Chapter 244: A magical weapon that transcends time
Chapter 244: A magical weapon that transcends time
A slightly cool autumn wind blew through the camp, and the sheds above everyone's heads shook like waves.
Following Zhao Duan's order, the atmosphere suddenly became strange.
Xue Shence remained silent, displaying the demeanor of a "military god", but the other military officers around him could not help but look at each other in bewilderment.
Oops... Shi Meng, who was standing aside and should have been the "protagonist" today but was squeezed into a marginal supporting role, had cold sweat on his forehead.
He could clearly sense that the Privy Council members were all looking at him.
This fierce general who could run a horse on his arms felt that the invisible pressure in the air was even more suffocating than the murderous aura of a battlefield.
"This guy... how long has it been? He has already become so powerful? The people in the Shenjiying Camp didn't even listen to the words of the Privy Councilor Xue, but instead obeyed the orders of the man surnamed Zhao?"
This thought arose in everyone's mind at the same time.
However, Shi Meng had a hard time expressing his feelings.
As a "bystander", he clearly saw what Zhao Duan had been doing during this period.
On the first day of the camp, a trick of "calling a deer a horse" was played, which taught everyone a hard lesson.
The sacrifice of the "Little Duke" caused everyone in the camp to feel awe, fearing that they would offend Lord Zhao and be dismissed from office.
Then, they pulled the military officers and soldiers to play Cuju for fun, which was a way of appeasing them.
Hold high the big stick and sow sweet dates.
The means are simple but effective.
In particular, the soldiers around the shed during today's drill were all carefully selected because they had played football with "Zhao Chenshi" and had also received a lot of tips from Zhao Duan.
It is no surprise that this scene happened.
"Haha, what Lord Xue said is indeed right. It should be so. As officials, we should share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers."
The Minister of War, dressed in a scarlet robe, stroked his beard and tried to smooth things over with a smile.
The Ministry of War was under the Xiuwenguan and the Empress, and was also in charge of the military registration of the Beijing Camp.
The two identities here are a perfect "lubricant".
The old minister seemed to understand the role he should play.
Under his adjustment, the atmosphere under the awning gradually relaxed, and a group of people talked and laughed, standing in a row, waiting for the exercise to begin.
Zhao Duan stood naturally beside Xue Shence. The two of them were surrounded by officials on both sides and looked at the huge and spacious ochre-colored parade ground together.
At this moment, there was no one in the parade ground, only the fluttering flags.
There were soldiers standing guard on the parapets.
In the corner, a drummer is waiting.
"Mr. Zhao has been able to gain a firm foothold in this camp these days. I originally thought that you had no experience in commanding troops and might not be able to subdue these arrogant and fierce generals. But after seeing you today, I feel much more relieved."
Xue Shence stood with his hands behind his back, wearing an official robe. His fair face was angular and had a sculptural beauty.
His eyebrows were thick and black, and he was talking casually, but his eyes were only looking forward:
"However, I have also heard some criticisms. People in the Five Armies, the Three Thousand Battalions, and even the other guards in the city are spreading the news."
Zhao Duan asked curiously, "What's being spread? Who's spreading it?"
Xue Shence said calmly:
"They are bad words after all. There are tens of thousands of soldiers in the capital who are dissatisfied. It is not the way for a general to shake the morale of the army like this."
This is the knock...
Zhao Duan seemed not to understand at all, and said with a smile:
"Thank you, Lord Xue, for your advice. I will not take the slander and defamation of some scoundrels to heart. It is nothing more than someone who dislikes me and instigates rumors against me."
Xue Shence didn't expect him to be so shameless, and he almost laughed out of anger:
"Oh? Who doesn't like it? Who is targeting you?"
Zhao Duan said seriously:
"Maybe it's the rebels in the army."
The two men's conversation was not loud, but the group of warriors under the awning had sharp ears and eyes, and their expressions changed slightly.
"Who do you say is a traitor?!" Tang Ping couldn't hold it in any longer and spoke angrily.
There is a feeling of being mapped.
Zhao Duan glanced at him, waved his hand, and said calmly:
"Young Master, please don't be angry. The Duke of Zhenguo is a nobleman for generations, and his loyalty is evident. Young Master is also of good family background... But, I can't say for the others.
Haha, I heard that the young master was angry with me, but it was because of the instigation of a group of people. It’s strange, why did the army suddenly become dissatisfied with me?
I thought, after all, it couldn't be that because I had made many great contributions and was promoted by His Majesty, I aroused jealousy, right?
After thinking about it more carefully, I heard that it was related to the things committed by the rebel assassins some time ago. But if the rebels wanted to create panic, why didn't they just target the weak civil officials, but instead picked more military officers to kill?
Isn't this a deliberate attempt to sow discord between me and my fellow soldiers?
Unfortunately, such a simple trick would have fooled ordinary soldiers, but those who can become military officers in the army would not be so stupid. However, they still fulfilled the wishes of the rebels and spread rumors against me...
Young Master, in your opinion, is this worthy of suspicion?"
These sudden words, coupled with gentle persuasion, actually stunned the angry Tang Ping.
I couldn't refute it for a while.
Everyone knows that the military officers are probably indeed "jealous"...
But this kind of shameful mentality is really not easy to put on the table.
It was even more impossible for Tang Ping to admit that he was jealous or stupid... He could only follow Zhao Duan's words, back off the situation, and admit that he was instigated by others.
I was choking and speechless.
The Minister of War watched the show with a smile.
I thought to myself, young master, why don't you do something else? Why do you have to compete with that Zhao in verbal battles? Isn't that like hitting a rock with an egg?
Xue Shence turned his head, glanced at him, and suddenly said:
"Since Mr. Zhao believes that there are rebels in the army, why haven't you investigated during this period?"
It is worth mentioning that although the "Prince Jing's Mansion" secretly sent spies to do things, it was no longer a secret to many senior generals.
But at least on the surface, because there is no evidence, they are even more reluctant to fall out.
Therefore, in the last case of the Shenjiying firearms, the blame was ultimately put on the "Kuangfu Society".
Xue Shence and Zhao Duan both referred to the "ghosts in Prince Jing's mansion" as the rebels...
Everyone guessed that Zhao Duan suddenly appeared out of nowhere to target the traitor in Prince Jing’s mansion.
It’s just that before, we tacitly agreed not to mention it.
At this moment, Xue Shence simply broke this membrane.
"Did your Excellency misunderstand?"
Zhao Duan looked surprised.
"What investigation? Although I am still serving as the Zhaoya Jisi, I came to the Shenjiying this time just to fulfill my duties as a fourth-rank commander and do something practical for the Beijing Camp and the soldiers. That's all.
What does it have to do with me whether the rebel party exists or not? "
Everyone under the awning was speechless for a moment.
Seeing his sincere look, I didn't know whether to believe him or praise him for his good acting skills.
And do practical things for the soldiers... Indulging in wine and women, playing Cuju, which one has anything to do with "practical things"?
…The corner of Xue Shence's mouth twitched, and he had a new understanding of this man's ability to pretend to be confused.
He took a deep breath and said:
"Now that there is no war and the world is at peace, there is nothing for Zhao Chenshi to worry about in the camp. On the contrary, the matter of the rebel party is of great importance.
Previously, the firearms blueprints were stolen from the Shenji Camp and some craftsmen went missing, which alarmed the emperor.
Firearms are important weapons in our army. If they are obtained by the rebels, it will be a great disaster. Zhao Chenshi might as well focus his energy on this and do less things that will damage his reputation. "
It seems to be an exhortation, but in fact it is a warning.
However, Zhao Duan's next words stunned everyone.
"The stolen firearms? It's not important anymore," Zhao Duan said nonchalantly, "Besides, how can Lord Xue be sure that I didn't fill this hole?"
"What do you mean?" Xue Shence's heart skipped a beat, vaguely realizing that something unexpected was about to happen.
"Someone come here!" Zhao Duan suddenly said loudly.
On the side, a soldier came running from a distance, holding a narrow brown wooden box half a person's height in his hand. He arrived in front of him, knelt on one knee, and raised his hands high.
At this moment, the wind seemed to smell the murderous aura and became stronger, blowing the official robes of the people like waves.
Zhao Duan opened the wooden box with one hand, and then picked up a "long stick" with a brown wooden butt as the base, a black barrel as the main body, a precise structure, and cold and silent.
Under the confused and curious gazes of the generals, he held the weapon in a strange position and said with a smile:
"Do you recognize this thing?"
The Minister of War shook his head:
"It looks like a spear, but it has no spear head. I have never seen it before."
The thin Privy Council Governor Wang also frowned:
"It's a tube-shaped object that smells like gunpowder. Could it be a firearm? But it's so small... I've never seen one before."
Xue Shence said nothing, his eyes also showing confusion.
At this time, rows of soldiers holding the same strange weapons entered the parade ground.
"Governor Wang is right. This is the new firearm of our Shenji Battalion. Today's drill will also use this weapon."
Zhao Duan said loudly, and suddenly turned his head to look at Tang Ping in white robes and white clothes, raised the corner of his mouth, and said loudly:
"Young Master, you are an expert archer in the army. Let me ask you, with the wind like today, are your bows and arrows still sharp on the battlefield?"
When Tang Ping was called, he was stunned at first.
Then he looked at the violently shaking awning and the flag that was almost fully unfolded in the bitter autumn wind.
I could hear the tarpaulin rustling.
Although he was unhappy, he still said firmly in a deep voice:
"If you shoot arrows with the wind, you will get twice the result with half the effort. If you don't, it will be disadvantageous!"
"it is good!"
Zhao Duan faced the wind, and his hair was blown into a mess.
He raised the musket with one hand, with the muzzle slightly raised, and with his left hand he pulled out a windproof fire starter, shook it, and a spark ignited, which he lightly swept across the fuse.
laughed and said:
"Didn't you want to watch me practice archery during the martial arts performance? Today, just open your eyes and watch."
Hiss...the fuse is ignited and the gunpowder in the barrel is ready to fire.
Zhao Duan raised his gun to the sky:
"Let's see if this arrow of mine is effective!"
The next moment, the trigger was pulled, and a cluster of dazzling light shot out from the dark barrel of the gun. A ball of hot light like a small sun, with a roar and a sharp explosion, rushed straight into the clouds.
"boom!"
Like a signal.
On the parade ground, drums sounded, and a large number of soldiers raised their guns at the same time, and the gunfire was like thunder.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang..."
The dense gunfire, like a sudden rainstorm, came pouring down without any warning.
The neatly arranged black gun muzzles simultaneously spewed out bright and hot flames, raising large clouds of green smoke with a strong smell of sulfur.
The powerful thrust shot countless pills like heavy rain towards the human-shaped targets that had already been arranged in a military formation in the distance.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang…!”
After the first team of soldiers fired, they quickly retreated to both sides, and the second row took over, and they quickly changed ammunition at the end. This is where Gongshu Tianyuan's transformation played a huge role.
The entire phalanx was like a machine running at full speed and as aggressive as a bull. It operated in an orderly manner, pouring its anger against the wind towards the imaginary enemy.
The intense and continuous sound of gunfire came in waves, completely suppressing the voices of everyone under the awning.
Even though the war horses outside the parade ground were accustomed to the sound of firearms, they still stamped their hooves nervously.
The soldiers turned their heads in astonishment and looked into the distance, wondering if the gunpowder depot had exploded.
And then, the "powder keg" really exploded.
On one side of the parade ground, the fence gate was pushed open.
Chen Gui, the director of the Firearms Bureau, dressed in an official robe, walked out holding a torch.
Next to him was a giant cannon pushed out by a strong man.
Patterns were outlined on the thick gun barrel, but the short half-month was not enough to complete the manufacture of the cannon.
Therefore, this red cannon named "General Shenwei" was forcibly catalyzed by Gongshu Tianyuan with the help of sorcerers.
But it is enough for demonstration.
Chen Huo's robe fluttered in the wind, his hair flew back, and his right hand firmly lit the fuse.
Russian qing.
A fiery power was brewing in the hideous black muzzle, and the patterns on the barrel lit up one by one, as if charging step by step, pushing out the shells.
"boom!!!!"
After a cluster of unusually brilliant flames flashed.
Under the gaze of everyone, at the end of the parade ground, the "military formation" that had been riddled with musketry was torn apart.
A huge gap collapsed in the thick wall, and dust flew everywhere!
A deep pit was blown out on the ground, and the shattered shrapnel smashed holes as thick as fingers into the surrounding land!
At this moment, all the military officers under the awning were moved.
Even the "God of War" Xue Shence's eyes twitched violently.
He quickly determined that even he would be injured if he was hit head-on by the "cannon" without any preparation.
Looking around the world, how many warriors are as powerful as him?
"receive!"
Zhao Duan put down the rifle he was holding high.
The sound of gunfire in the parade ground also stopped abruptly, as if the baton of a band conductor was directing the movement.
On the parade ground, the musketeers lined up in square formations held their heads high and their chests puffed out.
Under the awning, military officers of all ranks from the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, and the Beijing Garrison all had almost the same expression on their faces.
Dazed, moved, shocked, and incredulous.
Shi Meng, who was extremely burly, blinked hard, and his facial features were somewhat distorted.
He didn't understand where such a team appeared from the Shenji Camp right under his nose.
The commanders of the Fifth Army Battalion and the Three Thousand Army Battalion also looked dazed, calculating almost instinctively:
What would happen if the soldiers under his command saw this scene?
All they could think of were the four words "fallen flowers and flowing water", which seemed elegant but were actually cruel.
Governor Wang's face twitched as he stared blankly at the parade ground, seemingly still not coming back to his senses.
Suddenly, I remembered the news that Zhao Duan was close to the Firearms Bureau...
Everyone thought they were investigating a case, but they didn't expect... it would be such a big "surprise".
He whispered softly:
"Where did this new firearm come from?"
The Minister of War was stunned for a long time. His hand, which was stroking his beard, was so moved that he accidentally pulled out a few hairs, but he didn't care.
His eyes were just shining: "A magical weapon... a magical weapon..."
Xue Shence watched the entire exercise in silence and slowly turned his head.
For the first time, he stared at Zhao Duan seriously, his eyes fell on the musket in his hand, and said in a slightly hoarse voice:
"What's this?"
Zhao Duan smiled and said, "This is what I do."
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(End of this chapter)