Ming Dynasty man

Chapter 112 Military Factory

Shen Zhengqi asked, "How did you get out?"

Zhao Shuangxi smiled and said: "It's actually a coincidence. Once we put too much medicine, and the bottom cover of the cannon was shaken open, and the shell came out by itself. After thinking about it, if we improve the bottom cover, If the lid is not closed so tightly, will the lid open by itself? So we tried a few more times, and finally made it like this.”

Shen Zheng listened for a long time, but he didn't know how Zhao Shuangxi and the others did it.Thinking about it, I don’t need to know these things. Is it possible that I can still do it if I know it?
Shaking his head, Shen Zheng leaned over to pick up the shell casing, and then carefully measured it for a while before saying, "Is this made of copper? Made of those copper coins?"

Zhao Shuangxi said: "Yes, we melted the copper coins and separated the copper and lead. The copper was used to make the shells, and the lead was used to make the warheads. But we have tested a lot, and now there is no lead except for the shells in the room just now." gone."

Shen Zheng nodded, he knew what Zhao Shuangxi said about doing experiments, so it must have taken countless experiments to get to what it is now.Otherwise, I gave Zhao Shuangxi more than [-] copper coins, how could I only make such a small amount of shells.

Immediately, Shen Zheng understood the purpose of Li Jing bringing him to watch the bombardment, and that was naturally to let him quickly find a way to get copper coins.

Shen Zheng smiled wryly, and said in his heart: "This is really a young master, he thought it was so easy to get copper coins."

After thinking about it, Shen Zheng smiled and said, "Nephew, I know what you mean by bringing me here, but if you don't get rid of the officers and soldiers outside the mountain, I have nothing to do."

Li Jing knew that Shen Zheng's words were true. To use copper coins to make cannonballs, the copper coins needed had gone to sea. It was not something that a few people could carry. To get so much copper coins from outside the mountain had to be transported by car.Without repelling the officers and soldiers, it is impossible for the vehicles to go up the mountain.

In fact, Shen Zheng was able to take out so many copper coins this time mainly because of Ma Wu. Most of these copper coins were saved by Ma Wu when he was in Jinniuling. use.

Just using copper coins to make cannonballs is not a long-term solution. There are few cannons on the mountain and you can still do this. If there are too many cannons, let alone the Shen family, even the richest people can't afford this thing.

If you want to strengthen the army, you must first have economic strength, and it is definitely not enough to rely solely on the Shen family.But if you want to have economic strength, you must have a territory. You can only feel at ease if you develop the economy in your own territory, but you must have military strength to occupy the territory. Otherwise, the officers and soldiers will simply not be able to carry it out.

Take Hongshanling as an example, Li Jing can repel the encirclement and suppression once or twice by the officers and soldiers, but what if the officers and soldiers keep encircling and suppressing?

The existing materials in Hongshanling will always be exhausted. There will be no gunpowder, no iron, no copper. At that time, mines and artillery will be useless. Li Jing's men can only rely on cold weapons to fight.

How many people does Li Jing have under his command?
You can't fight the officers and soldiers even if you fight consumption?

Therefore, no matter what, the officers and soldiers should not be angered, and the officers and soldiers should not be beaten too painfully. Now is definitely not the time for him to stand out.

Li Jing wanted to wait for Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong to draw the court's attention away, and then make his appearance little by little.

But now we must solve the problem of officers and soldiers encircling the mountain.

Li Jing suddenly found himself in a strange circle.

That is, the officers and soldiers must not be hurt, but they must be driven back.It is necessary to develop the military, but also to develop the economy, and to gradually occupy the territory, and at the same time, it must not conflict with the government.

At this time, Li Jing finally realized that although he has the successful experience and ideas of his ancestors, it is still very difficult to actually do it and succeed.

After thinking for a while, Li Jing asked, "Shuangxi, how many new artillery pieces have you built this time, and how many shells are there?"

Zhao Shuangxi hurriedly said: "Reporting to the master, a total of 23 new artillery pieces have been built this time, but only 55 of them are actually usable, and there are only [-] fourteen shells."

Li Jingjing nodded, built 23 doors, and finished [-] doors, which is a good result.

"Double Happiness, remelt the waste products, and remelt all the tiger squat guns on the mountain to make this new type of artillery. I want you to continue to improve on the existing basis and ensure that every gun can be used. Stay fast, hit out, hit accurately." Li Jing said seriously.

"Yes!" Zhao Shuangxi replied, but Zhao Shuangxi immediately showed embarrassment, and after thinking about it, he still said: "I want to report to the master, if these artillery are needed urgently, the reservoir must be opened to release water, and we may not have enough manpower. And the steelmaking furnace is next to the reservoir, so I thought, should we build some separate houses near the reservoir, so that we don’t have to run up and down the mountain.”

Li Jingjing nodded and said: "Double Happiness, your suggestion is very good. You should build a separate residential area for you. In addition, the weapons you produce must be kept strictly confidential. The gunpowder is very dangerous and cannot be used in the place where you live. Let's put it together. Let me build a military factory for you. The factory is divided into several areas, namely the artillery production area, the musket production area, the gunpowder production area, and the production area of ​​knives, guns and arrows. Then I will build for you There are several warehouses for artillery, muskets, gunpowder, etc. I will send you my personal guards to help you guard the safety of the military factory."

After a pause, Li Jing continued: "As for the release of water from the reservoir, I think it can only be opened according to the needs of the crops. Our water can't be wasted casually. After all, we still have to solve the problem of food first. Only the food we eat is guaranteed. We can do other things. What's more, this batch of artillery is not in a hurry, and you have no shells to use when you build them. If you don't have shells, they are just decorations."

After talking about it, Li Jing couldn't help laughing.

Zhao Shuangxi nodded with a smile and said, "Since it's not urgent, there's no need to increase the manpower."

Li Jingjing nodded with a smile and continued: "Shuangxi, arrange a few people to move eight cannons to Hongshanling, and bring 24 cannonballs. Give the remaining eight to Gao Qi, and give him 24 cannonballs. The remaining ten You keep it for experimentation."

Shen Zheng smiled and said, "Are you planning to test officers and soldiers?"

Li Jing said with a smile: "The experiment is one aspect. It is mainly to frighten them and tell them to stay away from us."

Shen Zheng nodded after listening.

At this moment, Gao Qi came running with someone, and said with a smile from a distance: "Brother, what new thing did you come up with to scare the officers and soldiers?"

"Why are you here? I was looking for you!" Li Jing laughed.

Gao Qi approached Li Jing and bowed his fists, then smiled and said, "Zhao Shuangxi is making such a big noise here, why don't I come and take a look?"

Li Jingwen was suddenly taken aback when he heard this.

During the experiment a few days ago, for the sake of safety and confidentiality, the cannons were moved into a hidden ravine to fire. This time I took Shen Zheng to watch, but didn't go too far, and I didn't want to alarm Gao Qi.

Li Jing said with a smile: "You came just in time, let Shuangxi teach you how to use this new gadget, and then you move to Tiger Ridge to frighten those officers and soldiers, so you..."

Li Jing whispered a few words to Gao Qi.

Gao Qi nodded again and again.

After thinking for a while, Gao Qi asked, "Then should I inform Liu Hong and let his people stay away?"

Li Jingjing nodded and said: "Send someone to notify Liu Ming tonight and let him handle it himself. I also need to notify Sun Meng here, hehe, Lao Sun really filled his thousand-household staff, I think he wants to be a general and wants to go crazy."

Gao Qi said with a smile: "Brother Sun is a man of righteousness, and he is also very good at training soldiers. I heard that the group of people under him admire him. If Brother Sun gets these people up the mountain, it will be a big credit. If you do To make him a general, I think Big Brother Sun will go crazy."

Li Jing smiled and said: "If he has this ability, I really want to make him a general, and you are the same, but you have to work harder and train these new guys for me. No matter what You can't let Lao Sun compare to you."

Gao Qi was overjoyed, he puffed his chest and said, "Don't worry, brother, Gao Qi will never have diarrhea, and the trainers must be better than those of Brother Sun."

Li Jingjing nodded and patted Gao Qi's shoulder lightly.

In the early morning of the next day, the sky was just getting brighter.

The official army camp in Bali, south of Hongshan Mountain.

The Commander of Zhangdewei was sleeping in bed when suddenly a soldier outside the tent reported urgently.

"Sir Commander, a group of bandits came down from the Red Mountain."

"What? The bandits finally couldn't bear to go down the mountain? Please send Sun Qianhu and Zhang Qianhu over here." The commander Yi Gulu got up from the bed and said.

"Report to my lord, we are already here." Sun Meng, Zhang Qianhu and others outside the account said.

The commander said while dressing: "Come in, tell me whether the bandits are going to surrender or come to fight."

Sun Meng, Zhang Qianhu and the others looked at each other and shook their heads. The few of them slowly entered the account, and when the Commander finished dressing, Zhang Qianhu stepped forward and said, "My lord, I feel that you should go outside the camp to have a look." Bar."

The commander asked strangely: "What's wrong? What happened."

Sun Meng stepped forward and said, "There are about two hundred bandits. They stopped after walking less than three miles from the mountain. It seems that they are burying something. If I guessed correctly, they should be planting landmines."

The commander heard and wondered: "We don't attack mountains, why are they planting landmines?"

Sun Meng shook his head and said, "I don't know about humble positions."

The commander waved his hand and said, "Come on, let's take a look."

Having said that, the commanding envoy went out of the account first, and Sun Meng and others hurriedly followed.

After leaving the barracks, the commander raised his eyes to look in the direction of Hongshanling, and saw a group of people digging a hole on the ground in the distance. After digging, they put another thing in and filled it with soil.

The commander looked at it for a while and said in doubt: "These bandits are stupid. They planted mines in front of us. Would we still walk over? Huh? They started to walk this way. Huh? They started digging again. They don't want to bury the mines all the way outside our barracks, do they?"

(End of this chapter)