Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 193 Curved Arc Fears Sirius (3)

At dawn the next day, General Zhang Shanfu of the Marching Division went to the palace to face the saint, and reported to the emperor about the establishment of the Liaodong Chengying Camp.The establishment of Chengying Battalion is that when the country has problems, it will increase, and if there is nothing to do, it will be cut. At most, there were as many as twelve battalions, and at least there were only three battalions.In recent years, the Quartet has become more and more troublesome, and the Chengying Camp has gradually increased to eight branches. Every time it is expanded, it is proposed by the General's Mansion.Afterwards, the General's Mansion can decide on the transfer of the Chengying Army alone, unlike other armies that need the consent of the Huguo Mansion.

"The artillery needed by the Chengying Camp will be cast in the middle of Shu and pass through Dali." Zhang Shanfu said in a deep voice, "The road opened up for the conquest of Annan is suitable for use. The warship departs from Yuntun Port in Zhennanbao, goes north along the coast, and arrives Liao Kingdom, hand over the artillery and military supplies to the Eighth Battalion of Chengying. The Fourth Battalion has surveyed several islands in the East China Sea, which can be used for warships to anchor and replenish, but the main port is Yueyang Island."

Chen Xuan unfolded a huge sea chart, and the important islands along the coast of Song and Liao can be seen vividly. This is the result of decades of surveying and mapping by the fourth battalion of Chengying who patrolled the sea.The Marching Division has marked uninhabited islands where warships can berth on the coasts of Yingzhou, Fuzhou, Chenzhou, Baozhou, Gaizhou, and Suzhou in the Liao State. Some of the large islands, such as Yueyang Island, Biyu Island, Xianren Island, Chrysanthemum Island is also specially marked with a red pen.The Fourth Battalion of Chengying suggested that the main port of the warships supporting the Eighth Battalion be located on Yueyang Island, which is the farthest from the land.This island is more than [-] miles in circumference, shaped like a crescent moon, [-] miles away from Fuzhou, Dongdong Province of Liao Dynasty, and [-] miles away from Tamna, a vassal of Goryeo. It hangs alone in the ocean, so it is called Yueyang Island.Surrounded by mountains, Yueyang Island is an excellent shelter from the wind. Fishermen call it "Taiping Bay" and it is not frozen all year round.What's even better is that although the island is big, it is full of rocky mountains, and there is no flat land at all, so it cannot be cultivated, so it is sparsely populated. The original fishing village of more than a dozen households was forcibly moved to the South China Sea by Chengying Fourth Battalion.The nearby fishermen now think that the island is occupied by ghosts and pirates.

"The Eighth Battalion of Chengying carried ten artillery pieces, 500 gunners, 200 infantry troops, and [-] cavalry troops landed ashore. The fourth battalion sent two warships with [-] artillery pieces to deliver military supplies to them and serve as backup. .” The Marching Division originally planned to equip the Eighth Battalion with thirty artillery pieces.The Han army was weak and often needed to be transferred, and heavy artillery was inconvenient to carry, so they took the next best thing and handed over ten three-inch guns to the Eighth Battalion of Chengying to carry them ashore, and twenty four-inch guns were installed in the Fourth Battalion of Chengying. on the warship.

Chen Xuan nodded slightly. He closed the sea map and continued to read the joint memorial of the Marching Division and the Chengying Army. When he saw the name of the captain who was going to command the Chengying Eighth Battalion, he put down the memorial and said with a slight smile: "That's right." , the situation in Liaodong is complicated, and the Liao, Jin and Han are fighting among the three sides, maybe Zhao You will also come to take advantage of the fire, not only to fight, but also to assess the situation, and this is the kind of talent who is familiar with the situation of all parties."

Zhang Shanfu said with a smile: "That's right. Your Majesty will make great efforts to govern and not stick to one pattern, so that the talents of Chu can be promoted, and all the heroes in the world will be in the game!"

Chen Xuan put down the memorial and said with a smile: "You must be trained by the general." He remembered something, frowned and said: "Wan'er didn't come to ask you about joining the army, did he?"

Zhang Shanfu smiled and said: "Oh? The third princess came to the mansion with His Highness the Crown Prince yesterday, but according to the law, even if a woman passes the examination, she can only work in the Department of the Internal Army and cannot join the army. Therefore, at the invitation of the Third Highness, the minister There is nothing I can do." He bowed slightly, secretly amused in his heart, presumably Chen Xuan was tortured by his daughter to no avail, so he allowed her to come to him to be deflated.

Chen Xuan nodded, and said with a smile: "That's right, the man is not dead, how can we let a woman go to the battlefield." While speaking, he thought of the orphan girl of the Han family who had been stranded in Dunhuang for the sake of the Han army in Liaodong. Can't help but sigh. "The winner is the loser." Chen Xuan's face turned cold, and he looked out of the window. There was a white mist on the Shouchang Lake, and a few white cranes flew up, like a fairyland, which made people feel refreshed.Who cares about the fish and shrimp just picked up by the white crane.

Ten days later, Zhao Xingde was quite surprised to learn that for the needs of the country, he was transferred back to Chengying Camp to serve as the captain of the Eighth Battalion under formation.Wang Tongdeng and other sergeants from the Chengying Army were also transferred back from the Firearms Department. Wang Tongdeng was appointed as a deputy captain to assist Zhao Xingde in training the Liaodong Chengying Battalion.

Looking at the stunned Zhao Xingde, Zhou Zhongyuan smiled and said: "Wang Yunzhong is an old fool, and he doesn't want anyone who has registered with the Army Division. Those who go out with the Yingjun, I don't follow him." He paused for a while. After a pause, he said in a deep voice: "Zhao De, your new captain, don't disappoint General Zhang Shang's respect, and don't lose the people of Chengying Army. I will try my best to get you whatever materials and conditions you need for training and combat! "

Seeing that he hesitated, Zhou Zhongyuan patted him on the shoulder again, and said in a deep voice, "Speak."

Zhao Xingde smiled bitterly, and replied: "There are many mountains and forests in eastern Liaodong, and there are high mountains not far from the north and south of the western capital. General Zhou, there are many old soldiers in the battalion this time, and they have to carry artillery ammunition. Can we go there without marching?" A place as far away as the Hot Sand Sea, and a new training camp near the Western Capital?"

Zhou Zhongyuan was taken aback for a moment, remembering that Zhao De's family seemed to be pregnant, he nodded and said, "That's fine. But the war is dangerous, and the intensity of military training must be increased." He paused, and said in a deep voice: "Since During the training in Dunhuang, you can go to the Huguo Mansion to practice more when you have time."

Zhao Xingde nodded in agreement.This time, in addition to infantry and cavalry, there are more artillery in Chengying Battalion. The cooperation between various arms should be the focus of training.After he resigned, while thinking, he came to the barracks arranged by the military government for the eighth battalion.He stepped into the captain's signing room with his head down just now, but heard a familiar voice: "Should I call you General Zhao?" He looked around and saw Jin Changtai standing in front of him.

Before Zhao Xingde came back to his senses, he asked: "What's going on?" Jin Changtai smiled and said: "The captains of Chengyingying all lead the troops independently, although brother Zhao is a captain, he is already General Quan. He clicked his tongue in praise, "There are less than ten people who have been worshiped as generals under the age of thirty since the founding of the country."

Zhao Xingde interrupted him, his face showed joy and said: "I didn't ask this, isn't Brother Jin in Lumei, why did you go back to Dunhuang again?" Without waiting for Jin Changtai to answer, he asked again: "Brother Jin, Are you also from the Eighth Battalion?"

Jin Changtai nodded, and sighed: "I didn't intend to be an official. I made a lot of money in the Lumei caravan, so I asked to be transferred back to China. After I planned to settle my worries, I asked myself to retire and start a business. Unexpectedly When I arrived at the Army Division, I found out that you were the captain of the Chengying Eighth Battalion. Well, it’s better to be familiar with it, so I invite you to go out with the Chengying Eighth Battalion. Let’s make a fortune while fighting."

He asked to be transferred back to the country. Originally, he had made up his mind that he planned to go all out to ruin his reputation, and he also wanted to give the Gui family, the concubine of the eldest house master of the Jin family in Lizhou, a good home.Unexpectedly, not only is it impossible for a family like the Jin family to release the concubine's room, but the Gui family is even "forced" by death, unwilling to publicize their personal relationship.In desperation, Jin Changtai planned to simply have a good time on the battlefield, but he met the captain of the Eighth Battalion, Xingde.

Zhao Xingde saw that although Jin Changtai forced a smile, but his brows were full of misery, he didn't dare to ask the reason why, he just smiled and said: "It should be so." He paused, moved closer to Jin Changtai, and said in a low voice pretending to be mysterious: "It is said that there is a big silver mine in the Wayi country. How about we partner up again and hire someone to find out this silver mine without doing it yourself? If you sell the mining rights, you will be rich." He thought maliciously If it is true that this large silver mine that later generations claim to account for one-third of the world's output is discovered, will the military government simply organize a sailing expedition, use local manpower to mine silver, and then exchange various materials and supplies with Da Song? Manpower, in this case, with the support of Song Dynasty's materials and manpower, it is possible to conquer and develop the entire South China Sea wilderness, and even the continent across the ocean.

Jin Changtai casually said: "Okay, when the time comes, brother Zhao will take the big head, and I'll take a small share."

Zhao Xingde just had a whim, seeing that he didn't care, he just laughed it off.For more than ten days after that, sergeants arranged by the Marching Division came to report one after another. Some were transferred in by the whole hundred-man team, some were transferred in by the ten-man team, and some were transferred in individually.Zhang Shanfu somehow thought of a way to transfer all the 180 gunners trained by Zhao Xingde to his command, but the other gunners had to be selected and trained from scratch. In addition, he had to train [-] gunners for the fourth battalion.

In the signing room of the Zhuguo Mansion, Chen Xian packed his things dejectedly.The imperial court was a stumbling block to the Liao State, but on the surface it sent Cao Changshi Cui Qianzhi, the Prime Minister's Fushi Road, as the envoy of the Liao State.The old man in Chen Xian's family got the news from nowhere, ran up and down, and finally got him the post of clerk following Cui Qianzhi's envoy.However, since Yelu Dashi usurped the throne, the Liao Kingdom has been perverting everything, and the situation with our court is like fire and water. This mission is to paralyze the enemy country and test the truth. If you don’t cut it, what if the Khitan people become ruthless?” Chen Xian couldn’t help feeling the coldness on the back of his neck, and remembered the deafening roar of the old man: “With this old face, how many favors did you entrust to get this mission?” job vacancy!" He took a sip of ginseng tea and put it in his mouth, closed his eyes in despair, and when he opened them, he was almost frightened, the faces of the two colleagues, Zang Bu and Gou Junsheng, were very close, Zang Bu said with a hippie smile, "Fazong, if you soar into the sky, don't forget your brother."

Chen Xian was almost choked by his anger, and nodded perfunctorily.Gou Junsheng returned to Zangbu with a smile and said, "Brother Chen looks like someone who is doing great things. He shoulders the heavy responsibility of being an envoy, so he is so calm."