Chapter 862 Cannon

The sunset is red, and it is not long before sunset. In early spring, the evening is actually very short. After the sun sets, the sky will soon become dark.

On Yongdingmen Street, Li Daniu rushed to the South Gate to pick him up. He was not only worried about the safety of the mothers of Song Mansion, but also worried about how to pass through Yongdingmen. He thought of many ways along the way, but in the end, he could only order his men to prepare for a fight on the ammunition.

However, he never expected that the gate of Yongding Gate opened. Surrounded by dozens of brocade guards and guards of the guards of the Duke of Zhen, the mother of the Song family rode a tall horse into the city, and dozens of craftsmen in the rear arsenal drove 20 strong horses with a huge thing wrapped in black cloth. Rumbled into the city.

Li Daniu quickly rolled down and saluted the ladies. The little princess split his head and asked, "How is your husband?"

Li Daniu shook his head and said, "Your Excellency retreated to the palace. I don't know the current situation. Previously, there was a fire in the palace, and there were also fights in front of Daming Gate. Later, enemy reinforcements from Xuanwu Gate and other places arrived. There were not enough men, so they retreated into the palace to hold on. The lookout is real. Although the situation is critical, there should be no danger at present.

The little princess scolded, "How can you let him go to the palace alone? Won't you stop it?"

Li Daniel said with shame, "The villain deserves to die, madam, don't be annoyed, madam, don't worry, I will try my best to save my brother."

Aunt Ye Fang said aside, "Don't blame the big brother. In fact, it has nothing to do with him. My husband is forced by the situation and has no way to give up the guards around him. Brother Daniel, you quickly escort us to Zhengyang Gate safely. We are afraid that there will be enemy soldiers on the road to stop the sneak attack, so we send someone to send a letter to you and ask you to bring someone to pick it up.

Li Daniu looked at the huge thing wrapped under the black cloth and said in surprise, "Where are you from? What is this? How can the defenders of Yongding Gate allow you to enter and exit freely?

Lu Qingli said, "Brother Niu, don't ask. Let's talk about it on the road. This thing helps the British to attack the city. If Zhengyang Gate can't be attacked again, my husband will be dangerous in the inner city."

Li Daniu was puzzled, but he did not dare to say more. He hurriedly arranged for the flag school to set up a sentry around the left and right to closely monitor the surrounding situation. The team of hundreds of people moved extremely slowly, mainly because the 30 strong horses were too slow. It took nearly half an hour to pull this thing from Shilizhuang to the capital before. Yongdingmen Street is also a high-standard avenue. The bottom floor is made of stones, and the top is paved with green bricks. On such a road, the speed is a little faster, but it is not much faster than ordinary people to walk. Moreover, on the path of this huge thing, the green bricks broke into pieces, leaving two obvious rut paths, which shows the heaviness of this thing. During the action, there was also a roaring sound, which made the small bricks on the road fly in a mess, which was very fingly imposing.

Li Daniu finally learned what had happened before the Yongding City Gate from Lu Qingli. In addition to smacking his tongue, he also secretly pinched a sweat. These wives of Nan were so bold that they dared to bring more than 100 people to break into the gate, and they actually succeeded and controlled the Yongding Gate in their hands. It was really incredible; only What is this mysterious thing that was dragged from Shilizhuang Arsenal? The ladies took such a big risk to get this thing, and they don't know if it works.

Nearly four miles long Yongdingmen Street walked for half an hour. Fortunately, there was no invincible harassment on the road, and finally arrived outside Zhengyangmen after the sun completely disappeared. The battle outside Zhengyang Gate continued fiercely. Zhang Lun had to launch several fierce attacks on the soldiers and horses of the Fighting Camp and the Shenji Camp, losing more than 2,000 soldiers and horses, but did not touch the city at all. After a fierce battle in the afternoon, more than 3,000 soldiers and horses have been reduced, and the captain of Jinyiwei has also been killed or injured by more than 1,000. The number of foreign soldiers and horses guarding the head of the city has already exceeded the number of attacks, and the hope of breaking through the city gate is becoming more and more remote.

What made Zhang Lun most anxious was that many of the cannons had been scrapped, and the equipped Mrs. Song rockets had also hit all the shells, but the wall was still standing in front of him, and the defenders above were free to fight from several forts. Guns, if it weren't for the small number of forts at the head of the city, and equipped with general cannons that can only fire dozens of shells, the soldiers and horses gathered below would be in bad luck.

Zhang Lun sighed with red eyes and was about to order his generals to launch another fierce attack before the night came. Suddenly, someone came to report that the husbands of the Duke of Zhen had arrived at the rear with many people. Zhang Lun hurried to the street behind him. When he saw his sister leading the lead, seven or eight Song Nan's wives and concubines were riding big The horse came slowly in a cloak and a hood surrounded by hundreds of brocade guards. Zhang Lun suddenly became furious and shouted angrily, "Sister, why don't you stay in the house and come here? Do you think this is a fun place? Don't take them back yet."

The little princess quickly came to take his arm and said, "Brother, thank you for sending troops to help you for your husband. My sister is here to help you."

Zhang Lun sighed, "What can you do for me?" My brother fell this time, and the little Zhengyang Gate couldn't attack. Your man is trapped in the palace in the inner city, but I can't save him. After dark, they can easily attack the palace. It's troublesome.

The little princess pointed behind her and said, "We brought a big guy here. We heard that the wall of Zhengyang Gate was quite thick, so we went out of the city and pulled this big iron pimple to help."

Zhang Lun hadn't noticed the dark thing behind them, and the tall curtain was on the back of the gray sky. The scene was not very eye-catching. The little princess pointed to it and he found the big guy.

"What is this?" Zhang Lun was surprised.

The little princess shook her head and said, "I don't know, Qingli girl, girl Koer, this is what you made. Tell my brother quickly. It's urgent."

Lu Qingli and Yang Kuier came forward to salute Zhang Lun. Lu Qingli ordered in a clear voice, "Take off the curtain."

Dozens of craftsmen quickly climbed up to uncover the curtain, revealing the true face of the huge thing. It didn't matter. Everyone present almost stabbed and was stunned by the appearance of the thing in front of them.

However, seeing a big iron pimple appearing in the dark twilight, the most eye-catching thing is the high and thick gun barrel in front of it, which is about ten feet long. There is one person in the thickness of the gun barrel, and the black radiates a smell of grease, which makes people have a bad association, like a man** high thing. It looks ugly and ferocious.

"This is the only remaining iron chariot in the arsenal. It is covered with fine steel armor. The operator hides inside. After covering the top cover, no bows and arrow shells can be moved at all. The bottom is an iron frame car with four large iron wheels, with hooks on the front and back. Horses can be pulled back and forth. It's a little stupid. It should be It should be awesome." Lu Qingli said proudly, and her white and tender hands patted the black outer steel armor, like a little lamb beating a big dinosaur, and the contrast was extremely strong.

Zhang Lun couldn't close his mouth for a long time and turned around and said, "What's the power of this thing?"

Lu Qingli shook her head and said, "I don't know."

"What?" Not only Zhang Lun, but also all the women of the Song family staggered together and worked for a long time. Unexpectedly, they didn't know the power of this iron pimple. If it was useless in the head of a silver-like gun, it would have been a waste of so much effort.

"We haven't tried it once. How can we know its power?" Lu Qingli said aggrievedly.

Yang Koer also said, "This iron chariot was originally a cancelled research object. How dare Qingli and I test it with great fanfare? This thing must be earth-shaking when it is launched. If you try it, how can you hide it from others?

Zhang Lun wanted to cry without tears. From his experience, even if the general cannon was cast, it must be tested and accepted before delivery, not to mention such a big guy. The barrel is so thick that the shell used must be extremely huge, and the amount of gunpowder added is also huge. Judging from the iron quality of the general's gun, it is absolutely unbearable. Most of this thing will explode, which is basically a waste.

"It's nonsense." Zhang Lun shook his hand and left: "You immediately go back to the Duke of Zhen and stay. Li Daniel, you sent someone to protect them and don't let them go around. If the situation changes, I will send someone to the Zhengong Mansion to pick you up and withdraw from the city.

Seeing that Zhang Lulun was about to leave, Lu Qingli hurriedly shouted, "Master Zhang, don't you use this iron chariot?"

Zhang Lun turned around and said, "Don't fool around. While there is still light, I will take someone to attack again. There is no hope of attacking the inner city after dark. You are wasting my time, which is equivalent to burying your husband's life. I can't enter the inner city before dark. It's hard to say whether your husband can survive this night.

Lu Qingli was at a loss and didn't know what to do. Yang Keer suddenly knelt down and shouted, "Master Zhang, try it. If this thing is useful, the gate of the inner city can be broken, and my husband will be saved. Besides, Grandpa Zhang didn't break through the Zhengyang Gate in the afternoon. Will it work this time?

Zhang Lun said angrily, "Are you laughing at me?"

Yang Kouer hurriedly said, "I dare not. I just begged Mr. Zhang to try it."

Zhang Lun frowned slightly and sighed, "Well, you should understand that it's natural to try with this thing, but this has disrupted my previous order to attack again. I hope you are right, otherwise I won't have time to arrange the last attack before dark."

Yang Kooer nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand. Thank you, Lord Zhang. Please give me an order."

Zhang Lun nodded and issued a new order to the generals around him. This time, the order was naturally issued around the role of the iron chariot. All the soldiers and horses abandoned the ladder hooks and other siege equipment, waiting for the city wall to collapse and attack, which was different from the previous order.

Lu Qingli picked up Yang Guoer and whispered, "Kor, do you really have confidence? I don't have any confidence. After all, I haven't even tried this thing.

Yang Kouer whispered, "Qingli, I'm not sure, but it's better than Grandpa Zhang taking someone to rush to death. If... husband... If Brother Song can't save me, I will commit suicide and apologize. That's nothing."

Lu Qingli nodded and said, "That's right. At worst, just accompany the eldest brother to die." After saying that, he turned around and scolded, "Law the iron chariot forward and get as close to the city wall as possible."

Twenty strong horses hissed, pulling the iron chariot forward with their straight necks, shaking the earth, leaving a deep trace on Zhengyangmen Square. The crushed blue bricks and blue stones flew around, shocking the surrounding soldiers and horses.

The little princess came to Lu Qingli and Yang Keer and whispered, "It's best for the two sisters to spend 180,000 taels of silver to make this thing, otherwise her husband can't save it. The two sisters have failed him to love you. When you spend money, your husband opens one eye and closes the other and let you tos around. At such a critical time, it depends on your ability. Don't teach your husband to be disappointed.

Yang Koeer trembled. Lu Qingli squeezed her lips and held Yang Koer's hand. The two followed the iron chariot step by step.

......

The iron chariot rumbled close to the inner city wall, and there was no need to publicize it. This huge thing quickly attracted the attention of everyone in the city. At the head of the city, Yang Ting and Zhang Wei, who was climbing on the wall to find Hui'an, who commanded the defense of the city, discussed the attack on the palace at night. The dull sound of the city interrupted the topic between them. They all looked at the city in surprise.

In the twilight, the big black guy has walked to the square on the left side of the gate, about 500 steps away from the city wall. You can't see anything from the outside, but the high turret at the front can be seen clearly.

"What is that?" Yang Tinghe frowned.

Zhang Wei shook his head and said, "I don't know, it's like a cannon, but how can there be such a cannon? How can there be such a long and thick barrel? What's wrong with Zhang Lun?

While talking, I saw a group of people have taken away dozens of war horses in front of the two cannons. Dozens of people climbed up and down on the thing. After a while, they saw the huge cannon slowly lowered and aimed at the direction of the city wall. More than a dozen people carried out six or seven iron shelves on the ground under the barrel, which seemed a little inexplicable. It's wonderful.

There is no way to support the barrel. The barrel is too long and heavy. Usually, it can only point diagonally to the sky at a large angle to maintain balance. At this moment, the barrel is almost parallel to the ground, and the center of gravity is naturally forward. Originally, Lu Qingli and Yang Koer came up with a way to increase the weight of iron ingots in the rear, but in this way, the already bulky Big Mac still had to carry thousands of pounds of iron ingots, which was obviously more troublesome to transfer and move.

The two are also a little smart. In order to solve the problem of the balance of the gun body, they designed a support column with different lengths suitable for various angles. The upper end is a semi-circular groove, which can properly support the gun barrel. The lower end is buried in the ground with a tight pillow wedge, which not only plays a supporting role, but also plays a fixed and strengthening role.

Zhang Wei in the city began to feel a little nervous. It's okay if he had seen this thing. Unfortunately, it was the first time he saw this kind of thing. It was because of the unknown that he felt uncertain.

"Marquess Tan, have you ever seen this kind of thing?"

"I haven't seen it. Maybe it's a bluff. I haven't been to the smelting field of the weapons department. It's impossible for the barrel to be so long and thick. Why don't you blow up the cannon?" Tan Youdao.

"But it doesn't seem to scare people. Look at those people busy climbing up and down, as if this thing is really useful; I feel a little scared." Zhang Wei whispered.

"What are you afraid of them? Isn't Song Nan's rocket gun boasted to the sky? Isn't it useless today? Zhang Lun asked his brother-in-law for more than a dozen doors and bombarded the city wall for a long time, but once collapsed? If the marquis is really worried, I will let the city head cannon concentrate on this thing and bombard it into a pile of scrap iron.

"Vit's very good. Go and order people to do it quickly and destroy it, so as not to make people feel uneasy." Zhang Wei said hurriedly.

Tan You immediately do so. It is rumored that the five forts that could still be used at the head of the city pointed the muzzles at the iron bumps under the city, and the flag waved them. The roar continuously remembered that the dust and smoke around the stones and bricks flew around the pimples, covering the thing in the smoke for a moment, and there was a scream in the smoke.

Zhang Wei laughed and pointed to Yang Tingyu and said, "Look at Yang Shoufu, but isn't it killing us to make a mystery under our eyes? Is it just you who have guns? Marquis, I also have cannons."

Yang Ting and Fu Xu smiled and said, "Master, you have worked hard. You have to guard Zhengyang Gate here. After dark, you have to ask Marquis Tan to arrange soldiers and horses to occupy the palace and catch Song Nan, or you can't catch Song Nan alive. In short, you have to take back the palace and clean up the soldiers and horses in the inner city. Zhang Lun was not worried about catching or killing Song Nan. What we need to worry about is that Song Nan is rushing back to the capital. Xu Tai and Jiang Bin are Song Nan's best friends. It seems that I will invite other marquises in the regiment camp to discuss. In this case, they can't say that they are still outside.

Zhang Wei said, "Once those people see Song Nan fall, they will take the initiative to participate without inviting them. The key to the problem is to capture or kill Song Nan, and they have the courage again. After all, if they want to stay out of the matter, Yang Shoufu will at least force them to hand over the troops. What's the matter if they don't move?

Yang Tinhe nodded, patted Zhang Wei on the shoulder and said, "I have my own arrangements. Lord Zhang can keep it at ease. I will know tonight."

The two instantly left the matter behind the city and began to discuss tonight's actions and follow-up plans, but they suddenly heard the exclamation of the soldiers around them and followed the sound. Several generals and soldiers around them looked at the city in a daze. The two also followed their eyes and saw that the smoke under the city had been When it dispersed, there was a mess around the iron pimples, and more than a dozen corpses fell horizontally, but the iron pimples were still there, and there was no sign of scrapping from the appearance.

How is it possible? I clearly saw a few shells hit the target, but it seemed that they didn't hit the target. Zhang Wei said in astonishment.

Tan You was also dumbfounded and said, "I also saw that the flank was hit by two lead bullets. Why is there nothing wrong? It killed more than a dozen people who climbed up and down, but what's the use of that?

"Bomb, bombard me again." Zhang Wei roared.

Tan You ordered again, and the artillery fire at the head of the city roared again, but this time it was even worse. After the smoke dissipated, it was not even killed. Looking at the people who climbed out of the lid lifted from the top, everyone understood that these people learned to be obedient after the first bombing. When the shells roared, these people had drilled. Entering the belly of the iron pimple, the cannonball at the head of the city only hit the outer shell of the iron pimple, but did not cause any damage to the iron pimple.

Under the city, Lu Qingli and Yang Koer followed behind the iron chariot. When the first round of artillery came down, the two hid in the rear of the car to avoid the bombing, but the scattered stones and fragments made Yang Koer snow white. A small opening came out of the tender cheek, and a lot of blood flowed.

Yang Guoer didn't care about dealing with the wound and shouted to the craftsmen who were really busy preparing to launch, "You all be careful. Why don't you hide inside? The roar of cannonballs can be heard. You are so stupid. So many people have died.

After the second round of gunfire, no one was injured. Lu Qingli and Yang Kooer were relieved. The preparation of the Big Mac iron chariot was over, but suddenly, Lu Qingli and Yang Koer heard a bad news. Huang Erlang, who had been responsible for the research and construction of this iron chariot, was killed just now. Huang Erlang When they die, no one else will operate the giant. These people who follow are the craftsmen of the arsenal. They rarely see this iron chariot and have no way to start.

Lu Qingli stamped her foot and said, "This is troublesome. How much gunpowder is filled? It's not a mess. Huang Erlang is the most familiar, but he is dead. Can't God help us?"

Yang Koer pricked the wound on her face with a silk patch and said quietly, "I'll do it. I'm familiar with it."

Lu Qingli was surprised and said, "You? No, in case...in case the burstination is blown up..."

Yang Guoer shook her head and said, "If there is no chance, you can only succeed. If you don't succeed, you will die."

Lu Qingli was stunned for a long time and finally nodded slowly and said, "That's right, then I'll go in, and I know."

Yang Kooer looked at Lu Qingli and nodded slowly. The two clenched their hands and drilled into the iron chariot from the small iron door opened from the rear. More than a dozen craftsmen and assistants also filed in.