"This, this is the big baby you are talking about?"
Qichun County.
When Li Feng saw Chen Ping take out that big baby, his face was full of disbelief.
He knew that Chen Ping was secretly tinkering with some strange things. There were many products in Tianxiang Pavilion made by Chen Ping, but the products Chen Ping brought out now were not ordinary products.
Because Li Feng relied on his many years of experience in the military, he could judge that this object was related to war.
"How's it going? Compared with your sudden musket, isn't it much stronger?"
Chen Ping completed the crescent moon with his eyes and said with a smile.
Li Feng took the thing in Chen Ping's hand and looked at it carefully. After a while, he nodded and replied: "It is indeed exquisite. I must have put a lot of thought into it."
"More than just exquisite, this thing can be called a murderous weapon. This gun can break heavy armor that arrows cannot break. Moreover, unlike bows and arrows, which require huge strength and long-term practice to exert their power, this thing only needs a little practice.
You can use it."
Chen Ping explained the advantages of muskets while observing Li Feng's expression.
"Hiss, how does it compare with Jinnu?"
"Senior brother, a powerful crossbow cannot break heavy armor."
After hearing this, Li Feng finally couldn't sit still anymore. He suddenly stood up and examined the pole weapon in his hand, his eyes full of surprise.
"You don't know, what the Northern Liao barbarians relied on was the heavy armored cavalry. Once they formed a formation to charge, they were invincible. In order to deal with the heavy cavalry of the Northern Liao Dynasty, the Northern Army suffered a lot and had to train a large number of heavy armored cavalry.
Only the infantry can guarantee an undefeated battle."
"However, although the heavy armored infantry can resist the enemy, it moves slowly and can only look back and sigh. If you want to compete with Beiliao or even regain Yanyun's lost territory, you have to form a heavy cavalry like Beiliao.
."
"It's a pity that heavy cavalry costs a lot of money. The imperial court has always focused on defense, and many princes refused to allow it. In addition, the horse administration was in decline and the iron tools were of inferior quality. They had no choice but to let Bei Liao run wild and do whatever they wanted without being able to control it."
As he spoke, Li Feng's face showed a look of sadness and anger. Only after he joined the army did he understand the many difficulties of the army and why Dayu, which owns thirteen states in the world, has been unable to regain the lost land of Yanyun.
But now, seeing the new weapons brought out by Chen Ping, Li Feng's heart was filled with excitement, and he felt that the day to defeat Beiliao and regain Yanyun was just around the corner.
When Chen Ping heard what Li Feng said about the military affairs, he felt a burst of emotion in his heart. They all said that wars are about economy and logistics. Although Beiliao is not weak, it cannot compete economically with Dayu.
In the final analysis, we have never been able to restore the glory of the Han and Tang Dynasties. The reason is not external but internal.
"Brother, please don't feel sad. As long as we work together, how dare you let the barbarians deceive me and there are no evil people in China?"
"Senior brother, don't you want to give it a try before? Let's go and find a secluded place to practice. We can start mass production in a few months. By then, let alone the little White Lotus Thief, Beiliao will be no problem!"
These words made Li Feng's mood rise. He laughed, took Chen Ping's arm and walked out of the tent, looking for a place to test the gun.
That night, Chen Ping received a letter from Lu Wei, the Southwest Recruitment Envoy from Zhongzhou. It turned out that Lu Wei had learned that he defeated the White Lotus Bandits in the north of Jiangling City and then pursued them all the way. Moreover, Lu Wei also knew that the White Lotus Bandits were fleeing eastward.
, it is very possible to enter Jiangzhou, so I sent such a letter.
"What did Mr. Lu say?"
Li Feng and Luo Li both asked. It was true that Emperor Yongxing entrusted Chen Ping with a heavy responsibility. However, after all, Lu Wei was the envoy. If Lu Wei did not agree with them to pursue the White Lotus bandits and follow them into Jiangzhou, this would indeed be a problem.
Chen Ping smiled and replied: "Master Lu is of the same mind as us. How can we be timid just because the White Lotus bandit has entered Jiangzhou?"
"Here, the order has arrived. We will set off tomorrow to continue the pursuit. Jiangzhou is no better than Jingzhou. If the White Lotus thieves dare to enter Jiangzhou, I will let them be buried in Jiangzhou!"
Lu Wei's letter was handed to the two of them for viewing. After seeing the clear words on it, Li Feng and Luo Li looked at each other, and their joy was beyond words.
"Now we are about to suffer from the fate of the foreign king. Even if the King of Chu wants to interfere with it, it will not be that easy."
After saying the last sentence, Chen Ping was in a happy mood. Qianzhou's troops had been secured, and He Qingxuan had also produced muskets. Now everything is ready and all he needs is the east wind.
The elimination of the White Lotus bandits is only a matter of time. The only thing he needs to worry about is how to deal with the situation in the capital after the suppression of the bandits is completed.
"Shi Jiachi, Shi Jialuo..."
Chanting the names of these two brothers in his heart, Chen Ping narrowed his eyes involuntarily. There were quite a few pitfalls left by Emperor Tianqi...
Zhongzhou, Bianliang Mansion.
The Southwest Recruitment Envoy Lu Wei was preparing to leave Zhongzhou, but because Chen Ping had defeated the White Lotus bandits in Jingzhou, now that the threat from Zhongzhou was lifted, he naturally had to change places.
Otherwise, the distance between the front line and the rear will be too far, which will inevitably cause unnecessary trouble.
"Where are you going, Mr. Lu? Isn't he in Zhongzhou anymore?"
Just as Lu Wei was leaving, he saw the young prince from Prince Qin's palace coming to visit.
He explained the reason to the other party, but heard the other party ask questions in return.
"Oh? Why don't you take Gu Gu along with you?"
Lu Wei frowned, not knowing what this person meant, so he had to explain: "Your Highness is a royal relative, how can you risk your life with a rich body? I am following your Majesty's orders to suppress thieves. Your Highness, King Qin, is willing to
It is good to send troops to help, and there is no problem for Your Highness to follow."
"But now that the thief is scurrying eastward into Jiangzhou, I have to move with him. If His Highness follows again, I'm afraid it will attract criticism, and I won't be able to explain to the King of Qin."
He would not say that he was dissatisfied with how annoying it was for a royal child to come here to watch the fun. He said that he was a royal highness, but in fact his polite refusal was very obvious.
If he was a smart and interesting person, he would not bother with it anymore, but this person seemed not to be satisfied with what he said.
Shi Jialuo curled up his lips and said with a smile: "Master Lu, do you think Gu is a burden? To be honest with you, I have been studying and practicing martial arts since I was a child. Although I dare not say that I am a warrior who can compare with one to ten, I am not the one who can't tie a chicken with his hands." Guy."
"As for the body of a rich man, Mr. Lu's words are a bit contemptuous. The Prince of Qin's Mansion has guarded the northwest for many generations, and the clan has many leaders. Why does Mr. Lu think he came here with Mr. Chen alone?"
Lu Wei frowned when he heard this, and he couldn't help but look at the suspicious little prince in front of him again.
He had long thought that this person was a little strange, because the old King Qin was now sixty or seventy, and this person seemed to be in his early twenties at most, and he had never heard of the news that the old King Qin had a son in his fifties?
Based on the situation when Chen Ping and he returned to Zhongzhou, Lu Wei couldn't help but be filled with doubts.
However, the other party insisted on moving with him, so he didn't have much to say. At worst, if it really came to a critical moment, he would just have to protect him with all his strength.
"When I go back, I will definitely ask Chen Ping to find out clearly. He said that he was going to borrow troops from the Western Army, but why did he borrow a young prince who was difficult to maintain for me?"
This is what Lu Wei thought in his heart.
........
Capital.
When Jingzhou, Zhongzhou, Qianzhou and other places were harassed by the White Lotus bandits, and Chen Ping led his army to pursue them, the situation in the capital was changing rapidly.
As Emperor Yongxing and the King of Chu fought against each other in Chongzheng Hall in front of the civil and military officials of the court, the entire capital was shrouded in the shadow of the coup.
Because the King of Chu served as the regent, the palace guards became a top priority.
The senior generals of the three yamen, namely the Palace Front Division, the Infantry Division, and the Ma Jun Division, all received focus of attention. After all, they were the soldiers and horses of Suwei Imperial City. Whoever controls the three yamen will control the imperial city. It is also equivalent to indirectly controlling the capital.
Originally, these three yamen soldiers and horses, as the emperor's imperial guards, had always firmly supported the emperor, but now the situation is different.
Emperor Tianqi has been in power for eighteen years and has great power. If Emperor Tianqi were in power, these forbidden troops would definitely defend the palace to the death. No matter how high the price offered by the King of Chu, they would not be shaken.
However, the current emperor is the young emperor Yongxing who has not yet been crowned. Although he has not yet reached the stage of doubting the master of the young country, compared with the King of Chu, it is indeed unconvincing.
What's more, Emperor Yongxing's performance since he succeeded to the throne is really worrying. Even if both the government and the public want to regain Yanyun, this is not the time.
As time passed, the tense atmosphere not only failed to ease, but intensified.
Until this day in early October, when a fast horse galloped into the capital on the official road north of the capital, the originally silent Dayu Palace suddenly exploded.
"Su Gong, big things are over!"
In the palace, in the East Pavilion, Ming Chengdao murmured dejectedly.
Several other people in the room also looked gloomy and lonely.
"The national crisis is facing us. As princes in the temple, we do not dedicate ourselves to our work but instead sigh here. Are we worthy of the emperor's favor and worthy of the people?"
Su Chengli gritted his teeth and shouted. He looked around, Ming Chengdao, Qi Hongming and several other pavilion elders all looked up at him.
"Mr. Su, there are thieves at home, persecution from Bei Liao outside, and your majesty and the regent have openly broken with each other. What should we do in this situation?"
Qi Hongming pursed his lips and sighed. His words could be said to express the feelings of several people in the cabinet. Even Su Chengli had a stiff expression.
Could it be that it’s really time for the building to collapse?
"General, Bei Liao Lang Zi mobilized heavy troops at the border, and said that if he does not cede territory and pay tribute, he will send troops southward!"
"General, the national treasury is in short supply, and our Northern Army has begun to default on its military pay. How can we fight with Beiliao!"
"Last year, the Northern Liao invaders were repelled with reluctance. If they come again now, I'm afraid..."
In the Peking University camp, Chang Deyuan looked at the tent full of generals and commanders, and saw that they were all sighing and timid before fighting, and dissatisfaction welled up in his heart.
Chang Deyuan raised his arms and asked: "Oh, if that's the case, then I will directly tell His Majesty and the Regent that the Northern Army is incapable of fighting, and will Dayu cede the territory without a fight?"
As soon as this statement came out, the generals in the tent suddenly became terrified. They quickly denied that they were not timid, but that the gap between the enemy and ourselves was too big, and the situation was not optimistic.
"Humph!"
"After the Northern Army is dead, there will still be the Western Army, and after the Western Army is dead, there will still be the Forbidden Army. Since the founding of the country, Dayu has never surrendered to the barbarians!"
"If you don't dare to fight, take off your armor! Those who don't take off their armor will have to fight Beiliao!"
Chang Deyuan's voice struck the hearts of all the generals. Although he took over the Northern Army when General Nangong was forced to resign, he has poured his efforts into the Northern Army over the years.
Even though the Northern Army had lost its former glory due to the decline of the Nangong family and the hands and feet of the King of Chu, Chang Deyuan would not allow his troops to become timid before fighting and cede the land to the enemy without fighting. p>
This is a great shame for him, Chang Deyuan, and an extremely serious blow to Dayu’s military morale!
"More than two hundred years ago, the Yanyun land was ceded to the Northern Liao Dynasty. To this day, we are still suffering from the loss of the Yanyun land. If the northern parts of Qingyun and Mizhou were given to the Hu people, the Central Plains would never be the same again.
No more good sleep."
"Today we cut Qingmi Prefecture, and tomorrow we have to flee to a peaceful corner of the south of the Yangtze River!"
"At that time, half of the country will be lost, and the Central Plains will be stained with dust. You and I will be written down by history and become sinners through the ages!"
A roar echoed through the tent, and Chang Deyuan suddenly stood up, pulled out the sword from his waist and pointed it straight to the north.
"As long as I, Chang Deyuan, are here, the Hulu will not even think about taking over the Central Plains!"
Seeing this, the generals in the tent stood up and offered their hands to Chang Deyuan: "I am willing to serve as a general to protect my country and fight against the barbarians!"
Chang Deyuan slowly put down his sword, and then a voice sounded outside the tent.
"Report to the general, someone wants to see you!"
"Come in!"
As a person entered from outside the tent, the generals' eyes were immediately attracted to him. Their eyes were widened and their mouths were slightly open, wanting to make a sound but not daring to make a sound.
"Nangong Ming has met the general!"
Chang Deyuan looked at Nangong Ming, who was wearing armor and returning to the army, with a look of affirmation in his eyes.
"Sit next to me."
"From today onwards, Nangong Ming will be appointed as the Northern Army's staff general. Do you have any objections?"
Nangong Ming is sitting next to Chang Deyuan. His armor and sharp eyes give him the aura of a veteran on the battlefield.
Although he has been wandering around the world for several years, he has not changed his former military style. Now that he is back in the army, Nangong Ming feels an indescribable feeling in his heart.
He recalled what the old man said to him in Nangong Mansion.
"Tomorrow, manpower is sometimes scarce. Don't get angry because of temporary setbacks. That's the temper of a child."
"You have made great achievements in the army and have won the support of the soldiers. You are just an old man. I am disarming you and taking care of myself. Why should you just leave?"
"I heard that you have a good relationship with Chen Ping. I heard that he is a smart boy. Now that the country is in turmoil, it is time for you to stand out and consolidate the country. If not for the old man and me, it should be for the revitalization of the Nangong family." p>
Some memories made Nangong Ming resolve a lot of disputes in his heart. He looked at the generals in the tent calmly. Except for a few familiar faces, the others were all whom he had never seen before.
From this we can see how much sand the King of Chu had mixed into the Northern Army during the years when he left the Northern Army.
He didn't know how many people here supported the King of Chu, but at this critical moment when Bei Liao was threatening him, if someone dared to make a small move, he wouldn't have any scruples.
"Wait a minute, but if it were me, I would have gotten rid of the King of Chu a long time ago to avoid future troubles!"
Nangong Ming thought in his heart that these words were naturally true, but he was indeed not satisfied with Emperor Yongxing. King Chu was his enemy. He thought that after Emperor Yongxing succeeded to the throne, he would at least defeat King Chu.
I had to fight against the king of Chu in separate courts, but I didn’t expect that Emperor Yongxing was a completely reckless boy.
In just a few months, he fell out with the King of Chu, exposing Dayu's chaos, and allowed Beiliao to see the opportunity to force troops to cede territory.
Now, the situation in the entire north has become tense, and no one knows whether the threat from Beiliao will further aggravate the turmoil in Dayu. It can only be said that the current situation is in chaos.
Thinking of this, Nangong Ming couldn't help but think of Chen Ping.
"That boy is suppressing thieves in Jiangnan? Haha, I wonder if he will impress me..."