Sui Dynasty: I, Yang Guang, am both scrupulous and stable

Chapter 258: Sneak Attack on Poyang Port

Yang Guang returned to Daxing City before. After personally testing the Tiger Crouching Cannon during this water battle, Yang Guang put forward new requirements for the improvement of the Tiger Crouching Cannon.

It is difficult to control the accuracy of artillery now, and no one can come up with a good plan in a short period of time. If the current capabilities of the Tiger Crouching Artillery are used, the hit rate will be very low if there is no way to get close to the face during the war.

Yang Guang thought of another solution, enlarging the muzzle, lengthening the barrel, and raising the slope, similar to the form of a mortar, directly giving up the accuracy that is now difficult to improve, and increasing the range to improve the strike capability.

This improvement was not difficult to manufacture, and a large number of engineers at the firearms arsenal immediately began to modify it.

And Yang Guang finally felt the benefits of his massive investment. Now the firearms arsenal has produced a large number of engineers with the ability to think independently. They all seem to be accustomed to getting rewards for constantly improving and optimizing existing weapons, and they started research spontaneously. Firearms, the accuracy of this batch of matchlocks is much better than when Yang Guang was fighting the Turks.

Yang Guang believes that if this continues, it will not be long before firearms are not only optimized, but also introduced with new ones.

As for the research and development of steam engines, Yang Guang is also very satisfied with its progress. According to the current progress, Yang Guang estimates that formal loading experiments can be carried out next year.

Then Yang Guang went to see the shipyard in Luoyang City. Now the new warships of the Sui Dynasty were ready for launch. Five large warships were built. Yang Guang ordered them to be launched immediately and took the sea route to Langya County to stand by.

At the same time, Yang Guang also realized the importance of Poyang Lake. This would be an important place to park warships in their next war against the Southern Dynasty. Now this place is in the hands of Xiao Yan and Xiao Wei, which is why Yang Guang wants to declare war on it. the main purpose.

At the same time, he had a legitimate reason not to declare war in the name of the Sui Dynasty.

If Xiao Yan and Xiao Gu could be put down, the Emperor of Xiliang would be very willing. Xiliang had been stable and peaceful for many years, and this incident was the biggest thorn in the old emperor's heart.

How will future generations write about him? The clan brothers and his son rebelled?

The Emperor of Xi Liang was naturally willing to settle this matter in his lifetime.

Yang Guang said to Xiao Cong: "Brother, please send a message to Chen Shujian. Winter is here, and he is still keeping Xiao Moke in check as usual. We can take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness to directly attack and seize Poyang Lake. Take advantage of this opportunity." Capture Wuzhou."

"How many troops do we use?"

"Only twenty warships and five thousand troops will be sent out. Let's see what Chen Chao's reaction will be."

Xiao Cong frowned slightly: "Even if Wuzhou is really captured with this small force, it will not be able to defend the city. Nanchen will not sit back and watch his city being taken away."

"I have thought about it. If we really want to hold on, we may not be able to hold on, so I don't plan to hold on. I will fight and destroy their warships and their city walls, leaving them without a hold on the Poyang Lake line. The city can be relied upon. When a war breaks out in the future, our warships can quickly enter Poyang Lake."

"The other thing is to further stir up chaos among them. Chen Shujian and Xiao Moke have been at odds for more than two months. Chen Shujian is greedy. After a while, he came to ask us for supplies. He seemed to be used to benefiting from it. We have to intensify the situation in Nan Chen's turmoil made Chen Shubao make a choice in a critical moment."

Xiao Cong asked: "When will it start?"

"I'm going to the palace now to report to my father-in-law. If my father-in-law says it's okay, I'll set off under the cover of darkness tonight."

"In such a hurry?"

"The soldiers are very fast."

Yang Guang then entered the palace to report the situation. The Lord of Western Liang only thought for a quarter of an hour before making the decision to use troops against the unworthy descendants, and Xiao Cong was still required to lead the troops in person.

Xiao Cong set off with his warship just after noon after receiving the order, aiming to arrive at Poyang Lake early tomorrow morning after tonight, and directly attack the river port of Wu County (Poyang County).

The warships were a mixed coalition of the Western Liang and Sui Dynasties. The sergeants of the Sui Dynasty were mainly responsible for artillery fire. The warships of the Western Liang were not new warships. The artillery was mounted on the deck. Although it looked a little crude, it could be used.

All warships are equipped with artillery, both old-fashioned and new. The total number is not enough, so we can only force them together like this.

Yang Guang said to Xiao Cong at the port: "Brother, is this your first time leading an army in battle?"

"I'm ashamed to say it, but it's true." There was no war in Xiliang. Xiao Cong had read a lot of military books, but not actual combat.

Yang Guang told him: "Brother, this is a quick battle. When we arrive, we will directly use artillery to bombard the port and their navy ships. Because of the range of the artillery, we may have to get closer. You have to be careful with them." Navy crossbows, especially large crossbows, if our warships have not modified their iron sheets, they will still be seriously injured by large crossbows."

Xiao Cong asked in surprise: "Are you still planning to install iron sheets on the boat?"

"Why not?"

"You know how heavy the boat would be if it was loaded with iron sheets, and how could it still be driven?"

Yang Guang took Xiao Cong to the power area of ​​the warship. In addition to the ordinary oars, a paddle wheel was also installed at the tail. Yang Guang said: "This is called a paddle wheel. Now it requires more than ten big men to work together continuously. You have to push this device to rotate, which can provide power to the boat. Sometimes manpower is limited, but in the future I can make this paddle wheel rotate by itself, and then the boat can be twice as heavy."

Xiao Cong looked puzzled: "You don't need anyone to turn it by yourself. I don't believe it, Prince Jin."

"When the things are ready, I will let my uncle see them first. My uncle, let's go first, don't waste time."

"it is good."

"We'll wait for news of my uncle's triumph tomorrow."

……

The big ship moved down the river very fast, and it was even harder to find traces after dark. In the early morning, several unknown large ships were suddenly seen approaching the port in Poyang Lake, and everyone was puzzled for a while.

But there was no time left for them to think or prepare.

The warships were lined up as much as possible.

boom

boom

boom

As soon as the battle flag was waved, all the warships fired their cannons together, and the roar was enough to frighten anyone who had never seen it before.

The first target was Nanchen's warships and port defense facilities. With the first round of artillery cleaning, the warships in the port had already ignited thick black smoke, and then they began to prepare for the second round of salvos. .

After three rounds of volleys, the port guards found the opportunity to board several undamaged ships to prepare for a counterattack.

咻

Huge arrows fired from large crossbows shot through the air. This was the most destructive water warfare weapon between warships in this era. Its biggest weakness was that it was very slow to refill.

Seeing that the opponent started to counterattack, Xiao Cong ordered another volley and immediately began to retreat.

As the navy retreated, the navy in Poyang Lake did not dare to pursue them at all. The terrifying artillery made them frightened.

Everyone on the naval warships in Xiliang cheered loudly. In such a simple way, they destroyed at least three or four enemy warships, as well as many water conservancy facilities. In the past, it would have taken at least thousands of people to go ashore to fight for their lives. Only a few rounds of volley fire are enough, and there will be no casualties.

Yang Guang's sneak attack on Poyang Port is bound to trigger a war.

(End of this chapter)