Chapter 272: Zunyi City, Fighting a Rich Battle

Everyone looked at Sun Chuanting. Though their expressions differed, their meaning was much the same — all held admiration for him.

After all, in their view, this was largely a trip to certain death. But more than that, they were pessimistic about this journey, or rather, worried.

Yuan Keli stared fixedly at Sun Chuanting.

Having come this far together, Yuan Keli naturally understood Sun Chuanting's abilities, and he did not believe Sun Chuanting was the sort of man to foolishly go off and die.

Yuan Keli asked: "Do you have confidence?"

Giving a slight nod, Sun Chuanting said directly: "The rebels appear mighty, but in truth they are nothing but a motley rabble. The only reason they can stir up Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou is that these places are sparsely populated — they rely on their familiarity with the terrain and the cooperation of the local natives. Pacifying them is actually not all that difficult."

Seeing Sun Chuanting's confident bearing, Yuan Keli nodded and said: "Then let it be done."

After saying this, Yuan Keli turned to look at Li Biao and said: "Assemble the army and march on Zunyi."

Whether to lure out An Bangyan or to open the route into Sichuan, Zunyi had to be taken.

Upon receiving Yuan Keli's order, Li Biao no longer hesitated.

Though Li Biao still had some reservations and did not quite believe Sun Chuanting's judgment, orders were orders — Yuan Keli was the Governor-General of the Southwest, and he had to obey.

The army set out directly.

Sun Chuanting led Qi Yuangong's five thousand men, drawn up separately on one flank.

As they marched, Sun Chuanting kept watching Qi Yuangong. He was quite curious about this son of Qi Jin and very much wanted to have a talk with him.

But this Qi Yuangong was a taciturn fellow who barely spoke the whole way.

After thinking it over, Sun Chuanting made conversation by asking: "General Qi, this official has heard that the Capital Camps' training methods are based on the military arts of the late Grand Mentor Qi. Is that so?"

Qi Yuangong glanced at Sun Chuanting. His impression of this Vice Minister Sun was fairly good.

Few civil officials understood military affairs as well as Vice Minister Sun, and few could ride horses and shoot arrows like him. Vice Minister Sun could even wield a blade, and he had backbone — unafraid to die in battle.

But Qi Yuangong himself was not good at dealing with people. Compared among his brothers, he was far inferior to Qi Yuanfu in eloquence. That was why the last time there was an opportunity to serve at His Majesty's side as commander of the Thousand Bull Guards, it was Qi Yuanfu who went, not him.

If speaking purely of skill with weapons, Qi Yuangong was stronger than Qi Yuanfu.

Now hearing Sun Chuanting's question, Qi Yuangong felt inclined to talk, so he smiled honestly and said: "It's not entirely the same. From what my father said, this round of Capital Camps training is largely to coordinate with the new firearms."

"Are those the ones they're carrying?" Sun Chuanting looked back at the troops behind him and asked curiously again.

Qi Yuangong nodded, speaking with slight pride: "These were all newly developed and produced by the Hundred Crafts Institute. The quality is very good, and the power is much greater than before, so many tactics have to be changed."

"My father once said: troops have no constant posture, water has no constant shape. On the one hand this speaks of the art of using troops; on the other, it speaks of the art of training troops. Fighting in different places, facing different enemies, according to one's own advantages — the training methods must all be adjusted."

"Of course, that is the technique. The essential military regulations cannot be changed — those are the Way."

Glancing at Qi Yuangong, Sun Chuanting nodded in considerable agreement.

He felt that what Qi Jin said made sense — worthy of a famed general of his generation, able to keep the Qi Family Army's legacy alive after Grand Mentor Qi was gone.

Sun Chuanting and Qi Yuangong walked along, chatting idly now and then.

Though it was called idle chat, in truth Sun Chuanting was learning about the army he commanded. He wanted to use this method to get Qi Yuangong to tell him certain things, so he could have a clear picture in his mind.

Qi Yuangong did not hold anything back and told Sun Chuanting everything he knew.

The two of them chatted quite harmoniously for a time.

The more they talked, the more confident Sun Chuanting felt about the upcoming surprise attack on Chongqing. He felt that leading these five thousand men into Sichuan, he would be unstoppable. What She Chongming, what rebellion — all were nothing but clay chickens and straw dogs.

Sun Chuanting's gaze at these five thousand troops was burning hot — these were treasures! Who knew how many more there were in the capital!

After returning to the capital, could he get himself such a force? At the very least, pull these troops up to Liaodong and give them a try!

One had to know that the Battle of Sarhu from a few years back — Sun Chuanting had always kept it in his heart, waiting for some opportunity to wash away the shame. Indeed, for many officials and generals of the Great Ming, that was a humiliation.

The group soon arrived beneath the walls of Zunyi.

The army pressed forward in formation.

Sun Chuanting was at the very front. He led Qi Yuangong to Yuan Keli's side.

Yuan Keli glanced at the city of Zunyi before them and said in a steady voice: "Would you be willing to give it a try?"

Though he said it that way, seemingly seeking their opinion, in truth he wanted Qi Yuangong and his men to test themselves.

This force belonged to the Emperor — personally dispatched by His Majesty. Though on the surface their equipment was excellent and their personnel quality high, their true combat effectiveness was something Yuan Keli genuinely did not know.

Under such circumstances, he was still sending these troops out on a surprise attack on Chongqing.

Previously, both Sun Chuanting and Qi Yuangong had appeared full of confident promises.

Yuan Keli had agreed and hoped they would do well, but in his heart there was still some hesitation.

So let them use Zunyi city as a test. If they could take it, then naturally that was best.

If they could not even take this city, then they might as well not go — there was no great hope. Honestly follow the plan step by step and fight their way through.

Sun Chuanting glanced at Qi Yuangong and asked with a smile: "Can you do it?"

As for the questions from Sun Chuanting and Yuan Keli, Qi Yuangong did not even deign to answer.

Siege training was itself part of their drills — and a very important part at that. For Qi Yuangong and his men, it held no difficulty whatsoever.

He turned to look at Zunyi city.

This kind of small city, with walls not even two zhang high — there was really no difficulty to it.

Qi Yuangong said only one sentence: "We'll have dinner inside the city."

After saying this, Qi Yuangong turned gracefully and walked off toward the nearby area, raising his hand to summon his men, preparing to attack Zunyi.

Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting had not expected Qi Yuangong to say such a thing.

One had to know that along the entire march, Qi Yuangong had been very low-key, never speaking recklessly, giving the impression of someone steady and reliable.

Why was he suddenly boasting now?

Though there was still a while before sunset, noon had already passed — meaning Qi Yuangong intended to breach Zunyi in half a day?

Wasn't that difficulty a bit high?

But since Qi Yuangong wanted to try, Yuan Keli and the others could not say anything and could only watch quietly.

Li Biao and Zhang Yanfang stood on the other side, both of them also somewhat hesitant.

Li Biao also came before Yuan Keli and asked with some hesitation: "Sir, don't we need to help?"

Yuan Keli gently shook his head and sighed: "We can help here, but once they enter Sichuan, we won't be able to. Let's see what they're made of. If they're not up to it, I won't let them go."

"Yes, sir." Li Biao acknowledged and respectfully withdrew to one side.

None of them said anything more, their gazes filled with anticipation, all turning toward Qi Yuangong ahead.

At this moment, Qi Yuangong began making his arrangements at a position two hundred paces from Zunyi city.

This position was beyond the reach of the city's arrows, so Qi Yuangong and his men could arrange themselves at leisure, even with a somewhat loose air about them — an obvious provocation.

The message was: if you've got the guts, come out! I'm right here, come and hit me!

It was utterly arrogant. Though no one shouted anything, the attitude was naked provocation.

This too was part of the training — action speaks louder than words, and so does provocation.

The small cannons they had carried were lined up in a row, a full one hundred and fifty of them.

Besides these one hundred and fifty small cannons, two thousand men stood arrayed in front, formed into three ranks, standing two hundred paces from Zunyi city, silently watching the rebels atop the city walls — all in black armor, all expressionless.

Qi Yuangong stood among the ranks with his hand resting on his waist saber, his face equally devoid of expression.

Not far off on the other side, several exceptionally tall men were having armor put on them with the help of others.

This armor was clearly different from everyone else's — extremely heavy and thick, and even the helmets had face guards.

Anyone could tell at a glance that these were bona fide heavy infantry.

Seeing this, Yuan Keli was taken aback. He turned to Sun Chuanting and said: "They have things like this too? Why didn't we see them bring it out along the way?"

"They carry it on horses and never wear it," Sun Chuanting said. "This is my first time seeing it too, but I heard Qi Yuangong mention before that those who can wear this kind of armor are the finest warriors in the ranks."

Yuan Keli looked at the men putting on the armor — indeed, they were the finest of warriors.

Setting aside everything else, just looking at their height — nearly seven chi, and even if not seven, then over six chi.

Men like that — never mind anything else, just standing there is intimidating enough, and their strength is nothing to scoff at either. (Zhou Zhou again drooling note: over six chi but under seven chi, roughly over 1.9 meters, under two meters — exactly the height where boyfriend energy can explode.)

Sun Chuanting beside him thought for a moment and said: "According to Qi Yuangong, these men were all selected from various places. The hundred thousand men of the Capital Camps were screened once, and other regions also received such orders — anyone like this was to be sent to the capital."

"According to Qi Yuangong, the original plan was to form a ten-thousand-man unit of this kind, but because they couldn't gather enough men, it didn't succeed. However, word has it that Qi Jin hasn't given up — he's still searching everywhere, preparing to form a ten-thousand-man heavy infantry force, seemingly intended for use in Liaodong, though no one knows when it will be complete."

Yuan Keli was so shaken he didn't know what to say.

Looking at the size of those men — Qi Jin actually planned to assemble ten thousand of such hulking brutes?

Looking at the armor on their bodies — how much money would that cost?

Yuan Keli turned to Sun Chuanting and said: "Does the court have that much money?"

"It's His Majesty's money." Sun Chuanting thought for a moment and said: "I asked Qi Yuangong about that too. The Ministry of Revenue didn't allocate much — it was the same disbursement as before. Everything else, whether equipment or pay, even their food money, all comes from His Majesty's inner treasury."

"Word has it that His Majesty's inner treasury is nearly out of money too. The money from selling Ruyi bean seeds a while back — His Majesty had it sent to the Ministry of Revenue as well."

"According to Qi Yuangong, His Majesty lives very frugally in the palace. All construction in the palace has been halted, and His Majesty has moved to the Western Park to live. Moreover, His Majesty's meals are four dishes and one soup — absolutely no more allowed, never any waste. His clothes are only made in two sets per season. One could say he is extremely frugal, and every penny saved goes to them."

Listening to Sun Chuanting's words, Yuan Keli sighed with emotion: "With an emperor like this in the Great Ming, how could we worry about the Great Ming not prospering?"

Li Biao on the side looked at the two men, not knowing what to say either.

How did the conversation drift into flattering His Majesty?

You two are flattering His Majesty without including us — is that really alright?

Just as Li Biao was pondering how to join the flattery brigade, Qi Yuangong and his men up ahead seemed just about ready.

One could see those several dozen men who had changed into heavy armor — each held a large shield in one hand, a blade in the other, and carried a big pack on their backs, looking quite peculiar.

They formed themselves into a neat single line, facing Zunyi city, and slowly walked forward.

As they walked, they struck their shields with their blades, producing a clanging bang-bang-bang-dang sound, while shouting from their mouths: "Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!"

Hearing their shouts, Sun Chuanting explained to Yuan Keli: "This army of theirs is called the Tiger Roar Battalion, a name bestowed by His Majesty himself. Look at their banners — all bearing a black tiger."

Yuan Keli glanced at Sun Chuanting and said expressionlessly: "I know."

Awkwardly turning his head back, Sun Chuanting looked at the battlefield and directly changed the subject: "What are they walking up there for? To draw attention? Those men can't climb the city walls."

When the heavy infantry closed to within a hundred paces, the men atop Zunyi's city walls also stood up, and arrows flew toward them like rain.

Qi Yuangong, standing in the rear, saw this and directly swung the blade in his hand, shouting: "Fire!"

His voice was not very loud, but the next moment, thunder erupted.

The soldiers standing in two ranks opened fire with their flintlocks toward the city walls.

Bang bang bang — the sound rang out across the field, and white gun smoke instantly shrouded the battlefield.

After the first rank emptied their shots, they quickly and uniformly stepped back one pace. The second rank moved up swiftly, also bang bang bang bang bang bang.

Bullets flew onto the city walls, and anyone who poked their head out was immediately driven back. Some were hit directly in the head by bullets and silently collapsed over the crenellations.

Though these flintlocks weren't very accurate, their sheer volume and coverage made up for it.

At the same time, the small cannons in position also opened fire.

The one hundred and fifty small cannons let out thud thud thud sounds that instantly merged into one continuous roar, shells smashing into the city walls as if they cost nothing.

Solid shot, explosive shell, and grapeshot — all were on offer.

In an instant, screams filled the city walls, and not a single arrow flew out again.

Seeing this, Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting's faces were filled with disbelief. They exchanged glances and said: "This, this is too..."

"Too" went on for a long while without anything being said.

After a long pause, Yuan Keli murmured: "In all my life, I've never seen a battle fought with such wealth. Old, I'm old — but I've lived to see something new."