Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 282 0277 [Return Cannon]

After walking around outside the city, Zhu Ming was invited to be a guest at the back residence of the state government office, and he brought Zhang Jinping with him by the way.

Yu Wenchang's wife, Yang, was born in the Yang family in Chengdu.

This is the most common surname near Chengdu. If several Yang families are counted, the number of Jinshi far exceeds that of the Wang family.

Introduce wives to each other and sit down to eat.

After chatting for a while, Zhu Ming casually asked, "Yu Wen Cuizhong is of the same family as Brother Quan Ke?"

"The family was separated before the founding of the Song Dynasty, and I am deeply ashamed of him!" Yu Wenchang seemed to dislike Yu Wencuizhong very much, because the latter became Cai Jing's nephew.

The Yuwen family that Yuwenchang belongs to is originally from Shuangliu County.

The brothers Yuwen Cuizhong and Yuwen Xuzhong were born in Guangdu County.

In fact, next to each other, at the junction of the two counties, there are also some small branches of the Yuwen family, and there are a large number of small and medium-sized landlords and self-cultivating farmers.

When it comes to the big families near Chengdu, Yuwen is often like a treasure, which really adds to Ju Ming's knowledge.

After drinking for three rounds, Zhu Ming asked, "Is there a rebel army (local soldiers) in Lizhou?"

Yu Wenchang said: "There are three types: Tu Ding, Cai Ding, and Xiong Bian Yiyong, with a total of more than [-] people. But they are not allowed to be recruited at will, unless there are internal and external aggressions, and they can report to the Transit Department to call up native soldiers."

"If you don't raise money for a long time, you will be underestimated." Zhu Ming said.

"Don't dare to act rashly." Yu Wenchang sighed.

Regardless of whether it is a raw barbarian or a familiar barbarian, since it is nominally affiliated to the Song Dynasty, it is obliged to send troops to help.

When recruiting local soldiers, the barbarian leaders brought their own armor and dry food, and did not need to pay them military salaries.But after the assembly, the Han government had to provide food and grass.

Over the past few decades, the Qiongbu Sichuan Man has been expanding, almost completely annexing the Man tribe on the south bank of the Dadu River, and the two Lin Man were beaten to the point where they had to move further south (Xide County).

Such a situation is not conducive to the government's rule.

Moreover, the two forest barbarians also surrendered to the Song Dynasty. They were attacked and asked for help, and the government should help them settle it.But Lizhou officials only know how to mediate, ordering the Chuanman of the Qiong tribe to return some people and property, and it is impossible to restore the annexed territory.

If things go on like this, the Chuanman in Qiongbu will take the court less and less seriously, and the Man in the two forests will also disregard the court less and less.

Zhao Guangyi also had an oolong incident at that time. Nuoqi, the leader of the Chuanman in the Qiong tribe, claimed to be the king of Dali. dominance.

Zhu Ming said: "If you sit back and watch the barbarians fight among themselves, the south of the Dadu River will be annexed by the Dali Kingdom."

"Why do you say that?" Yu Wenchang asked.

Zhu Ming explained: "If you don't recruit the barbarian volunteers for a long time, the barbarians will be alienated and will not be in awe. When they encounter Dali's attack, they will no longer ask for help from the court, and it is difficult for the various ministries to unite to resist."

Yu Wenchang was silent, and immediately drank: "The border troubles can't be solved, and we will take pictures when the national strength is strong."

This idea is also correct, the Northern Song Dynasty really can no longer fight on multiple fronts.

But how could Yu Wenchang expect that the Song Dynasty was already the strongest national power at this time, and it would only become weaker and weaker in the future.

In the end, during the Southern Song Dynasty, all the territory south of the Dadu River was acquired by the Dali Kingdom.A new Jianchang Mansion was also set up to rule, directly under the jurisdiction of the Dali Gao family.

If he doesn't establish his prestige quickly, Zhu Ming is afraid that when he attacks Sichuan, it will be the time when the Qiong tribe's Sichuan barbarians go north to invade Hanyuan County.

The Sichuan barbarians of the Qiong tribe have been eyeing it like a tiger, and if Sichuan is in chaos, they must raise their troops.

Of course, before beating the Sichuan Man of Qiongbu, it is necessary to clean up the five tribes.

It is inconvenient to display the artillery, and it is necessary to use a trebuchet to fight Wuman.

Returning to the back house of the county government office, Zhu Ming immediately dug out "The General Essentials of the Classics of Martial Arts". This book contained pictures of various weapons and weapons, which gave him a new understanding of ancient warfare.

For example, the lead vehicle used in the siege has a total length of more than ten meters and a height of more than three meters.

There are wooden boards covered with cowhide to resist bows and arrows, and there is even a fire extinguishing system.

When this thing drove down the city, it didn't hit the city gate, but directly dug a tunnel into the city.The engineers and soldiers can even take turns to work, and when they are tired, they go back to the car shed to rest.

The excavated soil can be used to build a high platform on the spot, and build an earth mountain directly under the city.The houses built on the top of the mountain are wrapped in cowhide. Hiding behind the hill can prevent arrows, and you can stand on the top of the mountain and shoot at the top of the city.

If the moat is not wide, it does not need to be filled with negative soil, and it can be passed by pushing the folding trench bridge.

If the moat is too wide, multiple trench bridges can be connected floating on the water.

The ladder is also pushed on wheels, and the soldiers are protected in all directions while sitting in the car, and they will only be exposed when they come out to climb the ladder to attack the city.The ladder was foldable, and the hooks firmly grasped the top of the wall. There was a heavy carriage underneath, and it was impossible for the defenders to push away.

The common siege ladder in film and television dramas is called a flying ladder, with wheels on the top, which can be pushed forward by pressing against the wall, and can be erected quickly without erecting it.

"What are you looking at?" Zhang Jinping came in with hangover soup.

Zhu Ming said, "Cannon carriage."

Zhang Jinping glanced at the graph, and immediately said: "I understand this, it's the principle of leverage, which is mentioned in "Tao Yong Strategies."

"Then do you think it can be improved?" Zhu Ming asked with a smile.

"Improve..." Zhang Jinping frowned and thought hard.

Zhu Ming said: "The working efficiency of these cannons is too low. The heaviest seven-pointed cannon can only throw shells within a hundred catties. It also requires 200 people to pull the rope, and the range is only 50 steps (about 80 meters)."

By reducing the weight of the shell, it can hit farther, but it is still incomparable with the return gun.

Moreover, the return cannon does not need 200 people, it can be operated by a few people.

The principle of the return cannon is very simple, even high school students can understand it.

Zhu Ming filled the bamboo tube pen with ink and began to draw the blueprint of Huihuipao.The one in the Yuan Dynasty belongs to the original minimalist version, while the one drawn by Zhu Ming is an improved version, with winches and other devices added. Those who have played Paradox games must be familiar with it.

"Can you understand it?" Zhu Ming pushed the drawing over after finishing the drawing.

Zhang Jinping nodded: "The heavy object at the front of the lever falls, and the shell at the rear of the lever is thrown out."

Zhu Ming said: "This kind of cannon can throw heavy objects, not only by the principle of leverage, but also by the use of gravitational potential energy."

Zhang Jinping said: "What is gravitational potential energy?"

It is difficult for Ju Ming to explain the acceleration of gravity, so he can only try his best to describe it vividly: "A stone the size of a fist, dropped an inch above the head, can this person be crushed to death?"

"No." Zhang Jinping said without thinking.

Zhu Ming asked again: "If a stone of the same size is placed five feet above the head, will it kill someone if it falls?"

Zhang Jinping said: "If it falls from such a height, even if it doesn't kill people, it will kill people's heads."

"This is gravitational potential energy. The higher the height and the greater the weight, the greater the gravitational potential energy," Zhu Ming said, pointing to the blueprint of the return gun. It’s like pulling a cannon cart with 200 people, and the shells thrown out are heavier and farther.”

"So that's it." Zhang Jinping was very happy, and she learned something new.

Anyway, there is nothing to do in winter, except for the affairs in the city, officials hardly go to work outside the city.

Zhu Ming called two carpenters to try out a light return gun.

The wood does not need to be dried in the shade, and it is taken locally when attacking the city. When it is used up, it is directly dismantled and used as firewood.

Although the principle is very simple and the drawings have been drawn, the specific dimensions have to be tested.For example, the ratio of the arm of force, how to save effort and throw farthest, can be calculated with mathematical formulas, but it is only calculated theoretically.

After repeated improvements, the first return gun was freshly released in just half a month.

Zhu Ming brought Bai Sheng, Li Bao, Zhang Tong and other entourages with him. Wei Yingshi and Zeng Xiaoduan also called his two students.

"Is this a catapult?" Yu Wenchang was quite surprised. He thought that Zhu Ming wanted to build the kind with 50 people.

Several Yaqian officials were assigned to assemble weights. The wooden counterweight box would be more powerful if iron blocks could be put in it, and stones could also be used to make do with it.

Two people turned the winch, two people helped to pull the rope, and the counterweight box quickly reached the predetermined height.

An irregular stone bullet weighing thirty kilograms was carried into the bullet bag.

"Chong!"

Zhu Ming drew his sword out of its sheath and cut the stretched rope.

The lever rotated and rubbed to make a sound, the counterweight box fell suddenly, and a stone bullet weighing thirty kilograms was thrown out.

The crowd was stunned.

Yu Wenchang quickly sent someone to measure the range, which was more than 100 meters away.

If a traditional gun cart wants to hit such a heavy shell, at least five or 60 people must be used to pull the rope, and the range is far from reaching.

Zhu Ming actually managed it with just a few people.

Yu Wenchang exclaimed: "This is the divine weapon of the country, comparable to the divine arm bow!"

Zhang Tong and Li Bao looked at each other. They had seen the tiger crouching cannon fired before.Now that Zhu Ming played back the cannon again, the two were so shocked that they even doubted whether Zhu Ming had really met a fairy.

Zhu Ming said: "If you make it bigger, throw a 50-jin stone bomb, it should be easy to knock down the barbarian blockhouse, right?"

"As long as it hits the target, two or three cannons will definitely collapse," Yu Wenchang was quite excited, "This thing should be dedicated to the imperial court!"

This time Ju Ming did not refuse: "After the beginning of spring, I will contribute the drawings."

The content of the memorandum has been thought out, he will write that Lizhou is very good, please don't change the place for him, and leave some time to tidy up the five parts.

Yuwen often said: "With this artifact, the city of Xixia is easier to break through."

But Zhu Ming didn't bother to discuss Xixia, he cupped his hands and said, "I have another kind of army formation, which is suitable for fighting in the Lizhou mountainous area. Please entrust the prefect with the infantry for me to practice."

Yu Wenchang thought for a while: "Success is a matter of trying."

Zhu Ming said again: "Please dial three hundred guan to build some special weapons."

Yuwen often said: "Lizhou is poor, three hundred guan is too much, how about two hundred guan?"

"Alright." Zhu Ming agreed.

A state is poorer than a state, Jinzhou is already poor enough, and Lizhou is even more difficult to describe.

In fact, it is not poor. All the barbarians will come to do business. Many barbarian goods can be purchased at low prices, and then shipped to Chengdu for sale at high prices.It's a pity that the mutual market business is firmly controlled by the tea horse department, and the prefectural and county government offices can't get much money.

Before the Chinese New Year, Zhu Ming started to forge weapons, shields, wolves and so on.

Cleaning up the five barbarians is only the first step. Zhu Ming wants to establish his own prestige, and he plans to recruit barbarians in the future.

The barbarians in Lizhou had a designation called "Xiongbian Yiyong", which was recruited decades ago and was disbanded after that.Zhu Ming thought it was a good name, and he could scare people with him.

(End of this chapter)