516 artillery for war horses

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What made Wu Sangui even more unbelievable was that it only took Li Zixiao three or four years to raise a powerful army.

What made Wu Sangui's eyes even more red was that Li Zixiao occupied Jiangbei, and he couldn't even intervene in the imperial court, which was simply a posture of separating autonomy.

Although Jiangbei is not as wealthy as Jiangnan, the situation is much better than that of Liaodong, and there is no need to face the attack of the Tartars outside the Guanxi at all times.

To be honest, Li Zixiao's rise suddenly gave Wu Sangui a lot of inspiration and made him think a lot in his heart.

is also holding heavy troops, Wu Sangui suddenly felt a little envious of Li Zixiao in his heart.

Even some bold ideas gradually formed in Wu Sangui's mind.

However, Wu Sangui's foundation was in Ningyuan, which made him very helpless, and he couldn't avoid Tartar at all.

Because if the Tartars want to enter the customs, they must gnaw down the Ningjin defense line, unless Wu Sangui takes the initiative to surrender the Tartars, the battle Ou will be unavoidable.

But at least for now, Wu Sangui has no idea of surrendering to the Tartars.

This time, Hong Chengchou really couldn't leave Ningyuan, otherwise Hong Chengchou would also like to meet Li Zixiao.

And this time, Wu Sangui was also entrusted by Hong Chengchou to come to Li Zixiao to buy guns.

Previously, Li Zixiao gave the imperial court a batch of artillery, there were thousands of them, but most of them were small cannons such as tiger squats, and there were dozens of Hongyi cannons in them, but the quality was better than those cast by the imperial court.

Most of this batch of artillery was ordered by Chongzhen to be transported to the Ningjin defense line.

It's just that Hong Chengchou is not very satisfied after reading it.

Hong Chengchou has long known that Li Zixiao has a large number of new Western cannons in his hands, and the reason why the White Dragon Army was able to achieve impressive results in the battle of Tatars.

It is the sharp firearms that are relied upon, and the artillery is the most important thing.

At this time, in order to prevent the Tartars from entering the customs, Chongzhen transferred most of the artillery of the Ming Dynasty to Jinzhou.

In particular, the Guan Ning Army, which was built by the imperial court with countless money and grain, is the trump card team in Hong Chengchou's hands.

They have no shortage of tiger squat cannons, exterminating cannons, and old-style small cannons such as the Franc machine, and they hope to get Li Zixiao's new artillery, which is comparable to the heavy artillery bought from Hongyi.

At the same time, as Huang Taiji began to exert his strength on the Jinzhou front, the Ming army and the Tartars under Hong Chengchou became more and more fierce during this time.

The Tartars, who had experienced the artillery strikes of the White Dragon Army, paid more attention to the development of artillery than in the same period of history, making the artillery in the hands of the Tartars at this time far stronger than in the same period in history.

In this way, poor Hong Chengchou's advantage in artillery has disappeared at this moment, and the battle ahead is difficult after all.

"Lord Li, Wu won't go around the bend with you, this time Wu was also entrusted by Governor Hong to buy artillery from Lord Li.

At this time, the Tartar offensive in Jinzhou was becoming more and more urgent, the pressure of Governor Hong was very great, and the Tartar artillery was much stronger than before.

We urgently need some large-caliber artillery on our side to suppress the artillery of the Tartars.

Please also ask Lord Li to see that we are both in the court and serve the saints, we must not shirk, Lord Hong said that he is willing to use silver to buy artillery from Lord Li, and will never let the general suffer. ”

Li Zixiao was not surprised when he heard Wu Sangui say so bluntly, and after he made his intentions clear.

"Haha, General Wu is serious, you are right, we both serve the saint, we should help each other, and at present, I am sending troops to contain in southern Liaoning.

And this time, I really want to do my part for the war in Jinzhou, and I brought some artillery.

As for the price, you can rest assured, I will calculate it according to the cost price, and I will never make you a penny, and the quality of the artillery, Li can absolutely guarantee it. ”

Li Zixiao said very generously.

Li Zixiao was originally here to give Hong Chengchou a big gift this time, and the artillery had already been prepared for them.

Of course, Li Zixiao can't give it away for nothing, he must sell it, at most he will sell it at a lower price and make less money, which can be regarded as supporting Hong Chengchou.

And this can also create more trouble for Tartar, and strive to let Hong Chengchou persist in Songjinduo for a while, even if Li Zixiao's goal is achieved.

"Lord Li is really reasonable, Wu Moudai Ningjin front line soldiers, thank you general, I don't know Lord Li, how to calculate the price of this artillery."

After listening to Li Zixiao's words at this time, Wu Sangui was also very happy, it seems that his trip was not in vain.

So, after Wu Sangui patted Li Zixiao's ass, he impatiently asked about the price of artillery.

"Eighteen-pound Hongyi cannons of four thousand catties are six thousand taels of silver each, twelve-pound Hongyi cannons of three thousand catties are four thousand taels of silver each, eight-pounder cannons are two thousand taels of silver each, and six-pounder cannons are eight hundred taels of silver each.

At the same time, I can give a full set of auxiliary tools for each gun, as well as 100 solid iron bullets and 100 explosive shells, with a gun carriage, but not a gun carriage. ”

Li Zixiao said with a smile at this time.

After careful consideration, Li Zixiao decided to raise the caliber of artillery that could be sold to Hong Chengchou to eighteen pounds, which already belonged to the ranks of heavy artillery.

After all, Li Zixiao hoped that Hong Chengchou could get this kind of heavy artillery, and he could give more damage to the Tartars on the Songjin battlefield and suppress the Tartars' artillery.

At the beginning, Li Zixiao actually set the maximum caliber of the artillery sold, which was only a twelve-pound gun, and Li Zixiao was not allowed to sell artillery that exceeded a twelve-pounder gun in the past.

But this time Li Zixiao relaxed the restrictions and raised it to an eighteen-pounder gun, but no matter how large-caliber a twenty-four-pounder cannon, or even a thirty-two-pounder cannon, he would never sell it.

Although, at this time, the price offered by Li Zixiao was already very cheap, and this time Li Zixiao really didn't plan to make much money from Hong Chengchou, but the price was still quite amazing.

Wu Sangui was also taken aback after hearing this, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Lord Li, this price seems to be a bit high." The Hongyi cannon cast by the imperial court is only three thousand taels of silver! ”

Li Zixiao shook his head and said: "Mr. Wu, what level are those Hongyi cannons cast by the imperial court, I think you should know better than Li."

Every penny of silver is worth the goods, and the Hongyi cannon cast by the imperial court is not only heavy, but it can't shoot far, how can it be compared with the improved Hongyi cannon in my hand.

This time, I really gave you exactly the cost price, I didn't make a penny, and the quality of the artillery was absolutely fine. ”

Li Zixiao continued to smile and said: "It's better like this, let's not talk about whether the price is expensive, I can take you to see the cannon first, and you can see the shooting effect in person." ”

"Lord Li came with artillery this time?" This time it was Wu Sangui's turn to be surprised.

"Of course." Li Zixiao smiled meaningfully and said.

Soon, Lu Yuan received Li Zixiao's order to remove several guns from the ship, ranging from eighteen to six pounder guns.

In an open area on Kyaw Wah Island, a horse-drawn cart pulled out an eighteen-pounder cannon.

This time it was operated by the gunners of the White Dragon Army, and the gunners were familiar with pushing the cannon, and it only took less than a pillar of incense to complete the preparation before the shelling.

In order to demonstrate the power of the artillery, the artillery set a target, located in an abandoned earthen house two miles away.

Another pillar of incense was used, and the artillery fired three cannons, the first two guns brushed by, and the third cannon hit the house and directly smashed the rammed roof wall.

"Two miles away, one out of three shots, how about it, this rate of fire, this range, this power, are you satisfied?" Li Zixiao asked Wu Sangui with a smile on his face.

Li Zixiao is still very confident in the artillery under his command, which has been continuously improved by Jack and other craftsmen, and is now very mature.

At this time, Wu Sangui's heart was indeed very shocked.

In such a short period of time, he didn't expect that the artillerymen of the White Dragon Army would be able to make such a heavy iron lump complete three shots, and the three cannons hit the target two miles away.

This is placed on the old artillery in the hands of the Ming army at this time, and it is impossible to have such a terrifying rapid fire.

Attacking targets two miles away, most of them relied on Meng, and they were all happy to be able to hit one out of ten.

Although it must have a lot to do with the gunner, the artillery is indeed much more effective than the original Hongyi cannon.

Wu Sangui's face was heavy at this time, and he didn't speak, and the soldiers standing beside him knew that this was Wu Sangui's performance when he was thinking about the problem very seriously.

Li Zixiao also saw Wu Sangui's thinking, and did not disturb it.

"Master Li, we want this cannon." Half a day later, Wu Sangui finally raised his head and said.

"Very well, Lord Wu, you will not regret this decision."

Li Zixiao saw that it was so easy, and made a big deal, and he was also very happy, and said with a smile.

Wu Sangui didn't even bargain anymore, anyway, it wasn't him who paid for it, and in the end, the silver was also paid by the imperial court, and from what he saw, this artillery was worth this price, and Li Zixiao really didn't ask for much.

Although the imperial court was really poor at this time, it still maintained a huge military expenditure in Liaodong, especially Wu Sangui's Guanning army, which was given priority.

Therefore, at this time, Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui both had money in their hands, although it was not much, but it was enough to buy a batch of artillery.

"Lord Li, why are these cannons cast in iron instead of bronze?"

After walking around, Wu Sangui suddenly asked Li Zixiao suspiciously.

"We use iron-cast artillery, which is lighter and more powerful. Artillery is not cast in bronze, so it must be good, and the key depends on technology. ”

Wu Sangui had indeed seen the performance of the White Dragon Army's artillery before, and when he heard Li Zixiao say this, he couldn't help but nod.

"Master Li, then let's talk about it, we want ten of this eighteen-pound artillery, twenty of the twelve-pound guns, thirty of the eight-pound guns, and fifty of the six-pound guns."

"Do you have so much silver? I don't owe any credit. Li Zixiao chuckled and said.

The number of artillery pieces fired by Wu Sangui added up to more than 200,000 taels of silver.

Even if Hong Chengchou had money in his hands at this time, he didn't have the money to this point, spending more than 200,000 silver at once to equip so many artillery.

Moreover, this is only money for the purchase of artillery, and money is also needed for the subsequent purchase of ammunition.

"Don't worry, Lord Li, we won't be given less silver, but we need this batch of artillery immediately."

Li Zixiao didn't know that Wu Sangui had so much silver, and he didn't bother to care, as long as he gave the silver, he replied with a smile: "Although the amount you want is a lot."

But I can still take it, and I will bring half the number of guns you want on this ship, and I can guarantee that the remaining half will be delivered within seven days. ”

"Okay, that's it, I'll send someone to inform Lord Hong immediately, and let Lord Hong prepare the silver ticket." Wu Sangui couldn't wait to finalize this deal.

"Wait!" Li Zixiao called out to Wu Sangui who was excited.

"Master Li, do you have any other requirements?"

"Yes." Li Zixiao said with a smile.

Li Zixiao wouldn't be so easy, so he sold the artillery to Wu Sangui, more than 200,000 taels of silver, Li Zixiao actually didn't lack this bit of silver.

Li Zixiao sold Wu Sangui this batch of artillery, on the one hand, to let them hit the Tartars hard, and on the other hand, he also wanted to take the opportunity to exchange Wu Sangui for war horses.

At this time, Li Zixiao looked at Wu Sangui with a smile and said, "General Wu, these cannons can be sold to you, but I don't want silver." ”

"Don't want silver?"

Wu Sangui was stunned for a moment, but immediately understood that what Li Zixiao said about not wanting silver was not to give it to them for nothing, but to get other things from them.

"What does Master Li want?"

In fact, at this time, Wu Sangui was already vaguely in his heart, and he had guessed what Li Zixiao wanted.

"I need horses, whether it's a war horse or a pull-back, I want them all. I hope that all the money that this artillery is worth will be paid for by horses.

I calculate the war horse according to the market, fifty taels of silver per horse, and the horse can also be calculated at thirty taels of silver. ”

At this time, Li Zixiao put forward his own conditions, which made Wu Sangui's eyes streak, and sure enough, he guessed correctly.

Wu Sangui also knew that Li Zixiao's troops had always been short of horses because they could not get good horses to import from.

Li Zixiao really needs horses very much, especially war horses, whether it is the cavalry, scout cavalry, messenger soldiers, or even the mounts of the officers of the White Dragon Army, they all need excellent war horses.

And the White Dragon Army's demand for pulling horses is also very huge.

Especially after the White Dragon Army is now equipped with a large number of artillery, those field artillery heavy artillery, each cannon needs five or six horses to pull, plus ammunition vehicles, grain and grass, etc., so that the White Dragon Army's demand for horses has surged.

However, Li Zixiao's channels for obtaining war horses are limited.

After all, the only places that can produce war horses in this era are not in his hands, and they are not even in the hands of the Ming court at this time.

However, Li Zixiao knew that Wu Sangui's Guan Ning Army had horses.

Since the Tartar conquest of Mongolia, the Ming court has also lost the two horse markets of Liaodong and Mongolia, and the main source of war horses has been broken.

However, the Guanning army guarded outside the pass, but in private they still controlled the smuggling of horses.

If you want a horse, you can go directly to Guan Ningjun, which is more convenient and direct than looking for Chongzhen, the emperor, so this time Wu Sangui's arrival, in fact, Li Zixiao was also very happy in his heart.

Even, Li Zixiao knew that if he wanted to buy a war horse, it was definitely better to find Wu Sangui than to find Hong Chengchou, the governor.

(End of chapter)