afterglow

Chapter 288 Advance Expansion; Stroke?
At this time, Zhou Changfeng was distracted, thinking about the situation of having children in the future.

What should the son be called, and what should the daughter be called?
In any case, my daughter will definitely be a beautiful woman in the future!
"Ahem!" A civilian major coughed loudly twice, which brought him back to his senses.

The colonel at the front continued, "Even though the multiple rocket launchers are not accurate and have a large spread, they can fire continuously in a short period of time, and the firepower projection density is quite impressive. It is very effective for suppressing shallow and deep enemy forces on the beach. This is what Zhou Changfeng and Zhou Kexing proposed. Because the ship acts as a carrying platform, it does not need to be specially designed for it. It can be used by rebuilding an old ship."

Because the technical content and construction difficulty of the fire support ship are very low, the Navy only ordered a batch of special 144mm fifteen-pack rocket launchers from the Wuhan Army Arsenal.

At the same time, the Hangzhou Naval Shipyard was ordered to simply refurbish the three [-]-ton Taiping-class destroyers that were on the verge of being scrapped, remove all naval guns and torpedo launchers, and install seven rocket launchers.

Rocket launchers are ready-made, and the Ming Army is equipped with Type 144 [-]mm seven-pack rocket launchers, which are arranged in a honeycomb shape.Now, in accordance with the requirements of the Navy, the arsenal arranges the launch tubes into five and three vertically, forming a box-shaped fifteen-pack.

The technical content of the rocket launcher itself is not high, and the core is the rocket.

As the earliest (modern) rocket-propelled weapon in service in the world, the rockets of the Ming army were launched using launch tubes instead of guide rails.When inside the launch tube, the four tail fins are in a folded state, and automatically pop up and unfold after leaving the tube, thereby stabilizing the flight of the rocket.

This is a way to balance cost and accuracy. In fact, weapon R&D manufacturers also try to have another stabilization principle-spin stabilization.

The rocket using this principle has no tail at the bottom, and its tail nozzle is divided into multiple parts, each with a certain inclination angle.

In this way, when the ejected gunpowder gas pushes the rocket forward, it will also make it rotate at high speed, and use the gyro effect to obtain directional stability.

The manufacturing cost of rockets of this design is higher. The Army believes that the characteristics of the rocket itself are "strong in firepower and weak in accuracy". To improve some of its inherent shortcomings, pay a lot of cost?This is not cost-effective, so I chose the folding tail rocket.

A landing fire support ship has a total of 7×15 launch tubes, which can pour more than a hundred 144mm rockets on the target in less than ten seconds.

This is almost equivalent to the projection strength of four artillery battalions equipped with six-inch howitzers, and there is no doubt about the rapidity of firepower.

As for the platform itself, the old Taiping-class destroyer was a product of the 15th year of Zhichang. At that time, the European war was in full swing, while the Ming Dynasty in the Far East was calmly selling ordnance. Except for the [-] destroyers retained by the Ming Navy, the other three were also sold to Italy.

The standard displacement is 620 tons. Four oil-coal mixed-fired boilers and two triple-expansion steam engines can make it reach a maximum speed of 29 knots. It is equipped with a 112mm naval gun, three 80mm naval guns, two double-mounted 448mm torpedo launchers, and several heavy machine guns.

After such a long time, these old small destroyers have long been studied and retreated to the second line and used as frigates.

Now it is even more ready to be completely scrapped. Some of them will be directly returned to the factory for dismantling, and the other part will be converted into radio-controlled target ships for the navy to conduct gunnery training.

Being able to be transformed into a landing fire support ship gives these old warships that have witnessed history a chance to play their residual heat.

During their service, they did not have the hypothetical battle to defend the empire's sea frontier, and spent most of their lives peacefully, but in the end, they had to participate in the revival of the Chinese Empire in another form in their twilight years?

The offensive and defensive momentum...has already changed shape.

As this meeting came to an end, everyone was about to end without any surprises, and their minds were drifting away.

However, the few words of the Ministry of War's navy's handling of the matter instantly drew everyone's attention back.

"The last thing to mention is that the current size of the Marine Corps can still only meet basic needs, and cannot meet more situations. There must be at least three units that can fight independently. Now there are only two, and the scale is still relatively small."

The basic requirement is the landing operation when attacking Southeast Asia. More often, it refers to the simultaneous attack on important islands such as Guam and Wake Island when the United States intervenes.

"That is to say, another regiment will be added?" A lieutenant colonel asked.

"More than that, the existing two regiments will be expanded into brigades, and two new regiments will be added as appropriate." The naval officer's answer was very clear without perfunctory.

Vomit?Marine Corps expansion coming sooner than expected?

Come to think of it, the current situation is indeed not very good.

The British and French enemies continue to torment the Germans, and now even "Sweden's export of iron ore to Germany" has to continue to increase restrictions.

The Germans refused to budge on this, and the Swedes were caught in the middle to be angry at both ends, in a dilemma, and the smell of gunpowder became strong all of a sudden.

Tsarist Russia is still struggling to respond to public protests. A mutiny in Tsaritsyn was suddenly revealed half a month ago and had to be launched in advance.

However, the Tsarist Russian army who went to "counter the rebellion" had a negative attitude, marching and fighting were slow. Although they had a numerical advantage, the mutiny was not resolved until today.

The current world situation is really like a warehouse piled with many powder kegs, any spark may ignite one of the powder kegs, and then explode in a row!
Zhou Changfeng and Xu Zhanming originally expected that the expansion would not start until the end of the year, but the plan could not keep up with the changes.

The new Prime Minister Gao Qingkui's style is quite neat. If the former Zou Zhuoyun was slow and orderly, then Gao Qingkui can be said to be quick to cut through the mess.

The special No. [-] ordnance industry expansion plan was quickly included in the agenda, and was quickly approved. It was planned to build a brand new weapons manufacturing base in Handan Prefecture to further expand the scale of the military industry and its war potential.

The strengthening of combat readiness has naturally also affected the army, navy and air force, which is why the navy started to expand the marine corps ahead of schedule.

"Huh—it's really hot."

"Sir, wait a minute, I'll pour you tea."

Zhou Changfeng complained about the scorching hot weather as soon as he entered the door. Xia Xiaoshi, who was at home today because of a toothache, saluted with blessings, and then went back to the house and poured a cup of herbal tea.

"There is good news, do you want to hear it?"

"Of course, what a good thing?"

Zhou Changfeng, who was originally smiling, deliberately said seriously: "I really want to know? Then call the gentleman to listen."

oops!annoying!
After struggling for two seconds, Xia Xiaoshi whispered a little shyly, "Sir."

"The voice is too low to hear clearly."

"Heh heh heh—don't say it, don't talk about it, sir, just talk about it."

"Okay, I'm not kidding anymore." Zhou Changfeng coughed lightly, and said seriously: "The expansion of the marine corps has been advanced, and I will probably be promoted to the chief officer of the marine brigade soon. I guess...it will be autumn."

"So soon?" Xia Xiaoshi recalled the past, and said with emotion: "It feels like it hasn't been long since I met you. At this time the year before last, you were still serving as a battalion officer in the imperial army, and you will be promoted to Luzheng in just two years."

Both divisions and brigades are basic strategic units, and their chief officers have a special status.You must know that the promotion of a colonel to a brigadier general is a gap, it can even be said to be a natural barrier, comparable to the ascension of an immortal cultivator. On average, only one of a dozen colonels can enter the position of general.

However, according to the underlying rules, although the brigade commander is also a colonel, he is the colonel with the most potential to be promoted to brigadier general, and the probability is extremely high.The rest of the colonels can only try their luck, or they may have connections in the court.

So now Xia Xiaoshi has fantasized about becoming the general's wife, and according to the usual practice, once she is promoted, there will be a letter of imperial edict to her wife, that is, the conferment of imperial wife.

What an honor that would be!

snort!I really want to see the faces of those relatives.

Xia Xiaoshi thought of the family reunion when she was a child when she returned to her hometown during the Chinese New Year. Those snobbish relatives thought that Xia Bing had no chance of success, so she was a little cold, not to mention her own treatment.

The peaceful day just passed.

The next few days were equally comfortable, except that the price of meat in the capital had risen, everything was as usual.

July [-], morning.

The Forbidden City is still the same, with brocade guards patrolling according to fixed routes, big Han generals standing guard at the gate of the city with pumpkin hammers, and palace maids watering the flowers and trees in the palace.

However, there seemed to be something wrong with the situation in the Qianqing Palace, or something must be wrong—because the two cars drove all the way to the gate of the Qianqing Palace, and the few imperial doctors who got out of the car walked in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, the doctors will be here soon. If you feel uncomfortable, just vomit if you want to."

In the Xici room, the emperor was leaning on a chair, covering his forehead, his brows were tightly furrowed, and there was still unfinished breakfast on the small round table next to him.

The female officer next to him looked anxious, looked at the vomit on the ground, and then looked out the door, constantly looking forward to the arrival of the imperial doctors.

Finally, with the sound of chaotic footsteps, several panting figures stepped over the threshold and came to Xici Room.

Seeing this scene, the leading imperial doctor stared and asked seriously: "How long has this been happening, Your Majesty? Tell me in detail."

The female officer took a deep breath, trying to calm down her restrained mood, "Not long ago, about a quarter of an hour, His Majesty was still eating, and suddenly said he had a headache... After a while, the pain intensified, and he said he felt sick, and then he vomited, so he called you here."

"Can you move?"

"No... no, my hands and feet are weak."

The tall and thin middle-aged imperial doctor looked at the emperor leaning on the back of the chair, and said in a deep voice, "Ninety percent... no, it must be a stroke! Bring the stretcher!"

At this time, someone has already stepped forward to feel the pulse.

After only a few seconds, he got up and turned around, with a solemn expression, and said sharply, "Quick! Quick! Quick!"

Although the incident happened suddenly, the generally sound system played its due role in a timely manner.

When the emperor was sent to the imperial hospital, all the ministers in the cabinet also learned about it.

It is self-evident that the disability and fatality rate of cerebral hemorrhage is high. As the head of state of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor must be treated with caution.

If it is not handled properly, the series of problems caused by it can mess up Daming in a blink of an eye.

"...This has nothing to do with the word 'taboo', the court cannot be messed up." Li Guangyuan patted the table and said loudly: "As a cabinet minister, hesitating at this moment is no different from dereliction of duty!"

It is known that the fatality rate of cerebral hemorrhage is very high. From the worst point of view, the emperor will be succeeded by a prince immediately after his death, and the transfer of power must be ensured.

But... the Crown Prince is still inspecting the Dongying Islands!
The cabinet ministers present were extremely helpless, helpless rather than complaining because everyone knew that this was indeed not Zhu Liqie's fault-who would have expected such a thing to happen?No one can predict the future.

"Immediate martial law, at least ensure the stability of the capital first." The transportation cabinet minister suggested.

"Then how can it be done?" Yu Shenhua immediately refused, "How can you easily announce the emperor's situation? In this way, the capital is under martial law for no reason, and it only takes half a day for folk rumors to spread all over the world."

"Indeed." Lin Xi nodded and said, "We must keep it secret for the time being, and then let the prince and King Jiang return to the palace immediately."

King Jiang, the second prince, was born to a noble lady, he is the half-brother of Zhu Liqie and Zhu Lingjing, and he is still studying at Imperial Gezhi University.

Gao Qingkui kept stroking his short beard with his hand, he gave a "hmm" and agreed, "Let's do it like this. Also, let the princess enter the palace."

It is about [-]:[-] in the morning, and the huge Yingtian Mansion in the capital has already fully awakened from a night's rest. Workers, traders, soldiers, and officials are all busy with their respective jobs.

But at Princess Ningyou's mansion, Zhu Lingjing was still sleeping, her breathing was gentle and her expression was relaxed, as if she was enjoying the things in the dream.

The faint morning light shines into the room through the slits of the bamboo curtains, reflecting stripes on the expensive silk quilt.

There is no pressure in life, and occasionally I worry about things that I am interested in. This little life is not to mention how nourishing and comfortable it is.

But today's affairs couldn't be delayed every second, Su Yiyi knocked on the door with extra force, and shouted eagerly: "Your Highness! Your Highness! There is something urgent!"

It is naturally extremely uncomfortable to have a dream interrupted. Subconsciously, a trace of anger arises spontaneously, but as the conscious mind takes over the thinking, the anger immediately disappears.

She sat up slowly and said calmly, "Come in, what's the matter?"

Su Yiyi, who opened the door and entered the room, was at a loss for words for a moment, swallowed her saliva, and then said nervously: "Your Highness, there is news from the palace that His Majesty has suffered a stroke and is being treated in the Imperial Hospital. The cabinet invites you to enter the palace immediately."

I thought it was a matter of struggle between factions, but it turned out to be this?

Zhu Lingjing's brows were furrowed immediately, her eyes revealed a sharp look, and her tone suddenly became extremely serious, "Is this matter still a secret? Did you reveal it?"

Su Yiyi shook her head and said, "It hasn't been announced to the public."

"Go get someone to prepare the car, I'll do it as soon as possible."

"Yes."

Zhu Lingjing immediately got out of bed, opened the closet beside her, didn't have the slightest thought to think about whether she looked good or not, and took out a set of dark shirts and skirts.

After all, she has studied medicine, and the bachelor's degree in pathology from the Heidelberg University School of Medicine, which she barely obtained after a lot of effort, is still on the shelf. Zhu Lingjing is well aware of the danger of stroke.

The same is stroke, ischemic stroke is far from hemorrhagic stroke, and the fatality rate of the former is much lower.

Now, I can only hope that it is not the latter, otherwise... more or less bad luck.

(End of this chapter)