Chapter 3286 The Best Experimental Materials

The reason why it is said that this is the "first battle in the world" between gunpowder and cavalry is because Zhao Xing mistakenly confused gunpowder with explosives here--- which happens to be the result of modern foolish education.

Previously, the Song army had the experience of using "gunpowder" on a large scale to fight with the Western Xia soldiers, but that kind of gunpowder was the old-fashioned "ignition powder" recorded in the "General Essentials of the Wujing", which contained little nitrate and could only burn and ignite but could not explode, referred to as "gunpowder", while Zhao Xing used the real "ignition explosives" on the river bank.

In addition to this battle, Zhao Xing had also used "firing explosives" in previous wars, but those battles were small in scale and located in the south, so the impact was not great. ----In the battle, not only was muskets and artillery used on a large scale for the first time, but through this war, the firearms and tactics of the Song army were matured and began to be installed on a large scale.

After observing the effect of the shelling, Zhao Xing spread out his hands and instructed the recorder in a hurry: "Write down: the artillery must form a fire echelon in order to achieve the effect of cutting off the battlefield...... Going back and asking the staff officers to develop a set of methods for laying out the positions of the artillery echelons and to carry out the war games, I would like to know the optimal range configuration of the artillery positions. ”

Shuai Fan moved his eyes: "So, you promised to bring a larger caliber of artillery from the ship?" ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "There was a snow the day before yesterday. Look at this weather, there will be heavy snow today and tomorrow, and the Yellow River will freeze as soon as this snow happens---- order the ship to unload five cannons, I need two bow guns and three deck guns. ”

Zhao Xing didn't know the caliber classification of artillery, anyway, he was the only one who played artillery in this era, so he named it "bow gun", "deck gun", and "marching gun" according to the size of the artillery. Among them, the bow gun is not necessarily mounted in the bow of the ship, but when the cargo ship is equipped with only one gun, they are often equipped with the largest caliber "bow gun". In the current caliber calculation method. It is estimated that the caliber of such a cannon is equivalent to an eighteen-pounder gun, or a twenty-pounder gun.

"This is not the right number," Shuai Fan interjected, "we should bring in three bow guns, and only two deck guns at most." That kind of deck gun is not much larger than the caliber of the marching gun, and what we need now is a large-caliber gun in order to form a long and short range ground fire echelon. ”

"Do as Lord Shuai says." Zhao Xing turned around and instructed the officer: "After the warship unloads the cannons, please withdraw from the river immediately, now there are more and more ice floes in the river, and it is too dangerous to stay any longer." ”

Zhao Xing then turned to Shuai Fan: "After the Yellow River freezes, I need someone to garrison in Shunbaozhai to ensure our rear...... I don't believe in Cao Yu, I don't think he can rush to the rescue desperately at a critical moment. Yuan Yeping can't do it either, he doesn't have the courage to stand up to the officials of the Celestial Empire, and the Xiao brothers can't do it. Their recklessness will only mess things up. Therefore, one of the two of us must return to the south bank and sit in Shunbaozhai---- I think. You go best. ”

Shuai Fan puffed out his chest: "How is it possible." How could I possibly hide behind you. Sit back and watch you fight alone on the North Shore. ”

Zhao Xing waved his hand: "Neither of us is very familiar with this kind of antique artillery. There must be a person according to the combat situation. Derive the best combination of artillery and ground fire. On the deduction of computing power. I'm better than you. Or let me stay here...... I'm the only one here. In order to ensure that the court does not have a strong man to break his wrist. ”

Shuai Fan pondered for a moment. Answer: "I'll wait for the river to freeze before leaving." ”

"Let's go now". Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Look! I said that my derivation ability was better than yours---- when the Yellow River first began to freeze. The knot is thin ice. You can't walk on ice at all. You'll need to wait until the ice is frozen. to be able to travel freely. Before that. There were almost ten days. The two sides of the strait are completely isolated. Crushing ice crushes the vessel and makes it impossible to sail. Unable to walk on ice again. So. You have to cross the Yellow River before dark. Otherwise......"

Shuai Fan folded his fingers and counted for a moment. Answer: "This year's winter solstice is the second day of the 11th month (lunar calendar). It's November 18. According to the general solar term convention. From the beginning of the winter solstice, it is counted nine cold days. 1929 closed the door. 3949 froze to death the old dog. It's the last few days of Erjiu. It's going to be the coldest three or nine days soon. I had more than ten days after crossing the river. You are completely isolated...... Be sure to hold on. To survive this harsh winter, to fight brutally. ”

Zhao Xing shrugged lightly: "Get through the ground!" I continued to bombard half a day every day. Let this camp steam. The custodian boys can't even wear short shirts. ”

Shuai Fan smiled bitterly: "So far, the only thing we can boast about is that the artillery is much more proficient, and the speed of artillery firing has increased by more than seventy percent. Other than that, it's just a fight with the Liao. ”

Zhao Xing raised the telescope again. The Liao soldiers leaned up again at this time, and saw through the binoculars that those Liao soldiers were hovering outside the maximum range of the artillery, occasionally scattered in single-digit squads, quickly urging their horses to approach a few steps, but before the artillery could react, they returned to their own formation diagonally.

At present, this battle is only equivalent to actual combat drills, and it is not intense. Therefore, the Song army on the north shore looked relaxed, and Zhao Xing also spoke in a relaxed tone, he held the binoculars and said while observing: "It is estimated that the most depressed person in the world is facing us at this moment...... Although the Liao soldiers were entangled and couldn't leave, they only had to be beaten: if they wanted to beat us, they couldn't reach us! If you get too close, you will be repelled by our artillery.

And we have repeatedly adjusted the firing range and added larger caliber artillery, and the maximum firing range shown has repeatedly exceeded the expectations of the Liao people. Presumably after being entangled for so long, the Liao general on the opposite side is still confused. I'm not sure about our true range, I'm depressed, I'm depressed for him. ”

Shuai Fan hesitated for a moment, and finally made up his mind: "My lord, I'll leave now, your samurai regiment is of no great use, I'll take them all, and bring two musketeers, so that I can guarantee supplies to my lord after the ice is frozen---- I'll leave now." Please take care! ”

"I'll take care!" Zhao Xing replied proudly: "The bullets that can hurt me haven't been produced yet, but I'm the protagonist." ”

Shuai Fan smiled dryly, and began to direct the boat to land and walk towards the north shore.

Later, the last two duty boats that stayed on the Yellow River came to the north bank and began to unload their guns.

Zhao Xing stood on the high slope of the north bank, looking at the temporary landing site at his feet, he saw Shuai Fan running all the way into the camp, asked a few words, and began to board the boat with the soldiers without looking back, heading towards the south bank...... A few days after that. Zhao Xing stayed on the high slope and maintained this posture.

This high-slope artillery position was built on the north bank of the Yellow River and at the highest point of the embankment, and although it did not occupy much area, it was very strong and condescending, pinning down the offensive line of the Liao army.

A few days later. The Yellow River froze, and the Liao soldiers took measures to encircle and attack one by one, attempting to encircle the artillery positions without attacking them, and to attack the temporary camp in the low-lying area with all their might. But they immediately encountered the crossfire of the two stockades, and the Liao soldiers suffered heavy losses.

That attack was probably the most costly of the Liao army during this period. Since then, the Liao soldiers have never tried to test the temporary camp, but have concentrated on harassing the artillery camp located on the high slope.

In the following days, the Liao soldiers used to lure the enemy and lay ambushes. Roundabouts, surprise attacks and other tactics, and even launched several night raids. But Zhao Xing swallowed the bait of the Liao people every time, cleanly and neatly annihilated the Liao people to lure the enemy squad, and then retreated behind the fortress, using his range advantage to bully the poor Liao people.

In recent days, it is estimated that the Liao people can no longer find soldiers willing to serve as bait, and the battle situation has stalemate. Zhao Xing had a sense of leisure, standing on the slope, leisurely watching the Liao soldiers show their superb riding skills outside the shooting range.

After watching for a while, Zhao Xing called out to several staff officers. Pointing to the Liao soldiers on the opposite side, he ordered: "After a few days of actual combat, you can discuss it and readjust the position of the artillery...... And ......"

Zhao Xing smiled evilly and said, "We have been hiding from the cannon unloaded from the ship, and it is time to surprise the Liao people, let's talk about it, what are your ideas?" ”

The slope was simple, and several staff officers spread out the drawings on the ground with their hands and deduced: "My lord." The firing frequency of artillery is one shot every three minutes to one shot per minute, and the cannon with the largest caliber in our caliber involves the problem of barrel cooling, which takes a longer time, while the small cannon fires at a fast frequency, but unfortunately the power is insufficient.

The cavalry's speed is ...... In the time it took us to shoot, he could run the fastest...... Zhang, slow is ...... Zhang, our artillery fire is going to cover the entire area, so that. No matter what speed the enemy's ground cavalry uses. All under the constant fire of our artillery. Deploy according to this policy, if there is no problem. We can wait for the Liao people to step into that trap.

However, we should give a deeper impression to the Liao, so that the Liao people will not dare to attack easily--- I think that the Liaons have relaxed in the confrontation for a few days, and we should let the musketeers counterattack and advance. ”

The staff officer sketched on the drawings and replied: "The musketeers must advance in a line of skirmishers in order to show their might." Our artillery fire is here, and the musketeers should advance from here, so that both flanks are under fire cover, and they don't have to worry about flanking when they advance.

According to the depth and width of the area of fire cut-off, I suggest that there should not be many soldiers to be sent, five on the left and right, and fifty people as a skirmisher line, arranged in five horizontal columns, and their advance should stop at the edge of our maximum range, otherwise, the cavalry of the Liao people will turn around and attack their backs. ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "If there is no problem with the deduction on paper, let's test it, draw five hundred people from the wall, rest and recuperate, and when the Liao soldiers attack again, let the rested soldiers enter the battle." ”

The staff officer saluted and turned to carry out Zhao Xing's order.

Zhao Xing hid the killer weapon, however, the Liao soldiers were no longer interested in attacking him, in the cold winter, they asked Zhao Xing to wait and wait, and the beard of the waiter was white, until ten days later, the Liao soldiers increased their troops again, and the new unlucky guy did not know how powerful Zhao Xing was, and finally dispatched.

The first messenger to come was a messenger, who first announced in a loud voice before the battle: "Lord Zhao, the transfer envoy of Guangnan East Road and the scholar of Fuwen Pavilion, my Majesty Daozong has received the mourning envoy of the Song State, and His Majesty Da Liao has decided to send a condolence mission to the Song State to pay tribute to the first king of the Song State and congratulate the new king on his accession to the throne.

Lord Zhao, don't fight, it's pointless to fight again, the Yellow River behind you has been frozen, you can't go back, it's better to surrender to my Da Liao, my Da Liao promises not to embarrass Lord Zhao, as long as the adults are tied up and out of the camp, my Da Liao guarantees that the high-ranking officials will be green and ...... honored."

Zhao Xing muttered in a low voice: "Fart...... Staff, get the best gunner, fill all five of the bow guns with gunpowder for me, and aim at the arrogant fellow. ”

Zhao Xing's words were said behind the fence. The Liao envoy didn't know. As he shouted, he urged his horse to move closer, his words and demeanor full of condescending gifts. Zhao Xing saw him step into the firing range, his eyes rolled, he reached out and snatched the latest musket from the guard's hand, and took a rough aim. Pulled the trigger.

"Bang!" , a gunshot erupted on the North Shore, which had been calmed down for several days.

The sound of this gunfire suddenly broke the silence on the north bank, and immediately after, three large-caliber cannons from the Gaopo artillery array rang out......

After the three cannons were fired, it was like a sleeping fire dragon waking up from its sleep, and the entire artillery position let out a continuous roar, and in the blink of an eye, the area covered by Zhao Xing's designated fire became a hell of fire.

Unfortunately, there was only one Liao envoy in that area. He did not survive the storm, and when the artillery fire subsided, the area covered by fire was empty. Except for the big pits of different depths, there is not even a shadow of a person.

This is a demonstration, and it is also an extremely arrogant provocation. Zhao Xing told the Liao people with facts that if they dared to step through that area, I would not be afraid to send him to hell.

"What's the accuracy rate? Doesn't have a calculation? Zhao Xing asked unhurriedly.

A staff officer, who was observing the impact point, replied excitedly: "If we hit, our first cannon landed next to him, and the solid bullet that jumped up broke the man in two...... And then, the horse didn't survive, my lord. Look there, the red mess of flesh on the edge of the pit, the only thing left of the man and the horse. Haha, everything else on him is estimated to be in the pit, and we can't see it from this position. ”

Zhao Xing praised: "Yes, there is progress, I have been fighting for more than 20 days, and each of the gunners has fired hundreds of cannons." It's time to be on point---- it's time to be on track! Write down the weight of the propellant and the weight of the projectile, and by the way, sort out a model of operation for me, and in the future promulgate it to the whole army, and implement it accordingly. ”

Another cavalryman appeared on the opposite side, and he shouted hoarsely in this direction: "Lord Zhao, stop fighting, we are really messengers...... How can you believe that we are the messengers? ”

On high slopes. In silence. Zhao Xing smiled and shouted back at the bold Liao soldier: "Go back and tell your general, is it General Han?" Tell him: I am an official of the Great Song Dynasty. The orders of the Emperor of Liao were not valid for me. ”

When the Liao soldier received this reply, he immediately turned his horse's head and ran back as if fleeing for his life. Behind him, Zhao Xing grinned, turned around and continued to discuss the adjustment of the artillery position with several staff officers.

A staff officer said with emotion: "It's still so good---- it has a real combat atmosphere, and it can immediately test the results...... It's an opportunity that can't be bought with money, and the Liao soldiers have been practicing with us for so long, and they are really wronged. ”

Zhao Xing glared at the staff officer with slanted eyes, and asked dissatisfiedly: "What, do you have a lover in Liao?" Why are you worried about the Liao? ”

The staff officer smiled awkwardly and immediately changed the topic: "My lord, the Vermilion Bird Army can't all be handed over to Fan Chun, we need these non-commissioned officers who have gone through actual combat to help us train the next batch of soldiers, my lord, we can't let these people go." ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "Yes, the Vermilion Bird Army gave Fan Chun five hundred people because I know that Fan Chun is a human being, and I believe in his character; And handed over 500 people to the official family because the official family will not treat them badly, as for the rest of the manpower, I have no intention of handing it over at all--- no one will give it to them. ”

When Zhao Xing said this, he thought of the demise of the Ming Dynasty.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the minister Sun Yuanhua made great efforts to build an all-firearms army, however, on the eve of the country's demise, the ministers of the Ming Dynasty continued to maintain the tradition of "emphasizing literature over military force", they treated this all-firearms army, like ordinary soldiers, deducted military salaries, crowded out and framed ......, and finally forced this group of people to abscond Liaodong, defected to the Manchus, and then, with their artillery skills trained by the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty perished.

In the hands of those party members who only intrigue and covet the "school of struggle", even if they are given an atomic bomb, they will not use this atomic bomb to bombard their enemies.

In this era, the gunpowder technology is too sharp, it symbolizes the beginning of an era, if this sharpest weapon in the world falls into the hands of Lu Huiqing, it will be resold to the Western Xia, Liao, or any enemy of the Great Song Dynasty, so that he can get kickbacks.

This is also the reason why Zhao Xing tried every means to conceal the army at hand and the power of gunpowder.

The all-firearms army is an expensive luxury army, it costs a lot of money to equip such an army, and training them is also pure money, Zhao Xing finally trained thousands of skilled musketeers, and now, seeing that they are gradually maturing, even if the king of heaven and Lao Tzu comes to ask for it, Zhao Xing will never let go.

The staff officer deduced on the map and smacked his lips regretfully: "After the Liao soldiers retreated ten days ago, the main force now does not know where to hide, if we have a few war horses, go out to reconnoitre, then we know ourselves and the other side better." ”

Cavalry! Cavalry in this era of cold weapons, no less than the god of war artillery.

Zhao Xing remembered that it seemed that it was not until the invention of the machine gun that the cavalry officially withdrew from the stage of history. Prior to this, if the artillery positions were too prominent, they would encounter a cavalry counterattack.

"The next step is to develop cavalry, let each musketeer grow four legs, and let each cannon have two horses to tow, so that our Suzaku Legion will become an invincible existence in this era, invincible!"

The staff officer continued: "Presumably, during this period of confrontation, the Liao soldiers have already seen the clues: in front of our artillery positions, the infantry is as fragile as lambs, and only the speed of the cavalry can compete slightly, but when our new artillery formation is properly studied, even the cavalry will not be able to bargain in front of us...... If each of the musketeers is given a horse, then we will be even more amazing, and the musketeer on the horse will only have his share in hitting others, and it will be the turn of others to approach him. ”

The musketeer, now called the Dragoon, resembles a fire-breathing dragon, with both speed and unimaginable destructive power.

Another staff officer carefully reminded: "My lord, you see, someone from Shunbaozhai has come, it seems that Lord Shuai has come in person, and he also brought a few ice rake plows, look at the honor guard, it seems that the minister of the court is sitting on it." ”

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