Just a few days after sending Xi Yi away, there was an imperial edict coming to Luoyang. After the Jin army snatched the artillery, Wan Yanchang recruited craftsmen in Suzhou and spent money on a large scale to cast the artillery. By the time Orihiko arrived to transport the artillery, it would be too late. Wang Xiaolie was asked to do his best to manufacture artillery to support the rest of the army. The four armies of Han, Liu, Zhang and Yue are required to have one hundred troops each. Zhang Jun's command in Shaanxi Province cast fifty cannons. All the artillery pieces were made in two months.
Taking the content of the imperial edict copied by Wang Ruohai, Wang Xiaolie read it for a long time before slowly putting it down. He said: "It took two months to cast 400 cannons. Does the imperial court think the cannons are so easy to cast? Even the crossbows could not be made in two months."
Wang Ruohai said: "Perhaps the imperial court didn't know how difficult it was to make cannons, so it came up with this decree."
Wang Xiaolie said: "There is no other way. It would be better if we can't reply to the imperial court."
Wang Ruohai hesitated. Said: "If you can't reply, I'm afraid someone will think nonsense."
Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "Just think nonsense, what can you do? Their minds will only be used in this kind of place. We don't care."
Wang Ruohai nodded. Then he said: "We have a lot of useless cannons in the battle in the west of Beijing. Do you want to repair them and deal with the errands?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "We have a new army this year, and we are short of cannons. Moreover, it costs hundreds of copper coins to cast a cannon. If the court doesn't bring it, it won't be possible. Just reply and cast the cannon." Let’s talk about the difficulties and the cost of casting the cannon. Let’s just say that we can’t finish it on time and we don’t have enough money.”
Wang Ruohai sighed and said yes without saying anything else.
Unexpectedly, two days later, when Suizhou came to report, Yue Fei was rushing to Luoyang. Yue Fei hadn't arrived yet, and the official documents came one after another. Han Shizhong sent Jieyuan, Liu Guangshi sent Wang De, and Zhang Jun sent Tian Shizhong, who were rushing to Luoyang.
After reading the official document, Wang Xiaolie sighed: "We have had artillery in the army for several years. Why did the court discover this treasure now? Together with the generals, they either came in person or sent generals to rush in. Come over here.”
Wang Yandao: "Although there were artillery in the army in the past, no one knew how powerful it was. Even after the war in Jingxi, they didn't pay much attention to it. A few days ago, the Jin Army sent more than a thousand troops to Huangzhou. Wanyanchang feigned an attack and snatched a few guns. As for the artillery, everyone knows it is a sacred weapon in the military."
Wang Ruohai said: "The imperial decree asked us to forge cannons for each army. Of course the generals below know about it. Who dares to forgive us? We have sent people to ask for it."
Wang Xiaolie thought for a while and said: "Let Li Dutong come back from Shou'an and accompany these generals. I'm afraid the other people are not suitable."
Wang Ruohai said yes.
Wang Xiaolie was an envoy of Xuanfu and could not lower his status to accompany these people. Wang Ruohai was a civil servant and Wang Yan was Yue Fei's superior. There was a rift between the two and they were neither suitable. The only one who is suitable is Li Yanxian.
On August 27th, the wind was calm and the sun was beautiful, with not a single cloud in the sky. The heat of summer has gone away, and it’s the time of autumn when the air is crisp and clear.
When Yue Fei came to Luoyang, Wang Xiaolie personally went out of the city to greet him.
Seeing Wang Xiaolie, Yue Fei saluted hurriedly. Said: "Yue Fei came uninvited and was very frightened. Xuanfu came out of the city to greet him, how dare he do this!"
Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "When I was in Kaifeng Mansion, thanks to observation and help, I finally understood how to lead troops. How dare we forget the kindness of the past? Today, you and I are both generals, and it is all due to your contribution back then."
Yue Fei hurriedly said he didn't dare. Seeing Wang Yan aside, he ignored the matter.
Welcoming Yue Fei, we entered Luoyang City through Changxia Gate. Yue Fei looked at both sides of the street and said: "I think Luoyang was so prosperous back then, but I don't want it to be so dilapidated today! Alas, after several years of war, the people have been devastated, and the city will never be able to regain its former glory."
Wang Xiaolie said: "I came to Luoyang at the beginning of the year, so I could only repair the area around the government office to make it more lively. There is no spare time in other places. There is no way. Now there is a shortage of people everywhere in the Central Plains, and Luoyang is the same."
Yue Fei said: "When I entered the rule of Xuanfu from Suizhou, I saw that the people were happy and the market was prosperous, which is unmatched by other places. Although Luoyang is dilapidated now, as long as it is under the rule of Xuanfu, it will definitely reappear in a few years!"
The two people chatted and rode to the Henan government office.
Entered the government office and sat down in the living room. Wang Xiaolie invited tea and asked: "We are all generals leading troops. We are not allowed to visit each other privately without receiving the imperial decree. If we observe this, there must be something important."
Yue Fei said: "I received a decree from the court a few days ago and asked Xuanfu to cast cannons for the armies. I think it is not appropriate to send anyone else to Xuanfu. I can only come in person."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Observation is too serious. Let's talk about the artillery later."
Yue Fei was originally a subordinate of Zhang Jun. After Wanyan was captured in Changnan, Zhang Jun was transferred to the Xuanfu envoy in Zhejiang and Zhejiang provinces, and Yue Fei formed an army on his own. Now he is the official observer envoy, the deputy capital commander of Shenwu Houjun and the envoy of Jinghu North Road, Qi and Huangzhi. After Wan Yanchang withdrew to the north, Yue Fei also left Jiangzhou and returned to Ezhou.
After Jianyan crossed south, Zhang Jun became the number one general under Zhao Gou, and even Han Shizhong could not compare with him. In the past few years, he has made many military exploits and has many soldiers and generals. As Kong Yanzhou went north and surrendered to Liu Yu, all the forces south of the Yangtze River except Yang Mo in Dongting Lake were basically pacified. Zhang Jun had 50,000 to 60,000 men, which was a bit too much in Zhao Gou's opinion. This year, Yang Cunzhong was first transferred to Xingzai, and Yue Fei was allowed to form an army alone, weakening Zhang Jun's power.
Zhao Gou is certainly not an incompetent person. Crossing south from Jianyan, Zhao Gou's generals were all disappointing. In the process of putting down various troubles, he single-handedly supported Zhang Jun to grow stronger. When Zhang Jun became so powerful that Zhao Gou felt threatened, he took control of his men and weakened Zhang Jun's power. The two people who supported him were Yang Yizhong and Yue Fei. If there had not been a storm of injustice, Zhao Gou's skill would have been admired by others.
In fact, not only Zhang Jun was like this, most of Zhao Gou's generals would adopt this method to gradually control the military power.
But now there is an alternative like Wang Xiaolie. Without relying on Zhao Gou or the court at all, he developed into a powerful force, leaving Zhao Gou helpless.
After hearing what Wang Xiaolie said about artillery, Yue Fei hurriedly said: "Xuanfu, artillery is not a trivial matter. I am here for this."
Wang Xiaolie said: "It is precisely because the artillery matter is big and troublesome that we will discuss it later."
Yue Fei was a little anxious: "It will be September soon, and it's time to prepare for autumn. The Jin army robbed the artillery from Huangzhou, and now Suzhou is recruiting craftsmen and spending money to cast cannons. If the Jin people cast artillery and we don't have it, the south will invade What to do? Who can stop them? This matter cannot be slowed down!"
Wang Xiaolie sighed: "Observe, it's not easy to make artillery. How can it be easy to cast it? I estimate that no matter how hard the Jin Army works in Suzhou, they won't be able to cast many cannons in a few months. At least this year, the Jin Army will not be able to go south. Commit."
(End of chapter)
