When the gunners cleaned the barrel and prepared to recharge.
King Chuang Li Zicheng and all the civil and military officers came closer. They carefully inspected the cannon body and mount, and praised them endlessly.
About a moment later, a brother galloped back from the foot of the hill two miles away to report: Both cannonballs hit the mountainside opposite, one shot broke a pine tree, and the other shot into the ground for a foot. How deep.
Li Zicheng was very happy when he heard the report. He smiled and said to Song Xiance: "There are dozens of these cannons, so you don't have to worry about attacking Kaifeng next time!"
Liu Zongmin was about to speak when he saw Wu Ruyi riding towards him with two soldiers. He said to Wu Ruyi: "Zijie, it's a pity that you came a step too late. We just tried the new cannon and it was very successful. Don't be anxious. I have to fight again.”
Wu Ruyi turned over and dismounted and said with a smile: "I came here just because I heard the sound of cannons. As long as it succeeds, I will bomb Kaifeng hard next time."
King Chuang, I have something to report, it’s really unexpected! "
Li Zicheng couldn't help but look stunned and asked: "What's unexpected?"
Wu Ruyi hurriedly led Chuang Wang Li Zicheng six or seven feet away from the soldiers who were watching the cannon, and then whispered to him the reason.
Li Zicheng was indeed unexpected.
He was surprised at first, but then he became very happy and thought it was a great thing.
Li Zicheng, the king of Chuang, said to Wu Ruyi: "When this newly-cast cannon fires again, I will go back to the old camp with the military advisor and Jiexuan. It seems that our big event is about to succeed!"
So Li Zicheng and Wu Ruyi returned to the cannon and continued to watch the charging and test firing.
…………
Before lunch, Li Zicheng returned to the old camp with Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance, Li Yan and others.
On the way, Liu Zongmin and others had learned that it was Luo Rucai who sent a special person from Zaoyang to Desheng Village, bringing a letter and many valuable gifts to greet King Chuang and express his thoughts.
After Li Zicheng and everyone else sat down in the Kanyun Caotang, everyone took turns to read Luo Rucai's book. Without having time to discuss it carefully, lunch was served, and Shang Jiong, an old military doctor who usually ate with King Chuang, also came in .
Li Zicheng did not move his chopsticks, but asked Wu Ruyi: "Who wrote the letter? Why don't you invite us to eat with you?"
Wu Ruyi replied: "I asked him when he first arrived, and I only said that he was Cao Cao's distant brother. He was a few years younger than Cao Cao. His name was Luo Ruming. He had been with Cao Cao as a soldier since he was a child. Now he is in Cao Cao's camp. He took care of miscellaneous matters and never led troops alone."
Li Zicheng blinked his bright right eye, and after thinking for a moment, he suddenly said: "Ah, I have seen him, I saw him a few years ago! He has a few pockmarks on his face and thick lips, right? ?”
"That's him. King Chuang has such a good memory!" Wu Ruyi replied.
Li Zicheng nodded and said: "Yes. This man knows a few characters quite well. I don't know his surname, but I only remember that he is the tenth oldest. Since he is the one, why not invite us to have dinner with him?"
Wu Ruyi said with a smile: "He said that although he was Cao Shuai's brother, he had a low status in the army and refused to come. He also said that he ate at the same table with King Chuang, but was restrained. He insisted on waiting for King Chuang to eat. See you again after lunch."
Li Zicheng couldn't help but laugh and said: "That's unreasonable! Since you are sent a letter from afar under the orders of Commander Cao, even if you are an ordinary military junior high school, you must treat each other with courtesy, let alone Commander Cao's brother!
Wu Ruyi, if you go to invite him again, just tell him: If he refuses to come, I will go and invite him myself. "
Wu Ruyi turned around and left the thatched cottage, and went to invite Luo Ruming again, and there was a discussion about the matter.
Military advisor Song Xiance first said: "Cao Cao must have sent his brothers here for a serious reason. King Chuang, guess what Cao Cao's true intention is?"
Li Zicheng pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Although Cao Cao and I are from the same hometown in Yan'an Prefecture, we burned incense, kowtowed to each other, and made friends eight times, but later I saw that he was greedy for wine and lust, especially when he encountered setbacks in the war. Wanting to surrender to Chaotian, they gradually distanced themselves from him, and they did not agree with each other when things happened.
Not long ago, when he was stationed in the area of Fang and Jun after being cared for, we were trapped in Shangluo Mountain. Although we were not far from each other, there was no correspondence between us. This was precisely why.
Now he has sent someone to see me, and the book is full of words of longing. Firstly, he saw that I was becoming more and more popular, so he wanted to establish a relationship first; secondly, he must not get along well with Jingxuan and wanted to find someone. I keep my mouth open and leave a way out.
As for the other reasons, I can't guess. I can't guess. If I could guess his thoughts, then he is not Cao Cao! "
Niu Jinxing said at this time: "Could it be that Cao Cao wants to come and conquer the king?"
Li Zicheng also had this thought in his mind, but he did not say it clearly. He only said: "He has recently conquered the big city with Jingxuan. Now he has hundreds of thousands of troops, and he has not been defeated by the army, so he may not deign to come to me."
Let’s see what Luo Shi says first. I think that in addition to writing a book, Cao Cao will also tell him other things from his confidants. "
Gao Yigong said with some worry: "If Cao Cao and Jingxuan are in trouble, and he is willing to come and become the king, of course it will be good. But he is..."
At this moment, Wu Ruyi came over accompanied by Luo Shi, and Gao Yigong quickly swallowed the remaining half of the sentence back into his stomach.
Li Zicheng stood up to greet him and said affectionately: "Oh, it's my tenth brother. We haven't seen each other for almost five years! I didn't expect that Brother Rucai still has a sworn brother in his heart, and he sent you to come and see me!"
Luo Ruming was about to kneel down and kowtow in salute when he entered the door. King Chuang stepped forward and grabbed him, and said enthusiastically: "Old brothers, why should we be polite when we meet!"
He also introduced Luo Ruming to Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance, Li Yan and others, and exchanged courtesy. Then he also met with Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, Shang Jiong and others.
After everyone sat down, Liu Zongmin and others greeted Luo Rucai again, and briefly asked about the situation of Cao Ying and Xi Ying in the past few months after Xiangyang was broken, where Cao Ying is currently stationed, where to go next, etc. , in short, they are all general gossip.
Li Zicheng really wanted to know Cao Cao's real intention of sending Luo Shi to Funiu Mountain to meet him, but he only observed the words and expressions, did not ask questions explicitly, and pretended as if nothing had happened.
…………
The lunch has been reheated and placed on the table again. Since there are guests today, two more dishes and a large pot of rice wine have been added.
During normal meals, King Chuang Li Zicheng always sits in the host's seat, while Niu Jinxing sits in the chief guest seat, Song Xiance is second, Li Yan is third, and Liu Zongmin and other generals and old gods sit casually.
Now Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance and Li Yan all understood in their hearts that Chuang Wang intended to take this opportunity to win over Luo Rucai in order to break up the joint venture relationship between Xiying and Cao Ying, so they all agreed to be humble and insisted on it. Please ask Luo Ruming to sit in the chief seat.
Luo Ruming naturally refused to take the first seat. He must sit next to King Chuang.
At first, Li Zicheng watched everyone give in to each other, and he just smiled and said nothing. It was not until he saw that the old military doctor and Wu Ruyi kept looking at him that he spoke: "If you all continue to be so humble, our sun will turn to the west." Don't even think about eating.
I am King Chuang, please obey my general orders: Mr. Niu, Song Military Advisor, and Young Master Li, please remain seated as usual. Lao Shi, you sit next to Lin Quan, I don't care about the rest, just do whatever you want. "
After Li Zicheng finished speaking, he grabbed one of Luo Shi's arms and pushed him down on a chair next to Li Yan, preventing this humble guest from getting up again.
