Chapter 600: Making Peace

Latest URL: "Bang, bang, bang..."

On the Qingcheng beach, Eastern Japanese soldiers stood in three rows—front, middle, and back—with the first row currently firing.

Next, the first row stepped back, and the second and third rows fired in turn.

This was precisely the Three-Stage Shooting of Line Tactics.

In front of the Eastern Japanese soldiers were rows of upright wooden target boards.

At this moment, these targets were struck one after another, with wood splinters flying everywhere.

"Pa, pa, pa..."

As the three rounds of shooting ended, Han Zheng began to applaud; Han Qi and Yuan Li exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

The firearms used by the Eastern Japanese soldiers were vastly different from the matchlocks currently used by their Han Family soldiers.

Their firearms required soldiers to carry long match cords and use the lit match cord to ignite the gunpowder.

Yet the Eastern Japanese soldiers' firearms had no match cords; one only needed to pull the trigger to generate a spark and ignite the gunpowder.

"Impressive, impressive." Han Zheng's eyes brightened.

He had witnessed the effectiveness of his own soldiers using firearms.

With the same soldiers and the same distance, it was impossible for the Han Family soldiers to have so many bullets hit the targets.

Sato Masahisa revealed a smug smile and said to Han Zheng, "To show the sincerity of us Eastern Japanese, I can tell you that the name of this type of firearm is flintlock, while the firearms your soldiers are using are called matchlocks."

"Flintlock? What is the difference between these two types of firearms?" Han Zheng asked.

Because of Yan Wang's repeated victories over the Northern Di, all the powerful clans now attached great importance to firearms.

They did not want to see their own armies appear vulnerable before Yan Wang.

Therefore, during this period, they had forged matchlocks and artillery in large quantities.

Today, about sixty percent of the Han Family infantry were equipped with matchlocks.

And every city in Qizhou had artillery installed on its walls.

"The difference is significant.

Matchlocks are things used by European countries two or three hundred years ago; what their armies are largely equipped with now is this flintlock, and there are also small numbers of rifled muskets," Sato Masahisa explained.

Their Dongying Foreign Affairs Office was a diplomatic institution modeled after those of European countries.

Over these years, the Foreign Affairs Office had visited many European countries and was very familiar with their situation.

Immediately, he introduced the advantages of the flintlock to Han Zheng.

For example, matchlocks used an open flame, so soldiers could not stand too close, as it was easy to ignite the gunpowder of others.

Whereas flintlocks relied on flint to strike fire, allowing soldiers to stand very closely and use Line Tactics and so on.

Han Zheng listened, feeling confused, and asked what Line Tactics were and what their advantages were; Sato Masahisa explained it again, and he then nodded slowly.

"According to the intelligence we have gathered during this period, the firearms used by Yan Wang's soldiers are indeed flintlocks," Sato Masahisa said.

Upon establishing the Eastern Japanese trading house, they actively bribed merchants in Qizhou to have them gather intelligence on Yanzhou.

Because Yan Wang's troops had been mobilized frequently due to the wars during this period, they would observe the firearms of Yan Wang's soldiers whenever they encountered them on the road.

These pieces of information were collected at the Eastern Japanese trading house, and they then analyzed them.

"Yan Wang, truly cunning; so it turns out he has been hiding things all along, even the firearms given to the Ma Family of the Imperial Court were matchlocks." Han Zheng looked toward the north, his face full of anger.

Yuan Li took the opportunity to fan the flames, "His shamelessness is no less than that of Dou Wei, otherwise I would not have been driven out of Yanzhou by them."

Han Zheng snorted again and looked at Sato Masahisa, revealing a smile he considered very cordial, "Deputy Envoy Sato, can Dongying sell flintlocks to us?"

"It is not that this matter cannot be discussed, but as I said, the General hopes that the Han Family can summon the courage to oppose the corrupt Royal Clan of the Great Song and establish your own country."

"Only in this way can we in Dongying formally interact with you on a legal basis; otherwise, you remain subjects of the Great Song, and our interactions would only be seen as supporting your rebellion," Sato Masahisa said with a sharp gaze.

For Dongying, what they hoped for most at present was to fracture the Great Song into several countries.

Just like the numerous countries on the Ouluoba Dalu.

In this way, they could become the Britain of Dongtu.

By constantly stirring up conflicts between these countries, keeping them in a state of chaos, Dongying could profit from it.

Of course, the situation they hoped for most was still to swallow the entire Great Song.

"This..." Hearing this, Han Zheng fell into a struggle.

The news of the Dou Family establishing the Southern Liang had already reached Qizhou.

The news that the Xie Family had supported the First Prince in ascending the throne and taking over the Imperial Clan's prefectures had also arrived.

He believed that before long, there would also be news of the Liang Family founding a country.

After all, Dou Wei had started the trend of founding a country, and the powerful clans were unwilling to submit to one another; you found a country, I will also found a country, and from then on, it would depend on one's own ability.

Therefore, to say that he, Han Zheng, did not have this idea would be impossible.

But unfortunately, the threat of Yan Wang was right before his eyes.

He was terrified that if he announced the founding of a country today, Yan Wang's troops would attack the next day.

It was just that the situation was a bit different now.

The intervention of Dongying caused his thoughts to begin to loosen.

However, he was a man who would not release the hawk until he saw the rabbit.

He would not take risks because of a few guarantees from the Eastern Japanese, so he said: "It is not impossible, but Yan Wang defeated the forty-thousand-strong Northern Di army at Ningjin Dusi; he is truly not someone easy to provoke."

Sato Masahisa smiled lightly; he knew very well that an old fox like Han Zheng would not act impulsively because of his few words.

So he said: "This is very simple. This time I have brought two Eastern Japanese generals; they will help your Han Family train soldiers. Next, ten thousand flintlocks will be shipped from Dongying. As for whether more will be shipped, that depends on Lord Han himself."

After a pause, he continued: "If necessary, we can even dispatch Eastern Japanese soldiers to land at Qingcheng and fight alongside you."

Flintlocks also have differences in quality.

The most primitive flintlocks have a range similar to that of matchlocks.

However, after more than two hundred years of development, the craftsmanship of the flintlock has continuously improved.

Currently, the effective range of their Eastern Japanese flintlocks can reach about one hundred and forty meters.

Meanwhile, after using a type of yellow gunpowder, the various countries of Europe have increased their effective range to two hundred meters.

Right now, what they are giving the Han Family is the most primitive flintlock.

In this way, they can gain the trust of the Han Family without letting the Han Family, equipped with flintlocks, threaten Dongying.

Han Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and Han Qi and Yuan Li were also greatly encouraged.

Through their dealings with the Eastern Japanese, they learned that Dongying's strength is not inferior to the Northern Di, and in terms of firearms, it is far superior to the Northern Di.

With the support of Dongying, they might have the ability to fight a battle against Yan Wang.

"It's a deal then." Fearing that the Eastern Japanese might go back on their word, Han Zheng said hurriedly.

He gradually came to understand.

If the Han Family establishes a nation, Yan Wang will come to attack; but if they do not establish a nation, would Yan Wang not attack their Han Family?

Furthermore, Yan Wang's various measures, such as allowing officials from humble backgrounds to participate in the Official Examination, enter the bureaucracy, seize land from the Rich Clan, and distribute it to the common people, have crossed the bottom line of what they can tolerate.

Even if he did not want to be enemies with Yan Wang, the Rich Clan under his command would force him to be enemies with Yan Wang.

Because, living under the rule of the Han Family, they can still eat and drink well.

If Yan Wang were to come to Qizhou, they would only be able to eat chaff and swallow vegetables in prison.

Since that is the case, with the support of the Rich Clan and the help of Dongying.

It seems there is nothing for their Han Family to worry about in establishing a nation.

Moreover, there is also the Wang Family fully supporting their Han Family.

With the forces of the three parties gathered together, they are undoubtedly the greatest power in the North Territory.