Iron Dynasty

Lu Fei, the commander of the Huben First Army, sees the emperor!

In the Jinling City camp, Lu Fei gave Xiao Ming a military salute. After capturing Jianzhou, Lu Fei handed over Jianzhou City to Lei Ming, and he and Luo Xin led their troops back to their respective stations.

According to the original intention of military reform, each army has its own scope of responsibility, just like contemporary military regions, each has its own combat targets.

At the time of the Northern Expedition, Lei Ming could not deal with the barbarians alone, so Lu Fei and Luo Xin went north. After the war, Lei Ming's legion was able to defend the six cities, so Lu Fei and Luo Xin led the troops back, and everyone performed their duties. .

Now that the war against the south is about to begin, Lu Fei naturally has to undertake the main offensive task. At the same time, he has also transferred three of Luo Xin's divisions. As a result, there are a total of 60,000 horses in Jinling City. .

Pingshen! Xiao Ming looked at Lu Fei, and at the same time stopped Luo Xin's false ceremony, he said, How are you preparing now?

Back to the emperor, everything is ready, we can cross south at any time. Luo Xin said confidently.

Xiao Ming nodded. He looked at the soldiers who were lined up in two rows in order to meet him. At this time, these soldiers were holding falcon breech rifles leaning, and there were ring-shaped bags hanging on them, each bag was a Small hole, which is filled with cardboard bullets.

Such a bullet belt is loaded with a full 120 rounds of bullets. During the war, soldiers can take out bullets from their hanging bags at any time and shoot in any position.

In addition, the cloth shoes under the soldiers' feet turned into black leather shoes, each with a steel helmet buckled on their heads, and a dark green long gown, the military appearance was very mighty.

His eyes swept across the soldiers, and the smile on Xiao Ming's face became more and more intense. He actually proposed the idea of ​​a steel helmet a long time ago, and the military workshop has also been designing steel helmets.

It's just that the northern expedition faced the barbarians, which basically did not have firearms, and could not use steel helmets, but this was different for the southern army. This time he was going to face a large-scale firearm battle.

Therefore, while producing the falcon musket, he requested the production of a steel helmet. This helmet is a curved surface. If the opponent's bullet does not hit the center of the helmet, most of the helmets will slide because the helmet is a curved surface. This is what he is equipped with. The reason for the helmet, as this reduces the casualties of soldiers.

Coupled with the advancement of medicine in Qingzhou, if it wasn't for being hit in the head, the current level of firearms would cause more wounded than killed.

After inspecting the Jinling Camp, Xiao Ming settled down, and everyone went to the staff headquarters in the camp, where a sand table in the southern region of the Yangtze River had been created.

Through the sand table, you can see the current situation of Li Chuyuan and the Merchant Council.

Your Majesty, after four months of fierce battles, Li Chuyuan conquered Wu County, but although the Merchant Council lost Wu County, it consumed a large amount of Li Chuyuan's troops. Chu State lost 40,000 horses here, almost half of it , and now Li Chuyuan is planning a direct attack on Suzhou.

Lu Fei pointed to the battlefield area near Suzhou to explain the current situation to Xiao Ming.

After a pause, Lu Fei continued: In addition to Wuxian, Jiaxing and Songjiang were also attacked by Li Chuyuan, but here Li Chuyuan was defeated.

Luo Quan frowned, It seems that these two are indeed evenly matched, but what does this mean?

While talking, Luo Quan pointed to Jianning and Guangzhou.

Luo Xin said: This is the news just sent by the secret guard. In these places, the merchants have responded to the merchants' council. Now they are organizing a civil group to fight against the local nobles.

This Cao family is really capable, but Jianning and Guangzhou have a prosperous generation of business, and there are many giants and wealthy merchants, and it is not surprising that they support the Merchant Council. Xiao Ming said lightly, Just like this, we must first eliminate it. The Merchant Council, after all, the establishment of the Merchant Council is inextricably linked with Western forces.

After pondering for a while, he said: I and Li Chuyuan have already discussed privately, according to the time tomorrow, he will invite me to assist him in quelling the rebellion. With my idea, we and Li Chuyuan will first eliminate the power of the Merchant Council, and then we will Take advantage of the situation to solve the wealthy family in Jiangnan.

Niu Ben and the others nodded, this was their strategy for going south this time, pulling one to fight one, and finally eating the still alive.

After this matter was settled, everyone went back to prepare.

Xiao Ming brought his concubines and concubines into the Jinling City Xingyuan. At random, 5,000 imperial troops from Qingzhou guarded his residence tightly.

The next day, Li Chuyuan arrived at Jinling City with Sima Hao as promised.

Different from the arrogant and domineering look in the past, Li Chuyuan's face is embarrassed now. Although Sima Hao is neatly dressed, anyone can see the haggard expression on his face.

For them, the days are getting harder and harder. The Chu country is now full of beacon fires. The wealthy family and the merchants have become a pot of porridge, and the common people have joined the two camps to attack each other.

Now he is very fortunate to have bought many firearms from Xiao Ming, otherwise their family property would have been robbed by the rioters instigated by the Merchant Council.

And as the war went on, although they fought equally on the bright side, they gradually lost their foundation in the folk.

Many people who were oppressed by the wealthy and bullied for hundreds of years fell to the Merchant Council. If this goes on, they have no choice but to fail.

Therefore, Sima Hao had to give up his insistence and agreed with Li Chuyuan to ask Xiao Ming for help. For him, as long as he can completely eliminate the Merchant Council, he will talk about the rest.

emperor……

In the main hall of Xingyuan, Li Chuyuan saw Xiao Ming knelt down with a pop, then climbed up to Xiao Ming and hugged Xiao Ming's legs, Chu Kingdom is in such a big disaster, and I hope the emperor can save Xiao Wang. , and it is not in vain that Xiao Wang is loyal to the emperor.

Xiao Ming showed pity on his face, but his heart was already blooming with joy. He cooperated with Li Chuyuan and said: The state of Chu is a vassal state of the Great Yu Kingdom. Now that the state of Chu is in trouble, the court naturally cannot stand by and watch. It is also the territory of the Great Yu Kingdom!

Although Sima Hao was unwilling in his heart, he had to nod his head to acknowledge Xiao Ming's request.

Thank you, Your Majesty, if your Majesty doesn't take action again, Xiao Wang may already have fears for his life. Li Chuyuan said.

Xiao Ming nodded, and he took the opportunity to say: In that case, you should stay in Jinling City. Although the Merchant Council is powerful, it is not my opponent, so you can be safe here.

Li Chuyuan breathed a sigh of relief. This is what he wanted this time. This is also the plan they agreed upon. As long as he is in Jinling City, he can save his life.

And Xiao Ming can use him to issue orders to Chu State, killing two birds with one stone.

Sima Hao opened his mouth wide in astonishment, he never thought that there would be such a thing, he just felt that the sky seemed to be falling.

PS: There is another chapter, which will be at twelve o’clock. You can read it the next day to avoid staying up late.