The master and apprentice under the tree didn't know that they would be shocked by Zhu Di's shining debut later, and they were still having the ending conversation.

"Why can artillery be cast in steel? Even if this can be achieved with machines, but the raw materials for steelmaking remain the same, wouldn't all the artillery made in that way be sky-high? ”

Zhu Gaoxu was still puzzled, which means that although the Ming army began to try to cast cannons from steel in the Hongwu Dynasty, this attempt was not successful.

At that time, the technology used to fry molten iron to reduce the carbon content of the iron, and then put the mold of the iron cannon into a kiln to simmer to decarburize the cast iron into steel.

But this method is too troublesome and too costly, so after it is built, the old men of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies will simply forget it!

After that, the Ming army never tried again, and when the battle of Jingyan began, because the artillery of this era was too heavy, it was all city defense artillery rather than field artillery, and most of the cities in the north were destroyed, so it was not much use.

Therefore, in Zhu Gaoxu's cognition, artillery is made of copper and stone, and steel sounds good, and the pitiful steel output can be used to make cannons that cost thousands of pounds, which is probably still impossible to complete, and it is too expensive.

"So, you can't look at the creations of the industrial age with the thinking of the agricultural age."

Jiang Xinghuo said with a smile: "The production in the agricultural era is to watch the sky and eat, God said that if it doesn't rain this year, that is, it won't rain, and people have no other way than to build water conservancy projects to store water." But the industrial age is different, industrial products are different from food, input raw materials, through manual and machine production, produce finished products, people can control every step in this, there are few external interference factors. ”

"The same principle is also put on the production of military supplies, machine tools, that is, the machine that makes the machine, you don't ask the question of having a chicken and then an egg, in short, the accuracy of the machine tool is improved, it will drive the progress of the machine, for example, the steam engine can improve the efficiency of coal digging, and then improve the ability to smelt iron, and then create a better machine tool, at which time, the machine tool to make the cannon mold must be much more exquisite than the mold of the Ming army."

In fact, Jiang Xinghuo did not talk about one thing, that is, in the history of his previous life, until 1856, after Henry Becker Mai invented the Baker's wheat converter steelmaking method, he used oxygen to replace air in the converter to make steel, so as to eliminate one of the shortcomings of the Baker's wheat converter method, that is, the steel has a high nitrogen and phosphorus content, and the production cost of steel is reduced enough to be produced and used in large quantities.

But this point is too troublesome to talk about, Jiang Xinghuo is only to let him understand the difference between the manufacturing power of the industrial country era and the agricultural country through the industrial progress in the "military" aspect that Zhu Gaoxu is most interested in.

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a moment, and then asked: "Mr. Jiang said that artillery can be cast from steel in the future, and the volume can be reduced, so in this way, the fire gun (musket) can also be reduced?" ”

Jiang Xinghuo was stunned, he didn't expect Zhu Gaoxu to be so sharp in military affairs, he nodded and replied.

"Of course."

——————

Turn back a little bit.

"What are you doing holding me back?"

Zhu Di looked at the big man hanging on his arm with a sullen face.

"Father, calm down!" Zhu Gaochi didn't explain, but just hugged Zhu Di and didn't let him push the wall.

Zhu Di became more and more angry the more he thought about it at this time!

Industrialization, Zhu Di is just listening to the freshness, in order to implement the reform to force himself to understand.

But the military industry is different!

This is related to the combat effectiveness of the army that Zhu Di cares about the most.

I have already heard the most critical time, and there is no sound at this time, isn't this more uncomfortable than holding back?

And just when Zhu Di's powerful hands pressed on the wall again.

The voice of his stupid son came again, and Zhu Di's hand that was about to exert his strength stopped, his brows furrowed.

"Firebolt, can it also be reduced?"

As the world's No. 1 general, Zhu Di knows very well that firearms have a role on the battlefield.

Because from the beginning of the Battle of Baigou River, Zhu Di was tortured by firearms like a large group of mosquitoes, and Guo Ying, one of the twenty-four generals of Huaixi, used the "three-stage attack" tactics learned from Mu Ying and the "swarm of bees" fire arrows to make Zhu Di's cavalry raid fail; In the two battles of Dongchang and Jiahe, Sheng Yong also used a car formation with firearms to continuously delay Zhu Di's offensive.

Therefore, Zhu Di also began to study the role of firearms, and had long had the intention of forming a "Shenji Battalion" with a combination of chariot soldiers, firearms soldiers, crossbow men, and light and heavy infantry to cooperate with the main cavalry troops.

At this time, Jiang Xinghuo's words undoubtedly made Zhu Di more confident.

But Jiang Xinghuo's next words made Zhu Di a little unhappy.

Jiang Xinghuo's voice came: "Not only can the fire gun shrink, but the fire gun, together with the artillery and the ironclad car I just mentioned, will definitely become the main force of land warfare in the future, and now the traditional archers, cavalry, etc., will all die out." ”

Zhu Di frowned and said softly:

"I don't know what kind of nonsense the soldiers are!"

The military concept of "cavalry is king" has long been integrated into the soul of the world's first general with the glorious victory of one brutal battle after another.

Zhu Di relied on the brave and warlike Youyan Iron Cavalry and Daning Jing Cavalry to win the victory of the Battle of Jingyan, although he also attached great importance to the application of firearms, but only valued it.

After all, Zhu Di was the number one general at that time who fought all the way from blood and fire!

Jiang Xinghuo, maybe other aspects can convince Zhu Di.

In the military field, Zhu Di has absolute confidence in his own views!

From the bottom of his heart, Zhu Di didn't think that he could win the war by relying on this set, but it was just something used to disgust people.

It's okay to stick to harassment, but there is no advantage in other areas.

Guo Ying and Sheng Yong relied on this set of things, but they just caused him some trouble, can they really stop his invincible iron horse from winning the final victory?

Of course not!

Therefore, Zhu Di easily came to a conclusion from his countless victorious experiences and extreme confidence in the war.

- Jiang Xinghuo, it's wrong!

But at this time, Jiang Xinghuo seemed to be competing with Zhu Di across a wall.

Although Zhu Gaoxu was not convinced, he still maintained his usual respect for Mr. Jiang, and he asked: "Mr. Jiang, do you think that the armored cavalry (heavy armored cavalry) will also lose its role on the battlefield in the future?" ”

"Of course." Jiang Xinghuo said affirmatively, "Not to mention the power of artillery shells, let alone the future, even now, even if it is a stone cannonball, it can easily crush the heavy armored cavalry into powder In the future, the artillery will also change from the current solid bullet to a flowering projectile, which will be more lethal to people and horses, just like the mud bomb thrown by the cannon (trebuchet) in the Song Dynasty, but it was exploded from the gunpowder." ”

"As for the firecracker, with the progress of industry, the penetration of the projectile and its own rate of fire and range will also exceed that of the infantry bow and pedal crossbow, and at that time, the armor of the heavy cavalry will be completely unable to defend against the gun."

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he couldn't help but look pale.

Although emotionally, Zhu Gaoxu has difficulty accepting the future war described by Jiang Xinghuo.

However, in view of Mr. Jiang's sacred position in his heart, if what Mr. Jiang said is true, then in this way, the manufacturing power of the industrial age, not to mention anything else, is indeed far beyond that of an agricultural country in terms of war alone.

And this disparity, whether it is a cannon that can be moved in the field, or a firearm that is more powerful than a crossbow, or even a chariot that is armed with iron armor and carries artillery to fight, is indeed beyond the limit of his imagination.

Zhu Gaoxu took a few deep breaths, calmed down his agitated heart, and looked at Jiang Xinghuo again: "Then Mr. Jiang thinks that the light cavalry and heavy cavalry in the future are really useless?" ”

Zhuo Jing didn't care about this issue at all, but Zheng He was quite concerned.

After all, Zheng He is not only a military attaché, but also one of the best warriors in the Yanwang Mansion, if it is a future war, it is really like Jiang Xinghuo said, dominated by firecrackers and artillerymen, then in his opinion, it is really boring.

Jiang Xinghuo shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Maybe you don't like to hear it." ”

Zhu Gaoxu, who has recently changed his temper greatly, said, "It's okay, Mr. Jiang, please speak." ”

Jiang Xinghuo said slowly: "The advantage of the cavalry that dominates the battlefield now is that it is fast and mobile, the light cavalry can run long distances and make long-range roundabouts, and the heavy cavalry is like a strong wind when it charges into battle, and it is unstoppable. ”

"In the future, if we compare the positioning to a similar position, the ironclad chariot that charges into battle has two advantages compared to the heavy cavalry.

First, the impact ability of the ironclad chariot is stronger, and the heavily armored cavalry often needs people and horses to wear armor, and then lead the horse on foot, then get on the horse and stride forward, and finally speed up the sprint, and can only rush one or two rounds at most, while the ironclad chariot can sprint repeatedly, and it is almost impossible to run out of power.

Second, the defense capability of the ironclad chariot is also stronger, and to crack the Tiefutu, there is still the Yuejia army's horse-leg cutting method, but the ironclad chariot is immune to all cold weapons, knives and axes and chisels, in front of the ironclad chariot, it is as ridiculous as a mantis arm. ”

Zhu Gaoxu immediately understood what Jiang Xinghuo meant-just compare the ironclad chariot with the heavy cavalry with the same positioning, the ironclad chariot not only has a strong defensive ability, but also has a very strong assault force, once this iron-clad monster breaks through the enemy's defensive line, it is like a tiger pounced into a flock, and any defense will be meaningless!

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu was a little looking forward to what kind of experience he would really have when he drove an ironclad chariot one day.

Jiang Xinghuo was a little stunned at this time.

He sighed and continued: "As for the musketeers and artillerymen at the infantry level, you may not believe it when you say it. In a future that I saw, the Westerners relied on these, facing the impact of tens of thousands of Mongolian elite cavalry fearless to death, killing and wounding thousands of people, and successfully defeating the Mongolian cavalry, and themselves. ”

"—less than a hundred casualties."

"Impossible!"

With a "boom", the low and dangerous wall next to the new crooked neck tree suddenly collapsed!

A burly figure appeared in the flying dust.

(End of chapter)