The sappers of the Engineer Regiment were checking the most important steering device of the chariot, without which the wheels of the carriage would not be able to rotate as flexibly as the two-wheeled carriage.

Yu Chigong cautiously approached and looked at the small device carefully, he was also a blacksmith, and after carefully observing this device a few times, he also had some understanding. This steering device allows the front axle to be connected to the twin levers, but it is connected to the chassis by a rotating pivot that makes it easy to steer, and in one fell swoop solves the important obstacle of progression from two to four wheels. To put it bluntly, there is a hole in the middle of the front axle, which is connected to the frame, and the front axle is rigidly connected to the wheel, and the front axle can be transferred horizontally, which is a simple principle that can be understood at a glance. It is said that in the Spring and Autumn Period, the ancients in China had already made a four-wheeled copper carriage, and the four-wheeled carriage was also able to turn, but I don't know why the four-wheeled carriage was no longer used. Wei Chigong saw with his professional eye that although this steering device looks simple, it is not as simple as it seems, first of all, he has extremely high requirements for steel components, and ordinary copper and iron are not good, which is also the good steel made by the new steelmaking furnace that Huaihuang has today, as well as the output, so that this four-wheeled carriage can be mass-produced, and even create this kind of sturdy mobile fortress chariot.

"Good guys!" Wei Chigong praised from the bottom of his heart, as a former blacksmith, he didn't know how great this steering device was, but he knew very well how great the steelmaking furnace in Huaihuang was now, and now Huaihuang's horse chopping swords, cavalry knives, spear heads, etc. were all made of this newly smelted steel, and weapons made of this steel. The power has increased exponentially, and the plate armor made of this steel is much lighter than the iron armor. But the defense has increased a lot. What amazed him the most was the yield of this steelmaking method, which was not only better in quality than the original method, but also higher in output and more efficient.

Cheng Yanjin also muttered admiration on the side, and the two watched around the car again, reaching out and rubbing their hands from time to time.

The newly built Waihuang Chariot is intended to act as a kind of stronghold. He was required to be able to support the mobile operations of the troops.

When threatened, the vehicle quickly transforms into a defensive fortress. Under this design concept, Huaihuang created the first batch of combat vehicles. Its height and width were insurmountable by the imaginary enemy cavalry. The armored fighting vehicles used as a rampart were very heavy, and for this purpose they were equipped with a four-horseed carriage, which could also be a two-horse carriage, but with a four-horse rear carriage. Critical time. Horses that pull carts can also be untied and mounted for quick maneuvers to transport troops in special situations.

"This car seems to be wearing a piece of plate armor, and the Hu people's cavalry bow is estimated to not be able to shoot into it." Cheng Yanjin touched the car board and smiled.

In these chariots, the side panels of the chariots can be attached with ropes with heavy detachable wooden guards, and the side panels are slightly inclined outwards to ensure that when the left side reinforcement plate is lowered, the guard plate can fall out of the wheel without getting stuck. Even the four wheels of the chariot. They have also been modified and reinforced, far surpassing ordinary four-wheeled carriages. This reduces wear on both sides of the inclined walls, as well as on the axles and the frame on the wheels while traveling.

These plates were made of sturdy elm planks, reinforced by a loop of rope around the outside, and a thin layer of steel on the outermost part, which made them armor plates, which greatly improved their defensive performance and made them fireproof. Greatly strengthens the protection of the crossbowmen inside the vehicle body, reducing the threat to them from projectile weapons.

In addition, the armored fighting vehicle is equipped with a heavier, taller than the body of the body, with a triangular arrow hole on it, which the crossbowmen can use to shoot in the car. Instead of fighting, this armor plate was put down to become the roof cover of the carriage, making the carriage an enclosed space to protect it from rain and wind.

"Look at that." Cheng Yanjin found a new device, and he pointed to the bottom of the carriage and shouted to Wei Chi.

Wei Chi looked at it, it was a kind of long armor plank under the car, at a glance, it was known that this kind of plank was used to block the effect of the bow and arrow, and to prevent the enemy from approaching, climb in from under the car, this kind of plank was put away when traveling. After connecting the chariots, they are placed between the wheels under the chariots.

In the event of an enemy, the thick suspended armor plates on the vehicle are placed on the side facing the enemy, and the other side of the vehicle has a narrow door that can be lowered and retracted like a drawbridge to allow the soldiers in the carriage to enter and exit.

"Hey, you two!" A stern voice sounded behind him.

Yu Chigong and Cheng Yanjin turned their heads and saw a man wearing a wide-brimmed felt hat, an otter skin cloak, and a red brocade robe, with a sturdy figure and a dark and stern face. His hair was cut short, standing on his head like a steel needle, and it was blonde. The face is also very different from that of the Han people in the Central Plains, with deep eye sockets and a high nose bridge, although the skin is a little dark, but it is different from the black of the Han people, and he can be regarded as much whiter than Wei Chi Gonglai. His hat was pressed very low, but the inches on both sides were exposed, and the chest of his red brocade coat exposed by the otter skin cloak carried three bronze medals about the same size as the silver medal for meritorious service, and there was a row of small characters on each of them, Wei Chigong recognized it at once, and two of the three medals were battle medals, namely the Shihe Battle Victory Medal and the Taoshan Battle Victory Medal. This is a commemorative medal awarded to the soldiers who participated in these two battles. And the latter one, it is a little unusual, it is a military medal with silver edges, that is a medal of valor, it is not a grade higher than the medal, as long as the extremely heroic watch in the battle, it is possible to receive the medal, and this kind of medal will only be awarded after the war, and it is not for the extremely brave soldiers who do not get it. The Huaihuang Army fought twice, and last time, the great commander Yi Feng also selected eighteen soldiers who were particularly outstanding and awarded this medal of bravery.

Unexpectedly, the short-haired Hu man opposite actually participated in two wars and won the Medal of Valor. Wei Chigong and Cheng Yanjin did not have the authenticity of Huaihuang's medal, and no one dared to make a fake medal to hang on their chests. That's looking for death. Wei Chigong felt a sense of respect in his heart, and looked at the other party carefully, the felt hat on the head of the short-haired bearded man was blue tassels. Dark blue helmet. In addition, he had a sword and a saber pressed on his waist, and a golden spur was inlaid with the hilt. All this fully shows that the blonde bearded man standing in front of them is an officer of the ninth grade, either a general of the Kou or a martyred general.

"Badge!" The head of the blonde bearded team shouted unceremoniously.

Wei Chigong and Cheng Yanjin didn't dare to say anything, and the other party was a nine-rank officer. Rank higher than them. According to today's military regulations, the order of the military ranks is based on military ranks, regardless of whether they belong to the same battalion or regiment. When the lower level sees the high level, they all have to salute. Although the two of them are Yi Feng's righteous sons and students, in fact, the two have never had a military rank before, and this time they went on an expedition. Yi Feng didn't put a few more students and Yizi by his side. For Yi Feng. Although several students are the seeds he has chosen, no matter how famous these people are in history. But if you blindly keep them around, it is tantamount to keeping them in a greenhouse, which is not good for them. Therefore, after personally taking them by his side for half a year, this time Yi Feng finally put them all into the team.

And Yi Feng didn't give them the rank of officer immediately, but asked them to start as small soldiers.

Wei Chigong and Cheng Yanjin both wanted to go to the cavalry camp, but they were vetoed by Yi Feng, and the cavalry troops were still full of danger. Although he wants to put a few people down to sharpen, he also plans to take his time. Gradual. After all, the two were still too young, so in the end, the two were thrown into the chariot battalion by Yi Feng, Wei Chigong was a heavy infantryman, Cheng Yanjin was a pikeman, and both of them were currently the lowest first-class guards.

The two took out a wooden card hanging from their waists and handed it to the leader of the Hu people. On this military badge are the identity cards of the two people, with the identity characteristics of the two people, their place of origin, and the type of troops, as well as the unique soldier number. These are not fake, and there are backups in the army. In normal times, it is a pass plate, and if you die in battle, you will eventually use this number plate to identify your identity. Ordinary soldiers are wooden medals, iron medals are above five seniors, and bronze medals are for officers.

After the team leader took the two wooden cards and carefully examined them, he compared them with the two again, and finally nodded with a calm face and said, "Are you done with the tour?" ”

"Yes, sir!" Wei Chigong and Cheng Yanjin replied in unison, they stood upright according to the standard posture, and in a uniform movement, they struck their right hands into a fist on their left chest to complete the military salute.

"I am Liu Sheng, the leader of the left team of the Second Regiment A Brigade of the Chariot Battalion, and our brigade is also known as the Salt Lake Brigade." This Hu Ren team leader, who has a standard Han name and also speaks authentic Chinese, returns the salute with standard and powerful movements, no worse than the two.

Liu Sheng returned the name tags of the two to the two, and looked at the two in a circle, "Yesterday, the brigade headquarters said that today two outstanding soldiers will be assigned to the left team, and it is said that you were originally teaching the elite of the regiment. He circled around the two of them, but in the end he didn't find anything wrong. What rank are you now? ”

"Report to the chief, Wei Chigong, now he is a senior guard."

"Report to the chief, Cheng Biting Jin, now he is a senior guard."

A string of laughter suddenly sounded next to him, just now everyone saw that these two guys looked very high, and thought they were a senior sergeant, there were no nine or ten seniors, and there had to be a six or seven seniors. But I didn't think that they were all one capital. Everyone here is higher than these two boys.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Sheng asked again.

"Report sir, we have been ordered to report."

"Report?" Liu Sheng first sneered, and then suddenly roared at the two, "Since you're here to report, then what are you still standing here for?" Wait for the whole team to line up and welcome? ”

"Sir" Cheng Yanjin was sprayed and stammered a little, not knowing how to answer.

"You should have come here half an hour ago, half an hour late, and you're still here to see the scenery!"

"Don't dare next time"

"Put away your smiling face, I don't like men, and I don't have that hobby. Put your teeth away, too, for the next time you'll have to pick them up on the ground. I don't care how you get mixed up in the teaching group, but don't even think about mixing up when you get to my fleet. Hear me clearly? ”

"Yes, sir!" Cheng Yanjin and Wei Chigong hurriedly put away their smiling faces, and now that both of them know, this team leader obviously wants to use the two of them to establish their authority and make an example of them.

"Good." Liu Sheng pointed to the handle of his horse chopping knife and said, "See, this is Jin Zhentou, Lao Tzu is the general of Yankou, and he is on the ninth grade." No matter how you got into the teaching regiment before, and how you were kicked out, in short, this is the left team of the Second Regiment of the Chariot Battalion, first, Lao Tzu is the leader. Second, Lao Tzu ordered you to obey unconditionally, and third, Lao Tzu didn't want to hear your nonsense anymore, understand? ”

"Yes, sir!" The two replied in unison again.

Liu Sheng shook his head and called over a big man with a bare head, the man was missing two front teeth, which looked a little funny, but his face was fierce, especially the big bald head with such a small piece of short hair on his forehead, and two big gold rings on his ears. This is the new captain of the two.

The commander was not polite to the two young guys, and directly assigned them the task of carrying the on-board equipment to the car.

According to the tank battalion, in addition to the soldiers and their weapons, the vehicles are also equipped with a number of on-board equipment, including a fixed large wooden box equipped with a number of stone projectiles for throwing stones, as well as axes, throwing guns, and shovels. Shovels are used to clear roads or fortify defenses on the march, and the standard equipment for each vehicle is two axes, two shovels, two pickaxes, two hoes, two shovels, and a hook and chain.

There was also a bucket between the wheels of the chariot that was used to extinguish fires and also to drink horses, and on each chariot, a flag was hung with a human tiger holding a shield.

A chariot has ten chariots, with ten commanders and twenty drivers below.

However, each vehicle also had a combat squad of twenty men, usually composed of ten individual crossbowmen, four hoplites, four pikemen, and two sword and shield men.

The combat personnel of the combat vehicle and the personnel of the convoy cooperate in the operation, one is responsible for driving and the other is responsible for the operation.

The two drivers of the chariot were responsible for driving, and the commander was responsible for directing and observing.

The shieldmen and heavy infantry of the chariot men stood in the gap between the chain of chariots, and the pikemen surrounded the chariots to block direct enemy attacks on the chariot walls. Only ranged crossbowmen will attack from inside the carriages protected by armor plates. Now Wei Chigong is a heavy infantry in the chariot troops, and Cheng Yanjin is a pikeman who protects the chariot. But now, both of them were instructed by the commander to carry the same equipment to the chariot, tired panting and sweating like rain, while their comrades in the same chariot sat there one by one wiping their armor and weapons, and none of them came up to help. (To be continued......)