"Damn it, it's up to you to believe it or not!" Yang Ling flew into a rage out of humiliation and threw caution to the wind, "I'm not going to explain!"
The officials originally had an ambiguous expression on their faces, but once Yang Ling put on a 'I'm a rogue, I'm not afraid of anyone' attitude, their imposing manner was completely gone.
These officials came to congratulate him, only Commander Luo came to report the military situation and consult Duke Wei's opinion on the next step of the battle. This way, he made the long story short. He didn't have to say the short story and saved all the empty pleasantries.
Luo Shiquan hurriedly reported and asked for instructions before the army collapsed like a landslide. He led the group of defeated soldiers and fled. Qiao Sihai, who made a slip of the tongue and called Duke Wei's future wife 'old woman', ran away faster than anyone else.
Yang Ling stood in the martial arts hall with his head held high and chest puffed out. He cupped his hands to bid farewell to the officials like a hoodlum. His chest was magnanimous and his face was open and aboveboard. Adni snuggled up to him like a little bird.
When Wu Hanchao, Peng Xiaobai, and the others saw that the civil and military officials had left, they immediately scattered like birds and beasts. Yang Ling looked majestic and disdainful. When he saw that other than the four guards who pretended to be deaf and dumb at the entrance, there was no one else in the hall, he held Adni's shoulder and turned her to face him.
In the country where Adni came from, women were more independent and strong. Her identity and experience made her more independent and rational than ordinary women. That was why Yang Ling gave such an important letter to her and told her about the possible danger. Because of her strength, this Ya Li, who had traveled thousands of miles to the East on the wind and waves, had accidentally become his woman. Baron Adni was also the one that Yang Ling cared about the least.
But now, at a glance, Adni seemed to have been reborn. The original confident, reserved, noble and resolute eyes were gone. When that pair of misty beautiful eyes stared at him, they were full of attachment and deep affection. A beautiful girl's love was naked and unreservedly presented in front of him.
When Yang Ling saw this, his heartstrings couldn't help but tremble. Although the two of them had known each other for the shortest amount of time, at this glance, their hearts suddenly became very close. The most concentrated gaze was infinite love, as if they had met in a previous life. The love between a man and a woman was the easiest to blend, not to mention the feelings between the two. Of course, this kind of thing was the easiest to trigger.
Adni had tears in her eyes, but a sweet and satisfied smile hung on the corners of her mouth. She threw herself back into Yang Ling's embrace, gently wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head on his chin. She leaned against his chest and said softly, "Yang, I finally see you again. After hearing about your accident, I was very sad. During those days, I felt like I was abandoned by the whole world. In this foreign country, you are my only support, my only family, and I will never leave you again. "
Yang Ling gently pulled her soft shoulders, gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, smiled and coaxed: "Look at you, you women … … How long has it been, and now you still cry when you think about it. Adni is a Navy Captain, a professional soldier, you should be stronger than ordinary women, shouldn't you? "
Adni pursed her lips and lightly punched him on the shoulder: "Strong my ass, I'm in front of you, who am I supposed to be strong for?"
Her Chinese still had a bit of a foreign accent. Her angry and resentful words were full of the true feelings of a young girl. But when she said it in this kind of tone, it was soul-stirring and had another kind of enchanting taste.
Yang Ling's heart swayed when he heard this, and he hugged her slender waist tightly. If they weren't still in the lobby, that pair of plump and soft lips would be ravaged by him again. He said with a low laugh, "Husband, who taught you these words?"
Adni blinked and said, "It's Lian 'er, she said I should call you like this. I called you fiancé husband, but she laughed at me, so I changed it. How come it's Minister of State now?"
Yang Ling laughed and gave a simple explanation. He then asked about Ma Lian 'er and his daughter Pan' er before sighing in disappointment: "After becoming Minister of State, I thought I didn't have so many concerns, and was going to bring you all over. But now it's chaotic, it's safer to stay in the capital.
I can't look at her right now. Right, aren't you and Lian 'er responsible for the businesses in Jiangnan? How come you came to Jing? Xiao Shu said she had to personally escort … … it was you? "
Yang Ling didn't purposefully ask about Lian 'er. No matter how magnanimous a woman was, the more concerned and considerate he was, the more uncomfortable she would feel inside if he took the trouble to ask about the other.
If Ma Lian 'er was in Jiangnan, if she had to talk about grievances, it was probably that her husband couldn't stay by her side. Other than that, she had a life of luxury and servants. There wouldn't be any problems with her life. It was too pretentious to ask about these things.
Once he mentioned escorting something, Adni's mind jumped. She jumped up and said excitedly, "Yang, I'll take you to see. Right now, the thing is in the west wing of the front yard, guarded by the people we brought. However … … there's no need to be so careful. Elder Zheng and I have tested it many times, it's very safe."
Yang Ling saw her face was flushed with excitement, but she spoke quickly and urgently. He didn't understand what she was referring to and hurriedly asked, "What are you talking about?"
Adni's eyes flashed with mischievousness. She pulled his hand, her eyebrows raised charmingly, and said with a sweet smile, "Come, I'll take you to see, I promise you'll be shocked!"
Yang Ling smiled and let her pull his hand to the west wing. The west wing was already guarded by Peng Xiaosu's soldiers. Seeing Adni, they all stood and bowed, clearly recognizing this female general.
The De Zhou Martial Practice Hall was very large, the front and back courtyards were like a large park. The left and right wings of the front yard were where important armaments were stored. Peng Xiaosu had an official letter from the Fujian Bureau of Military Weapons, the Fujian Commander's Office, and the Zhejiang Commander's Office so he was able to move in.
Adni pulled him to a storeroom and ordered the soldiers to open the door. Then she took Yang Ling inside. There were three large wooden boxes in the storeroom. Adni ordered people to open the seals on the wooden boxes and pry open the wooden boards on top. Then she walked around a wooden box with her hands behind her back with a smile, glancing smugly at Yang Ling.
Adni was dressed in a decent military uniform, showing off her slender waist, round breasts, and bright beauty with a hint of heroic spirit. Especially her tall figure, the curves of her chest, waist, and legs were smooth and full, giving off an indescribable seductive charm. The pair of long thighs were perfectly straight and round, wrapped in trousers and boots. The proportions were extremely beautiful and lovely.
Yang Ling imagined how long, strong, round, and smooth the pair of malt colored thighs were. His heart couldn't help but sway, and he hurriedly covered it up with a smile and said, "Little girl, what are you trying to show off? Why don't you let me see it clearly? "
Adni pursed her lips and smiled. She suddenly grabbed the lid of the box and flipped it up. She said with a smile, "Yang, see for yourself."
Yang Ling walked closer and looked inside the box. He saw a layer of cotton wool and straw. He gently poked it a few times and held his breath. He picked one up, looked at it in a daze, and whispered, "Grenade!"
Adni giggled and said, "Yes, it was made according to the grenade you mentioned to me in Fuzhou. Its prototype is the Sky Tremor Grenade of the army. "
Adni picked up a grenade and said, "The flintlock designed by the Bureau of Ordnance in the capital has a much faster firing rate. We have also developed a multi-barreled firearm based on this. In terms of firing rate, it is no longer inferior to the bow and arrow. However, there are still problems such as the barrel being easy to explode and the chamber not being well sealed. Soldiers are often afraid to use or refuse to use it because they are afraid of the chamber bursting.
In addition, the current gunpowder still needs to be improved. Otherwise, after a few shots, the dregs in the chamber will accumulate, and if it is not cleaned, it cannot be used continuously. Artillery is too cumbersome. It is easy to use in attacking and defending cities, but it is almost impossible to carry it in the field with the current means of transportation. Coupled with its excessive reliance on supplies, the state's finances are also difficult to bear. "
Yang Ling nodded in agreement. Until the time of Napoleon, the firearm was still used together with the sword, complementing each other. In this era, it was simply unrealistic to completely replace the bow and cavalry with the firearm. In addition to the technical problems, there was also the financial problem. The imperial court now estimated that the cost of troops and horses to suppress the bandits in Shandong alone would exceed 900,000 taels of silver. If it was an all-firearms force, the astronomical figure would make the country bankrupt. Some things were not as simple as they seemed. The most useful thing might not be the most suitable. War was fought with money.
The original firearm could shoot at least six arrows with one shot, while the cavalry could only shoot three arrows in a battle. In the field, as long as three arrows were shot, the opponent's cavalry would rush in front of them, and at that time, only the effect of the sword could be used in close combat. The current rate of fire of the firearm was comparable to that of the bow and arrow, which was only three shots. It was suitable for defense and not suitable for field combat. Moreover, the problem of the range being inferior to the bow and arrow had not yet been solved.
Adeni said: "Although its advantages are not obvious for a fast horse and a hard bow, its strength lies in the short training time. Once an ordinary person, who is relatively weak compared to a knight, masters it, they can also become a qualified warrior. I think, since the Ming Destiny Army still mainly uses the bow and arrow in long-range combat besides the artillery and cannot be replaced by the firearm, then can we maximize the power of the firearm in close combat to replace the sword and spear or become a major help in close combat? "
Adeni smiled sweetly: "The Sky Tremor Grenade is originally a firearm used in the army, but it originally needed to be ignited, which was inconvenient to use. Moreover, to ensure the power, the size is too big, and one person can only carry a few. I remember you told me about an idea in Fuzhou, and I realized it.
This kind of small grenade uses the flintlock principle to ignite. Although the shell of the tortoise shell you proposed is easy to explode, it is inconvenient to carry, and although the gunpowder has been improved, the explosive power is still not enough, so I decided not to rely on the shell to hurt people. The shell is still cast in the shape of a pillar, so that each person can carry 10 to 15. The outer wall of the pillar is made as thin as possible, so that it can only play the role of a wrapper. A large number of hook-shaped, needle-shaped iron pieces and iron beads are installed inside, so that once it explodes, people and animals within a radius of 50 feet will not be able to escape. "
Iron pieces, iron beads? Yang Ling suddenly remembered the US grenade he had seen in a movie. Once it exploded, the terrifying scene of iron beads shooting in all directions made his scalp tingle a little. He looked at the three big boxes and said: "These … these three boxes are all grenades?"
Adeni pursed her lips and said: "The cost of grenades is low and the manufacturing technology is simple, but we only had time to make two boxes. I brought the blueprints and can let the Beijing Bureau of Ordnance make them nearby. The last box is not a grenade. "
Adeni proudly said: "The grenade is thrown with arm strength, but it is still not far enough. I cast a larger cone-shaped grenade. It borrows the firing technology of artillery. In fact, it's a small artillery with only one iron tube, which can be carried by a single soldier. Although the firing speed is relatively slow, it's very effective for advancing in the field and destroying the enemy's temporary obstacles and defensive formations. Its firing range is three to five times that of a thrower. "
She smiled at Yang Ling and said: "This is also an idea that I borrowed from you, my genius husband, and I made it a reality!"
Adeni said as she opened the wooden box. Shiny launchers, separated by cotton, were neatly arranged in the box. Individual rocket launchers … Although there was a gap between them and modern rocket launchers, in fact, Yang Ling had never seen the internal structure of modern rocket launchers. However, since Adeni brought it here, it must have been simulated in actual combat and should be usable.
Yang Ling laughed. He couldn't help but rush over and crouch down to hug Adeni's body, his hands clasping her plump buttocks. Adeni let out a tender cry and hurriedly hugged Yang Ling's neck. Immediately after, she was carried by Yang Ling and spun around the room three times. He was overjoyed and said: "Adeni, you really are my timely rain, hahaha, it has been hard on you."
Adeni gently slid down from his body and said affectionately: "If I don't think for you, who else would I think for? A smart woman should know how to love her man. "
Yang Ling laughed a few times, closed the lid of the box, and said: "These weapons have helped me a lot. With these weapons, the plan I am about to implement will be even more foolproof. Come, let's go back and talk. Right, the news of me becoming the Governor of Suppressing Bandits should have just reached Jiangnan. How come you are already here, do you know how to predict the future? "
Adeni said: "Lian 'er said it. Lian 'er and I managed our family's business in Jiangnan, and occasionally went to the Bureau of Ordnance to take care of the ships. This was something Elder Zheng and I came up with. Just as we made a batch, the news of the Ringing Horse rebellion came. Lian' er got the military intelligence report through her brother and Discipline Commission Official Qian.
After her analysis, she told me that the person to lead the army to suppress the rebellion would definitely be you. She wanted me to immediately send you the weapons that had already been made to help you. At the same time, bring the blueprints and have the Bureau of Ordnance make them nearby. It will be more convenient. "
"Lian 'er … …"
Yang Ling was slightly taken aback and lost his focus for a moment. The beautiful woman's jade-like smile suddenly flashed before his eyes. Her natural eyebrows, her beautiful eyes that were as clear as water, her alluring demeanor everywhere around her …
In this world, there is a way to satisfy both sides, not betray the righteous, not betray the faithful. Lian 'er … … wait for me, your husband is about to send troops to suppress the rebellion. After suppressing the bandits here, I will definitely bring you back. In this life, in this life, we will never be separated!
※ ※ ※
The majestic Jinan City stood tall, its city walls tall and steep. Many gatehouses, corner towers, watchtowers, arrow towers, and parapets weaved together to form a dense net of attacks. The moat outside the city walls was deep and wide, comparable to the city walls of the Datong Prefecture, an important frontier fortress.
This city occupied the crossroads of land and water. It was a place that military strategists fought for, and it was also the location of the highest command office in Shandong. If this city could be taken, without a doubt, it would not only be militarily, but more importantly, it would have a strong political influence. The cities in Shandong that were holding out would collapse without a fight because of its fall.
The city of Jinan was deeply defended, with tens of thousands of troops and horses on guard. This fortress was like a towering mountain, unshakable. When the Prince of Yan launched the Jingnan Campaign, this was a military fortress. At that time, the Prince of Yan seized Dezhou, an important military station of Ming Destiny. He obtained more than a million dans of grain and countless armors. Not only did he greatly strengthen himself, but he also turned Jinan into an isolated city.
Even so, Shandong's political advisor, Tie Xuan, gathered some of the defeated generals and stragglers of the imperial court. Relying on this city, he confronted the Prince of Yan for several months. Later, the Prince of Yan brought in cannons to attack the city. Tie Xuan found a painter to paint a portrait of Zhu Di's father, Zhu Yuanzhang, and erected countless memorial tablets on the city wall. This made Zhu Di afraid to attack the city, even though he had sharp weapons in his hands.
Later, when Zhu Di conquered Nanjing and gained control of the world, he sent troops on a northern expedition. He besieged the city for a long time and exhausted all the provisions in the city. Only then did he take Jinan City. Zhu Di hated Tie Xuan so much that he sent his wife and daughter to the Musical House to be humiliated. After they died, he threw their bodies to feed the dogs.
Now that Yang Hu was rebelling and the soldiers were defending the city, of course, Old Man Zhu's portrait could no longer be used as a shield. Fortunately, Yang Hu did not have cannons. Even if he did, he might not have as many cannons as Jinan City. Therefore, Yang Hu did not directly attack Jinan. Now, he was attacking Tai 'an day and night. As long as the Horse Bandits seized Dezhou, the general defending Jinan City might not have the courage and strategy of Tie Xuan.
Tai 'an City had already sent people to break the siege and ask for reinforcements from Jinan City several times. However, the commander-in-chief Chen Hongmeng, who had been transferred from Sichuan to defend Jinan, did not move. His army was more than enough to defend the city, but the morale of the army could not be compared to a group of fugitives. Moreover, the soldiers did not have many warhorses. Sending several thousand cavalrymen to reinforce Tai 'an was purely a joke. If he sent a large number of infantry and cavalry, Yang Hu's cavalry only needed to break through the flank and they would be at the mercy of the enemy.
Chen Hongmeng would not do something like throwing meat buns at a dog. Yang Hu's army of a hundred thousand had besieged Tai 'an for so long but had not been able to take it. It was not that he really could not take it. It was possible that he did not want to lure Chen Hongmeng to help. Besieging Tai' an and attacking the reinforcements would be much faster than seizing Tai 'an and besieging Jinan. Chen Hongmeng saw through Yang Hu's trick and did not fall for it.
Regarding this matter, he had communicated with Shandong's Chief Minister Lv Jishan. Lv Jishan also agreed with his judgment. However, the important military and political officials of Jinan did not necessarily have this kind of insight. They all thought that he was afraid of battle and afraid of the enemy. His denouncements were endless. Not long after he had been transferred from Sichuan, the local gentry and bureaucrats were not familiar with him, so they constantly put pressure on Chief Minister Lv Jishan, forcing him to send troops.
Lv Jishan was also an official with his own ideas. Not only was he a wily old fox in the officialdom, but he was also a pain in the neck. It was thanks to him that he was able to withstand wave after wave of indiscriminate bombardment from the Jinan government. He withstood the constant carrot and stick, coercion and bribery, from spirit to reputation, from official career to future prospects.
Lv Jishan's ears had already grown calluses from hearing the argument that the lips were interdependent. He had also repeatedly explained Chen Hongmeng's reasoning to the local gentry, officials, and scholars. Unfortunately, these people did not listen. Many of the gentry families between Tai 'an and Jinan were related by marriage. Seeing that Tai' an was in imminent danger, how could they be at ease?
"Chen Hongmeng?" one of the Jinan tycoons said angrily. "What kind of ability does that old Taoist have? He's obviously afraid of death and doesn't dare send troops. Your Excellency, you are the Chief Minister of Shandong. You are one rank higher than him. You should take full responsibility during the war. You have to force him to send troops."
Chen Hongmeng worshiped Taoism. Not only did he worship the statues of the Three Pure Ones in his home, he burned incense every morning and evening. He also often interacted with the Taoist priests from the famous mountains and lakes near Jinan. Because of this, these gentry families and gentry called him Taoist Hongmeng.
Lv Jishan smiled bitterly. With a worried expression, he said, "Everyone, everyone, I am a scholar. When it comes to military affairs, how can I compare to Official Chen? Yang Hu's ambitions are not in Tai 'an, but in Jinan. If we send troops, we can only get rid of the Jinan garrison. Official Chen knows how to use troops. The Jinan garrison is better at defending than attacking. There's no other way. "
While they were arguing, someone rushed in to report, "Reporting to the Chief Minister, the Tai 'an government has sent a special envoy to ask for help!"
When the officials and gentry heard this, their eyes lit up. Without waiting for Lv Jishan's orders, they all said, "Quick, invite him in."
The person outside did not need to be called. He came in himself. When the battered Lv Jishan saw the person who came in, he immediately stood up respectfully. He cupped his hands and said, "Sir, you … why are you here?"
The person outside was an old man. He used to be the Chief Minister of Education of Zhejiang. His name was Zhang Duoqi. He was Lv Jishan's teacher. After he retired, he returned to his hometown in Tai 'an to retire. After Lv Jishan became the Chief Minister of Shandong, he would often visit his teacher during festivals. Seeing him today, he could not help but stand up.
The old man's face was black and white. He was very thin. He had a goatee on his chin, which made him look very funny. This scholar was not old-fashioned. He was humorous, interesting, and knowledgeable. When he was the Chief Minister of Education, he was loved by the students.
When Zhang Duoqi saw Lv Jishan, he was really angry. He snorted heavily, picked up a chair and sat down. He slapped his thigh and said, "Sir? This old man is going to die soon. The hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Tai 'an are eagerly waiting for Great Master Lu to send reinforcements. They've been waiting for so long that their necks have grown three inches. The people asking for reinforcements have come wave after wave. Now this old man has been sent here. For my old face, tell me, when will you send the troops? "
Lv Jishan walked to his side and said in a low voice, "Sir, it's not that I want to sit back and watch Tai 'an be in danger. It's just that everyone knows Yang Hu's intentions. He besieged Tai 'an for a long time without success. He clearly wants to lure Jinan to send troops and easily take Jinan City. Now that Duke Wei has arrived in Dezhou, he defeated Liu Liu's rebel army. He will definitely send reinforcements. Tai 'an … you … sigh! You have to grit your teeth and hold on. "
Zhang Duoqi opened his mouth and pointed at it. "Hold on? Look, do I still have any teeth? They're almost all gone. What can I use to bite? You're the Chief Minister of Shandong, not the Chief Minister of Jinan. Isn't Tai 'an your people? Are you going to watch Tai 'an fall and the hundreds of thousands of people become the prey of the rebels? "
Lv Jishan smiled bitterly. Facing his benevolent master, he had no choice but to explain himself. Beside him, a group of local officials, gentry and scholars rushed forward to help him. Lv Jishan felt that he couldn't hold on any longer. Old Man Zhang's breathing stabilized. He suddenly jumped up and knelt down in front of Lv Jishan. "Master Lv, Master Lv, this old man is begging you. Tai 'an is about to fall. Show some mercy and send the troops! "
Lv Jishan saw that his master was acting shamelessly. He also knelt down and shook his head. He straightened his neck and said, "Mercy can be shown, but not soldiers! I know it's a trap. I can't lead the people of Jinan to jump into it. "
Zhang Duoqi was trembling with anger. He fished out a thick stack of papers from his pocket and slapped them. "Look, look, look. Do you see this? This is my handwriting. It's signed by all the officials, gentry, celebrities and scholars in Tai 'an. It's a complaint against you. Take it and have a look. If Tai' an falls, we'll go to Beijing and sue you. We'll sue you, you bastard! "
Lv Jishan said embarrassedly, "Master, please get up first. How can I read such a thick stack? I know you have a good writing style. If you want to read it, wait until you send it to the capital for the Emperor to read. "
Zhang Duoqi pointed at his nose and shouted, "Fine, fine! You don't care, do you? I … I … "
He looked around for a while and crawled to a pillar. He said hatefully, "You want to force me to death. Are you going to send the troops or not? If you don't send the troops, I'll hit my head on the pillar and die. "
"But don't, don't. Master, you're so close to the pillar. It's not worth it to hit a bump on your head. Please sit down. We can discuss this …"
"Discuss my ass! You don't agree, do you? Then I'll hang myself here. "Old Man Zhang took off his belt and roared at the beam.
Lv Jishan smiled. "Sir, your waist is so thin. The belt is less than two feet long. Even if you can climb up, the belt can't even wrap around the beam. How can you put it on your neck? Oh, you want to gossip? Don't say that, sir. With your teeth … "
Lv Jishan knew that the old man was cunning and had done so much just to force him to send out his troops. He had no intention of seeking death. As he teased his teacher, he walked over and grabbed Zhang Duo Qi's skinny arm, dragging the old man back and pressing him into the chair.
The old man slapped his thigh and wailed. "Everyone in Tai An is hoping that you can give me some face. Hundreds of thousands of people are waiting to be saved. Why do you have a heart made of stone … I don't have face. I don't have face …"
He grabbed a teacup and placed it under his chin. Then, he cried, "What face do I, Zhang Duo Qi, have? My face is not even the size of a fingernail in your eyes. If I bury my face in this teacup, I'll drown. What face do I have to face the elders of Tai An City …"
He pretended to want to die but he was really crying. Lv Jishan panicked. He tried to persuade the teacher. The other officials took the opportunity to persuade him. Everyone was in a mess. Outside, the sound of armor clattering could be heard. More than ten military officers in bright armor with a murderous aura swarmed into the hall.
The person in the lead was a deputy general. When he saw Lv Jishan, he immediately saluted him, cupped his fists and said in a loud voice, "Your humble officer pays respect to Administrative Commissioner Lv Jishan. Commander-In-Chief Chen Daren is gathering troops at the drill ground, preparing to go to Tai 'an's aid. He sent us here to respectfully invite the Administrative Commissioner and the Inspectorate to the drill ground, to coordinate and arrange the defense of Jinan."
Everyone in the room was stunned. After a while, Lv Jishan said in a daze, "Lord Chen is going to send troops?"
The deputy general smiled and said, "Yes, sir! Duke Wei has already sent a secret messenger to all the prefectures to send troops to punish the White Bandits. The time is set for tomorrow morning. Because Jinan is the first stop, to prevent the news from leaking, it has been kept a secret. "
He looked around. Old Zhang Duoqi was wiping tears from his thin face. He blinked his small eyes as if he had not come back to his senses. The deputy general smiled and waved his hand. "Sirs, please!"
In the temporary tent on the drill ground, the urgently gathered generals had just heard Commander Chen announce Yang Ling's secret plan. The tent was in an uproar. Voices of debate rose.
"Sir, this plan is too risky. Yang Hu has been monitoring the movements in Jinan, which is close at hand. We have to be in charge of luring the enemy. If there's even the slightest movement, Yang Hu will receive information. We cannot lose Jinan."
"Sir, the reinforcements have only set the time to attack. Right now, there is no communication. If the reinforcements don't arrive on time, the Jinan garrison will have to fight alone. We can't bring heavy weapons for a surprise attack, and we have too little cavalry. Our infantry and cavalry won't be able to withstand Yang Hu's cavalry for half a day. It's too risky."
"Sir, in this general's opinion, should we first send out scouts to gather information, then send a small force out of the city to lure the enemy while the main force slowly moves in? This place isn't far from Tai 'an. We should be able to make it in time. "
Chen Hongmeng rested his hands on the table. He was silent and only stared at the generals under him. This person was tall and had a thin face. He had three strands of long beard, but it was a good one. It made him look elegant and refined, like a scholarly general.
Slowly, the generals quieted down. Chen Hongmeng said with a stern expression, "I know you are not cowards, but are doing this out of consideration for the war. However, this was a death order issued by the Imperial Envoy Suppressing Bandits Governor-General, Yang Daren. Those who did not arrive at dawn the next day would be executed. Troops from all directions were gathered in Tai 'an. Some were already on their way.
Yang Hu has led his horse to pillage and conquer cities time and time again. It's all because our troops aren't mobilized efficiently and do what they want. It's not like there aren't generals who have the attitude of sweeping away the snow in front of their own door, allowing the bandits to grow stronger. We are the defending generals of Shandong. It's our duty to defend our land and we can't abandon it. If we blindly defend the city and the bandits don't leave, when will we rest? "
He pointed to a young general standing beside the marshal's table and said, "This is Valiant Cavalry Officer Wu from the Ministry of War, a general sent by the imperial envoy to supervise the war. Duke Wei used the tactic of repairing the plank road on the surface, while secretly mobilizing half of his troops and horses from Dezhou, traveling day and night, arriving just in time.
We are the enemy's bait, but we are also the vanguard of the decisive battle. The troops from all sides are like pearls, endless and unbroken. There's no need to worry about the rear, what's there to be afraid of? Yang Hu, a bandit, has wreaked havoc in Shandong for a long time. It's a disgrace to you and me. I ask everyone to work together and fight with your back to the city. There's no retreat, there's no death. Anyone who retreats before the battle will be killed without mercy! "
Chen Hongmeng's face suddenly turned fierce. He glared fiercely and said, "Loyalty will be recorded in history. Victory and defeat will be decided tomorrow! Do all of you understand? "
The generals were startled. They cupped their hands and said, "We understand. We will obey your order!"
Chen Hongmeng nodded. The murderous aura on his face suddenly disappeared. He turned around and walked to a corner of the tent. The generals craned their necks to look. They saw Official Chen pick up three incense sticks from a small table in the corner of the tent. He lit them and bowed three times before respectfully inserting them into the incense burner. The three old immortals were worshiping the three Qing Heavenly Emperors on the altar. They looked kind and amiable.
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