Cao Mao blinked: "Hanging heavy objects to replace manpower?" ”

Imagining the scene of using a heavy object to drive the lever, Cao Mao frowned slightly: "Wouldn't it be necessary to use manpower to pull up the heavy object first, and then let the heavy object fall to drive the catapult?" ”

"The move is purely ......"

Qi Ai smacked Cao Mao hard and glared at him fiercely.

It's the boss standing in front of us!

Do you dare to question the manager's demands?

You don't want to live, don't take us with you!

Immediately, Qi Ai immediately gave his hand: "Humble and try!" ”

Cao Mao also realized that he almost walked into the ghost gate unconsciously, a layer of cold sweat oozed from his forehead, and he suddenly arched his hand: "Humble and guilty!" Humble this, as the general said, to hang a heavy object under that sling! ”

Although Cao Mao's words were not finished, Ying Chengcheng also knew that Cao Mao's later words were nothing more than 'take off his pants and fart'.

But Ying Chengcheng didn't care, just beckoned these craftsmen to gather around him.

Breaking a branch, Ying Chengcheng drew a sketch on the ground: "I would have thought so." ”

"The main structure of the trebuchet remains the same, but the bottom of the trebuchet should be made into a sturdy square wooden frame, and wheels should be added on both sides of the wooden frame so that it can be pushed."

Cao Mao couldn't help but refute: "If this is the case, the wheels may be crushed." ”

"And the wheels will also shake the trebuchet during the throw."

"Adding wheels is good for throwing, it just makes it easier to push."

"Trebuchets are not strenuous to disassemble, so why bother?"

Ying Cheng groaned slightly, and drew another trebuchet with only a wooden frame at the bottom next to him: "Then make two." ”

"One is smaller, loads the wheels, and uses stones to jam the wheels when it is excited."

"The other is bigger, doesn't have wheels, and builds with a frame that slams into the ground."

Cao Mao still wanted to speak.

Today's trebuchets consist of two supporting logs, a beam and a pole.

It's just four pieces of wood in total, and it's easy to disassemble and install, plus the wheels are definitely doing more harm than good!

But before he could say anything, he was dragged by Qi Ai fiercely, and he had to hold it in his throat full of complaints.

Ying Chengcheng continued: "In addition to the frame, Ben intended to make the tip rod into a shape that is thin in the front and thick in the back. ”

"The thick end of the pole is attached to the support, and a wooden basket is fixed at the end of the pole, and a large number of stones are held in the basket."

Qi Ai didn't hold it, Cao Mao had already frowned and asked: "In this way, the pins will be thrown up, how to make the pins fall below?" ”

Ying Chengcheng drew two traction lines at the front end of the pole and extended to the ground: "Tie the tip of the pole with several ropes, and pull the pole down with the power of oxen and horses or soldiers." ”

"Wait for the rod to hang down and then fix it with a hook lock."

"When it is activated, the hook is unlocked, and the basket will fall down, driving the stones at the top of the pole to be thrown."

The corners of Cao Mao's mouth twitched slightly: Is this special mother's impurity just lifting her clothes and farting!

But Cao Mao thought about it, and finally endured the desire to complain.

Ying Cheng continued: "And the matching stones ......"

Squatting on the ground, Ying Chengcheng had a long conversation with the two craftsmen for two hours.

After 'sufficient' and 'friendly' exchanges, Ying Chengcheng finally agreed on specific regulations with the two craftsmen.

Throwing away the wooden stick, Ying Chengcheng stood up, smiled and said: "Once it has been decided, we will start building it immediately." ”

"The conscription of the army is dispatched by you and others at will, the materials in the baggage camp are at your disposal, and the craftsmen in the army are allocated to you and other five hundred people."

"If you need materials that are not available in the army, I will personally summon the rear, let the rear forge and send them to the army."

"Within half a month, I will need to wait for you to build ten of these things one hundred and eighty zhang outside Xiuyu City!"

Cao Mao immediately shook his head: "General Qiyu, I can't do it!" ”

"It's a new thing, and it's extremely cumbersome, and I haven't built it before, so it's likely that we'll encounter new problems in the process."

"All kinds of wood also need to be re-cut, and maybe even some bronze fittings may be forged, which takes time."

"Half a month is far from enough!"

Ying Cheng said in a deep voice: "Half a month is the longest time that Ben will be able to give you. ”

"Ben will give you the right to face Ben general."

"If you find any problems during the build, you can find the original and solve the problem."

"Ben will give you the right to walk freely at night in the baggage camp."

"If the construction can be completed on time, the master craftsman Cao Mao and the master craftsman Qi Ai will be counted at the second level, and the craftsmen who participated in the creation will be counted at the first level."

"But if you can't finish it on time." Ying Cheng's voice turned cold: "Ben will take the head of the two people, and all the craftsmen involved will have a thumb for each person!" ”

"Do you dare to receive the general's order?"

Although consuls will be looked down upon by generals in the army, Cao Mao and Qi Ai themselves are not soldiers but generals, they only need titles!

Second-level deeds can make them sealed!

But if you can't do it, then you need to pay for your life!

A pressure arose, but in the end, Qi Ai was ruthless and gave up his hand: "The humble will live up to the general's expectations!" ”

If you can't do it, you just die by yourself, and if you finish it, it will benefit the whole family!

This life, Qi Ai gambled!

Cao Mao looked at Qi Ai in shock: "Brother Qi, time is too tight!" ”

Qi Ai said in a low voice: "Didn't you hear that the general gave me the right to wait for the night to walk in the baggage camp?" ”

"Fifteen days can't be finished, fifteen days and nights can't be finished?"

Although it is very hard day and night, as long as the project is completed in fifteen days, he will be at the same level as the township chief and will be appreciated by the commander-in-chief.

It's worth it!

Qi Ai's voice was a little more crazy and pleading: "Let's fight with my brother for fifteen days!" ”

"I can't do this alone, but you and I work together, it's not impossible."

"If you win, you and I will be knights in the future!"

Under Qi Ai's bitter pleading, Cao Mao reluctantly surrendered his hand: "Humble, take the order!" ”

Ying Cheng bowed slightly: "Since you have received the order, you will start work immediately." ”

"I'm running out of time!"

Cao Mao and Qi Ai bowed their hands together: "Only! ”

After seeing Ying Cheng go away, Cao Mao shook his head with a wry smile: "I'm really crazy, I'm crazy with you!" ”

"Look at this!" Cao Mao used a wooden stick to point at the picture drawn by Ying Chengcheng: "What's the use!" ”

"The trebuchet was used to beat the soldiers on the city wall, but the general made it so big and heavy that it was completely immobile."

"A three-pound stone bullet can kill one person if it is hit accurately, can a thirty-pound stone bullet kill more people?"

"No!"

"You can still only kill one person!"

"What's the use of throwing heavier stones!"

The target of today's trebuchets has always been the people on the enemy walls, not the enemy walls themselves!

Even a thousand years later, the main targets of the Chinese catapults were still the soldiers on the city wall, the corner towers, the water dragon tower and other buildings, and they did not think of attacking the city wall itself, and the Western catapults embarked on two completely different development routes.

But this is not because the craftsmen in Huaxia are not smart enough, but because the development speed of Huaxia's city defense far exceeds the development speed of catapults.

Just like Xinzheng City, its city wall is about five zhang (11.55 meters) high, the base of the wall is 18 zhang (41.58 meters) wide, and the top of the wall is one zhang wide (2.31 meters).

The entire wall is made of rammed earth, each layer of rammed earth is about 8 centimeters thick, and every 60 centimeters there is a horizontal log to strengthen and withstand tension, just like the steel bars in later buildings.

With such a city wall, ordinary more than a dozen catties of stones will not cause any damage to the city wall at all, and it can even help the enemy ram the city wall more strongly!

What's the use of smashing it?

It was not until more than 1,000 years later that the development of the city wall fell into a bottleneck period, and the counterweight catapult, which had been developed in the west for more than 1,000 years, was also introduced to China, and China finally began to try to use catapults to attack the enemy's city wall.

The essential difference in tactical thinking and the generation gap of more than 1,000 years made Cao Mao unable to understand the new trebuchet proposed by Ying Chengcheng at all.

On a normal day, Cao Mao might have studied with great interest whether there was any subtlety in this object.

But now, this thing has been linked to Cao Mao's life, so it's no wonder that Cao Mao's mood can be good!

Cao Mao sighed helplessly: "I don't know what kind of power this thing should have in the general's imagination. ”

"But if this thing is used in actual combat, it is absolutely useless."

"According to the general's serious attitude of drawing sketches himself, I don't know if the general will kill you and me in a fit of rage!"

Qi Aiqiang smiled: "Maybe the general wants to use this thing to hit the city wall?" ”

"I heard that when the general attacked Xinzheng City, he used a catapult to throw oil altars into Xinzheng City."

Cao Mao was stunned for a moment, thoughtful: "What Brother Qi said is reasonable. ”

"But what is the difference between the oil in the big altar and the small altar?"

Qi Ai patted Cao Mao's shoulder: "Don't think so much, the general naturally has the reason of the general." ”

Cao Mao sighed helplessly: "What Brother Qi said is very true, hurry up and rush the construction period!" ”

Qi Ai pulled the topic straight to the point: "The general needs this trebuchet to throw heavier stones, which must require harder wood. ”

"What does Brother Cao propose?"

Cao Mao stroked his beard thoughtfully: "How is ash?" ”

……

Qi Ai and Cao Mao worked hard for a crown that their heads could wear on their heads.

On the other side, Wei Qi is also working hard for his own life and the big Wei behind him.

"Zhao Jun has arrived?" As soon as he stepped into Xiuyu City, Wei Qi got an answer that surprised him: "Where is General Zhao Jun?" ”

The defenders hurriedly said: "The Zhao army is entering the city from the north gate. ”

"This army has not yet entered the city."

Wei Qi said excitedly: "Very good! ”

"Everyone, follow Ben to the North City Gate!"

With a clamp on the horse's belly, the war horse under Wei Qi's crotch ran towards the north city gate with four hooves.

But it had already carried Wei Qi for eighty miles, and the corners of his mouth were already overflowing with white foam, and he really couldn't afford to run at high speed.

Wei Qi simply turned over and dismounted, held the hilt of the sword with his right hand, and ran towards the north city gate.

"General, wait, I'll wait!"

"Quick, catch up with the general!"

"I can't catch up, Male's can't stand it."

"The horse can't run, can't you still run? Pursue! ”

Wei Qi's family soldiers and Chen Mao and other generals had to also turn over and dismount.

A group of the highest-ranking generals of the Wei army rushed in a panic in Xiuyu City, causing many soldiers to show surprised eyes.

Passing through the entire Xiuyu City and running all the way to the North City Gate, Wei Qi could already see the big curtain from a distance.

Wei Qi shouted in surprise with a sigh of surprise: "Dare to ask, but ~ huh~ but~huh~ General Pang in person?!" ”

There was a faint commotion in the middle of the Zhao army, and then dozens of people crossed the soldiers and rode forward.

Wei Qi waited anxiously for a long time, and finally, a handsome old man over ninety years old, with white hair and beard, a gentle and powerful face, and a resolute and divine gaze, rode into the city.

"Peng Chengjun?" Pang Xuan saw that Wei Qi was not riding, so he immediately turned over and dismounted, and stepped forward: "The last time we met was three years ago. ”

"I haven't seen you for three years, how is Peng Chengjun lately?"

Wei Qi returned the salute and said bitterly: "It's not good at all!" ”

Seeing Wei Qi's sweaty and panting appearance, Pang Xuan's voice became a little serious: "But something big happened?" ”

"Is there anything Peng Chengjun needs to help him with?"

Wei Qi looked in the direction of the Yellow River, his eyes slightly moistened: "Just today, this general has just been defeated. ”

"The general's former army was all trapped in the Yellow River."

"If it weren't for the general's family soldiers desperately protecting, the general would have died in the Yellow River!"

"Ben will be ashamed of his expectations for the soldiers, and worthy of his trust in my king!"

The scouts of the Zhao army had already reported the situation on the battlefield, so Pang Xuan also knew that Wei Qi had been defeated, and he had been defeated very badly.

But seeing Wei Qi like this, it seems that Wei Qi has lost even worse than he imagined?

Pang Xuan asked tentatively: "I don't know what Peng Chengjun's profit and loss are in this battle?" ”

"Profit or loss?" Wei Qi smiled bitterly: "Fiasco!" ”

Knowing that Pang Xuan wanted to ask for specific data, Wei Qi did not hide it, and said bluntly: "Our army has captured more than 7,100 enemy heads, which is roughly the total number of enemy casualties. ”

"The battle losses that our army can count in this battle are more than 63,100 people, and nearly 10,000 soldiers are missing."

Pang Xuan's eyes widened: "More than 60,000 battle losses, nearly 10,000 missing?" ”

"How many soldiers does Peng Chengjun's department have?"

Wei Qi lowered his head in shame: "One hundred and fifty thousand." ”

Pang Xuan was shocked and asked: "150,000 soldiers, more than 60,000 losses in the First World War?" ”

"There are only more than 70,000 soldiers left under the general's command?"

Wei Qi hurriedly said: "If it is not more than 70,000 soldiers, when those soldiers return, our department will have more than 80,000 soldiers!" ”

Pang Xuan was at a loss.

Before the expedition, Pang Xuan was quite happy.

Zhao has been young and strong in recent years, except for the battle of the Five Kingdoms against Qin, Pang Xuan has fought several foreign battles with a small number of troops against the superior forces of the enemy.

Although only 50,000 of the 250,000 troops of Zhao in this battle belonged to Pang Xuan, but there were still national soldiers of Wei State!

The combined forces of Zhao and Wei are on par with the Qin State, which is already a rare rich battle for Pang Xuan!

But now Pang Xuan hasn't seen the shadow of the army, and as a result, half of the Wei army's soldiers and horses are gone?

Aren't you just sending it!

Wei Qi accompanied him and asked carefully: "I don't know how many reinforcements the general brought this time?" ”

Pang Xuan was silent for a few breaths before he gave the answer: "Fifty thousand." ”

Wei Qi's eyes widened: "Fifty thousand? ”

"Only 50,000?!"

"The total of you and I is only 130,000 soldiers and horses?!"

"How do you fight this!"

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all!

(End of chapter)