In early winter, the sun set very early. Qin Lingsi left the Houfu, and it was already dark outside.
She walked through the night road to He Mansion, knocked on the door and entered.
He and Zhao Desheng heard her arrival and hurried to the courtyard. Zhao Desheng was accompanied by a strange general.
After Mrs. He introduced her, it turned out that the person was Xu Da, who was invited by Zhao Desheng to his home for dinner.
He ordered someone to give Qin Lingsi a pair of bowls and chopsticks, and Qin Lingsi began to eat her meal without any courtesy.
She first explained to Zhao Desheng that after all, He had been traveling around with her for several months, and she was worried that Zhao Desheng would blame his wife.
After explaining the matter clearly, she glanced at Xu Da who was eating silently, and suddenly her heart moved.
"General Xu, I have a problem here. I wonder if you have any way to solve it?"
Xu Da raised his head and asked: "What's the problem?"
Qin Lingsi then told the situation on Jeju Island.
"To attack Jeju Island, we must use the navy. However, the navy cannot carry too many horses. We can only use infantry to fight other people's cavalry. Do you have a way to win?"
Xu Da hesitated and didn't answer.
He blinked and said, "Can we surround Jeju Island with warships, starve them to the point of losing their strength, and then attack them?"
Qin Lingsi shook her head and said: "There are still cattle and sheep on the island. If we want to starve them to death, I'm afraid it will take a few years!"
Xu Da suddenly said: "I have a stupid way, but it requires using the king's musketeers!"
Qin Lingsi's eyes lit up and she said happily: "Say it quickly! As long as we can capture Jeju Island, my brother-in-law will definitely agree!"
Xu Da dipped his finger in some wine and drew a circle on the table.
"Assuming this is Jeju Island, we rely on the artillery on the warship. About a mile away from the island is within the range of the artillery, which belongs to our safety zone!"
Qin Lingsi nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, the area around the island shore is indeed our territory, but Jeju Island is very big, and there is nothing we can do about them hiding in the center of the island."
Xu Da said calmly: "Since ancient times, a common way to deal with cavalry is to dig trenches and hold on. We can expand this method!"
Qin Lingsi asked: "How to expand?"
Xu Dadao: "Jeju Island can actually be regarded as a city without walls. They are trapped. We can dig trenches from the shore to form a formation and slowly extend towards the center of the island."
Zhao Desheng slapped the table and said with a smile: "Wonderful, although the enemy is a cavalry, they are trapped on the island and have no place to run. They can only watch us approach!"
Qin Lingsi's eyes flickered, and she thought carefully for a while. Although this method is more time-consuming, it can indeed be implemented!
He asked curiously: "If we use trenches, won't the enemy cavalry be able to defeat us?"
Zhao Desheng said with a smile: "The strength of the cavalry is in charging. The ditch can just stop their charge. The cavalry who have lost the ability to charge is no different from the infantry!"
Xu Dadao: "Not only that, our musketeers are also very suitable for fighting in trenches, which is equivalent to having more bunkers on the flat ground!"
Qin Lingsi smiled slightly and said, "That's right. You are so smart. I'll tell my brother-in-law right now!" She stood up and left.
Mrs. He grabbed her and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Let's talk about it after dinner!"
Qin Lingsi smiled, sat back on the chair, and discussed the details of trench warfare with Xu Da while eating.
After the meal, Qin Lingsi was full of praise for Xu Da.
"No wonder people compare you with Xu Baisheng. You are really knowledgeable. By the way, if my brother-in-law decides to attack Jeju Island, do you want to join the war?"
Xu Da touched his nose and said with a wry smile: "The last general is a surrendered general. How can anyone not want to make meritorious deeds?"
Qin Lingsi waved her hand and said: "Well, I will recommend you when the time comes!"
Mrs. He pouted and said dissatisfiedly: "Sister Qin, are you too kind to one and not to the other?"
Qin Lingsi glanced at her, then looked at Zhao Desheng, who was looking at her eagerly, and covered her mouth with a smile.
"Aren't I afraid of breaking up your husband and wife?"
He snorted: "Why didn't you mention this when you kidnapped me to go to Korea?"
Qin Lingsi smiled apologetically and said, "Well, then I will also recommend your black husband to be my husband, but I can't guarantee that my brother-in-law will agree!"
Zhao Desheng's face turned red instantly. Fortunately, his face was dark and it was not obvious.
After dinner, Qin Lingsi returned to the palace, walked briskly along the corridor towards the study.
After entering the study, I saw Zhang Yangquan talking to Liu Bowen.
After seeing her come in, Zhang Yangquan waved to her.
"You came just in time. Mr. Liu and I just thought about a way to deal with the cavalry on Jeju Island!"
Qin Lingsi said in surprise: "Have you also thought of a way?"
Zhang Yangquan was slightly startled: "Yeah? Could it be that you also think of a way?"
Qin Lingsi walked over with a smile, put her hand on his shoulder, and said with a smile: "That's right. Brother-in-law, tell me first, let's see which one of us has a better method!"
Zhang Yangquan said: "Mr. Liu, it's up to you to speak."
Liu Bowen coughed and said: "The method discussed by the minister and the king is this: use mixed arms to fight against the Tatar cavalry!"
Qin Ling thought curiously: "Mixed?"
"Yes, when we send out troops, we use large ships to bring a thousand carriages and horses, and then mount artillery on the carriages, so that we can use artillery to resist the enemy's cavalry charge!"
Qin Lingsi clapped her hands and said: "Yes, although the artillery is heavy, it can be moved on a car. This is also a way!"
Liu Bowen continued: "Carriage artillery can only slow down the enemy's charge, and the next unit is the musketeers!"
Qin Lingsi nodded repeatedly: "Yes, if there are artillery blasts for a few rounds, and then muskets for a few rounds, the enemy's charge momentum will be lost!"
Liu Bowen continued: "The third unit is the archers, which are placed on the left and right wings. They attack together with the muskets and suppress the enemy from a distance through cross firing. Finally, a phalanx of spearmen is used to block the front, which is expected to block the cavalry!"
Qin Ling thought for a while and said: "The advantage of cavalry is their flexibility. What if they don't attack from the front and outflank them from the left and right?"
Zhang Yangquan said with a smile: "We will bury a large number of gunpowder packets on the left and right sides of the phalanx in advance. They will only suffer greater losses if they charge from the left and right wings!"
Qin Lingsi raised her chin and said proudly: "Brother-in-law, your method is indeed possible, but it's too troublesome!"
Zhang Yangquan glanced at her: "Then tell me how to avoid trouble!"
Qin Lingsi stretched out a finger.
"It's very simple, dig trenches and use musketeers!"
Zhang Yangquan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Do you want to use trench positions to deal with enemy cavalry?"
"Yes, you just say it doesn't work, right?"
Zhang Yangquan smiled slightly. He naturally knew the power of trenches and muskets.
"Yes, it is indeed much simpler than our method. Is this what you came up with?"
"It was a general named Xu Da who taught me!"
Zhang Yangquan was stunned and said with a smile: "It turns out to be him." He turned to look at Liu Bowen: "Mr. Liu, what do you think of this method?"
Liu Bowen twisted his beard and pondered for a long time, then said: "Although it will take more time, it is a safer way!"
Zhang Yangquan slapped the table.
"Well, I will go to the military camp tomorrow to summon the generals to discuss a detailed plan for sending troops to attack Jeju Island!"
Qin Lingsi said hurriedly: "Brother-in-law, Zhao Desheng has also made suggestions. Call him and Xu Da over tomorrow. If we go out on an expedition, we can let them be the vanguard!"
Zhang Yangquan waved his hand and said: "Okay, I got it."
At the end of Haishi, the second watch of gongs and drums was played in the city.
Several horses rushed to the west gate, only to see that the city gate had been closed.
The leading general raised his head and shouted to the top of the city wall: "Brother, I am a general returning from the front line. Can you please open the door and let me in!"
After a while, a head stuck out from the city wall and shouted: "The city gate is closed, come back tomorrow!"
The leading general said: "I heard someone said that the king has given an order that when the frontline generals come back, no matter how late they are, they can enter the city directly. Brother, is this order correct?"
The city gate captain wanted to be lazy, but when he saw him carrying out the king's order, he had to reluctantly say: "Okay, you put the official certificate in the hanging basket!"
Order someone to put down a hanging basket.
After a while, the hanging basket was pulled up, and there was an official badge inside.
The city gate officer picked it up and looked at it. He was surprised and shouted down: "Are you General Zhu Yuanzhang who captured the capital of the Han army?"
The man below smiled and said: "Exactly!"
The city gate captain hurriedly ordered someone to open the city gate, came to the gate in person, and handed the official certificate back to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang took the token, parted with his generals at the city gate, and headed straight back home.
The night was dark, the north wind was howling, and no pedestrians could be seen on the street. Only a few patrolling city guards could be seen occasionally.
Zhu Yuanzhang rode in a hurry and soon returned to Guo Zixing's small courtyard. A brand-new "Zhu Mansion" plaque had been installed on the courtyard.
After knocking on the door for a while, a soft voice came from behind the door.
"Who?"
"It's me!"
"Bah bang bang", there was a rapid sound behind the door, and then with a "squeak", the door was opened.
Under the moonlight, it was Ma Xiuying who opened the door. After looking at each other for a long time, she and Zhu Yuanzhang hugged each other tightly.
After quite a while, a female voice sounded in the courtyard.
"Sister, who is it?"
Ma Xiuying recognized Zuo's voice, smiled slightly, and took Zhu Yuanzhang's hand into the house.