Chapter 226: The Great Killer

When Wu Xing heard the word Duke Zhang, he was already furious.

It’s just that he’s a Svengali after all, so he’s not in a position to snap.

He pursed his lips tightly, holding back the fire in his stomach.

He’s good at reasoning.

But when it comes to messing around, a hundred Wu Xing are no match for Zhang Anshi.

You’ll kill all the thieves in the village in one day and one night?

Zhu Di and others, at this time did not have the heart to calculate Wu Xing, now but all put their minds on the head of the suppression of thieves.

Zhu Di has a deep fear of attacking a city.

His specialty was field warfare, and one of his most painful defeats in the midst of the Yasukuni was the attack on the city of Jinan.

The Battle of Jinan can be said to be one of the biggest fiascoes in Zhu Di’s life. In order to deal with this city of Jinan, he resorted to flooding, shelling, and even forcibly attacking the city.

Enough to fight for three months, three months, the loss of soldiers and generals, morale fell to the bottom, so Zhu had to choose to withdraw their troops and run away with the bucket.

Zhu Di’s defeat, on the one hand, from Jinan is a strong city; on the other hand, also from Jinan at the time of the commander-in-chief of the Tieh-Hyun, Sheng-Yong commanded properly.

But the city of Jinan was, after all, very large, easier for the army to spread out, and the siege was already difficult.

And this manor of Ji Gang is obviously the result of his painstaking efforts. It is to make sure that, if something happens, it can last for at least a year and a half, to delay the contingency.

In addition, Ji Gang has a lot of silver, and a group of outlaws to serve him, this place is also close to Nanjing City, once the court deployed the army, is bound to cause a lot of discussion in Nanjing City.

It could be argued that this is all an unfavorable influence on the court.

At this time, Zhu could not help but be suspicious, he is not distrustful of Zhang Anshi, but this completely subverted Zhu’s usual perception of the military.

“Are you trying to dig a tunnel?” Zhu asked.

Zhang Anshi directly shook his head and said, “Amidst the lofty mountains, and the ground is mostly granite, digging tunnels is absolutely impossible.”

Zhu frowned and said, “However, if we use artillery, it is bombarded from the bottom towards the top, and that manor, which also has artillery, can be located high up, and their range is much longer than ours, so I’m afraid it will be difficult to do anything.”

Zhu held his chin in deep thought, all his thoughts were now on this fortress.

After fighting so many battles for so many years, the only thing I’m most afraid of is gnawing on such hard bones.

At this time, Zhu Di once again hated Ji Gang, this Ji Gang apparently even before his death, also created a stone in the pit for him.

The so-called more stones in the pit, that is, stinking and hard, you do not pay attention to him, he will be disgusting you all day, but once you want to move it, the cost is too big.

Yilungha stood glumly, looking a bit bereft, as he was observing a moment of silence for the more than five hundred dead and wounded warrior battalion warriors.

This is the Warrior Battalion, the elite of the elite, the most elite force in the Arch Palace!

We do eunuchs, really too real, within the thousands of households to fool said on really on, do not think that the model battalion on the left, how they do not on?

The loss is bleeding.

Xie Jin and others, look at this, look at that, although they do not understand the military, but they are good at observing words and colors.

One need only look at the faces of His Majesty and several of the princes to see that it is almost on impossible to accomplish the task in a day and night.

This Xie Jin’s heart only feel funny, the heart is with a few expectations, if Zhang Anshi can not do, then …… can just take advantage of the situation, think of ways to create an atmosphere to ask his majesty to shut down the official school academy.

Taking a ten thousand steps back, even if it is not shut down, when the time comes, millions of readers are raging, and the reputation of this government school academy is notorious, it is still good.

So Xie Jin smiled and said, “Marquis Annan, it is now noon ……”

That means I’m pinching pennies.

If it is tomorrow noon, it can t be solved, then …… the Annan Marquis is only afraid of breaking his word.

Zhang Anshi since he was too lazy to understand Jinyi, only looked at Zhu Di and said, “Oh, your majesty, then I will leave, this will go to make preparations.”

Zhu Di said, “Go on, go on, tomorrow I will personally go to the front line of Zhongshan to supervise the battle.”

After saying that, he lowered his head again and his mind was again on the maps.

Zhu Neng at this time suddenly asserted, “Impossible, never possible, your majesty …… why do I think Zhang Anshi is boasting?”

Seeing Zhang Anshi hurrying away, Zhu Neng only said, “According to the minister s view …… this thing is definitely not done, and there is no way for the Dala Jinxian to come. He Zhang Anshi can do it, I will pee on the spot on the crotch.”

People are different. When Wu Xing said that it could not be done, he was deliberately sarcastic to Zhang Anshi.

Zhu can not be the same, his own son of the asshole also followed Zhang Anshi big brother long big brother short it, in all likelihood, Zhang Anshi to encourage Zhu Yong to go to do, when the matter is not done, the loss of troops, is not a disgrace?

Now, of course, is to lay out the difficulties, so that His Majesty’s heart, when it really can not be achieved, or have a good reason, not my son did not try, it is really the thieves’ fortress is too strong.

Qiu Fu, who stood by the side, also seemed to be alarmed all of a sudden, so he also hastened to say, “What Cheng Guo Gong said is very true, Your Majesty, ah, I see …… Zhang Anshi’s words, listen to it ……”

In fact, Qiu Fu is even more worried than Zhu Neng, Zhu Neng is worried about his own son will not lose face, but he Qiu Fu’s son what virtue, Qiu Fu is aware of, that stupid son, can throw his life in.

Zhu finally raised his head again, but frowned, “What if it comes true?”

Then he looked at Xu Huizu and said, “Secretary Xu, you are also considered a veteran general, according to you, how much grain and horses and soldiers do you need to take down this fortress?”

As his own son-in-law, theoretically, Xu Huizu should also worry about worrying about Zhang Anshi’s safety.

But he was not worried about Zhang Anshi losing his life, according to his careful observation these days, even if this Daming’s army and horses died out, Zhang Anshi would still be able to leave his life behind.

To save his life, he, Zhang Anshi, is a professional.

Xu Huizu thus the most calm and relaxed, this time calmly said: “Your Majesty, 30,000 elite troops, a month and a half of centaurs, the first order of 20,000 men and horses to attack in turn, so that the thief can not rest day and night, to take the strategy of enemy fatigue, to be more than a month later, and then use the 10,000 soldiers and horses, launching a strong attack, the thief, if there is a tiny bit of half a bit of negligence, then the manor will be broken. ”

Zhu Di smiled and said: “I am a little stronger than you, I just thought about it after. I feel that 20,000 elite soldiers, within a month, can break into the city. But …… this method, the loss is quite large, I am afraid that this casualty, to be more than five thousand.”

Five thousand casualties, is not a small number, do not look at the Ming at every turn, shouting that they have a million troops, but in fact the real elite war soldiers, may not even 200,000, dead one is a huge loss.

One of the most important reasons for Zhu Di’s success after the Battle of Jingnan was that he was able to eliminate the elite of the southern army through field battles, and since then, he took the initiative of the whole battlefield and fought wherever he wanted to.

The so-called millions of troops and horses of the imperial court, however, could only hunker down in various cities and towns, and could no longer mobilize their elite forces to fight against Zhu Di.

Zhu was a few, and he spoke seven times.

On the other hand, Xie Jin and the others, however, have retired.

This Wu Xing immediately became the center of everyone’s attention.

Many people looked at him, differently.

So after leaving Chongwen Hall, there were many familiar and unfamiliar colleagues who greeted him, “Wu Gong’s words are very painful.”

“Throughout the dynasties, there have always been people like Duke Wu who have saved the day, and this is the backbone of Confucianism.”

In the face of much boasting and admiration.

Wu Xing was greatly flattered, and he knew very well in his heart that within a few days, his reputation would spread all over the world and become a model for the world’s readers.

There will even be people who will compare him to Wei Zheng, whose name will go down in history and be admired by all generations.

At this time, Wu Xing heart can not help but bring a few points of complacency, then can not help but say, “I expect that Zhang Anshi …… frivolous, this time he also took the initiative to ask for help, will not be able to succeed. Gentlemen, now …… that the arrow is on the string, have to send, the official school academy and I and other saints, the two cannot exist, do not share the sky.”

“To be after this battle, that Zhang Anshi failed when, it is when we strike while the iron is hot, but also ask you to be the same as Wu, do not care about personal life and death gains and losses, to the living and the gods of the earth and grain as a thought, a show of the bones of the readers. Do not remove the official school academy, we have what face, see the saints?”

The crowd was encouraged.

A few Wen Yuan Pavilion university professors returned to the Wen Yuan Pavilion, Xie Jin eyebrows fluttered, mouth constantly praised Wu Xing’s bones.

“Wu Xing this person …… really teach people to admire ……”

Many times it is so, maybe Xie Jin does not have the courage to hard steel, but he is a scholar ah.

The best thing about the readers is that they praise the hard-nosed warriors to make their point.

In this way, if something really happens, send death to Wu Xing to go, but if this thing comes to fruition, he can also follow to enjoy the honor and show his unique vision.

Hu Guang also wanted to say something, but saw that once Yang Rong returned to Wen Yuan Pavilion, he directly went back to his public room, so he was also silenced.

Until it was time to go off duty, he took the excuse to go to Yang Rong’s duty room to drink tea and sit around.

He held back his words for a long time, so he couldn’t help but say to Yang Rong, “Lord Yang, the matter of the official school academy is indeed ridiculous, but why didn’t Lord Yang say anything about it? Although the most important thing for us as ministers is to assist His Majesty in governing the world, but if we encounter an injustice, do we not speak up as well?”

Yang Rong sighed and said: “The rise and fall of the country, you and I are burdened with a huge stake. But I ask you, the government school academy, recruiting his students, the readers naturally test their imperial examinations, we are originally well water does not offend the river water, why now everyone is filled with righteous indignation?”

When these words came out, Hu Guang frowned and said, “This …… after all …… after all …… they are playing the disciples of the son of heaven …… signboard, I think …… it is someone who is afraid that there are sons and daughters who will go astray.”

Yang Rong smiled and said, “There are more than a million scholars in the world, how many of them may have a meritorious title? How many people who can be successful in lifts and jinshi, and can become an official, how many are there? How many readers, who have studied hard all their lives, have not gained anything, why should we worry that someone will go astray? Whether or not the official school academies are useful, whether the skills learned are right or wrong, I don’t understand and don’t care, but those readers who have failed to pass the examination, who continue to hold on to their poems and books all their lives and are stuck for the rest of their lives, is it really beneficial to people?”

Hu Guang subconsciously said, “This is not the same, this is the saint’s science, there is always a use for learning it.”

Yang Rong shook his head slightly and said, “Whether it is useful or not lies in whether or not they are given the opportunity to display their talents. In ancient times, how many capable people were able to display their talents? If everyone could show their ambition, then why are there so many poems that complain about their situation? People who study at the government school, whether they go to his personal army or to the Brocade Guards, after all, it has nothing to do with us. As to whether His Majesty loves them or not, that is also His Majesty’s business. As long as we don’t violate the discipline and don’t teach the people to suffer, doesn’t it seem ridiculous for us to talk about it?”

Hu Guang still frowned, he still feels that something is not right, as to where it is not right, but he could not say it for a moment, so he said, “Under the saint’s door, there should always …… be a saint.”

Not waiting for him to say further, Yang Rong waved his hand and said: “In my opinion, now it has become this way, the essence is that some people want to take advantage of this to invite fame. The excuse to create panic among the readers, using the readers on the aversion of the psychological, and then stand up and show their own bones. Hey …… you and I are stupid people, people’s life, there is a limit, a person can see how far, where do you know, this thousand years of the river ultimately to where? Why do we have to go to judgment for the present and future generations?”

Yang Rong then lowered his head, sorted out his own votes, said on the one hand: “In my opinion, many of the problems of this dynasties, are out of the people who want to do too much cleverness, willing to go to work diligently is too little, the readers in this regard, the problem is particularly serious, everyone opens their mouths to think of the so-called long-term peace and security, think of a thousand years after the matter, think of what peace for all times, everyone is delusional, through the pointing fingers, to realize these.”

“But many of such boastful people, but even the matter at hand are not good, some people, even the clothes will not wear, the meal also need to be fed by others, born two legs, but the car and horse and soft sedan chair instead of walking, hey …… the world’s prosperity and demise, the bad is bad here.”

Said here, Yang Rong raised his head, then said, “First do the immediate thing, the government school academy is good or bad, do not need a thousand years and a hundred years, only three or five years, will be able to see the difference, and then it will not be too late to discuss, you guys ah …… too anxious.”

Hu Guang grunted, “Isn’t this called a good fighter without a heck of a lot of success? It’s already too late to fix the problem when it’s discovered.”

Yang Rong said, “The way always need to try, if nothing is done, that is bad. I view Zhang Anshi this person …… although there are many criticisms, but it is not without strengths, why bother to follow others at this time to pour cold water?”

After Hu Guang thought about it, he said, “That’s fine, let’s not argue, and let’s see what this government school academy has to offer.”

…………

Zhang Anshi came out of the palace and returned to the official school academy without stopping.

The first thing that came to his mind, was Qusong.

So Qiu Song was soon called before Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi looked at him and said, “Our stuff, it’s useful.”

Chuson picked his nose, “What?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Will we experiment a few hot air balloon to me to carry out, this night to me to prepare properly, all give me a good overhaul, see if there is any problem. And …… that gunpowder bombs, also give me out of the warehouse, you have to double check clearly, can never make a mistake.”

As soon as Qiu Song heard this, his eyes lit up with flesh, and his entire body appeared to be revitalized.

He couldn’t flick away the ball of mud he had picked out of his nose, and looked at Zhang Anshi with light in his eyes, saying, “Big brother won’t lie to me, will he?”

Zhang Anshi glared at him impatiently and said, “Cut the nagging and get ready.”

“Oh, oh.” After saying that, Qiu Song immediately turned around and walked away.

Last time, when Zhu Zhanji came to Qixia, he had seen a huge gunpowder explosion.

Of course …… that kind of gunpowder explosion is only experimental in nature.

At that time, Zhu Yong and Zhang Yoking complained that this thing …… has no possibility of actual combat.

It’s not really their fault, what artillery can blast out a gunpowder bomb the size of a wheel, it’s hundreds of pounds of the stuff.

So other than leaving it in place to detonate and hear a bang, it’s a waste of silver.

But Qiu Song is different, Qiu Song is happy to hear such a ring. He even …… increased the amount of gunpowder on top of that, and at the same time, increased the size of this gunpowder bullet by a few points.

Today, the largest gunpowder bomb, which has weighed three hundred and fifty pounds, is sealed on the outside with a sphere of bronze, and this bomb is known as the Chuson bomb.

As for the detonation ……

Zhang Anshi, however, stopped.

Because this thing …… is too appalling and overpowered, detonating it in place can only figure out a fun, not to mention that Zhang Anshi himself can t predict the consequences of this thing blowing up.

Three hundred and fifty pounds of gunpowder quantity, this is the power enhanced version of gunpowder ah, even a kilogram, are enough to open the mountain to blow up the stone, as for three hundred and fifty pounds, and also for sealing, this thing ……

At least Zhang Anshi was unable to predict its power.

Of course, Zhang Anshi worried his ass off in order to solve the problem of placing this thing.

Artillery is definitely out of the question, and stone throwers …… that is by no means out of the question.

As for treating it as a landmine ……

Apparently not much use either.

Thinking about it, Zhang Anshi thought of bombers.

Of course, in this day and age, bombers must be a fool’s errand.

But …… hot air balloons, it is possible.

Utilizing the heat away and flying up, while dropping bombs later, was obviously the only possibility left.

Hot air balloons are actually very well made.

Once you understand the basics of it, while shedding silver and having enough people, it’s all a handful.

The hard part is, to build a hot air balloon for this era.

So …… there is a group of craftsmen who have been building almost behind closed doors for months, and after experiment after experiment, they are now only barely able to make a few of these hot air balloons.

Chuson is the general director of this program.

He was very much taken up with explosives and the throwing of them, so that this item of flying balls was subjected to almost an extremely severe examination on his part.

So much so that the craftsmen complained, this work can not be done, every now and then, to be nitpicked out of the problem, at any time to rework.

Luckily, Zhang Anshi added money.

Now …… three flyballs, three huge Chuson bombs, are ready.

Of course …… Chuson has to take some people with him and make final preparations.

All of the processes have to be gone over, and several of the bombardiers in charge of the flyballs have to familiarize themselves with the outline of the plan.

Once upon a time they had tried it a few times, but the throws had been boulders, but now they were actually going to have to fight it out in real life.

Not only that, but the cables, the refined alcohol fuel, and the canvas, all need to be tested again, to be sure.

Immediately afterward, there was a push, and a bronze sealed gunpowder bomb close to half a man’s height came out of the warehouse.

The thing was extremely dangerous, so wooden planks with pulleys were fitted underneath for pushing, and thereafter it was pushed onto the wagon.

Zhang Anshi wasn’t idle either, he gathered all the trainees and gave them a day’s rest with the intention of letting them come and watch a show.

There was a lot of learning involved in making this thing, both alchemy and engineering, and even math.

Without this basic knowledge, there is no way to explain these phenomena and ultimately manufacture a finished product.

These cadets, when they were running to change their fate of the mind enrollment of the official school academy, but what they learned, in the end there is no use, in fact, the vast majority of people, there is no bottom line.

But when they saw one of the behemoths, they had begun to talk.

The instructors, on the other hand, at this time, took out the syllabus prepared by Zhang Anshi and began to talk about the principles of hot air in front of everyone.

At this point, many people are just looking fresh, and they are just listening to the outline of these teachings.

In this world, however, you may have little interest in learning, or be averse to dull instruction, but every man is a natural lezzo man, and with such a lezzo to look at, many have been unable to take their foot off the gas, and have watched one after another with unblinking eyes.

Zhang Anshi cursed from the sidelines, “Into his mother’s, look at the fun is energetic, reading is dead.”

Next Day ……

Dawn, the rising sun.

Zhu Di had risen early and personally led the hundred officials to Zhongshan.

Here, the feathered guards have long since blocked off the main roads.

Zhu Di took the civil and military officials and stationed them here.

From the bottom of this mountain, looking out at the manor house hidden in the mountains, Zhu could not help but be at first glance.

It’s a rift valley, with only one goat path up the mountain, a real one-trick pony.

The appearance of that Zhuangzi is like a mockery of Zhu Di, which makes Zhu Di think of the Battle of Jinan again.

His eyes instantly reddened, and he could not wait to shout, “Whoever breaks the bank first, will be crowned a marquis!”

The civil ministers and military generals, one by one, raised their heads and looked up, and people were talking.

At the bottom of the mountain, there are the assembled Warrior Battalion elites as well as the Model Battalion officers and soldiers. In the Warrior Battalion’s camp, the wounded generals are wailing, and the rest of them are not much better, all of them are gray in the face.

The model battalion is obviously a very different story, still in high spirits.

Also lost Ha took the opportunity to run to the warrior camp to console the soldiers, see this camp two or three hundred missing arms and legs of the generals, can not help but heartbreakingly scolded: “Listen well, after the model camp is not, you are not allowed to die lightly, ah …… ah … …”

And also lost aha to wipe tears from his eyes.

The governor eunuch, as well as several other eunuchs officials and schools also step by step to follow also lost ha, the atmosphere does not dare to come out.

Everyone said, “We all say that this we do eunuchs treacherous and slippery, when it comes to treachery, there is no more treacherous than those who are in the model battalion.”

“Grand Duke, the generals …… are too miserable to collect the bones of the night …… hey ……”

Also lost ha after the heartache, the turn of the angry seven smoke, he wiped away the tears, tense face said: “Do not say, in short, do not take our warrior battalion of soldiers to joke, this is what we say, Chen Li and Zhu Yong that a few guys, if you still want to come to lie to you, teach them to come to find us.”

Having said that, Yiluoha hurried back to Zhu Di’s camp again.

But at that moment, Zhang Anshi had actually arrived.

Zhu Di at this time riding on the horse, still looking out over the manor, mouth said, “Zhang Anshi, there is one and a half hours, the time is going to come, your soldiers and horses …… still do not go up the mountain to attack?”

Zhang Anshi, however, appeared unflustered and even smiled and said, “Your Majesty, don’t be in a hurry, it’s already started.”

Zhu then looked to the camp of the Model Battalion in the distance, but there, there was not the slightest sign that they were going to attack.

Qi Guo Gong Qiu Fu was at the back, nervously looking around, seeking his son’s figure.

Zhu Neng, on the other hand, let out a long sigh of relief and bragged, “My son is in the model battalion, oops, alive and well, I don t see …… him in any danger.”

Qufu then couldn’t help but say anxiously, “Have you seen Qusong?”

Zhu Neng shook his head like a rattle drum and said, “I don t know …… but I heard from the model battalion that Qusong is the main attacker, and he is playing the first battle.”

When Duke Qiu Fu of Qi Guo heard this, his blood went cold, and he stood in place, waxing and waning, without saying a word.

Zhu Neng patted his shoulder and comforted him, “Aiya, a tiger’s father does not have a dog’s son, I think Qiu Song is a blessed man, and the lucky man will have his own destiny. Don’t worry, surely won’t die, I dare to bet five taels of silver that our Qiu nephew can come back safely.”

Churchford: “……”

As I watched, another long time passed.

But the model battalion hasn’t moved.

Zhu Di frowned up and couldn’t help but stare at Zhang Anshi, “Zhang Anshi, there’s still an hour left.”

The back of the civilian ministers and military generals, but also talk a lot, especially that Wu Xing, eyebrows fluttering like, to the bystanders, said: “Although I do not know the soldiers, but I also know …… this Zhang Anshi boasted of the mouth, guaranteed to be unable to achieve. Some people, the best thing is to boast …….”

His voice was getting lower and lower, and as a general rule, when the voice gets lower, it tends to speak harder.

As I watched, noon was approaching.

Many are growing impatient.

But at this point ……

From the main peak of Zhongshan Mountain, several black spots suddenly appeared and seemed to start moving towards this side, slowly.

The black dot was slow, floating in a Xu Xu direction towards the Zhuangzi.

The vast majority of people, as yet, do not notice the difference.

Even Zhu Di, only thought it was just a flying bird, he was slightly disappointed and sighed: “It seems that we can only use my method, the rebels and traitors, so bold, I do not spare any cost, but also within a month, teach them to have no bones.”

Saying that, Zhu Di’s face, couldn’t help but swipe through a trace of sinister.

Whatever it takes, these few flippant words represent everything that countless families will have to pay.

Zhang Anshi, however, had been looking up at the distance, when he said, “Your Majesty, look …… here.”

Zhu was surprised and looked up with Zhang Anshi’s line of sight.

The black dot began to grow larger, and it was evident …… that it was no longer a flying bird, but appeared to him as if it were a huge orb with something dangling from its lower head.

“That’s ……” Zhu looked on with his eyes wide open, amazed.

Wait until it’s a little closer.

Suddenly someone was surprised and said, “Look, look ah, up there, someone …… someone …… is flying up.”

The moment these words came out, it gave almost everyone, as if it was a shock like a flat thunderstorm.