Chapter 600 Enter the game!

“Of course I have to ask for instructions…”

Yuan Song nodded and continued:

"However, the battlefield situation is changing rapidly, and opportunities are fleeting. Our Marshal has never been a pedantic person who sticks to the rules. As long as we win this battle and take over Hebei and Henan, the Marshal will probably not mind us changing our prior plan!"

Guo Zhiping seemed to be hesitant and wanted to say something. Seeing this, Yuan Song waved his hand and asked directly:

"General Guo, you just need to tell me, do you think this is a fighter plane?"

Faced with Yuan Song's question, Guo Zhiping hesitated for a moment but still nodded against his will.

As a general, Guo Zhiping knew very well that if there was no interference from external forces, the biggest variable in the current situation in Hebei and Henan would be the more than 30,000 Henan troops under Gao Dingshan. If Gao Dingshan's more than 30,000 Henan troops escaped back to Yujing, then the defenders of Yujing would have as many as 50,000 people, with sufficient food and complete fortifications. In this case, even if the Fengwu Army captured Yecheng and concentrated heavy troops around Yujing to attack the city with all their might, it would be difficult to capture Yujing before winter came.

And if the war drags into winter, given the current unpredictable situation, there will be too many variables and no one knows what will happen next!
And if Gao Dingshan’s troops were annihilated outside Yujing City, then even if Yecheng was not captured within ten days, the Fengwu Army could still advance the plan step by step and take Yujing City. Once Yujing, the political and economic center of Hebei and Henan, was captured, the Gao family regime would collapse instantly. Then, as long as the Fengwu Army solved the food problem, the remaining territories of Hebei and Henan would surrender...
Seeing Guo Zhiping nod, Yuan Song said in a firm voice:

"I am the pre-war commander appointed by the Marshal himself. General Guo, you are following my orders. If something goes wrong, I will naturally bear the blame from the Marshal!"

Seeing Yuan Song being so responsible also inspired Guo Zhiping's pride, and he said in a deep voice:

"Since Commander Yuan has such courage, I, Guo, am not a coward. I have done this. If the Marshal holds me accountable, I will shoulder the responsibility with you!"

·························
·························
Huainan, Bozhou, Anqing Military Headquarters
"I, Wang Qingshu, the captain of the Supervisory Department, greet Lord Zhenyuan!"

After taking a deep look at the sturdy middle-aged man, Xu Zhaojie said calmly:
"Captain Song, it's been years since we last met. I didn't expect you to be promoted. You have a good career and a promising future!"

Listening to Xu Zhaojie's words, Wang Qingshu said with a respectful smile:

"When I was in Luo'an, I was just following orders. If I have offended you, please forgive me and don't blame me!"

"Humph!"

Xu Zhaojie snorted coldly when he heard that. When the Luoan Incident happened, he fled Luoan with his family. It was Wang Qingshu, who was then a captain of the Supervisory Department, who led people to hunt them down. At that time, he was chased to the point where he had no way out. If Lin Shize had not sent people to pick them up and drive away Wang Qingshu, he, Xu, might have really capsized in the ditch and fallen into the hands of Wang Qingshu!

At that time, Xu Zhaojie secretly swore in his heart that one day he would chop off Wang Qingshu's head to avenge the hunt he had endured that day!

However, Xu Zhaojie never expected that he would see Wang Qingshu again under such circumstances today!
Although he really wanted to kill Wang Qingshu on the spot, Xu Zhaojie was a man who was determined to do great things, and he would not lose the big picture just to vent his anger...

"Wang Qingshu, what is the purpose of your coming here today?" Xu Zhaojie asked in a deep voice:

Hearing Xu Zhaojie's question, Wang Qingshu felt relieved knowing that his head was temporarily saved, and immediately said:
"I am here today on the orders of Prime Minister Shangguan to mediate the war between you and Commander Feng Keqin. The Prime Minister hopes that you two can stop the war and rest for the sake of the people of the world and Huainan!"

After hearing this, Xu Zhaojie sneered:
"I am loyal to the emperor of today. Shangguan Hongyuan is a traitor. Why should I stop fighting when I ask him to?"

Facing Xu Zhaojie's question, Wang Qingshu calmly preached:
"Because your old subordinate Ye Mingsheng is here!"

When mentioning the name Ye Mingsheng, Wang Qingshu deliberately emphasized his tone. Although Xu Zhaojie was very good at hiding his true thoughts, when he heard the name Ye Mingsheng, which was unforgettable to him, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

Let's put aside the old grudges for now. The situation in Huainan has been in a stalemate until now. The reason why Xu Zhaojie has not defeated Feng Keqin is because that bastard Ye Mingsheng is behind the scenes. He first instigated Cao Changping to launch a surprise attack, forcing him to give up Kangyin City which he had basically already obtained.

Now, when he was fighting with Feng Keqin, he was instigating a peasant uprising in his rear and harassing his supply lines, making him unable to launch a general attack on Feng Keqin. The combination of new and old grudges made Xu Zhaojie hate Ye Mingsheng even more...

Seeing that Xu Zhaojie didn't say anything, Wang Qingshu was delighted, knowing that he had touched Xu Zhaojie's sensitive spot, and immediately continued to add fuel to the fire and said:

"I believe Lord Xu, you already know that the Fengwu Army is now attacking Hebei and Henan. The Gao family is in danger. If no one helps him, the Central Plains will most likely change its name to Ye. What do you think Ye Mingsheng will do next, considering his ambition and his relationship with you?"

At this point, Xu Zhaojie knew what Shangguan Hongyuan meant by asking Wang Qingshu to find him. He then sneered and said:

"Is Prime Minister Shangguan afraid that Ye Mingsheng's power will grow and threaten his unification of the north? This is not like his usual style as a world-famous hero."

In response to Xu Zhaojie's ridicule, Wang Qingshu was silent for a while, then sighed and said:

“Dissatisfied with Lord Xu, this Ye Mingsheng has become a thorn in the side of our Prime Minister. He has risen too fast and his momentum is too strong! “Moreover, Ye Mingsheng is best at grasping the reality. He now has a very good opportunity to launch an expansion towards Hebei and Henan. All our troops are concentrated in Sichuan and Shu, and we are simply unable to interfere with them. And if the Fengwu Army takes over Hebei and Henan, with the blessing of the Central Plains, then the strength of the Fengwu Army will reach a new level. That is something none of us want to see…”

Seeing Wang Qingshu's sincerity, Xu Zhaojie, who also felt threatened by Ye Mingsheng, restrained the mocking look on his face.

Xu Zhaojie knew that Ye Mingsheng had tried to stop his expansion of power across Ji and Yu before. Now, if Ye Mingsheng swallowed Ji and Yu, then given the hatred between them and Ye Mingsheng's character, he would never let him go. Although he, Xu, had made some achievements now, occupying Anqing and half of Huainan with tens of thousands of soldiers under his command, it was still not enough to confront the Fengwu Army head-on.

By then, Ye Mingsheng and Feng Keqin, who had conquered Hebei and Henan, would attack from both sides. It would only be a matter of time before Xu Zhaojie was defeated and killed. In fact, Wang Qingshu didn't need to tell him about this problem. Xu Zhaojie himself understood it, but he was entangled with Feng Keqin and was unable to interfere in the affairs of Hebei and Henan. He could only pray silently in his heart that Gao Zongchang would stop Ye Mingsheng. At least he would hold on until he completely defeated Feng Keqin and completely controlled the land of Huainan.

As long as he occupied Huainan, he would not be afraid of the Fengwu Army due to the wealth of Huainan, and could fight the Fengwu Army with real swords and guns.

Seeing that Xu Zhaojie didn't say anything, he continued to persuade:
"Lord Xu Gao Zongchang is old and incompetent, and his son Gao Dingshan is also a man of courage but no strategy. Their whole family is unreliable. Instead of placing your hopes on them, you might as well do it yourself. Now the only person who can thwart Ye Mingsheng's wolfish ambitions is you, Lord Xu!"

Under Wang Qingshu's earnest gaze, Xu Zhaojie slowly said:
"How confident are you that you can persuade Feng Keqin to stop fighting?"

Seeing Xu Zhaojie asking this, Wang Qingshu also understood that Xu Zhaojie was moved, and said without hesitation:

"They are no match for you, Lord Xu, and they have long since stopped wanting to fight. As long as you, Lord Xu, can give them a way out, I promise to make them withdraw..."

Seeing Wang Qingshu's confident expression, Xu Zhaojie didn't say anything but just looked at him calmly. Seeing Xu Zhaojie like this, Wang Qingshu's heart sank and he said:
"Lord Xu, you and Gao Zongchang are now in the same boat. Saving Gao Zongchang is the same as saving yourself!"

Xu Zhaojie sneered and said:

"If I'm unlucky, will Ye Mingsheng let you go?"

"What's more, our army has just fought a bloody battle with Feng Keqin for several months. The soldiers on the front line are exhausted and the logistics supply is difficult to sustain. If you don't give me some money and food, how can I let my brothers fight to the death with the Fengwu Army?"

Seeing that Xu Zhaojie had made his point clear, Wang Qingshu knew that he would definitely bleed, so he said helplessly:

"Our army is struggling in Sichuan and Shu. We can only take out 50,000 taels of silver and 50,000 shi of grain!"

As soon as Wang Qingshu finished speaking, Xu Zhaojie snorted coldly:

"When did Prime Minister Shangguan become as stingy as the landlords in Yunbing? You want me, Xu Zhaojie, to protect you from disasters, but you only give me this little money? Do you think I, Xu Zhaojie, am a beggar?"

After saying this, Xu Zhaojie was about to walk away. Wang Qingshu originally wanted to ask for a high price and pay it back, but now seeing that Xu Zhaojie did not follow his discussion and bargain, and was not going to talk anymore, he was forced to open his mouth to save the situation:

"Lord Xu, the Prime Minister is sincerely asking you to deal with Ye Mingsheng. How much money and grain do you want?"

Xu Zhaojie stood up and glanced at Wang Qingshu and said:

"150,000 taels of silver, 100,000 dan of grain, 50,000 pieces of cloth..."

Hearing Xu Zhaojie's answer, a bitter look emerged on Wang Qingshu's face, but he was pleasantly surprised in his heart. This time he came to talk to Xu Zhaojie on behalf of Luoan, and he was also given some authority.

What Xu Zhaojie wanted now was within his authority and did not touch his red line. Just when Wang Qingshu was about to argue with Xu Zhaojie and pretend to accept it reluctantly, Xu Zhaojie spoke again:
"In addition, I also want three thousand Shenwu guns and ten Zhengdong cannons!"

As soon as the two names "Shenwu Gun and Zhengdong Cannon" came out, Wang Qingshu's expression was stunned. He seemed a little unbelievable that Xu Zhaojie actually knew the existence of these two firearms!

Starting thirty years ago, firearms had become the standing weapon of the Great Zhou army. However, due to the technical difficulty in making firearms, only the most elite imperial guards of the Great Zhou were fully equipped with them, while local border troops had only a small amount of equipment, or even no equipment at all.

However, with the rapid rise of the Fengwu Army under the leadership of Ye Mingsheng, all forces in the Great Zhou Dynasty realized the importance of firearms in war. They all wanted to obtain the Fengwu Army's firearms through various channels and imitate them. However, due to the different manpower and material resources invested in firearms in different places, the level and speed of their imitation were also different!
Among them, the Luoan court, which already had the most craftsmen and a lot of experience in using firearms, was the one that imitated the Fengwu Army's firearms the fastest and with the best quality. Among the two major firearms currently equipped by the Fengwu Army, the Po Lu gun was mainly used to penetrate the enemy's armor and kill them. The main enemy of the Luoan court, the Nan Xun court in Rongcheng, did not have many cavalry units, so the Luoan court mainly imitated the Fengwu Army's Weiyuan gun in terms of firearms...

In addition to muskets, Luoan was also very interested in the red cannon of the Fengwu Army. The Hua Gao family obtained a destroyed red cannon from the remnants of the Yan Army. Although this red cannon had been destroyed, it still gave great inspiration to Luoan's firearms craftsmen.

Two months ago, under the expectation of Shangguan Hongyuan, the craftsmen of the Luoan court carefully studied the firearms of the Fengwu Army and imitated and created a fire gun and a cannon.

Shangguan Hongyuan, who already regarded Ye Mingsheng as a dreadful threat, was so delighted that he named it the Shenwu Gun and the cannon the Zhengdong Cannon. The meaning was obvious, it went without saying that it was aimed at Ye Mingsheng!
Although the Shenwu Gun and Zhengdong Cannon were imitated based on the Weiyuan Gun and Hongyi Cannon of the Fengwu Army, compared with the Fengwu Army, they lacked a large number of skilled workers and high-quality steel, and the manufacturing method still used the traditional method of one person being responsible for all the processes.

Therefore, the Shenwu Gun and the Zhengdong Gun are still not as powerful as the Fengwu Army’s firearms in terms of power, quality, and production speed. They are only 60% to 70% as powerful as the original ones, and their failure rate is high.

(End of this chapter)