Chapter 103: Counterattack
Nanping is transporting gunpowder.
He planned to pile all the gunpowder together and then light it.
The destructive power of gunpowder is so amazing that even if it cannot destroy the entire summer camp, it can destroy most of it.
When the summer camp becomes chaotic, he can take the opportunity to escape.
"It's a pity that time was tight and I couldn't see the true form of that thousand-year-old monster." Nanping muttered with some regret.
This time, the lone army advanced deep into Loushan Pass and reaped rich rewards.
In addition to obtaining gunpowder and muskets and making great contributions, he also unexpectedly discovered that there really are monsters in this world.
Nanping was considering whether he should send someone to find a few little monsters after he returned, and raise them in the garden for daily entertainment and fun.
After moving the last few packets of gunpowder over, Nanping patted the gunpowder residue on his hands and admired his masterpiece that he had been busy working on for a long time.
Just as he took out the tinder, he glanced at it casually and suddenly found that the tent door had opened a crack.
The gap is just wide enough for one person to pass through, and the dark shadows are looming, eerie and strange.
Nanping's hand trembled and the tinderbox fell to the ground.
He bent down to pick it up, but heard a gust of wind coming from the tent door.
Nanping's heart was filled with alarm, and he didn't care about the fire starter and quickly dodged.
The short arrow missed and penetrated three-quarters of the ground.
Nanping swept a cold gaze towards the tent door, touched his lower back with his right hand, and with a twitch, a soft sword appeared in his hand.
He could have escaped by breaking through the tent, but the tent was filled with powerful weapons. As early as the second day of camping, Du Qingtang ordered the firearms soldiers to tie iron wire around the tent from top to bottom, so that people outside could not get in and people inside could not get out.
Nan Ping's forehead was covered with sweat, his heart sinking. He shouted in a low voice: "You are hiding your head and showing your tail, why don't you show yourself at once!"
The tent door moved and opened completely.
The bright moonlight came in through the door, and Nanping could see clearly the person outside.
A dark-colored round-necked, narrow-sleeved long T-shirt, simple and neat.
Her long hair like crow feathers danced lightly in the wind, and her eyes were like the cold moon, as cold as ice.
Just one glance and Nanping was scared to death.
"Du Qingtang?!"
Du Qingtang walked into the tent with his hands behind his back.
"I told you, if I catch you running around, I'll break your legs." Du Qingtang glanced at the pile of gunpowder, his tone calm, his emotions hard to discern. "It seems like you've turned a deaf ear to my words."
Nan Ping took several steps back, his eyes filled with fear: "Why is it you? Aren't you already dead?"
He stabbed Du Qingtang in the heart eighteen times, and his face was still stained with her blood.
Logically speaking, Du Qingtang should have been dead, so why is he still standing here?
Could it be that all the things in the books are lies, and monsters won’t die suddenly after being stabbed in the heart?
Du Qingtang kicked the tinderbox further away: "You mean, the person lying on the bed?"
Nan Ping was stunned for a moment, and then in a flash, he suddenly realized: "That person is not you!"
Du Qingtang tutted his words, a faint smile on his face. "Why don't you recognize him? He came to your house twice and delivered a message for you."
Nanping's pupils suddenly shrank. It was the spy disguised as a peddler!
He quietly clenched the soft sword in his hand, the hilt soaked with sweat from his palm, and said in a tense voice: "You already knew it."
Du Qingtang neither admitted nor denied it, and only said: "What good can it be if it's delivered to your door for free?"
Nanping: “…”
Deputy Commander Lu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The commander is as mischievous as ever.
Nan Ping wanted to expose the two people in front of him: "So all your humiliation of me before was intentional."
He always thought that this was Du Qingtang's nature, and he tolerated being humiliated and kicked away again and again, just to coax Du Qingtang to agree to take him to the summer camp.
However, she didn't expect that Du Qingtang knew from the beginning that he had ulterior motives. Not only did she not expose him, but she treated him like a clown, fawning over her and pretending to be stupid and pitiful.
With a "bang", the last string in Nanping's mind broke.
"Du Qingtang, how dare you tease me like this! I'm going to kill you!"
Deputy Commander Lu's smile disappeared, his face turned stern and he raised his sword to fight.
The long swords collided with each other, making a clanging sound.
Deputy Commander Lu was concerned about gunpowder and was somewhat restrained.
In order to survive and escape, Nanping fought with Deputy Commander Lu with all his might.
In just one stick of incense, this fierce battle ended with Deputy Commander Lu kicking Nanping away with a flying kick.
Before Nanping could jump up, Du Yi and Du Er pounced on him like hungry wolves and pinned him to the ground, preventing him from moving.
Nanping's face was pressed to the ground, the rough stones scratched his cheeks, and blood oozed out.
A sharp and dense pain came over him, and despair and regret flashed across Nanping's eyes.
If he had known this would happen, he should not have volunteered to come to Loushan Pass in order to make a contribution.
Du Qingtang walked out of the tent: "Lü Ping."
Deputy Commander Lu clasped his fists and said, "I'm here."
"Arrange for someone to put the gunpowder back to its original place." Du Qingtang lowered his eyes and looked down at Nanping from a high position. "I will go find General Tian."
Nan Ping suddenly burst into laughter. "So what if you capture me? I've already sent the gunpowder and muskets out. They should have reached Changping Pass by now!"
"Once Da Qi has gunpowder and muskets, we will definitely break through Loushan Pass, attack Xiajing, and take the head of the dog emperor!"
Nanping knew that he could not escape death, and hoped that his mother would be treated well in consideration of his bringing back powerful troops and weapons for the Great Qi.
Du Qingtang went up and kicked him.
Nanping's face was visibly swollen.
Du Qingtang admired his own masterpiece and smiled faintly: "Guess why I allowed you to steal gunpowder and muskets even though I knew your identity?"
Nanping was stunned.
The next moment, his face turned paler and paler.
He struggled desperately, asking hysterically, "What did you do? What do you want to do to Da Qi by using me?"
Du Qingtang sneered: "Taking something without asking is stealing. There is always a price to pay for stealing."
After saying this, he raised his hand and waved it, ignoring Nanping's vulgar insults.
Du Yi took out a handkerchief like a magic trick and blocked Nanping's mouth.
With a series of creepy snapping sounds, Du Er quickly and efficiently removed Nanping's hands and feet.
Du Qingtang said nonchalantly, "Originally, I only needed to break one of your legs, but you've been too restless these past few days. I'm not happy, so I decided to break all four of your limbs."
Nanping rolled her eyes in pain, and her screams were blocked in her throat by the towel.
Du Qingtang walked towards the main tent, and Du Yi followed with Nanping on his back.
Deputy Commander Lu watched the three people go away and sighed.
The commander is still the same commander, calm and composed, unmoved by praise or criticism, and rational to the point of being almost cruel.
Even if it was him, without knowing her identity, he would be very likely to lose himself when facing a delicate and fragile beauty.
But the commander didn't.
Not only did she torture Nanping half to death, she also used Nanping to inflict heavy damage on the Qi army.
Deputy Commander Lu smacked his lips and couldn't help but sigh to Du Er, "Your master is truly terrifying."
Du Er's face was expressionless. "Thank you for the praise, Deputy Commander. I will report the matter to you, Master, truthfully."
Deputy Commander Lu: "...I hate you."
Du Er: “…”
-
It has been more than ten days since the last battle. In order to prevent the Qi army from launching a surprise attack at night, General Tian and other generals have been staying in the military camp at night in recent days.
That night, the generals discussed the deployment of defenses and did not disperse until midnight.
General Tian had just retired and was still half asleep when a voice announced from outside: "General, Commander Du wishes to see you."
Decades of military service immediately sobered General Tian up. He stared at the top of the tent and hammered the bed board hard.
Is Du Qingtang deliberately making things difficult for him? Why doesn't he come earlier or later, but comes in the middle of the night?
General Tian sat up with a dark face.
He could have turned Du Qingtang away, but a late-night visit must be about something important and could not be ignored.
General Tian was dressed neatly, and Du Qingtang entered the main tent.
Du Er followed closely behind, threw Nanping to the ground, and retreated to the tent door.
General Tian narrowed his eyes, a thousand guesses flashing through his mind: "What is Commander Du doing?"
Du Qingtang simply said, "This is a matter of great importance. Let's wait until all the generals are here before we discuss it."
General Tian's eyebrows twitched, his face darkened, and he asked his personal soldiers to invite his generals.
The generals received the order and hurried over.
They were all stunned when they saw Nanping, whose limbs were obviously broken, in the tent.
"Isn't this Commander Du's man?"
"Could it be that General Zhang guessed correctly, and this man is truly a spy from another country?"
They couldn't think of any other reason except this.
The generals had different thoughts and sat down on the armchairs on both sides according to their ranks.
As soon as the deputy general sat down on the armchair, he couldn't wait to ask, "What's going on? Commander Du, shouldn't you give us an explanation?"
Du Qingtang ignored the deputy general's aggressive approach, stood tall and graceful, and bowed leisurely: "A few days ago, I saw Nanping being chased by thugs from Yichun Pavilion in Loushan Town, so I bought him."
The deputy general sneered, shaking his legs: "You are just blinded by beauty."
Du Qingtang continued to ignore him: "His appearance was too coincidental, and he happened to fall in front of me. I became suspicious of his identity, so after settling him down, I sent someone to secretly watch him."
"Sure enough, a peddler came to the door that day, and Nanping handed him a letter."
General Tian paused in drinking his tea.
These words were like a drop of cold water dropped into a pan of hot oil, and the tent instantly exploded.
"He's a spy?!"
"He and the peddler must have been sent by the Qi bandits!"
The deputy general slammed the table in anger and glared at Du Qingtang: "Since Commander Du knew his identity was suspicious, why did you bring him into the barracks? You are inviting a wolf into the house!"
Only then did Du Qingtang give him a straight look: "No, Du is just playing along with the enemy's tactics."
"It was a crucial period of fighting between the two armies. On the day Du first entered Loushan Pass, he publicly shot and killed the enemy who challenged him. This must have alerted the Qi people, leading to an investigation."
"Gunpowder and muskets are not secrets. The people of Qi are wary of them, but they also want to possess them for themselves."
Du Qingtang lowered his eyes and pointed at Nanping at his feet: "So they arranged this honey trap."
On the right hand side of the deputy general, a young general with green eyes and rosy skin tapped the back of his hand with his fingers, and a smile flashed across his lips.
"In my opinion, this person must be carrying out a mission for the first time. He is too careless and has made many mistakes."
"They wanted gunpowder and muskets, so Du took advantage of their tactic and brought Nanping into the barracks."
"As Du had predicted, a Da Qi spy had infiltrated the military camp. Nanping had repeatedly used his mealtimes to pass on messages to him..."
There was an uproar in the tent again.
"What? There are bandits from Qi sneaking into the military camp?!"
"Commander Du, tell me which bastard it is, or I'll kill him!"
General Feng drew his sword from its sheath, waved it and shouted, his dark face flushed red with anger.
Du Qingtang readily replied, "I have already registered all the suspicious persons and will have them brought over later."
"Thank you, Commander Du." General Tian had an unfathomable expression and no one could tell what he was thinking.
Except Du Qingtang.
This old guy must be feeling regretful.
She brought Nanping into the military camp in order to lure out the Da Qi spy, not simply because she was addicted to male beauty.
Not only did she not make any mistakes, but she also made a contribution.
In this way, it is even less likely that the Firearms Battalion will fall into the hands of the old villain Tian Xiu.
Du Qingtang's thoughts raced as he pointed at Nanping, who lay sprawled on the ground like a pile of mud. "Tonight, this man stole two bags of gunpowder and a musket..."
The deputy general yelled, "What? You let them steal the gunpowder and muskets?"
Du Qingtang nodded: "They should have entered the Qi camp by now."
Everyone's face changed drastically.
"Commander Du, since you know this man's identity, why do you still condone him?"
"Once the Qi bandits get their hands on the treasure, they will definitely use it against us. By then, Daxia will be littered with corpses and its soldiers and generals will be lost. You, Du Qingtang, will be the sinner of Daxia!"
General Tian T shook his head solemnly. "Commander Du has always been cautious in his words and actions, but he made such a big mistake. I am very disappointed in you. This is a matter of life and death for both armies. I will not cover up for you. I will tell His Majesty the truth, and His Majesty will decide your decision..."
Du Qingtang interrupted General Tian and said, "I allowed Nanping to steal the gunpowder and muskets. I was certainly prepared for this."
We learned in junior high school chemistry that white phosphorus will spontaneously combust when it comes into contact with air.
Du Qingtang sent someone to find flint, soaked the flint in water, and obtained a small bottle of white phosphorus.
White phosphorus has a low ignition point. The weather at Loushan Pass is freezing cold, and water freezes into ice, which does not create the conditions for spontaneous combustion.
Du Qingtang dipped the ends of the two thin wires with white phosphorus, and used a kiln to burn two glass covers, which he fastened to the ends of the thin wires, isolating the ends of the thin wires from the air as much as possible under the existing conditions.
If the people of Qi wanted to study the musket, they had to remove the glass cover.
Changping Pass is even colder than Loushan Pass, so there must be charcoal fires burning in the tents, making it as warm as spring.
There must be more than one craftsman working on the musket, so the temperature inside the tent is even higher.
When the thin wire comes into contact with the air, it reaches the ignition point and the white phosphorus spontaneously combusts.
There is gunpowder in the barrel of the musket, and in addition, there are two gunpowder bags.
The string is connected to the gunpowder, and when the gunpowder is ignited, it will -
With a "bang", it exploded on the spot.
It would be best if a few Qi army generals could be killed, but it doesn’t matter if not, it can just be considered a warning.
We must let them know not to covet things that do not belong to them, otherwise they will suffer retribution.
Du Qingtang said: "...If nothing unexpected happens, it should have exploded by now."
Most of the generals were rough men, and some of them could not even read a single word. After listening to Du Qingtang's words, they were all stunned and confused, not knowing what was going on.
"So, the Qi people shot themselves in the foot this time?"
Du Qingtang looked in the direction of the voice and saw Pei Yuchun staring at her.
A candle was burning behind the armchair. Most of Pei Yuchun's body was submerged in the shadows. His green eyes were like a bottomless pool, making it hard to understand.
"That's right." Du Qingtang looked away and looked at General Tian. "The sound of the gunpowder explosion can't be concealed. You can send someone to investigate."
The two men looked at each other, and as they stared, flames flew and smoke filled the air.
General Tian smiled with an ambiguous tone, "Commander Du really has a plan that leaves nothing to chance."
Du Qingtang smiled back, "General Tian, you are too kind. I just used a little trick to make the Qi people suffer the consequences."
General Tian: “…”
Du Qingtang openly kept a man, and everyone in Loushanguan knew about it.
General Tian thought he had caught her by the pigtail, but he didn't know that she was just pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger.
His hopes were dashed again. General Tian sat at the top, too depressed to speak.
Du Qingtang didn't want to play along, so he bowed and said, "It's late, generals, please go to bed early. I'll take my leave first."
Du Yi stepped forward and carried up Nanping, who had fainted from the pain.
The deputy general groaned, his brows furrowed so tightly they could kill a fly. "What are you doing? Where are you taking him?"
Du Qingtang said, "I have other uses for this person."
The generals didn't believe it.
"What other use is there for him? Maybe he's attracted by his pretty face and wants to possess it for himself."
"This spy is extremely despicable and deserves to be cut into pieces!"
General Feng said this, raised his sword again, and stared at Nanping fiercely.
General Tian said in a deep voice: "I am the general of Loushan Pass. This person has a special identity, so I should handle it."
Du Qingtang made a concession: "I can give him to you, but you can't kill him."
The Firearm Battalion is only assisting in combat and has no right to deal with Nanping. He should be handed over to General Tian.
Besides, the firearms troops were all in training, and Du Yi and others also had important matters to attend to, so they had no manpower to guard Nanping.
"Why can't you kill him? You have to give me a reason."
"I still need to investigate some things." Facing everyone's suspicious gaze, Du Qingtang said in a tone that brooked no argument, "Once I have found out everything, I will tell you the truth."
General Tian pondered for a moment and said, "It's okay not to kill him, but Commander Du must understand that injuries are inevitable during interrogation."
Du Qingtang nodded: "Just spare his life."
The two sides reached an agreement, Du Qingtang left Nanping to General Tian and left with Du Yi.
The deputy general stepped forward and kicked Nanping, unwillingly saying, "General, do you really want to spare his life?"
General Tian took a sip of tea and said, "This time, Commander Du defeated the Qi bandits' plot and uncovered the spies hiding in the military camp. It's only right and proper that she be given some respect."
"Commander Du isn't someone who speaks without thinking. She has her reasons for saying so." Pei Yuchun stood up leisurely, stretched his arms and stretched himself like a lazy cat. "It's late, I'll take my leave first."
The rest of the generals also left in twos and threes.
The deputy general rubbed his teeth, looking unhappy: "I'm talking to the general, why is he, a foreigner, butting in?"
However, the execution of Nanping was never mentioned again.
Du Qingtang is a crazy woman. She has 5,000 firearms soldiers under her command who follow her orders blindly. Those people are also crazy.
The deputy general was just talking, as he didn't want to have a musket pointed at his head again.
The fat meat that was about to reach his mouth flew away again. General Tian was in a very bad mood, but when he thought of the letter he received in the evening, his expression eased a little.
"His Majesty has sent His Majesty the Third Prince to supervise the army. He is expected to arrive in the next few days."
The deputy general bowed and congratulated: "Congratulations, General. His Majesty sent you to supervise the army, which shows that he values your performance!"
General Tian also thought so.
In previous years when the two armies fought, Emperor Qingyuan always sent his trusted confidants to supervise the troops, but this was the first time he sent a prince.
Sending the Third Prince over the Fourth Prince, does that mean...
General Tian suppressed his inner joy and remained silent. "Commander Du will send the list back later. You will be responsible for interrogating those people."
The deputy general held his head high and chest puffed out, his voice as resounding as a bell: "Yes, I will obey your command!"
-
Du Qingtang returned to the Firearms Camp and asked someone to send a list of suspicious people in the camp to General Tian.
General Tian immediately issued an order for martial law in the entire military camp. All soldiers were not allowed to move around at will, let alone leave the camp. Anyone who violated the order would be executed immediately.
He then sent personal soldiers and spies to Loushan Town to capture spies and to Changping Pass to inquire about the news of Qi Camp.
The deputy general took the list and went to arrest people. When a fish belly appeared in the east, dozens of people had been arrested, including a garrison commander and two captains.
Looking at these people, the deputy general was terrified. He ordered his men to keep a close watch on them and went to report to General Tian.
Finally, the deputy general sighed with a sluggish face, saying awkwardly, "Although Commander Du has a bad temper and tough tactics, this time we were saved thanks to her. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous."
Seeing him like this, General Tian couldn't help but remember that a few days ago, he had also apologized to Du Qingtang for the suture technique. He felt a little embarrassed and waved his hand to let him leave.
......
Du Qingtang slept for two hours and then got up to write an urgent memorial.
It is not military intelligence, but a strategy to enrich the country.
In order to form a sniper team, she created a convex lens.
From this, many glass products can be made, such as glass doors and windows, glass tableware, glass decorations, etc.
Ningxianglou is an official store for women, and its glass products are for all people.
Du Qingtang elaborated on the various wonderful uses of glass and the huge profits behind it, and attached the method of making glass. He handed the urgent report to the dispensing department and sent it to Xiajing at an expedited speed of 800 miles.
Deputy Commander Lu had already sorted out tens of thousands of gunpowder. Du Qingtang checked it again to make sure there was no problem, then went back to look through the military books.
Two hours passed in a flash.
The lunch horn sounded, and the people sent by General Tian came back one after another.
The personal guards captured more than ten spies, removed their jaws, tied their hands and feet, and locked them up together with the spies who had sneaked into the military camp. They were interrogated personally by the deputy general.
It is worth mentioning that the deputy general has a nickname in the military camp, called "Lord Yama".
All the captured Qi soldiers and spies, no matter how tough they were, would not last a day in the hands of the deputy general.
He experienced one hundred and eight kinds of torture one by one, but was still hanging on to his last breath, a life worse than death.
Over time, the deputy general got the nickname "Lord Yama".
In just four or five hours, the deputy general pried open the mouths of dozens of spies and made them give out their superiors and subordinates.
"Is he an actor?"
General Tian was quite surprised when he saw Nanping's confession.
The deputy general nodded and said, "I have tortured him for a long time, and he doesn't seem to be lying."
So why did Commander Du repeatedly emphasize that he must be spared?
General Tian was also puzzled, but Du Qingtang always kept his word, so he just waited for the result.
"You and Lieutenant General Pei will split up and capture the remaining spies."
The deputy general was not happy and muttered, "Can't we change to someone else? I don't want to be with that foreign kid."
General Tian's face darkened. "Don't keep calling him a foreigner. His mother is a foreigner, but his father and grandfather were both heroes who died on the battlefield, sacrificing their lives for their country."
It was an existence that he admired and envied, and one that he could never catch up with in his entire life.
The deputy general nodded in agreement and went to find Pei Yuchun.
At this time, Pei Yuchun often practiced on the training ground.
When the deputy general arrived at the training ground, Pei Yuchun was sparring with General Feng.
With a "bang", General Feng fell on his back on the ground, gasping for breath.
Pei Yuchun stretched out his hand, and General Feng used it to stand up.
"Still fighting?"
"No more fighting!" General Feng glared at me with his big, copper-bell-like eyes and waved his hands repeatedly. "What's wrong with you today? You're like a mad bull, with endless energy."
Pei Yuchun exhaled a puff of white mist, blurring his androgynous face. Beads of glistening sweat slid down his honey-colored skin. "I've encountered something worth being happy about."
His guess was verified.
It is to take advantage of the situation rather than indulging in beauty.
No, not beauty.
What kind of beauty is a boiled chicken that is so weak that it can't withstand his punch?
How could a ferocious beast be attracted to a mouse?
The deputy general came over at this time: "Commander Pei, the general asked the two of us to lead the troops to capture the spies."
"Okay, I understand."
Pei Yuchun fetched a basin of cold water, soaked a handkerchief in it, wiped it quickly, put on his clothes and went to inspect the troops.
The two teams left the military camp and disappeared into the distance.
......
After Du Qingtang assembled a musket, he gave it to Deputy Commander Lu for a test firing and went to find General Tian.
"Have you sent anyone to Changping Pass to investigate?"
General Tian nodded and said, "There was an explosion in the Qi camp last night. The flames were several feet high. Judging from the direction, it was the main tent."
Main account?
Du Qingtang raised his eyebrows slightly: "It seems that the casualties are very heavy."
General Tian remained silent, pausing before saying, "The Qi army's commander was seriously injured and fainted, three of the generals were killed and five were injured, and all the craftsmen were dead."
Du Qingtang didn't ask how he knew so much, and stated his purpose: "I think this is a perfect opportunity to strike back."
General Tian's idea coincided with hers.
Although reluctant to admit it, it is true that the Qi army is stronger than the Xia army.
In the past two months, the Xia army has always been in a passive state of being beaten. Except for three or two proactive attacks, the rest of the time it was mainly on the defensive.
Now that the Qi army's generals are either dead or injured, the Qi army will surely be in disarray.
The army's morale is unstable, and it is time to launch a counterattack.
"To be honest, Commander Du, I have exactly this in mind." Since the war situation was at stake, General Tian temporarily put aside his dissatisfaction with Du Qingtang and said seriously, "When the Xia army strikes back, Commander Du will lead the Firearms Battalion to provide some assistance."
Du Qingtang responded simply: "Of course."
The two people's eyes met, and they reached a silent understanding.
......
That afternoon, the atmosphere in the military camp began to become tense.
The soldiers at Loushan Pass entered a state of preparation for war, and the firearms troops were no less capable and spontaneously strengthened their training.
In the evening, General Tian sent someone to invite Du Qingtang to the main tent to discuss matters.
Du Qingtang went away and didn't come back until late at night.
The counterattack is scheduled for the tenth day of March, with three days left.
Du Qingtang didn't care about how the soldiers at Loushan Pass were preparing for battle, and spent two days checking the training results of the firearms army.
The result is satisfactory, but just above the passing line.
"You are the firearms troops. Once on the battlefield, you will be the target of everyone's criticism. You must be extremely cautious and must not become complacent. If you relax even a little, you will pay the price with your life."
Five thousand firearms soldiers shouted in unison: "Yes, we will obey the commander's orders!"
"When I left Beijing, my wife was pregnant. I was going to be a father soon. I had to go back alive and hear my baby call me daddy."
"I have a 60-year-old mother, a son and a daughter, and my wife is not in good health. They are all counting on me. I can't die."
"When I left Beijing, my mother promised me that when I returned, she would make lotus root dumplings for me. They would be stuffed with meat and would be so fragrant and delicious!"
Listening to their loud voices, Du Qingtang couldn't help but think of his sister who was far away in Qingyuan County, and his friends scattered all over the place.
She only thought about it for a moment and then went back to her work.
......
There is still one day left until the counterattack.
That afternoon, the third prince arrived at Loushan Pass with a large group of people including his guards, palace maids and concubines.
General Tian and his generals came out of the camp to greet them, and Du Qingtang was among them.
The third prince dismounted, his head covered in yellow sand, his clothes wrinkled, and a look of impatience on his face.
Everyone bowed and greeted: "Greetings, Your Highness."
"No need to formalize." The Third Prince walked straight into the military camp. "Your Highness is tired and would like to rest for a while."
General Tian looked at the Third Prince with a kind look, his words and actions respectful, leaving no room for error. "I understand that Your Highness has prepared a residence and tents within the barracks."
The Third Prince was too lazy to move and said casually, "Let's stay here."
General Tian raised his hand and gestured, "Your Highness, please come this way."
As the group entered the military camp, the Third Prince keenly sensed the tense atmosphere within. He pondered, "Is a war about to begin?"
General Tian nodded and briefly explained the current situation of the Qi army: "...We have decided to take this opportunity to launch a counterattack."
"Great counterattack! We should give those Qi bandits a run for their money!" The Third Prince clapped his hands, his face beaming with excitement. "How about I join you in the battle?"
General Tian was shocked: "Your Highness, please think twice!"
The Imperial Concubine has only this one son, and the hopes of the entire Tian family rest on the Third Prince, so nothing can happen to him.
Being a military commander is a great achievement, so there is really no need to lead the troops and go to the battlefield in person.
The Third Prince refused to listen. "It's settled. Father has sent me here to lead the army. Naturally, I must lead by example and be at the forefront."
General Tian: "But..."
The Third Prince tutted his words and interrupted him impatiently, "If you are truly worried, send a few more men to assist His Highness in the battle."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Du Qingtang, "I heard that the firearms soldiers are highly skilled in martial arts, and they are also equipped with muskets and gunpowder. Lord Du will arrange for a few firearms soldiers to accompany His Highness."
This would not only ensure his safety, but also deepen his understanding of the Firearms Battalion. He might even be able to take the opportunity to win over those firearms soldiers and use them for his own purposes.
Dozens of eyes fell on Du Qingtang, but she remained calm and said, "I obey your command."
The third prince entered the tent, and Du Qingtang and Deputy Commander Lu returned to the Firearms Camp.
Deputy Commander Lu grumbled in a low voice, "The Third Prince is being too reckless. He's never been on the battlefield before. When the two armies go to war, the Firearms Army won't be able to take care of him."
Du Qingtang knew what the Third Prince was planning, but it was a pity that the Firearms Army was not mindless puppets.
They are only loyal to Du Qingtang, or to Emperor Qingyuan behind Du Qingtang.
Given the importance of the Firearms Battalion, Emperor Qingyuan would never hand it over to any prince.
"Pick a few skilled fighters and prioritize protecting the Third Prince." Du Qingtang paused, "No, prioritize your own life, and the Third Prince second."
Although this was a bit outrageous, Deputy Commander Lu couldn't help but smile: "Commander, you are kind and gracious. I will convey your words to them truthfully."
Du Qingtang nodded and returned to the tent to make final preparations.
-
At the hour of Yin the next day, 60,000 Xia troops set out from Loushan Pass and advanced rapidly towards Changping Pass.
According to the original plan, Xia's army was divided into three groups and encircled the enemy in a roundabout way.
Du Qingtang and General Feng took the middle route, Pei Yuchun and Deputy Commander Lu took the south route, and the deputy general and the third prince took the north route.
The three thousand firearms troops were also divided into three groups and took action with the Xia army in the central, southern and north directions.
The 20,000-strong army was like a long dragon, winding westward with great momentum.
The Qi army discovered the Xia army from the lookout tower and crawled forward to report.
Upon learning that 60,000 Xia troops had invaded Changping Pass and that no flesh had been left on their bodies by the gunpowder explosion, General Fang, who was lying on the hospital bed dying, became so angry that he vomited blood.
"General!"
General Fang endured the severe pain and said in a hoarse voice: "Pass my order, Hu Ren, Hua Fang, and Xiao Jinbao, lead the troops to fight immediately, without any mistakes!"
"yes!"
The soldiers retreated. General Fang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said hatefully, "Du Qingtang!"
If it weren't for her, they wouldn't have died or been injured.
Nor would they give the Xia people any opportunity to attack them at their doorstep.
In addition to hatred, General Fang was also worried.
Du Qingtang's tampering with the musket showed that she had long been aware of their intentions. Then Nanping...
General Fang's breath shuddered and he closed his eyes weakly.
......
The central army marched westward all the way to Changping Pass.
Military flags fluttered, trumpets sounded, and war drums rumbled.
Twenty thousand troops were lined up, and one thousand firearms soldiers each performed their duties, looking straight ahead with resolute eyes.
Twenty miles away, the Qi army came in the dust.
The Chinese side, who was in charge of leading the troops, sent out a challenger.
The challenger was just like usual, laughing, cursing, and using vulgar language.
After listening to his endless chatter, Du Qingtang ran out of patience. He raised his musket, aimed at the other party through the lens, and pulled the trigger.
"Bang--"
The challenger was shot in the head and died.
General Feng couldn't help but think of the last time the two armies fought. The corners of his mouth twitched and he felt phantom pain in his cheeks.
Commander Du is still as cruel and decisive as ever.
The challenger died suddenly. Hua Fang was furious and pointed at Du Qingtang, who was wearing silver armor, and cursed: "You shot the challenger twice. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"
The winner takes all, and the right to speak always belongs to the victor.
so......
Du Qingtang raised his right arm and made a gesture.
Behind her, red flags fluttered.
"boom--"
What responded to the Chinese side was a loud noise like mountains collapsing and the earth splitting.
A huge fireball rose up, dust flew, blood and flesh splattered, and screams rang out one after another.
The Great Qi was invincible, and killed countless Xia cavalry and infantrymen, whose bodies were blown into the sky along with their horses, with broken limbs and debris scattered all over the ground, leaving no complete body.
"What's going on?"
"Enemy attack, be alert!"
The Qi army gripped their weapons tightly, keeping their eyes and ears alert.
Suddenly, they felt a dark shadow falling above their heads. The Qi army looked up and was scared out of their wits.
Above Changping Pass, hundreds of wooden kites carrying firearms soldiers flew across the sky and entered the battlefield.
The wooden kite is huge, and its wingspan is enough to cover the sky and the sun.
The Qi army's legs trembled, and they sat down on the ground, their faces full of horror.
"Gods! Daxia has gods to help!"
——If someone can fly to the sky, then what else could he be but a god?
Several ropes firmly fixed the firearms soldiers on the wooden kites, and a bag filled with gunpowder was tied in front of them.
The firearms soldier took out a piece of gunpowder, lit the fuse, and threw it out with force.
"Hey! Please have something good to eat!"
“Hahahahahahaha!”
Amid the hearty laughter of the firearms army, gunpowder was continuously thrown from high school to the ground, exploding with "bang bang bang" sounds.
This is a one-sided harvest.
Tens of thousands of Qi soldiers were blown away, their bodies were completely destroyed and turned into dust, which was scattered all over the land.
The Qi army that managed to survive was so frightened by this cruel scene that they threw away their weapons and armor and fled in panic.
At the same time, bullets came from all directions at a speed that was difficult to capture with the naked eye, hitting the fleeing Qi army.
The screams were continuous.
People kept falling in pools of blood, covering their wounds, twitching and dying.
While dodging the shooting, Hua Fang looked around and found that the bullets were shaped like ghosts, and he could not find the hiding place of the shooter.
"Don't run away!"
"Anyone who flees without fighting will be treated as a deserter!"
"Form a formation!"
"Form a formation!"
Hua Fang shouted hysterically. The surviving Qi army received the order and quickly formed a battle line, half-crouching and hiding behind their sturdy shields.
They thought this would save their lives.
But reality is always cruel.
In addition to the snipers ambushing at various commanding heights, hundreds of firearms soldiers appeared beside Du Qingtang and General Feng.
The firearms soldiers stood in two rows. The firearms soldiers in the front row raised their muskets, aimed at their shields, and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
After twenty bullets were fired, the firearms soldiers in the back row moved forward and continued to aim and shoot, while the front row retreated to replenish bullets.
The shield could not withstand such intensive shooting, and round holes appeared one after another.
On the other side of the round hole is a Qi soldier who was shot and killed.
Du Qingtang silently counted a thousand numbers in his mind, raised his left arm and made a gesture.
Behind her, yellow flags fluttered.
The firearms troops flying wooden kites and the firearms troops lurking in the dark retreated, as did the firearms troops around Du Qingtang.
It only took a stick of incense for the firearms army to appear and leave.
Look at the Qi army again——
With the yellow sand as the background, everywhere you look, there are mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
A biting cold wind blew in my face, and my nostrils were filled with the strong smell of blood.
Even General Feng, a veteran of many battles, couldn't help but shudder when he saw this scene.
Not only him, but also Xia Jun was deeply shocked by the prowess of the firearms army. He was dumbfounded and couldn't recover for a long time.
"Gunpowder is so powerful! It makes my heart almost jump out of my throat!"
"I've been seeing the Firearms Army flying low in their giant birds lately, but I never thought they could fly so high!"
Unlike the cheering Xia army, the Qi army was like a frightened bird, hiding behind their shields and crying bitterly.
The situation on the Chinese side is not much better.
The generals of the Qi army were either dead or injured, and the string in his mind has been tense these days.
At this moment, he watched his soldiers fall one after another, and the string was completely broken.
Hua Fang stood up with his scimitar against the ground, pointing at the leader of the opposing army: "You rely on your gunpowder and muskets to wantonly slaughter our soldiers. This is an unfair victory. If you have the guts, let's fight with real swords and guns!"
General Feng had the same intention and wanted to rush to fight, but was stopped by Du Qingtang.
"Why did Commander Du stop me?"
Du Qingtang raised his hand and the firearms soldier handed him a musket.
Lift, aim, and pull the trigger.
"Bang--"
Hua Fang was shot in the head and died.
Du Qingtang put away his musket and said casually, "There's no need to go through so much trouble when it can be done with just a flick of the finger."
General Feng: “…”
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