At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 821 The Tough Rival

In Yuzhang City, above the court hall, Lin Shihong was holding in his hand a good report that had just been urgently delivered from Jiujiang. He couldn't help laughing up to the sky, and said three "good" words in a row.Pharmacist Wang Lin of Poyang asked with a smile: "The emperor is so happy, but General Feng won the battle?"

Lin Shihong said with a radiant face: "That's right, General Feng defeated the vanguard of the Qi Army Navy in Jiujiang, captured more than 20 warships, one of which was a gunboat of the Qi Army, captured two artillery pieces, a large amount of ammunition, and Feitian Thunder and firecracker mines and other firearms."

All the courtiers in the palace were overjoyed when they heard the words, and secretly heaved a sigh of relief. The Qi army was too powerful. In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, it wiped out the three heroes of the Jianghuai River like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, and Xu Shiji defeated Xiao Mian in the upper reaches. Therefore, the ministers under Lin Shihong's command were very nervous and afraid. Now that they found that the powerful Qi army could actually be defeated, they immediately became more courageous.

Pharmacist Wang Lin of Poyang said happily: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor, it seems that the emperor's tactics have worked."

"The emperor is wise and mighty, strategizing and winning a decisive victory thousands of miles away!" All the ministers flattered like a tide.

Lin Shihong felt complacent and said with a smile: "It can be seen from this that Qi Kou is not as powerful as in the legend. As long as you deal with it properly and work together, you can defeat him. I also hope that you and my family will work together and fight together!" On the day when the Qi invaders are defeated, I will share the world with all of you."

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!" All the ministers in the hall fell to their knees and shouted, their morale obviously increased a lot.

Lin Shihong was happy in his heart, he laughed, raised his hand and said: "Your family is flat, General Feng has ordered someone to drag Qi Kou's gunboat back to Poyang Lake, so you and my family will go to observe and study it together, as the saying goes. Mountain stones can be used to attack jade, we must abandon the enemy's weaknesses, we must learn from the enemy's strengths, take the enemy's strengths, and make up for our weaknesses, it is absolutely unacceptable to hold on to the weak and guard against the weak, and to be self-sufficient."

Being able to say such a thing, it can be seen that Lin Shihong is indeed a man of great insight and a big picture. It is not accidental that he can achieve today's achievements.

"The emperor is wise." The ministers flattered him again.

Next, Lin Shihong led his group of officials to leave his palace, and went out of the city in a mighty manner, to the garrison water village in Poyang Lake, where the gunboat of the Qi army captured by Feng An was docked.

This gunboat was one of the four main battleships led by the Cui brothers. Due to carelessness, it was ignited by the fireboat. The fire spread and burned the sails. The army caught up and captured them, together with the two cannons on board and a large amount of ammunition, all fell into the enemy's hands.

Let's say that Lin Shihong led the ministers to board the gunboat. Everyone gathered around the two cannons on the ship to look at them in amazement.

Lin Shihong reached out his hand to touch the cold and hard barrel of the artillery, and exclaimed happily: "In my opinion, the forging skills of Qi's craftsmen are indeed superb, much better than our craftsmen. I’m afraid I can’t make it yet.”

The ministers nodded in agreement and said yes, as early as a few months ago, the emperor ordered the craftsmen in the country to imitate the cannons of the Qi army. Unfortunately, there is no real object for reference, no specific size, so they can only build the car behind closed doors, and finally make it. However, compared with the two Qi army artillery pieces in front of us, they are simply crooked. Not only the style is far worse, but the surface and inner wall of the barrel are also pitted and very fragile.On the other hand, the two double cannons of the Qi Army are solid, smooth, and dark, and they are not of the same level at first glance.

Lin Shihong ordered people to try two cannons. As a result, due to the small amount of charge in the first cannon, the shells only fell to a position about ten meters near the bow, like a dumb fart. The frame was not fixed properly and collapsed. Fortunately, the chamber did not explode, but it also scared the people next to it.

Even so, Lin Shihong was very happy, and immediately ordered someone to carry one of the cannons to the weapon field for the craftsmen to observe and study, and ordered them to build the first cannon within a month.

…………

Tong'an County, Wangjiang County Wharf, where Yu Chigong stationed the main force of the navy, less than a hundred miles away from the upstream Jiujiang River.

On the flagship at the moment, Gao Bufan was sitting in the middle, and all the counselors and soldiers were lined up on both sides. Brothers Cui Zisheng and Cui Zijian knelt on the ground tremblingly, and the atmosphere was a bit oppressive.

Since the emperor's personal conquest this year, the Qi army has not lost a single battle, and the whole journey has been invincible. However, the Cui brothers were defeated by the general of the Chu army, Feng An, and lost dozens of warships, including one The main battle gunship, all the two artillery pieces and ammunition on board fell into the enemy's hands. This is very strict. You must know that the artillery is a new type of artillery that the Qi army only put into use at the beginning of this year. The key to the country's leading military strength in the past few years, if it falls into the enemy's hands, it is very likely that it will be imitated by the opponent. Once it is imitated by the enemy, the advantage of the Qi army will be gone.

As the so-called victory or defeat is a common matter in military affairs, the Cui brothers' defeat is also possible, but they did not strictly implement the "self-destruct" procedure, so that the artillery fell into the enemy's hands.

The Cui brothers were from the Qinghe Cui family, but Cui Jiuling who was present did not dare to intercede for them. After all, the mistakes they made were too serious. There are regulations in the army, and the emperor has repeatedly emphasized in front of the generals that artillery It is very important. At a critical moment, even if it is blown up, it cannot fall into the enemy's hands. As a result, the two buddies panicked after losing the battle, and forgot to order the destruction of the two cannons on the gunboat.

"Are you two convicted?" Gao Bufan asked calmly.

The Cui brothers blushed and kowtowed again and again: "The last general will be convicted, and the last general will deserve to die!"

Gao Bufan nodded and shouted: "Okay, come here, push them out!"

The hearts of all the officers, soldiers and counselors at the scene immediately raised their hearts, and Bai Yunshang also silently recited a sentence of Amitabha, thinking that Gao Bufan was going to kill the two brothers. Although she was anxious, how could she, a woman, come forward to stop a major military event? Woolen cloth?

"Fifty batons each!" Gao Bufan continued sharply.

Everyone present couldn't help but secretly heaved a sigh of relief, Bai Yunshang subconsciously stroked her plump chest, and said in her heart: "Amitabha, so good!"

Brothers Cui Zisheng and Cui Zijian thought they were going to die, they couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat, when they suddenly heard that they were only hit with fifty army sticks, they were stunned, and then wept with joy, and hurriedly kowtowed to thank them.

Several sergeants stepped forward and pushed the Cui brothers out of the cabin, beat each of them with fifty army sticks, and then escorted them back, only to see the two bloody buttocks, which shows that the execution sergeant did not show mercy.

"From now on, will you be subdued as brigade commanders?" Gao Bufan said coldly.

The Cui brothers quickly kowtowed to express their obedience. It would be good if they could save their lives. Now they have only been demoted to the third rank, which is much better than expected.

Gao Bufan waved his hand and ordered the Cui brothers to be taken down to bandage them up. He glanced over with piercing eyes, and all the generals present couldn't help but stand in awe, and dared not show their grandeur. All the pride and complacency in the past was thrown to Java up.

Seeing this, Gao Bufan nodded secretly. As the saying goes, a proud soldier is bound to be defeated. During this period of time, the Qi army has won many victories in successive battles. The whole army, whether soldiers or generals, will inevitably become arrogant and careless. It is a good thing, it not only wakes up the whole army, but also does not cause a big blow to morale.

As for the two lost cannons, Gao Bufan is not too worried. The technical content of those things is still quite high now, without a considerable level of forging, even if you are asked to imitate them, it is impossible to make them in a short time When it comes out, let Lin Shihong slowly figure it out. When his craftsmen are able to build it, I am afraid that Yuzhang City has already been taken by him.

But I have to say that Lin Shihong is indeed a formidable opponent. Judging from the process of the Cui brothers' defeat, the opponent must have carefully studied and thoroughly studied the tactics of the Qi army's navy, so they seized their weaknesses as soon as they came up and beat the Cui brothers. An opponent who is caught off guard, such an opponent is difficult to deal with, but it is also very interesting, no matter what, I will have a good fight with him!
(End of this chapter)