The bugle calls for the Qingzhou Army’s training continued.
After inquiring about the military deployment, Xiao Ming now pointed to the wooden box behind him and said to Niu Ben, “Commander Niu, these are sixty rifled guns that I obtained from Song Changping. Select sixty soldiers with excellent marksmanship, give these to them, and have them train daily.”
“Rifled guns?” Niu Ben was slightly surprised. He had tried the first rifled gun when it appeared, but the firearms were immediately taken by the secret guards. He had always coveted these rifled guns and was now excited. “Your Highness, I have been looking forward to these rifled guns!”
Luo Hong and the others fell into confusion again. They had just figured out the difference between flintlock guns and matchlock guns, and now another “rifled gun” appeared.
Ordering his attendant to bring the wooden box, Xiao Ming handed the rifled guns to Niu Ben and said, “Since that is the case, Commander Niu, you must train sixty excellent musketeers for me.”
Niu Ben and the generals of the Qingzhou Army eagerly opened the box and took out a rifled gun. While examining it, Niu Ben guaranteed, “Your Highness, if I cannot even do such a small thing, I might as well go back and retire with Luo Quan.”
“If you all go back and retire, then no one will be in charge of the army.”
Xiao Ming was a little helpless. He valued Niu Ben and Luo Quan not because of their past military achievements, but because they had a knack for managing the army. Coupled with their sufficient prestige, they could manage the armies of the various prefectures in an orderly manner. As for direct battles, he still relied on younger generals like Lu Fei, Qi Guangyi, and Luo Hong.
Having delivered the rifled guns, Xiao Ming did not linger. Niu Ben had brought out the Qingzhou Army to correct errors in the Firearm Battalion’s training.
Now that the campaign against Pengzhou was moved up the agenda, the Firearm Battalion still needed rigorous training, so he would not interfere.
Leaving the Qingzhou Barracks, Xiao Ming now looked towards Jinling City. It was one of the most prosperous cities in Great Yu Empire. Thinking of the owner of Jinling City, the Prince of Wei, he wondered what this cunning figure was planning.
…
Jinling City, Prince of Wei’s residence.
“Achchoo, achchoo.”
The Prince of Wei, who was holding a cup of hot tea and about to take a sip, suddenly sneezed twice. The Prince of Wei had caught a slight cold these past two days and had a runny nose, and all his snot immediately sprayed into the tea.
Gagging disgustedly, the Prince of Wei threw the tea aside. At this moment, the mansion’s servant again served new tea.
“Ever since Fiji left, I have been feeling unwell. Tell me, everyone, did I make a mistake this time?” The Prince of Wei said, wiping his nose.
Mi Wenyi, the chief clerk of the Prince of Wei’s residence, who was seated below the Prince of Wei, said, “Your Highness worries too much. This Fiji is now nothing but a stray dog. Now that he has come to Wei’s territory to make a few barks, why should Your Highness be anxious?”
Sitting to the left and below the Prince of Wei was Xiao Qi. He said to the Prince of Wei, “Royal Uncle, this Fiji is not as simple as a stray dog. He was dispatched by King Qi Xiao Ming. This alliance matter was truly a bit reckless of Royal Uncle. In my opinion, Royal Uncle should have agreed to King Qi. This way, with three kings standing, even if the Prince of Zhao comes with barbarian cavalry, he will not be able to harm us.”
The Prince of Wei frowned upon hearing this. He said, “Although that’s true, Fiji implicitly suggested that Xiao Ming holds the late Emperor’s last will. This clearly tells me that Xiao Ming is the one to inherit the great succession. If I were to agree to Fiji, wouldn’t that mean I would have to submit to Xiao Ming?”
Mi Wenyi seized the opportunity and said, “Your Highness is right. Now the Prince of Zhao says the Thirteenth Prince is the Emperor, and the King of Chu has directly enthroned the Third Prince as Emperor. Perhaps the Prince of Yan will enthrone the Fourth Prince next. And now there’s Xiao Ming. It’s difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. The only thing certain is that the world is now in chaos. As the saying goes, ‘heroes emerge in troubled times.’ Your Highness has plotted for so many years, how can you humble yourself before that young Xiao Ming?”
The Prince of Wei nodded upon hearing this. Mi Wenyi had spoken directly to his heart. Ever since the Prince of Ning was killed, he had lived in fear. Hadn’t he worked diligently all these years precisely so that one day he would not live in Xiao Wenxuan’s shadow?
Now that Xiao Wenxuan was finally dead, he no longer had to worry or be afraid. At the same time, his ambitions continued to swell, and he too wanted to experience the feeling of being above all others.
Xiao Qi wanted to persuade the Prince of Wei again, but seeing the fervor in the Prince of Wei’s eyes, he finally gave up. For these people, the Prince of Wei treated him like his own son. Now, whatever the Prince of Wei wanted to do in the next five or six years, he should fully assist him.
So he said, “Since Royal Uncle has ambitions for the world, now is the time to gather and prepare the army to guard against unforeseen circumstances. Although I have only interacted with Xiao Ming once, he is definitely not an easy person to deal with. If Royal Uncle refuses to ally with him, you must be prepared for war.”
“You mean King Qi will attack Wei’s territory?” The Prince of Wei frowned tightly.
Xiao Qi said lightly, “Royal Uncle, don’t forget how Xiao Ming was treated in the Battle of Cangzhou and the Battle of Jizhou. Back then, Xiao Ming merely used those weaknesses to gain some benefits, but he must still bear a grudge against Royal Uncle. After all, Royal Uncle almost caused the entire Qingzhou Army to be annihilated back then.”
The Prince of Wei’s face suddenly darkened. In both the Battle of Cangzhou and the Battle of Jizhou, he had thought of the idea that it was better for a poor monk to die than a fellow Taoist. In fact, he had always wanted to take the opportunity to eliminate this threat from the north.
Before, he still had scruples about Xiao Wenxuan. Now that the world was in chaos, only strength mattered, and he no longer had any qualms.
“If King Qi has that idea, he will surely attack Pengzhou,” Mi Wenyi suddenly said.
The Prince of Wei also nodded. He looked at Mi Wenyi, “Chief Clerk Mi, Pengzhou is your hometown. The Mi family is the largest family in the area. The matter of King Qi slaughtering the powerful families of the six prefectures is still fresh in our minds. If Pengzhou falls, I am very worried about the local powerful families.”
Mi Wenyi’s face turned pale. He said, “To be frank with Your Highness, when King Qi slaughtered the powerful families of the six prefectures back then, some of the powerful family members fled to Pengzhou for refuge. To be honest, this slaughter of powerful families was merely King Qi’s conspiracy, and definitely a rebellion by the powerful families. I believe that this matter should be announced to the world to make all powerful families abandon any thoughts of King Qi. This way, powerful families in various regions will surely view King Qi as a monstrous threat, and if King Qi attacks, they will certainly resist to the death.”
“Excellent! Very excellent!” The Prince of Wei was overjoyed upon hearing this. He said, “I have fifty thousand troops stationed in Pengzhou. If the local powerful families can unite and resist together, the military strength will be more than the apparent fifty thousand. At that time, I will send an additional ten thousand cavalry to assist, and we will surely leave Xiao Ming utterly defeated.”
Xiao Qi looked cold. He said, “Royal Uncle, Xiao Ming’s army is renowned throughout the world for its firearms. If Royal Uncle wants to defeat Xiao Ming, you must also focus your efforts on this matter.”