(Thank you for the monthly pass of the three-headed Holy Dragon Knight!) ）

"Young marshal, generals. This is a new 55mm heavy howitzer developed by our arsenal. The caliber is 55 mm, the barrel is twelve times longer caliber. The range of high and low shots is 0 degrees to 42 degrees. The shell weighed 42 kilograms, the muzzle velocity of the shell was 25 meters per second, the maximum firing range was 7,500 meters, and the gun weighed 2.5 tons. Now that the improvements have been completed, it is ready for mass production! This cannon, we intend to name it the Type 9 55mm heavy howitzer," Tang Mu, director of the R&D center of the Chengdu Arsenal, personally introduced to Wang Yuze and others. Although he is now in his fifties, this old man, who has devoted himself to military research since his early years, still seems to be in good spirits. He is involved in the research and development of every kind of cannon in western Sichuan, from the old cannon that has long been eliminated to the new cannon that is being researched now, all of which are soaked with his painstaking efforts.

Looking at the cannon with the barrel raised in front of him, Wang Yuze and the military bigwigs were very happy. Cannons are known as the gods of war, and heavy artillery is extremely powerful. If the Western Sichuan Army is equipped with heavy artillery, the ability to attack the city will definitely be able to enhance a lot. Like in the last war, in the face of the city walls of Xi'an and Jingshi, if hundreds of heavy artillery can be mobilized, it is enough to collapse the strong city walls.

"This artillery is good, I can equip a company in each division. Moreover, the General Staff could create one or two separate artillery brigades, which would be used in the event of a major war. I think it will definitely play a very good role! Wang Yuze said with a smile.

"You might think about it. The heavy artillery was too heavy, though. It can also be used in the western part of Sichuan, but out of the western Sichuan, the road conditions are very bad. It's hard for this kind of heavy artillery to keep up with the speed of the troops! Jiang Xingguo, who is already the Minister of Defense, said. A heavy cannon of 2.5 tons had to be dragged by at least eight or more war horses. In the case of poor road conditions in the country, the combat power of this heavy artillery will be greatly reduced.

"That's right. But our enemies were not only the Manchus, but also the Great Powers. In the face of the great powers, we must have heavy artillery. A howitzer of 55 mm caliber is just the beginning, we also need heavy guns of a larger caliber. 20-mm heavy howitzer. 05mm heavy howitzers, we all need to be equipped with these. In addition, naval artillery of the Navy. The arsenal also needs to start the eyes early. Compared with the artillery used by the army, the caliber of naval artillery is larger and the requirements are stricter, and I hope that Director Tang can study more for me in western Sichuan. Stronger cannons! Wang Yuze said. After defeating the Manchus, it was inevitable that Western Sichuan would have to face the great powers. When the time comes, it will be an even greater challenge for Kawanishi. Although everyone is very convinced of the combat effectiveness of the Western Sichuan Army, but all the same. It is also necessary to provide sophisticated weapons and equipment for the western Sichuan army.

"Don't worry, young marshal, I just let go of this old bone, and I will also make more and better weapons for Sichuanxi!" Tang Mu immediately assured. Researching more and better weapons for the Western Sichuan Army has become the lifelong belief of the old man.

Subsequently, Tang Mu took Wang Yuze and them to visit other cannons under development. Such as 05 mm cannon. 50-mm cannon and so on. Compared with howitzers, the cannon barrel is longer, and the caliber is 0 times, and the firing range can reach more than ten kilometers. But. Kawanishi is relatively weak in this regard. Intensive research is currently underway. However, Tang Mu introduced that within three to five years, it will be able to be mass-produced and finalized.

After visiting the heavy artillery, Tang Mu took Wang Yuze and his party to the mortar research and development area.

"Major Marshal, this is a mortar of 0 mm caliber, developed in accordance with the requirements of the army. After the successful research, mortars of 7 mm caliber can be eliminated from the army. A 60 mm caliber mortar will be deployed to the platoon, and the company level will be replaced with this 0 mm caliber mortar. Other than that. We are also working on a heavy mortar with a caliber of 20 mm, after the success of the research. Will provide powerful fire support for infantry in battle! Tang Mu excitedly introduced Wang Yuze and the others. At this moment, he is like a parent who introduces his outstanding child to others. He was also very happy after being recognized by others.

Wang Yuze and a group of military bigwigs, looking at these artillery pieces that were being studied, were also excited in their hearts. I have to admit that a large part of the reason for the strength of the Western Sichuan Army is reflected in the equipment. If the Western Sichuan Army used the same equipment as the Qing Army, even if the Western Sichuan Army could achieve victory, I am afraid that the casualties and costs paid would be much greater. The Arsenal R&D Center is the place where the Western Sichuan Army continues to provide weapons that are stronger than the opponent, and this is also the place where the Western Sichuan Army can achieve victory.

Next, Wang Yuze and the others also visited the research and development center for heavy machine guns and other firearms. The Makqin heavy machine gun now used by the Western Sichuan Army, although powerful, is too bulky and heavy, weighing up to 2 kilograms. At present, the Chengdu Arsenal's latest heavy machine gun will be changed from water-cooled to air-cooled, and after the successful research, the weight will be reduced to less than 25 kilograms, making it more convenient to carry. In addition, the arsenal is working on light machine guns to strengthen the firepower of each infantry squad.

"Director Tang, can you design a grenade that shoots with a rifle? The range does not need to be too far, 200 meters is enough, and the grenade relies on the shock wave generated when the propellant in the bullet burns to propel the grenade into flight, such as using empty cartridges instead of live ammunition to fire grenades. In this way, in combination with the light machine gun, the firepower of the infantry squad will be further strengthened! Wang Yuze said. In fact, it was the grenades that he proposed that were widely used after the twentieth century. It's just that the power is relatively small now, and it hasn't been paid attention to.

"Well, that's a good idea. I had to write it down and then organize someone to study it. Don't worry, we will do our best to take out samples! Tang Mu said excitedly.

By the time I left the arsenal, it was already dark. Wang Yuze and the military bigwigs have spent a day inside unconsciously. However, after this visit, they also saw the strength of western Sichuan more clearly. For the overthrow of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in western Sichuan, and even joining the great powers, he is more confident in the struggle for world hegemony. Although the foundations of western Sichuan are still slightly deficient compared with those of the great powers. But Kawanishi is catching up, and with the wisdom and diligence of the Chinese, everyone believes that Kawanishi will succeed.

At the end of the 9th year, Wang Yuze left Chengdu and began to secretly inspect the provinces below western Sichuan. This time, though, his main target is the newly incorporated provinces of western Sichuan. Starting from Chengdu, head south from Panzhihua into Yunnan. When passing through Panzhihua, Wang Yuze once again inspected Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group. At present, the steel group is being expanded, and it is expected to be completed and put into operation in the middle of next year, when the pig iron output and steel output of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group will be doubled, reaching an annual output of 100,000 tons of iron and 50,000 tons of steel, making Sichuan West have the leading steel output in Asia. According to the historical data known to Wang Yuze, this year's pig iron output is 1.9 million tons in France, 4.1 million tons in Germany, 7.5 million tons in Britain, and 8.4 million tons in the United States. Steel production is 750,000 tons in France, 2.45 million tons in Germany, 3.2 million tons in the United Kingdom, and 4 million tons in the United States. The beginning of the twentieth century was an era of competition for steel, so there was still a long way to go for western Sichuan to catch up with the great powers.

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is a relatively poor region in China. Along the way, Wang Yuze found that the lives of the people here and western Sichuan are completely one heaven and one underground. In western Sichuan, after more than 20 years of government efforts, the problem of food and clothing has been basically solved, but the people of these two provinces have not even been able to solve the problem of survival. However, the government is already working to improve. When the land is distributed to the farmers, they have hope for the future. And for Sichuan West and Wang Xiao's father and son, they are even more grateful to Dade.

From Yunnan to Guizhou, and from Guizhou to Hubei. Compared with Yunnan and Guizhou, Hubei has much better living conditions than Yunnan and Guizhou due to geographical factors. Due to the exploitation of landlords and the government before, the life of the common people was more difficult. However, after the defeat of the Manchus in western Sichuan, the control of Hubei, and the reform of the western Sichuan model, although only half a year has passed, the lives of the common people have begun to change. He is also very supportive of the western Sichuan government. The common people of China are undoubtedly the most simple, as long as they can eat enough, they are very satisfied.

In Wuhan, Wang Yuze inspected the Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, and Wang Yuze also raised high expectations for this iron and steel group. If you want to catch up with the great powers, it is very difficult to rely only on two or three steel bases in western Sichuan, and you must blossom in all directions. After learning about the annual output of Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, Wang Yuze asked the competent authorities to increase production and increase production capacity as much as possible. At present, the infrastructure construction in western Sichuan is in full swing, and there are still many places where steel needs to be used.

From Hubei to Shaanxi, the comprehensive construction here has begun. In Shaanxi, a number of railways have begun construction, and the whole of Shaanxi is like a busy construction site.

After the inspection, Wang Yuze returned to Chengdu from Shaanxi and rushed home a year ago. The Cabinet has begun to summarize last year's work. In the past nine years, Sichuan's fiscal revenue has reached 127 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent. Of course, the war reparations were not counted, and the Manchu Qing was only more than 80 million. On the side of the Great Powers, France was 100 million francs, Germany was 700 million marks, Russia was 900 million rubles, Britain was 100 million pounds, and the United States was 400 million dollars. If converted to Chinese dollars, Sichuanxi's fiscal revenue ranks only behind the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. (The above number jù is obtained through the world history statistics jù of Guò Palgre, and Xiaoyu does not know whether it is accurate or not, so the setting of this book is here for the time being!) If there is a mistake, I hope that the book friends Haihan! ）

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