It was the beginning of March, and the scars of the battle had yet to fade on the southwest frontline.
It was past noon, but the sky was slightly gloomy. A day had passed since the battle at Yuan Qiao. Both sides were in a strange atmosphere that they had never experienced before. The battle report at Yuan Qiao was like a bucket of cold water poured on the Female Zhenren's head. The Huaxia army was waiting to see if this bucket of cold water would produce the desired effect.
Too strong a stimulus would cause people to have unpredictable reactions. To deal with deserters, one needed to be decisive enough to chase after a desperate enemy. To deal with a trapped beast, the hunter had to take a step back and put on a stronger stance.
There was still fighting in the boundless mountains, but the Shiling frontline was quiet. The cannonballs blasted the ground black, and the smell of blood still lingered. On the opposite line, a team of people came out from each side. Two simple chairs and a wooden table were placed on the empty ground, and a small awning was set up. Both sides carefully checked all kinds of things and the condition of the ground nearby.
After Wanyan Zonghan's reply arrived, it was destined that this day would be recorded in the history books, just like the battle at Yuan Qiao. Although there were many persuaders on both sides, reminding Ning Yi or Zonghan to be wary of the other side's dirty tricks and thinking that there was really no need to meet like this, in reality, after Zonghan's reply, the whole thing had already been settled, and there was no room for negotiation.
"I pretended to invite him to meet, and he agreed. In the end, I said forget it, I don't dare to go. That's not good. I also want to save face, and I can't afford to lose face like this. "
In the Huaxia army, Ning Yi rejected all the persuasion with a smile. A similar situation probably happened in the Female Zhenren's military camp.
The meeting time was a quarter to five in the afternoon. After the two teams of guards checked the surrounding situation, both sides agreed to bring one person to participate in the meeting. The person Ning Yi brought was Lin Qiu, a senior adviser of the army. Hongti wanted to follow him, but negotiations were not just about saying a few harsh words. A few words from the higher-ups were often related to the handling of many details, so in the end, Lin Qiu still followed.
As the Hua Xia army had gained a slight upper hand at the moment, they were worried that the other party might have the urge to kill them. Hence, they placed the responsibility of the secretary and security on Lin Qiu. This made Lin Qiu, who had always been experienced in handling matters, rather nervous. He even promised several people that he would use his life to protect Mister Ning's safety in times of danger. However, when they were about to depart, Ning Yi simply said to him, "There won't be any danger. Stay calm and think about the next step of the negotiation."
At this time, Ning Yi's expression had already become serious. He seemed to be alienated from everyone, but he was extremely dignified. He wore a black military coat and was escorted out of the camp by Hongti and the others. On the battlefield, there were only two groups of guards still standing near the center. Zong Han and Gao Qingyi, who were draped in their robes, had also come out from the camp.
In the camp of the Hua Xia army, a tall wooden frame was set up. Ning Yi and Lin Qiu walked past where the guards were and continued forward. Zong Han did the same. When the four of them met under the pergola in the center, the tens of thousands of troops on both sides were watching from their various positions.
Ning Yi sized up Zong Han and Gao Qingyi, and the other party was also sizing them up. Wanyan Zong Han's hair and beard were half white. When he was young, he had a solemn square face and a murderous aura between his brows. As he grew older, the murderous aura became more dignified. His figure had the heaviness of a northerner and was intimidating. Gao Qingyi's face was sinister and his cheekbones were extremely high. He was well-versed in both the pen and the sword. He had killed countless people in his life, so he had always been an opponent that his enemies were terrified of.
Compared to Zong Han and Gao Qingyi, who had spent their entire lives in the military and were like tigers and wolves, Ning Yi and Lin Qiu looked much younger. Lin Qiu was a young officer in the Hua Xia army. He belonged to the younger generation that Ning Yi had personally trained. Although he was a staff officer, the style of a soldier was ingrained in his bones. His steps were straight and his hands were behind his back. Facing the two pillars of the Jin Kingdom who had wreaked havoc in the world, Lin Qiu's eyes were filled with vigilance. But more than that, he was determined to pounce on them without hesitation if necessary.
Ning Yi did not smile, but he did not seem nervous. He just maintained his natural seriousness. When he got closer and glanced at the faces of the two people opposite him, he spoke directly.
"Zong Han, Gao Qingyi, I finally meet you." He walked to the table and glanced at Zong Han. "Sit."
Zong Han walked to the table with his hands behind his back and pulled out a chair. Ning Yi took out a two-finger-long bamboo tube from the pocket of his coat and pressed it on the table with two fingers. Zong Han came over and sat down. Then, Ning Yi pulled out a chair and sat down.
"The war has been going on for more than four months. It's time to meet you." Zong Han placed his hands on the table. There was a sense of vicissitudes in his eyes. "More than ten years ago, if I knew you were here, I would not have besieged Taiyuan. I would have gone to Bianliang."
Zong Han's voice was slightly hoarse, but at this moment, it seemed very sincere. The war between the two sides had reached such a level that it had already involved the life and death of millions of people and the general trend of the world. A verbal contest actually did not have much meaning. Because of this, he admitted the value of Ning Yi and the Hua Xia army in the first sentence. "If I could go back to more than ten years ago, killing you would be my top priority."
Ning Yi looked at Zong Han and then at Gao Qingyi. Then, he looked back at Zong Han and nodded. On the other side, Gao Qingyi laughed sinisterly. "Before I came, I suggested that we should take advantage of this opportunity to kill you. Then, the matter of the southwest would be resolved. In the history books of later generations, they would all say that Ning Rentu was foolish and laughable. At this time, he actually insisted on going into battle alone — it would be shameful even if he died."
Ning Yi did not look at Gao Qingyi. He sat there in silence for a moment, still looking at Zong Han. "… Relying on one breath, everything has been smooth sailing for thirty years. You guys are already old. If you lose this breath, you won't be able to be human … A year from now, when you think of this day, you will regret it, but not today. What you should be worried about is a coup in the Hua Xia army. Rockets will fly over from there and fall on the heads of the four of us. But I have taken precautions for this … Let's get down to business. "
"I want to introduce you to something. It's called a water gun. It's a small bamboo stick." Ning Yi picked up the small bamboo stick that he had placed on the table. Behind the bamboo stick was a wooden piston that could be pulled. Zong Han and Gao Qingyi both had puzzled looks in their eyes. "This is something that village children often play with. Put it in water, pull this piece of wood, suck in the water, and then push it to your face. This is the basic principle. "
Ning Yi placed the bamboo stick on the table and pushed it to the front. Then, he looked at the two of them. Aside from a serious expression, there was no other expression on his face.
"Through the study of physics, the bamboo stick was replaced with something more sturdy. The propelling force was changed to gunpowder, and the projectile was shot out. This became the assault gun that existed in the Wu dynasty. The assault gun was flashy but impractical. First, the gunpowder wasn't strong enough. Second, the gun barrel wasn't sturdy enough. When the projectile was shot out, it would fly randomly. Compared to bows and arrows, it would be meaningless. In fact, it might even hurt our own people because of the explosion. "
"Therefore, we replaced the gun barrel with thick cast iron, or even refined steel. This increased the power of the gunpowder and added more gunpowder. When the projectile was shot out, it became the iron cannon that you see now. The evolution of physics is very simple. First, the power of the explosion of the gunpowder, which is how much the wood behind the bamboo stick can provide, determines how strong this thing is. Second, whether the bamboo stick can withstand the explosion of the gunpowder. When the projectile is shot out, it will be stronger, farther, and faster. It will be able to destroy your armor and even your shield. "
He paused for a moment. Zong Han was holding the bamboo stick and looking at it. Then, he said, "Ning Rentu … can you teach me?"
The two of them seemed to be having an extremely casual conversation. Ning Yi continued, "Most of the time, the research of physics is focused on these two things. Gunpowder is the spear, and the material that can withstand the explosion of gunpowder is the shield. The strongest spear is combined with the strongest shield. When the assault gun's range exceeds that of the bow and arrow, the bow and arrow will have to be withdrawn from the battlefield. When your Institute of Architecture studies iron cannons, you will find that if you put gunpowder without limit, the iron cannon will explode. The quality of the steel determines how big the cannon can be and whether it can have an advantage on the battlefield. "
"In the process of forging steel, we have found many rules. For example, some steel is more brittle. Some steel may look dense when forged, but in reality, there are very small bubbles in the middle that can easily explode. When forging steel reaches a limit, you need to use hundreds and thousands of methods to break through it. Once you break through it, you may increase the distance of the assault gun by five feet, ten feet, and then you will encounter another limit. "
When Ning Yi said this, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. It seemed like he was smiling, but it looked fierce. "But it is different from the bow and arrow. Since the invention of the bow and arrow, it has not increased the range by much. Although forging steel will encounter one limit after another, they can all be broken through. It is just that there is a lot of work, and the work is very detailed. Every time you break through a limit, it may even take a few years, or even more than a decade. With every step you take, it will become a little stronger."
He paused.
"… From Little Cang River until today, what you have seen is that we are one step ahead of you in these strange and obscene techniques. You can rely on others to overcome this step. But from a distance of a thousand feet to the appearance of the sniper rifle, the distance is already two steps. Whether it is you, or even Xi Yin, none of you have realized this. And when you reach the Qiao Bridge, it is the third step. "
"You should have realized this. Then you think, maybe after you go back, you can create something similar to us, or find a way to deal with it. You still have a way. But I can tell you that every step you see, there is at least ten years in between. Even if you let Xi Yin develop his Great Building Institute with all his strength, ten years later, he will still not be able to create these things. "
"In a very difficult environment, we relied on the lack of manpower and resources in Liang Mountain to take these few steps. Now, we are rich in the southwest. After defeating you, our situation will be stabilized. Ten years later, there will be no more Jin Kingdom and Jurchen in this world."
The sky was still dark, and the wind started to blow in the mountains. After Ning Yi said this, Zong Han put down the small bamboo tube. He turned his head to look at Gao Qingyi, and Gao Qingyi also looked at him. Then, the two old generals of the Jin Kingdom started to laugh. Ning Yi clasped his hands on the table, and the corner of his mouth gradually turned into a curve. Then, he also laughed. The three of them couldn't stop laughing. Lin Qiu put his hands behind his back and looked at Zong Han and Gao Qingyi coldly.
"Ning Rentu said this, did he think that I …"
Wanyan Zong Han laughed and said. Ning Yi knocked his fingers on the table and also laughed. "Marshal, are you laughing at my empty words? Hahahaha … "
"Haha, Ning Rentu is just bluffing. What a joke!"
"Hahahaha, I will kill your son later."
"…"
Zong Han's expression froze for a moment. Then, he continued to laugh. That smile gradually turned into a blood-red murderous intent. Ning Yi stared at his eyes and kept laughing. After a long time, his smile finally stopped. He still looked at Zong Han, pressed his fingers on the small bamboo tube on the table, and pushed it forward. He said every word with a pause.
"For more than ten years, millions of lives in the Central Plains, including Little Canghe, have been stained on your hands. You will return it bit by bit in a very desperate situation …"
"I will give it to all of you."
Under the small pergola, Ning Yi's eyes were also filled with the same cold murderous intent. Different from Zong Han's threatening aura, Ning Yi's murderous intent was unusually cold. At this moment, the air seemed to have been dyed white by this coldness.
Under the pergola, it seemed to be divided into two extremes of ice and fire in their eyes.
Gao Qingyi moved slightly.
Lin Qiu stared at Gao Qingyi and also moved slightly.
The confrontation lasted for a moment. The clouds in the sky moved, and the grass fell.
He wanted to write a long chapter, but … at this time, he should just post these first.
(End of this chapter)
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