The rise of the prince

Chapter 226 Sulu Situation + Explosion Test
"Sheng Gong, Master Su, there is still no news from Luzhou, and the person sent there still hasn't returned. This is already the fifth." In the bamboo forest hut, a middle-aged man in black and an armed swordsman reported to the two .

These people were the elite soldiers that Fang Shenggong brought out under the account of King Cong Wu, and they followed him all the time.

These people all use swords, don't wear armor, and are highly skilled in martial arts, so they were called "abnormal swordsmen" when they were under the account of King Xiao, because until now, the generals in the army have been removed from the sword, which is a status symbol, and few people use it anymore. sword.

After all, on the battlefield, swords are not as easy to practice as knives, and if you don't use them well, you may hurt yourself, so everyone thinks these guys in black and without armor are strange, so they use "abnormal" to describe them.

"If there is no accurate information about Luzhou, we will be restless and dare not act rashly." Fang Shenggong said in his ugly voice.

The fat man Su Banchuan who was sitting beside him also nodded, but then he laughed again: "Although that's the case, Mr. Fang don't need to worry too much. I still know the prefect of Huaihua. I have been to Luzhou many times. That old guy is weak and submissive." , no decision, just wait and see when things happen. If we win the imperial army, he will definitely send the messenger back, and maybe send his son. If we lose, he will definitely bring Huaihua The government's Xiang army came to attack us."

Fang Shenggong stopped talking, and the situation is in a difficult situation. The grass on the wall is not terrible, but the terrible thing is that the grass on the wall has power and has soldiers in his hands, which is difficult to deal with.

Fatty Su stood up, and continued: "I'm not afraid that the old man from Huaihua Mansion will attack us. He wouldn't even dare if I gave him two guts. What I'm afraid of is that the emperor will react and send an ambassador to Luzhou to appease the system. The old man The guy is already vacillating and uncertain, and when the people from the court arrive, he will fall to the court in all likelihood!"

Fang Shenggong also became serious: "According to the Qianfeng Xinbao, there are more than [-] troops in front of the imperial court, and they will reach the mouth of Anxia in five or six days. After passing through Anxia, ​​they will meet a flat river, and their warships will be lined up. Force Suzhou.

It is reported that the former army has more than 150 large and small ships, and the rear army has more than 130 ships, which is close to [-]. If we fight on the water, it will be bad for us.The imperial envoys will go first, and it is estimated that they will arrive in Suzhou in two days, and then it will be the last chance."

Su Banchuan nodded: "Then let's make a quick decision, win in one battle, and then immediately send someone to Luzhou. The old guy from the prefect of Luzhou will dare not refuse when he hears that we have won."

"It's best to be a close friend. You need someone who is trustworthy and capable." Fang Shenggong added in his ugly voice.

"My fourth brother, Su Ban'an, is what I'm most assured of. He has outstanding ability, has a sense of proportion in dealing with people, and has a brain, so I can just send him there." Su Banchuan said with a big belly: "If he is in Luzhou, we can be sure. Don't worry, when the imperial army is defeated, the prefect of Luzhou will not dare to disobey me."

Fang Shenggong nodded, clasped his hands approvingly and said, "Master Su's actions are flawless, Fang really admires him."

Su Banchuan laughed triumphantly: "Mr. Fang's words are nothing but vulgar people's rhetoric. After all, we have to win this battle first. I don't know how many people Mr. Fang can send to help me?"

Fang Shenggong clasped his hands and said: "Fang is just an idler in the end, he can't help you much, only [-] elite soldiers can help, please forgive me, Lord Su.

But please rest assured, my lord, these eight hundred elite soldiers have followed me since King Wu's command, and each of them is a warrior who counts as a hundred. "

"Hahahaha, what did Mr. Fang say, you are very happy to help me, how can you dislike it." Su Banchuan laughed boldly: "Besides, Mr. Fang rushed into the commander's tent to save King Wu, and suffered such serious injuries Ji, for a loyal person like Mr., as long as he is here, he is giving me face for Su, so how dare he ask for anything else."

As he spoke, he waved his hands vigorously: "Bring the things up!"

Dozens of burly men in the military uniforms of the Xiang Army of Suzhou brought up several jars of wine, dozens of bags of rice, and four carts of marinated mutton and pork, and displayed them on the flat ground outside the bamboo hut.

Su Banchuan arched his hands and said: "Su is a rough man, and he doesn't like to show the etiquette of a scholar. I know that these are what Mr. Fang urgently needs. Mr. Fang and your brothers are in this mountain. It is inconvenient to supply supplies and it is not easy to show up. Su I just want to express my heart, and I hope that my husband will not despise me for being vulgar."

"What do you want to say, my lord? This really solves the urgent need. Fang is very grateful." Fang Sheng hurriedly bowed.

Su Banchuan laughed heartily, then stood up with the support of his subordinates, and patted the dust on his buttocks with difficulty: "Then Su will leave, Mr. Fang will keep in mind what we discussed today."

Fang Shenggong nodded, Su Banchuan turned around and walked out of the bamboo forest with a big belly, and quickly rode away with hundreds of cavalry who had been waiting outside the bamboo forest.

Fang Shenggong withdrew his smile, and the black-clothed swordsman next to him stepped forward and said, "He came to see Shenggong with more than 300 riders, and there are still more than 300 riders waiting at the foot of the mountain. It doesn't take so many people to bring those things. That kid from the Ding family always comes Only one person and one horse."

"Wu Ju, how is the brother in the mountain?" Fang Shenggong didn't say anything, but asked about other things
I can't help but think of the past in my mind.

At the beginning, the king of Wu did not listen to his advice, let the striker advance aggressively, and went northward after Zhong Daoyu returned to his division, and was defeated. The 10,000+ army was beaten to pieces by Zhong Daoyu.

They also fled all the way from Wuguan to the south after the fall of King Wu, hiding from the court while fleeing.

The emperor was ruthless, killing tens of thousands of rebels in Wuguan, and he didn't want to let any rebels go. The army kept chasing them, setting up checkpoints along the way, and offering huge rewards.

While fleeing for their lives, they also had to beware of the people around them, even their own brothers.
In the end, there is no unparalleled road. In the first generation of Guazhou, they bribed the officials of the city shipping department through friends they knew, and turned halfway to the waterway. Only then did they escape the pursuit of the court and go all the way south.

But along the way, the brothers died, were injured, and there were many illnesses that could not be cured. Most of them were gone. At the worst time, they were besieged by the imperial army in the mountains, food and water were scarce, and the cold was biting. To the point of Cuan.

Finally, they took advantage of the opportunity that the imperial army could not withstand the severe cold and retreated to Suzhou in winter, hiding in the lost mountains to the north of Suzhou.

The Misty Mountain got its name because of the dense water and mist. They killed a few nests of bandits entrenched in the mountain, and then began to recultivate the fields, hunt and scavenge waste. Of course, the main source of food was to rob pedestrians on the Misty Mountain Road.

After all, Mishan Road is the nearest land route connecting Luzhou and Suzhou, and there are many merchants with horses and horses, and they are elite soldiers who have fought many battles.

In less than two years, he gained a great reputation and built a village where he could settle down.

Because the merchants and people complained, the magistrate also began to pay attention to it. In the next two years, he sent troops five times. As a result, the Suzhou Xiang army was defeated every time. There was only one small victory. Cut off among the people, leaving the former army isolated and helpless, only to have a small defeat.

Even so, the trapped brothers fought to the death with one against ten, frightening the Xiangjun soldiers in Suzhou. When they heard that they were going to send troops to suppress the bandits, many Xiangjun even preferred to risk being caught and beheaded. The risk has to run away too.

Later, the magistrate was also afraid and negotiated peace with them. After several conversations, he slowly discovered that everyone was dissatisfied with the imperial court, so they simply formed an alliance.

They no longer rob pedestrians on the mountain road, and they can even pay for their bodyguards.

Under this premise, Ansu Mansion would provide them with food, wine and meat every six months. After all, they had only five or six hundred people at the beginning. Ansu Mansion was one of the wealthiest mansions in the Jing Dynasty, and it was easy to feed them.

It has been like this ever since. During this period, Fang Shenggong also knew many big merchants in Suzhou and Luzhou because of his bodyguards, and he often cooperated with Su Banchuan to plan big things. Until today, so many years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Returning to his thoughts, Wu Ju said, "Su Banchuan sent these, plus the ones from Suzhou businessmen, and the ones we cultivated in the mountains, enough for everyone to eat for half a year."

Mr. Fang nodded, the situation in the mountains is not the same as before, and the cottage is not the same as before, but few people know about it.

"Go back to the stockade and find someone to bring these things back. Then send [-] people out, and they will be in Ansu Mansion in two days to wait for the call." Fang Shenggong said, Wu Ju nodded, and then rode away from the bamboo forest hut .

He couldn't help but think of what Ding Yi said, "No one can be trusted except yourself."

Ding Yi is his half-student. At the beginning, they formed an alliance with the prefect of Suzhou, but the two sides could not trust each other, so they proposed to exchange hostages. The big merchants in Suzhou kept important hostages in their stockade to ensure that the Ansu government would not take advantage of it. send troops.

And he also left his good brothers in the big merchants to ensure that they would not rob the merchant convoy.

His good brothers have gone through so many trials of life and death, and they are not afraid of death, so naturally they are not afraid of such trivial things.But at that time, the Suzhou merchants were in awe of everyone. After all, it was entering a bandit den, and if you were not careful, you might lose your life.

At this moment, Ding Yi, who was only a teenager, stood up.

As the son of the Ding family, at a young age, he has such extraordinary courage. He is not afraid of things that adults are afraid of, and he is calm and calm, which is really impressive.

So after he came to the village, Fang Shenggong also valued him very much and taught him carefully.

A few years later, the relationship between the two parties improved, and there was no need to exchange hostages. Ding Yi was able to return home. The older generation of the Ding family valued his courage and responsibility, and appointed him as the next head of the family. After that, Ding Yi would come to this mountain from time to time. visit him.

Although the two are considered friends because they are considered as teachers and apprentices, they have the reality of mentors and apprentices.

With a lot of thoughts, Fang Shenggong quietly looked at the bamboo forest blown by the wind outside the house. The wind picked up. It seemed that even if he didn't want to do many things, it was imperative.
The emperor stretched out his hand, and the maids surrounded him and changed him into a black and gold-rimmed armor. Concubine Tian was standing aside, packing up refreshments, obviously she had just eaten with the emperor.

"I don't know what the hell Wang Yue and Xingzhou are doing. They just said that they have something to show me, and they want to go to the palace to perform martial arts." The emperor shook his head and said, "I just hope that this child will not be addicted to strange skills and obscenities. Some thoughts are in other places, even poetry and songs."

Concubine Tian has a gentle personality and charming charm, she said while packing her things: "I heard from Yu'er that the kid from Xingzhou recruited many craftsmen at home, and even made a water wheel driven by river water."

"Not doing business properly." The emperor stepped forward after putting on his clothes.

Concubine Tian smiled: "Your Majesty, it's better if the emperor's grandchildren are different. Besides, that kid from Xingzhou is outstanding in learning. The sisters in the harem have been singing "Sapphire Case. Yuan Xi" these days."

The emperor snorted, expressing disdain, but everyone could see that he was in a good mood.

After getting ready, he went out, and the commander of Shangzhi's personal guards, Wei Li, was already waiting outside.

Because the martial arts arena in the palace is usually used for the training of Shangzhi's personal guards, and it is under the jurisdiction of the Shangzhi's personal guards.

"Your Majesty, the prince and Lord Wang have arrived at the martial arts arena, do you want to drive?" Wei Li clasped his hands.

The emperor nodded, and soon, the golden dragon chariot was carried over by sixteen eunuchs, and the little eunuchs hurriedly placed the steps on the chariot so that the emperor could go up it.

The dragon chariot was very stable, turned a few corners, spared half a circle of the inner city, and soon arrived at the martial arts field near the outer west side of the inner city.

The martial arts field is full of gravel, with many weapon racks and human-shaped wooden stakes placed on the side. The terrain is very open, and the length and width of the north and south are more than a hundred feet. Even horse troops can gallop freely.

Because Shangzhi's personal guard had received the order a long time ago, no one was training here today, otherwise Shangzhi's personal guard would have to train again every day.

Wei Li followed the emperor into the training ground, and he saw Wang Yue and Li Xingzhou waiting.

His impression of Wang Yue is that he stays on the humerus of the imperial court, one person is below ten thousand, so he has always respected him.

However, I don't have much impression of Li Xingzhou, although Wei Li has often heard people talking about his son, no matter whether he is in the palace or outside the palace. Category.

But he was a warrior after all, so he wasn't interested in those.

The only thing that interests him is the fine wine of the royal palace, the General Brew. No matter the name or the taste, it is very suitable for his appetite. Therefore, even if he saves money every month, he will buy a bottle and treasure it. He is only willing to drink one bottle every day. small cup.

I heard that people who have a good relationship with Li Xingzhou will receive a gift of general wine when they arrive at the palace. Now he is starting to regret that he didn't have a good relationship with the prince.
But today I heard that Li Xingzhou came to show the emperor a weapon against the cavalry, he didn't expect much, after all, a child's words can be trusted, nine out of ten it's just a joke.

The son has never been on a battlefield, never seen a battlefield, so how would he know what a cavalry formation is, let alone how to deal with cavalry, so he came here with the mood of watching a show.

After the prince and Lord Wang visited the emperor, they took them to the center of the martial arts arena.

At the same time, the son asked for orders to dismiss the accompanying eunuchs, leaving him alone.

Wei Li frowned slightly, feeling that the prince was asking too much, but the emperor agreed.

Then the crown prince brought them to the south side of the martial arts arena, and Wei Li followed the emperor every step of the way. There are several low walls here, which are usually used by Shangzhi's personal guards to train how to climb over obstacles while wearing armor.

There is a pile of wooden piles behind them. Usually when they are training, the straight guards in armor need to quickly climb over three consecutive low walls, and then attack the wooden piles behind.

There were several sheep stumbled on the wooden stakes, which were tied by the eunuchs in the palace at the request of the son.

Neither Wei Li nor the emperor understood what the prince was going to do.

At this moment, Shizi came over, put a wooden box on the ground, and opened it carefully.

Both Wei Li and the emperor moved over curiously, wanting to see what kind of magical thing was inside, which could actually deal with cavalry.

At first, Wei Li thought it was some kind of special sword, spear, or something, but he knew that it would be useless to change the sword, spear, and spear without touching the root.If the army has no fighting spirit and the training is lax, even fine steel spears are useless.

If the morale is high and the training is good, even a temporarily cut tree pole can deal with the cavalry.

so he didn't care much
But when the box was opened, both he and the emperor were dumbfounded.

Because there are a few strange iron melons inside?It was also cushioned with straw.

These round and long iron melons, about the size of a sweet potato, have uneven surfaces with thin grooves. There are five in total, three of which are smaller and the remaining two are larger.

The surface is jet black, with many regular grooves, the color of pig iron, and a strange ring at the top.

"This is the cavalry weapon you told me right?" the emperor asked in disbelief, what can these iron melons do.

Wei Li seemed to have thought of something, and said, "My lord, could it be a nail or some kind of sharp iron object inside? When using it, unscrew the iron melon and throw it on the ground to damage the horse's hoof. If that's the case, it won't work." Well, the Ministry of Industry has thought about this method for a long time, but it is not easy to use, and it consumes a lot of iron, so the gain outweighs the loss."

After hearing this, the prince just shook his head, saying no, and then began to seriously explain to them that after he threw this thing out later, he must hide behind the low wall and not show his head.

Wei Li didn't understand what the prince meant, and so did the emperor. Both of them were a little confused, so they couldn't show their heads?What is this saying.

At this moment, he saw Shizi pick up a smaller one from the box, and said, "This is an offensive grenade, and its power will be less powerful."

What grenade?
Wei Li is puzzled, is it the thunder in the palm of the fairy tale?
He was relatively close to Shizi, so he could clearly see Shizi pulling out the curved iron bar on the top of the sweet potato in his hand, and then pulled off the ring, and then a crisp sound came from the iron sweet potato, like the sound of iron hitting.

Then he saw blue smoke coming out from the top of the iron sweet potato, Shizi quickly threw it far away.
Wei Li clearly saw that Lord Wang Yue, who was the farthest away from him, ignored his appearance and quickly hid behind the low wall even though he was wearing an official uniform, even if the luxurious official uniform was stained with dirt.

Wei Li was surprised, why did this happen? Is there any need to be so afraid?

He just wanted to poke his head out of curiosity, but Shi Zi held him down.
The next moment, like a thunderclap, my brain was shaken, and the whole world lost its sound.
Wei Li's head was buzzing, it was blank, he saw the emperor who was not far away was also wide-eyed, with a horrified expression.
His thoughts seemed to be stripped from his mind, and then slowly returned, obviously so slow, but the whole process was actually only a moment!

Then his hearing recovered, and he clearly heard the sound of sand and stones flying around his ears, as well as the screams of sheep, and the sharp and piercing whistling that he had never heard before, like the wailing of ghosts, which made his scalp numb
(End of this chapter)