Xu Da was a restrained man, he drank a lot of strong wine and drank three glasses.
What he did not only do not be greedy for drinks, but also not be greedy for other things. This is the secret of his wiseness and self-preservation.
Xu Da looked at Gu Zhengchen, patted his thigh, and asked calmly: "What do you think of the offensive and defensive momentum of Yuan Ting and Ming Dynasty?"
Mu Ying nodded slightly to Gu Zhengchen, this was from Wei Guogong's examination school.
Gu Zhengchen knew that this examination was related to his impression in Xu Da's mind. He thought about the history and said seriously: "Wei Guogong, right now the Ming Dynasty is on the defensive and the Yuan Dynasty is on the offensive. However, this situation will eventually change, and the Ming Dynasty will turn from defense to defense. The time to attack will mature step by step."
"Tell me more specifically."
Xu Da leaned forward, quite concerned.
Gu Zhengchen stood up, picked up a branch, made a few strokes on the ground, pointed and said: "Wei Guogong, now the Yuan Dynasty has retreated outside the Great Wall, but its power is still strong, its troops are still vast, and its ambitions are not dead. It will invade the border and invade." It will become the norm in the next fifteen years. It's just that the Yuan Dynasty is on the grassland outside the Great Wall. Although it has soldiers and horses, its overall strength is far inferior to that of the Ming Dynasty."
Xu Da frowned slightly: "Comprehensive power?"
Gu Zhengchen nodded: "Yes, comprehensive power! Although the outcome of a war depends on the battlefield, what really determines the fate of the dynasty is the comprehensive power, people's hearts, logistics, city defense, weapons, war horses, armor, people, Salt, ironware, etc. are all participants in the war. From these points of view, the Yuan Dynasty is far inferior to the Ming Dynasty and does not have the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. The decline of its comprehensive power is foreseeable."
"One is ebbing and the other is ebbing, and the Ming Dynasty's comprehensive power will surpass the Yuan Ting in just a short time. However, the comprehensive power determines a protracted war. If you want to defeat the Yuan Ting's cavalry head-on on the battlefield, you still need to rely on the cavalry. This process is relatively long. In addition, outside……"
Xu Da sighed: "Besides this, there is no other way, right? Because we were defeated by Wang Baobao in Lingbei, a large number of cavalry were lost. It is impossible for the imperial court to replenish a large number of war horses in a short period of time. Although now there are Luzhou Racecourse invites people to raise horses, but it’s a pity that the speed is too slow.”
Gu Zhengchen looked at Xu Da, who looked a little lonely, and said in a deep voice: "Wei Guogong, there is only one other way."
Xu Da's eyes lit up and he asked eagerly: "What do you mean, besides cavalry, are there other methods?"
Gu Zhengchen nodded solemnly: "Indeed."
"What's the solution?"
Mu Ying also became anxious and asked.
Gu Zhengchen glanced at Mu Ying, then turned to Xu Da, staring into the sharp eyes in front of him: "This method is not unfamiliar to Wei Guogong. It is also used in the military, that is, firearms."
"firearm?"
Xu Da was immediately discouraged and waved his hands repeatedly: "I'm afraid you don't know that this firearm is not suitable for fighting cavalry, especially in large-scale cavalry regiment operations. The role of firearms is extremely limited."
Gu Zhengchen asked: "Why do you say that?"
Xu Da shook his head.
Mu Ying was also a little frustrated: "You have seen the gun used by the sergeant. If you want to fire it, you not only need to fill it with gunpowder and press in the fuse, but also need to fill it with iron and gravel. This process requires at least ten breaths, and ten breaths Within, the cavalry can run nearly a hundred steps, but the shooting distance of the fire cannon is only thirty or fifty steps, which means that the fire cannon only has one chance to shoot when facing the cavalry!"
Xu Da looked sad: "Once the fire gun soldiers are used as the vanguard, the cavalry will be ravaged and trampled by the cavalry unless they die. Once the forward is defeated, it will be difficult to restore the situation and stabilize the position. Besides, the fire gun soldiers Be it generals or artillery, they are afraid of rainy days. When marching and fighting, it is inevitable that they will encounter rainy days, but firearms cannot be used at all."
Gu Zhengchen picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea, and said slowly: "Since you know that firearms have so many problems, haven't you thought about solving them? Since the range is not far enough, then increase the range. Since the operation time is long, then Just shorten the operation time. Since you are afraid of rain, then find a way to prevent it. The problem is solved. It would be a good idea to take the infantry to have a fight with Wang Baobao. "
Xu Da was stunned.
Mu Ying was also stunned.
The two of them had not thought about this obvious problem carefully. It seemed that these problems would always continue...
Xu Da's Adam's apple moved, and he stood up and asked, "You mean, all these problems with firearms can be solved?"
Gu Zhengchen nodded and said calmly: "There are always more solutions than difficulties."
Xu Da took a few steps, feeling a little hot in his heart.
If the imperial court wants to replenish war horses and build a cavalry with combat capability, it will be impossible within five years, or even longer. This also means that for at least five years, Ming Dynasty will be in a passive defense situation!
Xu Da was unwilling to give in!
The founding of the People's Republic of China is about to enter its seventh year, but the enemy is still roaring past the borders, and from time to time they raid the border and plunder the people. This is torture for a general!
The shame of Lingbei's failure was unforgettable. Wang Baobao suddenly appeared and killed the Ming army soldiers like a sharp sword!
If this revenge is not avenged, how can I, Xu Da, exist between heaven and earth?
Wait five years?
Too long, too long!
If firearms can really solve many problems, as Gu Zhengchen said, then the expeditionary force can completely go deep into the grassland with infantry as the main force, and cavalry as the supplement, find the main force of the Yuan Dynasty, and fight with them on the grassland!
"How long do you think it will take to solve the firearms problem?"
Xu Da stopped and asked.
Gu Zhengchen smiled and said: "Wei Guogong, if you want to solve these problems, you need enough money, wise craftsmen, and more time. This kind of thing cannot be done overnight. I estimate that if the imperial court fully supports it, it will take at least a year. Create firearms and blunderbuss that can be used to restrain cavalry."
"One year?"
Xu Da was shocked.
Mu Ying quickly said to Gu Zhengchen: "You can't say this kind of thing casually."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly and said to Xu Da: "Of course, there is a condition."
"What conditions?"
Xu Da was anxious.
Gu Zhengchen pointed at himself,
Xu Da examined Gu Zhengchen and looked at Mu Ying: "Is he born in Juren, magistrate of Jurong County, or is he born in craftsman, a skilled craftsman?"
Mu Ying laughed: "They say he is a scholar, but Wei Guogong, he invented the new stove, as well as the body-building technique, alcohol, cart... He is a good person in managing a place, and he is also a good person in building things."
"He is a versatile person, but -" Xu Da looked at Gu Zhengchen and asked slowly: "How do you know so much when you are so young?"
Gu Zhengchen did not answer directly, but said: "I heard that Wei Guogong was born in a peasant family."
Xu Da laughed heartily after hearing this.
Yes, he came from a peasant family, but he knew the art of war and how to command large armies in battle. Gu Zhengchen came from a noble family, why couldn't he know how to make craftsmen?
Everyone has their own talents.
Xu Da suppressed his smile and clasped his fists: "I will tell Your Majesty that I will try my best to transfer you to Jinling. How about you specializing in firearms improvement?"
"No, I want to go back to Jurong. If I don't solve the job problem of Jurong people, I won't serve in Jinling."
Gu Zhengchen flatly refused.
Now everyone is labeled as a county man. If you continue to stay in Jinling, you will be punished sooner or later. It is better to stand outside Jinling and enjoy the scenery.
