In the yard, Zhu Wenkui tried to load another gun and handed it to the car in front. He also helped to pass over a bag of gunpowder and asked the people in front to reload the artillery. Captain Jeska, who was in the car, took it cautiously and told him that it was enough. Zhu Wenkui sat on the ground, holding the musket, and took a breath.

Jeanne climbed up from behind the pile of debris next to her and looked at him.

"Brother, can you still hold on?" She asked, "I'll help you pretend." ”

"Why did you come here again?" Zhu Wenkui subconsciously went to catch her up: "Go to the house and hide with your mother." ”

"This yard is so big, what else can you hide, don't comfort yourself." Xiao Jeanna disagreed: "The concubine is cleaning up things, I can't help, why don't you come here to help—can I play with that cannon?" ”

As she spoke, she began to crawl to the side.

The gate of the courtyard was not very sturdy in the first place, and now it has been knocked down. Diagonally behind the door, it was originally a flower bed, but after a long time, it has become a grocery pile for Zhu Wenkui to stack various parts and equipment. Behind the messy timber and empty barrels, the defenders dug a shallow pit and hid a cannon there. The corpses at the door, many of them are its results.

After discovering that the gate could not enter, the mercenaries outside began to surround them on all sides.

On the front and left side of the courtyard is a relatively empty street. To the right and behind, there is only one path, which also faces the main building. When a mercenary tries to roll in from behind, the retainers upstairs shoot and fire arrows. There were also two men hidden under the corner, holding the chains of threshing threshing shackles, and when they saw someone showing their heads, they gave him a moment.

It may be in a hurry, or it may be that the engineering equipment is too large to hide and carry, in short, they did not carry the equipment for tackling the fortifications, and even climbed over the wall by taking a ladder, and there were not too many people at once. Several of the reckless people who took the lead in climbing over the wall were quickly killed, and the other mercenaries did not dare to come up from this side.

After that, they grabbed a courtyard that was being renovated next to it, got some tools from there, and began to plane the wall. Although the security in most of the capital has always been poor, and the walls have been built more seriously, this thing is still just a facility to prevent petty thieves, and no one expected to face this kind of attack. Despite his best efforts, a hole was quickly cut into the wall, and Captain Jeska could only lead someone to push the cart over again, temporarily blocking the mercenaries who tried to rush in.

However, the firepower on this side also seems to be stretched. So, with a little bit of free time, everyone began to reload energetically, and even little Jeanne wanted to help.

However, Zhu Wenkui still dragged her back.

"It's not a child's toy." He reprimanded: "Firearms are dangerous in themselves, and they are no better than those with sharp blades." If you hurt yourself, we will take care of you. ”

"Then you're underestimating me." Jeanne looked very unconvinced: "Now we have fewer guns, so it would be better to have one more." When is it, it's still blind. ”

"Young master, the little county lord went to the military training ground outside the city with us before, and he has already manipulated artillery." Captain Jeska also poked his head out and persuaded, "Just let her help with the reloading." ”

Zhu Wenkui saw that he also said so, so he had no choice but to nod. Jeanne Jr. reached out and took the gun he was holding.

"Hey, what are you doing with me?" Zhu Wenkui hurriedly asked.

"Your hands are shaking." Jeanne replied, "Rest." ”

Zhu Wenkui didn't know how to answer, pinched his arm, and sighed a little angrily.

"Speaking of which, brother, why did you stock up on so much gunpowder?" Jeanne asked as she placed her gun on the ground and quickly cleaned up the weapon, which was about as tall as herself.

"Isn't Brother Kang urging me these days?" Zhu Wenkui breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he wanted to relieve the pressure, and chattered: "I also stocked up on some consumables for the test in the cellar for temporary use." Who would have thought that it could be used like this......"

"I don't even know—the concubine probably doesn't either." Jeanne complained: "If she knew that you buried so many unsafe things in the yard, she would have scolded you a long time ago." ”

"Ann is not safe, it is to look at people. I used it alone from beginning to end, so what's not safe? I think it's safer than putting it in a warehouse. Zhu Wenkui grabbed another gun, and while cleaning up, he said disapprerovitously: "Besides, I took people to dig the cellar myself, who can be more familiar than me." ”

"Huh? What are you digging in the yard for? Jeanne asked curiously.

"You don't know?" Zhu Wenkui's eyes widened, and he shook his head again and again: "My little ancestor, you are a rich and noble ......."

"Where have I become rich? I've been living in the countryside for a long time. Jeanne explained: "The people I have come into contact with since I was a child are all ordinary villagers, and the living environment is the same as that of ordinary people." ”

"At least everybody's taking care of you." Zhu Wenkui pointed out: "Do you know where all the delicious food came from when you first came? I went to the back kitchen of Niangniang Temple every day to eat, and I was familiar with the chef, and I begged it from others. My mother also said that you have a long body, let me find you something good every day - good guy, since then, I have indicators for food! ”

“……”

"You're in time too. When I first helped with housework, I wasn't very familiar with these people in the Great Qin Kingdom. My mother had been recuperating in bed for a while, and my father kept sending some strange people to let me take care of the food. He shook his head and said, "But I can't ask the Great Qin people for money every day, right?" I can only find a way to save. This cellar was dug at that time. ”

"Trade is developed in the capital, which makes everything here expensive, and so is the food. However, after I inquired, I found that the prices of the grain and vegetables trafficked by the merchants were not so outrageous. It's just that from the beginning of entering the city, at the city gate, customs, warehouses, and markets, they all have to be exploited several times. In addition to various taxes and fees, some officials will also come to ask for benefits, and the local snakes in the city will be able to extort money in all aspects. In this way, the price naturally rises to the sky. ”

"Therefore, if they buy their goods directly outside the city or on the dock, many people are also willing to save trouble. Although our Wu Wangfu has no power, we have a little face, as long as we don't directly grab business from others, these local snakes will not come to embarrass us. ”

"But to buy something like this, you have to buy the whole ship. There were only a dozen people in the house at that time, and they couldn't eat it quickly. So, I dug a cellar and stored these things. Zhu Wenkui took out a red spherical vegetable from under the car: "The most suitable is this kind of shallot." ”

"Brother Tian's beard, why do you have it in this car." A middle-aged strong man in the car immediately made a bitter face.

"This car was changed by us from the grocery cart, and I used it to pull it last month." Captain Jeska turned around and said, "Later, the top cover and the front baffle were added. When I was preparing today, I didn't have time to empty ......"

"Isn't that something very common?" Jeanne Jr. asked.

"It's just too common." Zhu Wenkui was also very helpless: "This thing is durable and cheap, so we eat it for a long time." It's really uncomfortable......"

"Even in my hometown, I don't have to eat just one vegetable for a few months." Captain Jeska couldn't help but say: "I was hired to fight with the Poles before, and they would not eat such a monotony. Maybe when I was messing with the English, I ate worse than this......"

"When people asked us what we were eating, the prince wouldn't let us say." Another white-bearded veteran turned to little Jeanne and said, "Your brother didn't know much about this thing at the time, but he knew that it was the cheapest. People asked about the food here, and they were embarrassed, so they gave it a nickname, saying that it was called Red Pill Dan. I later learned that the original name was the magic potion of the Eastern alchemist. ”

"I've been eating it for two months, and I think the turnips have become delicious, and I don't know if it's a magical effect." The middle-aged man complained.

"Just tell if it's red or spherical." Captain Jeska smiled, "I even doubted that the jade-colored food in that 'brocade clothes and jade food' could be the vegetable soup we ate?" ”

The crowd burst into laughter.

"How?" In the laughter, Xiao Jeanna patted Zhu Wenkui's shoulder again: "Don't you be so nervous, right?" ”

"It's getting better." Zhu Wenkui nodded honestly.

"Aren't you nervous, princess? There was still time to comfort us. Captain Jeska asked curiously, "To be honest, I'm a little nervous. Although I have fought a lot of battles, it is the first time I have encountered such a huge disparity. ”

"I ...... It's okay. Jeanne herself didn't seem to have thought about this question: "Maybe I didn't directly participate in the war before." ”

"It's good for a little girl of this age not to be scared." Captain Jeska shook his head: "I have heard the nobles of the Bohemian royal palace talk about the women of the royal family, many of whom are as decisive and fierce as wolves. Looks like that's the case. ”

"Where am I fierce, I want peace." Little Jeanne disagreed: "If they are willing, I don't want to fight." ”

"You'd better not believe what they like or not." Zhu Wenkui shrugged: "You'll know later." ”

When Jeanne heard this, she was skeptical, and went to fiddle with the cannon next to her.

But soon, outside the courtyard wall, shouts sounded again.

"I am Sir Antoine de la Blange, and I am speaking to your Prince Constantine Zhu." Someone outside shouted: "Our princess is here, I hope to negotiate with you!" It was all a misunderstanding before, and your loss, the princess said, will compensate! ”

"Look, here we go again." Zhu Wenkui said, gesturing upward.

"I'm Karl Duvalc, the left thousand households in the former guard of King Wu!" The white-bearded veteran just now suddenly reported a list of Chinese positions: "If there is anything, just tell me." ”

"What nonsense, let your leaders come!" The other party was obviously unhappy: "Where did the old peasant in the countryside come from, he is also pretending to be a nobleman here, right?" ”

"Phew!" The veteran Karl also scolded: "A barbarian mongrel, I ignore you, it's all a loss of my own face." You deserve to pick and choose! ”

"You bitch, call me a barbarian!" The leader of the other party, who claimed to be a knight, became angry: "What are you?" ”

"I am the Wu Kingdom of the Ming Empire, a senior official personally authorized by the court!" Old Karl said confidently: "My official is bigger than your self-appointed title of country head, why, dissatisfied?" ”

“……”

The other party didn't reply for a while, I don't know if he was choked or stupid.

"Uh......" Xiao Jeanna didn't react for a while, she was stunned, and turned her head to look at Zhu Wenkui: "Everyone is a thousand households?" ”

"yes, I sealed it." Zhu Wenkui had a straightforward expression: "Our Wu Wangfu, the most important thing to lack now is the establishment." Not to mention anything else, this title is really not fake. ”

"Huh?"

"There are dozens of thousands of households in a palace. There are only more than 40 people in our whole house, and not everyone can go to the battlefield. Zhu Wenkui explained: "Now there are more than 1,000 households, and they are all sealed." ”

"When the ceremony was a few days ago, it wasn't so exaggerated." Little Jeanne said helplessly.

"Oh, if you lose the battle, there will be no Wu Wangfu, what else do you pay attention to." Zhu Wenkui looks like he has broken the jar: "It's better for everyone to be happy, anyway, this title doesn't need money......"

"Old Yang." He looked up and commanded, "Go and shout, and show my sister." ”

Captain Jeska nodded, and shouted out.

"Listen to the other side, I'm ...... John de Jaska, commander of the guards of the Wu Palace. He shouted, "You have been crooked until now, and I am tired of lying to you." For the sake of your princess's face, let's tell the truth, whether to talk about it or not? ”

"Why is everyone so proficient in official positions? I learned Chinese so fast. Jeanne whispered.

"Of course, if you have a higher official position, you can learn faster." Zhu Wenkui disagreed, waved her hand and asked her not to speak, to see the other party's reaction.

There was silence outside for a while, and someone else replied loudly, but still insisted: "Let your prince come out before we can talk." ”

"Can't I? I'm the captain here. Jaska shouted, taking out a stick, picking up his helmet, and slowly sticking it out from the side of the barricade: "Where are you?" Come out, I'm so ......"

Before he could finish speaking, several crossbow arrows whizzed over, knocking the helmet far away, and flicking it on the ground a few times before stopping.

Captain Jasca didn't even bother to scold them, just shrugged at Jeanne Jr.

"They still know how to pretend, but they didn't pretend before." Another retainer said from behind the wall: "I am close to this side, and I heard the leader shout to the mercenaries, saying that if you see the people in the east, you will arrest them for the time being, and kill the others." I don't know which side of the little county lord is......"

"Who cares if there are loopholes, it's just an excuse." Zhu Wenkui shook his head and said, "I do have an oriental face, but who really thinks they want to let it go?" If you want me to say, they are coming at me instead. Everyone else is an add-on, and my head is what people want directly. ”

"This midnight three watches, black rumbling, everyone is in a mess, who has the heart to see what you look like? It must be killed first. turned around and cried a few times at the corpse, saying that he originally wanted to reconcile, but the people below didn't know the severity of the matter, and killed the person by mistake, so that he could explain to the Great Qin State and the imperial court - you see, I can help them figure out what will happen later. ”

"Well, let's wait until my mother really comes." Little Jeanne didn't know what to do, so she thought about it and had to say.

Zhu Wenkui and a few others looked at each other.

"Sister." He pondered his words and said, "I know you're smart—everybody thinks so, they're smarter than I am." However, there are some things that cannot be directly seen in books. Especially the books in Europe, the writing is too shallow, and if you really believe it, I'm afraid you won't know how to die. ”

"Mother won't want your life." Jeanne Jr. hurriedly explained: "It's not good for her, it's too risky, and there's no need for this." is really competitive, her opponent is only the mother concubine, and this matter is not without room for negotiation. ”

"That's your biological mother, you are close to her, willing to believe in her, and it is also in line with human nature, brother, I won't blame you for this." Zhu Wenkui shook his head: "However, there is a saying that 'mothers are precious to their sons'. My mother's treatment is also related to me. I am the only heir of the Wu Wangfu so far, and this name alone can be exchanged for practical benefits. And as long as I am alive, my mother's status is unshakable. ”

"Since ancient times, there have been concubines who recognize their mothers-in-law, but they haven't heard much about it, and after a stepwife replaces an ex-wife, they can still get along with their ex-wife and son-in-law. Jin Liji, in the end, the prince was killed, and Duke Wen fled; Wei Li Xuanjiang, the Chinese people chanted that the two sons were in the same boat. The princess is still very young, and her family has always had many children, so if there is an opportunity, why should she keep me in the way? ”

"You have to be careful, too. Tiger poison does not eat children, but people do. When the stakes are big enough, these unthinkable things will happen. He admonished: "I am shallow in my scheming, and I can't calculate much, but I still have self-knowledge, so I have been cautious and maintained until now." ”

"I don't know what the princess is planning, but since it has reached the point of doing it, what she asks for will definitely not be small." Zhu Wenkui shook his head: "Do you know who was the first heir killed by Empress Wu back then?" ”

Jeanne had indeed heard this from other people before, and she couldn't answer for a while.

"Well, if only you were a boy." He finally sighed: "The princess must be reluctant to let you go, and I don't have to worry about this troublesome matter for a long time." Let it all be given to you, I follow Brother Kang and them every day, playing iron, wouldn't it be better. ”

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

"Forget it, let's get through tonight first." Zhu Wenkui patted the car: "Everyone cheer up!" ”

"They didn't have a few muskets, but they had a lot of crossbows." He specially told little Jeanne: "At this distance, the crossbow in the mercenary's hand is enough to penetrate the armor." You follow me, just hide behind and help, you have to be careful, you know? ”

Jeanne nodded.

(End of chapter)