Chapter 178 The Burned Jade Yue

If it is said that the control of the Yangtze River waterway is an important factor in determining the battlefield in the south of the Yangtze River. Then the Pacific waterway will be the most important factor in this contest.

At this time, Jiangnan was not the Jiangnan of later generations, and neither the population nor the economy, including infrastructure, could be compared with later generations. The three hundred years of operation of the Southern Dynasty had just shown signs of prosperity, but as a result, it came to naught in the rebellion of Sun En, Hou Jing and the end of the Sui Dynasty. What Li Shimin occupied was just a thatched house built on the ruins.

The high-rise buildings are only in the north, and Jiangnan cannot support the supply consumption of Li Shimin's army of more than 2 million, and cannot feed Li Shimin's more than 8,000 war elephants and more than 30,000 rhinoceros, all of which require Li Shimin to transfuse blood from the Fusang mainland to the Central Plains.

Li Shimin is naturally not a fool, he can easily think of where the disappeared Tang Navy went. The Tang Navy, which had just annexed Li Shimin's huge ocean-going transport fleet, must have gone to the long route of the Pacific Ocean to ambush at some point.

It's just a pity that Li Shimin can't turn back, let alone modify this ending.

Because of the different emphases of the two sides, the Datang Navy and the Fuso Ocean Fleet adopted two completely different strategies. Under the leadership of Li Jing, the Tang Navy focused on naval warfare, so the Wuya battleships built were significantly different from the Wuya warships invented during the Sui Dynasty.

The five-tooth ship invented in the Sui Dynasty, "five-tooth" actually refers to the fact that the warship has a five-story structure and is more than 100 feet high. Six racket rods are set up on the left and right, front and back, and are fifty feet high. Each mast is topped with a boulder, and a roller is set underneath, so that during battle and when an enemy ship is approaching, you can quickly use the roller to lower the boulder and smash the enemy ship. If you miss a hit, you can quickly put it away and put it away. If the enemy ships are surrounded on all sides, they can also "use six prongs at the same time," and their combat effectiveness can be seen.

However, the Wuya Ship is still a traditional Chinese architectural style, which is no different from the Lou Ship. The rectangular structure, despite its height, does not have strong resistance to wind and waves, and the control is very average. However, although the five-tooth battleship is also a five-story building, the upper deck has been lowered, the pointed structure has been added, and the keel has been added to make the entire hull more fluid. Moreover, the whole ship canceled the clap stick structure and replaced it with an eight-bull crossbow or stone cannon as the main long-range offensive means.

However, in order to pursue carrying capacity, Li Shimin sacrificed flexible handling and speed, even in the case of a favorable wind in the same direction, the speed of the ocean-going transport ship is slower than that of the Wuya battleship of the Tang Navy, although it is not too much, about one or two percent less. However, in naval battles, this is very deadly.

At this time, Li Shimin's ocean-going fleet will be very embarrassed when facing the Tang Navy. You can't beat it, you can't run away.

In the endless Pacific Ocean, there is a very inconspicuous island. However, on the ocean route from the Central Plains to the mainland of Fuso, this small island is very important.

This small island is known as Midway. Originally, this was a coral island with no fresh water, so there was no value in replenishing fresh water at all. However, Li Shimin transported a lot of materials back and forth, and it was impossible to use the limited carrying capacity to transport fresh water, and besides, there was still a certain shelf life in fresh water.

Midway was transformed into an island with fresh water by clever craftsmen, of course, this fresh water is still limited, and the rainwater in the Pacific Ocean is still abundant, and a cistern built with tiles to collect rainwater can replenish some of the fresh water.

Three months ago, the Datang Navy arrived at Midway Island and ambushed the Fuso Ocean Fleet on the ocean-going route. The ocean-going fleet numbered more than 6,000 ships, but it was divided into hundreds of sub-fleets. Each detachment consisted of dozens or hundreds of ocean-going transport ships, and not only did not have specialized naval personnel, but also did not have an escort fleet.

In these three months of fighting, the Datang Navy can be said to have been out of the limelight.

They disguised themselves as the Fuso ocean-going fleet, and under the banner of needing rescue, they quietly approached, and made unexpected sorties, destroying dozens of detachments of the ocean-going fleet one after another, and their own losses were insignificant.

The war thousands of miles away was too far away for Chang'an, so far away that it seemed to take place in another time and space, and it had nothing to do with him.

In the court of Chang'an, the people, Shilin, and even all the channels could not find a single bit of news about this war, and Datang did not seem to have built more than 400 Wuya warships, as well as more than 1,000 subsequent warships.

As if it hadn't happened at all. How should the people live or how to live, drink wine, dance and dance, everything is as usual.

There are only a very small number of people who are nervously following this war and everything that is happening there, of course, this circle is too small, and the identities of the people in this circle are too special, and it is difficult to have anything to do with the common people, everyone is busy with their own affairs.

The common people only knew that every once in a while, the imperial court in Chang'an would recruit some soldiers and send them to the Jianghuai battlefield, and they didn't know when they would come back. Tens of thousands of soldiers rushed to the battlefield with high spirits, never returning.

There were some sensationalist guys who criticized the policies of the imperial court with a heavy face on social occasions, and tearfully called on the imperial court to stop this stupid behavior of letting the young people of the Tang Dynasty bleed, and they once made a lot of waves, but soon disappeared.

is the most complete disappearance, and not even a single hair can be found.

In major matters related to the fate of the Tang Dynasty, there is no democracy to talk about, and all those who jump out and sing the opposite tune have evaporated from the world.

When he didn't receive a supply ship for three months, Li Shimin already realized that something was wrong.

He now has no choice but to take advantage of the fact that the materials in stock are still sufficient, and launch a fierce attack on Datang's Jianghuai defense line.

In an instant, the world was full of wolf smoke, from the northern battlefields of Yun, Dai, Yi, and Shuo, to Xiashule, Geluoling, Kunlun Mountain, Jiannan Road, and along the Jianghuai River, there were battles almost everywhere.

In this flash, a year has passed.

In this year, Li Xiuning successfully gave birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix fetuses for Chen Ying. Even when she was less than a month, Li Xiuning threw this pair of full-moon children to Xu Erniang to take care of, and she and Li Daozhen lived in the military camp.

Li Daozhen finally made a decision when Li Siye was sixteen years old. Returned Li Siye to the Chen family and changed his name to Chen Jiye. And Li Xiuning wrote to Li Jiancheng, asking for the title of Chen Jiye and inheriting the title of Duke of Liang.

Chen Qian also inherited his father's business, moved to Anxi, became the king of Anxi, and with the help of Chen Ying's old department, he defended the northwest frontier for the Tang Dynasty.

Although Li Shimin tried his best to storm the defense line of the Huaihe River in the Tang Dynasty regardless of casualties, Chen Ying commanded the officers and men of the Tang Army and did not give up an inch of land.

The war directly catalyzed the development of science and technology in Datang. Artillery, mines, rockets and even steam airships have appeared one after another, and Datang's war mode has slowly moved from the era of cold weapons to hot weapons.

The beacon fire lasted for three months, and the family letter was worth 10,000 dollars.

Li Xiuning, who was in Chang'an, finally received Chen Ying's letter.

Looking at the familiar and cordial handwriting, Li Xiuning was already in tears.

Xiuning's wife saw the words like a meeting:

Since you married me with red makeup, I don't realize that it has been nearly 16 years, and I have lost a lot of money in the past 16 years, and I look back at it and realize that the most sorry person in this life is you.

Chen has no ambitions, and would rather live a mediocre life. However, my husband can't bear to see you fighting for the world, so he can only run around on your behalf, but he has no choice but to make you wear red makeup...... You and I have given birth to three sons, humble, humble, and prudent, and have three daughters, Ruoxi, Ruobing, and Ruoshui, which are the best gifts God has given me......

……

The war was unusually brutal, the strength of the Fuso coalition forces seemed to be endless, their officers were cunning and tenacious, and their generals were all battle-hardened, and even the slightest flaw could be caught by them at once, and then turn into a terrible disaster. The Huaihe defense line has been completely lost, we have retreated to Longkangxiang Mountain, and millions of people in Jianghuai have been transferred to Hebei.

Fortunately, Hebei is large enough to have cultivated land that is not worse than that of Jianghuai, and thanks to our Chi Road, we can use steam engines and trains to provide us with plenty of food and equipment.

Many of the Orichong Mansions have been wiped out, and my personal guard Orichong Mansion alone has been wiped out three times and rebuilt three times, and even I don't remember how many waves of my subordinates have changed.

It's really cruel, I don't dare to imagine it anymore, so many excellent soldiers, saying that they will be shot out, how can I explain to their relatives? How do I explain to their parents, brothers, sisters, children, and wives when they ask me for someone? I don't have the courage to think about it anymore.

Fortunately, Datang, a country born from the war, was not intimidated by the tragic war, our people were unwilling to become slaves of defeat, farmers worked hard, craftsmen worked diligently, farmers and industrialists, each performing its own duties, we were close to the endless resources, and made weapons and equipment for us at an astonishing speed.

……

At the time I send this letter to you, the Fuso coalition army's offensive against Xiangshan has been repelled by us, and Datang is temporarily safe.

Although the current situation is still extremely grim, I firmly believe that our persistence and sacrifice will not be in vain, and the people's yearning for peace is impossible to be destroyed, as long as we do not give up, victory will definitely belong to us!

After reading it in one go, Li Xiuning's eyes were a little moist.

Chen Ying didn't mention the specific battle situation, but she could fully imagine how tragic the battle was and how difficult his situation was, which made her feel distressed.

At this moment, suddenly there was a sound of footsteps.

Princess Yongle, who was wearing a princess costume and running over with her little short legs, pounced on Li Xiuning.

Princess Yongle said in a milky voice: "Auntie, what kind of person is Daddy?" Why don't you keep coming back to see us? Does he want us? ”

Li Xiuning was in a trance for a while, squatted down and touched Princess Yongle's head, and said seriously: "No, your father...... It's a big hero who stands up to the sky. ”

Princess Yongle's eyes were a little confused: "When will Daddy come to see me?" Yongle will be good! ”

"Yes, soon!"

Li Xiuning suddenly saw Li Daozhen's eyes red, leaning against the window, looking desperate.

And Li Siye, who was renamed Chen Jiye, was dressed in armor and stood beside Li Daozhen with an iron face.

The smile on Li Xiuning's face slowly froze, and he realized that something was wrong.

Li Xiuning felt that something was faintly wrong, and looked at the date at the end of the letter, July Bingwu, and now it is July Jiayin, that is to say, nine days have passed.

This is simply impossible, no matter how bad Datang's efficiency is, it is impossible for a letter from the front line to be transmitted back from Xiangshan in nine days.

The corners of Li Xiuning's eyes faintly glistened with tears: "What's the matter?" ”

Li Daozhen choked up, but did not speak.

Li Xiuning walked up to Chen Jiye, looked at Chen Duanye and said seriously: "Da Lang, ......what do you say?"

Chen Jiye opened his mouth in a muttered way.

Finally, he sighed and said, "Nothing! ”

"Da Lang, look at me!" Li Xiuning's voice became sharp, and Chen Xun and Li Ruoxi came to Li Xiuning's side.

Chen Jiye suddenly couldn't control it anymore and said: "Nine days ago, my father repelled the Fusang coalition army, and then launched a counteroffensive on the whole front......"

……

Chang'an Taiji Palace.

Li Jiancheng looked at Li Anyan with a gloomy face and roared, "Have you found someone?" ”

Li Anyan shook his head and said with a bitter face: "I searched all over the Shogunate Mountain, found one thousand and forty-nine vague corpses, and found this ......"

Speaking of which, Li Anyan couldn't go on. He held a jade yue in both hands.

The jade was shattered by the fire.

Li Jiancheng looked at this jade yue and felt that the world was spinning.

Wei Zheng hurriedly stepped forward to support Li Jiancheng.

Li Jiancheng only felt a sweet throat, and a mouthful of blood spurted out......