choke element

Chapter 995 Shock (Part )

"This has nothing to do with whether the battle is fought well or not. Shi Qing is a smart man, and he will not make any mistakes in defending the city. The reason why things went wrong... I heard that the Mongols came with bad intentions this time, and they have a big advantage! They have iron cannons!"

When Fang Guosan said this, Zhan Hui was surprised and asked immediately: "Iron cannon? That thing... How could the Mongols have it!"

Guo Ning's rise from a frontier soldier to emperor was so fast and dramatic that many people had to acknowledge Guo Ning's military prowess, while subconsciously finding other reasons for their own submission.

For example, the gunpowder weapons that Dinghai used extensively in Shandong were regarded as the secret of Dinghai's victory. If the power of gunpowder weapons was exaggerated, to the extent that a single shot could destroy the enemy for dozens of miles, then it would be natural for them to surrender.

Later, as more and more victories were won on the battlefield, the use of this weapon became more frequent and proficient, and many soldiers went from being in awe to understanding it, and gradually began to rely on it to guarantee victory.

The more so, the greater the shock brought by the fact that the Mongols used iron cannon.

"It's difficult to configure the gunpowder for the iron cannon, and it's not easy to collect the raw materials. Last year, our dynasty set up a special firearms bureau. How much money has been invested, and how many skilled craftsmen are trying to find a solution, but we haven't heard of any increase in production. The Mongols are all raw meat eaters, how can they compare with us? The craftsmen they have were all captured from the Central Plains a few years ago. If it weren't for the slave craftsmen, they couldn't even make iron, let alone the ability to make iron cannons! Even if there are craftsmen, without raw materials, technology, and a stable production workshop... Did the gunpowder and shells fall from the sky?"

At this point, Zhan Hui swallowed his saliva and said, "Is it possible that the Mongols have some new gadgets, but they may not be as powerful as the weapons in the Central Plains, and the brothers guarding the border didn't check for a while, got scared, and talked nonsense?"

This was also the question Zhan Hui was asking. After all, losing an important town on the border was no small matter, and if the soldiers who escaped back made the enemy look stronger, it would also help to reduce their guilt.

"It's not gibberish."

Liu Erzu said, "The people from Linhuang Prefecture are still being interrogated, so I don't have any new information. However, there were urgent reports from Hongzhou, Weizhou, Zijing Pass, Qingbaikou and other places, saying that the Mongolian army marched south with a small force and broke into the mountains."

"What's so special about that piece?"

"There is a bandit named Wuxian who fled south from Qingbaikou and gathered many people along the way. According to them, the Mongolian army relied on the power of iron cannons to capture many mountain strongholds one after another. Moreover, the Mongolian army had a large number of firearms and used them without scruples. The vanguard used explosions and fire as their best means, making it easy to destroy cities and strongholds."

Everyone at the table gasped.

Someone asked doubtfully: "Firearms can determine the outcome of a battle when used at a critical moment. There are rules and regulations in our own army. How can we just use them without thinking about anything and just fight any battle? Could it be..."

"After arriving in our territory, the man called Wuxian presented us with the fragments he had picked up in a certain village... The fragments were rushed to Zhongdu over 800 miles. Several relevant government offices sent people to take a look and all said that they were indeed pieces of iron that had been blown apart by gunpowder. A master craftsman speculated that although the scale of the model was different, the power was similar. Perhaps the Mongols had some kind of adventure during their westward expedition. Who knows?"

There was silence at the table for a long while.

After a while, someone looked around and whispered, "Perhaps that was Genghis Khan's reliance when he returned from a foreign land. Now that the Mongols have such a powerful weapon, their strength is probably much stronger than before!"

The soldiers were deeply wary of the Mongolian army that had destroyed the Central Plains.

Everyone present had witnessed the invasion during the Zhenyou years that destroyed everything. Even though Guo Ning led his troops to fight against them without losing, each battle was so dangerous and the losses were so heavy, with people constantly taking lives to cushion the blades of swords and the trampling of horses. Even today, when people in the military academy listen to the replay, they still can't help but be horrified.

In the past two years, many former Red Coat Army members have served in northern Xinjiang. When they occasionally come back to report, they tell their old superiors about the thrills and hardships of drinking horse blood on the grassland, being chased and strangled by light cavalry, and falling to the ground like an arrow in the dry grass. It is also shocking.

The Mongolian army, which ate raw meat and drank blood, was so terrifying. How could the Mongolian army, which could produce a large number of magical weapons, be so terrible? With such weapons in hand, they would be more powerful than a tiger.
In the final analysis, this was not Shi Qing's fault. Rather, it was the government's policy that had gone wrong.

Previously, the emperor first led his troops northward to provoke, and then deliberately spread the word that he would reduce the troops in the northern border. It was obvious that he was trying to lure the enemy. Anyone who knows a little about the confrontation between the Central Plains and the grasslands can understand his approach. It was nothing more than a reappearance of the Great Jin Dynasty's policy of reducing the population, and taking the opportunity to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out.

When Guo Ning led his army deep into the enemy's territory, the Mongols sent out a group of forest dwellers to deal with them, and even ridiculously arranged the Han army formation. That battle was probably the easiest victory of the Central Plains army on the grassland.

The victory was too easy, which led the imperial court to underestimate the war potential of the grassland. And every year, many spies went deep into the grassland, but they did not find the killer of the Mongolian army.

The result was that luring the enemy was too successful.

As the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. But the court had no intention of abandoning its children. In the past few years, the garrisons, farms, and pastures that have been scattered all over northern Xinjiang have been funded by the court and run by merchants and military officers. They are all the apples of their eye. How could they be allowed to be swallowed by wolves?
But the imperial court had originally intended to lure out a wolf with dull claws and skinny bones. Now, what came was a pack of wolves with steel teeth and claws. As you can imagine, the size of the wolf pack is terrifying, and the steel teeth can really chew iron like mud!

Now, not to mention that the child is really under the wolf's fangs, the hunter himself is under great threat!

How to deal with it?

Shi Qing was guarding Linhuang Prefecture, so he was the first to suffer misfortune. If someone else had gone, would the result have been better? We all fought hard to gain wealth and honor, so don't we understand each other's abilities?

No one can handle it! This is a big problem!

Thinking of this, Shi Gui, who had previously complained that Shi Qing couldn't fight, sighed.

The huge amount of money invested in Northern Xinjiang in the early stage will probably go down the drain. This loss is really heartbreaking. But compared to the loss, the safety of one's family is more important.

He spilled half a cup of residual wine on the ground and muttered, "Don't blame me. I'm a rough man and can't talk. I'll burn paper money for you later. If there is turmoil in the north, I'll think of you when I return to Mount Tai!"

"Go back to Mount Tai? Not necessarily... not right now. But we have to pack up the valuables at home in advance." Someone responded.

Someone else said, "After this news spreads, the city of Zhongdu will probably be in chaos. We need to get the old brothers who are guarding the house to be alert. We are the ancestors of thieves, so we must not let the little thieves rob our house."

"We also have ships!" Another person added, "If the Mongols suddenly advance to the city of Zhongdu, how fast will their cavalry run to encircle them? We must prepare a few ships! Don't leave Tianjin Prefecture, transfer them to Tongzhou!"

These veterans had plans for any emergency, and they immediately started talking one after another, raising several points. A few others also racked their brains to think of something to add, but they didn't notice that Liu Erzu's face was getting uglier and uglier, and had turned ashen.

While they were discussing, several people crowded around the entrance of the hall. They were also former generals of the Red Coat Army, but their status was lower, so they dared not come in without permission.

Seeing Liu Erzu's frightening expression facing the hall door, some people were secretly surprised and pulled their companions to retreat. However, they accidentally hit the threshold with their heels, making a thud.

Only then did Liu Erzu notice them and asked them to sit down.

A group of people sat close together.

Because there were more people, Fang Guosan, Zhan Hui and others could not discuss how to respond, and the originally heated discussion suddenly stopped.

Liu Erzu looked around and saw that all his subordinates who he had frequent contact with were here, so he raised his chopsticks and pointed, "Eat meat."

The whole roasted lamb on the table had already gone cold. Zhan Hui glanced at it and laughed dryly: "I'm worried that I can't eat it. Those with a good appetite should go first."

"Eat them all for me!"

In response to his casual remark, Liu Erzu shouted angrily.

Liu Erzu stood up as he shouted, stared at everyone present and said coldly: "From now on, you will all eat roasted lamb, boiled lamb and the like more often. I specially found a chef from Northern Xinjiang to make it. If any of you are not used to this taste, you should eat more!"

Dozens of eyes suddenly focused on the roasted lamb.

The originally steaming hot roasted lamb had now cooled down. The fat on the shiny skin began to condense into white lumps, mixed with the blood that had not dried completely. Even the originally pleasant aroma of the meat gradually began to smell a bit muttony.

As for food, of course we can eat it. When we were forced into the mountains by the Jurchens in the early years, we even ate grass roots and wild mice with relish. If we could eat mutton, whether it was raw or cooked, it would be a good day for the immortals in heaven.

But everyone present had enjoyed wealth and prosperity in recent years, and some of them had moved their bodies and spirits. It seemed a little strange to eat a fat-condensed sheep in this late autumn when the chill was gradually rising.

Moreover, what Liu Erzu just said implies...

Zhan Hui was a subordinate of Yang An'er. He had been with Liu Erzu and others before, and he was vaguely a military supervisor. He was also used to his higher status than ordinary leaders, and Liu Erzu also treated him politely.

He felt a little embarrassed after being yelled at by Liu Erzu, so he continued to laugh dryly: "Marshal, what do you mean by that? Why should we eat mutton more often?"

Liu Erzu's gaze swept across his face, then stared at the other generals one by one.

When he was young, he was not famous for his martial arts, but for his good temper and good popularity. Because he was short and had a slightly bent back, the heroes who first came to Mount Tai regarded him as an old farmer or a servant.

As he aged, the injuries he had sustained during the battles began to show up, and his physical weakness gradually became apparent. No matter how much he took care of himself, it was useless. This year, Liu Erzu had become noticeably thinner and more shriveled, with no dignity at all.

But his eyes were full of awe, as if he was lashing out at everyone with his eyes, making them dare not even look up.

"You are all rich now. But who gave you your wealth? How did you get it? Because you kneeled faster than others when facing the emperor? Because you wanted to run away just because you heard some news about the Mongolian army?"

Liu Erzu became angrier and angrier as he spoke. His beard trembled and his voice became louder and louder. "With your character, you might as well not stay in Zhongdu. Don't even think about the wealth that the Great Zhou has given you. Just go to the grasslands and join the Mongols! Go to the grasslands and be the Mongols' dogs, eating mutton every day!"

"That's not the case... If you like being a dog, you should have become a dog of the Jurchens, and you wouldn't have to suffer so much later." Fang Guosan whispered back, "Besides, who knows if a Mongolian dog can eat meat? What if he can only eat shit?"

"Don't want to be a dog? Then why are you all so cowardly? You are at ease on weekdays, which is the emperor's favor. But now the war is about to start, and the military decrees are in place. You can gather all the troops and form a large army to go to war at any time. Who dares to waver at this time? Do you want to test the sharpness of the military judge's knife?"

At this point, Liu Erzu slammed the knife he was using to cut the mutton on the table and said, "I advise you not to have such a lucky thought, and not to ask the military judge to intervene. You are all from Mount Tai, and I, Liu Erzu, cannot bear this responsibility... If anyone wavers, I will test the sharpness of my knife here!"

The knife that was thrown out turned out to be a Zhou army standard short knife. This type of short knife was manufactured in huge quantities and of excellent quality. The blade spine was thick and straight, the blade had a clear arc, and was extremely sharp. After the sharp blade pierced into the table board and almost penetrated it, the blade body trembled slightly, and a halo of light moved on the blade.

The eyes of a dozen people sitting at the big table moved up and down as the halo of light shone on them, and their faces flickered.

The so-called people's support is a very mysterious thing. The great leaders who were dragged into the Dinghai Navy regime are different from the warriors who have followed Guo Ning through life and death for a long time. Since the situation in the north has deteriorated rapidly, it is impossible for the Great Zhou to deal with it lightly, and their minds are inevitably floating.

But Liu Erzu was, after all, one of the best leaders in the Red Coat Army, and his prestige was enough to suppress anyone. Once he showed his sword, everyone present was in awe.

Moreover, it is true that everyone is bound together by interests within and outside the court. Who wants the Great Zhou to suffer losses, and who really expects the Mongols to give them a bite of meat?

"Roasted lamb is good. But I would rather follow the army and eat my own roasted lamb on the grassland."

Fang Guosan chuckled twice and said, "Everyone must have suffered heavy losses from the Mongols' attack. Some people even lost their money and are in a bad mood, so they can't help but say some nonsense. However, we are all sensible people and will not delay our work. Marshal, rest assured!"

Liu Erzu turned to look at Shi Gui.

Shi Gui immediately said, "Don't worry, Marshal!"

Next to Shi Gui, Liu Erzu looked at him, and Zhan Hui also said, "Don't worry, Marshal!"

In a blink of an eye, more than a dozen people made up their minds. Liu Erzu did not try to stop them and immediately ordered them to reorganize their troops. In fact, the troops under their management would not slack off in daily training. It was these people who had been pampered for a long time. If they wanted to switch to a tense combat state, they had to work hard to refresh themselves.

(End of this chapter)