Guo Xin found Han Xun. Han Xun was in the joy of a successful gun test. He smiled and said to Guo Xin: "What do you think, Commander Guo?"
Guo Xin clasped his fists and first praised: "The artillery machine built by Han Dianzhi is indeed extraordinary. When the army attacks the city, having this artillery behind it will definitely be of great help."
The warriors were upright, and most of them did this. As expected, Han Xun waved his hands with a proud face: "It's passed, it's passed. Although this cannon is good, the soldiers must work hard to break the city."
Guo Xin then pretended to be hesitant and said: "But..."
Han Xun heard the word "but" and asked curiously: "But how?"
"However, this cannon requires many soldiers to pull it. The ancient books I have seen do not require so many people, but it can also throw heavy rocks and make people invincible."
Han Xun frowned and couldn't understand Guo Xin's words: "It would be great if there were no need for so many people. But if we don't rely on soldiers to pull the rope, how can the heavy stone be thrown?"
Guo Xin pondered for a while, clasped his fists and said, "Is there a pen and paper here? Wait until the end of the drawing, and Han Dian will know it after looking at it."
Han Xun was doubtful and led Guo Xin into a tent. Guo Xin picked up a pen and started drawing on the paper.
Not long after, several lieutenants heard that Guo Xin had a method of making a gun machine that did not require pulling, and they all came in to watch the fun. Guo Xin then displayed the manuscript, which could barely be called a blueprint, on the case and invited everyone to look at it. However, Han Xun and the others could only see crooked lines on the paper...
A deputy general said: "Commander Guo, are you making fun of us?"
Others also cast puzzled looks. Guo Xin pointed to the drawings and explained: "There is no essential difference between this cannon and the cannons we made... The key lies in how to use force. At both ends of the tip pole, the long arms are still equipped with stone bullets. , the short arm no longer has a rope, but a heavy object is used as a counterweight."
Han Xun and others could barely understand it, but they were still confused: "What is the difference between this counterweight and a stone bullet?"
Guo Xin patiently explained to several people: "Before firing this gun, the counterweight is raised. After loading, the counterweight is lowered, and the stone bullets can be thrown out without manpower, and the loading and firing are faster. .”
Someone else asked: "Then how to control the rise and fall of the counterweight?"
Guo Xin clicked on the drawing: "It's simple. When the counterweight is raised, fix the wood with a rope or a live hook. When the shot is about to be fired, cut off the rope or remove the live hook. The counterweight will naturally fall down and the stone bullet will be thrown."
Guo Xin answered several people's questions one by one. Han Xun stared at the drawings carefully, as if he wanted to find flaws. After a long time, he looked away and looked at Guo Xin seriously: "Commander Guo said it so simply. , is it really feasible?”
Guo Xin: "Whether it is feasible or not, Han Dianzhi will know once he tries it."
Han Xun immediately showed the decisiveness of a martial artist and said: "In this case, let's try the method directed by Guo."
So everyone returned to the gun machine, took off the dense ropes on the tip, and replaced it with a large wooden basket filled with heavy stones as the counterweight of the short arm of the tip. After loading the stone bullets as Guo Xin said, the counterweight was raised, and Secure with rope.
Many soldiers no longer had to pull ropes this time, and they all gathered around the gun machine and looked at it in surprise. After everything was ready, Han Xun gave an order, and the soldiers who were stationed swung their swords to cut off the ropes. Everyone saw that the counterweight at the tip dropped rapidly under the action of gravity, and the stone bullet at the tip also made a loud noise. Fly out!
The stone projectile was thrown at a very fast speed, but its trajectory was very stable. The momentum did not weaken slightly until it was a hundred steps away. It hit the wooden fence in the distance. The wooden fence instantly collapsed and shattered everywhere. The stone projectile finally fell. on the ground.
The onlookers were silent at first, and then all of them exclaimed. Even Guo Xin breathed a sigh of relief at his improvement: It was just a slight improvement, and the use of a counterweighted gun machine not only saved manpower, but also Can the range also be increased?
Han Xun beside him recovered from his surprise, but his face didn't seem very happy. Instead, he said to Guo Xin in a deep voice: "Commander Guo's method is very effective. In my opinion, this gun machine is estimated to weigh only fifty kilograms." Can shoot."
Guo Xin still remained humble: "If it can be beneficial to the siege, the general will be honored."
Han Xun continued: "Tomorrow I will ask the craftsmen to build a few more machines. If they all have this majesty, Commander Guo will work with me to present this sharp weapon to the official family."
Guo Xin declined politely: "The general just came to help. It was a fluke that he accidentally improved the gun machine. How dare he meet the officials for his merits."
Han Xun smiled and said: "How could this cannon be built without Commander Guo? Or does Commander Guo think that I, Han, am one of those greedy people?"
What Han Xun said was naturally irresistible. Moreover, he also wanted to meet Liu Zhiyuan... so he nodded in agreement: "In that case, I will do my bidding."
As the sun set, Guo Xin bid farewell to Han Xun and prepared to return to the Fengguo military camp. On the way, he strangely saw the busy soldiers around him. After returning to the camp in confusion, Wang Yuanmao came over anxiously.
Before Guo Xin dismounted in front of the tent, Wang Yuanmao couldn't wait to speak: "I searched everywhere for Commander Guo but he couldn't find me. News came from the Chinese army. The officials sent Chen Guan to the city this afternoon to announce his decree, but he was rejected by the city." , very angry. Murong Yanchao insisted on attacking the city, and the officials have agreed and decided to personally supervise the troops to attack the city in the future!"
Guo Xin frowned deeply when he heard this. Whether it was the increasing shortage of food and grass or Liu Zhiyuan's patience running out, the day to attack the city had indeed come again.
Guo Xin was already used to showing a calm attitude in front of his subordinates, and he still calmly said to Wang Yuanmao: "I already know about this matter. Let everyone live in peace and act according to orders in the future."
Wang Yuanmao took the order and left, while Guo Xin was planning the siege in the future in his tent. It was expected that Liu Zhiyuan would order the army to attack the city again. Fortunately, his improvement of the artillery machine had already achieved results, and he was waiting to test whether it could be done in actual combat. Useful.
…
To the west of Weizhou City, the Han army's camp looked like a huge chessboard, with countless felt tents standing within the lines of the chessboard, and cavalry with brightly armored staffs patrolling between them. In the center of the chessboard, surrounded by countless felt tents, was Emperor Liu Zhiyuan's central army.
At this time, in the Chinese army's tent, Liu Zhiyuan was listening to Wang Zhang, the third commander of the army, reporting to him the recent military expenses.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, I have reported that more than 70,000 troops are approaching the city, and they are consuming food every day. In addition, the Horse Guards Army needs even greater supplies, and it is even more difficult to supply..."
Wang Zhang was blowing his beard and making impassioned speeches in the tent, but Liu Zhiyuan had long been accustomed to hearing Wang Zhang's complaints about the lack of food and grass in the army. Thinking that he would personally supervise the army to attack the city tomorrow, his mind gradually wandered.
Recently, many soldiers from Weizhou City rushed to surrender at night, bringing more news to Liu Zhiyuan in the city - the food in Weizhou City was exhausted, the defenders had begun to kill horses for meat, and the people were starving to death. few. When Liu Zhiyuan thought about this, he felt even more angry. Du Chongwei in the city was obviously at the end of his rope, but he still refused to leave the city and surrender, wasting tens of thousands of his troops under the city. He was really a disgusting fool.
Wang Zhang below is still talking: "Now that the people in Hua, Wei and other states have been exhausted, I beg to transfer food and grass from Tianping, Guide and other places to supply the army's needs, which can relieve the army's temporary emergency..."
After hearing about the Guide Army, Liu Zhiyuan's eyes immediately fell on Gao Xingzhou, the Jiedu Envoy of the Guide Army who was responsible for the attack. He was also the commander of the previous camp.
Liu Zhiyuan immediately interrupted Wang Zhang's words and asked Gao Xingzhou: "What do you think Mr. Gao said?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Xingzhou quickly came out of the queue and said with a salute: "Songzhou, Bozhou and other places have not been invaded by the Khitan, and there is still surplus grain in the territory. I think the grain can be adjusted for the use of the army."
"The so-called public loyalty to the country is like that of Gao Taifu." Liu Zhiyuan was very satisfied with Gao Xingzhou's attitude, and the anger in his chest calmed down a lot. Then he told Wang Zhang: "I will follow the advice of the Prime Minister. , and transferred grain and fodder from Song, Bo and other places to this place for military use."
Just as Wang Zhang accepted the order, the guards outside the tent suddenly came in and whispered next to Liu Zhiyuan: "In the inner hall, Han Xin was sent to tell us that we have a new artillery machine to present to your majesty."
