In the conference room, the red-bearded king Rulong hurriedly stood up when he heard this, and said in a rough voice:

"The last time the boy left Chongming, his subordinates practiced with Ma Yinglong the three teams he brought. In the past few months, I have been soaking in the water almost every day, and I dare not say anything else, at least no one is seasick anymore, and the broadside battle is so-so. But the accuracy of the guns fired on the ship was still miserable. ”

By Wang Rulong's standards, 'so-so' is already elite. As for the problem of inaccuracy, Zhao Gongzi didn't care at all.

"It's normal." Zhao Gongzi smiled tolerantly: "If they can be accurate, then they will be called ghosts." ”

Shooting at turbulent targets at sea has been a major problem that has plagued the world's navies for hundreds of years. The weather and hydrology at sea are changeable, the target is maneuverable, and the ship itself is turbulent, which brings many difficulties to shooting. So much so that in the Battle of Jutland at the beginning of the twentieth century, the hit rate of British and German ships was only a pitiful 2%-3%, and they were basically concentrated at very close range.

And that's when there is already a fire control system.

So although the artillery technology of the era of sail battleships has developed considerably, the firing range can reach a kilometer or two. However, in naval artillery battles, a distance of 100 meters is required to ensure that most of the shots can hit the target.

The British even emphasized that they should fire again within 50 meters, and the Spaniards were ready to engage in broadside battles, which could be called bayonets on cannons.

The problem that was not solved until the First World War, Zhao Gongzi did not expect to solve it in a short time. At least wait until the nautical academy illiteracy of the gunners and their mastery of simple geometric calculations. It was only after learning to use auxiliary instruments such as optical rangefinders that we could talk about the difference.

Until then, I could only rely on more artillery to find a feeling, and the amount was a miracle.

Therefore, with the intensive firing of more than 200 guns, no matter how good the treasure ship is, it has to be on the Galen.

~~

At present, Jiangnan Security Company has four security brigades. A large group was stationed in the old nest of Xishan Island, unable to move. The second brigade stationed in Chongming was all transferred to the Coast Guard, with Wang Rulong himself as the captain and Ma Yinglong as the deputy captain.

The defense of the second brigade will be taken over by the three brigades originally stationed in Kunshan. While patrolling Chongming, Tong Zigong will conduct training at sea as soon as possible, and must form combat effectiveness before the official shipping of grain.

At that time, it is time for the Xishan Island teaching team to train the four teams. They will be sent to Chongming to take over the defence of the 2nd Brigade, which will join the Coast Guard and carry out maritime security duties with the 1st Brigade.

At that time, there will be hundreds of ships to escort the convoy, and two brigades of 1,000 people are actually far from enough. Fortunately, the sailors of the Sand Boat Gang have a certain combat effectiveness in themselves, as long as they don't run into giants like Zeng Yiyi and the Lin family brothers, they should be able to protect the safety of the fleet.

Zhao Hao asked about everything in detail, the preparation of weapons and supplies.

Jin Ke replied to him, two thousand arquebuses, five hundred Longqing made. As well as 100 large and small Franc machines purchased from Guangdong, as well as 5 precious bronze snake cannons, all of which are in place and ready to be loaded and distributed.

As for the bronze cannon designed by 00, it is still being improved, at least this voyage cannot be counted on.

In terms of provisions, there is even less to worry about. The Sand Boat Gang has a wealth of sailing experience and is proficient in various methods of preserving food.

For example, all kinds of meat, aquatic products, and vegetables are marinated with salt, sauce, vinegar, and sake lees, or smoked or dried; The fruit is exposed to the sun to make preserved fruits, or soaked in honey, candied fruits, or roasted with fire, etc...... When sailing, the sailors should be fed as well as possible, and the lives of the captain and the owner of the ship were at stake, and the sand boat gang did not dare to be sloppy no matter how bad the condition was.

In addition, there are salt, sauce, tea, wine, drinking water, grains such as rice and wheat that are not easily spoiled, beans, and so on. Chen Huaixiu had already made reserves according to the two-month standard.

It's not yet March, and if she only sails for ten days, she can even make sure that the sailors will eat fresh vegetables and fruits. It's not a necessity, but it's a matter of morale and it's important.

In the end, Zhao Gongzi inquired carefully, and received a satisfactory answer to the plans in case of various emergencies.

In fact, he was just too tight. During the ten-day voyage, there was a serious management of the Shachuan Gang and the former generals of the Qi family, so he didn't need to worry about it at all.

Zhao Hao just attaches too much importance to this matter, and it is inevitable that he will be concerned about it.

~~

The meeting lasted until the afternoon, and Zhao Hao really couldn't ask any questions, so he smiled and said: "Everything is ready, only the east wind is owed." ”

"Yes......" Everyone nodded, all understanding what Childe meant.

No matter how well prepared the fleet is, the fleet must have a valid reason to sail. Although the Ming Dynasty's sea ban has become a virtual reality, and there are endless fishing boats and merchant ships along the coast, you can do this, but you can't say it in the open.

However, Zhao Gongzi organized the fleet to go north this time, and the only purpose was to use the facts to persuade the monarchs and ministers in Beijing to approve the shipping of grain.

If he sets sail rashly without a defensible reason, then a hat of 'violating the sea ban and going to sea without permission' will be buttoned down, and everyone's efforts will be wasted.

"You can rest assured and hurry up and prepare, my son will go back to Kunshan to invite Dongfeng." Zhao Hao said confidently: "It will be ten days as short as ten days, and as long as half a month, you can set sail." ”

After a pause, he said solemnly word by word: "I announce that the 'Spring Breeze Operation' has been officially launched!" ”

"Whoa!" The group got up again and struck their hearts with their right fists.

~~

Time waits for no one, and early the next morning, Zhao Gongzi left Chongming Island. In a hurry, the number of sailors on the Science increased to ten, and it finally rushed back to Kunshan after dark.

All the high-level executives of Jiangnan Group have arrived in Kunshan first, and even Jiang Xueying, who was negotiating in Gaochun, rushed back day and night, and arrived at the county seat with Zhao Hao.

Everyone knows what the shipping of grain means to Jiangnan and Jiangnan Group. It meant that the heavy burden imposed on the gentry and common people by the imperial court would be lightened by at least two-thirds. It means that the dilemma of Jiangnan's foreign trade being blocked will be completely broken. A golden period of development that travels lightly and advances by leaps and bounds will surely come to Jiangnan!

Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to exalt its significance.

Again, if this effort fails, the blow to the bloc will be fatal. At that time, the pressure from all sides will be overwhelming, and people's confidence in Zhao Gongzi's near-superstition will also be shaken. The group's alliance of interests, which is not yet strong, will inevitably fall apart......

Therefore, as soon as they got the news that Caoyun was cut off, all the senior executives of the group came to Kunshan to wait for the son to return.

Even Xiang Yuanbian, Qian Ruoshui and other figures who are not Jiangnan Group and non-Nanzhili can't sit still, and they rushed to Kunshan to inquire about the news.

Even Su Song's local officials such as Wu Qing, Cai Guoxi, and Zhen Zhenji, Wang Zhe, the governor of Taicang, and Zhang Rong, the county governor of Shanghai, were all present, which shows how important this matter is to Jiangnan.

ps. The second update, ask for a monthly pass!