Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

After walking around outside the city, Ju Ming was invited to be a guest at the back house of the state government, and he also brought Zhang Jinping with him.

Yu Wenchang's wife, Yang, was born in the Yang family in Chengdu.

This is the most common surname near Chengdu. If several Yang families are included, the number of Jinshi even exceeds that of the Wang family.

Introduce wives to each other, then sit down to eat.

After chatting for a while, Zhu Ming asked casually: "Yu Wen Cuizhong is from the same clan as Brother Quan Ke?"

"The families were separated before the founding of the Song Dynasty. I am deeply ashamed of this person!" Yu Wenchang seemed to hate Yu Wenzhong very much because the latter became Cai Jing's nephew-in-law.

The Yuwen clan where Yu Wenchang belonged was originally from Shuangliu County.

The brothers Yu Wen Cuizhong and Yu Wen Xuzhong were originally from Guangdu County.

In fact, right next to it, at the junction of the two counties, there are some small branches of the Yuwen family, where there are a large number of small and medium-sized landowners and farmers.

When it comes to the wealthy families near Chengdu, Yu Wenchang talks about their treasures, which really enriches Ju Ming's knowledge.

After drinking for three rounds, Ju Ming asked: "Are there any rebels (local soldiers) in Lizhou?"

Yu Wenchang said: "There are three types: Tuding, Caiding, and Xiongbian Volunteers, with a total of more than 10,000 people. However, recruitment is not allowed. Unless there are internal invaders and foreign invaders, you can apply to the Transportation Department to call in local soldiers."

"If you don't raise money for a long time, you will be underestimated." Ju Ming said.

"Don't dare to act rashly." Yu Wenchang sighed.

Regardless of whether they are native barbarians or familiar barbarians, since they are nominally affiliated to the Song Dynasty, they have the obligation to send troops to help.

When recruiting native soldiers, the barbarian leaders brought their own armor and dry food, and did not need to pay them military salaries. But after the gathering, the Han government had to provide food and grass.

In the past few decades, the Qiongbu Sichuan barbarians have been expanding, almost completely annexing the barbarians on the south bank of the Dadu River. The two forest barbarians were beaten and had to move further south (Xide County).

Such a situation is not good for government rule.

Moreover, the two barbarians also surrendered to the Song Dynasty. They came for help when they were attacked, and the government should help them settle the matter. However, Lizhou officials only knew how to mediate and ordered the Qiongbu Sichuan barbarians to return some people and property. It was impossible to restore the annexed territory.

Over time, the Sichuan barbarians of Qiongbu took the imperial court less and less seriously, and the two Lin barbarians also had less and less expectations of the imperial court.

Zhao Guangyi also made a mistake at that time. Nuo Qi, the leader of the Sichuan barbarians in Qiongbu, claimed to be the king of Dali. Zhao Guangyi named him King Zhongshun, Taibao of the school, and general of Guide, and confirmed that he had control over the barbarians south of the Dadu River. of dominance.

Ju Ming said: "If we sit back and watch the barbarians fight among themselves, the south of the Dadu River will definitely be annexed by the Dali Kingdom."

"Why do you say that?" Yu Wenchang asked.

Ju Ming explained: "If we do not recruit the barbarian rebels for a long time, the barbarians will become alienated from their morality and lack respect. When they encounter Dali's attack, they will no longer ask for help from the court, and it will be difficult for the barbarians to unite to resist."

Yu Wenchang was silent and then drank wine: "Don't worry about border troubles. We will wait until the country is strong to take advantage of it."

This idea is correct. The Northern Song Dynasty really could no longer fight on multiple fronts.

But how could Yu Wenchang expect that the Song Dynasty was already the strongest national power at this time and would only become weaker and weaker in the future.

Eventually, during the Southern Song Dynasty, all the territory south of the Dadu River was captured by the Dali Kingdom. A new Jianchang Prefecture was also established to rule, under the direct jurisdiction of the Gao family of Dali.

If he did not quickly establish his prestige, Ju Ming feared that when he conquered Sichuan, the Qiongbu Sichuan barbarians would march north to invade Hanyuan County.

The Sichuan barbarians in Qiongbu have been watching with eager eyes. If Sichuan is in chaos, they will definitely raise troops.

Of course, before attacking the Qionbu Sichuan barbarians, the five tribes of barbarians must be dealt with.

The artillery is inconvenient to display, so you have to use a trebuchet to defeat the five troops.

Returning to the county government house, Zhu Ming immediately dug out the "General Martial Arts". This book contained pictures of various ordnances, giving him a new understanding of ancient warfare.

For example, the lead car used in sieges has a total length of more than ten meters and a height of more than three meters.

There are wooden boards covered with cowhide to protect against bows and arrows, and there is even a fire extinguishing system.

When this thing drives under the city, it doesn't hit the city gate, but digs a tunnel directly into the city. The engineers and soldiers can even take turns working, and when they are tired, they can go back to the car shed to rest.

The excavated soil can be used to build a high platform on the spot, and a mountain of earth can be built directly under the city. The houses built on the top of the mountain were wrapped with cowhide. Hiding behind the hill could protect them from arrows, and they could also shoot at the top of the city from the top of the mountain.

If the moat is not wide, there is no need to fill it with soil, and the folding moat bridge can be pushed across it.

If the moat is too wide, multiple trench bridges can be connected by floating on the water.

The ladders were also pushed on wheels. Soldiers sitting in the vehicles were fully protected and would only be exposed when they came out to climb the ladders to attack the city. The ladder was foldable, and the hook firmly grasped the wall. There was a heavy carriage underneath, and it was impossible for the defenders to push it away.

The common siege ladder in movies and TV dramas is called a flying ladder. It has wheels on the top. It can be set up quickly by pressing it on the wall and pushing it forward. There is no need to put it up again.

"What are you looking at?" Zhang Jinping came in with sobering soup.

Ju Ming said: "Cannon truck."

Zhang Jinping glanced at the graph and immediately said: "I understand this. It is the principle of leverage, which is mentioned in "Tao Yongce"."

"Then do you think it can be improved?" Zhu Ming asked with a smile.

"Improvement..." Zhang Jinping frowned and thought hard.

Ju Ming said: "The efficiency of these artillery carts is too low. The heaviest seven-shooter cannon can only eject artillery shells within a hundred kilograms. It requires one to two hundred people to pull the rope, and the range is only 50 steps (about 80 meters)."

Reducing the weight of the cannonball can shoot farther, but it is still not comparable to the return cannon.

Moreover, the return gun does not require one or two hundred people, it can be operated by just a few people.

The principle of Hui Hui Pao is very simple, even high school students can understand it.

Ju Ming filled the bamboo pen with ink and began to draw the drawing of Hui Pao. The one from the Yuan Dynasty is the original minimalist version. The version painted by Zhu Ming is an improved version, with a winch and other devices added. Anyone who has played Paradox games will be familiar with it.

"Can you understand it?" Zhu Ming pushed the drawing over after finishing it.

Zhang Jinping nodded: "When the weight at the front of the lever falls, the cannonball at the back of the lever will be thrown out."

Ju Ming said: "This kind of cannon can throw heavy objects, not only the principle of leverage, but also the use of gravitational potential energy."

Zhang Jinping said: "What is gravitational potential energy?"

Ju Ming couldn't explain the acceleration of gravity, so he could only describe it as vividly as possible: "If a stone the size of a fist falls an inch above his head, can it kill this person?"

"No." Zhang Jinping said without hesitation.

Ju Ming asked again: "If a stone of the same size is placed five feet above the head, will it kill someone if it falls?"

Zhang Jinping said: "If you fall from such a height, even if you don't kill someone, you will still get a bloody head."

"This is gravitational potential energy. The higher the height, the greater the weight, and the greater the gravitational potential energy," Ju Ming said, pointing to the drawing of the return gun. "This kind of gun carriage uses gravitational potential energy to do work. It only takes a few people to operate it. It’s just like one or two hundred people pulling a cannon cart, and the cannonballs thrown are heavier and farther.”

"That's it." Zhang Jinping was very happy. She learned new knowledge.

Anyway, there is nothing to do in winter. Except for internal affairs in the city, officials hardly go to work outside the city.

Ju Ming called two carpenters to trial-produce a light return gun.

The wood does not need to be dried in the shade. During the siege, the wood is obtained locally and is directly dismantled and used as firewood when used.

Although the principle is very simple and the drawings are drawn, the specific dimensions still need to be tested. For example, the ratio of the moment arm, how to throw the ball the least effort and the farthest way can be calculated using mathematical formulas, but it can only be calculated theoretically.

After repeated improvements, it took only half a month for the first return gun to be produced.

Zhu Ming brought Bai Sheng, Li Bao, Zhang Bor and other entourage with him. Two students, Wei Yingshi and Zeng Xiaoduan, were also called. Naturally, they also learned about Zhou Yuwenchang.

"Is this a catapult?" Yu Wenchang was quite surprised. He thought Ju Ming was going to build one that could be pulled by thirty or fifty people.

Several government officials were assigned to assemble the weight box. The weight box made of wood would be more powerful if iron blocks could be put in it. Stones could also be used.

Two people turned the winch and two people helped pull the rope. The weight box quickly reached the predetermined height.

An irregular stone bullet weighing thirty kilograms was carried into the bullet bag.

"Qiang!"

Ju Ming unsheathed his sword and cut off the straight rope.

The lever rotated and rubbed, making a sound. The weight box suddenly fell, and a stone bullet weighing thirty kilograms was thrown away.

Everyone was stunned.

Yu Wenchang quickly sent someone to measure the range, which was more than a hundred meters away.

If a traditional artillery truck wants to fire such heavy shells, at least fifty or sixty people will be required to pull the rope, and the range is far from reachable.

Ju Ming actually managed it with just a few people.

Yu Wenchang exclaimed: "This is the sacred weapon of the country, comparable to the divine arm bow!"

Zhang Bor and Li Bao looked at each other. They had seen the Crouching Tiger Cannon fired before. Now that Ju Ming has come back again, the two of them are so shocked that they even doubt whether Ju Ming has really met an immortal.

Ju Ming said: "Build it bigger and throw a 50-pound stone bullet. It should be easy to knock down the barbarian bunker, right?"

"As long as it hits the target, two or three cannons will definitely collapse," Yu Wenchang was quite excited. "This thing should be presented to the imperial court!"

This time Ju Ming did not refuse: "I will submit the drawings after the beginning of spring."

The content of the memorial has been thought out, and he will write that Lizhou is very good here, and asks the emperor not to change places for him, but to leave some time to put the five parts in order.

Yu Wenchang said: "With this artifact, the Xixia city will be easier to attack."

However, Ju Ming was too lazy to discuss Xixia and said, "I have a military formation that is suitable for fighting in the mountains of Lizhou. Please give me the infantry for training."

Yu Wenchang thought for a while: "You can try to succeed."

Ju Ming added: "Please allocate three hundred guans to build some special weapons."

Yu Wenchang said: "Lizhou is poor. Three hundred guan is too much. How about 200 guan?"

"Okay." Ju Ming agreed.

One state is poorer than the other. Jinzhou is already poor enough, but Lizhou is even more impoverished.

In fact, it was not poor. Various barbarians would do business. Many barbarian goods could be purchased at low prices and then shipped to Chengdu for sale at high prices. Unfortunately, the mutual trading business was firmly controlled by tea and horse companies, and the yamen at the state and county levels could not make much money.

Before the Chinese New Year, Ju Ming began to make weapons, such as shields and wolves.

Cleaning up the five barbarians is only the first step. Ju Ming wants to establish his prestige. In the future, he plans to recruit barbarian soldiers.

The Yi soldiers in Lizhou had a title called "Xiongbian Yiyong". They were recruited decades ago and have since been disbanded and no longer used. Ju Ming thought it was a good name and could be taken with him to scare people.