At the new artillery range of Yunzhou Jiangying, Li Chengmao heard Zhang Cheng ask him how many Hongyi cannons the artillery bureau could produce per month. He replied with a slightly nervous expression: "Commander, the production of these Hongyi cannons is extremely time-consuming. Not only are they The mud film method is complicated to operate and requires extremely high accuracy in terms of gun barrel thickness.
It took nearly three months to build the first cannon. Now that the craftsmen are a little more skilled, it is estimated that three Hongyi cannons can be made every month. "
Zhang Cheng shook his head and said: "The manufacturing progress is too slow, I'm afraid it won't be enough!"
Shi Tiegen stepped forward at this time and said: "Commander, although this Hongyi cannon is complex in craftsmanship and requires high precision. But its main problem still lies with the craftsmen. Although our craftsman camp has always recruited apprentices on the North Road, However, results cannot be seen in a short time. Even if you are talented, you must be at least old enough to be able to become a disciple.
Especially the manufacturing of firearms is no different from other skills. Not only is the craftsmanship exquisite, but also the control of the heat of many processes often requires more experience, which is why the manufacturing progress is so unsatisfactory.
Now if we recruit craftsmen from the Fire Gun and Artillery Bureau, it will affect the preparation tasks of other standard guns and cannons! "
Zhang Cheng also knew that what he said was the truth. In fact, he had no intention of blaming him. He just considered that such a lethal weapon would be more powerful if it had a numerical advantage. If there were only a few of them, it would lose the huge volley. power.
But the reality is so cruel, he has no choice. When he goes to rescue Jinzhou this time, he may not be able to use the Hongyi cannon to cheer up his army!
Zhang Cheng looked at the Hongyi cannon and said to Shi Tiegen: "Master Shi, see if you can mobilize some firearms craftsmen to make the Hongyi cannon without affecting the production of firecrackers. By the way, the Fran cannon and It won’t be a problem if the progress of the Crouching Tiger Cannon is smaller.”
Hearing this, Shi Tiegen hurriedly answered: "Okay, old man, give it a try."
Zhang Cheng added: "I think the name of this Red Yi Cannon can also be changed. Otherwise, it can be called the Yi Huo Cannon. When I have hundreds of people with this cannon, the slaves and thieves will be chilled by the first bombardment, the slaves and thieves will be heartbroken by the second bombardment, and the slaves and thieves will be heartbroken by the third bombardment." Boom can bring peace to the world."
He continued: "Another point is that this gun is so heavy and heavy. Not only is it difficult to transport it, but it is also difficult to turn it on the battlefield. Can four wheels be installed on its gun mount?
In this way, it is not only easy to transport with the army, but also easy to rotate to adjust the direction of bombardment when fighting. You, the artillery bureau and the carpentry bureau have a good time thinking about it. "
Shi Tiegen continued: "Old man knows, he will definitely follow the commander's wishes and first increase the manufacturing progress of the Hongyi...oh, no...it's the bombardment cannon, and then study the four-wheeled gun mount."
"Okay, very good, thank you to all the craftsmen who have worked so hard!"
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he stood up and walked out to the shooting range. Shi Tiegen caught up with him and asked, "The commander-in-chief hasn't had a meal at the craftsman's camp. Why don't you rest for a while before returning to Chicheng?"
"No. Military affairs are busy, and I have to rush back to Akagi today."
Shi Tiegen, Li Chengmao and other leaders of the craftsman's camp sent Zhang Cheng out of the craftsman's camp and watched him gallop away with Wei Zhice and other generals.
…………
On April 24th in Gubu, in the central hall of the Chicheng Castle Counselor's Office, Zhang Cheng was sitting firmly behind the chief case, and two rows of officers and generals were sitting in the darkness below.
On the left are Kaiping Guard Commander Jin Xinpeng, Yongning Guard Commander Yan Qingrong, Kaiping Guard Commander Tongzhi Gao Jinggong, Yongning Guard Commander Tongzhi Liang Cixin, General Town Fu He Biao, Kaiping Guard Town Fu Liu Zhi, Experienced Cao Jinwang and Yongning Guard Zhenfu, experience and other officials.
On the right are Wu Zhizhong, Wei Zhice, Zhang Guodong, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng, Lin Fangping, Li Jiyu and other generals, as well as Chicheng garrison Jin Yong, Dushikou garrison Sha Zhongwang, Yunzhou garrison Chiyuan, Maying garrison Ren Jilong, and Longmen garrison. Xu Jinyong, Yongning garrison Tong Shouxin and others.
The only special person is Liu Minshen, the magistrate of Yongning County. He came to Chicheng to congratulate Zhang Cheng on the birth of Lin'er. He just came a few days early. When he learned about today's military meeting, he insisted on attending it. Although he was of a lower rank, he was a civil servant after all. , it was difficult to sit in a row with the military attachés and generals, so Zhang Cheng ordered someone to bring a chair and asked him to sit next to him.
Although Zhang Cheng is currently supervising the military affairs of the Yongning Guards, Baoan Guards, Huailai Guards, Yanqing Right Guards, Kaiping Guards, and Longmen Guards as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Xuanzang, he currently has full control over only the Kaiping Guards and Yongning Guards. It's just two places.
It's not that he doesn't want to control the remaining four guards, it's just that he hasn't yet freed up his hands to torment them. Previously, he led his army to Yu Province to help suppress the intruders. Wu Zhizhong had already made a series of adjustments to the Yongning Guards in accordance with his instructions.
Yongning was originally the territory of former deputy commander Zhang Guowei, and it has been leaderless since his death. What's more, Zhang Cheng used the remaining power of wiping out the bandits on the East Road in one fell swoop to conquer Yongning garrison Tong Shouxin, and then reorganized Zhang Guowei's original group. Because of the troops and horses, the adjustment on the east road did not encounter big resistance.
Although Zhang Cheng only relied on the territory of the North Road and the East Road, it was still extremely difficult to support his army. Even with private border trade as a supplement, it was still stretched.
However, he doesn't want to take the risk of touching the cakes on the territory of the other four guards yet. As long as they don't hinder him, as long as they can contribute some money and food to him to feed his army, he can let him go for the time being!
In the official hall, Jin Xinpeng held a message from the Ministry of War in his hand and said: "Commander, the Ministry of War has issued two messages in a row urging you to send troops as soon as possible."
Zhang Cheng glanced at the officers and generals in the official hall, and then said calmly: "This trip to Liaodong to rescue Jinzhou is different from the previous trip to Henan Province to aid and suppress the bandits. We cannot move the army lightly unless we make complete preparations. Please command Jin. The envoy wrote a memorial on my behalf, saying that I was raising a large army and would set off to the east soon."
After Jin Xinpeng received the order, he said to the officers and generals: "I would also like to ask all of you here to try your best to raise the grain, fodder, gunpowder and other military materials needed for our army to go out to war, so that the army can set off as soon as possible."
Zhang Cheng then shouted in a deep voice: "Wei Zhice, Zhang Guangda, Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng, Li Jiyu, and Lin Fangping obey orders."
Several people heard the sound and stood up at the same time, clasping their fists and shouting: "The end is here!"
Zhang Cheng looked at the six men and said loudly: "You generals must prepare your troops and horses from today on. As soon as everything is ready, we will set off."
He went on to say: "For the soldiers of the battalions who are accompanying me this time, each sergeant of the infantry and chariot soldiers will be given one tael of silver first, the light cavalry and the Mongolian cavalry will be given two taels, the heavy cavalry will be given three taels, and the rangers and tiger guards will be given three taels." I will give you five taels to stimulate the morale of the troops. As long as the officers and men can use their lives in front of the battle and defeat the enemy with all their strength, I will not hesitate to reward them."
Zhang Cheng then looked at Jin Yong and other defenders, and said in a deep voice: "I will lead the army to fight in the future, so you must keep an eye on my family assets on the North Road and East Road!"
All the guards also responded in unison: "Here."
