In fact, this batch of Hongwu guns are already new models that have undergone a series of improvements. In the past, Zhu Su and Mu Ying were improving gunpowder and muskets in the Prince's Mansion. Zhu Su once proposed concepts such as "flintlock guns" and "breech-loaded cannons". Those concepts were either still being explored, or because the technology was not yet supported, or simply because they were too expensive. The Ming Dynasty did not yet have sufficient treasury, so they were not put into use.
But in addition, Zhu Su also pointed out some easier ways to improve the power of existing firecrackers, such as "paper-wrapped gunpowder" and "Trojan horses".
The so-called "Trojan Horse" is to press a special wood chip between the gunpowder and the blunderbuss to make the medicine chamber more airtight, generate greater pressure when it explodes, and increase the firing rate and range of the blunderbuss.
Although in the development process of Huo Gun, this is just a stopgap measure. But it is undeniable that this is the cheapest and easiest improvement that the Ming army can achieve now on a large scale in a short period of time. All that is needed is to insert an extra piece of wood that has been polished and of suitable size when filling the gunpowder.
Don't underestimate this small piece of wood. In history, it was not until the eighth year of Yongle that the Ming Dynasty learned about the improved technology of this fire gun from the hands of the Annan people. The doubled power of the improved firecrackers directly prompted Emperor Yongle to make up his mind to establish the famous "Shenji Camp" to develop firearms as a major weapon of war in the Ming Dynasty.
"Trojan horse", "paper-wrapped gunpowder", and "new gunpowder ratio", these three seemingly insignificant improvements were enough to make the fire blunderbuss that was originally quite useless during the Hongwu period become shocking to Tabin Tiemu. Old generals like Yuanting Jing'er brought a bit of technological shock to this Mongolian cavalry.
It was no coincidence that when Naha broke through the barrier and Jizhen and his superiors chose to shrink their defenses, most of the firearms that were too late to be taken away from the many guardhouse warehouses of the Ming army were confiscated by Naha. However, after Naha came out of the pass, he did not fight any tough battles. He only tentatively attacked the city wall of Yongping Mansion several times.
The siege guns were useless, and as a Yuan man, Naha Chu also advocated riding and shooting more and was not interested in firearms. Therefore, these new firearms that should have belonged to the soldiers of Jizhen were not used by the Yuan army.
These tens of thousands of firearms stolen from the Ming Dynasty have become useless. But this time Guantong attacked Changli, with the mentality of giving it a try, he brought these fire blunderbuss from the Ming Dynasty. I originally thought that if the Ming army dared to go out of the city to fight, they would shoot him first and then use him as a fire stick.
Unexpectedly, they were besieged internally and externally overnight, and were annihilated by Zhu Di and Zhang Yu's entire army at lightning speed. These firearms were transferred to Zhu Su's group of Ming troops.
These firearms were modified according to Zhu Su's opinions. How could Zhu Su not know their power? Immediately ordered Wu Wangwei to take these firearms. The Ming troops under Cao Yuan had always been trained according to Wu Wangwei's standards. Although they did not miss the new fire cannons, they also used the old fire cannons to practice three-stage strikes with Wu Wangwei. Now in a hurry, he and Di Meng's Wu Wangwei formed a three-stage gun attack camp.
Fortunately, these Mongolian cavalry have lasted for hundreds of years and are no longer as brave as their ancestors. Although the momentum of the charge is still devastating, they still hesitated and timidly for a moment in the face of the unexpected gunfire. As soon as the momentum of the charge was slightly hindered, they missed the opportunity to defeat Zhu Su's Ming army in one go.
It was the first time that they used this method to deal with the enemy. Wu Wangwei and the Ming army under Cao Yuan, who had little confidence, gradually cooperated more and more tacitly, and the frequency of firing firecrackers gradually became higher and higher.
"This... continues like this..."
If the Great Yuan Iron Shoes from a hundred years ago encountered such an unexpected situation, I am afraid that their first reaction would be to cover their heads and rush forward first. After all, this Ming army was only ten thousand strong, and although they were divided into separate troops, their number exceeded twenty thousand.
Even with piles of corpses, these Ming troops could be bulldozed.
But now, Tabin Timur and his cavalry retreated. Seeing their companions in the front row constantly falling in the acrid smoke and roaring lead shot, many Mongolian cavalry reflexively pulled up the reins of their horses, trying to turn their horses' heads and flee backwards. However, how could the momentum of tens of thousands of cavalry be stopped so easily? The result was that the rear army kept bumping into the front army, and the front army kept being ruthlessly harvested by the roaring firecrackers of the Ming army.
No wonder they have low fighting spirit. They are originally "guest troops"! It was just an army that cooperated with Naha to "make a profit" because it was profitable.
As the "Sanyang Ten Thousand Households" living among the three tribes of Dayuan, Ming and Nahachu, they later surrendered to the Ming Dynasty without any moral pressure and became the "Three Duoyan Guards". Whether they were fighting against Dayuan or Nahachu, Neither has much loyalty at all. The first priority that I think about, besides profit, is how to preserve my strength in the three-party melee and wait for the price.
It is precisely because of this that when they besieged the tens of thousands of Ming troops under Guo Xing's command, they used "mounted shooting" to far deplete their strength, leaving the tough battle to Nahachu's troops.
When there is an advantage to take advantage of, they will naturally move forward. But now we have encountered a tough nut, from Tabin Timur as the general to the ordinary cavalry who are charging, there are only four words left in his mind: save your life!
"Woo, woo!" A low horn sound sounded, and the Mongolian cavalry who finally stopped their forward momentum began to retreat. Zhu Su looked at the cavalrymen who were retreating like a tide. He even dropped the folding fan in his hand and forgot to pick it up. He just wiped the sweat with a pale face.
He admitted that he was gambling in this battle, but in the end he made a huge profit: with only a few thousand people, he actually frightened tens of thousands of cavalry, and temporarily gained a firm foothold in this meat grinder!
Brother Mu's three-stage attack is really good!
"Your Highness, Fifth Prince, what should we do next?" Di Meng, who was responsible for coordinating the gunmen, still had a look of worry on his face. "Our purpose is to rescue Guo Xing, the Marquis of Gongchang who is still under heavy siege."
"But most of our troops are infantry. Even though the Mongolian cavalry retreats, if they are forced to pursue us, these Mongols will definitely use their good mounted shooting skills to shoot our pursuing troops into a sieve."
"But if we don't move forward, how can we join forces with Gong Changhou and then break out of the encirclement together?"
Although Di Meng's words were a request for instructions, they also reminded Zhu Su not to forget that the situation was still difficult. Zhu Su glanced at the growing general and noticed the gazes of the sergeants around him. In order to appease the soldiers, he pretended to be indifferent and picked up the dirty folding fan on the ground.
He opened the fan and fanned himself, but it made him look disgraceful. He had no choice but to close it silently, pretending not to care, and then said with a smile: "You don't have to worry, I have already thought about this."
"As long as the Yuan army changes from 'fleeing' to 'fleeing', they will no longer have the energy to take care of us and the Ming army under Gong Changhou."
With that said, he turned to look at Zhu Di: "Fourth brother, how are you?"
Zhu Di's face was also blackened and whitened by gunpowder smoke, but his expression remained serious. He sat on his horse and looked at the situation ahead with a monocular telescope. Hearing this, he waved his hand slightly back: "Not yet, we still have to count the breaths."
"Ten, nine, eight, seven... That's it, give the number!"
Zhu Su looked solemn when he heard this and nodded towards the dog beside him. The dog understood, and immediately shot a loud arrow into the sky, and a scream of "chi" suddenly resounded throughout the battlefield.
"kill!"
Behind the fleeing Mongolian cavalry, a Ming cavalry force suddenly appeared, numbering a thousand people. The leader had a black horse on his crotch, carrying a wrought copper Zen staff, and his bald head was shining in the sun. With a sharp appearance, he is none other than Zhang Dingbian, the "best general in the world"!
(End of chapter)
