Chapter 260

You guys are lucky—you're the first batch of navy from our Youzhou. From now on, you'll stay and train at this dock's barracks, mainly responsible for naval combat. Ship affairs will be handled by Commander Ke Tu, while other matters will be temporarily overseen by Colonel Wu. I hope everyone puts in two hundred percent effort to learn from these technical staff and become independent as soon as possible. I still have five of these warships; when they all arrive for service in the future, you'll be the first batch of veterans—master this well and your future is limitless.

In short, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—our newly formed unit has just been established, so work hard, everyone. Later, you'll all be veterans with boundless prospects.

Ke Shu has already arranged departure for the Youzhou dock. The king, idle on the road, gave another round of motivational talk. Wei Shen watched as the five hundred men who had switched branches went from anxious to fired up.

When the king caught his breath, he quickly praised him: "With your eloquence, you could succeed at anything."

The king immediately lifted his chin: "That's right! I have… an acquaintance who said I could get rich selling health supplements too!"

Wei Shen: "What does selling health supplements mean?"

King: "... Selling useless things to rich people and the elderly."

Wei Shen nodded in agreement: "Then you're quite good at it."

King: …

Why isn't it so beautiful anymore? What's going on?

The Cang Lang has a large tonnage but isn't fast.

When they left the military dock, night had just fallen; by the time they reached Youzhou dock, it was already deep into the night.

Ling Yin was already waiting by the shore with carriage and horses. Usually quiet at night, the dock today was brightly lit and bustling.

The king wasn't in a hurry to return to his mansion; he stood nearby, eagerly watching Ke Tu lead people to unload the cannons.

After unloading the six small smoothbore cannons and fifty gunpowder crossbows, along with a hundred arrow bolts from the assault ship, the king finally relaxed and waited to escort them back together.

He decided to wait until dawn, then use Ke Tu's unloading pulley device to push this cannon onto the city wall for a test—having these just makes me feel incredibly safe.

The fleet came with six sets totaling eighteen NPCs. The king left six for the Cang Lang, and kept the remaining twelve himself.

He planned to let them stay and train soldiers in related knowledge—free for a year, no need to waste it.

Once the supplies were unloaded, the Cang Lang took its five hundred soldiers back along the original route to the Longtou military dock. From now on, that will be their permanent station.

At dawn the next day, Prince You's army rapidly established an artillery unit.

The numbers are small—only five hundred. Starting today, they will follow professional technical NPCs to learn the firing knowledge and principles of cannons, gunpowder crossbows, and arrow bolts, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of these advanced weapons.

When the ministers gathered in Chengguang Hall for court, the appointed time came and went without the king's appearance. As everyone thought he was slacking off again, a young eunuch from Sui Fu Dian arrived to deliver the king's oral decree.

Today's court session has been moved to the northern city gate tower, starting in two hours. Please hurry there.

The king decided to open everyone's eyes, let them have a clear idea, so that in the future, when he leaves his fief, the chancellor won't lead opposition.

With our firepower, even if the Xiongnu go mad and bring a large army to turn and attack us, Youzhou City could hold out for a period of time.

At the same time the previous dynasty received the news, a cavalry unit also rushed out of the prince's mansion, gongs clashing. Along the way, they encountered people and struck the gong once while shouting: "Military drill outside the northern city gate today—extremely dangerous, strictly forbidden to leave the city!"

This gong call worked—originally unprepared to leave the city, the townspeople began running toward the northern city gate…

What is a military drill? Let me check it out!

The city gate guards had already received orders and closed the northern gate in advance. So these people didn't leave either—they stayed here to listen for any movement.

Spring plowing still requires another twenty days or so; now is precisely the last leisure time for the people of Youzhou.

Now it's good—when the cavalry returned to check the city, they found the city gate interior filled with a dark mass of people…

Outside the city, people also began to get busy. The king moved some of the practice targets—grass effigies used in the training field—outward, placing them within range of the gunpowder crossbows and arrow bolts.

You need some shooting targets to practice, right?

The soldiers dragged the grass effigies outward, and seeing this, the townspeople became even less willing to leave.

Curiosity is human nature. Especially in Youzhou, where there's hardly any entertainment—people are practically driven mad by boredom. At the slightest movement, the whole city comes out to look.

They squatted for an hour, watching the crowd grow outside while nothing much happened yet. Someone wearing little began to shiver and lose heart, then they heard someone outside shout excitedly: "His Highness has come! His Highness has come!"

The king solemnly changed into that set of armor, wearing a metal faceguard similar to the Eagle Riders', and came rushing forward under the escort of a cavalry unit.

These townspeople might not necessarily recognize the king's face, but that horse and armor—after the northern campaign, they had already remembered them in their hearts.

No minor could possibly have this setup, oh, and behind him stood a bird taller than him. So even though the king was mixed among the Eagle Riders, the townspeople still recognized him at a glance.

The king also couldn't do anything about these people who love to watch the excitement. When he drew near, he said: "The military drill outside is dangerous—getting close will get you blown up. If you want to watch, stand by the wall, east of the city gate. Zhou Ke, open the city gate!"

Zhou Ke had the city guards open the gate, then left people to maintain order at the gate before following the king down from his horse and up onto the gate tower.

When the ministers arrived, panting from the climb, the king's new treasures were already lined up in a row on the city wall facing north.

The Grand Tutor, sharp-eyed, noticed that beside the king were several people dressed differently from the personal guards—strangers, and upon closer look, they didn't seem much like people from the Jin Dynasty?

Each was tall and sturdy; upon closer inspection, their skin was dark, with deep-set eyebrows and facial features—where did these come from?

The king excitedly stood in the front row, watching his treasures, too busy to pay attention to the ministers.

When the time came, he finally allowed himself to pity those subordinates who had come early for nothing.

"Today, the weapons I purchased at great expense have arrived—I specially invited everyone here to come watch the test firing."

Everyone was confused, but he didn't explain—this really needs no words; seeing is believing.

That early morning, the newly established artillery unit had already sorted out the basic procedures.

The king raised his hand to signal the start; the flag bearer waved the flag to convey the king's order.

First to test-fire were the arrow bolts, operated by the weapons NPC, while the artillery unit was responsible for observing the arrow bolts up close.

The ministers and soldiers on the city wall stared blankly as iron-tipped arrows tore through the air and flew out, striking the grass effigies at a distance no human could reach. Some effigies were knocked over, grass and arrows flying together for a stretch; others passed straight through the effigies, undiminished in force, flying on…

This power?!

The king shouted praise from the side, the little seal clapping. The chancellor was about to ask something, but then saw the king wave his hand again—this time, arrows flew out carrying flames or smoke? Or something else?

Before they could figure it out, the few grass effigies still standing in the distance immediately exploded, engulfed in a sea of fire!

This time, everyone was completely shocked!

What terrifying weapon is this? How did it catch fire? How did it explode?!

Not giving them a chance to catch their breath, Da Wang continued waving his hand, the flag waving again.

The booming sound of huge thunder rolled past their ears, the small earthen slope about a kilometer in front of the city wall was blown into the sky! The earth even trembled?!

When the cannonball left the barrel, even ministers were so frightened they sat down on their buttocks on the ground, the civilians outside the city wall were even more dazed, already some people near the city gate instinctively fled back.

Fortunately, the explosion lasted only an instant, by the time they looked back at the place that had been blown up, even the residual smoke had mostly dissipated.

Standing high on the city wall, those with keen eyesight could even see the large crater blasted out!

What terrifying thing is this?!

The Chancellor asked on behalf of everyone, Da Wang waved his hand nonchalantly, "It's just cannons, I bought them overseas. With this firepower, our Youzhou city defenses are much safer."

After saying that, he looked at everyone's expressions, some were doubtful and uncertain, some were overjoyed.

Da Wang couldn't stand their foolish joy, knowing how much silver had been blown away just now?

Da Wang splashed a basin of cold water down, "Wang Langguan, what are you laughing at? Overseas they already have such powerful weapons, we can only buy their discarded ones and still be this happy? We're all people, why can't we make them ourselves? Do you know how many thousands of taels of silver were just blown away?"

Silence fell on the city wall, Da Wang was satisfied.

Knowing how to reflect is how one progresses!

The unfortunate Wang Langguan, who had just breathed a sigh of relief after being named, heard Da Wang ask leisurely: "So Wang Langguan, do you know what we should do now?"

"Your humble servant is dull and slow, please, please Your Highness, give clear instructions."

Da Wang glared at him, "Dullness requires more reading, reading makes one wise. We will establish an academy, not sticking to one pattern in recruiting talent, learning from others' advanced knowledge, right? Is this even something to ask?!"

This time it was the Grand Tutor's turn to look at him leisurely, you know that too!

Da Wang's eyes began to wander, seeing Zhao Chuan still dazed after a second look, he directed: "The drill is over. You, send people to pick up the iron arrows!"

"Yes!"

Wei Shen: ……

Handsome for no more than three seconds.

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Da Wang's estimate was correct, the Xiongnu allied forces swept southward like wind and lightning, relying on plunder for supplies along the way, they swiftly captured Anding Commandery.

According to Zhu Ti's report, just the cavalry arriving was enough to take Anding, the allied infantry hadn't even arrived when the siege ended. When Zhu Ti and the others arrived, they happened to witness the Xiongnu cavalry entering the city.

Youzhou to Chang'an does not pass through Anding, she deliberately detoured to take a look at the situation inside Anding city under Da Wang's orders, to gather news, who knew it was already too late.

Da Wang heard this and became furious, this utterly powerless appearance is too embarrassing!

"They... they didn't massacre the city, did they?"

Zhu Ti shook his head, "This is not clear, we didn't get close to the city, we went straight south, we must reach Chang'an before them."

Da Wang's face was awful, he couldn't even be bothered to speak.

He truly didn't know whether to blame his father, or Chang'an which still shows no reaction even now.

Zhu Ti rarely showed understanding, offering comfort to Da Wang: "The people of Anding should have mostly fled by now? Going south to Chang'an necessarily passes through Anding, they should know. The people of Liangzhou have all fled to Bingzhou, if Anding heard the news they might have also escaped the city heading south."

Da Wang sighed, "If you encounter them on your southward journey, tell them they can come to Youzhou, I will give them shelter."

Zhu Ti came over to meet Da Wang face to face and then set off without stopping, finally reaching Chang'an before the Xiongnu.

Aside from her, everyone else in the troop were skilled Eagle Riders, along the way except for stopping to let the horses rest, they hardly paused at all.

When they reached Chang'an, they found the city gate inspections were extraordinarily strict.

Zhu Ti led the Eagle Riders disguised as a merchant caravan through, being subjected to layer upon layer of questioning.

She had prepared in advance, handing over the prepared travel permits, the dates on them were much earlier than their actual departure. When asked, she said it was to resupply the Youzhou merchant house, even the goods she had secretly taken out from Da Wang's warehouse overnight.

"From Youzhou?"

"Yes."

"Still heading south at this time? Is the north in chaos now, what's the situation in Anding?" The minor city gate official flipped through their vehicles while questioning.

"We didn't pass through Anding, but we encountered Anding refugees in Hedong, the Xiongnu should have gone south. Fortunately we reached Chang'an, are we safe inside the city?"

Zhu Ti countered, the minor official said nothing.

The city gate guards searched thoroughly, seeing that jar was just Chang'an's famous Youzhou pickled vegetables, in the end they still let them in.

As everyone knows, that Youzhou merchant house is actually You King's business, although now in chaos, but You King's stingy nature means no one dares to provoke him casually.

Another thing Zhu Ti brought was food, still bringing it into the city, this is rare. Now grain prices in Chang'an are soaring, Prince Yu has issued an order forbidding grain hoarding, grain can only be bought as needed, yet every day there are still endless queues in front of grain shops.

Zhu Ti only learned of these situations after entering the city.

It turns out Prince Yu has already come to Chang'an, and now he is actually in charge?!

The steward Zhou of the merchant house saw her and was extremely excited, finally someone who speaks with authority! They had sent a letter to Youzhou three days ago, now they don't even know if it was received, let alone a reply.

Now the people of Chang'an are panic-stricken, even the common folk know of the disastrous defeat at the Ye Wild Battle, two great generals died, even the Emperor was captured, the folk are saying the Xiongnu and Xianbei allied forces will attack Chang'an.

"……You're saying Prince Yu has come to Chang'an? He's in charge?"

Steward Zhou shook his head, "I don't know, he just arrived three days ago, only issued one notice, about forbidding grain merchants from raising prices."

"What capacity did he come to Chang'an in? Crown Prince?"

"This, this I don't know. I heard he returned as the Emperor's eldest son to discuss rescuing the Emperor, he brought his three thousand personal guards."

"What about Guangling King and Jing King? Any movement?"

"Not yet. However, there are rumors in the streets, saying the Empress is no longer in the palace."

"Gone to her son's fief? She's afraid of death."

Steward Zhou shook his head, unaware.

They arrived in Chang'an at noon already, affairs cannot be delayed, Zhu Ti changed into clean clothes and brought some Youzhou specialties to the palace to seek an audience with the Fifth Princess.

She had thought this time she'd need to avoid trouble, after all palace rules are very strict, seeking an audience with the princess in the half afternoon temporarily would likely not be allowed.

For this she resorted to harsh measures, layer upon layer of bribes—who would have thought the palace rules were now lax, she entered the Consort Wei's palace without uttering a word, only those two Eagle Riders were stopped outside the palace.

She somewhat believed the Empress was no longer in the palace.