One Piece of Song Dynasty

After a silent night, Li Xin got up early the next morning. After washing and having breakfast, Li Xin rushed to the northeast gate of the city. net

After Li Xin arrived at the Northeast Gate, she saw that Ruan Xiaoqi, Old Liu, Zhao Fei and others had already arrived, but Old Zhang and the other blacksmiths and artillery had not arrived yet. It was estimated that the two heavy cannons were heavier and would not be easy to repair.

Ruan Xiaoqi asked: "Brother, you have called so many people today. What are you going to show us? Can we go now?"

Li Xin said: "The things haven't arrived yet. Brother Qi will wait a moment."

Ruan Xiaoqi replied: "Okay, then I will wait a little longer."

About a quarter of an hour later, Old Man Zhang drove two mule carts and pulled two heavy cannons covered with black cloth over.

Old man Zhang panted and said to Li Xin: "I originally wanted to push it with a few people, but it was too heavy and too tiring to push. Then we found two mule carts and four mules pulled it. The one with the small door was It’s on the trolley. Fortunately, the owner had the foresight to install wheels under the rack, otherwise it would have been difficult to move it over.”

Li Xin nodded and said: "Okay, I know everything. Let's go, I will take you to the weapons testing site."

Everyone was attracted by the artillery pulled behind the mule cart.

Ruan Xiaoqi asked: "Brother, what is that thing covered with black cloth at the back? Tell me quickly. Net"

Li Xin laughed and said: "Brother Qi, don't worry, this is what I want to show you today. When you get there, the black cloth will be lifted to reveal its true face."

Ruan Xiaoqi rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, now that I know, brother, can't you show it to us now?"

Li Xin shook his head like a rattle and said, "No, we'll be there soon. We'll see you soon."

Ruan Xiaoqi pouted and said, "Okay."

However, Li Xin no longer cared about Ruan Xiaoqi and just led everyone forward. Less than a quarter of an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of the weapons testing site. Today Liu Fa asked the soldiers to put the weapons testing site under martial law. The testing site No one is allowed to approach within a radius of one mile.

Zhai Jin pushed Liu Fa and Niu Gao to wait for the arrival of Li Xin and others at the entrance of the testing ground early. Zhai Jin asked: "Liu Shuai, my lord didn't tell you what new weapons were tested today?"

Liu Fa replied: "There is really no such thing. A certain family also wants to know what the new weapon looks like, but the Lord is very mysterious and refuses to tell a certain family."

While the two were talking, Niu Gao said: "Liu Shuai, General Zhai, look at my lord, they have arrived."

When the three of them saw Li Xin and others arriving, they stepped forward and greeted them with fists clasped in unison: "Master, we are ready."

Li Xin replied: "Okay, the three generals will lead the way, and we will enter the test site together."

Li Xin and others entered the weapons testing site together. After entering the site, Li Xin asked Old Man Zhang to lift the black cloth covering the artillery, and everyone finally saw the true face of today's protagonist.

Everyone gathered around to look at the two large and small artillery pieces, and stroked them from time to time. Ruan Xiaoqi sighed: "This big iron rod is so beautifully made."

Li Xin almost spit out a mouthful of blood when she heard this. Li Xin laughed and said, "It is indeed beautiful."

Liu Fa asked: "My lord, I don't know what this thing is called and what it is used for?"

Li Xin replied: "This thing is called an artillery. It is a kind of firearm. General Liu should know about the catapult, an siege weapon. This artillery has the same function as the catapult, and can be used to attack and defend the city."

Liu Fa nodded and said: "Someone understands, but I wonder how far this object has a range? How does its power compare to a catapult?"

Li Xin said: "Let's fire a few rounds and see if we can figure it out."

Li Xin asked Old Man Zhang and others to place the muzzles of the two heavy artillery pieces facing east, and dug a simple trench behind the sides of the artillery pieces. Li Xin did not expect to point out where to hit the artillery this time. He just wanted to show everyone the range of the artillery pieces. In terms of power, the entire east side of the test site is flat and there is no target. The shells will hit wherever they hit.

After the artillery was placed, Li Xin had several artillery shells placed on both sides of the artillery. Li Xin abandoned the loading method of bulk gunpowder. When building the ammunition workshop, she asked Zhao Fei to load the gunpowder according to the weight of one and a half kilograms and two pounds. Concentrated specifications of kg, kg, and kg are packed with oil paper into cylindrical fixed charge bags. When using, you only need to fill the medicine bag directly into the gun barrel, use an awl to poke the oil paper from the fire door, and pour it in. Prime the charge or insert the feather, then load the cannonball and launch it.

Because it was his first time to test the cannon, Li Xin was not sure about the performance of these two heavy cannons. If he fired the cannon directly, he was afraid that the cannon would explode and injure the test personnel. And Li Xin, the man who fired the first cannon Xin plans to do it by herself.

So for this test of the cannon, Li Xin had people wrap gunpowder in tissue paper and twist some fuses, leaving a long enough fuse, and put it into the fire door. After Li Xin lit the fuse, he could immediately hide in the trench behind. In this way, if the cannon explodes, Li Xin will not be hurt.

The two heavy cannons were placed widely apart. Li Xin planned to try the six-pounder first. Li Xin first demonstrated to everyone, especially several military generals, how to charge the ammunition and the shells.

After the collision was completed, Li Xin shouted: "Everyone retreat to the trench, and someone will light the first cannon."

Old man Zhang cupped his fists and said, "Master, let me do it. This cannon was made by my own hands."

Li Xin waved his hand: "Uncle Zhang, I am younger than you and can run faster. I lit the fire and I quickly ran into the ditch. Please light the fire. I'm afraid your gun will be slow and hurt you, so let me do it."

Old man Zhang replied: "Okay, host, be careful and run down as soon as you light the fire."

After everyone retreated to the trench, Li Xin lit the fire. After Li Xin looked back and saw that everyone was safe, he lit the fuse. After the fuse was lit, Li Xin ran towards the trench with a whoosh like a rabbit. As soon as he jumped into the trench, he heard a bang. The artillery truck was pushed back a meter or two by the recoil of the artillery. The bunker was suddenly surrounded by a blanket of fire. In the smoke and the testing ground, a black dot flew out like lightning, and the shell was almost invisible to the naked eye.

After the cannonball flew out quickly, it hit the test site hard and landed nearly meters away. After throwing up a cloud of dust on the ground, the cannonball was not completely castrated. After landing, It was bounced off the ground and continued to fly forward, finally landing about meters before coming to a complete stop.

During this test firing, the artillery was not fired horizontally, but at a certain angle. The artillery should have been tilted upward by six degrees, so it could shoot so far. If it was fired horizontally, Li Xin estimated that it could shoot three to four hundred meters. Far.

Everyone was shocked. They were all shocked by the range of the gun. However, what Li Xin was most concerned about now was not the range and power of the gun, but whether the gun was strong enough and could withstand the high pressure of the gun barrel. , will there be any cracking?