Suburbs.

The craftsmen of the armor experimental field are still beating the trial production of cotton armor, and the new four-wheeled van has been made.

In the past, there was no rush to do it, but there were too many vans needed for the war, and they were mainly pushed and pulled by civilian men and auxiliary soldiers.

Now that it has been five years since the founding of the country, Zhu Ming deliberately collected and bred mules.

A large number of mules and four-wheeled vans can effectively reduce the number of people who are requisitioned, and can also increase the speed of logistics and transportation - of course, the rough and narrow sections of the road still have to rely on the people and mules and horses.

As for why mules were chosen, they were easier to raise than horses, and more docile and obedient than donkeys.

"This kind of four-wheeled vehicle that can turn is much more expensive than ordinary four-wheeled vehicles......"

"It can save people, it can speed up transportation, and it is worth the high cost."

Zhu Ming asked the driver to take a test drive, and the result made him very satisfied.

China has had four-wheeled carriages since ancient times, but it has always lacked a steering system because of ...... There is no real need.

A large chariot like that used to pull goods needs to be supported by four wheels if it exceeds a certain load. One is to reduce the burden on the animals pulling the cart, and the other is to fear that the wheels and wheels will not be able to bear it.

But pulling a few tons of goods must be very slow, and you don't need a special steering system to turn the direction around.

As for the vehicle shock absorption system, it has also existed since ancient times.

One is called "Fu Rabbit", also called "clogs". It sits between the chassis and the axle and acts like a leaf spring in an automobile, dampening and stabilizing the axle.

The other is called "dangtu", which is a part that connects the wheel and the axle, which also has a stable and shock-absorbing effect, and can effectively prevent the wheel from wearing and breaking.

Of course, it's certainly not as good as a spring, and it's not as good as a real leaf spring.

Europe, like ancient China, had four-wheeled carriages for a long time, but because of the high cost and low demand, it never became popular - until the Hussite Wars!

The Hussite army used four-wheeled carriages as chariots, which were then formed into chariot formations, and trenches were dug in front of the chariots. Each vehicle is equipped with about 20 soldiers, consisting of crossbowmen, halberders, sword and shield men, flail men, and musketeers.

After forming a chariot formation, provoke the enemy to attack with artillery fire, and then use bows and crossbows and muskets to shoot, relying on the chariot formation for defense.

After weakening the enemy and disarray, the cavalry and infantry rushed out of the chariot formation to harvest.

It's much the same as China's car formation tactics.

It's just that the Chinese chariots are pushed by people, while the Hussite chariots are pulled by horses.

The role of the four-wheel steering carriage, in addition to the advantages of logistics and transportation, is that it can quickly and narrowly turn when forming a formation.

Now, Zhu Ming has come up with a combination of the Late Ming Chariot and the Hussite Chariot!

Wei Xuezeng, who was dismissed by Zhang Juzheng, personally set out to improve the side van when he was the secretary of the military department, and this kind of chariot equipment can be described as frenzied.

Instead of chains to connect the wagons, it erected spears on wooden racks. This wooden frame can be disassembled, and twelve spears can be inserted, which can be placed between the chariots to resist horses.

Each vehicle has twenty-five soldiers, and two furlong cannons are fired directly into the vehicle. There is also a thunder cannon on the ground, which is a small cannon similar to a tiger squat cannon. There were also six musketeers, all armed with rapid muskets. There are also non-commissioned officers equipped with traditional weapons.

It can be called a mobile fortress, but the disadvantage is that it is too bulky to fight over a large area and over long distances.

"Get it all on, rehearse!"

A total of only two four-wheeled chariots were made, and with Zhu Ming's order, the soldiers moved sandbags to the carts, and at the same time put all kinds of ordnance on them.

Sandbags imitate baggage and are replaced with grain bags when marching.

Four mules pulled a cart, and the driver whipped it up, followed by the sergeants.

They mimic the state of marching, and there are puddles and small slopes in the field. As soon as the four-wheeled chariot was difficult to cross, the soldiers came to help push it.

"Enemy troops are found miles away, and they are in formation!"

The coachman received the order and hurriedly drove the mule to turn, and the two chariots stopped four or five meters apart.

The driver first fixed the wheels, then untied the wheels, led the mules away, and pulled them back into the chariot formation to take shelter.

The soldiers got out of the car with iron chains, and Zhu Ming did not use the horses to reject them, but still used iron chains. However, between the two carts, four iron chains were hung together, which was convenient for their own soldiers to take off, and made it difficult for the enemy to get rid of all of them.

After hanging the chains, the soldiers went to sprinkle thistles again.

And the soldiers were also in action, and when they were "marching" just now, their armor was all on the cart. Now help each other put on armor and pick up various weapons.

The four-wheeled carriage that was fixed was very smooth, and the soldiers fought directly on the carriage.

The baffles on both sides of the carriage were turned into anti-arrow fortifications, and special shooting holes were also left.

Crossbowmen and musketeers, quickly standing in firing positions. Spearmen, armed with waist knives, were responsible for protecting them from the enemy's approach.

The artillerymen also took out the small cannons from the car and set them up on the chains between the two cars, which did not get in the way of the small cannons.

"The enemy is a hundred paces away!" Zhu Ming shouted.

The ranged units immediately pricked up their ears to listen to the order, and if it was a real battle at this time, the larger caliber artillery would have been fired long ago.

Large-caliber field artillery, likewise with gun carriages on wheels, and a series of changes were made.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Boom, boom!"

"Woohoo!"

Flintlock pistols fire, cannons fire shotguns, and crossbowmen shoot arrows. And it was alternate firing, and within a few tens of meters in front, it was covered by a variety of shells and arrows.

The flintlock pistol, which began mass production last year, has a completely unified caliber, as well as paper-shelled ammunition. Although there is a slight difference in size, it does not affect the battle, and the soldier does not have to suppress the bullet himself.

Elite flintlock musketeers can already do four shots a minute!

Yang Zhi smacked his lips and muttered: "This improvement of the car formation, if I am an enemy general, I don't know how to deal with it at all." ”

Zhang Bo said: "The chariot is thick and bulky, and it is not easy to climb over Yanshan Mountain and Taihang Mountain. If we fight with the Jin people again, Shanxi and Youzhou should be mainly defensive, while the main force of our army will take Jinzhou directly by the seaway. Take Jinzhou, and then go to Liaoyang, don't storm the Xiongguan of Yanshan and Taihang Mountain. ”

Wang Yuan nodded: "It's time to take Liaodong directly." ”

The officials of the Privy Council, who did not want to be stupid to fight north, now that the chariot has been improved, their views have become more consistent.

What is the to completely recover the sixteen states of Yanyun?

That's a fixed mindset!

A Xiongguan like Yanmen Pass is not easy to fight with artillery. Once the attack is strong, it will be protracted, countless food will be consumed, and there will be many casualties.

Pick a suitable season to avoid muddy roads and march east from Ponkaido. Then let the navy ships and transport divisions cooperate across the sea.

One is positive and one is strange, and it is very good to win Jinzhou.

Next, Liaoyang, the hinterland of the Jin Kingdom, was exposed to the Ming Dynasty.

After taking Liaoyang, half of the Jin country was paralyzed, and it was the most important grain producing area of the Jin country.

Zhu Ming said: "The Ministry of Industry has been ordered to build 10,000 four-wheeled chariots within two years. ”

This order can drive the Ministry of Industry crazy.

Traditionally, the Ministry of Industry would issue orders to the localities to call up registered craftsmen to serve. The government only needs to provide materials and food, and if the service is longer, it will also give some wages as appropriate.

At present, the poll tax usually paid by craftsmen is used, and craftsmen are hired to work on a semi-compulsory basis. If there is a shortfall in funds, the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Industry will allocate funds to supplement it.

The timber hoarded by the usual commercial tax should also be taken out at this time and uniformly transferred by the officials of the Ministry of Industry.

An official of Honglu Temple trotted to the test site.

"Your Highness, the envoy of the Sedu Kingdom has entered Beijing," said the official of the Honglu Temple, "According to the accompanying city officials, this Sedu Country is the great food of the past." After they destroyed the Great Eclipse, they have been trading with the former Song Dynasty as a Great Eclipse Country. ”

Zhu Ming nodded and said, "Got it, summon me at a later date." ”

The Great Eclipse is actually still there, but the monarch has become a puppet.

When the Seljuk Empire conquered Baghdad, it took control of the Caliphate. The sultan of the Seljuk Empire also forcibly married the daughter of the caliph in an attempt to smoothly transfer his legal rule through marriage.

Unfortunately, Seljuk also collapsed.

Now this sultan is shot with a knife and a gun, and he has no caliph blood on his body, and he does not even have a capital in Baghdad.

Of course, the sultan also married everywhere.

For example, the prince of the Western Qarakhanid was the nephew of the Seljuk Sultan.

The Jerod Stone was able to expand rapidly, thanks to a series of operations by the Seljuk Sultans. In order to strengthen his control over the Western Qarakhanids, he designed to trap the king and then send a governor to govern it. found that the governor couldn't handle it, and let the nephew prince succeed to the throne.

The Western Qarakhanid was in constant civil strife, and Yelu Dashi took the opportunity to run and pick up a big bargain (before the decisive battle, many opposition parties chose to take refuge in Yelu Dashi).

"Let the local government post notices to increase the purchase price of mules, and the provincial commanders will be responsible for the purchase."

After speaking, Zhu Ming waved his horsewhip: "Drive!" ”

People's fanatical love for mules began in the Ming Dynasty, and that thing was so easy to use. Roughage is fed casually, with great strength and good temper, and it is easier to call than a stubborn donkey.

In the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, European and American countries frantically imported Chinese mules, which played a role in World War I and World War II.

At its peak, there were more mules in the world than horses and donkeys combined.

In the future, when he sent troops to the grasslands and the Western Regions, Zhu Ming wanted to let the nomads see the power of mules. A four-wheeled chariot pulled by a mule will turn into a nightmare for the steppe cavalry.

The Privy Council officials and the guards of the East Palace all rode horses and followed the prince at a gallop, and only gradually slowed down when they reached the residential area on the outskirts of the city.

When they entered the city, the Seljuk envoys also came out of the Quadrangle.

Seeing a large number of people, waving and cheering at the group, Abu pointed to Ju Ming and asked, "Who is that?" ”

Jian Xun was temporarily called by the Honglu Temple, and there were other Honglu Temple officials along with him.

"Don't be rude to the prince!"

Officials reprimanded.

Jian Xun pressed down Abu's arm and reminded, "You are pointing at the Prince of Daming, don't be rude." ”

Pu Mabei translated: "That is the scholar prince of the Ming Kingdom, you can't point it with your hand, it's rude." ”

Abu asked: "Do we, the foreign envoys, need to bow down?" ”

Jian Xun replied: "You don't have to bow down, but you must bow." ”

Abu hurriedly used traditional Persian etiquette.

These guys are too conspicuous, and there are even black slaves among the entourage, and Zhu Ming sees them from afar.

As the prince and his party passed, Abu finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously: "Don't the civilians here need to bow down to the prince?" ”

Jian Xun held his head high and said proudly: "His Majesty the Emperor has decreed that no one is allowed to kneel and bow on major occasions such as enthronement and sacrifice. If you bow down indiscriminately, you will be punished. ”

Abu was dumbfounded.

He returned to the Sifang Pavilion, took out a pen and paper and added a few more sentences: "The emperor and officials of the Ming Dynasty use noble and benevolent virtues to gain the respect of the people. Jian told me that people were only allowed to bow down when the emperor succeeded to the throne or got married, or when they were sacrificing to gods and ancestors. Kneeling on ordinary occasions, even if it is kneeling to nobles, will be severely punished by law......"

Therefore, the royal family and officials of the Ming Dynasty were loved by the people from the bottom of their hearts. The prince came on horseback, dressed in the most splendid silk garments in the world, with grace and manners. And his subjects took the initiative to get out of the way and stood on both sides of the street to greet him, waving their hands and shouting for joy......"

(End of chapter)