My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 309: Prince's Divine Weapon
After the earth-shaking roar, the city of Luoyang was like a calm lake into which a huge rock was thrown, with ripples forming and people's hearts began to waver.

The streets were filled with an uneasy atmosphere, and people were whispering to each other, their faces full of worry and confusion.

The aristocratic families such as the Five Surnames and Seven Families secretly sent their trusted confidants to fan the flames among the crowd.

They either whispered that the prince's behavior was extremely treasonous and would definitely incur the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, or they hinted that behind the roar there was a conspiracy to subvert the country.

For a time, rumors spread everywhere, and the people in Luoyang City were in a tangled mess like tangled hemp ropes.

Inside the Imperial City of Luoyang.

Li Chengqian listened to the eunuch Wen Zhong reporting the news.

"Your Highness, I heard that the people in Luoyang City are in a panic because of the noise, and the Five Surnames and Seven Families are causing trouble. I'm afraid the situation is a bit tricky."

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows slightly, still looking into the distance, and said calmly: "These noble families love to stir up trouble."

"But this is also what I expected."

"Wen Zhong, go and spread my words. Say that the roaring sound was caused by the divine weapon Thunderbolt Fire that I used to unify Liaodong."

Wen Zhong was slightly stunned, then responded: "Your Highness, is it appropriate to publicize it like this?"

Li Chengqian raised his lips, revealing a confident smile, and said, "Since I have this magical weapon, why should I be afraid of publicity?"

"Besides, the current situation is delicate, and we need to use this to stabilize people's hearts. When the people hear that I have this powerful weapon, they will naturally have more confidence in me."

Wen Zhong nodded repeatedly and left.

In this chaotic moment, the news of the prince's magic weapon, Thunderbolt Fire, spread like wildfire to every corner of Luoyang City.

The news quickly spread throughout Luoyang City, and the people were talking about it.

At the market in Luoyang City, Aunt Zhang, who was selling vegetables, pulled Uncle Wang, who was selling meat next to her, and said in amazement, "Brother Wang, have you heard? That scary noise was actually made by the prince's magic weapon, Thunderbolt Fire! I heard that the prince relied on this magic weapon to pacify Liaodong."

Uncle Wang continued while cutting the meat: "Yes, I heard about it too. Our prince is really amazing. With such a treasure, he might be able to hold his own against the imperial court."

A young man passing by laughed and said, "That's great. With this magic weapon, our prince will be safe and sound. From now on, we will be in Luoyang City, following the prince, and our lives will definitely get better and better!"

Most families living in Luoyang have close ties with the prince.

Either someone in the family works in a factory owned by the prince, or they have business related to the prince's industry.

And because of the improvement in economic efficiency, people have money, and their consumption level has naturally increased.

Consumption is increasing and money is circulating.

Everyone can feel that making money seems to have become much easier.

There is no need to be so frugal with the daily necessities.

Many families have gone from having one meal full and one meal hungry to being able to barely get enough to eat and wear.

This is a huge improvement.

In the teahouses on the street, tea drinkers were also having heated discussions.

A scholar-like man in a long gown picked up the teacup, took a sip and said, "The power of the prince's magic weapon, Thunderbolt Fire, is so amazing that Your Majesty must think twice before attacking the prince."

A sturdy man nearby put down the tea bowl in his hand heavily and said loudly: "I think the prince has this magic weapon, plus he is so kind to us ordinary people, he will definitely win! The people of Luoyang City are all looking forward to the prince's success."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and for a moment, the discussion about the Prince's magic weapon was in full swing in the teahouse.

The pacification of Liaodong was so miraculous that it was like a myth and was passed down from mouth to mouth among the people.

Now that they knew that the prince had such a magical weapon in his hands, many people secretly thought that perhaps His Majesty really could not do anything to the prince.

For most ordinary people, the internal struggles within the royal family are like clouds in the sky, seemingly brilliant but out of reach.

Whether it is His Majesty or the Crown Prince, they are all members of the Li Tang royal family, and in the final analysis, they are all family members. In their simple cognition, who wins or loses does not seem to have much impact on their daily lives. Life must go on, and firewood, rice, oil and salt are the real things.

However, many people in Luoyang secretly hoped that the prince would win, because most of them made their livings in the factories owned by the prince.

In the Prince’s factory, the treatment is better than one can imagine.

Although the workers work hard every day, they can get several times more wages than before.

In addition, the factory would distribute rice, flour, grain, oil and other supplies during festivals and even provide some care when workers were injured or sick. As a result, the old and young in the family could eat well, wear warm clothes, and their lives gradually became more promising.

They knew that all this was thanks to the prince, and if the prince lost power, this wonderful life would be gone like a mirage. Therefore, in this royal dispute, although they did not participate in it, they stood firmly on the side of the prince in their hearts.
-
In Li Jing's tent, the candlelight was dim, and the light and shadows flickered on the tent wall. Li Jing frowned, like the Chinese character "川", and stared at the Luoyang City Defense Map spread out in front of him. The mark on the map about Li Chengqian's Thunderbolt Fire was like a sharp knife hanging high in his heart.

"Everyone, the Thunderbolt in Li Chengqian's hand has shown its might in the Liaodong battlefield. Now it is in front of us, and it is indeed a difficult problem. We must not slack off or take it lightly."

"This thing is incredibly powerful. If the enemy uses it properly while defending the city, our army will be greatly hindered. The most urgent task is to quickly come up with a countermeasure."

Li Jing spoke in a solemn tone and low voice.

The prince only has 50,000 elite troops. Although there are many cavalry, this is not a big problem for Li Jing.

It is this thunder fire that makes Li Jing hesitate to launch an attack on the city.

Fortunately, His Majesty also understood and did not send anyone to urge us.

Yuchi Jingde scratched his head, his face showing anxiety: "Li, I have heard of the power of the thunderbolt fire. It can shake the earth and mountains when it explodes. But how can we stop attacking the city just because we are afraid of it? Come up with a decision quickly."

Cheng Yaojin also echoed: "That's right. When I go into battle, I am never afraid to fight to the death. But if this thunderbolt explodes suddenly, my brothers will surely suffer heavy losses. Manager Li, don't keep us in suspense any longer. Tell us the countermeasures quickly."

They were also worried about this matter.

It feels good to blow up the enemy, but if it happens to yourself, it won't be fun at all.

Besides, in front of this Thunderbolt, no matter how good the armor is, it is of no use.

Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Yaojin were both fierce generals.

However, no matter how powerful he was, he didn't dare to rush forward this time.

If it really gets blown up, no one will be able to leave it intact.

Li Jing pondered for a moment and spoke slowly: "I heard that this Thunderbolt Fire needs an open flame to ignite and detonate, and it is quite inconvenient to carry and it takes time and effort to place. We can start from these two points."

"First, select a group of elite scouts to sneak into the vicinity of Luoyang City at night and collect as much information as possible about the location and quantity of the Thunderbolt Fire and the enemy's deployment."

"Only by understanding the enemy's details can we take the initiative on the battlefield. Second, we need to put more thought into siege equipment."

Having said this, Li Jing paused slightly.

In fact, Li Jing has already come up with a preliminary plan for how to guard against Thunderbolt Fire.

He had never seen the Prince's Thunderbolt, but he had seen the Thunderbolt of the Gunpowder Department.

Although the Prince's Thunderbolt is far superior to the Gunpowder Bureau, their principles are different and they lead to the same goal.

"Old Cheng, go and supervise the production of a batch of special siege shields. The shields must be large enough to protect multiple soldiers, and the material must be strong. It is best to cover the surface with a layer of soaked rawhide, which can not only prevent fire, but also buffer the force generated by the explosion."

"In addition, install sharp barbs on the top and sides of the shield. Once close to the city wall, they can hook onto the edge of the wall, making it easier for soldiers to climb up. At the same time, it can also prevent the enemy from pushing heavy objects down from the city wall or throwing thunderbolts." Cheng Yaojin nodded vigorously and puffed out his chest: "Okay, Li Zongguan, I'll take care of this. I will make the shield solid and indestructible!"

After hearing this, Cheng Yaojin suddenly felt that there was something he could do.

If the shield soldiers can defend against the Thunderbolt, siege will not be so complicated.

Li Jing nodded slightly, looked at Yuchi Jingde and said, "Jingde, you lead a team of cavalry and be responsible for patrolling the periphery during the siege. When our siege troops approach the city wall, the enemy will most likely attack with Thunderbolt Fire."

"You seize the opportunity and lead the cavalry to attack the enemy's flank, draw their attention, disrupt their rhythm of throwing thunderbolts, and create a good opportunity for the siege troops."

According to Li Jing's estimation and information, Li Chengqian's Thunderbolt Fire was fired by a bed crossbow.

In addition, Li Chengqian had a large number of cavalry at his disposal, and he probably wanted to pull out the Thunderbolt and fight outside the city.

Yuchi Jingde clasped his fists and accepted the order, his voice as loud as a bell: "Understood! I, Old Black, will make those rebels see the power of my cavalry, and confuse them so that they will lose their minds and lose sight of the big picture."

Li Jing looked at the map again, and his finger slowly moved along the terrain outside Luoyang City: "There are many mountains, rivers and streams outside Luoyang City. We can make good use of them. Dig many winding trenches near the city wall."

“The trenches don’t have to be too deep, but they have to be wide enough and connected to each other.”

"Once the enemy throws a thunderbolt, we can use the trenches to redirect the impact of the explosion, reducing the damage to our soldiers. At the same time, we can set up obstacles such as spikes in the trenches to prevent the enemy from attacking from outside the city."

Trenches have actually been used in military warfare for a long time, not just in later generations.

But now the main thing is to guard against cavalry raids.

The Thunderbolt Fire used to guard against Li Chengqian now seems to be a good choice.

The three of them discussed the details for a long time until the candlelight gradually dimmed, and then they dispersed and began to prepare intensively.

A few days later, the scouts returned one after another, but the intelligence they presented was not satisfactory.

There is very little key information about Thunderbolt, and the area around Luoyang City seems to be shrouded in a layer of fog, making it difficult to get a glimpse of the true situation.

Li Jing paced back and forth in the tent, his expression becoming increasingly solemn.

At this time, a messenger rushed into the tent, knelt on one knee, and looked panicked: "General Manager Li, I just got the news that a few days ago, east of Luoyang, at the camp of Li Chengqian's Shenwu Army, there was a thunderous roar that shook the earth. The sound was so loud that even the people in Luoyang were in a panic."

"However, the deposed crown prince announced to the public that this was the sound of his thunderbolt, and that this was the magic weapon that would unify Liaodong. Only then did the people of Luoyang feel at ease."

Li Jing's eyes froze when he heard this, and he frowned and said to himself, "This roar is strange. Is it really just a display of thunder and fire as Li Chengqian said?"

"Or maybe their gunpowder suddenly exploded, causing heavy losses, so they deliberately spread this rumor to reassure the people?"

Thinking of this, Li Jing asked, "Have you found out more detailed information about the roar? Such as the specific location and the surrounding abnormal conditions?"

The messenger shook his head and said, "Reporting to General Manager Li, this is all we know for now. The area east of Luoyang is heavily guarded by the army, and it is difficult for us to get close."

Li Jing nodded slightly and waved his hand to order the messenger to retreat.

Yuchi Jingde bowed and said, "Manager Li, this matter is very strange. I think Li Chengqian may have deliberately released smoke to confuse us."

Li Jing looked solemn and said slowly: "Jingde, this matter is indeed suspicious. If it is really a gunpowder explosion, it may be an opportunity for us."

"But before you understand the situation clearly, you must not act rashly."

"Immediately send some more elite scouts to get closer to the garrison at all costs and make sure to get accurate information."

"Order!"

After receiving the order, Yuchi Jingde turned around and walked quickly out of the tent, preparing for action.

At the same time, in Luoyang City, Li Chengqian stood in the workshop, looking at the brand new cannons, with a barely perceptible smile on his face.

"Su Dingfang, have there been any new developments in the Chang'an army recently?" Li Chengqian asked.

Su Dingfang bowed and replied, "Your Highness, according to the spy report, the Tang army is frequently mobilized, it seems that they are stepping up the preparation of siege equipment, and digging trenches outside the city. Their behavior is very strange."

"However, they seem to have not yet realized that our army has built artillery."

Li Chengqian snorted coldly: "Humph, this old fox Li Jing must be planning a strategy to deal with my Thunderbolt Fire."

"Pass the order down, strengthen the city defense patrols, and closely monitor the Tang army's every move."

"At the same time, artillery matters must be kept strictly confidential and should not be disclosed unless it is a critical moment."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Su Dingfang took the order and left.

Li Jing continued to think about countermeasures in the tent.

He knew very well that if Li Chengqian's Thunderbolt Fire reserves were damaged by the explosion, then the defense of Luoyang City would inevitably be flawed.

But if this was just Li Chengqian's trick, the Tang army would be in trouble if they attacked rashly.

"Our plan now is, on the one hand, to wait for further news from the scouts, and on the other hand, we must not relax our strategy against Thunderbolt."

Li Jing muttered to himself.

He called in the messenger and gave another strict order to speed up the production of siege shields. At the same time, he ordered people to prepare more flammable materials in case of fire attack.

A few days later, the second group of scouts returned, and the news they brought was still vague.

The defenses at that garrison were too tight, so they could only watch from afar and found no obvious traces, but the soldiers coming in and out looked hurried, as if they were making some emergency deployment.

Li Jing frowned and paced back and forth in the tent.

At this time, Cheng Yaojin walked into the tent and said, "Manager Li, what should we do about this? We can't just sit there and wait."

Having fought for half his life, Cheng Yaojin has never felt so aggrieved.

Li Jing stopped and said with a firm look: "Continue to wait and adjust the deployment at the same time."

"Jingde's cavalry should strengthen patrols around Luoyang City. If they discover any unusual movements of the enemy, report immediately."

"Old Cheng, speed up the construction of the siege shields you supervised. Also, prepare a batch of lightweight digging tools. If necessary, we can dig a tunnel closer to Luoyang City and avoid the enemy's Thunderbolt Fire defense."

Cheng Yaojin could only nod and turn around to arrange the relevant matters.

At the same time, the news reached Chang'an.

Li Shimin was a little annoyed.

He wanted to convey the imperial edict to Li Jing, but he held back.

If we fail in the first battle against the prince, there will definitely be more trouble later.

Li Jing's cautious approach was correct.

(End of this chapter)