Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 44
When Gao Jie was in the Yunyang Mansion, Zhu Yixi learned the news through Sun Changzhou.

Even Luo Rucai was killed and Zhang Xianzhong captured Wuchang, he also knew something about it.

The news inside and outside Tongguan finally came through.

Today's three big thieves in the south, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and Zuo Liangyu, from west to east, Zhang Xianzhong happened to be caught in the middle, neither up nor down.

"Zhang Xianzhong, when did you go to Sichuan?"

Zhu Yixi couldn't remember the exact time, but he was deeply impressed by Zhang Xianzhong's so-called Tu Chuan.

In his plan, Sichuan is his territory, how can it be occupied?

"No, the Xiangyang area is currently occupied by Li Zicheng. Unless Lao Li moves, Zhang Xianzhong will never dare to move a step."

Zhu Yixi thought about it: "That is to say, Zhang Xianzhong dared to enter Sichuan only when Li Zicheng entered Tongguan without stumbling blocks."

Thinking of it this way, he was determined.

Therefore, these days, he was in the epidemic prevention camp, teaching and writing, asking about his health, and drinking and drinking, which greatly won the favor of the soldiers.

On the other hand, he asked Wang Yu to specialize in artillery, and produced a large number of artillery, such as Fran cannons, tiger squat cannons, etc., dozens of them were produced every month to equip the train battalion.

In private, he asked the craftsmen to build flintlock guns, and put the flintlock guns on and install knives.

As a result, the flintlock was originally relatively long, reaching four feet, but now with the addition of a one-foot-long short knife, it has reached five feet.

In this way, it is enough to be used as a spear.

For the Two Thousand Epidemic Prevention Battalion, they practiced with long spears at the beginning to prepare for flintlocks. As long as the flintlocks are customized in mid-June, they can be installed.

Throughout the month of May, I had a particularly fulfilling life.

And at the end, there was a surprise.

"You mean, Longshouyuan has thousands of strong laborers?"

Zhu Yixi looked at Sun Changzhou, quite surprised.

"That's right, they're all top-notch laborers."

Sun Changzhou hurriedly offered a plan: "I heard that the governor is going to leave Tongguan in the east. With such strength, it will take less than half a month to become a man who dares to die."

"I heard that Qi Jiguang, Marshal Qi, used miners from Yiwu to defeat the Japanese pirates."

"You also know Marshal Qi!"

Zhu Yixi was surprised, and then waved his hands and said: "The situation at Longshouyuan is complicated. I'm afraid the governor may be powerless."

Don't even think about it, if it can be done, will Sun Chuanting send out one soldier from three households to force people?Obviously its more difficult.

"This should be comparable to Qingtian's!" Sun Changzhou wondered.

"One more time is enough to cause public dissatisfaction. Another time, maybe they will cooperate with the intruders."

Zhu Yixi smiled.

Having said that, he still remembered this place again in his heart - Longshouyuan.

When he had to, this was his best source of soldiers.

That's right, he never supported Sun Chuanting's idea of ​​going out of Tongguan to fight, and he didn't think the Qin army would win.

First of all, in terms of military strength, Li Zicheng's military strength reached 300,000. Among them, Luo Rucai, He Yilong, Yuan Shizhong and other leaders were killed, and their elites were annexed.

It is conservatively estimated that there are [-] old thieves who have fought for several years.

As for the Qin army, last year's battle in Taoyuan killed all the elite, and the recruits trained for more than half a year. How did they fight?
What worries Zhu Yixi even more is that because of Sun Chuanting, the Qin army is only barely united, and the conflicts between the generals are deep, and they cannot be united like Li Zicheng.

After going deep into the Qin army for several months, Zhu Yixi understood even more that the generals of the Qin army had many rogue backgrounds, and it had become a habit to go to Qin Muchu. To put it bluntly, there was no determination to die.

In this case, it is difficult to defend the capital, and the only way to fight is to die.

On June [-], Zhu Yixi invited Sun Chuanting to witness the cannon test.

Sun Chuanting was very happy, and he also wanted to see the power of the red cannon.

"These two red cannons weigh three thousand catties, and it took one month to cast them."

Zhu Yixi introduced it kindly.

When Sun Chuanting heard this, he approached and looked at it.

Two red-clothed cannons, supported by cannon carriages, slowly pushed forward, each requiring a dozen or so men.

The body of the cannon is about ten feet long, the muzzle is black and extremely deep, and its back is also black, like iron.

"No, this is iron!" Sun Chuanting said in amazement, "Why don't you use copper? Even if you want to save money, you can't use iron? This is killing you, you know?"

After speaking, Sun Chuanting's tone became sharp.

"Doc constitution calm down!"

Zhu Yixi hurriedly explained: "This iron cannon uses a new method. It has been tested and is no different from ordinary copper cannons."

"is it?"

Sun Chuanting was skeptical.

However, he still had some trust in Zhu Yixi, so he reluctantly sat down and watched from a distance.

On the artillery side, dozens of artillerymen who had been taught by Wang Yan had already begun to operate in a decent manner.

Wipe the barrel, aim, pull the shell, insert it, fire it...

In the distance, two miles away, two dilapidated thatched cottages were the target this time.

Wang Yan sat on the side, also quite nervous.

After all, he was an official, and Sun Chuanting respected him a lot: "The prince has worked hard, and the cannon in red is hard to make."

"Where the hell is it, I'm old enough to be able to serve the imperial court, and it's worth it."

Wang Yan shook his head and said very excitedly: "Saving the country through practical learning is my lifelong ambition."

Hearing his words, Sun Chuanting became more and more respectful, and then waited for the artillery to be fired.

"Ignition—" Zhu Yixi shouted, waving the flag.

Soon, the gunner ignited, followed by two cannon shots.

Two huge iron bombs, following the appearance of huge sulfur-flavored smoke, couldn't wait to fly into the air, piercing the sky.

In the blink of an eye, the two preset thatched cottages were destroyed and ceased to exist.

After a lot of practice, it goes very well.

"Okay—" Sun Chuanting stood up, shouted, and then happily said: "This cannon is not inferior to the eleven bronze cannons in the capital."

"It seems that Iron Cannon has a lot to do!"

Immediately, he thought of something again, and said in a deep voice: "My lord, Jingming, Jiannu's cannons are sharp, such methods must be strictly guarded against, and must not be leaked."

"My subordinate understands!"

Zhu Yixi hurriedly said: "I have kept it secret and will never disclose it."

"The red-clothed cannon is forged, it can be said to be the enemy of ten thousand people."

Sun Chuanting nodded and said, "Where should the red cannon be placed? Xi'an City?"

"The governor should be placed in Tongguan."

Zhu Yixi said seriously.

"Tongguan?" Sun Chuanting was puzzled: "There is already a natural danger there, and the red cannon, is it superfluous?"

"Duxian, if Tongguan is not protected, Xi'an City will naturally be lost."

Zhu Yixi said sincerely: "Besides, you came out of Tongguan in the east. Tongguan is the back of the Qin army. No matter how strong it is, it should be."

After thinking about it, Sun Chuanting said seriously: "You are right, it should be placed in Tongguan."

(End of this chapter)