The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 255 Improved Tactics: Sichuan Floods
Chai Yu led a group of experienced craftsmen from the Iron and Steel Bureau to study the Five Thunder Divine Machine for almost half a month.

The oil lamps blackened the workshop walls, and the floor was covered with charcoal sketches. The clanging and filing sounds never stopped.

The problem of gunpowder leakage weighed heavily on the minds of the craftsmen.

With the technology of that era, it was virtually impossible to achieve a perfect, leak-proof finish.

Even if it were made, it wouldn't be able to reach the level of mass production.

Chai Yu and his craftsmen tried more than a dozen methods, their hair turning white with worry, before finally figuring out a feasible solution.

He added a gas-sealing ring made of soft lead where the barrel meets the cylinder.

At the same time, he also referenced the design of the wooden horse in the sealed cannon barrel.

Chai Yu pre-installed five small wooden blocks in the powder chambers of the five bullet cylinders to reduce the gaps in the powder chambers and to compact the lead bullets and gunpowder.

At the junction of the magazine and the barrel, he aimed for the key to the breech-loading cannon.

The breech-loading cannon consisted of a fixed main barrel and replaceable sub-barrels (components pre-loaded with gunpowder and projectiles).

The outer diameter of the sub-gun and the inner diameter of the breech of the main gun are precisely calibrated and usually have a slight taper, so that the sub-gun can fit tightly into the main gun after being installed, forming a preliminary seal and reducing radial gaps.

Chai Yu also applied this tapered airtight design to the cylinder and barrel of the revolver, naming it the tapered cylinder insertion method.

He chiseled the exit of each chamber of the magazine into an inward-curving conical opening, while widening the breech of the barrel into a trumpet shape.

This socketing method, combined with a sealing ring made of soft lead, yields remarkable results.

However, after all this meticulous work, making the gun became much more complicated.

The labor and material costs are skyrocketing.

The most crucial component of the flintlock mechanism, the leaf spring, must be repeatedly forged from the finest steel; if the forging is slightly off, it will become weak and powerless.

The barrel and cylinder must be made of high-quality, resilient copper, with no room for carelessness.

If ordinary cast iron were used, it would be impossible to fire five shots in a row with the size and weight of a short gun.

A barrel explosion is no joke.

However, the Iron and Steel Bureau is currently short-handed, and many skilled craftsmen have been transferred to the Glass Workshop to rush to complete their work.

Chai Yu counted carefully on his fingers and figured that with the hundred or so men under his command, they could produce at most forty revolver pistols a month.

With no other option, Chai Yu could only intensify the training of apprentices while leading the craftsmen to work day and night to produce new firearms.

The days flew by amidst the clanging of the hammer.

After a month of hard work, thirty gleaming bronze revolver muskets and flintlock muskets were neatly arranged in Jiang Han's main hall.

Jiang Han picked up a short gun; it was slightly heavy but very easy to handle.

He weighed it carefully for a few moments, his fingertips tracing the cool metal and the smooth wooden handle, his eyes filled with joy.

"nice one!"

He gave a word of praise, then gave an order to the guard beside him.
"Let's go! To the training ground, let's test these new guys!"

On the spacious training ground, the straw targets had already been set up.

Jiang Han picked up a flintlock musket with great interest, wanting to try it out himself.

But seeing this, Feng Chengxuan, the captain of the personal guards standing nearby, rushed forward and stopped him with a tense expression:

"General! Let me test the new firearms."

"just in case"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: he was afraid the barrel would explode.

Jiang Han was slightly taken aback. Although he had confidence in the craftsmanship of the Ironworks, he could not be careless about firearms.

He nodded and handed over the flintlock musket he was holding:

"Alright, be careful."

Feng Chengxuan solemnly accepted the two muskets.

He first picked up the flintlock musket, which was four feet five inches long and weighed five pounds. With practiced movements, he bit open the paper packet of gunpowder, loaded the gunpowder and bullets, and tamped it down with a tamping rod.

Following the method taught to him beforehand, Feng Chengxuan opened the ignition pool on the side of the gun barrel and poured in a small amount of ignition powder.

He then raised his gun, aimed at the straw target not far away, and held his breath in concentration.

With a click, flint sparks flew and instantly ignited the medicine pool, sending up plumes of smoke.

boom!
With a loud bang, the straw target wrapped in cotton armor trembled slightly.

Soon, a guard reported that, as always, the musket was lethal within a hundred paces and could pierce ordinary cotton armor within eighty paces.

Jiang Han was not surprised by this; the only change to the spear was that the matchlock was replaced with a flintlock.

The flintlock mechanism only increased the probability of firing firearms on cloudy or rainy days; it did not substantially improve firing accuracy or power.

Jiang Han nodded, signaling him to continue the test.

Feng Chengxuan picked up the small revolver on the table and weighed it in his hand.

Good stuff! It weighs no more than two and a half pounds at most, about the same as a waist knife.

He stood at the 20-step line, raising his gun and aiming.

"boom!"

Not far away, the cotton armor on the chest of the straw target burst open, releasing a lot of cotton fibers.

After firing the first shot, Feng Chengxuan forcefully flicked the edge of the cylinder with his thumb. With a soft click, the cylinder rotated one notch and locked in place. He then pulled the trigger and fired the second shot.

He kept moving, his thumb flicking repeatedly, pulling the trigger, and smoke quickly filled the air.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The five explosions were almost simultaneous, and they happened incredibly fast!

As the smoke cleared, it became clear that the area around Cao Ba's chest was a complete mess.

"Such a fast rate of fire!"

Feng Chengxuan couldn't help but praise.

He carefully inspected the gun and found that, apart from the barrel being a little hot to the touch, the gun was intact and showed no signs of exploding.

Jiang Han watched this scene with a satisfied smile on his face.

This revolver is lightweight and quick-firing, making it a formidable weapon in close combat!
So he immediately sent someone to summon Liu Ning, the commander of the cavalry battalion.

"Go, call over thirty brothers with exceptional horsemanship!"

Jiang Han pointed to the new weapon on the table,

"Let's see how the new guy performs on horseback."

Liu Ning nodded, accepted the order, and soon led thirty elite cavalrymen into the training ground.

A burly cavalryman with a booming voice dismounted and approached.

"Handsome! I heard the new guy has arrived?!"

"Let me, Wang Dadan, try it for you first!"

The newcomer was none other than Wang Zhenwu, a well-known tough guy in the team.

Jiang Han smiled upon hearing this:
"Wang Dadan, right? You're the one."

"First, try the long-barreled flintlock musket to see if it can be kept steady on horseback and aimed and fired."

"After that, rush closer and try the revolver."

"Order!"

Wang Zhenwu, his voice booming, strode to the table and examined the two weapons, one long and one short, before him.

Feng Chengxuan patiently guided him on how to use it.

After a moment, he nodded as if he understood, then grabbed two weapons from the table and mounted his horse.

"It doesn't seem too difficult, I'll give it a try!"

His chestnut warhorse galloped forward, kicking up dust and grass, as it hurtled towards the row of human-shaped straw targets not far away.

When they were within eighty paces, Wang Zhenwu squeezed his legs tightly around the horse's belly, raised his flintlock musket with both hands, and pressed the butt of the musket firmly against his shoulder.

Relying on his years of experience in riding and archery, he held his breath and, the instant his horse's hind hooves touched the ground firmly, he pulled the trigger.

boom!
The gun muzzle spewed out a long flame, and the enormous recoil made Wang Zhenwu's right arm jerk violently, causing his body to sway on the saddle.

Fortunately, his lower body was stable, so he didn't fall off his horse.

The straw target not far away had a large gash torn in the shoulder by a lead bullet, with cotton wool scattered everywhere.

"bingo!"

Wang Zhenwu was delighted to see this. He then casually stuffed the flintlock musket, which was still emitting blue smoke, into the saddlebag on the side of the horse's back and put away the spear.

Immediately afterwards, he spurred his horse and charged at full speed toward the grassy dam ahead.

Seeing that the horse's head was less than twenty paces from the target, Wang Zhenwu reached out with his right hand to the horse's back and deftly drew out his revolver.

"boom!"

The gunshot was short and explosive!
The first straw target's chest was struck as if by a heavy hammer, and a hole exploded in it.

The horse's hooves never stopped, but Wang Zhenwu's wrist was as steady as a rock. Following Feng Chengxuan's instructions, he flicked the magazine with his thumb and pulled the trigger with lightning speed.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The five explosions almost came together in one breath, and the smoke left a white trail on the side of the galloping horse.

Once the warhorse had galloped more than ten zhang away, Wang Zhenwu suddenly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up and came to a steady stop.

The five grass targets behind him were not human-shaped, and the broken grass stems fell in the wind.

"it is good!"

The onlookers, cavalrymen, were deeply moved and couldn't help but erupt in thunderous cheers.

The power of the new weapon caused a sensation throughout the training ground.

Wang Zhenwu, his face flushed with excitement, slowly rode back to his own lines. He dismounted nimbly, handed the short gun back to his personal guard, strode up to Jiang Han, and clasped his hands in salute.

Jiang Han looked at him intently:

"How about it?"

"How's the new thing going?"

Wang Zhenwu's eyes lit up, and he nodded hurriedly:

"Handsome guy! It works!"

"This short gun is light and easy to handle, and it is extremely fierce within twenty paces."

"If five consecutive shots are fired, even an iron man would be shot down on the spot!"

Wang Zhenwu's tone was full of admiration for the revolver.

But he immediately changed the subject, pointing to the flintlock musket still in his satchel:
"But, sir, this long weapon is only so-so to use."

"Although it doesn't require a match, it can still be fired on rainy days, which is an advantage."

"But in the end, it's different from the bird guns we used before, which is just the moment of ignition."

"Everything else, whether it's range, power, or reload speed, is the same as before."

He scratched his head and added cautiously.

"I think this thing is still not as convenient as the three-barreled gun."

"After all, once the three-barreled gun is lit, it's like a sledgehammer when you swing it around. It's much more effective at smashing someone's head in close combat than a spear!" "Just now, I was on horseback, holding the gun with both hands and firing, and I almost fell off."

"If it were a bow and arrow, we could shoot ten or more in one go without them ricocheting."

"Our cavalry are fast. We can draw our bows on horseback and circle around to unleash arrows into the enemy ranks."

"The short gun has sufficient firepower, but its range is short; the flintlock musket can shoot far, but its rate of fire is too slow, and it is not as fast as the rapid-fire arrows."

After listening, Jiang Han slowly shook his head:

"You have a point."

“But I am familiar with your cavalry’s past tactics.”

"Archery and horsemanship, harassment and breaking through enemy lines are indeed good methods, but ordinary people really can't do them."

“A five-step shot to the face can penetrate armor, but if the enemy is equally elite, you won’t be able to escape either.”

“If the vanguard fails to draw out the enemy’s first round of fire when they charge, you won’t be able to get through.”

He paused, glancing at the assembled cavalrymen.
"What I mean is that you should gradually abandon the cumbersome three-barreled gun and uniformly replace it with flintlock muskets that are more accurate and have a longer range."

"Utilize the cavalry's ability to move swiftly and quickly to exploit weaknesses in the enemy's defenses or when their formations are too slow to maneuver."

As Jiang Han spoke, he used the tip of the scabbard at his waist to draw lines on the hard ground beneath his feet, sketching out a simple battle formation:

Let me give you an example.

"For example, the enemy's main force is locked in a stalemate with our army's formation, and they are engaged in a bloody hand-to-hand battle."

"Now is the time for you to step in."

He sharply pointed his scabbard at the enemy's flanks and rear:
"The cavalry seized the opportunity, spurred their horses and galloped forward to within a hundred paces of the enemy lines. They dismounted and lined up in several rows, unleashing a barrage of fire in shifts."

"You should be very familiar with the rotation of the positions. The first row kneels and aims, the second row half-squats, the last row stands upright, and the three rows rotate, keeping the firepower incessant."

"Once we've emptied our ammunition, we must not linger in battle. We must immediately mount our horses and flee far away, seeking another opportunity to fight."

After hearing Jiang Han's words, the cavalrymen present gradually came to their senses. Wasn't he treating them like infantrymen?
Several quick-thinking individuals had already begun whispering among themselves:
"The commander's method sounds reasonable."

"A musket can pierce armor at eighty paces. If we form a line and fire in unison, even the elite guards will have a hard time withstanding two rounds."

"Even if you dismount, you're not afraid; you always have a short gun hanging on your waist."

"If anyone dares to rush within twenty paces and get close, five shots in quick succession will send them to their graves!"

"Wonderful! It can fight and run!"

Wang Zhenwu, who was in the lead, rubbed his hands together excitedly, completely forgetting his earlier dissatisfaction with the flintlock musket.
"General! This is a good idea! I think it's feasible!"

But Liu Ning, standing to the side, frowned more and more deeply.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and looked very worried:

"General, things can change in an instant on the field."

"Your method might work against government troops that are mainly infantry with few cavalry."

"But what if we encounter a force with a large number of cavalry?"

His gaze was sharp, pointing straight to the heart of the matter.

"What if the enemy cavalry suddenly attack while we dismount, form ranks, and load our ammunition?"

"We are cavalry, and we always travel light. We can't fight with barricades and deer antlers."

"In the rush, even if the brothers have pistols at their waists for protection, they probably won't be able to stop the cavalry's mass charge."

Jiang Han nodded approvingly after hearing this:
"That's right, you've considered everything very thoroughly, that makes sense."

"Therefore, I plan to divide your cavalry battalion into two large battalions, each with its own responsibilities."

"The first team will maintain its original tactics."

"Archery, horsemanship, harassment, close combat—do whatever is convenient for you."

"I will also equip you with newly made revolver muskets, so that you will have a better chance of defeating the enemy when you engage in close combat with enemy cavalry."

"If enemy cavalry charges, you will be responsible for going forward to meet them and protecting the musketeers who have dismounted and are in formation."

"And the second team, train using the method I just described!"

"Mounting quickly and maneuvering, specifically targeting enemy infantry formations."

“If necessary, I can even equip you with a few medium-sized cannons to enhance your firepower projection.”

"You can think of this cavalry as mounted infantry. Their main role is to move quickly on the battlefield and deliver firepower."

As Liu Ning listened to Jiang Han's clear explanation, the doubts in his eyes gradually disappeared:
"Understood, Your Excellency's insight is brilliant!"

"Then how should the troops be allocated? Commander, are you planning to set up a separate cavalry and infantry battalion?"

Jiang Han pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly:
"We don't need too much, let's split it in half."

"Of your three thousand cavalry, first send out fifteen hundred men to train them specifically in mounted maneuvering and dismounting formations for firing."

"For you veterans, infantry formation and taking turns firing are just the basics. You just need to practice the coordination. It's not too difficult."

"The key lies in rapid response and mutual cooperation."

He pointed to the revolver on the table and sighed.

"However, the production of revolver pistols will not be able to increase in the short term."

"Skilled craftsmen are in short supply. Chai Yu can only make about forty short guns a month."

"So, you should first separate the two teams and have them train separately."

"Especially for cavalry and infantry battalions that need to dismount and form ranks, the speed of dismounting, mounting, and forming ranks must be as fast as possible."

"Once we have enough weapons, we can form an army immediately."

Just as everyone was enthusiastically discussing the new cavalry tactics, a rapid, drum-like sound of hooves came from afar.

"General! Where is the General?!"

"Something bad is going to happen!"

With a few desperate shouts, everyone's hearts tightened, and they all turned to look in the direction of the sound.

Just then, Prefect Zeng Rui came galloping up on a fast horse. His official hat was askew and his hair was disheveled, clearly indicating that something extremely urgent had happened.

Upon seeing Jiang Han, Zeng Rui practically tumbled off his horse.

Ignoring the burning pain in his groin, he immediately pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Han:
"General! It's an urgent message from Li Xinghuai, the Prefect of Jianzhou, traveling 800 li!"

"In Guangyuan, Zhaohua, and Jianzhou, torrential rains have been pouring down for seven days and seven nights without stopping!"

"The water level of the upper reaches of the Jialing River has risen sharply, and thousands of acres of farmland along the riverbank in Jianzhou have been flooded, leaving people homeless!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han's pupils contracted. He snatched the urgent report and demanded an explanation in a stern voice:

"what?!"

"Is the news confirmed?!"

"Absolutely true!"

“Wu Xi, the Assistant Magistrate, led his men to repair the river embankment overnight. He almost fell into the river, but was saved by the desperate rescue of his guards.”

"Prefect Li is also busy providing disaster relief and hasn't slept for several days."

Zeng Rui, panting heavily, hurriedly pulled out another document from his pocket and presented it with both hands:

"Not only that, there's also an urgent report from Lieutenant General Li of Long'an Prefecture!"

"The water levels of the Pei River upstream of Long'an Prefecture and the Min River near Songpan Garrison are also rising rapidly."

"According to news from Jiangyou County, the areas of Mianzhu, Maozhou, and Luojiang in Chengdu Prefecture have suffered extremely severe damage."

"What's even more alarming is that a large number of disaster victims are now fleeing to our Long'an Prefecture and Baoning Prefecture with their families!"

Jiang Han frowned, looking surprised:
"what?"

"They're fleeing here? Why aren't they heading towards the prefectural city?"

"With the Dujiangyan Irrigation System protecting Chengdu, even if the surrounding areas suffer disasters, the city should be relatively safe!"

Mentioning this matter, Zeng Rui gritted his teeth in hatred:

"It's all the fault of those corrupt officials in Chengdu Prefecture!"

"These people only care about exploiting the people and don't care about water conservancy and dikes at all?"

“Apart from Dujiangyan, the river embankments in other prefectures and counties have been in disrepair for years and are practically useless.”

"When the flood came, those corrupt officials not only refused to open the granaries for relief, but instead kept driving the disaster victims towards us!"

"I heard that someone came up with a way to kill two birds with one stone: to drive the disaster victims into the country, which would not only consume our food reserves, but also exempt them from relief."

Zeng Rui raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Jiang Han:
"General, please don't stay on the training ground!"

"According to estimates from Jianzhou upstream, our Baoning Prefecture is also about to be flooded!"

"With both natural disasters and man-made calamities befalling us, we need you to stay in the capital and make the decisions!"

Jiang Han took a deep breath and glanced at Liu Ning, Zeng Rui, and all the soldiers who had gathered around him upon hearing the news.

"Pass on my order: Long'an Prefecture and Baoning Prefecture shall immediately declare martial law and enter a state of war!"

"Liu Ning! You lead the cavalry upstream along the Jialing River to scout the situation along the way. Remember to be careful!"

"The troops, militia, and yamen runners stationed in various places are ready to provide disaster relief and reassure the people at any time."

"Anyone who takes advantage of the disaster to loot, inflate grain prices, or spread rumors to sow discord will be executed without pardon!"

He turned to look at Zeng Rui and then gave the order:
"Pass down the notice, and the prefectures, states, and counties in both places shall immediately take stock of the grain reserves."

"Long'an Prefecture can accept some of the disaster victims; set up soup kitchens at the four gates of the city to ensure that the disaster victims have a bowl of thin porridge every day, just to keep them alive first."

"Prefect Zeng, you will personally oversee the transport of grain and fodder. Anyone who delays, embezzles, or commits corruption will be punished on the spot!"

Jiang Han waved to summon the messenger.

"Go and inform Chai Yu of the Iron and Steel Bureau to suspend the manufacture of firearms and instead focus all his efforts on producing cement."

"Tell him that the cement needs to be molded into stone blocks, because I need it to repair the river embankment!"

"Immediately conscript the militia around the prefectural city, ready to repair the river embankment at any time. Provide them with two meals a day, plus half a liter of coarse rice!"

"Furthermore, summon all the doctors in the prefecture and gather the medicines stored in the pharmacies."

"A major disaster is always followed by a major epidemic. We should make them prepared at any time. If the flood is really unstoppable, then we can only retreat temporarily."

"Have people set up temporary shelters and build shacks on Panlong Mountain north of Baoning Prefecture to accommodate the people and prevent the spread of the epidemic."

"Once an outbreak is detected, isolation should be implemented immediately to cut off transmission."

"At this time of disaster, the entire prefecture should work together to overcome the difficulties. A notice should be issued to inform all wealthy households and merchants in the prefecture to donate money and grain."

"Those who generously donate will be personally awarded a plaque by the Marshal's Office and their merits will be recorded in the register."

"If anyone dares to refuse, don't blame me for being ruthless and personally paying a visit!"

"In addition, all taxes will be waived in all disaster-stricken areas."

As Jiang Han issued his orders, the entire Baoning Prefecture immediately sprang into action.

Natural disasters finally began to spread. The devastation of Shaanxi was still fresh in everyone's eyes, and then Sichuan was hit by floods.

The harsh climate of the Little Ice Age at the end of the Ming Dynasty finally affected this land of abundance.

No one dared to be negligent, and everyone was wholeheartedly preparing to deal with the upcoming flood.

　I'm really awesome, I actually typed 6,000 words in the car!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)