In the open space outside the tent, Wang Xin carried Wang Ze, slammed it on the ground, and forked his hand to Ming Hao: "Advice, the first offender Wang Ze has been taken here!" ”

Myeongho looked at the sun in the sky, let out a sigh of relief, and said in a loud voice: "If anyone is guilty, all of them will be taken into custody." Be sure to watch it, and there must be no mistakes! Wait for the will of the imperial court, how to deal with it! The army is stationed outside the city, and no military orders are allowed to enter the city! ”

After speaking, he said to Gao Jilong beside him: "Zhizhou, Beizhou is in the new war, if the army enters the city, it will inevitably disturb the people." You take your men into the city and comfort the people. Except for the rebel soldiers and those who have joined the demon cult, the rest are not asked, and they must not provoke any more civil uprisings. ”

Gao Jilong said yes, took his subordinates, and entered Beizhou City. Wang Xin, Wang Kai and Hao Zhen led their subordinates out of the city and still returned to the camp.

Tens of thousands of troops poured into a small city in Beizhou, not to mention that the military discipline of the army could not be counted on, even if the military discipline was good, the people in the city could not afford it.

Putting several leaders outside the tent, Ming Ho said to Du Zhongxiao on the side: "This time to break the city, the bachelor should be the first to take the lead!" Today, a banquet was held in the army to celebrate the achievements of all the soldiers! Bachelor, please take a seat! ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled and shook his head: "Breaking through the city and fighting bloody battles is the work of the generals. I just led people to fire a few cannons, where do I dare to claim the first credit. Consult the boss, since he is in the seat, several lieutenants to accompany him. I'll just mess with a glass of wine. ”

As soon as the city was broken, Du Zhongxiao's role disappeared. At this time, it was the time when the generals who attacked the city were in high spirits. Wang Kai and Du Zhongxiao are familiar with each other, needless to say, Wang Xin, Mai Yunyan and Hao Zhen and others also know it in their hearts and will not be rude. The subordinate commanders and eunuchs, as well as the military commanders and battalion commanders under Wang Kai, do not have such a high consciousness. After winning the battle, everyone was proud and boasted to each other. For the sake of verbal conflicts, several fights broke out. For the rewards that will be given next, it is even more calculated.

At this time, it is more difficult for the general to restrain than when he was fighting in front, and Myeongho also has a headache when he looks at it. Seeing that Du Zhongxiao did not fight for merit, he praised it in his heart, and immediately ordered his own soldiers to set up a wine feast to celebrate his achievements, and Du Zhongxiao accompanied him.

When the wine was half-drunk, Ming Ho called Du Zhongxiao aside and said in a low voice: "Bachelor, the city has been broken, and it is not beneficial to stay in the city any longer." Wang Ze and a group of thieves were first detained here to wait for the court to deal with them. Wait until tomorrow, and you will immediately return to the capital with a cannon. The Privy Council made a special statement that on the way back to Beijing, it should be carefully concealed, so as not to be seen through the hiding. ”

Du Zhongxiao was stunned: "What, is it possible that Wang Ze still has a fellow party?" Going somewhere else to chase after you? ”

Myeongho said, "No. Beizhou's return to Beijing was the way for the Khitan envoy to return to the north. You go one step earlier, and before the Khitan envoys leave, they return to the capital with cannons. In this battle of Beizhou, the cannon played a great role, which is a sharp weapon of the country and cannot be shown. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, understanding what Ming Ho meant. The situation of the battle of Beizhou must not be hidden, and the Khitan envoys will definitely ask around what the cannon looks like. Go back in advance and avoid the Khitan envoys, so as not to be inquired about by them.

Although the cannon did not collapse the city wall this time, it was able to eliminate the female wall defense system, which was of extraordinary significance for the siege, and it was not comparable to the guns last time. The Privy Council tested the cannon itself a few years ago, came to the conclusion that it was useless, and lost face once, and now it is very important. This time I returned to the capital, I am afraid that I will not let Du Zhongxiao test the cannon in front of hundreds of officials again, and I am afraid that there are not many people who can see this weapon.

The city has been broken, the thief has been taken, the besieging officers and soldiers have laid down their burdens, and everyone has enjoyed the night.

Du Zhongxiao felt slightly drunk, and saw that Wang Xin, Wang Kai and the soldiers were drinking non-stop, so he confessed to Ming Hao and returned to his account.

Tao 17 and a few gunners were still drinking and eating meat in the small tent next to them, drinking and cheering. Du Zhongxiao ordered a guard to call him into his tent.

Forked hands sang a promise, Tao Seventeen said: "Official, today's big victory, why don't you drink a few more glasses of wine?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Wine can be drunk at any time, everyone is excited these days, and it is easy to have accidents, so it is better to self-restraint." ”

Tao Qiqi said indifferently: "We are all our own brothers, drink a few drinks together, talk about some gossip, what will happen!" ”

Coming all the way from Xiangzhou, Tao Seventeen was familiar with a few gunners, and they were all like brothers, not as messy as outside.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Seventeen, the imperial court will, we will return to Beijing early tomorrow morning." In this siege, the power of the artillery was fully displayed, and many people saw it. Now that the Khitan envoys are in the capital, we must guard against their eyes and ears, and we must be more secretive when we return to Beijing. ”

Tao Qiqi was dizzy from drinking, and after listening to Du Zhongxiao's words, he was stunned for a while and understood what he meant. He said: "Don't worry, officials, I will restrain them and don't get drunk." Tomorrow morning, we'll pack up and hit the road. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, and asked Tao Seventeen to go back and prepare, and set off tomorrow without waiting for dawn.

Watching Tao Seventeen leave, Du Zhongxiao sat in the tent for a while. I originally thought that I would take a leave of absence during the Chinese New Year and go back to Xuzhou to bring my wife and son to the capital, but I didn't expect to encounter the Beizhou Rebellion and miss it. When she returns to Beijing this time, she will not be running around again in a short time, and she should let Yueniang take her son to the capital to reunite with her. It is best to go to Beijing before the Shangyuan Festival, and the family is lively.

For more than two years on Hedong Road, without his family by his side, it is inevitable that he will feel lonely. In this life, people can't just be busy, without the company of their families, and always feel that something is missing. No matter what the next official is, it's best not to go to the border, and you can't bring your family to deceive people.

Early in the morning of the second day, without waiting for dawn, Du Zhongxiao got up and asked Tao 17 and others to set up the gun carriage and prepare to set off.

Last night, many generals drank until the early hours of the morning, slept to death, and the army was quiet. Du Zhongxiao went to Ming Haoshuai's tent and let the soldiers pass through.

entered the account, but saw that Ming Ho had been cleaned up, and Du Zhongxiao sang a promise with his fork hand.

Ming Ho handed over the official document to Du Zhongxiao and said: "The Privy Council has decreed that when you return to Beijing this time, you will only stay in the post house all the way, and you will not be allowed to enter the city or visit the officials." Cover up the cannon, take this official document, and go straight back to the capital. If anyone dares to stop it, or wants to check the cannon, order the magistrate to use this official document. Make no mistake! ”

Du Zhongxiao saw that Ming Hao said solemnly, and hurriedly said yes. Judging from the arrangement of the Privy Council, this time the cannon is very important, and the secrecy work is sufficient, obviously it is really an important weapon of the country, and it is not ready to let others see it.

Although the cannon is simple, there are still a lot of technical details. Without reference, a small detail can suffocate a person to death. Even if Du Zhongxiao was clear about the principle, he still went through countless tests when making artillery, and he figured it out little by little.

Coming out of Ming Hao's handsome tent, Du Zhongxiao went to Wang Kai to say goodbye.

Wang Kai has always shared weal and woe with his soldiers, and he didn't know how much wine he drank in the various armies last night, and he was still in a daze. After listening to Du Zhongxiao's words, he shook his head vigorously: "Why did the bachelor leave in such a hurry?" I'm still thinking about having a drink with you for the past two days! ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The cardinal government strictly ordered, do not dare to delay. I'll sit in the capital and wait for the captain, and it's not too late to wait for the class teacher, and then drink freely. ”

Wang Kai was a man in the army, and he knew that the order of the Privy Council could not be disobeyed, so he had to say goodbye.

Dongfang showed a touch of fish belly white, Tao Seventeen and the gunner set up the gun carriage, Du Zhongxiao rode on the horse, and left the Beizhou military camp.

There was nothing to say all the way, and when he arrived at the Daimyo's Mansion, Jia Changchao sent someone to send wine and meat to celebrate Du Zhongxiao's success. When I heard that I was not allowed to visit officials, I couldn't help but feel that it was a pity. specially ordered his cronies to bring a letter to Du Zhongxiao to discuss with him the meaning of some words in the oracle bone inscription.

In Xiangzhou for a few months, Du Zhongxiao collected some oracle bones and transported them back to the capital one after another. The historical data of the Shang Dynasty is scarce, and these oracle bones aroused the interest of many officials, and many people indulged in them and tried to decipher their Chinese characters. Jia Changchao, who was far away in the Daimyo's mansion, also asked someone to draw the above words and participate in it.

Jia Changchao started with scriptures, and the famous exegesis at this time was much stronger than Du Zhongxiao. Du Zhongxiao has a vague impression of the oracle bone inscription, how can he compare to these characters who have turned the classics upside down? Fortunately, I knew that the oracle bone inscription was a divination, and then I knew that the year of the Ganzhi was based on the words that Jia Changchao had already explained, and I guessed the general meaning of some chapters, and I was not too embarrassed.

A few simple pages, guessing the meaning, made Du Zhongxiao sweat profusely. Racking his brains and attaching his own guesses, Du Zhongxiao replied to Jia Changchao.

After writing the letter, Du Zhongxiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh. His own knowledge is really inferior among the civil officials of this era. It's okay in the locality, and the knowledge of ordinary officials is not much better, but it will be difficult to face these people when they return to the capital.

Jia Changchao basically did not serve as a local official, and spent most of his time in the capital reading lectures and studying classics. Almost all the books that can be found have been read, which is nothing more than a lack of miscellaneous studies. Du Zhongxiao exchanged knowledge with him, which was too difficult.

Ordered someone to send the letter away, Du Zhongxiao took a sip of tea, and secretly said in his heart, now it seems that it is not easy to be an official in the capital. Jia Changchao is not particularly talented, and his own Wang Anshi in the same year is even known as having no books and no reading, never forgetting, the subset of scriptures and history, the two schools of Buddhism and Taoism, and there is nothing he doesn't know. Such people are not one or two, just like Zhang Fangping, the third envoy, who only reads the book once, throws it away after reading it, and remembers it all in his heart.

These people are born with good brains, and don't they find guilt for themselves by exchanging knowledge with them? But these people are all the best in the world, and they can't get into their eyes, and life in officialdom is also sad. Just like the current Prime Minister Chen Zhizhong, he is also very capable, but he is publicly ridiculed for not learning and not knowing.

If you want to gain a foothold in officialdom, you should have your own knowledge. It's not comparable to these books, not to mention that I became a monk halfway, and I can't compare to them when I studied since I was a child. I should establish a new culture and turn the away game into a home game, and I will not have to work so hard.

Du Zhongxiao sighed, today, it is time to find a way to summarize some theoretical knowledge.