mtl008 Chapter 377 Expanded Meeting
Chapter 377 Expanded Meeting
After bidding farewell to his parents, Fan Xitong hurriedly set out on the journey to Luancheng, Dingzhou.
Along the way, his mind was in a frenzy, as he speculated on the various situations that might arise during this meeting with Mr. Zhao.
When Zhao Sheng learned that Fan Xitong was coming to visit, he was busy preparing for the heads of various departments to come to Luancheng for a meeting. Zhao Sheng hurried back to the Princess's Mansion and met Fan Xitong in the living room.
"The princess and her husband's visit really brings honor to our humble mansion!" Zhao Sheng joked with a smile.
Hearing Zhao Sheng's teasing, Fan Xitong couldn't help but curl his lips and said, "I'm just passing by. What's the matter? The princess and her husband don't like me?"
There was a hint of feigned dissatisfaction in his words.
After being scolded by Fan Xitong, Zhao Sheng quickly put on a smile and said, "It's just a joke, Brother Fan, why take it so seriously?"
After hearing this, Fan Xitong felt a little embarrassed and said with a wry smile: "I really have something to ask you this time. Please sit down first and listen to me slowly."
"Oh? So serious? What's the matter?" Zhao Sheng restrained his smile and became focused.
"Hey...it's that new type of artillery you made, Your Majesty..."
Fan Xitong spoke anxiously and told Zhao Sheng the whole story.
After Fan Xitong finished speaking, Zhao Sheng also understood the reason.
He leaned over and poured a cup of tea for Fan Xitong, then slowly said:
"The principle of making a cannonball is just as marked on the drawing. However, it can be made of cast iron or clay. The effect will be very different depending on the filling."
Zhao Sheng gestured for Fan Xitong to drink tea, and then said:
"Apart from anything else, we can add some small iron balls inside the cast iron, so that the area affected by the explosion can be increased."
After hearing this, Fan Xitong suddenly realized: "It turns out to be so simple."
"Yes, it's that simple."
After Zhao Sheng finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.
"You seem to have something else to say?"
Fan Xitong suddenly remembered what he had said before. Different fillers have different effects. He keenly realized that Zhao Sheng might still have some reservations.
"There's still some work to be done, and I haven't finished it completely yet. That's all I have for now."
Mr. Zhao didn't want to waste time talking. In his opinion, what he had said so far was enough for Zhao Hui and the others.
Moreover, Shangjun has its own professional loaders. Even if he doesn't tell them, they will probably be able to figure it out on their own.
After saying this, Fan Xitong felt that his mission was accomplished.
"Take out your wine tonight. I want to get drunk with you."
Fan Xitong made the request, his face filled with anticipation.
Seeing Fan Xitong like this, Zhao Sheng smiled bitterly and said, "You came here wanting to drink some wine, so why not just get some wine?"
"No, I want to drink wine that is more than three years old." Fan Xitong insisted.
"Aging? You thought you were drinking vinegar? You still want to age it?"
Zhao Sheng rolled his eyes at Fan Xitong in annoyance.
That night, the two of them drank to their heart's content and had a great time.
The next day, when Zhao Sheng woke up from his hangover, Fan Xitong had already left the Princess's Mansion and headed for Bingzhou.
A day later, Zhao Sheng received the news that Zhao Long and others had gathered, and then he remembered to hold an enlarged meeting.
The county magistrates, military division commanders and generals of each county were recalled for meetings.
In the workshop's meeting room, Zhao Sheng sat in the middle of a long table, with more than a dozen people sitting around it.
"I asked you to come back this time. First, we need to adjust your positions and defense areas. Second, some counties are developing rapidly, while others are..."
Mr. Zhao opened the conversation with a steady and powerful voice.
At the meeting, Zhao Sheng did not speak for long. After his opening remarks, he began to listen to reports on the actual situation in various counties and armies.
Everyone spoke in turn, some reporting on the recent harvest results, and some talking about the difficulties and challenges they encountered.
Mr. Zhao listened carefully, nodding slightly from time to time, frowning from time to time.
Finally, Zhao Sheng concluded: "After Zhao Long returns, he will arrange the army and be transferred back to be appointed commander-in-chief of the three armies."
When the people present heard this, they showed puzzled expressions on their faces, obviously not understanding what the three armies were.
Zhao Sheng saw this and realized that he needed to explain clearly, so he said, "The so-called three armies are the current conventional field army, mercenaries, and mechanized forces."
After he finished speaking, he found that everyone was still looking at him with confusion.
In desperation, he further explained: "The so-called field army is our new army now, and they are the main force in the battle.
Mercenaries are troops like Shan Ning's troops stationed outside and hired by Qin.
There will be many more such armies stationed abroad in the future, but mercenaries will not be part of the new army."
Zhao Sheng guessed that everyone still didn't fully understand, so he continued:
"After they have served in the army for a certain number of years, we will continue to hire some veterans and pay them high salaries. They will often go out to perform special missions."
After hearing this, everyone began to nod, and seemed to understand something.
"The veterans we hire are not called mercenaries. We call them professional soldiers. They are temporarily assigned to various field armies. After they retire, they can serve as yamen runners, security personnel, etc. in various county yamen."
Mr. Zhao explained patiently.
Upon hearing this, the generals present felt much more at ease, thinking that these soldiers had been properly arranged, and they all showed happy smiles on their faces.
"Considering that some generals stay in one place for a long time, in order to adapt to different battles in different places, some generals will be frequently transferred or take on the command of different arms. Now I will talk about mechanized troops."
As Zhao Sheng was speaking, he suddenly felt extremely thirsty.
He suddenly realized that there was no water on the table, so he gestured to Liang Dong that he wanted to drink some water.
Liang Dong was very smart. He immediately understood what Zhao Sheng meant and hurried out to pour water.
"We have steam engines now, and we'll invent some internal combustion engines later. As for the current steam engines, we'll make some tracked self-propelled vehicles, carrying some heavy weapons, which will need someone to manage them."
Mr. Zhao said excitedly.
At this point, everyone roughly understood what mechanized troops were and knew that they were a new type of vehicle.
However, we can only wait and see with great anticipation as to what kind of car it will be.
Yes, the steam engine has been manufactured, and it is not very large, but it needs to carry and transport some coal.
The shape is a bit like a steam train, but now it moves forward on tracks.
Putting it all together, the volume seems a bit large, and the temperature of the vehicle is a bit high when running.
Zhao Sheng had no intention of driving these vehicles around, but only of using them as defensive weapons. He hoped to travel twenty to thirty miles in an hour.
The key is that such a vehicle can adjust its attack direction by itself and does not require manual traction.
During transportation, he still planned to dismantle it and take it away, but this was a secret.
Liang Dong brought the tea and Zhao Sheng asked him to pour a bowl for everyone.
At the meeting, Zhao Sheng did not explain the details of the steam engine vehicle in too much detail, but emphasized that this type of vehicle can move on its own, and is made of steel, and is very capable of withstanding attacks from weapons.
Upon hearing this, everyone's fighting spirit was instantly boosted, and they felt that this weapon was simply invincible...