Chapter 620: Elevated Artillery Forts

Latest URL:

"Someone, tell a team of Scouts to head to Yancheng, request that His Highness dispatch a batch of shovels, and at the same time, relay the intelligence gathered to His Highness," Chang Wei said.

After only a slight moment of thought, he came up with a solution.

Before long, a team of Cavalry galloped north, and after more than two days, they arrived at Yancheng.

"The Eastern Japanese actually have some skill." After the Scout reported the situation at Pingyuan City in detail, Zhao Xu gave a cold snort.

Judging from this situation, the Eastern Japanese had indeed learned some things from the Westerners.

However, to him, even so, the Eastern Japanese were merely showing off their meager skills before an expert.

The experience and knowledge he possessed were not something the Eastern Japanese and Westerners of this world could compare to.

Regarding the current situation at Pingyuan City, he had long since listed examples of such tactics for his generals at the Military Academy.

In some ancient wars, in order to suppress soldiers on the enemy's city walls, the attacking side would build earthen platforms.

This type of earthen platform was a sloped mound of earth, as high as the opponent's city wall.

In this way, Archers could stand on the earthen platform and shoot arrows at the opponent's city wall, suppressing their firepower.

After all, attacking from below while looking up was a great disadvantage.

Chang Wei requesting that he dispatch shovels was likely because he wanted to use this method.

However, he had simply replaced the Archers with Field Artillery.

As long as this earthen platform was built, the Artillerymen would be able to fire at the Qi Artillerymen on the walls of Pingyuan City through the platform, thereby destroying their Artillery.

"Feng'er, go call Minister of Works Zou Rong over," Zhao Xu said, having thought of something.

Chang Wei's method was certainly correct, but he did not understand construction.

Artillery was heavy; if the earthen platform was not rammed solid, a few rounds of shelling could cause it to collapse.

But if they were to ram a ten-meter-high earthen platform solid, it would take several months, greatly extending the siege time, which was disadvantageous to the war effort.

He had just received news from Xu Ke that Han Zheng had sent envoys to the Xie Family, Wu, and Southern Liang respectively.

This was a dangerous signal.

After the chaos in Jinling, the power clans had basically cut off contact, but now Qi was attempting to restore these connections.

Even with his eyes closed, he could figure out what Han Zheng wanted to do.

If the power clans were to unite again under the mediation of Qi, it would bring him no small amount of trouble.

Even worse, if they were to form a Coalition to attack Yanzhou, the situation would be even more dire.

At this time, occupying the three cities and using the Jin River as a boundary to prevent the flames of war from burning into Yanzhou was particularly important.

Therefore, he had to take these three cities as quickly as possible while avoiding unnecessary soldier casualties.

Within the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Zou Rong arrived at the Prince's Mansion.

Ever since the title of "Merit Evaluator" was removed and replaced with Minister of Works, Zou Rong's mood had remained in a state of excitement.

Even upon arriving at the study, a faint smile still hung on his face.

Bowing to Zhao Xu, he said, "Minister of Works Zou Rong pays his respects to Your Highness."

Zhao Xu nodded slightly; after the two major projects of the Lengbao and the outer walls of Yanguan were completed, Zou Rong had been responsible for Yanzhou's major infrastructure, supervising the construction of roads, bridges, and other facilities, and his days had been much easier than before.

"I have an important task for you. You are to immediately select a batch of capable officials to head to Pingyuan City to help Chang Wei build elevated Artillery Forts."

As he spoke, he drew a few strokes on the blueprint to show Zou Rong.

Upon hearing the words "Pingyuan City," Zou Rong's expression immediately turned serious.

He naturally knew that there was fighting at Pingyuan City.

So he carefully examined the structure on the blueprint and nodded, "This thing is very easy; Your Highness can leave it to me."

Zhao Xu absolutely believed that Zou Rong was not bragging; after all, compared to the Lengbao and the outer walls of Yanguan, this structure was simply too simple.

In fact, the structure he gave Zou Rong was just a modern two-story building.

The only structure involved was a few pillars and a flat level.

The pillars supported the level, and the level was used to place the Artillery.

Then, a slope was extended from the small building to the ground,

used to pull the Artillery up.

As for the materials for this structure, he planned to use a small amount of steel bars, and he was prepared to have Zou Rong use some sturdy bamboo as a substitute.

After all, this was not a permanent structure; it could be discarded after one use.

After giving these instructions, he gave Zou Rong a few more orders and then had Zou Rong organize the craftsmen to head to Pingyuan City as soon as possible.

Zou Rong returned to the Government Office and immediately had the officials summon the skilled craftsmen who had participated in building the Lengbao and the outer walls of Yanguan.

He had them prepare tools and materials immediately.

Three days later, a team composed of three thousand craftsmen marched in a grand procession toward Pingyuan City.

Because they were on foot, it took them nearly four days to arrive at Pingyuan City.

Upon meeting Chang Wei, Zou Rong told him Zhao Xu's idea.

"His Highness is still the most thoughtful," Chang Wei remarked with emotion.

Immediately, he felt a sense of frustration, thinking to himself that he was afraid he would never be able to surpass Yan Wang in this lifetime.

The Yanzhou Army was different when handed to Yan Wang compared to when it was handed to him.

Then, his face revealed joy as he returned to reality.

With the help of the Ministry of Works this time, he would be able to build one elevated Artillery Fort after another.

Thus, he took Zou Rong from the east side of Pingyuan City to the west side, pointed out eight locations, and asked Zou Rong to build the elevated Artillery Forts.

After agreeing with Chang Wei, Zou Rong gathered the administrative officials to discuss and assign them tasks.

Before long, some officials began leading the craftsmen to dig the foundations.

Other craftsmen were felling trees and processing them into individual wooden planks.

Once the foundation was dug, they would assemble these planks into a wooden trough and pour concrete into it.

In this way, the Fort would have a solid foundation, and the rest would only require stacking materials on top.

Looking at the bustling, heated scene before him, Chang Wei grinned.

Glancing toward the direction of Pingyuan City, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

According to Zou Rong, concrete can set in seven days, so it would only take a little over half a month to build a two-story Fort.

By then, he would make Han Qi understand what Artillery really is.

However, before that, he did not want to remain idle either.

Although he could not launch a full-scale attack immediately, he could always create some trouble for them, making the Qi soldiers feel

terrified at the thought of it.

He said to Qin Shan, "Organize a skirmish attack."

"Yes, General." Qin Shan acknowledged the order.

Flintlock muskets lack accuracy, but Rifled Muskets do not.

Therefore, after being equipped with Rifled Muskets, they began training in Skirmish Lines in addition to their standard formations.

Thus, during line-of-battle engagements, skirmishers could serve to harass the opponent's ranks and even launch surprise attacks on the enemy's Artilleryman positions, dealing them unexpected blows.

Turning to the Vice General beside him, he relayed Chang Wei's order.

Before long, a Skirmish Line consisting of three hundred men moved toward Pingyuan City.

Latest URL:

To download the latest txt e-book of this book, please click: https: //

Mobile reading of this book: https: //

Post a book review: https: //

To facilitate future reading, you can click "Bookmark" below to record this reading session (Chapter 614: Fort), and you can see it next time you open your bookshelf! Please recommend this book to your friends (via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.), thank you for your support!!