Chapter 404: We're going to dismantle your cannons

Early October.

At the mouth of the Yalu River, on top of a battleship.

Shang Kexi stood alone on the deck, looking at the sea stupidly. The early winter breeze was already a little cold, but he was unconscious. If you look at it from a distance, this is a young man who is quite tall in the wind, but if you can walk in, you will find that this young man is crying incessantly, letting the tears fall uncontrollably, but he doesn't wipe them with his hands, and he doesn't whimper, only silently crying, his chest has already been wet, if you only look at the back, this is a young, promising young officer, if you can stand on the opposite side of him, you will find his tears, but obviously, no one can stand on the opposite side of him, The tall young man clung to the railing, and in front of him was the endless sea.

"Yuanji, Yuanji......" In the distance was Lei Dayong's shout. woke up Shang Kexi, who was crying alone

Shang Kexi turned his head and realized that it was Lei Dayong who greeted him again, and immediately walked over quickly.

"Useful, Peter, you're finally here, fast into the captain's room, the latest secret letter from the General Staff." Shang Kexi hurriedly said, and didn't wipe the tears on his face.

"Okay, we received your express report, ended the exploration to the upstream, and came back on purpose." Lei Dayong said, and found that there seemed to be a watermark on his partner's face, which looked like tears, and then looked at the placket of the shirt, there were also traces of infiltration.

"Yuanji, what are you?" Lei Dayong asked curiously, this Shang Kexi is a person who has been on the battlefield and experienced death, and he will never cry in ordinary things, let alone wet his clothes, which is too exaggerated.

Shang Kexi looked at his clothes and said with a smile: "Hehe, it's okay, I blew the wind alone just now, maybe it was wet from the waves, let's go, let's discuss the matter of the secret letter...... Shang Kexi said indifferently, and then took the lead towards the captain's room.

Although Lei Dayong was a little puzzled, he was relieved when he heard such an explanation, there is not much else on this sea, but there is a lot of water, if it can be kept dry all day long, it is a rare thing.

After entering the captain's room, Shang Kexi took out a secret letter and said: "This is a secret letter from the General Staff, with His Majesty's latest instructions, and it has a lot to do with the rescue of Zhenjiang Fort, you can take a look first." After speaking, Shang Kexi handed the secret letter to Lei Dayong.

Lei Dayong glanced at the secret letter, it was indeed an urgent secret letter from the General Staff, the seal on it had been opened, it should be Shang Kexi who had seen it, he and Shang Kexi were both "Qin Missions" sent by the emperor, and Shang Kexi also had the right to open this kind of secret letter.

Lei Dayong took out the secret letter, opened it and looked at it, vaguely, as if he also found that the paper seemed to be a little wet, with two shallow water droplets on it, Lei Dayong looked at Shang Kexi suspiciously, and saw that Shang Kexi was silent, Lei Dayong looked at it seriously.

The more he looked, the more Lei Dayong's brows wrinkled, and when he saw the back, he stretched his brows slightly.

"What instructions does Your Majesty have?" When Peter saw that Lei Dayong had finished reading the letter, he immediately asked.

Lei Dayong handed the secret letter to Peter, and Peter read it.

"Whoa...... Twenty more cannons? 80,000 grenades? Oh my God......, 10,000 sets of cotton clothes, 10,000 quilts, Your Majesty is really too generous, my dear Lei, Shang, I have never seen such a generous emperor, with so many weapons and supplies, there will be no suspense to defend Zhenjiang Fort...... we are going to win, oh, oh, oh, look, look, why are you so sad? Isn't that a good thing? When Peter had read the letter, he immediately cried out with joy.

Lei Dayong said: "It's indeed a good thing that there are so many supplies, but how to transport them?" Lei Dayong asked.

"Your Majesty mentioned in the letter that the Tartars are likely to have some preparations for our reinforcements, and it is impossible to say what will be done to prevent us from going to the battlefield, this is the trouble, we have no idea how the Tartars are prepared to deal with us, once we can't transport these things to Zhenjiang Fort in time, Zhenjiang Fort will probably not be able to ......defend it in April next year," Shang Kexi said.

This time, the emperor mentioned in the letter that since the Tartars could seal the river with artillery, it was likely that reinforcements from the downstream were expected, so it could not be expected that as soon as the fleet appeared, the Tartars would be scared away, and they would have to plan for the worst, and even be prepared for the worst if the Tartars had already known that there were warship reinforcements downstream, and they had to plan for the worst and consider the worst for everything. ,

"In my opinion, since Your Majesty has asked us to prepare for the worst, let us give up the illusion that the whole war will end as soon as the fleet appears on the battlefield, then we must be prepared for a protracted war, the flood season of the Great Worm River is likely to be extremely short, and it depends on when it rains, if we miss the final flood season, it is likely that there will be no more chance......" Shang Kexi added.

"Yes, it seems that the day Your Majesty's supplies arrive will be when we attack," Lei Dayong frowned and said solemnly.

In the captain's room, there was silence.

Shang Kexi has already recovered from the state of tears earlier, the reason why he is crying is because of the emperor's supply list, this supply list, is too rich, so rich that it makes people cry, who is good to whom, not only with the mouth to say, who cares about it, who does his best to whom, it is not a few words that can be said.

"Peter, you have the most experience, what do you think?" Shang Kexi suddenly spoke.

"Me? Well, I'll start with the flood season, and Ray and I have been running around a lot of places these days to observe the hydrology......" Peter said, coming to the edge of the map.

"From Phi Dao, there is no problem in entering the Yalu River from here, even if it is our flagship, there is no problem, however, we can only sail through this place, this place called Linjiang Village, from the mouth of the sea to this place, the water depth is no problem, even if it does not rain, our warships can still walk, but further up here, the river becomes shallower, sharper, and narrower, so our troubles come from the distance from Linjiang Village to Zhenjiang Fort, this distance, about fifteen miles, this distance, We can only take advantage of the flood season, take the opportunity of the rising water, take a risk, and our flagship cannot go up yet, only a few small battleships, so our actual firepower is weakened a lot, and only about sixty guns can go up......," Peter said seriously, pointing to the map.

"We also have the water battalion, and the water battalion has a lot of warships suitable for inland navigation, although their artillery is not good, but we can install the artillery supported by His Majesty on those warships, so that we can have more artillery...... His Majesty has reinforced forty cannons in Zhenjiang Fort this time, in addition to the eight Hongyi cannons that are too heavy to load, there are also thirty-two thousand catties of Franc machines, if we can install all the jacks of Franc machines on those ships, then our artillery will rise to more than one hundred, so that our firepower will be much stronger......" Shang Kexi interrupted Peter's words, and added, for the children who supported Mao Wenlong, Zhenjiang Fort, and Dongjiang Town, Shang Kexi was more anxious than Lei Dayong and Peter, and heard Peter calculate the artillery that could reach the battlefieldand make an immediate addition.

Lei Dayong listened to Shang Kexi's words and nodded, although this batch of cannons is to support the entry into Zhenjiang Fort, but it is also possible to temporarily put them together and install them on those water camp warships in Dongjiang Town to increase the number of artillery, after all, there are not enough cannons to suppress, and it is too difficult to supplement Dongjiang Town.

"This is okay, since our artillery has been weakened greatly, then, we have to find a way to increase the number of cannons, when the time comes, Yuanji, first load these cannons on the battleships in Dongjiang Town, and wait for those materials to be almost transported, and then dismantle the cannons and send them to Zhenjiang Fort, so that both ends will not miss things......" Lei Dayong supported Shang Kexi on this issue, although there was a little misappropriation and risk in it.

Shang Kexi nodded gratefully to Lei Dayong. If you can only go up to four Yiren warships, then, the number of artillery is only sixty, and there are only thirty cannons on one side, which is not enough to form an overwhelming suppression of the Tartars, if you can't let the Tartars can't get aside, then it is undoubtedly very dangerous to transport supplies into it, Dongjiang Town itself has water camps, but the cannons on these water camps are pitiful, generally only one or two small cannons are installed on the façade, and the others are not enough to be described as "cannons".

"Very good, in this way, we will have more than a hundred cannons, and at most more than fifty cannons can fire at a time, artillery of this scale is enough to block a passage, not to mention, Zhenjiang Fort is very close to the river, only less than a mile away, and there are cannons on the city wall and the hill to support us, so it should be no problem to open the passage." Now, it's up to you, landing and transporting supplies......" Peter said hello when he heard Shang Keg's words, and then went on to say his plan. ,

"Landing and transporting supplies, this, I have no problem in Dongjiang Town, even if I die, everyone will send things in, everyone can rest assured, my Dongjiang man, no one is a bad ......" Shang Kexi said without hesitation.

"Very good, after talking about the waterway and supplies, then, let's talk about the flood season, after all, we can only go up during the flood season, if there is no water, even if we have two hundred cannons on our battleship, it will not help, right?" Peter said very seriously.

"Yes, Peter, you have the most experience, what do you think of the flood season?" Lei Dayong asked suspiciously, things like the flood season and hydrology are far beyond the scope of Lei Dayong's knowledge, even if they have been strengthened a lot in the new army, but this knowledge is still pale and powerful, so he didn't pretend, and immediately asked Peter, after all, the emperor also told them to learn things from the Yiren.

"Hehe, I'm sorry, I can't do anything about this, although I know some, but I'm not a professional yet, this war is related to our victory, so I can't be so hasty......" Peter looked like I wasn't an expert.

"You ......" Lei Da was angry, didn't His Majesty ask us to learn things from this Yiren? Why don't this Yi people even understand this?

"Ray, don't lose your temper, this kind of professional problem, we have to consult professionals, it just so happens that Captain Rickards is a professional in this area, hehe, Ray, don't be angry, people can't understand everything, it doesn't matter if you don't understand, as long as you can find someone who understands and find a solution...... Peter said with a smile.

"You ......" Lei Dayong was half angry.

"Okay, wait a minute, two, I'll ask and come, you know, sailing on the sea, is quite sensitive to the weather, this is the knowledge that every captain must have, or every ship must have this kind of professional, you can rest assured, I will not let you down, you know, people who don't understand are fed fish, and they can't get to the east at all,...... Hahaha," Peter said, confidently walking out of the room.

Lei Da was angry for a while, and soon settled down, Peter is right, this kind of thing, you must be cautious, don't be blind if you don't understand, don't pretend to understand, make a mistake, there is no regret medicine to eat, think about what Peter said, it's even more right, they are people, but they cross the ocean for tens of thousands of miles, it took a year to reach the Ming Dynasty, the wind and waves encountered during the period, the bad weather encountered, by no means he can imagine, naturally is quite sensitive to the weather, naturally can understand the sky, as Peter said, people who don't understand are dead.

……

In the captain's room.

Shang Kexi pinched his fingers and lowered his head, as if he was in a fierce conflict in his heart.

Lei Dayong was looking at the map, and suddenly saw Shang Kexi's fingers pinching out green tendons, and then he looked up at Shang Kexi, and saw that Shang Kexi's eyebrows seemed to be in a fierce conflict.

"What's wrong? Motoyoshi? But uncomfortable? Lei Dayong looked at Shang Kexi and asked with concern.

"It's useful, I'm ......" is still happy to say and stop.

"What's the matter, just say, Yuanji, now we see that we are comrades-in-arms, the people who can be relied on and trusted the most, what else can't we tell me? If it's difficult, let's figure it out together......" Lei Dayong said immediately.

"Dayong, I ......, this matter, in fact, ......" Shang Kexi struggled for a long time, feeling that his requirements were too much, and he felt a little bit like an inch, for fear that he would be useful to Lei Da, or even give the emperor a bad impression.

"Say, Yuanji, there are no outsiders here, as long as I can help, I will do my best." Lei Dayong said unequivocally, now, although he is a small housekeeper, he has not even inherited his official position as Lao Tzu, but he is the emperor's cronies, but he is the identity of Qincha, Lei Dayong is confident, and general things are not difficult for him, and the emperor is standing behind him.

“…… That's the case, it's useful, I think so, since the Yiren have a few warships that can't go up, they can't get to Zhenjiang Fort, and there are many guns on these two battleships, if we lack artillery to suppress the Tartars at that time, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to transport supplies, so, I thought, is it possible to dismantle the guns on these two battleships and install them on our warships in Dongjiang Town, our warships in Dongjiang Town, although small, are suitable for inland navigation, but there are no decent cannons, if we can install these cannons on the ships of our Dongjiang Town Water Camp, Then our firepower can be increased again, and after we send the supplies in, the ship will drive down, and then send the cannons back, which will be of great use, what do you think? Shang Kexi finally said his plan. ,

Lei Dayong fell into deep thought, and dismantled the cannon on the ship......

"Yuanji, this matter should be a good thing, indeed, if these two battleships can't go up, we will suppress the fire of the Tartars, and it will become very weak, if the cannons on these two battleships are loaded on the ship of Dongjiang Zhenshui Camp, so that the ship can go to Zhenjiang Fort...... Well, okay, let's do it like this......" Lei Dayong hesitated at first, after all, this matter is a very troublesome matter, the emperor just hired this fleet, not owns this fleet, if the Yi people do not agree, it will be in vain. However, Lei Dayong quickly agreed.

"Dayong, aren't you afraid that Yiren won't agree?" Shang Kexi was a little pleased, and said with some worry.

"It's okay, since the Yiren can be hired, that is, they can settle it with silver, since that's the case, I don't think they won't agree." Lei Dayong said indifferently.

Shang Kexi was full of joy, reinforcing Zhenjiang Fort, the most difficult thing, he finally settled, how could he not be happy? Because the water level is not high, therefore, the big ship can't get up, the ship doesn't go, there is not enough cannon to suppress the Tartar, there is no cannon to suppress the Tartar, to transport supplies, it must be quite difficult, now, the matter is settled, Shang Kexi's heart, finally settled.

When Peter came back from asking about the weather, he opened the door to the captain's room and said, "Ray, Shang, there are two pieces of news, one bad news and one good news, which one do you want to hear first?" ”

"Let's talk about the bad news first, and then the good news." Lei Dayong said with no interest.

"Oh Lei, you really don't have a sense of humor, you should have a difficult choice expression, and then be in a dilemma, and then reluctantly choose one, why are you so direct?" Peter looked pity.

"All right, Peter, tell me what the hell is going on." Shang Kexi said.

"Well, well, the bad news is that the captains can't predict what the weather will be like in two weeks......" Peter rolled his eyes, helpless.

"In other words, you can't predict the weather in half a month?" Lei Dayong asked dissatisfiedly, he couldn't predict the weather, that is, he could only hit his luck, if it didn't rain in mid to late October, then the ship would not be able to go up, and then there would be no way to talk about supplies, so Zhenjiang Fort would probably not be able to hold it.

"Yes, the captains said that it is a matter of God and not of man to predict the weather in half a month's time......," Peter added.

Lei Dayong's anger is coming, he can't predict it, if according to the emperor's requirements, if he plans for the worst, then he has to prepare to supply Mao Wenlong from the land, thinking of bearing the siege of the Tartar cavalry, Lei Dayong is furious.

"Peter, what about the good news? What is it? Shang Kexi saw that the atmosphere was a little stiff, and immediately asked.

"Hehe, the good news is that the captains will definitely not rain for three days, and maybe not for a week......" Peter said with a smile, unaffected by the thunder.

"In other words, in the few days we are waiting for His Majesty's supplies, it will not rain, so good, so that the rain will not fall in vain......," Shang Kexi reacted and said.

"Well, Shang, that's what it means, according to the information you provided, there is usually rain in October in previous years, and since there has been no rain recently, then, in the second half of the month, the possibility of rain will be relatively large, that's it, this is good news......" Peter said.

After hearing this explanation, Lei Da's anger disappeared a lot.

"Peter, I also have two pieces of news, one bad news and one good news, which one do you want to hear first?" Lei Dayong extinguished his anger, remembered what he had just talked about with the monk, and also asked a rhetorical question.

Peter looked at Ray in amazement.

"Ray, when did you have two messages? Why don't I know? Ray, is this humorous? Peter asked, incredulous.

"One bad news, one good news, you better pick one." Lei Da said with a stiff face.

"Ray, I find that your sense of humor is actually still very ......, well, I choose the bad news, oh even if the bad news can't stand it, but in the end there will definitely be good news, not so much that I can't stand it too much......" Peter "pretended" said.

"The bad news is that we're going to dismantle the cannons on your two ships and convert them to our ships in the water camp......"