Chapter 226 Gunpowder weapons of the Song Dynasty

In the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, due to the development of productivity, the handicraft industry was quite developed, and the manufacture of weapons was also continuously improved.At this time, rockets made of gunpowder appeared. In the third year of Song Taizu Kaibao (AD 970), a man named Feng Jisheng presented the method of making rockets to the Song Dynasty government, and the Song Dynasty government also rewarded him. Long before the use of gunpowder, our ancestors had invented a kind of rocket, with a burlap bag tied to the arrowhead, and there were oils and other flammable things in the bag.But this kind of rocket does not burn fast and has low firepower, so it does not play a big role in war.Feng Jisheng used this rocket manufacturing method to change grease into gunpowder and add fuses.When fighting, just light the fuse and shoot at the enemy with a bow.

In the third year of Song Zhenzong Xianping (1000 A.D.), a man named Tang Fu presented three gunpowder weapons, rockets, fireballs and fire thorns, to the Song Dynasty government.Both fireballs and caltrops are gunpowder packs.In addition to gunpowder, the bag of caltrops also contained "tribulus caltrops".There are sharp thorns on the caltrops, which are like rhomboids.Light the medicine thread with fire and throw it out, not only will it burn, but the barbed wire inside will kill and wound the enemy. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the application of gunpowder was quite common.There is a large arsenal in Kaifeng called "Guangbei Siege Work", which is divided into many departments. Among them is "Gunpowder Kiln Work", which is a workshop for making gunpowder.

In the sixth year of Song Shenzong Yuanfeng (1083 A.D.), the Xixia army attacked Lanzhou.In order to resist, the army of the Northern Song Dynasty once used 250,000 rockets at one time. What a huge amount!