Hearing Ye Mengxiong's question, Xiao Ruxun looked at Wei Xuezeng, then nodded and said, "That's right. I observed that Ningxia's city is tall and sturdy. Previously, I tried to use cannons to bombard it but discovered that even if I were to bombard it with solid cannons, it would merely leave a shallow hole. Explosive cannons are also unable to move the city in the slightest." Previously, the main forces of the army attacked for three days, but Ningxia's city remained unmoved. Our army suffered quite a lot of losses. Seeing this, I suggested finding another way to breach the city. "
"What strategy?"
Ye Mengxiong's countenance turned solemn.
"Using gunpowder to blow up the city walls!"
Ye Mengxiong's countenance changed, and he frowned deeply. "Using gunpowder to blow up the city walls? General Xiao Shen, since cannons are unable to damage the city walls in the slightest, how are you going to use gunpowder to blow up the city walls? "
"What I said isn't to blow up the city walls on the ground," Xiao Ruxun explained. Xiao Ruxun explained, "What this lowly general means is to dig a tunnel from the surface all the way below the foundation of the city wall. Then, bury 20,000 catties of gunpowder underground and detonate it all at once, overturning the city wall from underground!
"Overturn the city walls?"
Ye Mengxiong revealed an expression of disbelief. Wei Xuezeng also stood up and walked up. "Nan Zhao, I don't know much about gunpowder and firearms. It's really hard for me to make a decision based on what General Xiao Shen said. Firstly, this is unprecedented, and I'm not confident. Secondly, the expenditure for attacking the city would be too great. I can't bear to lose too many soldiers, nor can I bear to destroy the lives of the people in the city. You know a lot about gunpowder and firearms, so let me ask you this. Do you think this will work?"
Ye Mengxiong did not reply immediately but lowered his head to think deeply. After quite a while, he said after some deliberation, "I've also observed Ningxia's city walls. It's not wise to attack them forcefully. If we sow discord, it won't be very reliable either. Bo Bai's path of retreat has been cut off, and he'll definitely defend Ningxia City to the death to fight for a chance of survival. He won't fall into a trap so easily. I feel that at this moment, instead of hoping that he will take the initiative to surrender, it's better to think about how to breach the city walls."
Wei Xuezeng asked, "Does Nan Zhao support General Xiao's suggestion?"
Ye Mengxiong did not make his stance clear. Instead, he continued, "After all, such an approach has never been done before. We can't be sure whether it will succeed or not. However, there is no doubt that if it succeeds, our army will greatly reduce the number of soldiers we lose. If we lose too many soldiers in this battle, I'm afraid we won't be able to continue to intimidate the grasslands and ensnare them. The imperial court will also have to send more soldiers. If the war drags on, I'm afraid the national treasury won't be able to support it."
Hearing this, Wei Xuezeng nodded. He slowly paced around and said, "Nan Zhao's words make sense. However, this is the first time we've done it. I can't say for sure that it will succeed. Moreover, we have to breach this city no matter what. If we place all our bets on this and fail, who will be able to shoulder this responsibility?"
As soon as Xiao Ruxun heard this, he knew that Wei Xuezeng's indecisive temperament was acting up again. Old people liked to be overcautious, even if it was not necessary. It seemed that Ye Mengxiong would be the most important person in this decision. As long as Ye Mengxiong agreed to shoulder this responsibility with Wei Xuezeng, Wei Xuezeng would dare to do it.
Ye Mengxiong would occasionally look at Xiao Ruxun, and Xiao Ruxun would respond with a firm gaze. He was very good at digging tunnels, digging mountains, and doing explosions. In the survival base, in order to prevent sudden zombie attacks and all sorts of natural disasters, every family in the survival base would dig tunnels. Tunnels were connected to tunnels, and it was a tunnel warfare model during the anti-Japanese war.
Although there were some differences, such as the type of gunpowder, on the whole, Xiao Ruxun was able to provide such technology. With the example of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's army as technical support, Xiao Ruxun had 80% confidence that he would be able to accomplish this. Many tunnels would be dug at the same time. After all, there would be people in the city who would arrange for eavesdroppers. However, as long as one tunnel was successfully dug to the bottom of the city walls, this matter would basically be a success.
By then, they would be able to admire the saying 'overturning a huge city is as easy as tearing a piece of paper'.
Did the two of them have such boldness and courage?
"General Xiao, when you're digging the tunnels, how do you need our army to cooperate with you?"
Ye Mengxiong suddenly asked.
Xiao Ruxun immediately felt an inexplicable surprise and joy. He quickly said, "We only need to attack the city with heavy crossbows and fire cannons and send people to pretend to attack the city, making loud noises to make the enemy eavesdroppers have limited effects. The crux is to create a great illusion that we're attacking the city, as well as an extremely loud noise to affect the enemy's eavesdroppers, allowing our tunnels to succeed. Of course, I will dig four to five tunnels from the east and west of the city at the same time, causing the enemy's judgment to be wrong. As long as one tunnel is successful, with the addition of 20,000 jin of gunpowder, I will have a 99% chance of overturning this city wall!"
Xiao Ruxun clenched his fists tightly.
Ye Mengxiong nodded and looked at Wei Xuezeng. "I second the suggestion."
All the generals looked at Wei Xuezeng.
Wei Xuezeng looked at Xiao Ruxun and then at Ye Mengxiong. His countenance was grim, and his breathing was rather rapid. The entire tent was extremely quiet.
"General Xiao, I … approve of your suggestion."
Wei Xuezeng made the final decision.
When Xiao Ruxun returned to the military camp, there was an old man with a white beard following behind him. This made Ma Gui, who had come out to welcome him, a little puzzled. Then, when he found out that this' old man 'was Gansu's Imperial Governor, Ye Mengxiong, Ma Gui's countenance was a little interesting. According to the hierarchy, Ma Gui was still his subordinate. Of course, he had been unemployed all this while and had just been reinstated. He had yet to get to know Xiao Ruxun. However, everyone was now considered Wei Xuezeng's subordinate.
Ye Mengxiong looked at Ma Gui with a smile and gave him a few words of encouragement. He said things like 'General Xiao has said that you're a good general and that you're worthy of being entrusted with important matters, and that I have high hopes for you.' These were enough to make Ma Gui so agitated that he could not control himself. He quickly pulled Xiao Ruxun over and said that you're too loyal. I'll definitely not forget you when I become successful! Then the two of them made a cliché oath of 'never forgetting each other when we become rich'.
However, at this moment, neither Xiao Ruxun nor Ma Gui realized what kind of roles the other party would play in each other's lives in the future.
Ye Mengxiong's purpose in coming to Xiao Ruxun's tent was to exchange firearms with Xiao Ruxun. Previously, Xiao Ruxun had already been appointed as the commander-in-chief of this operation. Wei Xuezeng had transferred 1,000 troops to give Xiao Ruxun full authority to clear the tunnels and report directly to him. If any of the generals present dared to reveal a single word of what had happened today, they would definitely be executed.
Xiao Ruxun returned to the camp to make some preparations, and Ye Mengxiong followed him. The old man was 62 years old, but he was still able to ride a horse steadily. He was truly extraordinary.
Ye Mengxiong first inspected Xiao Ruxun's vehicle and artillery battalion. He saw Xiao Ruxun's modified Francon motorcycle cannon, and then he saw the ten Ye God's Guns in Xiao Ruxun's army. Ye Mengxiong was undoubtedly very satisfied with Xiao Ruxun's modified vehicle and artillery. Seeing that the vehicle and artillery was so convenient and effortless to move, Ye Mengxiong knew that Xiao Ruxun was also an expert. Thus, the two of them talked about increasing the power of the artillery, leaving Ma Gui, who was a layman, to one side.
Ma Gui, who had been ignored, finally realized that science and technology were the number one productive forces. Facing the exchange between the top students, Ma Gui, who was a slacker, trembled with fear. He did not understand but felt that it was awesome. He secretly swore to himself that after this battle, he would cram knowledge about firearms and cling to Ye Mengxiong's thigh.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
