The battle of the emperor on patrol must have been both mighty and mighty, but this time His Majesty Li Er did not use the chariot, but came on horseback.

Of course, guards are indispensable, there are thousands of people, and Zuo Wuwei is in charge of security.

Under the protection of the cavalry in front and behind, His Majesty Li Er breathed in the cold air, was in a good mood, and talked casually with several veterans next to him.

That's right, it's a veteran. Xiang Cheng Biting Jin, Hou Junji, and Li Shiyun are all ranked in Lingyan Pavilion, and they are old seniors who fought with His Majesty Li Er.

Even the old otaku Li Jing was specially summoned by His Majesty Li Er, wanting to let this military god ranked first in the Tang Dynasty's Wentao martial arts strategy observe it and make suggestions.

Of course, the old military god can no longer be used. The credit is too great, it's good to stay at home.

"Pharmacist, do you think you need to send troops to conquer Gaochang?" His Majesty Li Er opened his mouth and asked: "The expedition of thousands of miles has cost a lot, and there are still many important ministers in the court who oppose it. ”

Li Jing bowed on his horse and said, "Weichen thinks that at least 100,000 troops need to be sent to make the Western Turks dare not move. Even if the Western Turks did not know the power of heaven and rescued Gaochang, 100,000 horses could win the battle. ”

If 100,000 troops are dispatched, there must be at least 50,000 craftsmen and craftsmen, which is the biggest difficulty in ancient wars, and the transportation of grain and grass materials.

What's more, it is still a long journey of thousands of miles, and it has to cross the desert Gobi. Compared to these difficulties, it is easier to fight the enemy.

His Majesty Li Er bowed slightly, which seemed to be different from his estimation and the results of the discussion with the generals.

"Your Majesty wants to expand the Western Regions, Gaochang can be the bridgehead, and Hexi can be the guarantee of the back road." Li Jing said slowly: "Management is essential. Otherwise, it would be difficult to support the garrison in the Western Regions. ”

The Hexi Corridor stretches from Wusheling in the east, Yumen Pass in the west, Qilian Mountain in the south, and Heli Mountain in the north, with a total length of about 1,000 kilometers. The overall shape is like a belt, and it is located in the west of the Yellow River, so it is called "Hexi Corridor".

The unique geographical location of the Hexi Corridor connects the Central Plains and the hinterland of Asia, so that the ethnic groups in the Western Regions have a close exchange and communication channel with the Central Plains, which is the "Silk Road".

Moreover, the Hexi Corridor is not only an economic and trade artery, but also a strategic location. Firmly occupying this place will be able to divide the northern ethnic minorities into two, and it will be like a wedge, firmly nailed into the hinterland of the Western Regions.

Gaochang, as a bridgehead, is also the claw of the Tang army reaching out to the Western Regions, and the Hexi Corridor is the arm connecting the claw. If the arm is there, the claw is there, and when the arm is dead, the claw loses its nourishment, and the isolation is even destroyed.

As for the operation, because the Hexi Corridor is rich in water and grass and has a suitable environment, it can not only raise horses for grazing, but also cultivate and harvest. In the same way, if the arms are thick, the claws are sharp.

If you only rely on the Central Plains to send grain and grass to the Western Regions, the distance is too far and the consumption is too great. If Hexi could become a logistics base, it would reduce the pressure on the finances of the Central Plains Dynasty.

The brilliance of the Han Dynasty lies in firmly occupying the Hexi Corridor and establishing the four counties of Hexi. Later, they joined forces with the local authorities in the Western Regions to force the Xiongnu to either flee to Mobei or surrender to the Han Dynasty.

Of course, His Majesty Li Er knew the importance of the Hexi Corridor, and the conquest of Gaochang was also the beginning of the control of the Western Regions. "Thousands of miles wide, heavy nine translations, Weide all over the four seas", is the grand ambition of His Majesty Li Er.

But when it comes to business, His Majesty Li Er couldn't help but glance at Li Jing, and then he was thoughtful. Occupation and management are obviously not exactly the same concept.

"When it comes to business, Xu Cheng of Dayingku is a leader, and few people can match it." Hou Junji, who was on the other side, followed two steps, half a step behind Ma Feng, and suddenly interjected.

His Majesty Li Er was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, and said, "There are still differences between business operations and business places. Qi Lin is still young and has no experience in governing local areas, so he may not be able to shoulder heavy responsibilities. ”

As he spoke, His Majesty Li Er glanced at Li Jing imperceptibly, wanting to hear how he judged.

But as soon as Hou Junji spoke, Li Jing immediately lowered his eyes and lowered his head, as if he hadn't heard it, and was silent.

Li Jing and Hou Junji have a grudge, you said that he was ordered to teach Hou Junji the art of war, but Hou Junji sued him to rebel, and no one has to be angry.

Moreover, Li Jing also asserted that Hou Jun would assemble to rebel. Although he only said it when he played alone with His Majesty Li Er, it can also be seen that he has a very bad impression of Hou Junji.

Hou Junji heard His Majesty Li Er say this, and immediately nodded in agreement: "What Your Majesty said is reasonable, this business and governance are still very different, and Weichen is not thoughtful. ”

His Majesty Li Er smiled slightly, but did not comment on this.

Li Jing, who pretended to be deaf and dumb, said: "Xu Cheng is very good at running business, and he also knows how to benefit the people when reforming the government. Weichen thinks that Xu Cheng may not have no ideas and methods for governing the government. ”

His Majesty Li Er was a little surprised, but he felt that Li Jing was deliberately going against Hou Junji, but he was not supporting Xu Qilin.

"Qi Lin is smarter than ordinary people." His Majesty Li Er didn't want the two to continue to fight each other, so he smiled and came to a conclusion, "Regarding the management of Hexi, wait for me to let him play, but there is any way to achieve quick results." ”

Hearing His Majesty say this, both of them were silent. When I looked up, I could already see the flag standing at the exercise site.

Everyone got closer, and Qianniuwei had already stepped forward to greet them. But the venue doesn't seem to be ready yet, and people are busy coming and going.

"Why aren't you ready?" His Majesty Li Er was a little displeased and asked.

Wang Fangyi, as the leader of the guards sent this time, hurriedly bowed down and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, the wind direction has changed today, and Xu Cheng is afraid that the dust raised will be blown by the wind to the observation post set up a few days ago, and he is about to rebuild. ”

"I see." His Majesty Li Er smiled with relief and said, "This is really an unforeseen situation, but it has caused a problem for Qi Lin. ”

After a pause, His Majesty Li Er continued: "Go and tell Qi Lin that you don't have to be busy anymore." It's just some wind-blown dust, can it be more powerful than when I rushed into battle? ”

Wang Fangyi bowed down to receive the order and rushed over to inform Xu Qilin.

Not long after, Xu Qilin came to greet him, and pretended to ask His Majesty Li Er for his inconsiderate guilt.

His Majesty Li Er waved his hand magnanimously, disappreciating, and ordered Xu Qilin to lead in front and take a few veterans and personal guards to the observation post.

There are tables and chairs, an iron stove that is burning hot, and a covered platform that has been erected, so you can have a wide field of vision and an unobstructed view of the exercise.

Xu Qilin invited His Majesty Li Er and all the veterans to sit down and ordered someone to serve tea.

"Let's get started when you're ready!" His Majesty Li Er took out the telescope, which was much more advanced than the one Xu Qilin sent earlier, and the material seemed to be golden.

Xu Qilin resisted the urge to go up and take a bite, took out the drawings he had drawn and gave them to His Majesty, and pointed out and explained.

His Majesty Li Er looked carefully, and the drawings were also vividly drawn, a tunnel was dug under the city wall, and then 800 catties of gunpowder were filled, and when the fire was ignited, the gunpowder would overturn the city wall.

Uh-huh! His Majesty Li Er nodded, probably understood, handed the drawings to Li Jing again, turned his head to Xu Qilin and said, "The exercise can begin." ”

Xu Qilin immediately ordered someone to give an order, evacuate the personnel, and prepare for the ignition.

The training ground gradually fell silent, and the idlers and others had already left everyone's field of vision, only the section of the city wall was in the distance.

Time passed minute by minute, and His Majesty Li Er picked up the teacup and drank it slowly, looking very calm and calm.

Hou Junji seemed a little impatient, and turned his head sideways to ask Xu Qilin.

"It's coming, it's coming." Xu Qilin saw the flag falling in the distance, and hurriedly reminded him.

Everyone hurriedly watched, and after waiting for about half a minute, they still didn't see any movement.

"Xu Cheng......" Cheng Biting Jin was a little strange, and as soon as he turned his head and opened his mouth, he felt that the ground under his feet suddenly shook, and then there was a loud noise, cutting off his questioning words.

Everyone looked at the city wall, but their vision was blurred, and only smoke and dust rose from it, enveloping a section of the city wall.

Most of them didn't see what was going on, and a few with a particularly good eye seemed to see the walls burst open from the inside out, and then dust rose into the air.

Everyone looked up at the column of smoke heading upward. After a while, a rain of dirt fell near the blasting site, and a large amount of dust drifted in the wind, even to the observation post.

There was a sound of getting up and banging on the tables and chairs, and a few coughs, and the people in the observation center raised their sleeves to cover them, but there was still dust on their heads and bodies.

His Majesty Li Er also stood up, but he was holding a telescope, and everyone also turned their eyes to the explosion site that was gradually becoming clearer.

The city wall had been blown open with a large gap with jagged edges, and most of the smoke and dust had dispersed, and broken bricks, rubble, and clods of earth were scattered all over the ground, and the scene was in shambles.

The wind blew not only dust, but also the choking smell of gunpowder, which made people's throats dry and coughing from time to time.

"In a moment, the city was broken. Well, it can also kill and injure a lot of enemies defending the city. Li Jing's eyes lit up, and he could see the fate of the city wall clearly without binoculars.

Hou Junji swallowed dryly, and was also startled by the explosion that shook the earth.

"Not bad, not bad." Cheng Biting Jin was holding a head of dust, but he didn't care, and grinned: "This is earth-shattering, the enemy is not killed, but also stunned." ”

Li Tao was a little excited, took two steps forward, and asked Xu Qilin again: "It won't ring again, the old man wants to take a closer look." ”

Xu Qilin hurriedly said: "Guogong, wait a minute, the exercise is not over yet." ”

His Majesty Li Er turned around and asked, "What's the matter, do you want me and Zhongqing to eat the soil again?" ”

Having said that, it can be seen that His Majesty Li Er is happy in his heart and is quite satisfied with this blasting exercise.

Xu Qilin smiled and said, "Weichen's mistake, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." ”

After a pause, Xu Qilin continued: "Although this tunnel blasting can break the city in one fell swoop, it also has its limitations. There are certain requirements for soil quality, groundwater and so on. Therefore, Wechen also improved the trebuchet to use to destroy the city wall. ”

"Then continue the exercise." His Majesty Li Er glanced at Xu Qilin with a smile, full of appreciation.

Xu Qilin gave the order again, and everyone turned their attention to the rather large trebuchet.

Wang Fangyi personally commanded, and adjusted the distance slightly. The counterweight sandbox and stone projectiles have been loaded, but the wind direction has changed.

With a thud, a large-shouldered and round-waisted guard smashed the iron hook with a sledgehammer, and the counterweight sandbox slammed down, and the long pole bounced up with a grenadier belt, and the stone bullet arced in the air and flew towards the city wall.

Boom, the stone bullet smashed into the middle and upper part of the city wall, making a heavy sound and bursting up a cloud of smoke and dust.

Xu Qilin served as the narrator and introduced: "This improved trebuchet can throw 130 catties of stones out of more than 150 steps, and the damage to the city wall is quite large. ”

The people present were all veterans, including His Majesty Li Er, who also knew a little about trebuchets. One hundred and thirty catties, more than one hundred and fifty steps, when I heard this number, I almost knew that its power had increased a lot compared to the original.

"A big stone of more than 100 catties-" Cheng Biting Jin nodded again and again, and said: "Just smash it like this, it won't take long for the city wall to be destroyed." ”

"It's amazing, too." Li Tao said: "It may not be necessary to smash the city wall, and the defending enemy will already lose heart. ”

Li Jing stroked his beard and jaw, and looked at Xu Qilin's gaze was very complicated. Because of the improvement of the blasting technique and trebuchet, I am afraid that the military book he wrote will also have to be changed, added or deleted.

As they spoke, the trebuchets on the other side reloaded, fired, and smashed stones at the walls. With the counterweight sandbox, this trebuchet, which is twice as powerful as the original, requires no more than forty people to operate.

In the midst of the incessant roar, the walls were broken, and a small part of the wall was smashed, but the trebuchet stopped.

"Why don't you smash it?" Hou Junji looked puzzled, everyone was looking at it, and no one gave an order, so he stopped.

Xu Qilin blinked his eyes and said apologetically: "Stone, stone is gone." ”

His Majesty Li Er put down the binoculars, rolled his eyes at Xu Qilin, and teased: "The stones are reluctant to prepare more, and you are also frugal enough." ”

Xu Qilin smiled, scratched his head and said, "There is another demonstration next, throwing gunpowder shells, please watch it." ”

His Majesty Li Er snorted and turned his head again.

The trebuchet turned around, and although it had wooden wheels, it was nailed to the ground with a stake when it was fired, and it was quite difficult to move.

The crowd had already seen straw men and wooden men in the distance, and guessed that they were going to use trebuchets to throw stones to smash them, especially against the enemy's cavalry or infantry.

Due to the short range, complex launch, and slow speed of the manpower trebuchet, it was basically unused in field combat. Xu Qilin's trick looks fresh.

It can also be seen from here that Xu Qilin's military knowledge is limited, and he only relies on his own imagination, or it is taken for granted. Everyone smiled slightly, thinking that although it was not practical, it would be okay to look at it.

After a long time, Wang Fangyi finally commanded the staff to adjust and load more than a dozen gunpowder shells made of iron sheets into the grenade belt.

The soldier with a large waist spat in his hand, clenched the hammer, and waited for an order.

There were also a few soldiers holding waist knives in their hands, and once the iron hook failed to fire, they used their knives to cut the ropes, so that the gunpowder bullets would not be thrown and would explode on the spot.