On the second day, at the first glimmer of dawn, the army that had rested for the night officially set off. They continued to advance at a speed of a hundred miles per day. Soon, the army was getting closer and closer to Lan Zhou City.
However, just as the army was advancing triumphantly, the weather suddenly changed.
"Rumble!"
A sudden clap of thunder rang out, accompanied by dense raindrops falling.
"Lord Chancellor! It's raining. "Xue Rengui immediately panicked and urged his horse to rush over.
Meton's expression was also unsightly. He raised his head to look at the dark clouds in the sky and immediately frowned. He naturally knew that the biggest weakness of the gunpowder was that it was susceptible to moisture.
Although he had already wrapped the carriages that were transporting the gunpowder tightly, it wouldn't be a problem for them to get wet for a short period of time. However, if they were to get wet for a long period of time, it would probably affect the effectiveness of the gunpowder.
"General's orders! All troops continue to advance! "At this moment, a messenger rushed over on a horse and passed down the order to the front.
Xue Rengui's expression was unsightly, "Lord Chancellor, what should we do?"
On one hand, it was a military order. On the other hand, it was the safety of the gunpowder. Xue Rengui immediately fell into a dilemma.
Meton naturally knew the reason for Li Jing's order. At this moment, the army was walking on a brick road. Even if it was raining heavily, it wouldn't be a problem for the army. However, although the firearms supervisor could also move like this, the gunpowder might not be able to withstand it.
Meton clenched his teeth and said, "School of Medicine and school of Mohism will follow the army. The firearms supervisor will set up camp here and protect the gunpowder."
Xue Rengui's expression was shocked and said worriedly, "But General Li's orders..."
Meton shook his head and said, "You just need to set up camp. I will immediately go to the central camp and report to General Li."
Xue Rengui still wanted to persuade him, but as soon as Meton finished speaking, he immediately mounted his horse and urged Shadowless to gallop in the direction of the central camp.
Looking at Meton's departing figure, Xue Rengui saw that the rain was getting heavier and heavier. He clenched his teeth and suddenly shouted, "Firearms supervisor, immediately set up camp here. Drive all the carriages into the military tents and ensure that the gunpowder is dry."
Immediately, the Firearms Supervisor's convoy separated from the main group and slowly came to a stop. The Mo Family and Medicine Family's convoy passed by the Firearms Supervisor and continued to advance. At this moment, there was no one left in the rear. The Firearms Supervisor immediately began to set up camp on the brick road.
Some of the soldiers of the left guard were in an uproar when they saw this. They had just received an order to move forward, but the firearms supervisor had openly disobeyed the order.
"This is going to be a good show." The soldiers couldn't help but look at the Firearms Supervisor with mocking eyes. As veterans in the army, they knew the consequences of disobeying orders.
Cheng Yaojin naturally saw this scene. He couldn't help but look worriedly at Meton's galloping figure. He immediately got up and followed. If Li Jing really didn't care about his feelings, he could still plead for him.
In the middle of the army, Li Jing wiped the rain off his face. Even though he was over 60 years old, he was still like a normal soldier, directly riding his horse into the rain.
"The brick road is indeed extraordinary."
Li Jing saw that even though the rain wasn't small, the army was still able to move freely on the brick road. He nodded his head in satisfaction. In the past, when the army was marching, if they encountered a rainy day, they would need to delay for at least a few days. If it was an urgent military order, even if they were to march in the rain, they would only be able to move thirty to forty li in a day. Most of the supplies would be stuck in the mud, and they had to rely on everyone to push them out bit by bit.
"This is probably the easiest march in this Old Man's life." Li Jing lamented in the rain.
"General, please return to the carriage to avoid the rain." A bodyguard at the side advised. The four-wheeled carriage of the Mo Family was naturally able to block the wind and rain. There were naturally many four-wheeled carriages like this. Moreover, they were dressed very comfortably as a place to rest at night. Not only did Li Jing do so, almost all of the other generals did the same.
Li Jing shook his head and said, "No need. The soldiers are in the rain, how can this general be an exception?"
"General, you are leading by example. You are truly our role model." The bodyguard sighed. This was the demeanor of a generation's god of war.
Suddenly, from the rear of the army, a fast horse galloped over. A messenger jumped off the horse and reported, "General, the Firearms Supervisor has stopped advancing. They have set up camp here."
In an instant, Li Jing's face stiffened. He suddenly turned around to look at the rear of the army and saw Meton's figure galloping over on Shadowless.
"General, the Firearms Supervisor has something to report." Meton jumped off the horse and saluted Meton.
Li Jing immediately said coldly, "I just happen to want to hear the reason why the Firearms Supervisor has stopped marching without permission."
At this moment, Cheng Yaojin and the other generals who had heard the news also came. They all quietly looked at Meton. They couldn't imagine why the Firearms Supervisor would dare to disobey orders without permission.
"He really is a spoiled youth. He can't even stand marching in the rain." Many of the generals looked at Meton with disdain.
Meton smiled bitterly and said, "It's not that the Firearms Supervisor is afraid of the rain. It's just that the gunpowder the Firearms Supervisor carries can't come into contact with water. Once it gets wet, I'm afraid it can't be used."
"You're saying that the biggest weakness of the gunpowder that can destroy the city walls is water?" Li Jing frowned.
Meton explained, "The reason why firearms are so powerful is because the gunpowder burns and explodes. If the gunpowder is wet and can't be ignited, it's useless."
"I see." Li Jing naturally knew that fire and water couldn't coexist. His gaze toward Meton softened a bit.
"According to what you're saying, the Firearms Supervisor can't march in the rain?" Li Jing frowned.
Meton explained, "It's not that they can't march. The Firearms Supervisor's carriages are all sealed and covered with oilcloth. It won't be a problem if it rains for a short period of time. If it rains for a long period of time, I can't guarantee that it will work."
Li Jing secretly thought about it. Then he saw the generals who had heard the news and came over. He said, "What do you think?"
Hou Junji sneered, "No matter what the reason is, disobeying orders is disobeying orders."
Cheng Yaojin loudly retorted, "You can't say that. The gunpowder is the key to conquering Tuyuhun's three castles. If the gunpowder is lost, I'm afraid our army will lose a lot of soldiers. Besides, it's not that the Firearms Supervisor can't march. It's just that if they take the risk and cause the gunpowder to get wet, who will bear the responsibility? "
Hou Junji was instantly rendered speechless.
"The Firearms Supervisor is directly under His Majesty's jurisdiction. It's also a new branch of the military. It's better to protect the gunpowder first." Duan Zhixuan said. No one would be willing to take the risk of losing such a powerful weapon.
Li Jing nodded. He looked at Meton and shouted, "Since the Firearms Supervisor has a special situation, it's not like I can't make an exception. This place is still four days away from Lan Province. If the Firearms Supervisor can't make it by the time I reach Lan Province, then the Firearms Supervisor will be punished for failing to meet the deadline."
"Thank you for your understanding! I guarantee that I will reach Lan Province within four days. "Meton promised.
He couldn't help but rejoice. Fortunately, Li Jing was reasonable. Otherwise, if the Firearms Supervisor had to brave the rain and reach Lan Province, he couldn't guarantee that the gunpowder would be usable. He didn't have much confidence in this era's moisture-proof technology.
Looking at the army moving further and further away, tents were set up on the brick road. All the carriages carrying the gunpowder were placed inside the tents. A group of one hundred soldiers patrolled the area in the rain.
Meton waved his hand and said, "All one hundred soldiers split into three groups and go rest in groups. Not only do you have to ensure that the gunpowder is dry, but you also have to ensure that the gunpowder is safe."
"Yes!" Immediately, one hundred soldiers were the elites of the army. Naturally, there was no need for further orders. They were immediately arranged properly.
"Libation daren! If the rain doesn't stop, will we be able to reach Lan Province within four days after falling behind for so long? "Xue Rengui asked worriedly.
Merton said, "Then it's time to ask General Su for help."
He did not expect that the plan he had given to Su Ding to transport grain from Fang Zhong would be put to good use so soon.
"But what if …" Xue Rengui was worried. That was a huge crime of failing to meet the deadline! If they weren't careful, they would be consigned to eternal damnation!
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