(0715) In addition to a large number of grenades, the White Army also had a weapon test delivered, that is, 60mm mortars. This simple and practical weapon is definitely a weapon for infantry fire support. When there was a technical bottleneck in the research of field artillery, Xu Xingxia immediately shifted his attention to mortars. Compared to field artillery, mortars have much lower technical difficulty. As long as there is a good steel pipe, which can withstand a certain amount of chamber pressure, other technical problems of the mortar can be easily solved.

Sure enough, according to Xu Xingxia's instructions, after several days of research and testing, Bi Maokang and others made a sample of the mortar. There is little difficulty in between. It was the mortar shells, which took them half a month. The main thing is the problem of the fuse. After concentrating the technical strength of the Ordnance Department and solving the problem of the fuse of mortar shells, mortars that could be put into practical use on the battlefield were born.

For this kind of strange appearance, the warriors of the chasers don't seem to care too much. This simple weapon, on the outside, is indeed not very eye-catching. Except for a very small number of chaser fighters who participated in the field test and knew the power of mortars, the vast majority of other chaser soldiers did not think that this kind of weapon with only one cylinder could exert any power on the battlefield. I guess it's not as good as a Han-style rifle.

Mao Wenlong and others didn't care very much either. When the mortars were sent off the merchant ships, they were also responsible for helping with the transportation. Mao Wenlong, Kong Youde, Liu Xingzhi and others carried more than a dozen mortar barrels and more than a dozen mortar base plates in one go. Mao Wenlong didn't think that such a weapon could play any role. Originally, he wanted to know from Yun Qifeng, but after thinking about it, he still asked Xu Xingxia directly.

Many years ago, Mao Wenlong once followed his boss to the capital. At the head of the capital, he once saw the red-clothed cannon. These cannons bought from Westerners are indeed very powerful in appearance. The long barrel, the huge caliber, and the heavy turret all fully show that it is a powerful weapon. Ten huge red-clothed cannons, erected on the head of Yanjing City, can indeed give people a strong sense of security.

Compared to the redcoat cannon, the mortar is simply small. A red-coated cannon weighs at least more than 5,000 pounds. How much does a mortar weigh? It's estimated that it's less than 100 catties! From the point of view of weight, all the mortars brought by the white-clothed army this time are not as good as the weight of a red-coat cannon. It is estimated that its combat effectiveness is about the same as its weight. It's too pediatric.

In Mao Wenlong's opinion, Xu Xingxia might as well transport the red-clothed cannon over and bombard it directly at Jianyu. It is said that the ten red-coated cannons in Yanjing City have all been captured by the white-clothed army. With the help of ships, it is actually not very difficult to transport from Yanjing City to Yangguanbao. Of course, the loading and transportation of the redcoat cannon is indeed not easy. But it's powerful! What can such a small and ugly artillery do?

Fortunately, there are a lot of mortar test samples brought by the white-clothed army this time. Mao Wenlong roughly nodded and found that there were a total of forty-eight gates. It is said that because of the low cost, dozens of test products were manufactured. In addition to some of them sent to Liaodong, some of them were specially equipped with the Tianxiang Army, that is, mountain combat troops. In addition, the Bayannur grassland is also equipped. As for the number of shells, they were all loaded by boats, and they hardly counted.

Mao Wenlong came to Xu Xingxia and said euphemistically: "My lord, I heard that there are ten red-clothed cannons in Yanjing City, I don't know if these cannons are still there......

Xu Xingxia said with a smile: "It's gone, it's all been destroyed by my order." ”

Mao Wenlong was stunned. What the? Ten powerful red-coated cannons were actually destroyed by the white-clothed army? God, doesn't Xu Xingxia know the power of the red-clothed cannon? That's definitely the most powerful of all artillery! The Ming Dynasty also bought it with great difficulty. After I bought it back, it has been installed at the head of Yanjing City, and it has never been used! How did it be destroyed? He asked reluctantly, "All destroyed?" ”

Xu Xingxia nodded affirmatively, and said unmistakably: "It's all destroyed." All kinds of weapons and equipment seized by our army in the interior have been returned to the furnace for destruction. ”

Mao Wenlong said regretfully: "If it wasn't destroyed, it would be great!" ”

Xu Xingxia naturally understood what Mao Wenlong meant. Dare to love, this guy is thinking about pulling the red-clothed cannon to Yangguan Fort! This guy doesn't know the power of mortars at all, and he's worried in vain. Those garbage red-coated cannons are simply scum compared to mortars with modern technology. Not to mention that there are only ten red-coated cannons, it is estimated that there are one hundred red-coated cannons, and in terms of combat effectiveness, they are not as good as these forty-eight mortars!

Although the firing range of these mortar experiments newly researched and developed by the Ordnance Department is only about two miles (about 1,000 meters), it is far less than the range of the redcoat cannon. The firing range of the redcoat cannon is indeed good, with a maximum range of more than ten miles (about 5,000 meters). However, the redcoat cannon was too heavy to maneuver, and the firing speed was slow, and it could only fire solid or shotgun, which could not be used by the rapidly changing needs of the battlefield.

Relatively speaking, the mortar is light and practical, easy to transport, simple to make, and fast to fire. Moreover, the power of mortar shells is also quite good, and it is simply the best weapon against the enemy's infantry and simple fortifications. On the real battlefield, one mortar can play a stronger role than several redcoat cannons.

At that time, the range of the Franc machine guns was generally about one mile (about 500 meters). When launched at a 45-degree angle, the maximum range can exceed two miles (about 1,000 meters). This range is about the same as the range of a mortar. The best quality Franc cannon is said to be able to hit up to five miles (about 2,500 meters) away. However, this was in the case of the firing of solid shells from the Franc machine artillery. If it's a grape bomb, it's only three or four hundred meters. Whether it is a solid bullet or a shotgun, the lethality of personnel and fortifications is far inferior to mortar shells.

Forty-eight mortars, all under the command of the artillery battalion, were directly under the jurisdiction of Xu Xingxia. After the advent of mortars, primitive weapons such as trebuchets could finally be completely withdrawn from the battlefield. The projectile explosive packs were also withdrawn from the battlefield. The original artillery battalions were all equipped with mortars. Yun Qifeng, the commander of the artillery battalion, can't put down this new weapon, and is pondering the tricks of using it all night.

The firing position of the artillery battalion, just behind a circle of dirt slopes. The purpose of this is, of course, to make the builders unaware of the presence of mortars. Like the grenade, Xu Xingxia had to keep it secret for the time being, so that Jianyu would not be aware of it in advance. He had to surprise him with these gifts when he least expected them.

…… According to the latest information, Nurhachi is rushing from Zhenwu Fort in the direction of Yangguan Fort. The reinforcements of the Dajin Army he mobilized were also constantly rushing towards Yangguan Fort. These reinforcements were all drawn by Nurhachi in the rear of the Dajin Kingdom. It is said that for the needs of the front, Dai Shan and others even armed their own clothed minions and sent them to the front line. Half a month later, the number of Dajin troops gathered around Yangguan Fort had exceeded 20,000.

In addition to mobilizing reinforcements from the Dajin Army as much as possible, Nurhachi also mobilized some Han Chinese troops. Originally, he didn't have a friendly attitude towards those Han people who surrendered to the army, and was thinking about how to clean them all up. As a result, now because of the situation, he had to put a large number of Han troops into the battlefield.

In other words, the number of Ming troops captured by the Dajin Army is really quite a lot, there are 30,000 or 40,000 people. There is no doubt that they will be the most ideal cannon fodder for the Daikin Army, and the best choice for consuming ammunition for the White Army. At the same time, they are also the best candidates for artillery, siege equipment and other weapons. The Dajin army captured a lot of various artillery pieces of the Ming army, but they didn't know how to do it. If they want to use these artillery, they must let the Han people surrender their troops to do it.

In addition, it is reported that 30,000 cavalry of the Mongolian Horqin tribe have set out from their tribe and are rushing to the Yangguanbao area at night. If they arrive before the start of the battle, Nurhachi's command will be able to increase the number of fresh troops by at least 30,000. The Horqin tribe has really spared no effort to support the Dajin Kingdom. It seems that it is necessary to have a good bang.

…… On the way south, Nurhachi sent an emissary to the white-clothed army. The name of this messenger is Atulai. His negotiation style, which is very similar to his name, is trying to cheat. As soon as he met with the White Army, Aturai expressed the sincerity of the Dajin Army and hoped that the two would resolve all disputes through peaceful means. However, even if he said that he rolled his tongue, the response of the white-clothed army was indifferent.

The Dajin Army hopes that with the opportunity of negotiation, Xu Xingxia will be bound in Yangguan Fort, so that when the Dajin Army arrives, it can catch turtles in the urn. With such an obvious purpose, how could the white-clothed army not see it? However, Xu Xingxia was too lazy to expose the other party. Since Nurhachi feels good about himself, let him continue to feel good about himself!

This time, the Dajin army poured out of the nest and rushed to Yangguan Fort, if there is no passable record, I am afraid that the whole Dajin country will vomit blood. By this time, it is no longer important whether the Babu Sea can be rescued or not. This is a life-and-death battle that has a bearing on the future strategies of the two armies, and even between the two major forces. As long as Xu Xingxia can be killed and the white-clothed army is taught a heavy lesson, even if Babuhai is dead, it has nothing to do with it.

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(To be continued)