"There are many factors, including iron shortage, slow installation, inadequate design, and a high number of defective products."
Fan Zhongyan looked towards the south and said calmly, "Take your time. What we have now is already very good. The Song Dynasty still needs more iron, more copper, and more gold and silver."
The main reason is that the ignition device in the Song Dynasty was not very good.
Later generations of grenades all had pull-type fuses. Even those made in the border areas were made by pulling the fuse to drive the copper wire spring and lead pipe to produce sparks and heat, ignite the fuse, and then throw it out to explode.
What about the Song Dynasty?
What they made was the thunder ignition device recorded in "Wujing Zongyao", which ignited the fuse by rubbing an iron sheet against a flint. Not only was the device primitive and large in size, but the success rate of ignition was far less sophisticated than those made in the border areas of later generations.
In addition, the materials required were numerous, the assembly staff was numerous, and confidentiality was required. The Third Generation had to investigate the innocence and move into the Firearms Department and not leave. Besides, there were other firearms to be made, such as thunder bombs, thunder fireballs, and smoke balls. It would be surprising if efficiency could be high.
So even after two years of preparation, the Song Dynasty, with the whole country's efforts, only produced one million grenades. After nearly two years of war from the beginning of last year to the end of this year, most of the stock had been used up.
Although the results were indeed astonishing, the Western Xia suffered heavy casualties, as did the Liao Kingdom. The total number of deaths and casualties in the two countries exceeded 50,000 to 60,000.
However, very few soldiers from both countries were actually killed by grenades. Most of them were either injured or frightened by the explosive power of the grenades, and then defeated, and were finally hunted down and killed by the cavalry and infantry of the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, if the Song Dynasty wants to truly unleash the power of thermal weapons, it still has a long way to go.
Just when Fan Zhongyan rejected the Liao peace talks and prepared to mobilize troops, the Liao ruler Yelu Zongzhen also received rewards from Liu Liufu.
Upon learning that Fan Zhongyan had made such an exorbitant demand, not only refusing to agree to the conditions proposed by the Liao Kingdom, but also wanting to stop the annual tribute and demanding ten counties on the south bank of the Laishui River, Yelu Zongzhen finally decided to fight.
Even if he couldn't force the Song to yield this time, he would at least not agree to the Song's conditions. Otherwise, what would happen to his prestige in the country? The many powerful Liao officials in the country would never agree to it.
Therefore, in order to protect the interests of the Liao Kingdom, Yelu Zongzhen had to engage in a decisive battle with the Song army even though he knew he was in a difficult situation.
Otherwise, even if the Song army did not fight, if they continued to drag it out, it would be a waste of national strength.
It would be better to fight to the death, perhaps defeat the Song army, seize the Song army's supplies, march south in one fell swoop, destroy the Song Dynasty, and let the Liao Kingdom dominate the Central Plains!
The next day!
The war officially begins!
(End of this chapter)
dingdiange
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