Not only was General Pang Xianchu puzzled, but his deputy Fan Wuji and a group of generals of the Longcheng Southern Expedition Army were also wondering what the heavy iron pipe on the two-wheeled cart was.

It makes sense, these generals of the Dragon City army have spent half their lives on the battlefield, even the most knowledgeable generals didn't know what artillery was.

After all, according to the historical trajectory, this thing was first used in the military more than a hundred years after the Great Xin Dynasty!

In addition, the Longcheng naval fleet was established relatively late, and naval warships were by no means places that ordinary generals could visit at will.

Therefore, it is understandable that Pang Xianchu and his group did not recognize the cannon.

Even back then, during the battle to capture Jinling City by crossing the Yangtze River, when the warships of the Longcheng naval fleet were sailing on the Yangtze River and constantly bombarding the rattan armor soldiers of the Nanzhao Kingdom on the south bank of the Yangtze River.

The Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army, which participated in crossing the Yangtze River, only heard the booming sound of cannons, which was like thunder on flat ground. They did not see the cannons in person, which shrouded the cannons of the Shenji Battalion in mystery.

Thus, Pang Xianchu and his entourage, with surprise and bewilderment, went to greet and exchange pleasantries with the Shenji Artillery Battalion soldiers who had come to reinforce them.

"Your Excellency, we've been waiting for you like the stars and the moon, and we're so glad you've finally arrived!"

As they spoke, Pang Xianchu dismounted and greeted Naval Commander Qi Jiguang with a smile, saying, "Commander, and brothers of the Shenji Battalion, the main camp is just thirty li ahead; we'll arrive after crossing this mountain."

"I have already given the order to prepare large watermelons to cool off and quench the thirst of all the brothers in the Divine Machine Battalion. They can eat them as soon as they arrive at the camp!"

Meanwhile, Qi Jiguang, the naval admiral who was temporarily serving as the commander of the Shenji Battalion, also dismounted and greeted Pang Xianchu with a smile, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, General Pang!"

"Soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion, give it your all! When we get to the main camp, let's go eat watermelon!"

Pang Xianchu also instructed, "General Fan, have the brothers dismount and assist the Shenji Battalion in transporting these supplies and equipment back to the main camp!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Soon, the soldiers of the two armies joined forces and, with their own hands and feet, pushed the heavy red cannon, weighing over a thousand pounds, forward.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. With the addition of the soldiers of the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army who came to greet them, the Shenji Battalion's marching progress accelerated considerably.

During this time, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Pang Xianchu, who was full of questions, finally seized the opportunity to ask Qi Jiguang, "General, what is that thing being towed on the cart?"

"Forgive my poor eyesight, but I still can't figure out what this is!"

Ha ha!

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang laughed heartily and said, "General Pang, this thing is called the Red-Clothed Cannon. It was specially ordered by the Emperor to be dismantled from the navy's warships to assist the southern expeditionary army in conquering Yongzhou City!"

"Red-coated cannons?"

Pang Xianchu was still completely bewildered, asking in confusion, "A siege weapon?"

"Your Excellency, this red-coated cannon has neither a power unit nor any siege weaponry. It's just a big, black iron pipe. How can it possibly breach the high and sturdy walls of Yongzhou City?"

Ha ha!

Qi Jiguang laughed again, then patiently explained, "General Pang, do you still remember the day our army crossed the Yangtze River to capture Nanjing? My Longcheng naval fleet's warships were towing and assisting us on the Yangtze River."

"It was the red-coated cannons mounted on the warships that fired exploding shells, helping the Liangjiang New Army, which surrendered in battle, to decisively defeat the Nanzhao rattan armor army!"

ah?

Pang Xianchu was first taken aback, then greatly surprised, and then overjoyed, exclaiming, "So, the thing that struck the enemy camp like a bolt of lightning from the heavens that day was actually this red-coated cannon right in front of us!"

When Pang Xianchu realized what was happening, the expression on his seemingly serious and wooden face changed so quickly that it was comparable to the face-changing act in Sichuan opera.

Then, disregarding any airs of a great general, he rode forward, stopped a moving red cannon, and hurriedly dismounted. He touched and stroked the dark cannon barrel here and there, like a child playing with his new toy.

After a long while, he looked up at the sky and laughed loudly, shouting, "What a magnificent red-coated cannon!"

"This time, the Southern Yue garrison in Yongzhou City will be in for a real beating. The great grudge of my three thousand Yuhou soldiers can finally be avenged!"

......

At the same time, inside Yongzhou City.

Crown Prince Li Shiyu was stationed at the Yongzhou Garrison Command. On the table in front of him were urgent dispatches sent from the capital, Guangzhou, every other day.

The content was all about Emperor Tiande, Li Zongmin, urging Crown Prince Li Shiyu to end the war in Yongzhou as soon as possible so that the Nanyue Kingdom could return to the negotiating table with the new Emperor Chen Huai'an.

"Hmph, Father Emperor is simply senile! Even at this point, he still fantasizes about negotiating peace with that scoundrel Chen Huai'an!"

Li Shiyu muttered to himself, "It seems that it is time for me, the Crown Prince, to lead the entire garrison of Yongzhou out of the city and fight a decisive battle against the southern expeditionary army of Longcheng outside the city!"

"Want to negotiate peace?"

"Unless I, the Crown Prince, am dead!"

With that, Crown Prince Li Shiyu, his face grim, suddenly stood up and shouted loudly towards the outside: "Guards! Convey my order: the entire army in Yongzhou City must assemble and prepare for battle. Tomorrow morning, we will fight to the death against the rebel army in Longcheng outside the city!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The next day.

After being scorched by the sun for more than half a month, Yongzhou City finally welcomed the long-awaited rainy weather. Although it was still hot and humid, the absence of direct sunlight made it feel much cooler.

Thick, dark clouds hung over Yongzhou City, as if a torrential downpour was imminent, yet it remained dormant.

Inside Yongzhou City, 100,000 Nanyue troops were assembling and preparing to venture out of the city to seek a decisive battle with the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army outside the city.

The Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army, stationed thirty miles outside the city, was also assembling at this time.

With the support of the Divine Machine Battalion and the Red-Clad Cannons, the valiant General Pang Xianchu decided to launch a full-scale attack after breakfast, determined to capture Yongzhou City today.

It was just past 9 AM.

Inside the central command tent, Pang Xianchu, Qi Jiguang, and their entourage of generals were having a meal when they suddenly received a message from a messenger.

"Report—"

"Reporting to the General, our scouts have reported that all the Nanyue troops defending Yongzhou City have left the city and are marching in a long, single-file formation, heading towards our camp!"

brush!

Upon hearing this news, the generals in the central command tent even forgot to chew the food they had just put in their mouths.

"What did you say? The Southern Yue garrison in Yongzhou City has been mobilized?"

Lieutenant Fan Wuji was the first to react. He rushed to the messenger's side, grabbed him, and pulled him into the main tent. In front of all the generals, he asked again, "Is the news reliable?"

"Was it just a portion of the troops that were mobilized, or was all the Nanyue garrison in Yongzhou City mobilized?"

"Reporting to the General, all the Nanyue garrison troops in Yongzhou City have been mobilized!"