Playing intrigue is worse than engaging in infrastructure

Before Song Qingyuan had time to explain, Dan Renji said, "How could Your Highness have not considered this?"

At that moment just now, Wu Han even thought of dozens of words of persuasion.

Now they are all shut up.

He looked at Song Qingyuan in surprise, and almost carved the five big characters "Is this true" on his forehead.

Coupled with Wu Han's bushy beard and somewhat fierce facial features, this expression looks quite joyful.

Song Qingyuan suppressed a smile and nodded: "You go and order Wu Qina to come back first, I guarantee that Gerile and his rebels will not be able to cross the Ulun River."

Just when Wu Han dubiously called the messenger, Song Qingyuan turned his head and asked his subordinates to bring over the gunpowder raw materials and iron barrels that had been transported all the way from Wang Ting.

"By the way," Wu Han slapped his head as if remembering something, "What are the catapults and charcoal that His Highness asked me to prepare before?"

"The leader will know immediately."

Song Qingyuan lifted the tarpaulin covering the car to check whether the saltpeter inside was damp, and replied casually.

Wu Han scratched his head curiously, and couldn't help casting his eyes on Dan Renji.

Dan Renji subconsciously took a step back and mouth-synthesized the sound of an explosion.

Seeing that Wu Han was about to come over with a frown, he hurriedly fled behind Song Qingyuan in three steps at a time.

When Wu Han was young, he was a famous warrior on the grassland.At that time, the Zig tribe and Wang Ting were still close to each other. When Dan Renji was a child, he mischievously teased the herdsmen in the tribe, and Wu Han often picked him up and threw him aside in the posture of carrying a lamb.

Although the grass was soft and he was thrown on the ground, at most he was covered in dirt, but Dan Renji felt a little flustered when he recalled the fearful feeling of hanging in mid-air.

Therefore, even though he has now become a fierce general who can command thousands of troops, when he meets Wu Han, he still can't help but feel apprehensive.

He was afraid of Wu Han, but he had seen Song Qingyuan's methods.

Coupled with Song Qingyuan's kindness to save him from the headaches of official duties, since Song Qingyuan refused to say anything, Dan Renji would naturally not reveal half of it.

Let Wu Han be impatient and curious!Dan Renji thought gloatingly.

Just as he was having fun, he suddenly heard Song Qingyuan call his name.

"What's the matter, Your Highness?" He hurried up.

"Did you forget?" Song Qingyuan glanced at him.

Seeing Dan Renji shaking his head like a rattle, Song Qingyuan pointed to the iron bucket containing the ore on the cart, and ordered: "According to that ratio, mix out all the gunpowder."

Dan Renji quickly turned his head and asked his subordinates to unload everything from the car.

Just as he was looking around to find a suitable place to configure gunpowder, he heard Song Qingyuan ask: "Do you want to mix gunpowder now in such a dark day?"

I'm afraid I can't even see the scale on the scale.

Dan Renji pointed blankly at the torches held by the soldiers next to him, "It's enough to use the torches for lighting."

Hearing this, Song Qingyuan immediately stared at the person in front of him, bent his fingers and tapped the tin bucket in his arms, "Repeat the precautions for making gunpowder."

Dan Renji said "Ah?" without knowing it, but still handed the iron bucket in his hand to the soldiers beside him, and obediently recited the precautions that Song Qingyuan had told them.

"The prepared black powder can't get wet, it can't..." Dan Renji glanced at Song Qingyuan guiltily, and silently closed his mouth.

"Can't what?" Song Qingyuan was unmoved.

"You can't... get close to open flames."

Dan Renji bowed his head and sincerely admitted his mistake, "I'm sorry Your Highness, I was careless and forgot the rules."

"Since you know the power of black powder, you should be more cautious when making gunpowder. You have made such a big mistake today, and you will be punished later." Song Qingyuan looked serious.

Dan Renji nodded.He knew that His Highness did this for their safety, and it was indeed his negligence just now.

It's okay to touch black powder with water, but it's just that the dynamite has misfired.But in case of sparks, with the lethality of black powder, he might even lose his life.

Wu Han, who was watching the whole process from the sidelines, was also intimidated by Song Qingyuan's aura for a while, and it took him a long time to recover, leading the group to the big tent that had been prepared.

Eight out of ten men on the prairie have a violent temper, and he himself often loses his temper.But he had never seen Song Qingyuan so angry.

Mingming's expression remained unchanged, and his tone of voice was calm, but a sense of oppression came over his face.

Wu Han thought about it carefully, even when he saw their king before, he didn't feel this kind of heart contraction.

……

Early in the morning of the second day, just after dawn, Wu Han went to the place Dan Renji selected yesterday to make gunpowder and squatted there to watch.

Curiosity about those black lacquered tin buckets transported by Song Qingyuan has completely overwhelmed the tension in Wu Han's heart because of the approaching Gerile rebels.

He tossed and couldn't sleep last night, thinking about what it was that could stop tens of thousands of rebels by the Ulun River.

Moreover, they are afraid of water, and they are afraid of fire, which is so precious.

It's a pity that Wu Han didn't see the scene he wanted to see even though he got up early in the morning.

On the open ground, only a few soldiers were busy moving around, moving tables and weighing things that can be seen everywhere.

"Isn't it necessary to configure that... gunpowder? Why is there still no movement?" Wu Han asked Dan Renji who had just walked over, and asked anxiously.

"Still early."

Dan Renji yawned sleepily, looked at the mist drifting in the air, and explained casually: "The fog is heavy in the early morning, and the water vapor is also heavy. The configuration can only be started after the sun comes out."

After finally waiting for the water vapor in the air to evaporate, Wu Han finally saw the scene of making gunpowder.

It's just grinding charcoal, sulfur, saltpeter, etc. into powder, and then mixing them together and putting them in iron barrels.

This is not surprising, is it?

Wu Han looked at the cautious crowd, patted Dan Renji's shoulder suspiciously, and asked, "This thing can really defeat the enemy? Why do I look so hung up?"

"Do not believe?"

Dan Renji asked back, shaking his head with a mysterious face, "The power of this thing is beyond your imagination."

Regardless of whether or not this thing is as strong as what Dan Renji said, the order to let Wu Qina withdraw his troops has already been passed on, and now Wu Han can only wait for the arrival of Gerile's rebels with suspense.

Wu Qina came back very quickly, and in the evening of the next day, everyone saw the galloping horses.

Once back to the tribe, after hearing the news of Song Qingyuan's arrival, Wu Qina immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

After hearing from his own father about Dan Renji's manufacture of gunpowder, he took off his armor and collapsed on the top chair of the big tent, looking relieved.

Looking at his son's appearance, Wu Han felt even more puzzled, and he felt sincerely, "Why does it seem like he is the only one in the whole world who is kept in the dark?"

So that when he received Gerile's army passing through Mount Qi three days later, what Wu Han thought in his heart was: "They finally came."

Inexplicably, very impatiently.

The lieutenant under his command looked anxious, looked at the leader who was even a little excited, and couldn't help but said: "Boss, Gerile is going to hit our door!"

Wu Han waved his hands, stood up quickly, and walked towards the direction where the Xuanjia Army was stationed.

Song Qingyuan happened to be here.

"What's your Highness' plan?" Wu Han asked;

At this time, Song Qingyuan was holding the deployment map he carried with him, and was drawing on it with a charcoal pencil.

After handing the deployment map to the deputy general next to him, and instructing "place the trebuchets according to the positions marked on the map", he turned around and pointed to several locations on the map for Wu Han to see.

"Gerile's rebels will definitely set up camp at these places in the upper reaches of the Ulun River tonight, and wait until they are repaired before crossing the river to attack."

Wu Han couldn't help nodding his head frequently.Song Qingyuan's analysis made sense. Gerile's army had been marching for half a month, and they had passed through the extremely winding and rugged Qishan Mountain in the middle, so they must be very tired.

"Weary soldiers are not suitable for war", this is the truth that any general understands.

On the other side of the river was the Zig tribe. If he was Geril, he would let the army rest for a few days before attacking him.

The places Song Qingyuan pointed out happened to be close to the Wulun River, which was convenient for water collection and had a higher terrain.

The most important thing is that after camping here, a "pin" shape will be formed, which can play a role in mutual defense, and it is an excellent camping position.

If it weren't for a veteran who is experienced and familiar with the art of war, it would be impossible to point out these things so keenly.

Wu Han was shocked, and looked at Song Qingyuan with even more admiration.

Song Qingyuan didn't seem to be aware of this, and continued: "After nightfall, you can use a trebuchet to throw gunpowder barrels at these places."

Since Gerile dared to come, he must let them know what it means to go without returning.

"Powder barrel?" Wu Han asked excitedly, "But those tin barrels that His Highness asked people to make?"

Song Qingyuan nodded, not understanding where Wu Han was so excited.

Wu Han stretched his neck and looked at several places where the catapults were already placed.Not only him, most people in the tribe are paying attention to the situation here.

The Xuanjia army brought by Song Qingyuan is not distributing gunpowder, assembling gunpowder barrels and fiddling with trebuchets for the past few days. In addition, there are soldiers guarding nearby, ordinary people are forbidden to approach, even Wu Han himself has to go if he wants to go there There are people on the sidelines.

It is so mysterious that everyone is curious.

The trebuchet that Song Qingyuan asked to install was actually more like a torsion catapult in ancient Rome. It used the torsion generated by the rope hinged under the wooden beam to launch heavy objects, and could throw 400 to [-] kilograms of heavy objects [-] meters away.

As long as the catapults are placed properly, the gunpowder barrel can directly blow up Geril's army to pieces.

At night, with an order, the beams on the catapult were slowly lowered, and then with the sound of ejection, the ignited powder kegs crossed the Ulun River, slamming the rebels in their sleep.

There were continuous loud noises in the distance, and the heavy sound seemed to lift the earth up.

Not only Wu Han, who had been on the front line, stared straight at his eyes, but even the people in the distance heard such a terrifying voice, and hurriedly covered the children's ears, coaxing the frightened young children in a low voice.

Not only was it shocking, many people who saw this scene for the first time were suddenly pale with fright.

"This...is this the power of the gunpowder barrel?" Even Dan Renji and Wu Qina, who had already seen the scene of the black gunpowder opening the mountain, couldn't help swallowing.

Successive explosions ignited the enemy's tents, and the flames in the distance looked particularly dazzling in the night.

In the huge explosion, no other sounds should be heard.

But everyone seemed to have heard the painful howling from the other side of the river.

The mixed smell of gunpowder smoke, bloody smell, smoke and dust is not pleasant, but Song Qingyuan did not avoid it.

Amidst the dense explosions, he fixedly looked in the direction of the other side of the river.

"Your Highness isn't quite used to it?" Wu Qina, who finally regained his composure, went to Song Qingyuan's side and comforted him, "Why don't Your Highness go back to the tent first, and leave it to me and General Dan Renji."

Strictly speaking, this is the first time that Song Qingyuan has directly participated in the battlefield. Wu Qina was also worried that he would not get used to it, so he wanted him to avoid the somewhat cruel scene in front of him.

Song Qingyuan shook his head lightly. In the firelight, his profile looked particularly stern.

He knew the meaning of Wu Qi's words, but in fact, Song Qingyuan didn't feel the kind of intense disgust and grief in his heart like the first time he saw soldiers slaughtering the city in Yanyun.

He once heard Lian mentioned the customs of Mobei. When Mobei was not unified, wars would happen from time to time among the tribes on the grassland.

Like a big fish eating a small fish, a big tribe swallows a weak tribe.

After a tribe is defeated, the victor will kill all the males of the tribe, even young babies.

And the women will be transported back like trophies to reproduce for them.

Sometimes, if they are unlucky, women on the grassland may travel to several tribes in their lifetime.

Frequent wars have worn away all their joy or sorrow, and their biggest wish is to live in a tribe for a long time and stably until the end of their lives.

If he couldn't stop Gerile's rebels on the side of the Ulun River today, all this would happen to the Zig tribe behind him in a few days.

The flowers on the prairie are soaked in blood, and they will bloom more enthusiastically next year, but they can no longer wait for the young people who are laughing and singing in the flowers.

The author says:

【About trebuchet】

The trebuchets used to siege cities in ancient my country should not have such a long range, about 200 meters, but they can throw heavier stones.Some data show that it may weigh several hundred catties and was used to break down the city wall.

As for the torsion catapult mentioned in the article, I feel that it should be used as a weapon similar to a cannonball.Throwing distance is longer, but the weight of the projectile will be correspondingly lighter.There is information ("World Weapon Expo Dictionary") that it can throw a stone weighing 800 kilograms over 450 meters (doubtful), it should not be that far.Another way of saying is 400 yards, which is more than [-] meters, and this number is also referred to in the article.

Post the original text, and those who are interested can take a look.

A typical torsion-launched trebuchet consists of a strong, heavy rectangular frame on the ground, an upright catapult bar, and two sturdy posts topped with beams.The lower end of the ejection rod is inserted into a tightly twisted horizontal rope, which is tied to the ends of the rectangular frame, just below the support frame.Usually the rope makes the ejection rod tightly support the crossbeam on the support frame.

The top of the ejection rod is usually made into the shape of a spoon, and sometimes a leather bullet bag is placed on the top of the ejection rod.When ejecting, first use the winch to pull the ejection rod to a nearly horizontal position, and then put rocks or other types of projectiles in the "spoon" or leather ammunition bag.When the winch rope is loosened by the trigger device, the ejection rod returns to the vertical position with great force, and collides with the crossbeam, and the inertial force generated will eject the projectile body to the target in an arc track.

Roman soldiers called this mechanism the wild ass, referring to the way the rear end of the rectangular frame lifts up when the catapult hits the beam, like a donkey "bouncing".The trebuchet was a powerful siege weapon that could catapult rocks of up to forty to sixty pounds a distance of 450 yards. (The Evolution of Weapons and Warfare by T.N Dupuy)