Chapter 196: Mortars Show Might

Princess Anping quickly fell in love with the kiln. Since Princess Anping did not reveal her identity when arranging accommodation, she pressed his entourage to another place and arranged several of their leaders in the guest room. Princess Anping had never lived in such a room, and she jumped on the sofa with joy. She has been saying that there is no such room in the palace in Kaifeng, and it is too right to fight for it this time.

After Zhang Zhimu knew the identity of Princess Anping, he came to visit the princess. Now that I know the identity of Princess Anping, there is no better place to arrange her, because this is already the best room in Yaogang.

As soon as Li Jing and the others came back, Zhang Zhimu held a meeting to study what happened in Hewan Village, and he didn't have time to see the princess. This Princess Anping is still an idle person, and she took a few entourages around the kiln. This turn made the princess even happier, because everyone she met was full of smiles, even if she met someone she didn't know, she would nod and smile as long as she met, which was a completely different feeling in the palace where most people used to nod when they saw her. Most of the people I saw before were like puppets without thoughts, but everyone here is a person with a soul. She was used to staying in the palace, and she never thought that it would be so beautiful for people to be so equal.

Since the princess went out, Zhang Zhimu didn't see the princess, so he left a message and asked the princess to meet him in his office.

Zhang Zhimu, who returned to the office, told Yang Yulin: "The task of accompanying Princess Anping during this time is entrusted to you, and you must accompany the princess well." ”

Obviously, Yang Yulin was a little disgusted, Zhang Zhimu said: "If you don't go to accompany you, you have to be accompanied by me, you are not afraid that I will be hooked up by the princess." Yang Yulin, who was angry, snorted and agreed. She still doesn't want Zhang Zhimu to be with Princess What every day.

Zhang Zhimu didn't expect that what Princess Anping told him surprised him.

The princess came to Zhang Zhimu's office with two retinues. The princess was sixteen or seventeen years old, not very tall, but she walked very lightly, and her almond eyes were very bright. The perennial palace life made her naturally look a little arrogant.

When he saw the princess, Zhang Zhimu still had to talk about the necessary etiquette, got up and saluted and said, "Meet Princess Anping!" ”

The princess also said, "No courtesy! ”

In such an environment, both of them felt that these etiquettes were a little awkward. Princess Anping, who sat down, quickly regained her nature as a naughty woman, and said, "Zhang Dongjia, is your kiln built according to the appearance of the Heavenly Palace?" ”

Zhang Zhimu also followed the words and said: "Oh, I didn't expect you to see it as soon as you arrived at the kiln, the kiln gang was built according to the appearance of the Heavenly Palace." When did you ever go to the Heavenly Palace? ”

Zhang Zhimu's words made Princess Anping laugh.

A few jokes put both of them at ease. This Princess Anping is definitely an alternative, now women are talking about not entering the door without going out, this woman who is a princess is dressed as a man, and following the team of Yaogang to experience such a risk, and she is the same as no one.

Wait for Yang Yulin to finish serving tea and quit. The princess also let her retinue withdraw.

Zhang Zhimu asked, "Princess, you are too bold." He actually followed the cavalry of the kiln gang through the wind and adventure. ”

Princess Anping said: "My father also asked me like this, I said: The people of Yaogang are not even afraid of the camp of thousands of thieves, so they just broke in and sent grain into Kaifeng. I think they can deal with a few thieves on the road. So my father agreed that I should come with them. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "What's the matter with the prince, just let someone bring a letter, why bother Her Royal Highness the princess to come in person." ”

The princess Zhengse said: "There is something that can't be said by others, my father asked me to tell Zhang Dongjia in person, and asked Zhang Dongjia to agree." ”

"Princess, please speak, as long as we can do it, we will definitely agree." Zhang Zhimu replied.

"That's right, my father said that in the first battle of Kaifeng, although the thieves did not break the city, the Kaifeng army and people have been greatly injured. If the thieves come to besiege the city again, the soldiers and civilians of Kaifeng will fight to the death, but the result is difficult to predict. I already saw last time that it was a fantasy to count on external rescuers from the imperial court. My Ming Dynasty is now taking care of itself, in fact, they don't know, so no one can take care of themselves. Princess Anping said this.

Zhang Zhimu said: "King Zhou is really high-minded, if it weren't for this, we would be able to do business as a businessman, why do we have to spend all the money to train soldiers." There is no way around it. ”

Princess Anping continued: "What my father meant was to plan ahead. First, I came to buy 100 muskets from Zhang Dongjia this time, each musket with 300 rounds of ammunition and 300 shotguns, **1,000. One more thing. Princess Anping lowered her voice and said, "One of my younger brothers, who is also my father's youngest son, wants to arrange for Yaogang, please help arrange it, and we will pay all the expenses." ”

Zhang Zhimu was startled when he heard Princess Anping's words, and said, "I can promise the princess the first thing, but I am a little dissatisfied with the second thing. ”

The princess said, "My father said that the last time I saw you, I liked you very much, and he said that you are a man of both ability and virtue, and that you are a man who will become a great man." Originally, I wanted me to marry you and recruit you as a concubine, but through the King of Jin in Shanxi, I learned that you were married. That's it. ”

What Zhang Zhimu didn't expect was that when Princess Anping said these things about her marriage, it was like talking about others.

Seeing that Zhang Zhimu's expression was a little strange, Princess Anping smiled and said, "My father said that it is not safe to send my brother to Beijing, and it is the safest only to put it here with you." ”

This matter really made Zhang Zhimu embarrassed, and he couldn't immediately answer whether he agreed or disagreed. The key is to figure out what King Zhou means?

Zhang Zhimu said: "Princess Anping, this matter is too big for Yaogang, I don't dare to promise you right now." Can you let me think about it again? ”

Princess Anping said happily: "Okay, this matter is not in a hurry. But there's one more thing you have to promise me. I'm bringing all the members of my father's guard this time.,I'm going to *** soon.,Please help me train first.。 ”

Zhang Zhimu said happily this time: "I promised you this." It will be handed over to Liu Yun and them for arrangement immediately. ”

Zhang Zhimu controlled King Zhou's matter to the minimum, and only discussed it with Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He.

After Ouyang He heard Zhang Zhimu introduce this matter, he clapped his hands and laughed and said, "Providence, Henan is ours." Mr. Zhang, you haven't seen it clearly. King Zhou has already seen through it, the Ming Dynasty is already precarious, and he is pressing the treasure on you. ”

Chen Yufeng smiled and nodded, but did not speak.

After Ouyang He said it, Zhang Zhimu also understood. Fang Cai himself didn't come out in the circle, so he didn't see through. As soon as I got out of this circle, I immediately understood it. Zhang Zhimu said: "But how can he see that whoever wins and who loses, he dares to bet." ”

Ouyang He said: "When the results are out, it will not be called a bet." Only those who can see what others can't see are superior. It seems that these princes are not all wine bags and rice bags. This King of Zhou is terrible. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Now we can't say a lot of things thoroughly, so we will deal with him according to his fear that the thieves will hurt his son." What do you think? ”

Ouyang He wrote four words "incognito" in pencil to Zhang Zhimu and Chen Yufeng, and all three of them laughed.

After three days of preparation and careful planning, the revenge team of Yaogang set off.

This time, it was led by Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He personally, with Li Wei, Li Jing, Liu Chenghuang and two thousand musketeers. Liu Yun stayed at home and Yang Wei was responsible for the security of the house. Princess Anping heard that Yaogang's team was going out for revenge and wanted to follow, but Zhang Zhimu resolutely did not agree. Because the security of the princess is not child's play, and another reason is that this is the first time that the secret weapon mortar of Yaogang has made a sortie operation, and this thing must be kept absolutely secret.

The morale of the team was very high, because last time a brother was killed and more than a dozen were wounded, which made the soldiers of the kiln gang feel that they were defeated, and the proud soldiers of the kiln gang really couldn't bear to be so humiliated by the Zhuang Ding of those rich people, and the soldiers who were selected to go out were all elated, although the soldiers who were not selected were very depressed, but it was also understandable that it would not take too many people to deal with these rich people. They all silently helped their comrades prepare items for the expedition.

Li Wei's mortars were all wrapped in cloth. Outsiders can't tell what it is. The expedition was carried out in two men and two horses, so the march was very fast.

Zhang Zhimu watched the team gradually drowned in the wind and snow, although his heart was a little heavy, he still had confidence in his team. What he was more worried about was what would happen to the Qinshui road after this battle. In the future development in Shanxi, we must not ignore the southeast of Shanxi, in the previous life here the coal and steel was famous throughout the country, for Shanxi, where the food supply is insufficient, the grain and cotton reeling here is even more indispensable.

After Chen Yufeng and Zhang Zhimu said goodbye, they led the team into the wind and snow without looking back. The weather seems to be testing this team as well, as if it has to rain fire on this vengeful team, and the snow is getting heavier and heavier. Li Jing and the others, who had opened the road, had already dismounted, put on skis and opened the road in front.

Heavy snow also has the advantage of being largely unattended. People who have nothing to do these days are cats who are sheltering from the cold at home, let alone when the snow is falling.

Last time, it took Li Mao and his caravan to walk from Qinyuan to Hewan Village in nine days, but this time Chen Yufeng and the others only took more than two days to reach the front of Hewan Village. Coming to the place where he camped last time, Chen Yufeng ordered to set up camp and go down to the village. At this time, it was already the second half of the day, and everyone had hardly had a good rest along the way. Chen Yufeng ordered everyone to cook something delicious and prepare for war tomorrow.

According to the old rules, Li Jing and the others went out to investigate again. Li Jing came back after a round of reconnaissance and said: "There are almost no people in the castle who come out, and the castle is surrounded by heavy snow, and there is no trace of people's activities, and they have not yet discovered our arrival." ”

Chen Yufeng said: "Take a good rest today, and talk about it tomorrow." And not afraid of someone informing them, it is better if no one informs them. ”

The next morning, after breakfast, two hundred men were left to guard the camp, and the brigade was dispatched.

The gate of the castle in Hewan Village is facing east, and due to the need for defense, the castle built on the hill has only one gate on the east side.

According to the situation, Chen Yufeng set up his headquarters on the opposite bank of the river across the river from the castle, where he could see the castle clearly with the naked eye, and he could see the castle more clearly with glasses. A large group of men and horses were also placed on the opposite bank of the castle, Li Wei lined up 20 mortars along the river bank, and in order to prevent the people in the castle from escaping from both sides of the castle, Chen Yufeng ordered 100 musketeers to be placed on the north and south sides of the castle.

In order to cope with the support of other castles, two hundred men were sent in each direction of the upper and lower reaches of the river. Ordered them not to let anyone go until the matter of the castle was settled.

I saw that my men and horses had been arranged, but the castle was still smoky, and I didn't notice that it was surrounded by people outside. Chen Yufeng sent someone to ride to the front of the castle and shot an arrow into the castle with a "squeak", and a letter was tied to the arrow.

After a while, there was a great chaos in the castle, and the sound of bangs, gongs, and drums sounded together.

Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He looked at each other and smiled. Chen Yufeng's letter is very clear, to the effect that our caravan was troubled for no reason when it passed under your castle, but we did not care too much about you in the spirit of peace. However, on our way back, we sent you letters as a gesture of friendship, and not only did you not appreciate it, but you also shot our men innocently. This time, we are here to ask for justice from Guizhuang. We demand that the perpetrator be handed over to us and that his head be used as a tribute to our dead brother. If your village can't meet our requirements, we have to go into the village to get people ourselves.

Originally, the owner of Hewan Village was a very self-disciplined person, who got up early in the morning, as always, and moved his fists and feet in the yard, which is a habit that has been persisted for decades. Originally, it was snowing heavily, and the air in the yard after cleaning was exceptionally fresh, and the old people were in a good mood. But suddenly heard a "squeak" of arrows, the old man suddenly had an ominous feeling, the Zhuang Ding who received the arrow did not dare to be ambiguous, and immediately sent the letter to the old owner.

The old farmer understood at a glance that the people of Yaogang had come to seek revenge.

The last time his two sons shot arrows at the Kiln Gang team, they beat the Kiln Gang people away, according to their words. They told the old owner that it was the Yaogang people who attacked the Zhuangzi first, and they shot arrows to fight back. Of course, the old owner would not believe it. But it has happened, and it is useless to punish them, so I can only pray that they will not come to seek revenge.

Seeing Chen Yufeng's letter, the old owner asked his sons who rushed to hear the news: "Where is the letter sent by someone last time?" ”

After holding it for a long time, the third child trembled and said, "The letter made me burn." ”

The old farmer said, "It's burned, why is it burned?" Can the person who wrote to me attack our Zhuangzi? ”

The sons kept their heads down and didn't dare to squeak. The old farmer asked, "It is very clear that the head of the creator should be used to pay tribute to the dead brother of the family." Which of you is going? Otherwise, they will attack the city. Will all the people of the village pay for your iniquities? ”

The eldest said, "Father, you must not let your younger brothers out. Our castle has repelled two large-scale attacks by thieves, so let's hold the stockade first. ”

The old farmer stomped his feet and said, "Assemble, go to the city." ”

Several sons hurried out to defend the city with Zhuang Ding. The old boss wrote a letter and asked people to shoot out of the city.

Chen Yufeng opened the letter and saw that it was a letter written by the owner himself. It probably means that I have heard the prestige of the kiln gang for a long time, and there was a little misunderstanding last time, and I and Li Mao Gongzi of the kiln gang have been resolved, and Li Gongzi also sent a big gift to the old man on behalf of the kiln gang, and the two families have said that they will always reconcile. Unexpectedly, when the team from Yaogang went back, there was a misunderstanding, and I really didn't receive the letter written to me by Li Gongzi, which was the result of sabotage and provocation. Please ask the friends of Yaogang to withdraw from the army first, I will find out the ins and outs of the matter, and I will definitely give an explanation to the friends of Yaogang.

Chen Yufeng handed the letter to Ouyang He and said, "If you want to do this, you will send us away, you will underestimate us too much." After speaking, I wrote another letter, the general content of which was to see the face of the old owner, and give you another half an hour, if you don't hand over the people again, we will be polite. Shoot the letter into the city. There was no reply from the city.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Chen Yufeng called over to Li Wei: "Can you use cannonballs to knock down all the people in the city first?" ”

Li Wei said: "It's no problem to be so close. ”

Chen Yufeng said: "Okay, you blow up all the people in the city for me first." Then fire into the city. Don't use oil mines just yet. ”

After Li Wei went back, he personally operated the cannon to aim. When Chen Yufeng waved his hand, Li Wei sent a cannonball into the barrel, and the cannonball flew towards the castle with a strange cry of "squeak", but the cannonball came closer, and the "bang" exploded in front of the castle. Li Wei adjusted the height of the machine, and another cannonball was fired, which landed accurately on the top of the city, and the fire splashed with a "bang", and at the same time blew up several Zhuang Ding. The Zhuang Ding in the city was suddenly in chaos, and some of them were about to run down the city, but they were forced back by the leader with a knife.

Li Wei under the city measured the parameters and passed the order to the sighters of all twenty mortars. After the gunners reported that they were ready, Li Wei ordered: "Two rapid fires, fire!" ”

As a result, two shells were fired from each cannon, a total of forty shells, most of which hit the city. Nearly forty shells exploded in succession on the top of the city, and the stone city suddenly became like hell. At this scene, even Chen Yufeng, Ouyang He, and the soldiers in Yaogang who were watching the battle were dumbfounded, and they didn't expect that this seemingly inconspicuous mortar would be so powerful.

Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He glanced at each other after watching the shelling. At this time, only the two of them understood that the pattern of warfare in the future would be greatly changed. This also means that the ability of the kiln gang to tackle tough problems has undergone qualitative changes.

At this time, the wounded who had not died out of the city, "squeaked and shouted, and there was no one for a long time. Those Zhuang Ding, who were lucky to be alive, had never seen such a style of play, and they had long since disappeared. ”

After Li Wei finished shooting at the head of the city, he ordered to shoot freely into the city, firing four shots in a row.

Eighty shells all fell into the castle with a whistling sound.

Smoke began to billowing from the explosion in the castle, which was not large for a while, especially when mortar shells passed through the air, and the whistle sound added to the terrifying atmosphere.

This castle, which once repelled the attacks of tens of thousands of thieves twice in a row, was like a lamb to the slaughter in front of the kiln people.

The people in the castle had never been hit like this, and all men, women, and children felt like they had reached the end of the world, crying for their fathers and mothers.

Chen Yufeng faced the direction of the castle with thick smoke and didn't say a word.

When the fireworks in the castle had subsided a little, Chen Yufeng ordered a letter of persuasion to be fired, warning them not to send the prisoners out, and a bigger blow was yet to come. After reading Chen Yufeng's letter, the old owner in the castle looked at his sons who were trembling with fright, and felt very conflicted. He knew that the fault was on his side, and the revenge of others was coming, which was beyond reproach. But if his son is sent out, he will surely die, and if he does not send it out, the whole village will suffer with him. Now I don't know how many people paid with their lives for the stupidity of their sons.

Now, if you grit your teeth and stand up, maybe the kiln people will stop when they are angry; Maybe don't come to the castle to support Riverbend Village, and the situation will change. At this point, it is often difficult to make the right choice.

Chen Yufeng waited for a while, and seeing that there was no reply from the castle, he ordered Li Wei to fire two more fire shells from each cannon after each cannon.

In this way, Li Wei's mortars began to exert their power again. After a violent explosion, followed by a loud explosion, the oil mine is filled with a large filling and thin skin, in order to fill more oil oil, there is very little **, and it can only blow up the shell, so the explosion sound should be smaller.

But from outside the city, the fire in the castle quickly burned, and the smoke billowed out, and the situation was even more miserable. Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He were no longer watching from the front, and they came to a simple tent set up together.

After Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He sat down together, Chen Yufeng asked, "Mr. Ouyang, do you think they can survive this round of fire and oil cannons?" ”

Ouyang He said: "Don't worry, their last hope is not shattered and they will not admit defeat." ”

Chen Yufeng said: "You mean they are waiting for foreign aid? ”

Ouyang He nodded.

As he spoke, fierce gunfire and explosions rang out in the upper reaches of the river.

Li Wei came in and said, "There is a fight upstream. ”

Chen Yufeng: "You bring ten cannons over to support it, just run away." ”

Li Wei almost didn't jump up with joy, but now he knew the power of the mortar in his hand.

Li Wei returned to his artillery team, picked out ten cannons by name, disassembled the cannons, tied them to horses, and ran upstream.

When Li Wei and the others arrived, the two hundred people defending had already repelled an attack of reinforcements. Li Wei saw that there was a dead enemy in front of the battle, and asked, "How is it, do you have any casualties?" ”

The leader of the team said: "If there are any more casualties against these Zhuang Ding with sticks, our musketeers will be disgraced and thrown home." The cannon over there is a lot of noise, is it fun this time? ”

Li Wei said: "It's good that there are no casualties, we have fought enough on our side, and this coming back here will open your eyes." ”

At this time, the retreating Zhuang Ding, driven by their leader, rushed up from the river and the river bank. After Li Wei lined up the mortars, he ordered "free fire, two bursts of fire." ”

These gunners, skillfully aiming and loading, began to shoot, and this time a total of twenty shells were fired, and these shells fell into the charging crowd, and each shell blew up several charging Zhuang Ding. Zhuang Ding, who was not killed by the explosion next to him, quickly collapsed when he saw the fragmented corpses that were blown away. Then he fled backwards without a life, and for a moment there was no shadow to be seen.

Li Wei said: "If there are any more people left, you can play by yourself." I went back. ”

The 200 musketeers led the team and said, "I have opened my eyes this time, this mortar is a good thing." But if you blow it up like this, we'll still get a fight. It's long gone. ”

Li Wei and the others laughed and quickly dismantled the mortar, tied it to the horse, and then ran quickly towards the main position. They were all afraid of missing the opportunity to attack the castle.

As soon as Li Wei and the others returned to their positions, they found that the gate of the castle had been opened and the drawbridge had been lowered. A man came out of the castle.

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