jdhmnovel Chapter 630: Using the Four Princes to Seize Power?
Chapter 630: Using the Four Princes to Seize Power?
Seeing Xu Da frowning in thought, Yang Shaofeng, who was always eager to help others, felt a little sorry for him, so he smiled and said, "Is the Grand Commander pondering the tactics of using cannons and muskets?"
Xu Da simply hummed in agreement.
There's not much to say about solid shot; there are basically only two ways to use it.
One method is to level the cannon muzzle and use the speed of the cannonball to plow over the enemy's cavalry and infantry. The advantage is that the sound of the cannon can easily startle the enemy's warhorses, but the disadvantage is that this thing is not very lethal unless the enemy's cavalry and infantry formation is particularly dense.
The second method was to raise the muzzle of the cannon and use the cannonballs to smash the opposite city wall, which was the greatest role that solid shot cannons could play on the battlefield.
However, it's different with artillery that uses fragmentation to kill.
Based on the few shells tested, it can be concluded that fragmentation damage is a coverage damage within a certain range. Compared to the linear damage of solid shot, unless the enemy's formation is particularly sparse, it is difficult to avoid the fragments of the shell.
Given this premise, it is natural that the farther the shells are fired, the better. Ideally, they should travel several miles or even more than ten miles. If they could hit Wang Baobao directly and then explode, that would be even better.
The same is true.
According to Xu Da's observation, the range of the musket was about a hundred paces, which was slightly longer than that of a regular bow and arrow.
In theory, muskets should have a certain advantage.
However, neither cavalry nor infantrymen would stand still and wait to be shot like dummy figures made of straw.
In particular, cavalry is extremely fast, and once they get close, musketeers are mostly lambs to the slaughter.
As for hand grenades?
That thing is indeed quite good, but the problem is that it can only be thrown about twenty to thirty paces at most. If it can take down the enemy cavalry, that's fine, but if it can't, the soldiers on our side who throw the grenades will definitely not have a second chance to throw them.
Therefore, you need to prepare barbed wire or barricades.
The more Xu Da thought about it, the more his head ached.
Damn, there are a lot of good stuff, but the problem is that we have to figure out how to use it from scratch.
Xu Da clicked his tongue and said, "These things are good, but how to use them is a real headache."
Yang Shaofeng immediately laughed and said, "Uncle Xu, don't worry. Since I've come up with these things, I naturally wouldn't have been unprepared."
Well, I've already called him Uncle Xu and referred to myself as his nephew. If he feels angry later, he probably won't take action directly, right?
While pondering this haphazardly, Yang Shaofeng said, "As far as I know, raising or lowering the cannon barrel will affect the landing point of the shells."
"If it were solid shot from the old days, it would be better; you just had to throw it out. The problem is that you can't throw these explosive shells. They mainly rely on the fragmentation after the explosion to kill."
Xu Da was slightly bewildered and looked at Yang Shaofeng, asking, "And then?"
Yang Shaofeng spread his hands and said, "Then, it will be up to you, Uncle Xu, to find a way to figure out the relationship between this angle and the landing point of the shell."
"It would be best to find a few craftsmen who are good at both mathematics and artillery, and have them figure out a way to make a measuring tool so that soldiers who don't know how to calculate the trajectory of the shells and don't have enough experience in operating artillery can also use this tool to calculate the impact point of the shells."
"Of course, having the tools is not enough. We also need to find a way to create a complete set of teaching materials so that the artillery sergeants, captains, or centurions and commanders can learn them."
"..."
Yang Shaofeng kept talking.
Xu Da felt his head throbbing, as if it were about to explode.
It's appropriate to make people think about the relationship between this angle and the landing point of the shell.
Even if Yang the Madman didn't say anything, I would have people figure it out.
But where can I find a craftsman who understands both mathematics and artillery?
Ningyang County and Dengzhou Prefecture are likely to have craftsmen who are knowledgeable in both mathematics and artillery.
The question is, can you, Yang the Madman, really let me poach your people?
There are also so-called textbooks.
You can produce a complete teaching material with just a few words.
The problem is, where am I supposed to find a craftsman who understands these things?
This involves artillery, cannons, gunpowder, mathematics, and printing workshops.
Xu Da's face grew darker and darker as he thought about it, until after a long while he finally sighed and said, "Alright, I'll remember this."
Seeing Xu Da's frustrated yet helpless expression, Yang Shaofeng felt a little better.
If I don't get the title of Marquis of Champion, none of you will have an easy time either.
Yang Shaofeng snorted to himself, then whispered to Xu Da, "It might be hard to find people who understand mathematics and artillery, but I'm sure I can find someone like my father-in-law."
Xu Da stared blankly at Yang Shaofeng for a moment.
To make your father-in-law miserable, you, Yang Dianfeng, aren't you even going to pretend?
Yang Shaofeng pretended not to see Xu Da's gaze and continued to wholeheartedly offer Xu Da advice.
“If Uncle Xu is too embarrassed to ask my nephew’s father-in-law for the person, he can just hand these troublesome matters over to my nephew’s brother-in-law, since he’s going north with Uncle Xu anyway.”
Xu Da was once again shocked by Yang Shaofeng's shamelessness.
To seize the throne by controlling the fourth prince?
Xu Da smiled unconsciously, then stroked his beard and began to ponder.
Holding the fourth prince hostage wouldn't be very effective.
As is well known, the Fourth Prince was the son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and was considered part of the "warm bed" family.
If you want to seize power, you have to start with Zhu Chongba's son.
To control Zhu Chongba's son, it was necessary to divide the forces into two groups and act simultaneously.
The fourth prince was the only one on the road.
Why? Because Zhu Yuanzhang's son was the younger brother of Zhu Chongba's son.
The other path is led by Chang Heizi.
Because Chang Heizi's eldest daughter was Zhu Chongba's betrothed long ago, the future Crown Princess, and currently the only person besides Empress Ma and Zhu Chongba who dared to pull Zhu Biao's ear.
So it doesn't matter if I can't find a craftsman who understands both mathematics and artillery. I just need to assign the task to that bastard and Chang Heizi. Zhu Chongba's son will naturally step up later.
If even Zhu Chongba's own son can't be dealt with, then we can only hope that Zhu Chongba can handle it, or hope that Zhu Chongba can handle Yang the Madman.
Thinking of this, Xu Da simply reached out and patted Yang Shaofeng on the shoulder: "Nephew, you're so kind. If it weren't for you..."
Before Xu Da could finish praising Yang Shaofeng, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong.
its not right.
It's obvious that only Ningyang County and Dengzhou Prefecture could have craftsmen who were proficient in both mathematics and artillery.
As the dignified Duke of Wei, the Right Chancellor of the Central Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty, and the Grand Commander of the Military Governor's Office, I can be directly summoned from Ningyang County or Dengzhou Prefecture.
Why bother with the trick of using the fourth prince to seize power?
Wouldn't that be like taking off your pants to pee, all for nothing?
Oh, so you, Yang the Madman, deliberately made things difficult for me, and now I have to thank you?
Is there any justice in this world?!