Tumeng: I am a national advisor in the Golden Family

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, my subordinates know what you ordered, and there will be no problem with anything else.

All the explosive packages can be proportioned as scheduled and stored according to your requirements. However, the configuration of gasoline has become a big problem. It has been a long time since the raw materials for gasoline have been shipped back. "The person in charge said awkwardly.

Everything else is fine, but gasoline really can’t be produced.

Their gunpowder factory is also responsible for the allocation of gasoline in the Guanzhong area, but in recent months, not a single tank of gasoline has been prepared from here.

Since the last barrel of crude oil was delivered half a year ago, no more barrel of crude oil has been delivered.

They all know the recipe for the explosive pack. and. Products can also be obtained from the Central Plains and Guanzhong regions, but for things like gasoline, the crude oil required can only be transported from the Western Regions.

"I know about this. I'll put aside the allocation of gasoline for the time being. There's nothing we can do about it. There's a rebellion going on in Khwarezm right now, so crude oil can't be shipped for a while.

It will probably take a year to recover, so let's make do with explosive packs for now, and the gasoline configuration will be stopped. "Zhang Yong also said helplessly.

A clever woman cannot make a living without rice, and he also knows this. Without raw materials, even if they master the method of refining gasoline, they cannot refine suitable gasoline.

But there was no way. Who said that a major rebellion happened in the Khwarezm area by coincidence?

Now that the Batu family is busy suppressing the rebellion, how can they have time to clear the oil pipeline?

Although crude oil does not exist in the Central Plains, there are oil deposits in the Guanzhong area and even the Sichuan and Sichuan areas, but it is still very difficult to exploit them.

It is far less rich than the open-pit oil minerals in the Khwarezm area, where the open-pit oil minerals are easier to exploit.

It’s just that the transportation cost is high, but due to its terrifying strategic deterrence of gasoline, the Mongols still organized a large number of camels and camels for transportation.

But now there is no gasoline in Mongolia, let alone our own side.

However, Zhang Yong has recently begun to send people to search for open-pit oil minerals in the Sichuan-Sichuan region, the Guanzhong region, and the Xixia region.

As soon as it is found, transportation can be started, and gasoline can be re-refined at that time, and despite the rebellion in the Khwarezm region.

However, the Xiliao area is still very stable. There are also many open-pit oil mines in the Xiliao area, but they have not been discovered.

After the Jin Kingdom War is over, Zhang Yong plans to present another mineral topographic map and look for crude oil deposits near Xiliao.

He asked Wokuotai and Chagatai to find ways to mine, while he set his sights on the Sichuan, Shu, Guanzhong, and Xixia areas.

"Your Majesty! There are only a few hundred cans of gasoline left in the inventory now. It may not even be enough to fight a war." The person in charge of the gunpowder factory said.

"It doesn't matter. You should hurry up and cast the kind of cannonball I mentioned. It is best to put black powder in the middle, and then put a layer of iron fragments on the outside to produce greater power when it explodes." Zhang Yong said. said.

Now, the lethality of gasoline is indeed very high, but if real artillery is manufactured, the lethality of gasoline will not be on the table.

After the real artillery is built, some modifications are made to the shells. In addition to impact damage and explosion damage, shrapnel damage can also be increased.

This is a qualified shell. This primitive method of making artillery shells also has detailed design drawings in his own military firearms design, and Zhang Yong also drew them.

It was handed over to these craftsmen, but two years have passed and they still have not produced a finished product, only a black iron cannonball.

It is far from reaching Zhang Yong's standards. It only has explosion and impact power, but the power of the explosion is not even as good as the explosive pack.

Therefore, since the explosion power is not enough, we can only start with shrapnel.

Adding some broken iron fragments can effectively increase the lethality of the artillery shells, and soldiers killed by such iron fragments cannot receive subsequent treatment at all.

"My lord, this kind of cannonball is very troublesome to produce. If you crush the iron filings first, you can do this, but according to your request, the cannonball cannot be too big! This is really difficult." The craftsman said in a very embarrassed tone.

They reduced the cannonball to the smallest size, which is equivalent to the size of a small cantaloupe. The explosive power is very gratifying.

They had done some similar explosion experiments. Compared with the explosives, the lethality of this thing was as high as heaven and earth. It exploded next to a group of sheep. It didn't even kill the sheep, it just injured them.

If you want to increase the power, you can only increase the size of the cannonball. According to their estimates, a cannonball must be at least the size of a watermelon.

Only when launched in this way can it be lethal. As for wrapping iron fragments, this is only possible unless the explosive power is reduced or the shells are continued to be increased.

But according to the prince's order, the most suitable size of the cannonball should be one that can be easily picked up with two hands, or even several. A slightly larger size than an apple is best.

But even if such artillery shells are completely filled with black powder, the explosive power is not very ideal. It can be fired very far, but what is the use of it?

It might as well be equipped with a solid iron lump and fired out to hit people, but it is almost the same as a catapult.

In general, in their opinion, the weapons proposed by the prince were far less suitable than explosive bags paired with trebuchets or heartless cannons.

After all, the power of these two gadgets is very impressive, and they have experienced the test of actual combat.

"The size of the artillery shell must be controlled. Moreover, the main purpose of this kind of artillery shell is to increase the internal explosion impact. It uses those broken pieces of iron to explode and then launch them out to kill the enemy, rather than rely on explosion." Zhang Yong said.

In any case, even though it was very difficult to make, Zhang Yong insisted on allocating funds for these gunpowder craftsmen to start research. At least I have detailed design drawings.

If you don't say you can finish it for me in two years, you should be able to design something decent for me in four or five years, right?

Designed with apple-sized shells, it is more convenient to carry.

And when the time comes, it will not be filled with powdered black powder like yours, but with my crystallized black powder. The power of the explosion will naturally not be small.

"I understand, Your Majesty, we will abide by your order. Do you have any other instructions?" the person in charge asked.

There is no other way. Since you, boss, have spoken, we can only do what you say. Let it be what you say! Your Majesty, you have the final say, and we will just do the research for you.

"Next year, the quality of the steel should be up to standard. Then we will conduct cannon casting experiments according to my drawings. This new type of cannon will be much more powerful than the thunder cannon cannon.

The firing distance is about 600 steps. It is cast by casting method, and the condensation method is used to ensure that the gun body is strong.

The caliber can also be reduced a bit, as long as it is 1/3 or even 1/4 of the unconscionable cannon, but the thickness of the cannon must be guaranteed. "Zhang Yong said.

According to some information from Hanzhong, the Southern Song Dynasty army should not launch a winter offensive to attack Hanzhong this year, but they will definitely come to attack them in the spring of next year.

After all, the strategic significance of the Sichuan-Sichuan land is too great, and it is too important to the Southern Song Dynasty, so it is impossible for them not to seize it.

If you can make your own artillery by then, then put it on the city tower. only need to. With a garrison of 10,000 people, even if the Song Dynasty had hundreds of thousands of troops, they would not be able to break through Hanzhong.

"Your Majesty, I have been supervising all the craftsmen on the matter of casting cannons. The flint cannons of the Song Dynasty, the sky-shattering cannons, and the flying thunder cannons produced by ourselves have allowed us to accumulate a lot of experience , you can rest assured. As long as the quality and output of the steel pass the standards, then we can produce the cannon you need."

But when it comes to cannonballs, we are still very bad!

"Don't be in a hurry, take your time, and tell the remaining people to work harder. Your main tasks are to produce enough explosive packets and research new types of artillery shells.

Forge new types of artillery. I'll come back after a while, and I hope you can give me a satisfactory result by then. "Zhang Yong said.

After completing the inspection of the gunpowder production factory, Zhang Yong led people to the land of Xixia again and began patrolling near Xining Mansion. First, he went to the gathering place of herdsmen to express condolences.

The arrival of Zhang Yong, the King of Guanzhong, was warmly welcomed by the local herdsmen. After all, they had followed Zhang Yong for the past two years and had lived a very good life.

Even when Zhang Yong, a new herdsman from 5,000 households, arrived, he distributed one stone of grain and grass to each household. Since following Zhang Yong, the lives of these people from the grasslands have been much more comfortable than on the Mongolian grasslands. They have even formed certain settlements nearby and no longer live in pursuit of water and grass as before.

"King of Guanzhong! You have brought us a different life, allowing us prairie people to raise more offspring and raise more cattle. You are our great benefactor." Ten thousand households with one hundred Hundreds of households collectively knelt down to Zhang Yong and welcomed Zhang Yong into the largest tent.

At this time, the tent was filled with all kinds of cooked beef and mutton, as well as fine wine, and fruits produced in Xixia and Xiliao areas.

"You don't have to be polite. If you have any problems in life, just ask me." Zhang Yong said with a smile.

"Sir, the grass in the pasture is now rich and fertile, and you will also give us food.

In some of the meadows, we can also open up some land and plant some of your tomatoes, watermelons and things like that, and we'd appreciate that. "A group of herdsmen said.

There was really no way to grow food on the grasslands in the past, but the tomatoes and watermelons brought by Zhang Yong were indeed very suitable for planting on the land in Xining, which still has some very fertile land.

There is no problem in growing watermelons. Watermelons can even be grown in most areas of Xiliao.

This gave them another ration. At least in the summer, they had enough food, and the melon rinds and seeds left behind could also be fed to cattle and sheep.

Hearing this, Zhang Yong nodded with satisfaction.

Yes, this is what we want. These grassland herdsmen who were originally used to control themselves will eventually become sharp swords in their hands.

Now the number of these herdsmen has reached more than 11,000 households, and the total population is about 50,000 to 60,000.

"How are the local Tubo people? Do they pay tribute year after year?" Zhang Yong asked.

"King Guanzhong, the local Tubo chieftains are very honest. They send some yaks and Tibetan sheep every year, and we follow your instructions.

We sent them some food, and now not only some local chieftains, but also many chieftains who were still under Tibetan control also intended to surrender to us. "

Over the years, according to Zhang Yong's strategy, every winter, Zhang Yong would send people to deliver 10,000 stones of grain and grass. Half of the grain and grass would be distributed to all the herdsmen, and the rest would be distributed to the Tubo chieftains. .

This allows them to live a better life in the winter and basically don't have to worry about anyone in the territory starving to death.

This also further bribed many chieftains, and even made some Tubo chieftains in other areas envious, and they all wanted to surrender to Mongolia, or to Zhang Yong himself.

Some local religious leaders in Tibet have even begun to contact local Mongolian herders and express their interest in meeting Zhang Yong.

"Well! This winter, I will transport 15,000 shi of grain and grass. You can still go door to door as before.

Each household was given one stone of grain, and the rest was given to the Tubo people, asking each chieftain to choose the fattest yak to offer to me.

At the same time, he told their great lama that I would personally receive him at Jingzhao Mansion at a certain time in the spring of next year. "Zhang Yong said.

Last year there were only 5,000 herdsmen households, but this year another 5,000 households came, so the food and grass aspects also need to be improved. Anyway, now that we are not short of food, it is very necessary to win people's hearts.

"We know that the words of the King of Guanzhong will be brought to the Tibetan people." Cha Tuohua, Bart and other heads of thousands of households said.

"Well! Okay! Nothing else. Let's continue eating meat and drinking. Come, come, open your mouth and eat." Zhang Yong raised his glass and said.

"Honor the great King of Guanzhong!"

"Honor the King of Guanzhong!"

When these herdsmen become richer, they can also be allowed to conduct some trade and sell their furs, excess cattle and sheep, and some dairy products to the Central Plains.

After paying condolences to the herdsmen, Zhang Yong went to the local government office to have a look. Because all the local Xixia people had migrated, Zhang Yong's Xixia territory was now basically filled with Han people, numbering about 250,000. .

When next spring comes, Zhang Yong will move another 100,000 Han people from Sichuan and Sichuan, raising the number of Han people in Xixia to more than 300,000.

As long as they live here for more than ten years, these Han people can take root here, and their rule over Xixia will be further advanced.

There is no way, the land in Xixia is relatively barren, and it is not well developed yet, so it cannot raise too many people. Otherwise, Zhang Yong would like to move more residents here.

After condolences to the local people in Xixia.

Zhang Yong moved to the breeding farm. At this time, the environment of the breeding farm had changed drastically. In addition to some fixed herdsmen staff, Zhang Yong also recruited some Han people to participate in management.

Every autumn and winter, the breeding farms are the busiest. After all, they have to deal with a large number of herdsmen's livestock, but once spring and summer arrive.

A large number of herders will leave and return to their gathering places, while the remaining Han people will be responsible for the management of the farms and daily maintenance.

There are now seven to eight hundred Han employees working here. Their daily job is to take care of the nearby pastures and make them grow more vigorously.

In autumn, the pastures are harvested and fodder is stored in warehouses for the winter.

"Your Majesty! Now you have more than 100,000 cattle and sheep, of which there are only more than 30,000 cattle and more than 120,000 sheep." The person in charge of the farm has been introducing the local area of ​​the farm to Zhang Yong. Case.

"Well! You have done a good job. Each of you will be rewarded with some money to maintain this farm well." Zhang Yong said.

Now everything is on track. Zhang Yong plans to build a new food processing factory on his property to produce compressed biscuits.

Even the location has been chosen, and some raw materials will be shipped there this winter.

Now the wheat production in the territory has reached a very high level. There is a lot of wheat in stock every year, and because there are a large number of herdsmen, Zhang Yong's butter production and milk production are also not small.

Coupled with the sugar beet seeds brought from the Delhi Sultanate, a large number of sugar beets were successfully grown, which to a certain extent replaced sugar cane for sugar extraction.

The technology of pressing sugar by yourself has now been successful. All the raw materials for compressed biscuits are available. Although it is impossible to produce block compressed biscuits, it is still no problem to make some compressed biscuit powder.

These compressed biscuit powders can be packed into a small bag and carried on a soldier's back for seven or eight days, which can greatly reduce the logistical pressure on soldiers in field operations.

In places where fire is not available for cooking, an entire army can stay for seven or eight days. Even if the logistics troops carry some compressed biscuit powder, fighting for more than ten days will not be a problem.

Moreover, some grain transport teams can also be equipped with this kind of compressed biscuit powder.

Let them eat on the road, so that they do not consume the food and grass in their hands and further improve the transportation effect.

This thing only needs to be mixed with some water to make you full, and it can also ensure nutrition. It is really suitable as military ration.

Coupled with the dried meat that the Mongols themselves have, it can be said to be even more powerful!

Among the military rations brought to Wokuotai in the spring, Zhang Yong planned to bring a certain amount of compressed biscuit powder.

A few days later, Zhang Yong finally completed his inspection mission in Guanzhong, Xixia, and all areas. Then he took his family and a large number of guards and set off from Fengxiang Mansion.

Then we took the Jinniu Road and headed to Chengdu Prefecture. (End of chapter)