Chapter 221: Paving the way

"If you want to reduce the weight of the horse gun, you can also use an iron gun mount. Compared with the wood gun mount, this gun mount is lighter and easier to carry. We are already able to mass-produce it." Shang Wen said.

"Well, the cavalry pays attention to fast maneuverability. It's good to do so.

"It's just that the size of the artillery can be larger. It is best to produce a four-inch artillery." Wang Jian suggested.

"This is no problem." Shang Wen said.

"We are now using iron molds for pouring. As long as the inside of the iron molds are coated with coal ash, they can be poured repeatedly." Shang Wen said.

"En. Then muskets. How about the cavalry equipped with muskets?" Wang Jian asked.

"Firegun. I suggest using a short-barreled musket. After all, the cavalry has to charge." Shang Wen suggested.

"Short-barreled musket. Can we take a look at this musket?" Wang Jian said. Compared with the rifle model, the short-barreled musket is more suitable for the needs of the cavalry. When Wang Jian checked the musket regiment, he had already imagined that the musket would be equipped with the cavalry unit. However, this type of spear with a bayonet close to the height of the human body is not very suitable for cavalry use. Mainly filling. Sprint. There is nothing wrong with shooting. But loading. The barrel of the musket is too long. When sprinting with a bayonet, it seems very weak. The Qin army is mainly equipped with a three-sided bayonet. The use of infantry's charge is not conducive to the rapid impact of cavalry.

"Now, we don't have it. We didn't produce this kind of weapon, and we don't even have drawings." Shang Wen shrugged and waved his hand.

"But we can quickly produce new products." Shang Wen added.

"Well, as soon as possible." Wang Jian said.

"By the way, General, are there any specific combat arrangements this time?" Shang Wen asked. Only by knowing the demand can we better arrange production activities.

"We plan to attack from the west, all the way to the west bank of the Yellow River and the Hexi Corridor." Wang Jian said.

"En." Shang Wen nodded.

"Mr. Qin, we will leave first. With the new equipment, we will come back and check." Wang Jian and Yang Duanhe said.

To the west, Hexi Corridor. Shang Wen began to have a lot of terrain on the west. The terrain there is more rugged. Mountainous. The cavalry set off from there. What is Wang Jian's intention? Why do you want to occupy it first? Shang Wen is not very obvious to this attempt, mainly he is not a military general, as to why he did it. Shang Wen didn't understand. But Shang Wen figured out another morale, that is. After entering the mountains to fight, a large number of engineers are needed. Especially crossing the Yellow River. Build fortifications and build bridges. Open the mountain and pave the way. and many more. All need the help of a large number of engineers. Engineers are still a rather vague concept in military academies. No one knows what they can do. Just know that they can build mountains and build roads.

"This." Yang Duanhe was curious about Shang Wen who had fallen into silence. How could this man be so rude.

"Hush." ​​Wang Jian quickly stopped Yang Duanhe's words. Wang Jian knew that Shang Wen didn't know what he was thinking.

"Don't disturb him, he is thinking about problems. If you disturb him, there will be no inspiration. Even the king did not dare to disturb him." Wang Jian whispered.

"Oh." Yang Duanhe nodded gently. For fear of disturbing Shang Wen's thoughts.

"General Wang. I think we must use engineering troops to fight the Yueshi this time." Shang Wen stopped thinking and said.

"Engineering soldier." Yang Duanhe shouted.

"Yes, our army will attack from the west. Except for the long Hexi Corridor, which can march normally, other places are not conducive to cavalry attack. I don't know General Wang's intention. However, if you want to attack quickly, you must rely on engineers. Help the cavalry open the mountains and build roads." Shang Wen said.

"Building a mountain to build a road? How easy is it. Ten thousand people, how long a day can be built. It's not enough for the cavalry to take a day." Yang Duanhe said.

"Mister meant to use explosives?" Wang Jian said.

"Yes. In addition, there are some engineering equipment that needs to be manufactured. To increase the speed of building roads." Shang Wen said.

"However, taking into account the needs of the road, I suggest starting repairs now." Shang Wen said. Building roads is not only to meet the needs of the march, but also the key to the entire logistics. Throughout the history of China, the number of troops used for large-scale expeditions is very large. But for this reason, its logistical supplies are also very large. However, the problem of logistics supply has been plagued by this ancient capital. Perhaps because of the lack of effective mobilization of enthusiasm, no one has ever done a complete improvement of road conditions. As a result, in every battle, a large number of civil servants have to be recruited to carry out road construction projects. The quality of the road is dirt road, barely able to march. Wait until the war is over. Basically scrapped. The road becomes a one-off product.

"En. I'll go to meet the king immediately on this matter." Wang Jian said, arching his hands.

"Mr. Qin, then we will leave first." Wang Jian and Yang Duanhe left. Yang Duanhe also asked Wang Jian from time to time. Because he doesn't know anything.

It is now in late autumn, and it is obviously impossible to build a road to the north on a large scale. And the speed of time simply cannot allow you to repair like this. To repair, only simple roads can be built. Blast the road with explosives, then open the road and level it, which requires fast compaction like a road roller. The next step is to lay the stones and then compact them. Basically, let's do that first. Regarding the above two processes, I am afraid that the war can't wait. The reason why soldiers are extremely fast. Shang Wen still understands.

When the military academies were established, Shang Wen made such a suggestion. It is not accidental. The earliest engineers began to be formed during the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was able to dominate one side because of two major military reforms. One is the current military region system in the military sense. The second is the engineer. With engineers. The Assyrian Empire can fight everywhere. Western countries, under this influence, attach great importance to engineers. In particular, Rome has given this kind of attention to a particularly important position. Compared to the East. Only the State of Qin had this rudimentary form of using engineers, but it did not form a standing arm. In other dynasties, it is often the easiest to ignore. Only when wars are frequent, will they be specially selected from soldiers to form temporary engineers. Afterwards, they often disbanded quickly, and no specialized engineers were formed.

The significance of the engineer does not lie in his construction of mountains and roads. It is a division of labor between arms. The meaning behind the division of labor is to symbolize the independence and large-scale application of human architecture. Rather than being in a dependent state all the time. Wandering in various industries.