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June 27th.
Qingzhou’s weather gradually grew hotter, but under the scorching sun, the transport team belonging to the Qingzhou Army was still busy.
Today, the transport team received an order from Niu Ben to transport flintlock guns and ammunition from the military factory to Yizhou. This batch of military supplies was prepared for the attack on Pengzhou City.
Following closely behind the transport team were thirty-six field cannons. Sixteen of these field cannons were six-pound field cannons, and twenty were siege field cannons. Pulled by horses, the artillerymen followed the cannons south.
At Qingzhou pier, three galleons also set sail southward at this time. The preparations for the battle for Pengzhou City were in full swing.
“Over a month has passed, and it’s finally time to act.”
Lu Fei’s expression at the bow of the ship was comfortable. He had been training continuously during this period, and the days were dull and boring. Now that the war was about to begin, he was finally invigorated.
Luo Xin did not go with the artillery this time; he was also preparing to head south with the galleons. He said, “If we capture Pengzhou City this time, who do you think His Highness will entrust the military affairs of Pengzhou City to?”
“What? Do you have any ideas?” Lu Fei squinted at Luo Xin.
Rolling his eyes, Luo Xin said, “Heh heh, I knew you had that thought. Don’t worry, I won’t compete with you. The land we’re going to conquer in the future is vast.”
“Even if you tried, you wouldn’t win against me. His Highness said that once Pengzhou City is taken, he’ll make me the governor of Pengzhou. Heh heh, after following His Highness for so long, I’m finally getting promoted!” Lu Fei said with deep emotion.
In the past three years, he had achieved many merits and committed many offenses, but through all the ups and downs, he remained a cavalry commander.
He hadn’t thought about these things before, but after the chaos in Chang’an, every general in the Qingzhou Army had their own ideas.
Although Xiao Ming had not yet declared himself Emperor, in their hearts, he was already the Emperor. The only thing he lacked was the actual power to unify Great Yu Empire.
Therefore, they were all eagerly clamoring for war. Expanding territory was a great merit, and in the future, they would surely be rewarded for their achievements and their names would be immortalized.
His command of the army to attack Pengzhou City this time made many generals in the army envious, all of them staring at his command authority with red eyes.
“Hmph, now you can be smug, but during the battle, you’ll be begging me.” Luo Xin raised his eyebrows.
Lu Fei immediately grinned upon hearing this. He said, “Luo Xin, we’ve been through life and death together for two years now. You can’t drag your feet this time.”
Just as he finished speaking, Lu Fei’s peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of someone walking towards him. He turned his face and saw that it was Xiao Ming boarding the ship.
“Your Highness, are you also going to Yizhou?”
Lu Fei and Luo Xin walked towards Xiao Ming, speaking with some excitement.
“Yes, I am worried that you might cause trouble on the battlefield, so I’ve come to supervise personally,” Xiao Ming said seemingly casually.
Lu Fei felt wronged upon hearing this and said, “Your Highness, you still don’t trust me.”
Xiao Ming chuckled and said, “I was just joking. Commander Niu told me that you will have no problem leading troops independently now. This battle of Pengzhou is very important. I specifically came to see you all and boost the morale of the soldiers.”
Lu Fei breathed a sigh of relief. He said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, please rest assured. If I cannot take Pengzhou City, I will bring my head to you.”
“Your head is too big. I would find no place to put it if I used it as a chamber pot, so you keep it yourself.” Xiao Ming glared at Lu Fei. This phrase had become his catchphrase for him.
This time, accompanying Lu Fei were Luo Hong and other soldiers from the Firearm Battalion. The three warships were packed with these soldiers.
Originally, Xiao Ming also wanted to go to Yizhou to oversee the battle, but the intelligence Li San had sent over the past two days was somewhat complex, and he needed to discuss it with Fiji and others.
Xiao Ming boarded the warship, which made the soldiers look excited. Never before had a vassal king personally come to send them off to battle.
These soldiers from Chang’an had only heard that Xiao Ming was very approachable, and now they saw it was indeed true.
After exchanging a few words with Lu Fei, Xiao Ming ignored him and instead boarded the three warships one after another, inquiring about the soldiers’ well-being. Xiao Ming’s actions further boosted the soldiers’ morale.
“All of you, brave soldiers, on the day Pengzhou City falls, I will personally host a victory celebration for all of you!” Xiao Ming declared loudly to the ordinary yet endearing soldiers.
“Our glory is loyalty!” The Qingzhou Army soldiers immediately shouted back.
Luo Hong was stunned for a moment, then he also shouted, “Our glory is loyalty!”
Looking at the high-spirited departing soldiers, Xiao Ming nodded with satisfaction. He said to Lu Fei, “Depart now.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Lu Fei replied.
Disembarking, Xiao Ming watched the three warships set sail from the pier, gradually disappearing into the horizon of the river.
At this moment, Fiji appeared behind Xiao Ming. Also looking at the departing warships, he said, “Your Highness, the King of Chu’s envoy says that King Chu is willing to ally with us and divide the empire equally in the future. I wonder what Your Highness’s intentions are?”
The reason Xiao Ming didn’t go to Yizhou this time was because of the King of Chu’s envoy. After he completely fell out with the Prince of Wei, he didn’t know whether the King of Chu had received the news or if he had already planned this, but an envoy from Chu arrived this morning.
At that time, he was at the military factory with Song Changping, delivering the produced flintlock guns to the Qingzhou Army. Upon hearing the news, he had Fiji first make contact with the King of Chu’s envoy.
“What do you think, Councillor Fei?” Xiao Ming asked.
“Your Highness, I will say something that may displease Your Highness. Over the past month, I have been handling the administrative affairs of the fief with Pang Yukun. In my opinion, even with the advantage of firearms and cannons, Your Highness cannot unify the empire alone.” Fiji said.
After a pause, he continued, “From the account books, it is clear that just steel, firearms, cannons, ammunition, and gunpowder consume a huge amount from the government. If they are not replenished in time, I’m afraid the soldiers will face the dilemma of having guns but no bullets in the future. The reason for all this is that the world is in chaos, trade routes are cut off, and various materials from Great Yu Empire cannot reach Qingzhou. If this continues, how can Your Highness unify the north? Your Highness, don’t forget the barbarians on the grasslands; they have been eyeing Your Highness covetously.”
Fiji’s meaning was very clear. He was not surprised at all that the King of Chu sent an envoy this time, because a large portion of the cannons from his cannon trade with the King of Chu had not yet been delivered. If they were to fall out now, the King of Chu would surely be heartbroken.
“You mean to continue maintaining trade relations with the King of Chu?” Xiao Ming asked.
“Your Highness, great people do not bother with minor details. If Your Highness wants to gain control of the northern lands, you must cooperate with the King of Chu. This way, whether it is grain, fodder, or minerals, there will be a source, and Your Highness’s goods will also have a place to sell, won’t they?”
Xiao Ming nodded. It must be said that Fiji’s words resonated with him. He indeed needed a stable market for his goods, otherwise Qingzhou’s industry would be finished.