East of Bianliang City, Ming Army Camp.

Hundreds of elite cavalry marched murderously to the camp gate, many of them with blood on their armor.

Different from the previous unimpeded, this time there were people blocking the camp gate, the first member of the military general looked at the Ming and Huang banners that had been replaced in many places in the camp, waved his hand to signal the cavalry behind him to disperse, and only brought a few personal guards to step forward, and asked the guard colonel: "Where is the lord, but he has entered Bianliang?" ”

The little colonel guarding the gate breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that no one had rushed to the camp, this was Chang Yuchun, the deputy general of the conquest, if he really wanted to rush straight, he really didn't know whether to stop it. At this time, he hurriedly clenched his fists, and said with a respectful and admiring expression: "General Hui, Your Majesty did not enter the city, and ordered the camp to be in the ......."

Before the school finished speaking, Chang Yuchun had already hurriedly mounted his horse again and galloped into the camp.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao opened his mouth, but he could only be speechless.

The general is good at everything, that is...... This temperament is too hot.

Just like a few days ago, Changyuan County, the capital of Kaizhou in the northeast of Bianliang, once again had a small rebellion, how could the deputy general who was summoned to the Bianliang battalion in advance to wait for the driver endure it, and ran to quell the rebellion in person in a hurry, so that he even missed the pick-up.

And the present......

Your Majesty, it's not in the camp, the general doesn't wait for him to finish.

Entered the barracks, and passed a few checkpoints, came to the Chinese army tent, Chang Yuchun only learned that his lord was not in the camp, and left a message, if he came back, he could go to the south of Bianliang City.

】

Chang Yuchun was going to gallop out of the camp again without stopping, but he was persuaded by the people around him, returned to his camp, took off the armor with residual blood, washed it off, and found that there was a scar on his right arm that was more than an inch long.

He took a silver brand of suitable size from the charcoal burning stove, and Chang Yuchun pressed it on his wound without hesitation.

Whew—

With a burst of meat fragrance wafting in the air, Chang Yuchun took a breath, and soon exhaled a long breath, his expression was not painful, but like pouring a jar of old wine in one breath, revealing an inexplicable sense of pleasure.

The deputy general of the conquest likes to take the lead, and the sword and gun have no eyes, and it is inevitable that there will be some injuries.

At the beginning, Chang Yuchun just felt that the scalding method sent by Jinling could really make the wound heal faster, and it would not affect him to carry a gun into battle, not to mention that it was a treatment method ordered by the lord to promote, so he also 'took the lead', and when he used it, he became addicted.

The strong have always been worshipped in the barracks.

Because of the addiction of the deputy general, the method of burning has also been quickly popularized, and whoever dare not use it because he can't stand the burning pain will immediately become the object of contempt of everyone.

The results were also immediate.

After the weather warmed up, the number of soldiers who died of injuries in the barracks should have increased, and the military doctors in the Ming army barracks already knew that it was because of the infection. And this year, although there is no comparative data, everyone can feel that since the promotion of this scalding method, as well as the small number of penicillium miracle drugs that will not be used easily, the number of deaths from injuries and diseases in the barracks must have decreased a lot.

Correspondingly, many people also know that this scalding method, as well as the miraculous penicillium miracle drug, are all the handwriting of the worldly master who shouted 'send 500 years of national glory' last year.

That man was amazing.

Not only has this kind of medical skills, but it is rumored that the sea grain route from Mingzhou to Jiaozhou has been opened in just a few months, and it is said that in recent times, the supply of food and salary in the military camp has become much more sufficient, and it is no longer as strict as before.

And the rumors don't stop there.

In the army, the higher the class, the more it seems to know, and there are even rumors of some flying gods, but these news are not easy for the low-level military schools to know.

In the barracks of the deputy general, the wounds were treated, Chang Yuchun changed into a light summer dress, did not wear armor again, and hurriedly rode out of the camp.

According to the guidance of an accompanying military academy, he came to a post in the south of Bianliang City, but was stopped again by the guards who were closely guarded around him, confirmed the identity of Chang Yuchun, and the group was able to enter.

As soon as he bypassed the earthen hill that blocked his view, Chang Yuchun saw the huge white ball floating in the sky at a glance.

Chang Yuchun knew that this was called a hot air balloon, and it was a thing offered by the little guy he hadn't seen before, and he also came to Bianliang's surveying and mapping division to explore the way north before Tu Xiao, and this thing played a great role.

It seems that after a liftoff, it also scared off the pursuing Yuan soldiers.

At that time, Chang Yuchun wanted to see it, but the lord sent an edict that before he arrived in Bianliang, this thing must be strictly kept secret.

Now, finally see.

Zhuma watched for a while, Chang Yuchun turned his head, noticed that his wife, brother Lan Yu and other people behind him had some suspicion in their expressions, and said with a smile: "Cowardice, what are you afraid of, wait for you to wait for the sky to see." ”

After saying that, the horse went in the direction of the hot air balloon floating.

When the others saw the deputy general like this, they also hurriedly followed.

Before coming to a temporary camp, after verification again, Chang Yuchun dismounted and entered the camp, and saw a group of people walking quickly to meet him from a distance, he also quickened his pace, walked closer, and immediately bowed: "Yuchun has seen the lord." ”

As soon as he paused, he felt that his body was pulled up, and he complained with Lao Zhu: "Ren Duo is polite." ”

Saying this, Lao Zhu glanced at the few people kneeling down behind him, his eyes lingered for a short time on Lan Yu, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old at the moment, and while telling them to get up too, he withdrew his gaze, pulled Chang Yuchun's arm to look at his confidant and beloved general, and said with emotion: "You and Brother Xu, these months have also been hard. ”

Chang Yuchun grinned: "The lord's words, this is my duty." ”

Xu Da, who was following aside, couldn't help but interject, and hugged his fists with trepidation: "Lord, this is the title...... I don't dare to be a minister, so I'd better change it. ”

"What to change," Lao Zhu swept around, shook his head and said: "Don't say that when you become the emperor of Laoshizi, you are going to heaven, and Ren is also a good brother of Zhu Yuanzhang." ”

Hearing Lao Zhu say this, the surrounding generals such as Xu Da, Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and Kang Maocai all resigned humbly, and Li Wenzhong, He Wenhui, Lan Yu and others, who were not of the right generation, also took the initiative to retreat a little more and handed over the conversation space to Lao Zhu and the generals.

After such an affectionate exchange of pleasantries, everyone turned back to the center of the camp.

The hot air balloon that had just floated in the air had slowly landed.

Tu Xiao, the surveying and mapping division, got down from the basket with another old Zhu guard, and saluted Lao Zhu and the others who came over.

Looking at the huge white ball that could float up again at any time after being tied up by the cable, Lao Zhu couldn't help but sigh even though he had personally received an explanation of the principle from his own baby twenty-third grandson, this is simply not something that human beings can do.

At that moment, he said to Tu Xiao: "Tu Langzhong, can you tell everyone about it again?" ”

Tu Xiao nodded and gestured: "This hot air balloon seems to be magical, but the truth can't be simpler." Just like wood floating in water, the so-called air around us also has weight. If something weighs less than air, it will float. This is the case with the hot air in a hot air balloon, which is also a gas, but because of another principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the gas is heated and expands in volume, and the same volume of hot air is lighter than the surrounding air quality, so it can float. ”

After Tu Xiao finished speaking, he felt that he was already quite shallow, but he still found that there was a half-understood puzzled expression around him.

Chang Yuchun didn't understand, and he didn't think about understanding, but he stepped forward and said to Lao Zhu eagerly: "Lord, let me go up and take a look?" ”

"Don't!" Lao Zhu immediately refused, and said with a serious expression: "This hot air balloon is very dangerous, if there is something wrong, it will fall from a height of 100 zhang, and it will be difficult for the gods to save it." In the spring, I have been persuaded many times that your reckless nature must also be changed. Let's just say that the small chaos in Changyuan recently, why do you need a big general to rush to suppress it in person? This world is about to be decided, and it is time to enjoy wealth and wealth for a few years, if there is a mistake, how is it good? ”

Although he was reprimanded in front of everyone, Chang Yuchun did not have the slightest shame and anger, he could feel Lao Zhu's sincere concern like a brother, so he could only grin, clenched his fists and said: "Lord, I can't do it." ”

Lao Zhu borrowed the question to play, still glaring at Chang Yuchun: "If you have no choice but to do so in the future, you are not allowed to charge in person again, can you remember?" ”

I can't remember!

Chang Yuchun was about to refute, but Lao Zhu had already turned to Xu Da: "Brother Xu, this matter will be handed over to you, no matter how reckless Yuchun is like Xiaoxiao, you will tie him back even if you tie him up." ”

Xu Da clenched his fists, but his expression was a little embarrassed.

This one......

It's not easy to manage.

Chang Yuchun also said with a bitter face: "Lord, I am a reckless man, if I don't let me go into battle, what else can I do?" ”

Lao Zhu said with a tense face: "Sit in command." ”

Chang Yuchun grinned again: "Lord, then I have to transfer my position as a deputy general to Lao Xu." ”

Xu Da immediately said: "If you want it in the spring, let's change it." ”

Lao Zhu: "......"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lao Zhu could only be helpless.

Persuade Chang Yuchun not to go into battle in person, on the one hand, it is sincere, and on the other hand, it is also selfish.

I really don't want Chang Yuchun to end up dying young again.

Selfishness...... I want to see if I can change the "Book of Heaven", if Chang Yuchun's fate can be changed, in the future, my daughter-in-law and eldest son can also change.

At the moment, this rammer doesn't seem to listen to persuasion.

There are still many things, so I can only put this matter down for the time being and turn back to the hot air balloon that I am looking at today.

Lao Zhu asked Tu Xiao to tell Tu Xiao in detail about the previous incident of scaring off the Yuan soldiers in the Gubeikou hot air balloon, discussing it and making a decision, this thing may be used as a 'surprise soldier', outside the capital in the future, if dozens of hot air balloons can be lifted off at the same time, it will inevitably make the defenders cold and reduce the difficulty of the Ming army's siege.

The decision was made, and Lao Zhu ordered Tu Xiao to be personally responsible on the spot, and within half a month, he would secretly make thirty hot air balloons and use them in the battle of Dadu in the future.

After talking about this matter, everyone's curiosity about the hot air balloon has not yet subsided, and they surround it again and let the hot air balloon rise again.

Chang Yuchun couldn't hold back in the end, and asked a few more times, but he still tasted what he wanted.

However, it is only allowed to be lifted into the air for a little bit.

The current hot air balloon is really primitive, for example, the most important heat source is just an iron basin, which is filled with cotton, poured oil and ignited, and during the floating process, fuel is constantly added from below through the pipe, as for the size of the flame, there is no way to control it. Therefore, both liftoff and landing are pulled up and down by cables.

If there were no cables, like the Gubeikou one, you would have to wait for the fuel to burn out, and the hot air balloon would gradually cool down and fall automatically.

Nine dead and alive back to Bianliang, Tu Xiao specially wrote to ask, Zhu Yuan gave another method, which is also a stupid method, to add a lid to the iron basin, if it is urgently needed, cover the iron basin, the flame will be extinguished, and the hot air balloon can gradually fall back.

It's also very simple.

Isolate oxygen.

In any case, the balloon is quite primitive, and you can imagine how dangerous it is.

However, just as Chang Yuchun is willing to risk his own attempt, Chang Yuchun is out of curiosity, but there are many other people who are willing to fight for their lives for the sake of military merit.

In this way, it was not until the evening that Lao Zhu and the first general returned to the camp.

After dinner, without waiting, Lao Zhu gathered the generals again and discussed the next strategy overnight.

Today is July 17.

Lao Zhu hopes that this battle, as it has done before, can also end in August.

The main thing is that in autumn, the north wind is gradually rising, and the sea transportation will no longer be so smooth, and when the time comes, more than 300,000 Northern Expeditionary troops will gather on the front line, and they may have to face the problem of grain and grass. In addition, if the battle can be concluded in August, it will happen that the autumn harvest will not be delayed, which is also a major national event.

The primary strategic goal has been determined, to the father and son of the Emperor Zheng.

In the evening, we discussed how to implement it.

Referring to the many opinions given by his own baby twenty-third grandson before, and then standing in front of the sand table made by Tu Xiao according to someone's suggestion in the near future, he discussed until late at night, and Lao Zhu confirmed a little more.

Four words: go to the army and strategize.

The key to the whole thing is not to let Emperor Zhizheng's father and son run away in advance, which requires some suspicious tactics.

Lao Zhu plans to give a few illusions first.

The first illusion is that Lao Zhu is very satisfied with the results of this Northern Expedition, so he is a little reluctant to forge ahead, and next, he will reward the whole army with great fanfare.

The second illusion, the next direction of the expedition, Lao Zhu intends to continue to the west, one is Wang Baobao in Taiyuan, the other is Li Siqi and other troops in Guanzhong, so there will be a tentative attack in the near future.

The third illusion is that the north still has to use soldiers, but the strength must be small, and it must be appropriate to defeat a few battles, so that Emperor Zhizheng's father and son feel that most of them can actually be defended.

As for the real route of march.

At the same time as the sheep attack on the western front, the army must advance to Cangzhou first.

Cangzhou is still 400 miles away from Dadu, and if the cavalry forcibly rushes at any cost, it may be able to travel 300 miles in a day and night, so maintaining a distance of 400 miles can give Emperor Zhizheng and his son a sense of security. Then, stop.

Then, the darkness is Chencang.

Another army, Lao Zhu planned to let Chang Yuchun lead it down the northern line of the Yellow River, join Wu Zhen's department, which had successfully arrived in Laizhou, raid Zhigu by boat, and go straight to the various passes in the north of the capital after landing, and implement the plan of 'closing the door'.

The north was successfully closed, and the Cangzhou army advanced rapidly.

The cavalry can reach the outside of the capital within two days, and the infantry army can be pushed under the capital for up to five days to complete the encirclement.

In the end, Lao Zhu had already tried a trick in Jinling to blow up the city wall. This is the most convenient way to avoid the Battle of Dadu from becoming another 'Pingjiang Lockdown'.

is also the strategy given by Zhu Yuan.

Lao Zhu didn't believe that gunpowder could have that kind of power at first, and after seeing several tests with his own eyes, he had to approve it.

At the same time, it brought a side effect, for the construction of the Jinling city wall, Lao Zhu did not have much heart, only felt that a new era that made people even a little uneasy was rolling in.