A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 773 Accident
In November of the 15th year of Chongzhen, it was the Zhencheng Artillery Training Ground.

In front of Wang Dou and the others were more than a dozen huge rockets of the sacred fire flying crow. At this time, the crow's body was erected, and the fire wire on the belly of the crow stretched out, connecting with the fire wire of the rocket that aided in flying. Several assistants held The long red-hot iron hook was about to be ignited.

The development of military technology is Wang Dou's focus, so he will often take time to look around. At this time, Han Chao, Zhong Tiaoyang, Zhao Xuan, Qi Tianliang and others are gathered beside him, as well as the director of the Military Science Department. Researchers Lai Yuanlong, Li Maosen, Li Zhifen, Zhou Xiangren and others.

After returning from the Songshan War, Wang Dou became very interested in large rockets such as the Shenhuo Flying Crow. Now that the military factory has established a project, it has also begun to manufacture such large rockets. Zhou Xiangren, the former deputy director of the artillery factory, is in charge of the improvement research.

After Zhou Xiangren defected to Wang Dou in the 13th year of Chongzhen, a few years later, he also brought out a large group of technicians. In terms of artillery casting, he no longer needs to do it himself, and can specialize in the research and improvement of artillery.

After the establishment of the Military Science Department, Zhou Xiangren entered the department and became a mid-level researcher with a lofty status.

In order to show his importance to these research talents, Wang Dou specially stipulated that those who have the status of "researcher" and "designer" will just bow and not kneel even when they see him, just like soldiers with honors in the army. Enjoy with enough dignity.

Throwing it with a peach and repaying it with a plum, Zhou Xiangren and others were overwhelmed with gratitude, and even more dedicated to serving Wang Dou.

Because they know that if they are craftsmen, except for Xuanfu Town, the rest of the world will not treat them as human beings, or treat them seriously, not to mention their current status and status, as well as wealthy people. live.

At present, Zhou Xiangren is in charge of the research and improvement of the artillery group, with a large number of helpers and scribes under his command, and now he has added rocket research.

Compared with building the Hongyi cannon, big rockets such as Shenhuo Feiya actually have no technical content, and they are not as cumbersome as making small rockets.It’s just that it’s easy to build, and Zhou Xiangren and others have been troubled by the problems of improving the range and wind direction of the big rocket.

He has adjusted the head, tail and two wings of the flying crow, but there is still the problem of flying randomly, and if the gunpowder is loaded too much, the shooting range of the flying crow will not be far. .

The artillery training field is quite wide, and a large area in the southeast of the teaching field belongs to it. The terrain here is also complex, with plains, mountains, and hills inside. It is suitable for various battlefield training and analysis of artillery, and it is also suitable for rocket training. site.

Zhou Xianglin wore glasses, which had a rather elegant taste. Of course, what he was wearing at this time was no longer a pair of glasses, which were tied to the ear with a string, but the same as the glasses of later generations. An improved version of Doo Research's glasses.

Seeing his assistants waiting for his order, he shouted: "Light on the fire!"

There was a sizzling sound of the fire wire, and then orange flames rose up. Amidst the swishing sound, one after another, the sacred fire flying crows and big rockets flew into the sky one after another with flames.

Seeing the big rocket dragging green smoke, everyone couldn't help but look up, Zhao Xuan murmured: "How spectacular."

Qi Tianliang said: "One rocket needs a lot of gunpowder, can't it be spectacular? This kind of research and development costs too much..."

Everyone watched the many blue smoke spots in the sky fly towards the intended target, but...

At this time, the cold wind was quite strong, and some rockets were seen turning around in the air, and even a few of them turned around and flew back towards the crowd.

Everyone was stunned, Zhong Tiaoyang shouted loudly: "Protect the general!"

Immediately, everyone's voices rang together: "Protect the general... Take the general away..."

The soldiers of the guard battalion, as well as Han Chao, Qi Tianliang, Zhao Xuan, Lai Yuanlong, Li Zhifen and others, rushed forward desperately and protected Wang Dou's surroundings.

Zhong Tiaoyang took Wang Dou's hand and ran desperately. Zhou Xiangren's face was ashen. If the general had an accident, not to mention that he was in a state of doom, everything he dreamed of, and everything in Xuanfu Town, would also be turned into nothingness. Nothing.

He screamed and rushed forward, intending to use his body to block all possible dangers for Wang Dou.

Fortunately, those rockets, dragging the flames, turned a few more turns in the air, flew out obliquely, and then hit the ground one after another at a place more than 100 steps away. Light, even a few exploded in the air.

Everyone watched in shock, Zhong Tiaoyang yelled loudly: "Come here, take Zhou Xiangren down."

Zhou Xiangren burst into tears. What happened just now, he was scared out of his wits. Fortunately, the general was fine. If something happened, he would die. Willing to accept the guilt."

Li Maosen and others also looked at Zhou Xiangren with hatred. If something happened to Wang Dou, they could not imagine what would happen in the future. Perhaps, everything they owned would no longer exist. Plead for mercy.

There is also Lai Yuanlong, who is also pale. The current life is what he likes and dreams of. Although he has the title of director in the Military Science Department, they are actually technical researchers in the department. , there are no complicated mundane affairs, only continuous research and research.

He still has the same slovenly appearance, but his face is full of radiance all day long, full of energy, and he is indulging in his own research affairs. He only hopes to continue like this forever. Zhou Xiangrui ruined his ideal life, so it's no wonder he has a good impression of him.

He even thought: "I have been too loose with my subordinates, and I almost made a big mistake."

Wang Dou also had a thrilling feeling. The shadow of death was so close to him just now. For the first time, he felt that he was not as fearless of death as he imagined. Perhaps, it was more unwillingness, and he still had a lot of ambitions that had not been realized.

Seeing a few guards rushing up, about to twist and tie Zhou Xiangren up, he waved his hand: "That's all."

Wang Dou exhaled, and said slowly: "It's not the fault of Technician Zhou. Some accidents are inevitable. If you are afraid of accidents, you don't have to do anything in the future."

He said in a deep voice: "However, this matter needs to be taken as a warning. Each of you technicians is precious, and I don't want you to have trouble. You should also formulate detailed safety regulations in the future to prevent such things from happening again. occur……"

Qi Tianliang said anxiously: "General, don't worry, such things will definitely not happen again in the future!"

He was directly in charge of the military industry, if something happened to Wang Dou here, he couldn't imagine what would happen.

Han Chao also looked at him with a frown, and said, "Old Qi, you did a poor job."

Qi Tianliang smiled wryly, "Yes, yes."

He sighed in his heart that it was unlucky, and at the same time, he had the idea of ​​retiring. In the past, something happened to his old wife Tao, and it was the general who spared her life because of his generosity. No matter how much old love is, it will be exhausted one day.

His family knows his own affairs, and his talents are only mediocre. With Wang Dou's support, he has come to the present step by step.I already feel powerless, today's matter is just a wake-up call, what should I do if something happens again?
It's better to retreat bravely in the rapids, and you can enjoy the future glory and wealth. After all, if you don't do things, nothing will happen.

Zhou Xiangren wept bitterly. If the matter of this day were placed elsewhere in Ming Dynasty, it would be trivial to dismiss officials and resign. It would be normal to chop off a large number of heads. Not only did Wang Dou not blame him, but he also cared about their safety. Together with Mao Sen and others, they all felt the feeling of dying for their confidants.

Zhou Xiangren kowtowed heavily on the ground: "Thank you, General, for your kindness and virtue, a villain will never be able to repay you if you die..."

Wang Dou gently asked him to get up: "Don't be burdened by thoughts, what should be done, and what you should do in the future."

Everyone continued to watch the launch of the Shenhuo Feiya rocket, but this time Wang Dou and others stayed far away and retreated to a safe enough place.

After shooting a few more rockets, Wang Dou groaned and said nothing. The flight of the Shenhuo Flying Crow was unstable, and the problem of its short range was not solved, and it would still be difficult to use it in the future.

In later generations, the rocket is an indispensable weapon in all kinds of wars. It is powerful and flexible in application. An attacking weapon that the enemy fears.

But the current rocket...

When I came to the Research Institute of the Military Science Division, there is a large and spacious compound here, not far from the training ground. After all, there is a military factory nearby, as well as the Zhencheng Artillery Foundry. Experiments on theoretical goods.

People come and go everywhere in the courtyard, and many elite military craftsmen gather here to study various weapons, which serve as the soul and brain of various military industries.

Due to the high budget of the Military Science Department, designers and researchers are able to express their inspiration freely here.

In addition to ordinary weapons, many people have also designed a lot of weird weapons.There are even some people who study the firecracker reloading from the rear, which makes people laugh. Opponents say: "If we can only eat from the front mouth, how can we eat from the buttocks?"

In the courtyard, behind any weapon that has been proven in actual combat, there are a large number of abandoned designs.

Just like Zhao Shizhen’s Xunlei gun, this kind of multi-barreled matchlock gun has the advantages of bird gun and three-eye gun. It seems to have a good prospect, but after experiments, many researchers have given up. According to them, this firearm is not practical.

Zhou Xiangren also has his own independent courtyard. From the blueprints everywhere, it can be seen that he is also a workaholic and research madman.

Before arriving at a blueprint on the table in the hall, Wang Dou saw a large sheet of scrawled patterns on it, depicting various appearances of divine fire and flying crows.

Most craftsmen were illiterate, but after Zhou Xiangren entered Xuanfu Town, he also learned to read and draw pictures, but the pictures he drew were mostly abstract patterns.

On the contrary, his assistants did a good job of painting. After all, these people in Xuanfu Town were able to read and write, and they also had a standard concept of weights and measures.

"Old Zhou thinks, where are the flaws in the current rocket?"

Looking at the impressionist drawing, Wang Dou asked slowly.

Everyone was contemplating, Zhou Xianglu pondered for a while, and replied: "Back to the general, the younger one thought that the short range and especially unstable flight were the biggest disadvantages of flying crows. The younger one has changed his wings, but he still cannot avoid flying randomly." disease..."

He muttered to himself: "Could it be that the rocket is too light? The body of the crow is made of bamboo and wood, so it is easily affected by the wind direction?"

Listening to Zhou Xiangren talking to himself, Wang Dou suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and some information about later generations that he remembered in his mind came to his mind.

(End of this chapter)