scourge the qing dynasty

Chapter 123 Tactical Deception
(PS: I wish all my friends a happy Mid-Autumn Festival in advance, and ask for a monthly ticket and a recommendation ticket by the way.)
The old traitor Wu made such a big move in Yunnan, of course it is impossible for Xiao Mazi and Aobai to be unaware of the capital thousands of miles away—at least the court eyeliner headed by Gan Wenkun and Lu Fatty reported to them every three days, A report on the cruelty and greed of the old man Wu, breaking the law and discipline, committing crimes, embezzlement and bribery, bullying men and women, exploiting the common people, poisoning living beings, supporting soldiers to self-respect, raising thieves for self-enrichment, smuggling and prohibition, deceiving the king, conspiring to usurp, etc. A heinous and bloody crime.

By the way, compared with the detailed reports and clear descriptions, Fatty Lu, the magistrate of Qujing County in the Qing Dynasty, is definitely the most outstanding among these people. Reports such as "Pingxi Wangfu Insider Revealed", "Yungui Bloody Record", "Wu Sangui's Ambition", "Black Moon. Wuhua Mountain", "The Beast Training Center-Records of the Pingxi Wangfu Recruit Camp" and so on. The documentary literature of conscience, with pictures and texts, tearfully accused Wu Sangui and his lackeys of numerous crimes, and also won the unanimous praise of the rulers of the Qing Dynasty.

In fact, for Xiao Mazi and other Qing rulers, it doesn't matter whether Wu Sangui is corrupt, lustful, greedy, and fishy. rest assured!For Xiao Mazi and other Qing rulers, what really matters is whether Wu Sangui has the ambition to rebel and whether he has the power to threaten Xiao Mazi's dominance.In this way, Wu Sangui's crazy expansion of armaments in Yunnan and Guizhou in the ninth year of Kang Mazi, of course, made the ruler of Xiaomazi Qing Dynasty sleepless, like a thorn in his throat.

Of course, Xiao Mazi's military accomplishments are not as profound as the mite survivors advocate—otherwise, he would not have used all the power of the whole country to conquer Galdan himself three times, and finally let him die comfortably in the belly of a woman immediately up.But Xiao Mazi is definitely not ignorant of military affairs. At least Xiao Mazi knows very well that wars are fought with human, material and financial resources. Xiao Mazi's ancestors were able to overthrow the Ming Dynasty because of shit luck. Disasters led to refugee uprisings, and the collapse of the Ming Dynasty from within allowed Xiao Mazi's ancestors to take advantage of the sky, but it is not the case now.

Since the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the natural disasters in the Central Plains have been significantly reduced, the people's hearts have gradually stabilized, the population and the economy have recovered rapidly, and the ruling foundation of the Qing Dynasty has become increasingly consolidated, showing a scene of prosperity, which is far from comparable to that of the Ming Dynasty during the Chongzhen period.However, Yunnan and Guizhou under Wu Sangui's semi-control are not only sparsely populated, but also known as poor provinces from ancient times to the present. Food and military pay have never been self-sufficient for a year. The strength is still far from being able to compare with the Central Plains controlled by the Qing rulers.

Fortunately, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces have never been major horse-producing provinces, and neighboring Sichuan and Tibet cannot produce many war horses. At the same time, the surrounding areas of Yunnan and Guizhou are not suitable for cavalry raids and wars. , using the cavalry advantage to gradually weaken Mi Qing's strength, so Xiao Mazi has full confidence that no matter how crazy Wu Sangui develops his armaments, he will not be able to threaten his dominance by force.Even if he used human life, money, food and materials, he could still kill Wu Sangui——the facts proved that it was true.

The only thing that worries Xiao Mazi is the issue of firearms, because Xiao Mazi himself is a Western science and technology enthusiast. He has been exposed to countless Western firearms that ordinary people cannot touch. So there are these dangerous gunpowder weapons.Xiao Mazi was even worried that if these gunpowder weapons were allowed to continue to develop, they might even completely reverse the Eight Banners’ superiority in bows, arrows and horses, and even reverse the strategic balance of comprehensive strength. root cause.

Because of this, when it was learned that Wu Sangui was crazy about expanding his armaments and setting up multiple firearms factory battalions to desperately produce and research gunpowder weapons—this can be seen from Wu Sangui’s crazy purchase of saltpeter and sulfur. He turned pale with shock, but he was also worried about it, having trouble sleeping and eating, and was extremely concerned about the development of Wu Sangui's army's firearms.What makes Xiao Mazi angry is that even though he has sent countless eyeliners to his side, and even bought Lin Tianqing, the old man from Pingxi Palace, Yunnan governor Lin Tianqing, Wu Sangui's army still doesn't know anything about the development of firearms. Xiao Mazi didn't even know whether Wu Sangui's army had cast the Hongyi cannon commonly used by the Qing army, which caused Xiao Mazi to repeatedly scold his confidant Gan Wenkun, who he single-handedly promoted, and Gan Wenkun went to letter to Lu in three days and two days. Fatty urged, and was very dissatisfied with Fatty Lu's behavior of occupying the latrine and not excreting.

Hard work pays off, and when Xiao Mazi was almost desperate, on September [-]th, the ninth year of Kang Mazi in the Qing Dynasty, Xiao Mazi received a report from Gan Wenkun, saying that he had obtained the real evidence of Wu Sangui's privately cast Hongyi cannon and various firearms. And also found some real objects.Xiao Mazi was overjoyed immediately, and immediately delivered an order to Gan Wenkun, ordering him to quickly transport the searched weapons of Wu Sangui's army to the capital, so that the firearms craftsmen in the capital could analyze the development of Wu Sangui's army's firearms.

What surprised Xiao Mazi even more was that the loyal and loyal Gan Wenkun had already done so without his decree. On October [-]th, Gan Wenjiong, Gan Wenkun's younger brother, had already personally escorted the searched weapons of Wu Sangui's army to the capital. , appeared in front of Xiao Mazi.And Xiao Mazi didn't hesitate, and sent all these weapons to the Longtan Cannon Factory in Zuo'anmen on the same day, and handed them over to the cannon-casting craftsmen and Western technicians to study and analyze the firearms and equipment of Wu Sangui's army.

At noon the next day, just after lunch, Xiao Mazi immediately ordered the car to go out, and brought many henchmen to drive the Longtan Cannon Factory to inspect.When Xiao Mazi's mighty convoy arrived at the Longtan Cannon Factory, officials of all sizes from the Cannon Making Bureau had already knelt on the side of the road to greet him. Saibende, Taibitu, Asiha, Ge Chuha and others even knelt by the roadside to welcome them.Xiao Mazi couldn't help but asked Bumbleshan curiously: "Scholar of Ban University, why are you here?"

"Back to the emperor, the slaves came with Ao Zhongtang." Bumble kowtowed, and answered honestly: "Ao Zhongtang heard that Governor Gan brought the red barbarian cannon that Wu Sangui made privately, and brought the slaves with him when the court was over. Came here, and now Oboi Zhongtang is listening to the report of the cannon-casting craftsmen on the construction site."

"Oboi's old man is finally worried about Wu Sangui's old man." Xiao Mazi was overjoyed - if Aobai and Wu Sangui turned against each other, it would be much easier for Xiao Mazi, and he would have a chance to fish in troubled waters.Overjoyed, Xiao Mazi hurriedly greeted everyone, and ordered Bumbleshan and others to lead the way. He led Suo'etu, Mingzhu, Xiong Cilu, Kong Sizhen and other confidants into the gun factory, and went directly to the place where Wu Sangui's army was parked. Artillery site.

Arriving at the construction site, Oboi and Murima brothers were indeed surrounded by a group of soldiers, talking with a group of craftsmen next to the two cannons. Seeing Xiao Mazi approaching, Oboi brothers shot a thousand Son, I paid Xiao Mazi a courtesy.Although Xiao Mazi was angry in his heart, he was frightened by his grandmother's strict orders and did not dare to turn against Aobai, he just smiled and said: "Ao Zhongtang is exempt from courtesy, Mu Junmen is exempt from courtesy, Ao Zhongtang, you just came here to see for yourself Check out the Hongyi cannon that Wu Sangui cast privately, did you find anything?"

"Returning to the emperor, the emperor said that Wu Sangui cast these two cannons privately. I wonder if there is evidence?" Obai asked nonchalantly, "How did you hear that, old minister? Gan Wenkun found these two cannons on the road from Qujing to Kunming. The Hongyi cannon? Wu Sangui also wrote in the book to argue that these two Hongyi cannons are also old things from the previous Ming Dynasty?"

"An old thing from the previous Ming Dynasty?" Looking at the two brand-new red cannons painted with paulownia paint and still glowing blue, Xiao Mazi laughed dumbly, and said, "Ao Zhongtang has good eyesight, these two red cannons are indeed It looks like an old thing left by the Ming Dynasty.”

"Your Majesty, there is no need to be sarcastic." Ao Bai retorted coldly, "If Wu Sangui argues that the two red cannons are properly maintained and refurbished, so they look like new ones, who can point that out? Is he lying to deceive the king?"

Xiao Mazi was speechless—if Wu Sangui was so foolish and insisted that the two cannons were newly refurbished Hongyi cannons, Xiao Mazi really had no way to refute them.In desperation, Xiao Mazi had no choice but to change the subject and asked, "Ao Zhongtang, what do you think of the craftsmanship of these two red barbarian cannons? Are they as powerful as the red barbarian cannons made by our Longtan Cannon Factory and Jiangnan Cannon Foundry Bureau?"

"Your Majesty, please ask these craftsmen directly. The veterans are not proficient in these things." Obai pointed at the several craftsmen kneeling next to him very bluntly, and was too lazy to answer Xiao Mazi's question directly—Oboi didn't need to talk to him. Xiao Mazi is polite, if Xiao Zhuang hadn't begged Oboi to remember the old relationship, as early as last year, Aoboi would have kicked this little pockmark off the dragon chair who dared to fight against himself and his family, and replaced him with Shunzhi's seventh son. His son, Longxi, became emperor.

"Damn it, one day you, an old thief, will be hacked into pieces and executed Ling Chi!" Hot faces were stuck to Oboi's cold butt one after another, and Xiao Mazi's anger grew more and more, but there was no trace of it on his face. Displeased, he just smiled affectionately at Oboi, and then turned to the craftsmen and asked, "You guys, it's been a day since you studied these two red barbarian cannons, what's the result?"

"My Majesty, the casting level of these two red barbarian cannons is very poor." The head craftsman who came out to answer was more courageous, and said: "It's not that Xiaomin is bragging, the red barbarian cannons cast by Xiaomin's son are also better than these two. The Hongyi cannons are much better. The common people agree that these two Hongyi cannons were probably made by craftsmen who have just learned how to make cannons."

"Oh, how do you know that?" Xiao Mazi asked happily.

"Go back to the emperor, please allow the little people to stand up and go to the cannon to give instructions to the emperor one by one." The craftsman leader begged.After getting Xiao Mazi's permission, the head craftsman kowtowed again, then got up and walked to the side of the cannon, pointing to the flaws on the cannon and explained: "Please look, your majesty, there are many honeycomb sand holes on the body of this cannon. The casting mud mold is not completely dried, and it is also a common mistake for beginners to cast artillery. Such artillery looks majestic, but once it is fired, it is very easy to explode, resulting in the destruction of the artillery. In our Longtan Cannon Factory, even if such a cannon is cast, it must be recast and cannot be sent to the army for use."

"Also, this kind of artillery has a fatal flaw, that is, the iron juice is impure. The wrought iron is not pure enough, and it is mixed with pig iron iron juice, which makes it easier to explode. In addition, these two artillery pieces are too heavy. We Weighed it with a boat, and found that the weight of these two Hongyi cannons exceeded [-] jin, but the muzzle was relatively small, and could only hold solid iron shells weighing [-] jin. The barrel is deliberately thickened, so the waste is too serious, the shell is too light, and the power is not enough."

"In addition, the rear sights of the two Hongyi cannons also have a small problem. They are a bit too high. Although the craftsmanship error is not very serious, it will be difficult for the gunner to adjust the sight, and the shells fired will definitely not be very accurate. .”

When the craftsman leader said something, Xiao Mazi nodded his head. Although his face was calm, his heart was already full of joy, and he said that you, Wu Sangui, were probably cheated by that barbarian named Sun Dianying and spent so much money. The Hongyi cannons produced are equivalent to semi-waste products, but that's okay, if your cannons are like this, then I can rest assured.Overjoyed, Xiao Mazi noticed the other firearms that Gan Wenkun found, and asked again: "What about this kind of firearm? Is there anything remarkable about it?"

"Back to the emperor, these firearms can only be said to be usable. Compared with the firearms produced here, they are still a little worse." Another craftsman leader stood up and picked up the firearms searched by Gan Wenkun one by one to explain, "The emperor Please see, this solid shell only weighs six catties, and it is not powerful enough to shoot, and if it is changed to a flowering shell, the charge is insufficient, and the power is even lower."

"This fire dragon comes out of water, although it contains half a catty more gunpowder than the first fire dragon out of water we made, but the fuze is too short. The gunpowder in one section is wasted. Also, the mouth of the dragon is too big. After the second section of the rocket is shot out, it is not easy to control the aim, so the waste is still huge. Also, the fire dragon comes out of the first section of the cylinder. I don’t know how it happened There are twelve mouths, which may be used to install dragon wings and dragon claws. Although it looks good, it actually has no effect, but increases the weight and difficulty of craftsmanship."

"Where's the musket?" Xiao Mazi, who was basically relieved, pointed to the musket mold again.

"Hehe." Several firearms craftsmen present laughed, and one craftsman said: "Your Majesty, this is a musket mold that we have not used for a long time. The best way to cast musket barrels is to use wrought iron sheets, like Wrap it like a firecracker, and then add an iron hoop—this kind of mold-cast musket is heavy and easy to explode, and it takes too long, and the little people have long since used it.”

"Oh, that's how it is." Xiao Mazi suddenly realized, and at the same time his brows were beaming with joy, he nodded and said, "Very good, then I can rest assured."

"So what if we can make the same red barbarian cannon as in the previous Ming Dynasty?" Oboi said suddenly, and said with a sneer, "The most important thing on the battlefield is proficiency in martial arts, horseback riding and shooting, crooked methods like firearms, ingenious and obscene skills, really. If it works, then we have a chance to enter the Qing Dynasty and the Eight Banners?"

After finishing speaking, Oboi cupped his hands again, and said: "Your Majesty, this old minister feels a little uncomfortable, so I will leave first." Then, without waiting for Xiao Mazi's reply, Oboi directly led Murima, Bumbleshan and other cronies and buddies to act proudly. After leaving the construction site, leaving Xiao Mazi secretly cursing Aobai for his early death.

When getting out of the Longtan Cannon Factory and getting on the sedan chair, Bumbleshan leaned over to Oboi and said in a low voice, "Zhongtang, isn't your attitude towards the emperor too much today? Anyway, he is also our face Your Majesty."

"Seeing his idiot appearance, the old man will get angry!" Obai couldn't bear it anymore, and said in a low voice: "Did you notice just now? I heard that Wu Sangui's firearms are not as good as ours, so he immediately closed his eyes with laughter." , is as stupid as that old idiot Sony!"

"What? Zhongtang, do you suspect that there is something wrong with these firearms?" Bumbleshan asked in surprise.

"Who is Wu Sangui?" Obai snorted coldly, "I've heard that he has very strict regulations on the casting of weapons. After the arrowheads and armor are made, the armor must be shot with arrowheads. The armor will be pierced to punish the armor maker. Punish the arrow maker, only if the arrowhead does not bend when it enters the arrowhead, and the arrow sinks into the armor without penetrating the armor, then it is considered qualified! That barbarian named Sun Dianying used such a firearm to trick him, Wu Sangui had already chopped him down, and he could still Wait until now?"

"So? This is probably Wu Sangui's trick?" Bumbleshan said in surprise, "Then do you want to say hello to the emperor?"

"Not for the time being." Obai sneered and said, "In the current situation, the stronger Wu Sangui is, the more beneficial it will be for us, and the less Xiao Mazi will dare to touch us, and he can also deter Annan and Burma, and he can also warn the old man to discord Guangxi Sun Yanling and Guangdong Shang Kexi don't mess around. When this little pockmark is sincerely subdued to the old man, knowing that the old man is an indispensable pillar of the Qing Dynasty, it will not be too late for the old man to personally take care of Wu Sangui."

"But going on like this is not a solution." Bumble said awkwardly: "Although the empress dowager has sincerely surrendered to us, the emperor is still making small moves behind his back. If things go on like this, in case you are negligent... …….”

Aobai was silent, and then he said after a long while: "Anyway, this old man is also an important minister of the late emperor Tuogu. If you don't teach him and punish him, what face does this old man have to go to see the late emperor? This old man only gave him one chance. If he still wants to harm the old man , then the old man can justifiably do it."

"Zhongtang, your painstaking efforts and loyalty, the emperor can only understand half of it." Bumble sighed, knowing that Oboi's biggest weakness is being too nostalgic, thinking about the kindness of Huang Taiji and Shunzhi in the past, and still thinking about it. Because of Xiao Zhuang's kindness to Oboi's life-saving under the sword of Dorgon, that's why he endured Xiao Mazi so much, even if he knew that Xiao Mazi hated him deeply, he still hoped that Xiao Mazi would have a better life. One day, he could look back and realize his loyalty to him.

"Also, send someone to bring a message to Wu Sangui." Obai ordered again: "Tell him, everything should be done in moderation, this year I ignore his little tricks because Yunnan and Guizhou have been weakened too much in the past few years , if this happens again next year, the old man will not be polite."

"Your Majesty understands." Bumble kindly agreed, and then he and Aobai got into the sedan chair separately and left the Longtan Cannon Factory together.

………………

Oboi was not the only one who suspected that there was something wrong with the weapons captured by Gan Wenkun. In the afternoon, after Xiao Mazi was sent back to the Forbidden City, where there were no outsiders, Xiao Mazi's new favorite Xiong Cilu said to Kong Sizhen worriedly: "Sigege, Something is wrong today, with Wu Sangui's treacherous old man, how could he invest so much money in mass production of these shoddy firearms? Wu Sangui's money is so much that there is no place to put it?"

"Do you suspect that this is Wu Sangui's trick?" Kong Sizhen asked suspiciously: "Worried that Wu Sangui deliberately let Gan Wenkun seize these firearms, and then used Gan Wenkun's hands to deceive the emperor?"

"As long as it has anything to do with Lu Yifeng, I doubt it!" Xiong Cilu said firmly: "Last night, when the emperor summoned Gan Wenjiong, the younger brother of the Gan Wenkun family, I was there. The news that this batch of firearms was robbed suddenly! Sigege, please think about it, Lu Yifeng has such good intentions to help Gan Wenkun get the real evidence of Wu Sangui's secret cannon casting?"

"Then why didn't you report to the emperor immediately?" Kong Sizhen asked in surprise.

"The matter involves Gan Wenkun, can I play the report casually?" Xiong Cilu asked back: "We have no evidence to prove that Lu Yifeng deceived the emperor, and this book was played rashly. Offend Gan Wenkun, how dare I?"

Kong Sizhen frowned, and when he thought about it carefully, he found that Xiong Cilu really had to use the weapon of caution—these firearms were seized by Gan Wenkun, and it was also the thing Gan Wenkun did recently that satisfied Xiao Mazi the most. When he questioned Gan Wenkun and obliterated Gan Wenkun's credit, he immediately offended Gan Wenkun to his grandma's house. Once the high-ranking Gan Wenkun started to make trouble, Xiong Cilu would have to go away without food.

"I've even been wondering whether the Sun Dianying that Gan Wenkun reported to the emperor is really a real person?" Xiong Cilu said darkly, "Fatty Lu is proficient in Western learning. Fatty Lu was the first to be suspected of the success of the Western Artillery. And the appearance of Sun Dianying, who was impartial, just shielded Fatty Lu from all suspicions. Is there such a coincidence in the world? There are so many people who are proficient in Western learning? "

"Although the words are reasonable, but this Fatty Lu is too good at acting." Kong Sizhen said in a dilemma: "So far, not only the emperor and the empress dowager Lafayette trust him, but Gan Wenkun also relies on him as a confidant when he arrives in Yungui. evidence, how can we persuade the emperor and empress dowager to agree with our analysis?"

"It was difficult before, but now we have a chance." Xiong Cilu's voice became more and more cold, "Si Gege, do you still remember that Lu Yifeng's post of Qujing county magistrate will be held for three years in two or three months?" It’s full, if we can transfer Lu Yifeng out of Yungui and force him to stay away from Wu Sangui, wouldn’t everything come to light?”

"Will the emperor agree?" Kong Sizhen said worriedly: "The emperor gave the Qujing green camp to Fatty Lu's cousin, which is equivalent to entrusting the throat of Yunnan and Guizhou to Fatty Lu. In this case, the emperor will agree to transfer Lu Yifeng. Izumo Gui, let the previous arrangements go to waste?"

"The emperor probably won't agree." Xiong Cilu said with a sinister smile: "But I believe that the emperor will definitely not mind testing Lu Yifeng's loyalty again to see if Lu Yifeng is worthy of further entrustment? And those red stars cast by Wu Sangui?" Does Yi Cannon have anything to do with it?"

Kong Sizhen's eyes lit up, and after thinking for a while, Kong Sizhen suddenly cast a glance at Xiong Cilu, stretched out his hand to pinch Xiong Cilu's handsome face, and said with a coquettish smile, "You are bad, really bad."

(Note: Wu Sangui’s method of making arrows and inspecting armor is recorded in "Ping Wu Lu". This historical material also records that after Xiao Mazi knew that Wu Sangui's weapons were so excellent, he was also uneasy, and deliberately sent his confidant Wu Dan to Kunming to reward bows and arrows. To spy on the real fighting power of Wu Sangui's army, Wu Sangui adopted Hu Guozhu's strategy, deliberately selected old and weak soldiers to form an army, let Wu Dan inspect the military parade at will, and successfully deceived Xiao Mazi - Xiao Mazi's strategy is definitely not as powerful as the mites boasted, Wu Sangui Not as stupid as mite belittle.)
(End of this chapter)