In the last attack on Tong'an, grenade shells played a huge role.

In this attack on Quanzhou, Zheng Chenggong specially went to Kinmen to see what recent progress Song Yingxing had made after he was in charge of the research and development of firearms.

The group rode to a valley not far behind the Kinmen barracks, which was a newly established firearms armament bureau for protection and secrecy, Feng Chengshi was in charge of the organization, and Song Yingxing was mainly responsible for the research and development of hundreds of blacksmiths and craftsmen.

When Zheng Chenggong saw Song Yingxing in a stone house, he almost couldn't recognize him.

I haven't seen him for a month, and Song Yingxing, who was originally ruddy and rich, was now yellow, disheveled, with many holes, his eyebrows were scorched, and even worse, the three strands of long beard that he valued very much were burned off, which looked a little funny.

Zheng Chenggong was dumbfounded, pointed at Song Yingxing and said, "Mr. Chang Geng, why are you so ......?"

Seeing that it was Zheng Chenggong, Song Yingxing hurriedly twisted his face to the side, and the birds didn't bird him.

It was Feng Chengshi who explained: "General, when we develop artillery, we always fail to meet the requirements that the general said. For this reason, Mr. Song searched for books day after day, and even participated in the production himself. A few days ago, when the gun was tested, the gunpowder meter was too large, and the artillery exploded, almost killing Mr. Chang Geng. Let Mr. Chang Gung suffer this, it is not for us to wait, and please punish the general! After speaking, he bowed down and clenched his fists, waiting for Zheng Chenggong's fate.

Zheng Chenggong hurriedly helped Feng Chengshi up and said: "I also know that Brother Hengchen hopes to develop it as soon as possible, but the gunpowder is dangerous, Hengchen must pay more attention to safety measures in the future, and he can't let Mr. Chang Gung be killed again, do you hear?" ”

"Yes, General! Xia Guan will definitely not let Mr. Chang Gung suffer again! Feng Chengshi said busily.

Now there is no shortage of military generals who are charging into battle, and there is no shortage of civil officials who are good at governance, but what is lacking is military advisors and literati like Song Yingxing who understand science and technology in practice.

Song Yingxing had to be well protected, Zheng Chenggong turned his head to Song Yingxing and said: "It is clear and strict to let Mr. Chang Gung suffer this, fortunately Mr. Chang Gung is fine, otherwise Ming Yan will die and will not be able to get away with it!" Mr. Chang Gung, gunpowder is dangerous, and Mr. is also old, as long as he participates in the development in the future, he will leave the test to the soldiers. ”

Song Yingxing was still silent, but Feng Chengshi was afraid that the scene would be embarrassing, so he hurriedly said: "General, the artillery has not been improved successfully for the time being. But we have developed mines. ”

Since Song Yingxing arrived, he searched for books for days, and with the help of craftsmen and blacksmiths, he finally made the mine described by Zheng Chenggong.

Zheng Chenggong heard the busy and said, "Oh, let's take a look!" ”

"Yes, General!" After speaking, Feng Chengshi asked the soldiers to take out all the mines for Zheng Chenggong to see.

The mines were placed on a long table, and Zheng Chenggong carefully observed them one by one.

The mines are cast in pig iron, on an empty stomach, and are divided into two types, the large one has a diameter of 11 centimeters and weighs 1.7 kilograms, and the small one has a diameter of 8 centimeters and weighs 0.8 kilograms, and there are several protruding platforms on the surface of the sphere, which are about 0.6 centimeters high and about 1 centimeter in diameter. In the middle of the shell of the mine there is a small round hole about one centimeter in diameter, which is used to hold gunpowder and detonate the powder twist.

Put gunpowder and the like into it, compact it with a pestle, and fill it with crushed stone and iron. Seal the lead wire with yellow mud after penetrating the inside and outside. Dozens of mines were buried in a fire trough with long wires. A set of transmission mechanism is placed in the fire trough, plus a steel wheel and flint. This device increases the accuracy and reliability of the timing of mine detonation.

When the enemy passes by, steps on or trips over the rope, the falling stone in the transmission mechanism falls, driving the steel wheel to rotate, and rubbing sharply with the flint that is close to it, generating sparks, igniting the fire trough, and then detonating the mine.

According to the "Preparation of the Sea Chart", "The Actual Record of Military Training? According to books such as "Miscellaneous Collections" and "Wubei Zhi", there are more than 10 kinds of mines used by the Ming army. According to the detonation method, there are ignition, pulling, tripping, mechanical and so on. In addition to a single mine, there are also group mines that use a fuse to control the explosion, and a "mother and child mine" in which a mother mine explodes and detonates several sub-mines. Depending on the operational needs, mines can also be placed on vehicles, in buildings or carried by animals.

It's just that the time is short, and Song Yingxing and others have only improved the "mass mines" for the time being according to book records.

It didn't take long for Zheng Chenggong to finish reading it and asking, "Have you ever tested their power!" ”

Feng Chengshi hurriedly replied, "General Hui, there is." ”

"Oh, let me see how powerful it is."

"Yes!"

Feng Chengshi brought in five or six pigs that had already been prepared. With the sound of whips, the pig ran towards the mine.

The pig touched the machine, followed by dozens of consecutive "bumps", the barren mountain shook, the flames soared into the sky, the broken stone and iron pieces flew wildly, and the halfway up the mountain was surrounded by the whole dust and smoke.

Zheng Chenggong and the others were far away, but they were still dusty and gray-faced, and they couldn't stop coughing. Finally waiting for the smoke and dust to dissipate, Zheng Chenggong hurriedly stepped forward to check the effect of the explosion.

The pigs were all dead, two of them near the center of the explosion were blown to pieces, and the others were cut to death by fragments and iron balls.

Seeing this scene, Zheng Chenggong was very excited. Landmines are not very useful when attacking, but they are effective when defending.

Buried in the ground, the Qing cavalry did not dare to attack their formation. When you camp at night, you can sleep outside the camp and feel more at ease!

Zheng Chenggong said happily: "Don't waste the pork in good condition, use it to improve the apprentice's food." Hengchen, pass on my order, each apprentice will be rewarded with five taels of silver, each master will be rewarded with fifty taels, and those who have contributed will be rewarded with three hundred taels! ”

Mr. Chang Gung contributed the most, and Zheng Chenggong didn't dare to say that he would reward him in front of everyone. Otherwise, he, who pretends to be high and light on money like dung, will definitely think that he is insulting him.

Zheng Chenggong was also very helpless about the stinky problem of the literati, so he could only privately tell Feng Chengshi to increase the level of food for Mr. Song Yingxing, and at the same time send 1,000 taels to his wife and children.

and specially sent someone to find a set of Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci's co-translation of "Geometric Original", so that Song Yingxing's sense of Zheng Chenggong improved.

But it's only improved, and at most we don't turn our heads to the side.