Volume 1 Chapter 56 Fight or Not Fight
The art of war is a matter of deception!
The Mahayana Kingdom was fully prepared to destroy the Great Sun Dynasty this time and had no intention of having any negotiations in the future, so it did not care about morality and justice in its means of war.
In this battle, speed is what matters!
However, the Mahayana Kingdom miscalculated. Xiang Yun had already received the news early on. At this time, Xiang Yun could not help but secretly praise Jia Jinyu.
Fortunately this guy has some skills, so saving old man Jia Yuan's life is worthwhile!
Receiving the message is one thing, being able to respond to it is another.
Although Xiang Yun can now take the lead in dispatching troops to the western border to prevent the border from being caught off guard, this alone is not enough.
What he has to face is the military force of the entire country. The Mahayana Kingdom has a centralized political power and prosperous national strength. The strength of its army will only be stronger than that of the Dainichi Dynasty, and it is more likely to be several times stronger.
The Mahayana Kingdom is attacking with its entire nation, and with the current military strength of the Dainichi Dynasty, it is impossible to win!
The war has already begun with the Sand Barbarians in the northern border, and a large amount of food, weapons, etc. from all over the country have been transported to the northern border.
Now that the Mahayana Kingdom is invading, not to mention the gap in military strength, the problem of food and grass alone is difficult to solve.
On the western border, there are only about 1.2 million troops to defend against the Mahayana Kingdom, and they are stationed at four checkpoints, which means that there are only 300,000 troops at each checkpoint.
There were only 1.5 million soldiers stationed outside the capital, and Qin Su also transferred 500,000 Akabane troops, leaving only 1 million.
However, these one million soldiers cannot all be transferred to the western border, because the Black Witch Kingdom in the south is also eyeing them covetously. If any action is taken, troops must be transferred from the capital to the southern border for reinforcement.
There are really too few soldiers and insufficient food, so this battle cannot be fought.
The most important thing is that there has been no progress at Pengying in the past three months.
It's been three months, and not even a gun or a cannon has been built.
This matter made Xiang Yun very angry. He had sent people to urge them several times, but there was still no result.
If we could make rifles instead of cannons at this time, even if it was a fire attack, we wouldn't be so afraid of the Mahayana Kingdom.
As long as he could make guns or cannons, he would immediately mobilize the entire country to mass-produce them. By then, he would not care about either the Mahayana Treasure Kingdom or the Black Witch Kingdom.
There is no need to even deploy too many troops. Just equip each person with a gun and get some more cannons. Which country can withstand a round of bombing?
Thinking of this, Xiang Yun couldn't help but have a headache. He slammed the jade table and cursed: "Waste! All of you are waste!"
Little Guazi hurriedly comforted him: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Please take care of your health and don't get too angry."
"Call the three prime ministers to me!" Xiang Yun ordered.
After a while, Zhu Qiyu, Wang Shu and Liu Yiyi walked into the imperial study together.
Xiang Yun immediately said, "Don't bow, sit down!"
Xiang Yun asked directly: "Where are the roads in the whole country built?"
Zhu Qiyu quickly replied: "Your Majesty, the progress in all cities and regions is very smooth, but the roads in some remote mountainous areas are more difficult to repair, so the progress is slow for the time being. However, they will all be repaired in another three months."
The progress was not bad. Xiang Yun nodded with satisfaction and instructed: "Well, first repair the official road from the west to the Mahayana Kingdom. Make this the top priority now."
"I obey your order!" Zhu Qiyu took the order and sat down.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yiyi asked, "Your Majesty, could it be that the Mahayana Treasure Country..."
Xiang Yun nodded and said, "Yes, they have already started mobilizing troops in their country, and will invade our borders soon and formally declare war on our country.
I called you here today to discuss this matter."
Liu Yiyi's expression changed, and she said in a deep voice: "The war in the northern border has just started, and they actually declared war on us at this time. They really have sinister intentions."
Zhu Qiyu asked: "Your Majesty, do you want war or peace?"
Wang Shu shouted, "Of course we have to fight! The Mahayana Kingdom chose to act when our dynasty was at war with the Sand Barbarians. It was obviously premeditated. I suspect that the Sand Barbarians invaded our dynasty this time because of the Mahayana Kingdom behind it!"
"There is no evidence in this matter, so don't talk nonsense." Zhu Qiyu said unhappily.
"Okay, I called you here to give me some advice, not to quarrel with you!"
Xiang Yun looked at Zhu Qiyu unhappily and said, "What if you advocate war or peace? Prime Minister Zuo, please explain it to us!"
Zhu Qiyu stood up and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, I think it is better to advocate peace;
Our dynasty is currently at war with the Sand Barbarians. We do not have enough troops or food to support the Sun Dynasty in its two-front war. If our troops are not concentrated, both sides will be at a disadvantage, which will bring down the entire dynasty.
Now our country is in a period of rapid development with many things to be rebuilt. Whether it is the economy, agriculture or industry, they are all recovering rapidly;
If we can stabilize the Mahayana Kingdom now, and wait until the war with the Sand Barbarians is over, we can then concentrate our forces to deal with the Mahayana Kingdom. This would be the best approach.
Therefore, I think Your Majesty should send an envoy to the Mahayana Kingdom to avoid this battle as soon as possible."
Wang Shu said unhappily: "Your Majesty, I dare not agree with the opinion of the Left Prime Minister!
I believe that although our Great Sun Dynasty has been plagued by civil strife for many years, its economy and military strength have always been at their peak and have not weakened in the slightest!
Moreover, there are still surplus troops in the country. We absolutely cannot surrender without a fight. We should fight with the Mahayana Treasure Country!"
Zhu Qiyu said angrily: "You are playing nonsense and are playing with the fate of the entire dynasty!
Do you know how hard life is for ordinary people all over the country? If war breaks out again, will ordinary people still be able to live?"
Wang Shu said bluntly: "Your Majesty, at least 80% of our army, horses and food are in the hands of those wealthy families. In my opinion, if they were asked to hand over all these things, let alone the Mahayana Treasure Kingdom, even if there was another Black Witch Kingdom, our Great Sun Dynasty would be able to support it!"
"Okay, stop arguing!" Xiang Yun said angrily, "I understand. Everyone, please leave. We will discuss all matters in the morning court tomorrow!"
Zhu Qiyu and Wang Shu then gave up and prepared to leave the imperial study with Liu Yiyi.
"Prime Minister, please stay!"
Liu Yiyi, who was originally planning to retreat, trembled when she heard this, and felt secretly excited in her heart.
Afterwards, Xiang Yun waved Xiao Guazi away and closed the door of the imperial study, leaving only Xiang Yun and Liu Yiyi.
Xiang Yun then let out a long sigh, rubbed his brows, and whispered, "Come here and rub my head for me."
Liu Yiyi agreed and hurried forward. While enjoying the massage, Xiang Yun asked, "As the Prime Minister, what do you think of this matter?"
Liu Yiyi chuckled and said without any hesitation: "Your Majesty has the military power in your hands, so you don't have to think too much. If a war really breaks out, it will be difficult for the Great Sun Dynasty to lose. After all, those talented and wealthy families don't want the Great Sun Dynasty to be destroyed. So whether to fight or not, I believe Your Majesty has already made up his mind."
Xiang Yun smiled with relief and said, "You are still the most sensible one."
That’s right, Xiang Yun had already made a decision in his mind long before he received the news that the Mahayana Kingdom was preparing to go to war.
We have to fight, of course we have to fight.
Escaping will not solve any problem. Unless you surrender to the Mahayana Kingdom, no one will want to miss the big cake of the Great Sun Dynasty.
Since the result is already determined, there is no need to hesitate.
However, how to fight this battle and how to win it requires careful planning.
“Guns and cannons!
No, these two things must be made before the war starts!"
Xiang Yun made up his mind that since these craftsmen didn't have the ability, he would do it himself!
I just don't believe it. I know the principle, but I still can't figure out this crappy thing. It's not some high-tech thing.
Thinking of this, Xiang Yun immediately went to the place where Peng Ying manufactured and researched guns and ammunition.
It is located five kilometers northwest of the capital, in a valley on a mountain.
Xiang Yun built an arsenal specifically for Pengying. There are special people guarding the area around this place. The Xuanjia Army is stationed there and under martial law, and strangers are not allowed to approach within a one-kilometer radius.
There are dedicated people responsible for the entry and exit of personnel and the transportation of materials. Such strict arrangements were made by Xiang Yun in order to prevent the information of guns and ammunition from being leaked.
Because this kind of thing is too epoch-making, Xiang Yun absolutely cannot accept guns and cannons being obtained by others.
As soon as he entered the arsenal, Xiang Yun saw discarded cannon barrels and gun barrels all over the floor.
Each one was twisted and out of shape, and most of them were pitch black with cracks all over them. It was obvious at a glance that these cannon barrels and gun barrels were blown open by gunpowder.
Xiang Yun's face darkened when he saw this scene, and he shouted loudly: "Where is the man from Pengying? Tell him to come out and see me!"
Not long after, Peng Ying, who was covered in dirt and shirtless, ran out in a hurry. He immediately knelt down and saluted, saying, "Uh~ I pay my respects to the emperor. Long live the emperor!"
Xiang Yun pointed at the abandoned gun barrels and said angrily: "Give me an explanation, why it has taken so long and you haven't made it yet!"
“This…this…” Peng Ying mumbled for a long time without saying anything, his face turning as red as a pig’s liver.
Xiang Yun became even angrier and cursed: "I'm asking you a question! Every time I ask you, you say it takes time. Now it's been three months. Tell me, how long will it take!"
Peng Ying was so frightened that he kowtowed immediately and said with difficulty: "Your Majesty, I am an incompetent commoner and will never be able to create the two magical objects that Your Majesty mentioned!"
Xiang Yun frowned when he heard this, and immediately pulled out the golden knife from Xuanyuan Dabing beside him, put it on Peng Ying's neck, and said in a cold voice: "Say it again?"
Peng Ying slowly raised his head and cried out in pain: "Even if Your Majesty chopped off my head today, I still can't do it!"
"I...!" Xiang Yun was so angry that he pretended to chop him. Peng Ying seemed to have accepted his fate and closed his eyes tightly.
But the golden knife did not fall for a long time. Xiang Yun suddenly took a long breath, threw the golden knife to Xuanyuan Dabing, and asked in a deep voice: "Tell me in detail, what is the reason? You clearly know the principles of the two things, how could you not make them?"
Peng Ying made a bitter face as he ran to the abandoned gun barrels and cannon barrels and picked up a broken gun barrel.
Peng Ying handed it up and explained, "Your Majesty, I originally thought so, but when I made it according to the blueprint and tested it, it turned out like this."
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