"Besides pistols, what other weapons are there?" Li Zhen asked immediately.
Dai Yuanhua said unhurriedly: "In addition, there are semi-finished machine guns. Most of my energy is on the machine guns that the adults gave me, because the bullets are fired continuously and the requirements for the machine gun itself are very high. , with the current technology, the gun bore cannot withstand it, so it cannot meet the requirements for the time being. Please rest assured, I will definitely solve the problem as soon as possible."
Li Zhen said in a deep voice: "This is the truth. We will discuss in private later that the manufacture of the machine gun's barrel requires not only iron, but also other elements to ensure the stability of the barrel."
Dai Yuanhua was confused and could only nod in agreement.
Wei Yuan interjected: "Hongyi, Yi signed a treasonous treaty and lost his power and betrayed his country. After the Jiuzhou Daily reported this matter, the public was excited, and the people wanted to defeat Yi and take back the territory of the Qing Dynasty. What are your plans for this matter? of."
Li Zhen asked: "Mr. Wei, do you know about things in Guangxi?"
Wei Yuan said: "Guangxi Admiral Xi Yinglong rebelled and intended to become independent. Everyone knows this."
Li Zhen said calmly: "If we don't destroy Xi Yinglong, can we fight Yi with all our strength?"
When Wei Yuan heard this, he immediately understood Li Zhen's intention. He thought about it carefully before nodding and said: "What you said makes sense. The old man will cheer you up and turn Xi Yinglong into a person who oppresses the virtuous and persecutes the people. Once the direction of public opinion turns against you, Xi Yinglong will definitely be defeated like a mountain."
"Thank you, Mr. Wei."
Li Zhen didn't expect Wei Yuan to be so accommodating, and he was extremely grateful.
Wei Yuan acted decisively and said immediately: "I'm going to prepare immediately and say goodbye." He left in a hurry, preparing to go back to Jiuzhou Daily to write an article, and at the same time launch an all-round attack on Xi Yinglong.
Fan Kai went on to say: "The bank failed to enter Guangxi, but the businessmen in the bank have contacts with businessmen in Guangxi. I also went back to contact the businessmen and asked the businessmen in Guangxi to contain Xi Yinglong."
Li Zhen praised: "This is a very effective and good method. If it succeeds, it will be much easier to capture Xi Yinglong."
Fan Kai left, Bo Jia did not stay, only Li Zhen and Dai Yuanhua remained.
Li Zhen said seriously: "Yuanhua, the machine gun is an important weapon and an excellent weapon to improve combat effectiveness. You should focus on the machine gun now. The pistol has been made, and the machine gun will definitely not be far away. I Equip pistols immediately to enhance the combat effectiveness of the soldiers. With the guns closed, close range attacks will be more effective. You have made a great contribution."
Dai Yuanhua said: "The commander-in-chief deserves the award. I just did what I was expected to do."
Li Zhen also told the things that need to be paid attention to when making firearms, and also talked about some of the knowledge he knew about some gun chambers. He asked Dai Yuanhua to organize people to find the ore needed to stabilize the gun chambers, and then refine and forge it. Li Zhen put the matter in order After finishing the instructions, he asked Dai Yuanhua to leave and returned to the Admiral's Mansion.
Looking at his family and the lively children, Li Zhen wanted to stay for a while longer, but Xi Yinglong rebelled, and the longer it went on, the harder it was to control his behavior, so Li Zhen had to send troops.
On the eighth day of February, Li Zhen left Guangzhou with three regiments of soldiers.
The soldiers of these three regiments were Smith, Yang Banhou, Zhou Xiuying, and Qi Zhenhai. They led a regiment of soldiers under their command to guard Guangzhou to prevent Guangzhou from being attacked. After the army left Guangzhou, they hurried all the way towards Guangxi. go.
Leaving the boundary of Guangdong, we entered Guangxi from Wuzhou Prefecture.
Wuzhou Prefecture is located in Cangwu County. Zhennanguan Pass is within the territory of Wuzhou Prefecture and even serves as a barrier to the east of Guangxi. As early as the Han Dynasty, Zhennanguan Pass had already set up a checkpoint. It was first named "Yongji Pass" and later renamed "Yongji Pass". "Jieshou Pass" and "Da Nanguan". In the first year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1368), Zhu Yuanzhang rebuilt the pass into a two-story gatehouse in order to consolidate the southern border, and then renamed it Zhennanguan.
At the same time, several overlooking control gates for viewing forts were built on the steep walls of Jinji Mountain in Zhennanguan.
Such a majestic pass was now in front of Li Zhen. After the army approached Zhennang Pass, Li Zhen did not rush to attack Zhennang Pass because this pass was really difficult to attack.
…
The person responsible for guarding Zhennanguan is named Xi Changzhen. He is Xi Yinglong's cousin. He is the official commander of Zhennanguan and is fully responsible for the defense of Zhennanguan. For this one level alone, Xi Changzhen used 6,000 elite soldiers.
On the tower, in the hall.
Xi Changzhen is reading. His eyes are very small. When he stares at the book, his small eyeballs keep moving, making it difficult for him to look focused, as if he is wandering in the sky.
However, from time to time, he would recite aloud while shaking his head.
Such changes are difficult to adapt to.
Xi Changzhen is about forty years old, has three strands of long beard, a pair of red phoenix eyes, and is wearing a green robe. In addition, there is a faint flush on his face, as if Guan Gong was still alive. Xi Changzhen's left hand is flat on his knee, and his right hand is holding a book. If you read it carefully, you will see that it is completely in the style of Guan Gong, but it is just in form and does not have any temperament of Guan Gong.
At this time, a middle-aged scribe walked in.
"Old Chen, do you think I look like Guan Gong?" Xi Changzhen asked expectantly.
The middle-aged scribe named Chen Zhengshi, who was Xi Changzhen's staff, crossed his fists and said, "The general is very similar to Mr. Guan, they are definitely alike." After a pause, Chen Zhengshi said again: "Li Zhen is here with his army. , Sir, please be prepared."
"Oh, Li Zhen is finally here."
Xi Changzhen did not show any fear. He put down the book in his hand and said loudly: "When Li Zhen arrives at Zhennanguan, I will stop him from advancing even an inch. If he dares to attack Zhennanguan, I will kill him."
Chen Zhengshi said: "Sir, Li Zhen is not a simple character and cannot be underestimated."
Xi Changzhen said: "I will understand naturally, just don't worry."
Chen Zhengshi added: "Li Zhen is here. Your Excellency should check the garrison everywhere again and instruct the soldiers to guard the place to avoid loopholes."
"I will know."
Xi Changzhen said with a straight face and very unhappy.
Chen Zhengshi seemed not to notice and continued: "Guan Gong has always listened to advice. You follow Guan Gong as an example everywhere, but now you keep giving advice, which is just an appearance."
"What did you say?" Xi Changzhen was very unhappy as if a cat's tail had been stepped on.
Chen Zhengshi scratched his neck and said loudly: "Speaking of a humble position, you are just showing off."
"Hmph, you win."
When Xi Changzhen saw Chen Zhengshi insisting, he looked like a frosted eggplant with a smile on his face and said with a smile: "Old Chen, after all we have been brothers for many years, can't you save a little face? If you speak so loudly, the people standing guard outside will After the soldiers heard about it, I must have lost face at my grandma’s house.”
"Sir, we heard it."
As soon as Xi Changzhen finished speaking, there was a loud shout.
Chen Zhengshi knew Xi Changzhen's temper and said, "Sir, this matter is urgent. You keep saying you want to kill Li Zhen, but this Li Zhen is not a simple character. Please check it carefully."
Xi Changzhen sighed: "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. I really have a hard life. Why is my life so miserable? It's all because of that bastard Xi Yinglong, otherwise I would still be very leisurely."
The corner of Chen Zhengshi's mouth twitched. Only Xi Changzhen in Guangxi could say this.
If it had been anyone else, they would have been killed by Xi Yinglong long ago.