Chapter 249 Leap into a New Era

Chapter 249 Leap into a New Era

Chapter 249 Leap into a New Era

With the help of the dim candlelight in the pavilion, Mu Chuting's sight fell clearly on the person who came.

The man was wearing a well-tailored black brocade robe. The robe was of high-quality texture and had a faint luster under the dim light, which made his figure more upright, like a pine or cypress in the dark night.

He was tall, and when he stood he seemed to be able to touch the beams of the pavilion, full of fortitude.

However, within this fortitude, Mu Chuting keenly detected a subtle weakness.

His face was slightly pale, with dark circles around his eyes.
Although there was a sharp light flashing in his deep eyes, there was a hint of unspeakable fatigue hidden deep in them.

Mu Chuting looked at him, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, she slowly stood up and said in a deep voice:
"My daughter Mu Chuting greets General Lu."

Lu Yunyi hurriedly walked closer and spoke softly, as if trying to lower his voice:
"Meet Miss Mu."

At this moment, the distance between the two was only half a foot.

Close enough for Lu Yunyi to see Mu Chuting's face clearly.

She is tall, about 1.68 meters tall, and standing in the pavilion, she looks like a graceful white lotus, fresh and refined.

The face is very delicate, the lines of the facial features are soft and smooth, and there is a gentleness between the eyebrows.
Especially those eyes, clear and deep,
Lu Yunyi vaguely felt a kind of imperceptible tenacity.

At this moment, Mu Chuting smiled slightly, and her smile was like a spring breeze, warm and bright, instantly narrowing the distance between the two.

She responded softly:

"General Lu, you are too polite. Chu Ting has long heard of your name. It is a great honor to meet you today."

"Ms. Mu, you are too kind. Yunyi is also honored to meet you here." Lu Yunyi's voice was low.

The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere became harmonious at this moment.

Mu Chuting slowly turned around and waved gently towards the pavilion:
After the two of them sat down, Mu Chuting spoke slowly, her voice slightly soft.

"Chu Ting has long heard of General Lu's heroic deeds and has always admired him. Today, I see that General Lu is indeed quite heroic."

Being praised on their first meeting, even though Lu Yunyi was thick-skinned, he felt a little embarrassed and quickly said:

"Miss Mu is also very pretty, Yun Yi has never seen such a pretty girl before."

Then, Lu Yunyi realized that this statement was too straightforward.

Mu Chuting's face suddenly turned red, and she lowered her head a little bit, and said shyly:
"Thank you General Lu for the compliment."

The atmosphere between the two of them became dull.
A trace of embarrassment flashed across his eyes. He didn't know what to say. He even wanted to shout in his heart, Black Hawk, save me.

After a long silence, Mu Chuting spoke softly, with a hint of inquiry, as if hiding some worry:

"General Lu, what do you think of the war in the southwest? Do you have a sure-fire way to win?
I heard that Si Lunfa has already been harassing the three prefectures, forcing our Ming army to split up. Then,

As we were talking, a breeze blew and a fragrance came to our faces.

Lu Yunyi forced his eyes open in confusion, then smiled:
"Miss Mu, please rest assured. The soldiers I lead are all good fighters in the army, and we have also made a special strategy for fighting in the mountains and forests of the southwest.
Those harassing Luchuan soldiers are not a problem. When I rush to Dali, I will be able to wipe them out quickly."

Mu Chuting raised her head in surprise, and a hint of joy appeared in her voice:
"really?"

Lu Yunyi nodded with a smile.

"The three prefectures were attacked by Luchuan soldiers, and my father has not been able to rest in peace these past few days."

A trace of worry flashed across Mu Chuting's eyes. She quietly moved closer and said in a low voice:
"At noon today, my father had a quarrel with Governor Xie over how to wipe out these rebels."

Thank you, Commander? A strange look flashed across Lu Yunyi's eyes, and then he understood.

Because of the continuous wars in Yunnan, there are actually three people in charge of the Yunnan Dusi.

Xiping Hou Mu Ying, the deputy commander of the left army Feng Cheng, and the deputy commander of the front army Xie Xiongge,

However, the chief officer of the Dusi was often away suppressing rebellions, and there was often a situation where no one was there to handle the affairs of the Dusi.

When Lu Yunyi was in the capital, he heard Dingyuan Hou say,
The imperial court planned to send He Fu, the deputy director of the Front Army Governor's Office, to Yunnan to take charge of the affairs of the Military Governor's Office, in order to ensure that the Governor's Office would have a person in charge.

Finally, because some tribes in the north rebelled because Yesüder proclaimed himself Khan, he went to the north to quell the rebellion, and the matter ended there.

Putting away his thoughts, Lu Yunyi asked slowly:
"Miss Mu, do you know anything about military affairs?"

Mu Chuting smiled gently and lowered her head slowly:
"My father was the Marquis of Xiping, and I was influenced by him since I was a child.

General Lu has read all about the military, so Chu Ting should know a little more.
If I marry the general in the future, at least I can let General Lu talk a little more about his annoyance."

As soon as the words fell, a faint blush appeared on Mu Chuting's cheeks, which quickly spread to her ears.

Seeing this, many maids smiled and turned their heads away silently.

They could sense that the young lady was very satisfied with General Lu.

Lu Yunyi couldn't help but be stunned when he saw this scene. Although women in the military didn't have so many rules and regulations,
But this statement is still very bold and his intentions are undoubtedly exposed.

"Miss Mu, have you read military books?"

Mu Chuting nodded gently: "I have read the military books from the Spring and Autumn Period.

I have studied "The Art of War by Sun Tzu", "Wu Zi", "Sima Fa", "Sun Bin's Art of War" and "Six Secret Teachings".

I haven't read much about military tactics from the Tang Dynasty.

I have also read some military strategies of the Song Dynasty, such as "The Theory of Dr. He" and "The Biography of One Hundred Generals".
Compared with the troops in the Spring and Autumn Period, the military tactics of the Song Dynasty were much more detailed.

There are all kinds of things, such as mobilizing troops, commanding troops, transporting food and grass, logistics, building weapons, cavalry tactics, infantry tactics, etc. It's a bit tiring to read.
It was only after reading the military books of the Song Dynasty that Chu Ting realized the hardships of the army and her father’s difficulties.”

Mu Chuting's voice became softer and softer, sounding a bit innocent and anxious.
Soon she seemed to remember something, and a playful look appeared on her face:

"Father once said that I was just talking about military strategy on paper. These military books seem useless. What do you think, General Lu?"

Even though the candlelight around was dim, Lu Yunyi could still see Mu Chuting's eyes were bright.

Lu Yunyi smiled and said slowly:

"As the old saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

“Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles?”

Mu Chuting looked thoughtful, her eyes lit up little by little, and she said with some surprise:

"Sir, this is a world-shaking saying. May I ask from which book did you get it?"

There was a hint of dullness in Lu Yunyi's slightly dull eyes. He blinked his eyes.
This was said by Dong Qichang, which was about 167 years before he was born.

Lu Yunyi could only smile and said, "I can no longer remember what I got from a book of miscellaneous notes."

Then, he brought the topic back:

"When Lord Mu said that military books are useless, he didn't mean that the tactics in them are useless, but that they are useless to the Ming Dynasty today.
It was because the Ming Dynasty was at a critical moment of replacing the old with the new.

If we simply copy the military tactics of the past, we will suffer more defeats than victories.”

"Why?" Mu Chuting's eyes were full of confusion.

"Because of firearms." Lu Yunyi answered firmly.

"The existence of firearms has put a damper on the previously invincible cavalry.

The fire guns of the Ming Dynasty could fire at a distance of 100 steps, and the lethal distance was about 50 steps.
But if we ignore the cost and use the iron bullets developed independently, we can hit the target 200 steps away.
The lethal distance is about 130 steps, and the Ming Dynasty also has artillery.
Whether it is the Spring and Autumn Period or the Tang, Song and Five Dynasties,
The weapons used were nothing more than swords, spears, sticks and clubs. The limitations of the weapons limited the tactics.

The emergence of new weapons has brought countless changes to the original battlefield situation.
The things that generals need to consider have increased by leaps and bounds.
If we continue to fight according to the previous tactics, our strength may decline instead of improve."

A hint of doubt flashed across Mu Chuting's eyes.
Lu Yunyi thought for a moment and explained:

"Take the Luchuan battle as an example. If the elephant soldiers in Luchuan were to fight according to the tactics of the Spring and Autumn Period, Tang and Song Dynasties,

The lives of cavalry and infantry are needed to fill the gap, and the losses are huge if they are consumed bit by bit.

But now it is not necessary. Cavalry and infantry will become auxiliary troops when facing target troops.
The purpose of all this was to get the elephant soldiers into the range of the muskets and artillery.
Once we get in, we can fire three rounds at once and we'll win."

Mu Chuting blinked her eyes, and there was some realization in her eyes. After thinking for a long time, she asked tentatively:

"General Lu, what you mean is that in the past, when fighting one-on-one, the generals would use cavalry and infantry to annihilate the enemy, but now they are trying to lure the enemy?
Although both tactics are used against cavalry and infantry, the key has been quietly transferred? "

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"Miss Mu is extremely smart. She is the last straw that broke the camel's back.
In the past, the straw that broke the camel's back was a cavalry charge that was the decisive blow, but now it was a volley of firearms that broke the enemy's formation in one fell swoop.

This is how new weapons change the battlefield situation.
In this Luchuan battle, firearms will enter the historical stage because of the presence of elephant soldiers.
It will be a turning point for the Ming army. All previous dynasties will be left behind. From now on, a new era will come."

Hearing this, I don't know why.
Mu Chuting was also somewhat excited, as if she was witnessing a historical glory.

"General Lu is so confident?"

"In the military, I have never been defeated, nor have I made any mistakes."

A strong sense of self-confidence came over Mu Chuting,
Her breathing was a little rapid, and her eyes were shining with irrepressible excitement.

She likes confident men.

Seeing this, Lu Yunyi waved his hand gently and instructed the guards and maids beside him:
"You guys go down first."

After hearing this, Mu Chuting was stunned, and many guards and maids couldn't help but stare at him.
For some reason, they had the illusion that they were looking at a new son-in-law.

But they did not hesitate, they soon bowed and slowly retreated.

"General Lu, what are you doing?"

Lu Yunyi spoke slowly in a gentle voice:
"Miss Mu, to be honest, I already have two wives at home.

I was a little caught off guard by what happened today, and I hope Miss Mu doesn't mind."

Mu Chuting didn't mind at all after hearing this. Instead, she laughed and said slowly:

"It would be great if General Lu could be as confident about family affairs as he is about military affairs."

Lu Yunyi was stunned, and Mu Chuting said immediately:
"How about Chu Ting and the general have a fight?"

"How do I bet?"

"As the general just said, the battle of Xinan Luchuan was the boundary between the past and the present.
If so, Chu Ting is willing to marry the general.

If not, Chu Ting can't make the decision on her own, and needs to ask her father and mother..."

As we spoke, through the dim candlelight,
Lu Yunyi could see her red face and her hands tightly grasping her white skirt.
Lu Yunyi was stunned for a moment, then understood what was meant. He nodded readily and raised a finger.

"It's a deal, pinky promise!"

A flash of surprise flashed across Mu Chuting's eyes, and then she smiled deeply, and also stretched out her finger.

The two of them gently hooked their little fingers together and smiled at each other.

An hour later, after finishing their meal, the group returned to the camp.

During the meal, everyone drank a few glasses of wine. I heard that it was a tonic wine unique to the Yunnan chieftains, so that everyone's faces were red at this moment.

Several people were swaying on their war horses, and Li Jinglong joked:

"Yun Yi, I can't believe that you and Zi Gong have become brothers-in-law. He is also your brother-in-law, hahahahahahaha"

For a moment, several people looked strange and could not hide their smiles.

Lu Yunyi's face was calm, and it seemed that all the fatigue in his eyes had disappeared. He spoke calmly:
"Whether it succeeds or not depends on the outcome of this war."

Li Jinglong looked puzzled and asked, "Why?"

As they walked, Lu Yunyi told them what had just happened.

In particular, there was no concealment of any speculation about firearms and changes of the times.

Today, the Ming Dynasty is changing with each passing day, and the wars we fight are making progress all the time.

For military leaders, standing still means falling behind.

There were so many founding nobles of the Ming Dynasty, but now only a dozen of them are still active on the front lines.

Except for a few who died early due to physical weakness, the rest were either abandoned by the times or unable to keep up with the tactics.

This was particularly evident in the Northern Expedition Army, where some generals were unable to understand the commander's intentions.
Can only follow orders, lack of flexibility,
It will become increasingly difficult for such generals to achieve success in the future.

The reason why I told them this was because they were the core members of the front army scout unit and their close associates.
If they fail to understand the military orders he issued, the combat effectiveness of the front-line scouts will be greatly reduced.

After Lu Yunyi told them about this, the scene seemed to become quiet in an instant.
Some people staggered back to the camp, saying few words, all with frowns on their faces, deep in thought.

After returning to the camp, Lu Yunyi quickly washed up, changed into his pajamas, and prepared to have a good sleep before setting off for Dali tomorrow.

At this time, Liu Heiying poked his head in and smiled.
"Brother Yun'er"

"What are you doing here?" Lu Yunyi sat on the bed and looked up in surprise.

Liu Heiying rubbed his hands, moved closer, and asked in a low voice:

"Brother Yun'er, how are you getting along with Miss Mu?"

"Of course it's excellent."

"Are you really planning to marry her?"

Liu Heiying glanced at Lu Yunyi in surprise, his eyes full of strangeness.
In his impression, Brother Yun'er is not so eager for women.

Lu Yunyi's face was heavy. He stretched out his hand and gently pinched his brows. Deep thought appeared in his eyes, and his voice was also a little heavy:
"When I go to the southwest in the future, I want to establish contact with Lord Mu through war and new tactics.
But I didn't expect things to go so smoothly, and I got the chance to become a son-in-law. I definitely can't miss this opportunity."

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became solemn.
Liu Heiying's face was solemn:
"Brother Yun'er, are court affairs really that serious? Will they affect lowly officials like you and me?"

Ugh.
Lu Yunyi sighed softly, his eyes heavy.

"Not small, five thousand elite soldiers are enough to influence a war.
What's more, in the eyes of some bigwigs, including Your Majesty, they are not looking at our present, but our future.

Lord Mu was adopted as an adopted son when he was eight years old, and he was no different from his own son.
Now he is stationed in the southwest, which shows his grace and honor.

If I become his son-in-law, even if there are big storms in the court, I can lean on the big tree to shelter me from the wind and rain, which is much better than going forward alone."

"Isn't there still a great general?"

Liu Heiying tilted his head, with some confusion in his eyes.

Lu Yunyi's face darkened and he waved his hand casually:

"After the war, pick a good day to marry the new bride."

"Why do we have to pick a good day? Brother Yun'er, do you still believe in this?"

Lu Yunyi glanced at him and said, "Because I may not be able to live a good life in the future."

In the Mu Mansion, Mu Ying, who had eaten and drunk his fill, sat in the main hall, sipping the tea in his cup gently, with a solemn expression on his face, thinking constantly in his mind.

Even though our family is harmonious now, the Luchuan war is always a heavy stone weighing on our hearts.

Feng was also sitting aside, drinking tea happily, with a smile on her face that she could hardly hide.

At this time, Mu Chuting slowly walked over, wearing a white dress that made her look like a fairy.
As a mother, Feng can still feel her daughter's mood changes.

Compared to before, my daughter was a little more excited.

"Ting'er, what do you think of this husband?" Feng asked with a smile.

Mu Chuting's face was normal, but there was a little fluctuation in her eyes:
"Mother, the marriage has not been decided yet. I made a bet with General Lu."

There was a flash of difference in Feng's eyes:

"You damn child, if you like her, just marry her. Why are you betting?"

Mu Chuting glanced at her father with a serious expression, and seeing that he didn't look at her, she slowly told him what had just happened.

After listening to this, Feng smiled and nodded:

"It doesn't matter if you lose. I will agree to it then."

Mu Chuting smiled and turned to look at her father.
The solemnity on his face had completely disappeared, replaced by a frown of deep thought.
"He really said that?"

Mu Chuting smiled and nodded: "Of course, General Lu is very sure."

Mu Ying's expression changed back and forth, showing astonishment, shock, and a hint of weirdness and sympathy.
Finally, he sighed, as if a heavy stone in his heart had been lifted, and said slowly:
"Ting'er, with this foresight, he can be as powerful as an army of 100,000.

If he loses in the end, your father will order him to marry you!

Don't worry, Ting'er. How can such a young talent fall into the hands of others? "

(End of this chapter)