Several flowers bloomed, one for each branch. When Kang Mazi, Yue Le, Shang Kexi, Jie Shu, Le Erjin, Kong Sizhen and other chiefs, lackeys and traitors of the Qing court were busy in Beijing, old traitor Wu, Hu Guozhu, Fatty Lu and other rebels, rebels and dog thieves in the Pingxi Palace naturally did not stay idle in the south.
The time turned back a little, back to mid-February in the twelfth year of Kang Mazi. At this time, the Pingxi Palace had just been relieved from the busy spring plowing and sowing in the military and civilian settlements. The site selection of the new palace is also on the agenda. Some people, out of military considerations, suggested that the old traitor Wu should stay in Wuchang City for a long time. First, the scale of Wuchang City, which is divided into inner city and outer city, is inherently large, which is in line with the identity of the old traitor Wu. Second, it is convenient to command the most important crossing river. On the battlefield, the third is that Wuchang is rich in products and sufficient food and grass, which is also suitable for stationing the main force.
But there are also objections. For example, Wu Yingqi, on the pretext of being filial to his father, suggested that the old man choose the new palace in a safe area behind, such as Changsha, Hengzhou or Changde. They are all good places with abundant products, safety and comfort, and are most suitable for the old man. Elderly care is also convenient for overall command¡ªas for Wuchang City, where customs duties can be collected and bilateral trade can be carried out by guarding the Yangtze River waterway, in such an important place, besides the loyal and lovely young son, who else can the old traitor Wu trust?
Fortunately, old traitor Wu is not old enough to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. His most trusted confidantes, Hu Guozhu, Fang Guangchen and Wang Shirong, are also firmly opposed to letting Wu Yingqi take charge alone¡ªthey are really scared by Wu Yingqi's 250-year-old personality. In addition, the old man Wu treacherously mourned the death of his beloved son and wanted to avenge his son, so he finally accepted the proposal of Hu Guozhu, Fang Guangchen and others, and decided to locate the new palace in Wuchang City. At the same time, in order to facilitate the settlement of surrendered generals and some of their family members, the old traitor Wu decided to build a palace in Hengzhou. land contact.
Old Hanjian Wu's idea is certainly good, but according to Old Hanjian Wu's request, the construction costs of the two palaces that are as luxurious and spacious as the Wuhuashan Palace, and the construction costs of the large and small mansions of civil and military officials are estimated together. Both Wang Shirong and Wang Shirong were taken aback¡ªit was as high as 6.5 million taels of silver! Although Wu Jun can get this money now, he has invested huge sums of money in these areas. After the decisive battle with the Qing army in the coming year, what if the food and salary are not paid? Can the Qing court still pay more than 20 million taels of silver to honor the old traitor Wu like it did at the beginning of this year?
Of course, it¡¯s not that no one supports Old Traitor Wu¡¯s extravagant and desperate decision. At least the youngest son of Traitor Wu, Wu Yingqi, raised his hands in agreement, because the Second Prince Wu suddenly discovered that it seems that being a contractor can make a lot of money. , so not only firmly supported, but also insisted on serving as a supervisor to build a retirement home for his father. Dazzled by a series of military victories, many of the Wu army's top brass also supported and agreed, thinking that it was time for us to take down the five southwestern provinces with great difficulty following the old traitor Wu's birth and death. We must also prepare for a long-term 'hard' battle.
The father-in-law and brother-in-law are so short-sighted. Hu Guozhu wants to firmly oppose it, but he is afraid of being unfilial, and even more afraid of offending many colleagues. . In the end, Wang Shirong, who had always been at odds with Fatty Lu, came up with a bad idea, "Bring that cunning student, Mr. Mao Xia, back from Mount Jiji. With his treachery, slickness and eloquence, there must be a way to persuade the prince to take back his life and spend all his money." On the blade!"
"Yes, Yifeng can do it!" Hu Guozhu slapped his thigh, agreeing with Wang Shirong's opinion. At present, Hu Guozhu wrote a letter overnight, briefly introducing the matter, and sent people day and night to the Jiqishan Firearms Camp, asking Fatty Lu to return to Wuchang as soon as possible, trying to persuade the old traitor Wu to change his decision and stick to a hard and simple style. After the letter was delivered to Mount Jiqi, Fatty Lu was also taken aback. He hurriedly explained the work in hand, took the latest achievement he and Xu Zhengming had jointly created, and led a few entourages to return to Wuchang day and night.
Hurrying all the way, finally did not waste time. When we returned to Wuchang City, it was the end of February in the twelfth year of Kang Mazi, because the spring plowing had just ended and there was a shortage of manpower, and the old traitor Wu's new palace had not yet started Heaving a sigh of relief, Fatty Lu didn't dare to be negligent, he didn't even take time to take a look at his good friend Yu Xuanchu, he went directly to the temporary house that Wu old traitor snatched from Cai Yurong, the governor of the three provinces of the Qing Dynasty, and handed it over to him. The waist card asked the old traitor Wu to be interviewed, and it was quickly approved.
When being led by the guards of the old traitor Wu to the narrow back garden of the temporary residence, the old traitor Wu was leading a large group of cronies and cronies to drink tea and discuss matters in the gazebo.??The bolt pulled the trigger and hit the rockery again.
Again and again, three shots were fired like lightning, and the generals of Wu Jun couldn't help cheering together. Ma Bao and Wu Yingqi's eyes were even brighter, and they quickly snatched the firing pin gun from Fatty Lu, and pretended to be the same as Fatty Lu. Bounce and fire the gun, and the ease of operation of the firing pin gun is definitely not covered. Ma Bao and Wu Yingqi are still very fast when they get started for the first time, and they hit the rockery accurately. Wu Yingqi yelled happily, and when he hurried to get the bullets again, Fatty Lu refused to give them, and said with a wry smile: "Uncle, I can't shoot any more, save some bullets, this thing is too expensive, the cost of a bullet is around twenty More than a text. And I came in a hurry, and I haven't made many yet."
"Stop talking nonsense, I'll enjoy two more shots!" Wu Yingqi didn't give Fatty Lu a chance to defend himself, and abruptly snatched two bullets from Fatty Lu's hand. pieces.
"Yifeng, how many of these muskets can be produced within a year?" Old Traitor Wu asked in a trembling voice¡ª¡ªOld Traitor Wu is also Lao Qiuba who has been fighting on the battlefield for decades, so he can see it at a glance. Show the importance of this firing pin gun.
"If there are enough people, within a year, four to five thousand of these muskets should be produced, and the corresponding bayonets can be equipped." Fatty Lu replied in a deep voice: "There is still room for improvement in terms of bullets. A gun with a hundred bullets should be fine. But"
"But what?" Old Han Wu asked treacherously.
"Funds." Fatty Lu replied with a wry smile: "The most expensive bullets are thunderbolt, and the most expensive muskets are steel needles and springs. Both must be made of the best refined iron, so the cost is very expensive."
The old traitor Wu was silent. After a while, the old traitor Wu gritted his teeth, stomped his feet and shouted: "The palace will not be built, and the saved money will be used to make new firearms for the king!"
"The prince is wise!" Hu Guozhu, Wang Shirong and some generals of the Wu army cheered together, and hurriedly saluted the old traitor Wu. Fatty Lu, on the other hand, got cheap and behaved, and said kindly: "Grandfather, you don't have to be like this. Isn't it too wronged to let you live in such a small place?"
"Bastard boy!" The old man Wu glared at Fatty Lu, and said angrily, "Is it the king's anti-Qing cause that is important? Or a palace? When the king takes Nanjing and Beijing, how many palaces do you want?"
"Grandfather is a wise man. My son-in-law doesn't care about the seriousness, please punish my grandfather." Fatty Lu lowered his fat head in shame. Although Ma Bao and the others felt a little regretful, considering the power of such a weapon on the battlefield, they felt it was worth it. Only Wu Yingqi looked sad, bumped Fatty Lu quietly, and cursed in a low voice: "You bastard, it's all because of you."
"Uncle forgive me, nephew and son-in-law also know that your filial piety to grandfather can be learned from the bright moon." Fatty Lu answered irrelevant questions, and said with a wry smile: "But Wuchang City is only so big, and we don't have enough money, money and food. How can we build a palace of a thousand mu? ?¡±
"I'm not talking about you." Wu Yingqi was a little sullen, but quickly shifted his attention, and began to beg the old traitor Wu's sleeve, hoping that his direct army would be equipped with new-style muskets first. The same is true for Ma Bao, two hundred and fifty If they refused to give in to each other, they would naturally quarrel in public.
"You!" The old traitor Wu ignored the dispute between his precious son and his beloved general, he just pointed at Fatty Lu, and cursed with a smile: "No wonder people call you a fat loach with oil, it's true! "
Fatty Lu also understood that old traitor Wu had seen his sinister intentions, so he quickly bowed his head hypocritically, admitting his mistake. Fortunately, the old traitor Wu didn¡¯t argue with Fatty Lu, he just waved his hand and said, ¡°Follow me to the study. Yesterday, your mentor Liu Xuanchu wrote from Kunming with a good suggestion. Come and help me to read the details. There are Guozhu, Liangchen, you also come together."
"Of order." Fatty Lu agreed, and quickly followed Hu Guozhu, Wang Shirong and others, thinking in his heart, "That teacher of mine made a good suggestion? What good suggestion? That teacher of mine has a good vision in strategy, but in terms of tactics I am not as good as I am in terms of adapting to the situation, what good suggestions can I have? Could it be that I have some good strategic ideas but have no way to implement them, so kick the problem to me, the unlucky student?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to the starting point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.) (Remember the website URL: www.hlnovel.com