Zhu Yuanzhang in the cellar

Chapter 116 Zhu Yuanzhang has AK
More than ten days later, it was late October of the 13th year of Hongwu.

For Zhu Biao, this is a happy moment.

The second generation of seeds had been harvested, and Zhu Biao ordered them to be quickly distributed to various parts of the south.

In addition, crops such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn are also being promoted in the north.

However, the north is still sparsely populated and it is still a troublesome task to promote it comprehensively in the north.

So right now this may not be achieved until next year.

But no matter what, at least the people in the Taihu area of ​​Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangsu will have a good new year this year.

With such a high yield of grain as a foundation, and Zhu Biao reducing many taxes, they were able to get through the famine years smoothly.

Just when Zhu Biao was handling state affairs in an orderly manner, the fourth brother Zhu Di gave him another good news.

After more than ten days of research, Zhu Di solved the problem of the shell puller hook. It was indeed a few millimeters more when he designed the shell puller hook.

It can be said that a slight mistake can lead to a huge error.

Although he had strictly followed the dimensions on the drawing and used a vernier caliper to accurately measure the length of each position, the slightest negligence could lead to consequences.

Fortunately, the error was not serious. After readjustment and re-stamping, a new mold was made.

This time the AK did not jam.

After more than ten days, Zhu Di made ten AKs and more than 100,000 bullets.

Although it took him several days to make the AK for the first time, practice makes perfect, and many parts can be stamped out in one go, so it was much faster afterwards.

This is just one stamping machine. If there were three, he could make about forty or fifty guns and more than two hundred thousand bullets in more than ten days.

"Da da da da da da da!"

On the training ground, flames spewed out of the muzzle of the AK, and dust flew out from the earth slope behind the wooden target in the distance.

It has to be said that Zhu Di was very talented in mechanics.

Although they are all automated precision machines, they do not require complicated operations.

But whether it is component design or mold stamping, he did it all by himself, which requires a certain level of skill.

Seeing that the AK successfully fired a burst of bullets without any jamming accidents, Zhu Biao said with great satisfaction: "Old Four, you did a great job."

Zhu Di put down the AK in his hand, showed an honest smile and said: "It's not particularly difficult, just draw it according to the proportions of the blueprint."

“But it’s the right time.”

Zhu Biao asked, "How many do you have on hand now?"

Zhu Di shook his head and said, "There are only ten. There are too few machines. It would be better if there were ten machines."

Compared with bullets, the structure of AK is much more complicated. The spring steel cable inside is not so complicated and can be directly customized by a modern processing factory, or even Zhu Yunfeng’s own factory can make it.

But the other dozens of complex small parts such as the receiver, chamber, firing pin, gas tube, front sight, barrel, trigger, sear, etc. all need to be stamped to make molds.

Although the molds were ready, these small parts were too complicated and a machine could only assemble two or three guns in a day.

So mass production is indeed very difficult.

Zhu Biao frowned and asked, "Does that mean we can't achieve mass production of automatic rifles at all?"

"Indeed, but the old breech-loading rifles can be used. The internal structure of those guns is relatively simple, not as sophisticated as modern rifles."

Zhu Di said: "I looked at the German Mauser rifle during World War I. The internal structure is only more than 30 small parts. It is not as complicated as the AK. If we have more than a dozen stamping machines, we should be able to produce hundreds of thousands of rifles a year."

This is the difference between modern firearms and antique firearms from World War II.

Modern firearms are very sophisticated. Although the AK is considered a simple one among modern firearms, not counting the accessories, a basic AK rifle has more than fifty parts of various sizes.

There is no fixed number of parts for the other more famous M4 carbine and M16 rifle, because they can be modified at any time, but preliminary estimates show that the most basic parts of the M4 and M16 are more than one hundred.

Some of these parts are just small screws, some are the internal structure of the upper and lower receivers, and some are external accessories. There is no need to explain the other small components such as cleaning rods, hooks, hammers, locks, etc.

It can be said that modern firearms are quite sophisticated. Even a small Glock pistol has 32 parts and requires a lot of professional equipment. It is far from being manufactured by ordinary machines.

In comparison, the bolt-action rifles used around the world during World War I and World War II were much simpler.

For example, the earliest Mauser rifle has more than 30 small parts, the more famous American Springfield rifle has more than 50 parts, the Type 38 rifle used in daily life has only 27 parts, and the German rifle officially imitated by my country has more than 40 parts.

Moreover, the parts of a bolt-action rifle are far less complicated than those of a modern automatic rifle. The springs and screws do not need to be made and can be made from any modern processing factory.

The remaining parts are mostly large and are directly stamped. Unlike modern automatic rifles, many parts require special production machines.

After all, when firing a single rifle, there is naturally no need to fire continuously like an automatic rifle.

Therefore, if we simply produce old-style bolt-action rifles, the output will be dozens of times that of modern rifles.

Zhu Biao naturally knew that old-style rifle. He had also watched some anti-Japanese TV dramas and knew that this type of rifle was the main weapon during World War I and World War II.

Although these weapons are certainly antiques compared to modern automatic rifles, we must remember that this was the end of the 14th century AD, and the so-called great geographical discoveries in Europe took place in the 15th century.

As for the Industrial Revolution, flintlock rifles, Minié bullets and the like, they did not spread across Europe until after the 17th century.

So it can be said that even the guns and ammunition from World War II would be a dimensionality reduction attack if placed in the 14th century today, and would have no rivals on a global scale.

Thinking of this, Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Well, even an old breech-loading rifle is good. The most important thing now is to arm our army. It just so happens that a batch of grenades have been made recently. You will be responsible for escorting them and send them to Yunnan to my father."

"Going to Yunnan? Okay."

Zhu Di thought about it and agreed.

Zhu Biao then said, "I will report this good news to my father first. You should get ready and leave early."

"it is good."

Zhu Di nodded.

Zhu Biao left the parade ground and rushed to the palace immediately.

Zhu Yunfeng had sent over many radios before, including a shortwave radio that he bought at a high price.

After it was sent to the Ming Dynasty, it went through a period of debugging and was taught professional radio operation knowledge before it was delivered to Zhu Yuanzhang's tent.

So at this time, the Ming Dynasty finally had the ability to communicate long distances.

At this time, far away in Qujing, Yunnan, more than 200,000 Ming troops were stationed there. Flags were like clouds along the Nanpan River, tents along the coast blocked out the sky, and the place was crowded with people, with no end in sight.

Zhu Yuanzhang arrived in Yunnan a few days ago. He went deep into the northern frontier and defeated the Northern Yuan Emperor Toghon Temur's army. Even the Northern Yuan Prime Minister was captured.

Basically, after this battle, the North Yuan army in the northwest had no possibility of moving south. And Xu Da was stationed in the northeast. Although Nahachu had a strong army and horses, with more than 300,000 people, he could not shake Liaodong in the slightest.

It was under such circumstances that Zhu Yuanzhang decided to go back and deal with the Zhalawarmi tribe of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Yunnan, remove this thorn in the side of the Ming Dynasty, and resolve this major threat.

To this end, he not only went into battle personally, but also formulated his own strategy. Inside the tent, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had just used a drone to scout the other side of the river, was convening a meeting of his generals.

Below, dozens of generals including Li Wenzhong, Fu Youde, Mu Ying, Tang Shengzong, Zhou Dexing, Yu Tongyuan, Lan Yu, Wang Bi, Jin Chaoxing, and Cao Zhen gathered in the central army tent.

There are painted maps on Zhu Yuanzhang's desk, and the tablet in his hand also has a large number of photos taken by drones.

After reading it, he pointed at the map and said, "Qujing is the throat of Yunnan. As I expected, Zala Walmi has gathered all his troops here to fight against my division. If we want to win, we must use surprise attacks!" "I have read the map and also seen Zala Walmi's deployment of troops from the sky. I think that in addition to sending a brave general to lead a separate army to Wusa at the beginning, the main army will enter Puding from Chen and Yuan, occupy the key points, and launch surprise attacks from two directions, we must also plan strategies."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked around and said, "According to the radio report, the detachment led by Guo Ying, Hu Haiyang, and Chen Huan has already broken through Wusa and will soon move south to Shiliang. When they reach Shiliang, the Yuan army will be shocked, and we can defeat them in one fell swoop!"

I have to say that Lao Zhu is really good at strategy.

In the historical battle of Ming Dynasty to pacify Yunnan, it was he who carried out long-range micro-management in Nanjing City and formulated a two-pronged attack strategy, which eventually allowed the Ming army to break through Qujing and wipe out the Northern Yuan forces entrenched in Yunnan in one fell swoop.

In Zhu's view, Qujing is the throat of Yunnan. Once Qujing is breached, Kunming is right behind it, so Zhalawalmi must gather heavy troops to guard Qujing.

He sent his army in two groups, one group marched westward from Puding, Guizhou, which is the direction of Anshun City, Guizhou in later generations, and headed straight for Qujing.

The other route attacked from the north, starting from Yongning, which is Xuyong County in Sichuan in later times, and going south to attack Wusa, which is Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County in Guizhou in later times, and threatening Shiliang, which is Xuanwei City in Yunnan in later times.

Xuanwei City is located in the north of Qujing, while the main force of the Ming army is in the east of Qujing, confronting the Yuan army in Qujing across the Nanpan River.

Once the Ming army in the north appears behind Qujing, the Qujing army will inevitably be shaken.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a drone in his hand and had been monitoring the movements of the Yuan army. When Guo Ying and others appeared in the north, it would be the best time for the main force of the Ming army east of the Nanpan River to attack the Yuan army.

'What a pity, there is no fog now.'

Old Zhu thought to himself.

Historically, Fu Youde also acted according to his deployment.

However, before Guo Ying could get into position, Mu Ying discovered that there was a heavy fog over the Nanpan River, and their situation could not be seen at all from the other side.

Therefore, he immediately suggested to Fu Youde that they should cross the river while the fog was heavy and first deal with the Yuan army in Baishi River northeast of Qujing, so as to outflank the Yuan army from the northeast of Baishi River in two directions.

Once the encirclement is formed, we will dispatch the main force to launch a feint attack from the front, and send another surprise force to secretly cross the river from the downstream and go around behind the Yuan army formation, which will surely defeat the enemy.

Fu Youde adopted this suggestion, and the three-way encirclement was successful. The Ming army took advantage of the heavy fog to cross the Baishui River, a tributary of the Nanpan River in the north, and successfully reached the north of the Yuan army.

The Ming army in the east was making a big show of crossing the river, but in fact a special force crossed the river from the downstream and attacked the Yuan army to the south.

In this way, the Yuan army on the west bank of the Nanpan River was attacked from both the north and the south by the Ming army.

The main force of the Ming army in the east took advantage of the situation to cross the river and defeated the more than 100,000 troops of Zhalawarmi, the King of Liang of the Northern Yuan Dynasty. They then captured Kunming and recovered Yunnan.

But historically, the Ming army was able to cross the river smoothly thanks to heavy fog.

There is no fog at the moment, and crossing the river under the enemy's nose would make us a sitting duck.

The Yuan army was not stupid. Countless cavalry and scouts along the north and south coasts were observing their movements, so they naturally could not act easily.

"Forget it, it will be the same when Guo Ying and the others arrive."

Lao Zhu shook his head.

At this moment, the operator who was sitting next to the radio station in the back wearing headphones and connected to the radio suddenly shouted: "Your Majesty, there is a report from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"What's the matter?"

"Your Highness said that His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan has successfully developed the AK47, plus hundreds of thousands of black powder grenades made by the military factory, and will be sent to Yunnan as soon as possible."

'AK?'

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned.

Of course he knew this stuff.

Then he stood up and walked over and said, "I'll talk to him."

The operator quickly stood up and handed him the headphones.

Zhu Yuanzhang put on his headphones, sat down, took the microphone and said, "Hello, hello."

"Father."

Zhu Biao's voice came clearly from the other side.

There are now more than ten shortwave radio stations in the entire Ming Dynasty, and four of them are in use, so four channels have been set up.

The transceiver is also simple.

The radio station is responsible for sending sound, and the receiver is responsible for receiving it.

There's no way around it.

Because walkie-talkies can only be used at short distances, for long distances, they can only be used through radios.

But even so, remote communication is possible.

In this age without any radio signal pollution, the air carries a truly sweet scent.

Hearing Zhu Biao's voice, Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "How many AKs are there now?"

"Ten handfuls."

"Only ten?"

"Yes, the AK is very difficult to manufacture."

Zhu Biao said, "But we can develop bolt-action rifles, and we can also make cannons now."

The Ming army had cannons. In the Battle of Poyang Lake and the Battle of Hongdu, Zhu Yuanzhang's firearms battalion played a huge role, repeatedly defeating Chen Youliang's army and ultimately defeating the Han army.

However, most artillery pieces at the time were made of copper and iron and could only use solid bullets. Although they were powerful, explosions were common, causing great headaches for the Ming army itself.

Now that a lot of high-quality steel has been brought in from modern times, making cannons is a natural thing to do.

When Zhu Yuanzhang learned that the rear was stepping up the production of military equipment but could not yet be transported to the front line, he was a little disappointed, but he also knew that there was really no other way.

Because Zhu Yunfeng can only deal in steel in the second half of the year under the name of opening a metal processing plant. Otherwise, as a large farmer, why would you buy so much steel? It would easily arouse suspicion.

So the current progress is already quite fast.

"Then let Lao Si send the AKs over first. They may not determine the direction of the battlefield, but if there are ten AKs, they can still play a big role."

Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"it is good."

Zhu Biao replied, "I'll ask Lao Si to deliver it as soon as possible."

After hanging up the call, Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and looked at the map again. After a moment's hesitation, he looked at the river on the map and said, "Build another ship, the taller the better."

"Yes!"

Fu Youde nodded in agreement.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the surface of the Nanpan River in deep thought.

If there is a ship several meters high lying across the river, and the AK has a range of over a hundred meters, ten AKs should be enough to shoot the Yuan army so that they cannot show their heads.

(End of this chapter)