prerequisite for ensuring the continued combat effectiveness of the Chinese Independence Army. After learning about this issue, Li Mingyuan contacted Captain Hans, the representative left by Colonel West, to express his intention to purchase artillery production equipment. At the same time, Li Mingyuan also
We are considering how to use existing production equipment to design simple and effective weapons.
After thinking hard, Li Mingyuan spent two days and finally came up with a solution.
The actual situation of the Chinese Independence Army at this stage is that the weapons production facilities are weak and the industrial base is almost non-existent. Under such circumstances, only small artillery that is simple to manufacture and has low technological content is suitable for the Chinese Independence Army to produce by itself. During the Russo-Japanese War,
The mortar, invented by a Russian artillery captain, was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.
Mortars can be modified from traditional artillery. In a small artillery, remove the fixed wheels and fix the two brackets. A simple mortar is declared successful. Follow the steps to modify a mortar.
Li Mingyuan instructed the head of the Weapons Production Bureau to modify two small artillery pieces. After the successful test firing, Li Mingyuan officially assigned the task of producing the first batch of ten mortars, and the artillery being tested at the training ground today was the first batch.
Produced mortars.
The first mortar was successfully tested. Although the power of the shells was significantly reduced compared with mature mortars, Li Mingyuan was generally satisfied.
The workers used to manufacture mortars are employees of captured small artillery production plants. Their artillery manufacturing technology is too far behind that of their European counterparts. Moreover, the artillery production facilities are backward and aging, and the quality of the steel produced is average, which limits the performance of the mortars.
of performance.
Improving the level of manufacturing artillery involves smelting steel, lathe mold manufacturing, etc. To completely improve the quality level of artillery, a complete industrial system is needed.
Li Mingyuan still has more than half of the gold in his hands that is useless. The material wealth captured in previous battles is also concentrated and stored in the headquarters of the Chinese Independence Army, which is relatively sufficient in terms of funds. This time, the mortar test firing exercise was held, on the one hand, to let his subordinates
The senior generals were familiar with the use of new weapons. On the other hand, they took the opportunity to show Captain Hans the new weapons of the Chinese Independence Army, increasing the depth of cooperation between the two parties.
After the test firing was over, the commander of the training site came to Li Mingyuan to report the test firing results.
"The results of the test firing are good. The two soldiers who operated the mortar will be credited with their contribution. We will verify and report after the exercise."
"Yes." The commanding officer at the training ground saluted with a military salute and turned back to his position.
"Everyone, I named the artillery that was tested today a mortar. Everyone has seen the results of the test just now. The range and power of the mortar are slightly less than ordinary small artillery, but its advantages are obvious.
The manufacturing process of mortars is simple, which is convenient for large-scale industrial production and arming grassroots troops. At the same time, it is light in weight and easy to load and unload. Two soldiers can carry mortar parts and transfer them quickly. As artillery and machine guns gradually enter the battlefield, trench warfare becomes more and more common.
At times, mortars can provide the most powerful support for frontline troops.
In front of enemy defensive points composed of machine guns and heavy firepower, the relatively long attack distance of mortars can pose a direct threat to the opponent, making it easier for our army to break through enemy positions."
Li Mingyuan briefly explained the use methods and functions of mortars on the battlefield, and the eyes of the surrounding officers quickly lit up.
The Chinese Independence Army has fought many battles since its formation. Chinese officers who were not adapted to thermal weapons warfare either died in battle or were disqualified for promotion and remained in the grassroots units.
Those who are able to hold high positions are all officers who can quickly adapt to changes in the battlefield situation and are relatively familiar and sensitive to the use of artillery and rifles.
The advantages and combat methods of mortars were explained in a popular way by Li Mingyuan. Although they were not specifically used in actual combat, the officers present could also imagine the scene of using mortars to attack the enemy.
The attacking side used mortars to continuously knock down key fortifications of the defending side, and then the attacking soldiers rushed along the gaps created by the defending side. At the same time, grenades equipped by the Chinese Independence Army were used to kill the enemy at close range. With the bonus of new weapons
Next, the battle will end quickly in a one-sided manner.
"A perfectly cheap and excellent weapon, General. The creativity of your army is amazing."
Hans, standing next to Li Mingyuan, sighed.
"Thank you for your compliment. Although the mortar is a weapon that is simple to manufacture and easy to use, with the current production capacity of our army, it is difficult for it to exert its maximum power. I think if this weapon is placed in the Prussian army
Among them, it will definitely play a greater role.”
"General, what do you mean?"
"This weapon is a gift from the Chinese Independence Army to His Majesty King William of your country. It is a thank you for your country's long-term cooperation with our army and the captain's help in training our navy soldiers."
The manufacturing principle of mortars is simple. Once it is used on the battlefield, it can easily be copied by other countries. Therefore, instead of hiding it, it is better to give it to Prussia as a meeting gift, which will also facilitate the subsequent cooperation between the two parties. As for whether Prussia will get the mortar.
There is no need to worry about the threat it poses to the Chinese Independence Army. The Chinese Independence Army and Prussia are thousands of miles apart. There is no possibility of conflict between the two parties now or for a long time in the future. On the contrary, as the Chinese Independence Army grows and develops, the two sides will
There will be more common interests.
"I will convey the general's kindness to the colonel. Your Majesty will surely be satisfied with the gift the general sends."
An excellent weapon can even change the outcome of a war. Faced with the gift from Li Mingyuan, Hans could not refuse.
"The survival and development of the Chinese Independent Army cannot be separated from the support of rifles and artillery. The current conditions in Rio Grande do Sul cannot meet the requirements of the Chinese Independent Army. I hope to send representatives to Europe to visit your Majesty and your country's weapons manufacturers.
Purchase artillery, artillery shells, steel smelting, textile and other industrial facilities from your country and hire a group of skilled technical workers.
Of course, you don’t have to worry about the price. The Chinese Independence Army has fought in nearly half of America and it is impossible to do it without sufficient funds.
Therefore, I hope that the captain will report the situation to your country and reach a specific cooperation project between the two parties as soon as possible."
"Purchasing industrial production equipment requires domestic approval. I will contact the country quickly and give the general an answer as soon as possible. However, I believe that domestic industrial owners will not refuse the general's big business."
Germany was not unified, and Prussia was not the First German Empire that challenged Britain and France when it launched World War I. Prussia during this period was relatively low-key in foreign affairs.
Two years ago, in 1866, because Prussia promised not to expand on Manchu land and gained Li Hongzhang's favor, the first batch of Manchu diplomats arrived in Europe to visit Prussia and purchased a large amount of weapons and equipment from Prussia. After that, Li Hongzhang carried out foreign affairs.
During the campaign, most of the weapons, equipment and naval warships were purchased from Germany. In this regard, Germany can also say that the Prussians were much more honest in doing business than Britain and France.
Purchasing machinery and equipment is not something that can be explained clearly in one or two sentences. Li Mingyuan left this matter to the people below, and then continued to watch the grenadier's drill.
After the invention of the grenade, soldiers specializing in throwing grenades began to appear in the Chinese Independence Army, but the formal establishment of the grenadiers was not completed until they arrived in Rio Grande do Sul.
The grenadiers are not large in scale. Each brigade or division-level unit establishes a grenadier company with a strength of about 150 people. It is subordinate to the division headquarters and is directly commanded by the brigade headquarters.
Grenadiers have a long history of development in Europe. Captain Hans had some knowledge of grenadiers, but after the exercise he only praised the Chinese grenadiers for their high accuracy in bombing and did not show any interest.
Li Mingyuan didn't care about Hans' performance. The grenades produced by the Chinese Independence Army were still relatively crude and could only cause small-scale damage to the enemy. However, with the improvement of technology, the role of grenades would become greater and greater. At that time,
