If there were any major military operations in the Ming Dynasty in the past, at most, it would be necessary to hurry up and prepare food and grass, then notify the relevant generals to inspect weapons and equipment, and practice soldiers diligently. When the date of the expedition arrives, gather the army and boost morale, and then set off.

It's different now. Zhu Cijing has too much preparation work to do, such as artillery. Although he made a lot of efforts in the Liaodong victory not long ago, he also exposed many problems.

First of all, the number is too small. The shells at this time are not as powerful as those of later generations. The explosion power of black gunpowder and yellow gunpowder is not very large. Don’t expect to shoot down a shot and explode a large pit of several meters. The flowering bullet made of black gunpowder can only cause enemy troops within a range of several meters to be injured. To be honest, it is worse than shotguns.

According to the current range and rate of fire of artillery, when the opposite cavalry starts a charge, there will be at most a chance of artillery attack. Therefore, if you want the artillery to gain an overwhelming advantage in the battle with the cavalry, you must pile up the number, and dozens of artillery can only suppress thousands of cavalry. Faced with a 100,000 cavalry, at least 500 cannons must be prepared to suppress them so that they can't raise their heads.

Of course, there is also a flintlock rifle after the artillery, but the current flintlock rifle is also far from the standard of later generations of rifles due to gunpowder. If all the opposite sides are wearing armor, the flintlock rifle will basically be able to hit a horse.

Lion Botu also needs to use all its strength, but you must not underestimate the enemy. The development of equipment is generally based on actual combat conditions. If Huang Taiji sees the power of new muskets and artillery and still vigorously develops light cavalry, then he is a pig. By the way, could he be a pig?

From the current range and quantity of artillery artillery of the Later Jin Dynasty, they actually had a very good smelting technology. However, during the Chongzhen Dynasty, they could not afford to fight the Ming Dynasty with light cavalry alone. In addition, the poor quality of the Ming army's gunpowder weapons made them look down on muskets and muskets from the bottom of their hearts, so they did not pay attention to the development of heavy cavalry and gunpowder weapons.

The situation on the battlefield is completely different now. Zhu Cijiu is sure that after the Later Jin Dynasty suffered this loss, it will definitely pay attention to gunpowder weapons. As for which direction they are developing, whether they focus on offense and heavy cavalry or defense and development of artillery, it is unknown.

If field battles depend on quantity, then siege wars depend on range. After all, the Later Jin also has artillery, and it is a 4-inch howitzer. The Ming Dynasty's Type 518 howitzer can bully them on the flat ground. The advantage will be lost when siege. Unless it is built, there are so many earthly platforms every time it attacks. If you don't waste time, can you be sure that the Later Jin has no way to destroy your platform?

In combination with the needs of field battles and siege, Zhu Cijing decided that when he next year he would take the army to recover Liaodong, he would have to bring at least 200 Type 317 howitzers, Type 417 howitzers and Type 518 howitzers, and he would also have to test the production of a longer-range Type 520 howitzers or Type 618 howitzers, preferably 200.

It is almost November now. Apart from the rest time of the Chinese New Year, it is more than three months in Liaodong in March, which is about 100 days. According to the average production speed of thirty cannons every seven days, up to 350 cannons can be produced in one hundred days. This does not include the more difficult Type 520 howitzers or Type 618 howitzers. In other words, the production speed of cannons must be at least doubled to meet the requirements.

As for the new flintlock rifle, there is no problem. Since the Tianxiong Army and Qin Army were equipped in June, the new recruits in Jingba have been equipped with nearly 100,000. By the end of the year, all 150,000 new recruits in Jingba can be equipped with flintlock rifles. Those produced after the New Year are prepared for other troops.

Regarding the issue of artillery production speed, Zhu Cijiu is not as familiar with Sun Yuanhua and others. He hasn't been together with a few close friends for a long time. Zhu Cijiu simply summoned them all to the Qing Palace, mainly to discuss artillery production, and at the same time he can also take the opportunity to get together.

Now his initial confidants are amazing, all of them are busy. If Zhu Cijiu did not call them into the palace, he would have met in the morning court, and he would not even have the chance to say something.

Like Xu Guangqi, he had to handle cabinet affairs, preside over the work of the Ministry of Rites, teach Zheng Chenggong, and develop telescopes. He was busy all day long, and his eldest disciple had basically been forgotten by him.

Like Sun Yuanhua, he had to preside over the work of the Ministry of War, the production and test firing of artillery, and the artillery soldiers of the Beijing camp, so he had no time to come to the palace to chat with the emperor.

There are also Bi Maokang and Wang Zheng, who are very busy all day long. Not only do they have to handle official duties, but they also have to help Song Yingxing manage the daily operation of the military factory. The scale of Wang Gong Factory is also a large enterprise in modern times. If the daily procurement, production, experimentation, property, personnel, etc. are all on Song Yingxing alone, he will not be able to deal with it even if he splits it in half.

Of course, no matter how busy these five people were, the emperor would not dare to delay when summoned them. In less than half an hour, they all rushed to the Ganqing Palace.

Zhu Cijing specially found a more spacious side hall, set up two sashes of Taishi chairs and coffee tables, and asked them to sit on the left and right, drinking tea and replying.

Time is not so tight now, so Zhu Cijiu is not in a hurry to talk about the serious business, but instead asks a few questions casually while picking up things they are more interested in.

He first asked Xu Guangqi: "Mr., how is the scope of the flintlock rifle made?"

Xu Guangqi touched his beard and replied with interest: "This lens barrel is simple. It is cast with a sand mold, then pinched the lathe and put it on the car for a few cuts. This lens is a bit troublesome. It is too small and it is difficult to grind manually. I was discussing with Lord Wang to design a special grinder to grind the lenses."

Zhu Cijing nodded and said, "Well, if this scope is really made, it will be more useful. It's time to design a bed to polish the lenses."

He turned his head and asked Bi Maokang again, "Meng Hou, how is that revolver doing?"

Bi Maokang sincerely exclaimed: "The emperor is so amazing. He can even think of such an exquisite pistol. The sample has been made and can be continuously fired. But the wheel is a bit too difficult to process. If it is to be mass-produced, I am afraid I have to design a special lathe to process the wheel."

After chatting for a few words and making the atmosphere harmonious, it’s almost time to talk about the serious business. Zhu Cijiong turned his face upright and said with a little seriousness: “Well, wait beforehand. I came to you this time mainly to talk about artillery. I decided to lead a large army to recover Liaodong at the beginning of next spring. At that time, at least 800 artillery types are needed. According to the current output, I will definitely not be able to do it. If you have any good solutions, please come forward to discuss it.”

When everyone heard that they were going to recover Liaodong, they all looked excited, but when they heard that they wanted 800 cannons, everyone was shocked, and then they all looked at Sun Yuanhua, because he had always been responsible for the production of this cannon.

Sun Yuanhua thought for a moment and replied in an orderly manner: "Making 800 cannons in more than three months, this processed bed is enough, but casting is a bit dragging. Fortunately, the craftsmen who make clay molds are now skillful, and they just need to recruit more than a hundred people to help them. There is another problem: casting cannons is too material, so this iron ore is probably too short to supply."

When Zhu Cijing heard this, he couldn't help but show joy. This iron ore was not a problem at all for him. As long as the casting progress could catch up, he clapped his hands and asked excitedly: "How much iron ore is still there and how much is missing? Needless to say, the question of recruiting people is enough, recruiting two hundred can be done," he slapped his hands and asked excitedly: "How much iron ore is still there and how much is missing? There is no need to mention the question of recruiting people.

When Sun Yuanhua heard this, he started to count: "If a cannon is calculated based on one thousand kilograms, eight hundred cannons are 800,000 kilograms. If iron ore is calculated half, it will take 1.6 million kilograms. Now Wanggong Factory still has about 500,000 kilograms of iron ore, and it will be gone for the New Year. The mining side can mine up to 200,000 kilograms in a month, and three months are 600,000 kilograms, and there is still about 500,000 kilograms."

Five hundred thousand kilograms are only more than twenty tons, which is really not a big deal for modern times. Not to mention iron ore, even steel, any steel shop owner can deliver it to you immediately, but it was not possible at the time of the Ming Dynasty. Mining is still purely manual work, unless people are used to pile it up again.

But Zhu Cijing had a better solution. He said confidently: "Well, this is no problem. Don't count it by one thousand pounds, two thousand pounds. I will buy you two million pounds of iron ore, and you will be here after the New Year."

Sun Yuanhua couldn't help but ask curiously: "Please forgive me for my courage. Can the Ming Dynasty buy iron ore?"

Zhu Cijing smiled treacherously and said, "The Ming Dynasty must have no place to buy it. Don't we have a friendly allied country? They have a lot of iron ore. They just so owed me tens of millions of taels. It should be no problem to ask them to send some iron ore to pay for some entries."

At this time, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but speak, "What the emperor is talking about is Folangji?"

Zhu Cijing nodded and said, "Well, I still prefer to call them Portugal. Don't call them Folangji in the future. They are not Folangji, Folangji is another country."

Xu Guangqi quickly bowed and said, "I am used to it, I am used to it. Please forgive me for your sins."

Zhu Cijiu waved his hand and signaled that it was okay, and then continued to say to Sun Yuanhua: "Chuyang, can we build the Type 520 Howitzer or Type 618 Howitzer now?"

Sun Yuanhua said with a look of dismay: "This can be made, but the success rate is too low. The Weichen of the Type 618 Howitzer is probably stronger, but there can be at most ten qualified ones out of the 50. The Weichen of the Type 520 Howitzer is probably even lower. Weichen of the Weichen of the two types of cannons have tried them. They are too heavy and will be ruined if they are not careful when pouring."

Zhu Cijing gritted his teeth and made a decision: "If you can achieve success, you can recruit more people. Just make the Type 618 howitzers, and make two hundred, Type 317, Type 417 and Type 518. It doesn't matter if you spend more time at home. If there are too few artillery, you may not be able to suppress the fierceness of Jiannu. Jiannu has always been extremely cruel, and if you start ruthless, they are all desperate. If you don't use artillery to suppress them, the casualties of the soldiers in front will be heavy."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yuanhua nodded solemnly and said, "Please rest assured that even if there are only a few of the fifty sects, I will make all the cannons on time."
Chapter completed!