In the following days, Mu Zian worked with Zhao Shizhen to design paper-wrapped bullets.
It takes at least 7-8 steps to fire a matchlock gun.
First, pour the guiding medicine into the guiding medicine pot and close the lid of the guiding medicine pot.
Then the propellant is poured into the muzzle, and then the bullet is loaded into the muzzle.
Then, use a cleaning rod pulled out from under the barrel to tamp down the projectile and propellant, ensuring that the priming, propellant, and projectile are fully compacted.
Finally, light the fuse and pull the trigger.
Before firing the next shot, it is necessary to clean the ignition hole and the ignition pot in advance to prevent gunpowder residue from clogging the ignition hole.
Even a skilled musketeer can only fire about three shots per minute, so their shooting efficiency is not high.
However, if the priming agent, propellant, and projectile are wrapped together in paper to form a single unit in advance...
Then we can skip the first three steps.
The original eight steps have been simplified into three steps.
He took out the paper-wrapped bullet, loaded it, tore open the fuse, lit the fuse, activated it, and cleaned it up.
Although it only involves optimizing two steps, it can result in faster launch efficiency.
Each time it can be activated, it will be a devastating blow to the enemy.
After Zhao Shizhen's testing, the number of shots per minute could be increased from three to about six.
It directly doubled the rate of fire, and the paper-packaged bullets were easier to store.
There is no need to worry about musketeers making loading errors due to nervousness on the battlefield, which could lead to a barrel explosion.
Six firings per minute is currently the limit for a matchlock gun.
Even if it can be fired multiple times, the barrel cannot withstand it.
This is something that Mu Zian alone cannot change due to the limitations of technology and the development of the times.
After confirming the test was effective, Mu Zian immediately ordered Zhao Shizhen to produce paper-wrapped bullets overnight.
Besides matchlock guns, Mu Zi'an is also working urgently to produce red-coated cannons.
Mu Zian's current goal is to manufacture fifty red-coated cannons before the army officially sets off.
To achieve this goal, Mu Zian invested a lot of money, and invited all the craftsmen in the capital to temporarily form an assembly line.
Several craftsmen were responsible for making a part, and finally, the artillery battalion soldiers brought by Zhao Shizhen assembled it.
Efficiency is already top-notch in this era.
With the Armory, the Smelting Bureau, and now the assembly line, the amount of silver consumed every day is in the tens of thousands.
Once the money is invested, the efficiency will naturally be very fast.
Inside the Liangzhou army's garrison, more and more things covered in black cloth accumulated.
The soldiers from Yuzhou, Qingzhou, and Huaizhou were very curious as they watched the Liangzhou army camp coming and going every day.
However, everyone knew that the Liangzhou Army was the personal army of Mu Zi'an, the current Duke of Dali, so even though they were curious, no one dared to go over and ask any questions.
Three days later, Jia Xu finally arrived in the capital, albeit belatedly.
The reason they arrived the latest was naturally because they had to arrange matters at the Liangzhou border market.
The border market in Dingxiang is now taking shape.
The remnants of the Xiongnu soldiers who had been taken in by Mu Zi'an were reorganized by Jia Xu into a protective army, led by Liang Hongyu herself.
It is expected that the market will officially open for business this fall.
Mu Zi'an was very satisfied with the progress of the border market.
Once the border market is established, its future prospects will be limitless.
Mu Zi'an and Jia Xu also talked late into the night about the arrangements for the subsequent border markets.
The following morning, a proclamation was issued to the world from within the Dali Imperial Palace.
"Heaven's justice is clear; how can it allow wolves and jackals to seize power? The hearts of the people are in turmoil; we vow to punish this wicked army! Now, the states of Zhao and Zhou are tyrannical by nature, harboring evil intentions, despising our territory, abusing our border people, and brazenly raising an army. Such acts against Heaven are abhorrent to both gods and men, and are the common hatred of the four seas!"
"The oaths of yesteryear still ring in our ears; today, war breaks out, revealing the wolfish ambitions of these traitors! Our Great Li has stood for a hundred years, blessed by Heaven above and bringing peace to the people below. How can we allow these bandits to run rampant?"
"All people of our great nation should unite as one to resist foreign aggression! Blood debts must be repaid, and not an inch of land will be yielded! We would rather die fighting than live kneeling! Wherever this proclamation reaches, the world shall bear witness!"
Following the proclamation came two imperial edicts.
Firstly, he ordered the King of Qi to lead six camps and 110,000 troops from the capital to Jing and Ling prefectures to defend against the State of Zhao.
Secondly, he led the Jin king to lead a coalition of 200,000 troops from the four prefectures of Liangzhou, Yuzhou, Qingzhou, and Huaizhou to Xiang and Ji prefectures to resist the Zhou state.
When the imperial edict was issued, the Great Li trembled.
Everyone understood that this battle would determine the future of the entire Dali Kingdom.
Not only will it be a battle against an invading enemy state, but it will also determine the future crown prince of Dali!
The 310,000-strong army of Dali split into two routes to resist the 600,000-strong allied army of Zhao and Zhou!
A bloody battle has officially begun today!
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