Chapter 173 Mortar

(The picture above shows the large-caliber short-barreled mortar used by the Germans in World War I. It needed to be mounted on wheels and dragged by four people, and it could not be disassembled. The German soldiers in the picture are wearing 1916 helmets) (The review failed for a long time , if you can’t see the I’ll see you later Easter egg chapter)

There were already mortars during this period.

The Germans used a large-caliber short-barreled mortar that had a curved trajectory that could drive shells into the Allied trenches.

However, it looks like a mortar but is conceptually completely different from a mortar.

It is actually a curved-fire cannon. It has a trigger that requires charging and is also a breech-loaded artillery piece. It is equivalent to a fixed fort on the battlefield and is difficult to move.

The design drawing given by Charles is the real mortar: the British 1kes mortar.

Charles knew that Steed didn't fully understand. Mortars were not as simple as he thought.

But that's not important. Ciel doesn't need to explain it too clearly.

"We need to control its weight within 50 kilograms!" Charles gave a brief introduction: "It is required that it can be carried and transferred by two people during wartime, and it can be disassembled into three parts and divided into three parts by three soldiers during marching. "Carry."

As he spoke, Charles looked up at Steed and asked, "Your arsenal should be able to produce this kind of artillery, right?"

"Of course!" Steed nodded hurriedly: "Of course, it won't take too much time!"

Steed is telling the truth. This artillery has ready-made blueprints and its structure is quite simple. In particular, the gun body does not even need a trigger structure, it is just a firing pin at the bottom of the barrel.

If such a simple thing cannot be produced, then Saint-Etienne is not qualified to cooperate with Charles.

"So, you agree to produce this artillery?" Charles asked.

"Of course!" Steed nodded meaningfully. He leaned forward and shook hands with Charles: "I'm very happy. I will produce it in the shortest possible time!"

"Very good!" Charles replied: "I will persuade the military to purchase it. It is estimated that the purchase volume will be several thousand units!"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

…

After the car left the Ritz Hotel, Djoka suddenly remembered something. He pulled over suddenly, turned around and said to Charles: "We forgot one thing, Charles, you haven't given an answer to Mr. Steed yet!"

"Answer to what?" asked Charles.

"His first question." Djoka reminded: "I believe he hopes that we can give him a commitment to long-term cooperation!"

"No, father!" Charles replied softly: "I have already given him an answer."

"Really...?" Djoka was stunned for a moment, tilted his head and drove the car back onto the road with hesitation. He thought he had missed something, but when he recalled it carefully, he clearly didn't hear Charles's answer.

…

In the hotel conference room, the butler Lucas also asked Steed the same question.

"Sir!" Lucas said with concern: "Ciel seems to be deliberately avoiding your question. He may not have the idea of ​​​​cooperating with us for a long time. Should we make other plans?"

Steed, who was holding the mortar design and savoring it carefully, laughed "haha". He raised the document in his hand and said, "No, Lucas, Ciel gave a better answer!"

"Is this it?" Lucas asked in confusion: "Another invention? What does this mean?"

Lucas was worried that Steed would be obsessed with the invention and ignore more important issues because of his eagerness for talent.

Steed smiled and shook his head: "You think this is just an invention? No, Lucas, it is the basis of our alliance with the Ciel!"

"The basis for the alliance?" Lucas looked confused.

Steed nodded and explained meaningfully: "I am worried about Ciel's alliance with other capitalists, and Ciel is also worried about my alliance with other capitalists, Lucas. Therefore, there is only one way for us to come together and Mutual trust, what do you think?”

Lucas was still confused, but when he turned his eyes to the artillery design, he suddenly understood: "Produce artillery and declare war on Schneider?"

Steed chuckled: "We can't say a declaration of war. After all, this artillery has not directly competed with Schneider, but it has already stated its position. Think about it, if there is an artillery jointly produced by the Saint-Etienne Arsenal and Charles Yes, what do you think others will think?”

Lucas suddenly realized: "This is to tell everyone that we stand with Charles to face Schneider!"

"Yes!" Stedes suddenly stood up, smiling and puffing out his chest, and said confidently: "Saint-Etienne used to be like an old patient, but after having Charles, It’s enough to compete with Schneider! Just wait for us, James!”

Lucas suddenly discovered that Steed at this time was completely different from the person he was before the meeting. He seemed much younger.

…

The next day, Paris City Defense Headquarters.

This time Charles arrived half an hour later than usual. This was not because he wanted to, but because the enthusiastic citizens of Paris had somehow gotten the news that he was going to work an hour earlier, so they blocked the streets in advance.

Ciel had no choice but to be half an hour late, and at the same time, someone released the news that "Ciel has entered the headquarters", and the crowd dispersed in disappointment.

This may be the romance of the French people, they are willing to spend time on such meaningless things.

Ciel's idea is that if they really love Ciel, they should donate money to Ciel. Even one life per person per day is enough for Ciel to sleep peacefully.

This is meaningful, or discount the flowers given to him!

"General!" Charles walked into the headquarters and went straight to Gallieni: "I need an army!"

"What?" Gallieni joked: "You want to use it to kill the Paris citizens who are surrounding you?"

The officers in the headquarters laughed, and they said one after another:

"Be content, Ciel, we don't have so many people blocking us!"

"Hey, Luchini, if it weren't for Ciel working here, you would be one of the blockers, right?"

"Of course, Kane, I am Ciel's number one admirer!"

…

Charles ignored them. He handed Gallieni the mortar design and explained: "I need an army so that I can avoid the same mistake as the grenade."

Gallieni took the drawing and flipped it over with interest, and said, "How about Brownie's army? They are training now..."

"No!" Charles interrupted Gallieni: "This is a piece of equipment that needs to be popularized into the hands of frontline soldiers. If I use Brownie's troops to train, the same problem will occur."

Gallieni immediately understood that after they learned it, they had to return to the front line to teach others to use it. Browne's tank unit was obviously not suitable.

After thinking for a while, Gallieni nodded and said:

"I think you don't need a regular army, Lieutenant, you need an officer corps!"

"I will draw two officers from each division and have them report to you."

"You teach them, and they go back to their own troops to teach others!"

This seems like a good idea!

(The picture above shows the British artillery group and the Stokes mortar. The inventor Stokes was an engineer for a mechanical company and had never designed a military weapon before)