xymnovel Chapter 395 Northern Expedition against the Xiongnu!
Chapter 395 Northern Expedition against the Xiongnu!
Ying Zheng looked at the dark night outside the palace and shook his head.
A celestial master who holds the future destiny of the Qin Dynasty in his hands, an eldest son of the emperor who is about to inherit the throne, and a leader of the Mohist school who controls all the artisans in the world.
These three people got together and actually went to a brothel to listen to music!
It's really a big joke in the world!
"We'll settle the score with that brat later!"
Ying Zheng put aside his thoughts and turned the topic to business, his eyes sharpening. "How is the forging of the weapons I instructed the Imperial Household Department to do?"
The commander of the Black Ice Guard immediately clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Household Department has been working day and night, and has already forged five thousand Mitsubishi bayonets according to the blueprints provided by the Imperial Advisor!"
A glint of light flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes.
The Mitsubishi bayonet—that was a blueprint drawn by Zhang Fan a few months ago!
This weapon has no blade, only three deep blood grooves, and is designed specifically for assassination.
Once it pierces the human body, the blood groove will bleed instantly, and the wound is extremely difficult to heal.
"Which army was equipped with it?" Ying Zheng asked.
"They have all been delivered to General Wang Li's five thousand elite vanguard troops. General Wang Li has tried this weapon and praised it highly, calling it a divine weapon for infantry to defeat cavalry. The soldiers are practicing assassination techniques day and night."
"good!"
Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction; these five thousand men were definitely elites.
The changes Zhang Fan brought to Qin are gradually becoming apparent in this army.
With high-strength steel and this deadly weapon, the Qin cavalry will be unstoppable.
Ying Zheng stood up and walked to the wall where the huge map was hanging.
Our gaze passed over the Great Wall and landed on the vast northern grasslands.
"Issue my decree, and issue orders to the three armies!" Ying Zheng's voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying an unquestionable determination.
"Three days later, announce to the world: Great Qin, Northern Expedition!"
……
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the early morning, the streets and alleys of Xianyang were still shrouded in a thin mist when the sound of horses' hooves broke the silence.
Dozens of messengers galloped out of Xianyang Palace, heading towards the city gates and various notice boards.
"His Majesty has decreed: A northern expedition against the Xiongnu!"
Rolls of bright yellow notices were posted on the city walls.
The official in charge of reading the decree stood on the high platform and loudly recited Ying Zheng's edict.
"The Xiongnu do not submit to the rule of our king, and have repeatedly violated the borders of our Great Qin, killing our people and seizing our cattle and sheep. Moreover, their official letters are arrogant and disrespectful, insulting the majesty of our Great Qin."
"Today, I swear an oath to our troops, raising an army of 300,000 to march north. We will surely crush the Helan Mountains, strike directly at the royal camp, and let the Xiongnu know that those who offend our Great Qin, no matter how far away, will be punished!"
As the official read the announcement, the once quiet street instantly erupted in excitement.
The onlookers were initially shocked, but then erupted in cheers.
The Qin Dynasty valued martial prowess!
Since unifying the six kingdoms, the world has been at peace, and many old Qin people even feel that the weapons in their hands are about to rust!
Meanwhile, on the northern border, the Xiongnu, relying on the speed of their cavalry, frequently raided southwards to steal grain, causing immense suffering to the border people.
This resentment had been building up in the hearts of the Qin people for a long time.
Now, the First Emperor has finally issued an order to completely eliminate this scourge from the north.
"Beat them! Kill these barbarians of the grasslands!" A veteran who had lost his left arm raised his only remaining right hand and roared with a flushed face.
"Long live the Qin Dynasty! Long live Your Majesty!"
The people spread the word, and every household took out their stored grain. Some young people even ran to the recruitment office on the spot to ask to join the army.
Meanwhile, inside the Gewu Institute.
Zhang Fan and Fusu stood in the courtyard, listening to the eunuch read out the imperial edict.
"...Feng Mengtian was appointed commander-in-chief, leading an army of 300,000. Wang Li was appointed deputy commander, leading 5,000 elite vanguard troops."
"Zhang Fan is appointed General Protector of the Nation, serving as an advisor to the army, but is not bound by military law. The eldest son, Fusu, will accompany the army to gain experience and understand military affairs!"
So be it!
The eunuch closed the imperial edict and handed it to Zhang Fan with both hands.
"Your subject receives the imperial decree!" Zhang Fan took the imperial decree and casually tossed it to the servant beside him.
When Fusu heard that he was really going to go to war with the army, he clenched his fists tightly.
"Go pack your things. We'll assemble at the central command tent outside the city in half an hour," Zhang Fan said to Fusu.
"Yes, teacher!"
Fusu nodded emphatically, turned around and walked away quickly.
Zhang Fan watched Fu Su's retreating figure, then turned around and walked towards the most secluded row of workshops in the Gewu Academy.
Pushing open the door to a workshop, I heard a soft snoring sound coming from inside.
Mo Feng was fast asleep, lying amidst a pile of blueprints and sawdust.
He drank too much at Ji Honglou for several days in a row and still hasn't sobered up.
Zhang Fan stepped forward and kicked Mo Feng's chair without any hesitation.
"Clang!"
Mo Feng fell to the ground, chair and all, instantly waking up. Rubbing his eyes, he shouted, "Who? Who dares disturb this great man's sleep?"
Upon recognizing Zhang Fan, Mo Feng brushed the sawdust off his clothes and yawned, "Immortal Master, can't a person get some sleep this early in the morning?"
"Stop sleeping! Get up and get to work!"
Zhang Fan grabbed Mo Feng by the collar. "The army is setting off today. You're coming with me."
"Where to?" Mo Feng was taken aback.
"In the north, fight the Xiongnu."
"What?"
Mo Feng instantly snapped out of his daze and waved his hands repeatedly, backing away. "No, no! That's a battlefield. What would a tech-savvy disciple like me do there?"
I'm utterly powerless; going there would be suicide. Immortal Master, you can go yourself. I need to stay in Xianyang to research the steam engine!
Zhang Fan sneered, "You have no choice. I've already arranged the artisans in the Imperial Workshop; the steam engine development won't stop. You've had enough of slacking off these past few days; you have to come with me to the front lines!"
"What do you want me to do?" Mo Feng was almost in tears.
Zhang Fan did not answer, but waved to the Xuan Bird Guards outside the door.
Several strong, armored soldiers carried in five heavy wooden crates and carefully placed them on the ground.
These wooden crates were entirely black, with thick layers of grease in the seams, emitting a pungent odor.
Upon seeing the boxes, Mo Feng immediately understood what was inside.
Zhang Fan patted the box and continued, "Inside are gifts prepared for the Xiongnu cavalry."
Looking at Zhang Fan's expression, Mo Feng felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.
This thing is extremely dangerous!
"Keep an eye on these boxes on the way. Remember, absolutely no open flames or violent collisions. Otherwise, the two of us, plus this entire Gewu Academy, will be reduced to ashes in an instant," Zhang Fan warned.
"Okay!" Mo Feng replied listlessly.
After saying this, Zhang Fan turned around and strode out of the Institute of Physics.
……
Outside Xianyang City.
On the plains, 30,000 elite Qin soldiers have assembled.
Black banners blotted out the sky, fluttering in the autumn wind.
The troops were perfectly aligned and there wasn't a single sound.
The spears and halberds pointed straight to the sky, reflecting the cold sunlight.
This was an invincible army that swept across six kingdoms and was victorious in every battle.
Meng Tian, clad in heavy armor and riding a tall horse, stood at the front of the central army formation. Beside him was Wang Li, equally clad in armor and armed with a fanatical gaze.
The five thousand vanguards behind Wang Li each carried a Mitsubishi military dagger that was still sheathed at their waist.
The war drums sounded, deep and powerful.