Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Du Zhongxiao leaned back on the chair with mixed feelings. Before, I only thought about fighting a big victory, and after winning the battle, I had too many worries. With 30,000 self-trained soldiers, he first defeated and forced back the Khitan army of 200,000, and then defeated the party's army of more than 100,000 people, killing and capturing 60,000 people. The credit is great, but the army under his command is too dazzling.

What dynasty is this? Less than a hundred years ago, the Son of Heaven was a strong man and a strong man, and everyone thought it was true. Now that he is in charge of a strong army and rules several states, can the emperor in the capital sit safely?

In addition to the decree, there is also an edict, asking Du Zhongxiao to explain the strategy in detail, how to change the military system, rectify the army, and make the forbidden army become a strong army like the Yingtianxiang army. The meaning of the words is not to consult with others, it is a personal opinion.

With such an edict, Du Zhongxiao felt that Han Qi and Bao Zheng might have also gotten it. They don't say anything, because they are not allowed to consult.

Replying to this edict and suggesting military reform is a technical job, Du Zhongxiao has never done this kind of thing, and he has no idea where to start for a while. It is not possible to really tell the root cause of the failure of the forbidden army's combat effectiveness. Other officials can say that Du Zhongxiao, who is in charge of the army and has made military achievements, cannot say it. Not to mention the root cause, but also to convince the emperor, this degree is not easy to grasp.

The official document replying to the edict is a book of ten thousand words, Du Zhongxiao wrote it for the first time, and I can't find a reference here, so I have a headache. It's called 10,000 words, it's not just a few hundred words, it's definitely a long story, and it's written in all aspects. This kind of article is a test for Du Zhongxiao.

On the second day, Han Qi and Du Zhongxiao chatted in the official hall. Said: "Captain Di returned to Beijing from Lingnan, and the saint specially ordered his soldiers to act in the Chongzheng Hall to perform the scene of the victory of Guirenpu that day, and hundreds of officials watched. When I return to Beijing this time, if I can perform the first battle of Hue, it will be a grand event. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Xianggong, this is a little difficult. The battle of Quy Nhon Pu is nothing more than a formation of swords and guns, and it is not difficult to act out. The first battle of Hue was full of guns and cannons, and if you look like it, you can't see the situation of that day. If you want to perform on the same day, do you dare to set off guns? ”

Han Qi nodded and said, "That's true." But neither the saint nor the officials of the DPRK and China have ever seen how guns and artillery fight, and it is not good to demonstrate it in front of them. Is there a compromise solution? ”

Du Zhongxiao thought about it, and happened to see Wang Dexing holding some documents to the side, and said loudly: "Wang Dexing, come and talk." ”

Wang Dexing anxiously put the paperwork aside and came in to salute.

Du Zhongxiao said: "I remember that when you were learning to fight in Suizhou, you made a set of small soldiers with others, which could be arranged into a military formation and demonstrate the battle situation. Did you bring that set of little soldiers here? ”

Wang Dexing said: "Jie Shuai, those things were originally used by us to demonstrate the formation and calculate the combat power. The most complete set is still in the Suizhou camp. I brought some with me, and explained them to others in my spare time, but they were not complete. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Han Xianggong returned to Beijing to demonstrate the battle of Hue to the Holy Lord and the ministers. Only put on a posture, you can't see the power of the guns, you can't understand it. Is it feasible for you to bring that set of soldiers over and show them to Han Xianggong? ”

Wang Dexing agreed, hurriedly left the official hall, and brought two soldiers in a short time with a few boxes. After Du Zhongxiao, he opened the box, took out many woodcarved villains and various mechanisms, and assembled them.

After the assembly was completed, Han Qi saw that it was a rather large thing similar to a sand table, and there were many villains in it, forming an army formation. One side of the villain is painted red, and the other side is painted black, and the lineup is distinct. There were even gun emplacements and artillery inside, and Wang Dexing also loaded the artillery with charge.

Wang De got up and said to Du Zhongxiao: "Jieshuai, we have changed to this appearance, and the same is true for Suizhou." However, the sand table over there is larger, and there are more wooden figures, which can demonstrate large battle formations. ”

Du Zhongxiao stood up, looked at the sand table on the ground with Han Qi, and said, "How do you demonstrate the battle formation now?" ”

Wang Dexing said: "Use wooden people to form a battle formation, and there are mechanisms on this side, which can control each small formation to attack forward." The artillery here is reduced according to the real cannon, and when the enemy attack is coming, how the artillery fire is set up and how the cannon is fired, so as to achieve maximum damage. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "What if you arrive in front of the battle and the two armies meet?" ”

Wang Dexing shook his head: "We really can't make the effect of muskets, and there is no way for the two armies to connect." In the past, it was a big wooden man, and the soldiers were selected to hide behind, pushing the wood to move forward, and they really tried it with muskets. ”

Du Zhongxiao looked at Han Qi and said, "Then you can demonstrate it first and see how the artillery fire will block it when the enemy attacks." ”

Wang Dexing promised, and together with the two soldiers, manipulated the mechanism to let the military formation of one side advance. The simulation is the battle of Hue Du, and the attacker is, of course, the Chinese army. As soon as the guns came into range, the guns in the emplacements began to fire, firing small projectiles.

Du Zhongxiao couldn't help but laugh dumbly when he saw it. The so-called artillery is actually a fireworks made of copper, and some small stones are used to make cannonballs in it. The mechanism was specially designed, and the cannon could really knock down the little wooden man. This is actually a toy, and the real power cannot be measured, only the approximate effect of the attack of the military formation and the defense of artillery fire can be seen. It can give people an intuitive feeling, but in fact, it can't calculate the power.

Han Qi saw it and praised it again and again. I'll go back and have a good demonstration, and that's enough. After looking at it for a while, he said, "You said there are more fields in Suizhou?" The speedy man took it and brought it to the capital! After a while, how about Wang Dexing returning to Beijing with me? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "This is his creation. - Don't thank you for your support? ”

Wang Dexing hurriedly bowed his hand to Han Qi: "Thank you, the little one is willing to go to the capital with the prime minister." ”

Han Qi nodded, and said, "You just said that when you tried the musket formation, you let the soldiers push the wooden people forward, what did it look like?" ”

Wang Dexing said: "At that time, when Suizhou was drilling, no one knew how powerful the musket was, and it was not difficult for the ministry to really use people to try. So he made some wooden figures, and those who could defend against muskets let the soldiers push the wooden figures forward behind them, and the other party practiced with muskets. Xiangzhou woodware, it is convenient to do these. However, we did not bring these with us on this expedition. ”

Han Qi said: "Now that there is a train, it is not difficult to go back and forth. Jing Luo and I issued a warrant together, and asked Suizhou to send someone to bring it to the capital, and then demonstrate it in front of the Holy Lord and the ministers. A musket is not a cannon in the end, look at it from a distance, nothing. ”

Du Zhongxiao had no objection, and instructed Wang De to prepare, and bring more manpower and equipment when he returned to Beijing. The emperor and the hundred officials looked at the artillery, but they only saw that it was extremely powerful. I have also seen muskets, the firepower is intensive, far from being comparable to swords, guns, bows and crossbows. But how these formations of the army fought in the end, they couldn't imagine. A demonstration will be beneficial to Du Zhongxiao and his army.

Wang Dexing left, and Du Zhongxiao and Han Qi sat down again.

Han Qi said: "Jinglu, this time I came to Hequ and won many big victories, and the DPRK and China will inevitably use your department to train the forbidden army." How long do you think it will take to see results? You have been training for four or five years, it won't be more than that, right? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "In my estimation, if you really have to make a decision, it will be almost two years." However, when I was training this army back then, first, I selected talents from a wide range of people in the army, and I took the test while studying, so that I have today's generals in the army. It is not easy for the forbidden army to do this. Again, Xianggong, an army of 30,000 people used a lot of supplies in a single battle. Coupled with the newly made guns, there is only one place in Baiting, which can not supply all the forbidden troops in two years. ”

Han Qi nodded again and again: "What I said is that your army is capable of fighting, and the materials consumed during the war are really amazing." With so many guns, plus shells and bullets, it is difficult for Bai Tingjian to be afraid. It doesn't matter, as long as you can fight, there is always a way to do everything. ”

Baiting Jian originally belonged to the Third Division, and after Han Qi returned to Beijing this time, it is likely that the Privy Council will intervene to manage the manufacture of firearms.

"Two years—" Han Qi thought for a moment, "Two years later, with more troops like the Jingluo Division, what is the Khitan and the party!" Hequ Road is between the Khitan and the party, and it is thought that if this dynasty recovers the homeland of the previous dynasty, which side should be attacked first? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "This dynasty is a country and is determined to restore Yanyun. Now that the two Khitan emperors are standing side by side, it looks like a good opportunity. However, Xia Guan thought that he should first sit and watch the Khitan two tigers fight, and wait for their success or failure. If this dynasty shows its intention to recover Yanyun, the Khitan parties will be under pressure, no matter what method is used, to compromise for the time being and defend the whole country. It's better to attack the party first. ”

Han Qi nodded again and again: "Makes sense." It is the best policy to attack the party first, and it is the next policy to force the Khitan. - What about attacking the party? ”

"It's just two ways. The first is to cut its wings, first break through the Hengshan in the east, and take the land west of the river in the west. At that time, there were only two states left in Xingling, and there was no depth to dodge, and it was easy to dodge. After taking the land and Jinze, it is not difficult to break through the Hengshan Mountain with the north and south of Yanzhou. The Han people of Hexi Hondo, this great victory, the local wealthy clan will inevitably have their hearts set on the imperial court, and it should not be difficult to attack it-"

Han Qi said: "Another way, I'm afraid it's the black tiger digging out of his heart!" ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, what Xianggong said is true." First put Hengshan and Hexi on one side, build the railway to the Zhenrong army, and attack Lingzhou from south to north. The Hequ Road is a large army forcing the mountains and rivers pass, and the Zhenrong army is advancing north and south. After taking the two states of Xingling, the land west of the river is in the palm of your hand, so why is it difficult to capture Hengshan? Instead of slowing down, it is better to attack the heart. ”

Han Qi nodded repeatedly. Back then, he was Qin Fenglu's envoy, and he was deeply ashamed of the defeat of Ren Fu. Attacking the north from the Zhenrong army is not only the best offensive route, but also avenges the revenge of the year.

Hequ Road is not the best route to attack Xingqing Mansion now, and it is a natural danger to attack Helan Mountain from the north. Instead of attacking Xingqing Mansion, it is better to go west of Helan Mountain and take Hexi. Du Zhongxiao was not greedy for merit, and suggested starting from the Zhenrong Army, and Han Qi agreed.

In fact, at this time, Du Zhongxiao is still greedy for military merits, and the existing military merits are already so big that there is no boundary. The party item has now been crushed into a thin strip, completely lost its depth, and as long as it is properly directed, it is a ripe fruit.