Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 471 National Views (Special thanks to book friend Lin Xia Jiaxi for the monthly ticket!)

On December 8, the 33rd year of Kaixi, the well-prepared First and Second Fleets of the Royal Navy, after receiving the approval of the imperial edict, were led by Grand Commander Guan Mao and Commander Li Xiaocun, who set out from Shanghai Port to attack Jingqiong and Fuso in the east, taking advantage of the smaller winds and waves on the sea in winter.

After nearly a year of production, the "Royal Arsenal" has produced over one million "Kaixi No. 33" muskets. In addition to equipping the 13th to 16th Longxiang Army's four corps, 360,000 people, and 500,000 muskets that were sent to the West Asian battlefield in the middle of the year, this time the Royal Navy's two fleets, 200,000 soldiers, totaling 260,000 muskets.

The advantage of the musket is that it is more labor-saving and has stronger armor-piercing power than the Shenbi bow. However, its disadvantage is that its range is 5 meters, slightly less than the meters of the Shenbi bow, and it is inconvenient to ignite in rainy and humid weather.

Therefore, at present, all soldiers in the Great Zhou Dynasty, whether in the navy or the army, are equipped with two main weapons: a "Kai Xi No. 33" musket and a Shenbi bow.

On December 12, the 33rd year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun heard that the result of the Yang family's "martial arts competition to win a bride" had come out. So in the afternoon, after reviewing the memorials in the Yangxin Palace, he asked the chief eunuch Tang Qi about it.

Tang Qi saluted and said:
"Your Majesty, the 'Martial Arts Contest to Recruit a Marriage' organized by the Emperor's order has been going on for a month, and finally six young men have successfully passed the three levels of the competition and won."

Chai Zongxun was quite interested and said:
"Why are there only six people who made it through? How many people are going to compete on stage this time?"

Tang Qi smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, Yang Ye's requirements for the "Martial Arts Contest to Win a Bride" are too high. Although it is said to be a three-stage competition, there is actually an "entry threshold":
Only those who can lift a 300-jin stone lock can enter the arena.

Just this "entry threshold" has eliminated almost 7% of the contestants.

I did not ask the Wude Division to calculate the exact number of young men from all over the Great Zhou who came to participate in the "Martial Arts Contest to Recruit a Marriage". However, according to the Wude Division's estimate of the number of people who went to the Duke of Yang's mansion to compete every day, there must be 60,000 to 70,000 people this month."

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said with a smile:
"Yang Ye finally got the imperial grant of 'martial arts competition to recruit a husband', so he must carefully select two sons-in-law that suit his heart, right?

Being able to lift a 300-jin stone lock means he is indeed a brave man.

"Have Yang Bamei and Yang Jiumei chosen their ideal husbands in the past few days?"

Tang Qi showed hesitation and said:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yang Bamei and Yang Jiumei have picked out their favorites from the six winners, but Yang Ye has not yet agreed!

The people in Yang Mansion also had different opinions on this matter and argued endlessly. "

Chai Zongxun became very curious and said:

"Didn't we agree to a martial arts competition to find a husband? Since Yang Bamei and Yang Jiumei already have someone they like, why doesn't Yang Ye agree?"

Tang Qi immediately explained in detail:

"Your Majesty, among the six winners, four are Han Chinese youths, and the other two are from Liao, one named Yelu Gun, and one from Dali, named Duan Suguang. They are all descendants of royal nobles from the Liao Kingdom and Dali in the past.

Both of them have extraordinary martial arts skills and good looks.

The eighth sister Yang favored Duan Suguang, while the ninth sister Yang favored Yelu Gun. Duan Suguang was fine, Yang Ye could still reluctantly agree.

As for the Liao man Yelu Gun, Yang Ye followed Your Majesty in the expedition to pacify the Liao people. Many of his subordinates and soldiers died at the hands of the Liao people, especially in the fierce "Battle of Youzhou". He said he would not agree to it no matter what and wanted his daughter Yang Jiumei to choose a husband from the remaining four victorious Han youths. Unexpectedly, Yang Jiumei also refused and would rather remain single for the rest of her life.

Seeing that her sister's plan was difficult, and the deep affection between the two sisters, Yang Bamei said that if her sister did not get married, she would not marry either, and would rather live in the Yang Mansion for the rest of her life.

Zhe Saihua was at a loss, so the family started arguing about this matter for several days. Yang Ye even wanted to personally test the martial arts of the two men and defeat them to cancel the marriage. "Chai Zongxun laughed and said:

"This Yang Ye is really a stubborn person, but only a person like him can avoid losses when faced with a major event."

After pondering for a while, Chai Zongxun said:
"General Manager Tang, summon Yang Ye, Yelu Gun, and Duan Suguang to come to the court."

Tang Qi immediately walked to the palace gate and gave orders.

After a while, Yang Ye, Yelu Gun and Duan Suguang, led by the eunuchs who delivered the imperial edict and the imperial guards, entered the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

Yang Ye looked like he didn't like Yelu Gun and Duan Suguang, and kept a distance from them.

After the greeting, Chai Zongxun took a look at Yelu Gun and Duan Suguang and found that both of them were outstanding talents and good temperaments, and were indeed young heroes in their prime.

After asking about their origins, Chai Zongxun said gently:
"Since both of you have just passed the military examination in your hometown, why don't you wait for the imperial examination next year and strive to pass the military examination, but come to participate in the "martial arts competition to recruit a bride" at the Duke of Yang's mansion?"

Yelu Gun and Duan Suguang were stunned, and both felt that the emperor's question was not easy to answer.

If he said that he came in order to become the son-in-law of the Yang family, it would seem that he was chasing after power and lacked the heroic spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement of a man; if he said that he came because he admired Yang Bamei and Yang Jiumei, he had never seen them before, so where did the admiration come from?

Yelu Gun said:

"Your Majesty, after I heard about the "Martial Arts Contest to Win a Marriage" in my hometown, I thought of coming to Bianjing to participate. I can see the martial arts of heroes from all over the Great Zhou, improve my own shortcomings, increase my chances of passing the military imperial examination next year, and travel to the prosperous land of Central Plains, so I hurried here."

Duan Suguang said:

"Your Majesty, I have similar ideas to Brother Yelu, but I also want to go to Daming Prefecture to see the local medicinal herb market and bring back useful market information for the medicinal herb merchants and the people who grow medicinal herbs in the various states of Dali."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"So now that you have won the "Martial Arts Contest to Find a Bride", do you want to marry the Yang sisters?"

They both said:

"Your Majesty, the Yang sisters are well-educated, well-mannered, and beautiful. What's more, they are outstanding in martial arts. They are the perfect match for warriors like me."

Although the two of them did not have much contact time with the Yang sisters during the fight, they both developed a liking for each other and were attracted to each other.

Chai Zongxun looked at Yang Ye standing aside and said:

"My dear Yang, these two people were able to report the truth, which shows that they are not opportunists, and they won the "martial arts competition to win a bride" with their real abilities.

What's more, both Yang Bamei and Yang Jiumei have agreed, which shows that they have each taken a liking to the two of them.

I think it is entirely possible to agree to their marriage with your two daughters. Why should you, Yang Ai, be so rigid about the ethnic divisions of the past?"

Yang Ye said:
"Your Majesty, there are so many good men in my Great Zhou, but my little daughter has fallen for this young man from Liao!

"I have fought against the Liao Kingdom for many years, and many of my soldiers died at the hands of the Liao people. I feel uncomfortable when I think about this!"

(End of this chapter)