Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

suburbs.

The craftsmen at the Armor Experimental Field are still hammering away at the trial production of cotton armor, but a new four-wheeled van has already been produced.

There was no rush to do it before because there were too many vans needed for the war, so civilians and auxiliary soldiers were mainly used to push and pull them.

Now, five years after the founding of the country, Ju Ming deliberately collects and breeds mules.

A large number of mules plus four-wheeled carriages can effectively reduce the number of civilian laborers and improve the speed of logistical transportation - of course, on rugged and narrow road sections, civilian laborers and mules and horses are still needed.

As for why we chose mules, they are easier to raise than horses and more docile and obedient than donkeys.

"This kind of steering four-wheeled vehicle is much more expensive than ordinary four-wheeled vehicles..."

"It can save people and speed up transportation. No matter how high the cost is, it is worth it."

Ju Ming asked the driver to conduct a test drive, and he was very satisfied with the results.

China has had four-wheeled carriages since ancient times, but it has always lacked steering systems because... there is no actual demand.

If the load exceeds a certain level, a large-scale flat truck used to pull goods needs four wheels to support it. One is to reduce the burden on the animals pulling the cart, and the other is to fear that the wheels and shafts will not be able to withstand it.

But the speed of hauling several tons of cargo must be very slow, and it can turn the direction without a special steering system.

As for vehicle shock absorption systems, they have been in existence since ancient times.

One type is called "Futu", also called "Car Clogs". It is located between the chassis and the axle and plays a role similar to a car leaf spring. It can not only absorb shock, but also stabilize the axle.

The other type is called "Dangtu", which is a component that connects the shaft and the axle. It also has stabilizing and shock-absorbing effects, and can effectively prevent the shaft from wearing and breaking.

Of course, it is definitely not as good as a spring, let alone a real leaf spring.

Europe, like ancient China, had four-wheeled carriages for a long time. Because the cost was too high and the demand was not great, it never became popular - until the Hussite War!

The Hussite army used four-wheeled chariots as chariots, and then organized these chariots into a vehicle formation, and dug trenches in front of the vehicle formation. Each chariot is equipped with about 20 soldiers, consisting of crossbowmen, halberdiers, sword and shield soldiers, flail soldiers and musketeers.

After forming a vehicle formation, use artillery fire to provoke the enemy to attack, then use crossbows and muskets to shoot, relying on the vehicle formation for defense.

After making the enemy weak and exhausted and their formation chaotic, the cavalry and infantry rushed out of the vehicle formation to harvest.

It is very similar to China’s car formation tactics.

However, the Chinese chariots were pushed by men, while the Hussite chariots were pulled by horses.

The role of the four-wheel steering carriage, in addition to its logistical and transportation advantages, is that it can quickly turn in a small range when forming an array.

Now, Ju Ming has created a combination of late Ming chariots and Hussite chariots!

Wei Xuezeng, who was dismissed from office by Zhang Juzheng, personally improved the sidecars when he was the minister of the Ministry of War. This kind of chariot equipment was crazy.

It did not use chains to connect the boxcars but instead had long guns erected on wooden frames. This kind of wooden frame can be disassembled, twelve long guns can be inserted, and placed in the gaps between the chariots to resist horses.

Each tank is equipped with twenty-five soldiers, and the two French cannons are mounted directly in the tank. There are also thunder flying cannons on the ground, which are small cannons similar to the squatting tiger cannon. There were six more musketeers, all equipped with rapid muskets. There are also soldiers equipped with traditional weapons.

It can be called a mobile fortress, but its disadvantage is that it is too bulky and unable to operate across regions and over long distances.

"Get it all together and practice!"

Only two four-wheeled chariots were built in total. Following Ju Ming's order, the soldiers moved sandbags onto the vehicles and put various types of ordnance on them.

Sandbags imitated baggage and were replaced with grain bags during marches.

Four mules pull a cart, the driver whips it to start, and the soldiers follow closely behind.

They simulated a march, with puddles and hills in the field. Once the four-wheeled chariot was unable to cross, the soldiers came to help push it.

"Enemy troops are found several miles away, form a formation!"

The driver received the order and quickly turned the mule. The two chariots stopped four or five meters apart.

The driver first fixed the wheels, then untied the shaft, took the mules away, and pulled them back into the car formation to avoid them.

The companions carried the iron chain and got off the horse. Zhu Ming did not resist the horse and continued to use the iron chain. However, four iron chains were hung between the two vehicles, which not only made it easier for our own soldiers to remove them, but also made it difficult for the enemy to remove them all.

After hanging up the iron chains, the soldiers went to spread the iron caltrops again.

The soldiers were also in action. When they "marched" just now, all their armor was placed on the car. Now help each other put on armor, and then pick up various weapons.

The fixed four-wheeled carriage was very stable, and the soldiers fought directly on the carriage.

The baffles on both sides of the carriage have been transformed into arrow-proof fortifications, with special shooting holes left.

The crossbowmen and musketeers quickly stood in their shooting positions. The spearmen equipped with waist knives are responsible for protecting them and preventing enemies from rushing nearby.

The artillerymen also took out the cannons from the cars and placed them on the iron chains between the two cars. These iron chains would not hinder the cannons.

"The enemy is already a hundred steps away!" Ju Ming shouted.

The long-range troops immediately pricked up their ears and listened to the order. If this was an actual battle, larger-caliber artillery would have been fired.

The large-caliber field artillery also had a wheeled mount and underwent a series of changes.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Boom boom boom!"

"Boohoo!"

Flintlocks fired, cannon fired cannonballs, and crossbowmen fired arrows. Moreover, they fired alternately, and the dozens of meters in front were covered by various artillery shells and arrows.

The flintlock guns that began mass production last year have completely unified calibers and paper shell ammunition. Although there is a slight size difference, it does not affect combat, and soldiers no longer need to suppress bullets themselves.

The elite fusiliers can already fire four rounds per minute!

Yang Zhi smacked his lips and muttered: "If I were an enemy general, I would have no idea how to deal with this improved vehicle formation."

Zhang Bor said: "The chariots are thick and heavy, and it is difficult to cross the Yanshan and Taihang Mountains. If we fight the Jin again, Shanxi and Youzhou should focus on defense, while the main force of our army will take the seaside road to Jinzhou. If we capture Jinzhou, If you go to attack Liaoyang again, don't try to attack the great passes of Yanshan and Taihang Mountains."

Wang Yuan nodded: "We should take Liaodong directly."

The officials of the Privy Council did not want to foolishly fight northward, but now that the tanks have been improved, their views have become more consistent.

What's the point of completely recovering the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun?

That’s a fixed mindset!

A powerful pass like Yanmen Pass is difficult to hit even with artillery. Once a strong attack is made, it will be protracted, consume countless amounts of food, and cause many casualties.

Choosing a suitable season to avoid muddy roads, the army marched eastward from Bang Hoi Road. Then let the naval ships and transportation divisions cooperate across the sea.

One good thing and one strange thing will make it easy to win Jinzhou.

Next, Liaoyang, the hinterland of the Jin Kingdom, was exposed to the Ming Dynasty's military front.

After capturing Liaoyang, the Jin Kingdom was half paralyzed. It was the most important grain producing area of ​​the Jin Kingdom.

Ju Ming said: "Instruct the Ministry of Industry to build 10,000 four-wheeled chariots within two years."

This order can drive the Ministry of Works crazy.

According to traditional practice, the Ministry of Industry will issue orders to various places to summon registered craftsmen to serve. The government only needs to provide materials and food. If the service time is longer, some wages will be given as appropriate.

Now it is semi-mandatory to hire craftsmen to work with the head tax that craftsmen usually pay. If there is a shortage of funds, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works will allocate funds to make up for it.

The timber that is usually stockpiled due to commercial tax collection must also be taken out at this time and be uniformly allocated by officials from the Ministry of Industry.

An official from Honglu Temple trotted to the testing site.

"Your Highness, the envoy from Sedu Kingdom has come to Beijing," said the official of Honglu Temple. "According to the accompanying Shibo official, this Sedu Kingdom was the former Dashi Kingdom. After they destroyed Dashi, they have always been the Dashi Kingdom. , came to pay tribute and trade with the former Song Dynasty."

Ju Ming nodded and said, "I understand. I'll summon you on another day."

Dashi is actually still there, but the monarch has become a puppet.

When the Seljuq Empire captured Baghdad, they took control of the Caliphate. The sultan of the Seljuk Empire also forcibly married the daughter of the caliph in an attempt to smoothly transfer his legal authority through marriage.

Unfortunately, Seljuk also collapsed.

Today's sultan was created with a knife and a gun. He does not have the blood of the caliph, and his capital is not even located in Baghdad.

Of course, the sultan also married everywhere.

For example, the prince of the Western Kara Khanate was the nephew of the Seljuk Sultan.

Yelu Dashi was able to expand rapidly thanks to a series of operations by the Seljuk Sultan. In order to strengthen his control over the Western Kara Khanate, he designed to frame the king and then sent a governor to govern. Finding that the governor could not handle it, he let the nephew prince succeed him.

The Western Kara Khanate was in constant civil strife, and Yelu Dashi took the opportunity to get a big advantage (before the decisive battle, many opponents chose to defect to Yelu Dashi).

"Let the local governments post notices to increase the purchase price of mules, and the provincial capital commanders will be responsible for the purchase."

After saying that, Ju Ming waved his riding crop: "Drive!"

People's fanatical love for mules started in the Ming Dynasty. They are so useful. It can be fed with roughage freely. It is strong and has a good temper. It is easier to control than a stubborn donkey.

In the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, European and American countries frantically imported Chinese mules, which played a role in World War I and World War II.

At its peak, there were more mules in the world than horses and donkeys combined.

In the future, when he sends troops to the grasslands and the Western Regions, Ju Ming will let the nomads experience the power of mules. The four-wheeled chariot pulled by mules will become a nightmare for the prairie cavalry.

Privy Council officials and East Palace guards all followed the prince on horseback and gradually slowed down when they reached the residential area on the outskirts of the city.

When they entered the city, the Seljuk envoys also came out of the Sifang Pavilion for a stroll.

Abu saw many people waving and cheering at the group. He pointed at Ju Ming and asked, "Who is that?"

Jian Xun was temporarily summoned by Honglu Temple, and he was accompanied by other officials of Honglu Temple.

"Don't be rude to the prince!"

officials scolded.

Jian Xun pressed down Abu's arm and reminded him: "The person you are pointing at is the Ming Dynasty Prince. Don't be rude."

Pu Mawu translated: "That's the scholar prince of the Ming Dynasty. You can't point directly with your hands. This is a disrespectful behavior."

Abu asked: "Do we foreign envoys need to kneel down and worship?"

Jian Xun replied: "You don't have to kneel down, but you must salute."

Abu quickly used traditional Persian etiquette.

These guys were so conspicuous that there were even black slaves among the entourage. Ju Ming could see them from a long distance.

As the prince and his entourage passed by, Abu finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously: "Don't the common people here need to kneel down and worship the prince?"

Jian Xun held his head high and said proudly: "His Majesty the Emperor has an order that no one is allowed to kneel down except on important occasions such as enthronement and sacrifice. If you kneel down indiscriminately, you will be punished."

Abu was dumbfounded.

He returned to the Sifang Pavilion, took out a pen and paper and added a few more sentences: "The emperors and officials of the Ming Dynasty used their noble and benevolent virtues to gain the respect of the people. Jian told me that only when the emperor succeeded to the throne or got married, or offered sacrifices to gods or ancestors, People are only allowed to kneel and worship on other occasions. On ordinary occasions, even if you kneel to a noble, you will be severely punished by law..."

"Therefore, the royal family and officials of the Ming Dynasty were all respected and loved by the people from the bottom of their hearts. The prince came on horseback. He was wearing the most gorgeous silk clothes in the world, elegant and elegant. His subjects stepped aside and stood People lined the streets to greet him, waving their hands and cheering..."