Based on the observed errors, Hale re-finely adjusted the pitch and azimuth angles, and the other guns were also fine-tuned accordingly and loaded with live ammunition.
"Mr. Paul, it seems that this cannon is not as accurate as you said." Zheng Zhifeng, who was also observing with a telescope on the other side, was a little dissatisfied when he saw the impact point of the cannonball. In fact, it is unprecedented in this time and space that these artillery can achieve such high accuracy at such a long range. The Zheng family spent a huge sum of money to buy the red barbarian cannons from Portugal, England, Macau and even Greek businessmen in Manila. Shockingly large. But he had already seen the power of Australian artillery, and Hale's shooting seemed a bit eclipsed.
"This is called calibration firing. In fact, artillery calibration firing means that after the first shell is fired, it is difficult to hit the first shot due to various factors such as the barrel temperature, operating techniques, firing power, various calculations, weather conditions, etc. The purpose of calibration firing is In order to correct the shooting parameters of the artillery, so that the shells fired in the future can accurately hit the target." Zheng Zhifeng was really shocked when these professional terms that he had never heard of came out of Hale's mouth. For most Chinese at that time, firing a cannon was just a matter of pointing the muzzle in the general direction of the enemy and holding a match rope. Few people care about the so-called gunnery, and even fewer people really understand it.
"The first shot was able to hit the target. It was either God's will or guidance..." Hale stopped talking and looked at Zheng Zhifeng, who looked confused and rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but feel that he was being tricked, and continued. : "In fact, the general experience is to conduct two test firings to determine the error amount in the middle to be safe, and then it is easy to compensate and correct the shooting elements according to the error amount; if the site environment and artillery performance are familiar, you can also only conduct it once Test firing, like right now.”
Zheng Zhifeng struggled out of a lot of unfamiliar terms and asked: "You mean, you can definitely hit it now?"
A sneer appeared on Hale's confident face: "We'll see."
At the command, the six artillery pieces spit out tongues of fire ten feet long, pushing the shells out of the barrels at a speed invisible to the naked eye and hitting the target. After three or four seconds in the telescope, several groups of fire appeared on the mound, and a few seconds later there were several muffled thunders. Sound like.
"It's actually a bomb?" Zheng Zhifeng couldn't help but gasped inwardly. Not only do most of the shells hit, but they are also powerful explosive shells that can explode! Could this be the rumored blooming artillery shell used by Australia? The power is indeed extraordinary, and the most rare thing is that it is so accurate!
After witnessing the devastating power of the Australians using grenades to shoot at the fleet, Zheng Zhifeng highly praised this weapon - but he did not expect to get such a "big killer" from Hale.
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, European grenades had flowed into China. However, due to the technical level at the time, the power of the grenades was very small and did not play a major role in land and sea battles, so they were not taken seriously. It was not until the emergence of grenades filled with high-density black powder used by the Australians that explosive bombs became feared.
"That's right, grenades - or explosive shells." Hale said, "Although its power is limited in land battles, in sea battles, once a wooden ship is hit, its effect is far better than dozens of solid bullets."
"Mr. Feng, are you satisfied with the goods this time?" Hale had a slight smile on his face but his voice was still cold.
"I'm very satisfied. Paul never breaks your promise when doing things." Zheng Zhifeng returned to reality from shock and fantasy;
"Our deal?"
"It's a lot of money. I, Zheng, also said that as long as your goods are good, your silver will not be less." After saying that, he asked people to carry over two large boxes, which were filled with white silver and black silver. A glimmer of light suddenly shone in Er's eyes. He rubbed it with his slender fingers, feeling the cold texture of the silver. Then he closed the lid of the box and asked someone to carry it away. He said, "According to our previous agreement, each of the six large and small cannons will be removed." In addition to the corresponding solid bullets, there are 20 bursting bullets. I will keep the gun list and teach the gunners you sent until they learn it all."
"It's a pity that there are less."
Zheng Zhifeng was thinking about how the situation would change if such a cannon was installed on his newly built three-masted ship. Not to mention the Fu Chuan and Guang Chuan of the Zheng Cai brothers and Liu Xiang, even the large plywood boats of the Red Mao Yi people in Macao were also destroyed! Although the Australian ships can move without wind, at least they can fight on a relatively equal level with their own guns, instead of becoming a living target on the sea.
After Operation Hunger, Zheng Zhifeng reorganized the remaining ships and used the old wood to build Dafu ships to make up for the shortage of trading ships. At the same time, he resettled the shipyard on Kinmen Island, spent a lot of money to purchase dry materials, and began to build new special-purpose warships-these The mothership of the warships is the unfinished improved Fuchuan found in the new shipyard of Zhongzuo Institute. These ships were the result of improvements made by local shipwrights to the advantages of European ships.
Hale seemed to know what he was thinking, and said with a sneer: "With all due respect. If you continue to install the artillery I gave you on your wooden boxes, you are still no match for the Australians."
Zheng Zhifeng was shocked. Although he wanted to refute Hale's words, the tragic defeat of the Zheng family's fleet in Weitou Bay left him speechless. Finally he said:
"We also have several Red Mao Yi boats, but they are no match for the Australians..."
"Their ships suffer from the cannons. With my cannons installed, they can still deal with the Australians. Those wooden boxes of yours - I advise you not to build them again. It is more cost-effective to dismantle them and burn them as firewood." "
"you mean?"
"Those Chinese ships you built, no matter what they are called, I have carefully observed them. They may be good as trading ships, but they are very inappropriate as battleships. They have no decks and their center of gravity is too high. The artillery is difficult to arrange. Your Those ships can deploy three or four cannons. They cannot form the power of a salvo."
"To build Western ships, I don't have craftsmen who are familiar with Western shipcraft." Zheng Zhifeng said, "I have enough ship materials and many craftsmen. It is no problem even if I start building ten ships at the same time."
"What do you think of the brig you saw in Manila harbor?"
"Very good, but don't you think it's a little too small?"
"When the Australian fleet attacked Zhangzhou Bay, most of them were small and light boats like this. Of course they are too small compared to your wooden boxes. But their speed is fast enough to rival the Australian patrol boats. And they are fast. Its small body can also be equipped with four cannons." Hale made a gesture, and a Tagalog servant brought a glass of red wine, "You should have seen an Australian patrol boat."
"Yes. But they are unable to fight against the Australian Clippers..."
"You don't have to worry about this. As long as you are willing, I will soon build a larger battleship that is enough to fight them. Of course, I will also sell it to you." Hale said calmly.
Zheng Zhifeng's eyes lit up. But he soon realized that this was just drawing cakes to satisfy his hunger. Even so, those light boats coupled with Hale's cannons can at least play a certain role.
"Then what will it cost me?"
Hale laughed: "You are really a first-class businessman." He put down the empty wine glass, "Will your Anhai ship come to Manila again?"
"If I guess correctly, your nephews Zheng Sen and Zheng Cai brothers will also send ships to Manila - after all, this is your largest remaining trade channel."
"And Japan."
"Unless you send a fleet to Japan to eradicate the Australian influence, I don't see what advantage you have in trade with Japan. Let's leave that aside for now. I think you must be willing to monopolize Manila's trade - at least Leave those pesky relatives out of the equation.”
Zheng Zhifeng's eyes widened: If these two competitors can be excluded from the Manila trade, Zheng Lian, Zheng Cai brothers and Zheng Sen, who have lost their financial resources, will soon decline, and it will be easy to deal with them.
"Your condition is..."
"You need to send enough ships to Manila. During the trade season, at least four to five Anhai ships should arrive every month. The more, the better..."
"How is this possible?" Zheng Zhifeng shook his head and interrupted him, "How can the Spaniards have so much money to buy my goods?"
"The Spanish don't have that, but I have cannon, and maybe someday battleships."
"You mean," Zheng Zhifeng was a little surprised and asked in surprise, "I can directly use the goods to pay for the value of the ship's guns?!"
"That's right." Hale said, "Of course, it's up to me to decide which goods can be compensated."
"As long as it's not something too unpopular."
"You can rest assured that everything I want is easy to raise." Hale took out a page from his pocket, "This is the specific list of goods."
Zheng Zhifeng took it. The goods listed on the paper were indeed ordinary things. There are hundreds of different items, some of which Zheng Zhifeng himself doesn’t even know what they are. The most important ones are pig iron, copper, lead, mercury and various metals.
"The things are not difficult. But these are cold goods. You can't sell them at a high price after you want them..."
"Haha, my dear friend. Your concept is still a businessman from the beginning to the end." Hale smiled, "You don't have to worry about my financial problems. The more goods you provide, the more weapons I can provide you. and ships. Of course, you can transport and sell silks, porcelain, groceries, etc. as you wish.”
"Okay, it's a deal!"
"Finally, I need more people - they can also be counted as a kind of goods."
"Population?" Zheng Zhifeng hesitated, "Don't you know that the Spaniards are very afraid of Chinese immigrants?"
Throughout the entire colonial history of the Philippines, the Spaniards had always been suspicious of Chinese immigrants but had to accept them. At this time, it was only a few decades away from the so-called "Chinese Violence" in the Wanli Year. r1152
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