"Now try the power of this mortar."

There is no problem with mortar shells, Xiao Ming immediately itched, with the increase in the degree of industrialization of the empire, the weapons developed by military factories are now getting closer and closer to the World War I period, of course, these weapons are becoming more and more complex in technology.

Moreover, the plan he handed over to the cabinet last time was not only about the construction of industry and commerce, but also included the research and development of weapons related to military engineers.

This mortar was one of the products of this plan, and in addition to this, after the successful manufacture of the Changping machine gun at the gun factory under the control of Song Changping, the technicians of the military factory began to focus on automatic weapons.

After all, the advent of the Changping machine gun changed the situation on the battlefield, and if other weapons were replaced with automatic weapons, the soldiers would be even more invincible when fighting.

At the same time, the issue of gun magazines was also included in the plan, and he believed that it would not be long before subsequent models of Han-style rifles would be able to have magazines.

The artillery factory also has its own plan, after the mortar is manufactured, Chen Qi will have more projects on the ground, and howitzers will be his next key slave direction, because in the foreseeable future, it is estimated that there will be no shortage of positional warfare.

Compared with high-power, multi-shell howitzers, mortars still have their own limitations after all.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After receiving Xiao Ming's order, Chen Qi immediately called the technicians and asked them to test fire.

At this time, two young technicians came to the mortar, one adjusting the angle of the mortar, and the other holding the shell.

When the angled soldier gave a thumbs up, another technician slipped the shell in.

"Bang ......"

With a dull thud, the mortar shook its body, and the base shook the surrounding dust into the air.

At this time, the sound of a cannonball cutting through the air sounded in Xiao Ming's ears, and a few seconds later, there was a fire and explosion at the target with a white circle not far from the school field, and then the dust flew.

Xiao Ming observed the whole process through the telescope, and compared with the previous mortar shells, the mortar shells were much more powerful and the killing range was much larger.

"A weapon of the nation." Xiao Ming was full of smiles, with mortars, the empire's operations in the South Seas would be more secure.

Then he asked; "How many mortars will the military factory be able to supply in three months?"

"Back to the emperor, the structure of this mortar is simple, it is easy to produce, and the military workshop can provide six hundred units in three months, and there is no need for more." Chen Qi said.

Xiao Ming nodded, he understood what Chen Qi meant, with the capacity of the military factory, it was possible to produce more mortars, but mortars were one thing, and artillery shells were one thing.

Even if he equipped each soldier with a mortar, he had to have an adequate supply of shells.

Therefore, in any army, there are standards for machine guns, artillery, mortars and other equipment, and the standard he gave to the imperial army is seventy-two mortars for a regiment, which is enough to ensure the firepower of a regiment, and no matter how much it is, it is a waste.

"That's enough, give these mortars to the Southeast Military Region, and I will ask the General Staff Department to send a group of soldiers over to learn how to use mortars from your technicians." Xiao Ming's expression was relaxed, although this mortar was not a heavyweight weapon, but for a regiment or a company, it was equivalent to a brand-new firepower strike weapon.

Satisfied with the performance of the mortar, Xiao Ming said: "The old rule, the personnel involved in the development of the mortar this time have meritorious points, and I will let the cabinet record it for you when I go back." ”

Chen Qi doesn't care about these meritorious points now, after all, the rewards he has received over the years are enough, and his life is also very rich, and there are several manors in his family.

After a deep sigh, he said; "Your Majesty, don't want the merit points of the lower officials this time, the emperor will give these points to those young technicians, I am ashamed to say that the lower officials did not contribute much to the development of mortars this time, they are the hard work of these young people who graduated from the academy, in the eyes of the lower officials, they are the hope of the future of the empire, we veterans can't take the honor from themselves, we want to give them the opportunity to get ahead."

Chen Qi's words said that Xiao Ming's heart was up, in his time, there were always some meritorious people who were good leaders and incompetent subordinates who made mistakes, these people only knew how to grab merit and promotion, and turned a cold eye to subordinates who were talented but not good at meeting them, ruining batch after batch of young and promising young people.

Patting Chen Qi on the shoulder, Xiao Ming said, "It's really rare that you can have such an idea, I am deeply grateful." ”

"Hey, hey." Chen Qi laughed, he said; "If the lower officials take everything from themselves, there will only be one Chen Qi in this artillery factory, and they will train a group of people with all their heart, and there will be countless Chen Qi in the future, and the lower officials will still calculate this account very clearly."

Xiao Ming nodded slightly, "As the so-called peach and plum are all over the world, this is also a kind of honor, it would be nice if everyone thought like you, but I have always rewarded and punished clearly, and the share that should be given to you will not be less, and I will not be treated badly by the young people who have made contributions." ”

"Your Majesty." Chen Qi bowed.

Turning around and looking at the factory with the roar of machinery, Xiao Ming was very satisfied with this line, he said: "The mortar matter cannot be delayed, the soldiers on the front line are waiting for the battle, and the development of other types of artillery must also keep up." ”

Chen Qi patted his chest and said; "The emperor can rest assured, and the lower officials promise to complete the task."

Xiao Ming cast an appreciative look when he heard this, and then turned around and left the military factory.

Back at the palace, Xiao Ming wanted to go back to rest, but at this time, Qian Dafu suddenly came out of a corner, followed by Wang Xuan.

Xiao Ming frowned slightly, he knew that there must be another troublesome matter.

When he arrived in the imperial study, Wang Xuan said directly: "Your Majesty, after the investigation of the lower officials, the rebellion set off by the Japanese State this time is a self-directed and self-staged bitter plan between Yamada Nobunaga and his henchmen. ”

"Sure enough!"

Xiao Ming's heart was on fire, the defeated are never reconciled, and the reason why Yamada Nobunaga behaved like a loyal dog was to wait for the dog chain to relax and bite the winner.

Wang Xuan said with a heavy face: "It's just that what the lower officials didn't expect was that they directed and acted this bitter trick made the people of the Japanese Kingdom believe it was true, and now the call for changing the law in the Japanese State is very high, and they have asked Yamada Nobunaga to cancel many policies restricting private capital and completely follow us to develop industry and commerce." ”

Xiao Ming's brows furrowed even deeper, he already understood Yamada Nobunaga's thoughts, this vigorous rebellion was just a bargaining chip for him to coerce the people to make the Japanese country realize industrial transformation.