Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The generals were silent.

Fang Zheng's speech was impassioned, but after being translated, much of the emotion was lost.

Besides, they were generals who led troops into battle and were used to pre-battle mobilization.

They wouldn't be easily swayed by a few simple words.

However, Fang Zheng's words were reasonable, and they couldn't find any faults.

Whether the six major dioceses were truly controlled by traitors of Da Jing was still a question in their minds.

But the doubt wasn't significant, especially among this group, as the Kingdom of Xilu, originally the largest force maintaining the Holy City, was the strongest nation.

Among them, Mord was the most prestigious.

Even he nodded in agreement that the Divine Punishment weapons originated from Da Jing, so there shouldn't be any problem.

On the other hand, whether Da Jing came to quell the rebellion or not wasn't too important.

What was important was... whether the Old Church's forces could be wiped out.

With the Old Church's forces outside the six major dioceses cleared, the new Pope clearly didn't have great ambitions, and Da Jing only wanted to do business.

The benefits that the Old Church had spat out were already divided among the upper-class nobles of their countries.

Once the old forces successfully made a comeback, the benefits they had swallowed would have to be returned sooner or later.

Whether it was the New Church or Da Jing... they were at least a hundred times better than the original Church!

Everyone was happy to see the Old Church's forces completely eliminated, forming a new stable situation.

This was also the consensus reached with the upper echelons of their respective countries before the generals came.

Fang Zheng observed for a long time, and seeing that no one had any objections, he asked, "If anyone has any questions, please feel free to speak up."

"Regarding Da Jing's reasons for starting the war, I have no more questions, but I have two more questions to ask Your Majesty," General Mord stood up and said.

"May I ask Your Majesty, when will Da Jing's army set out? What is the route of advance?"

Hearing him ask this, the other generals immediately whispered to each other.

This was too blunt!

Just because the people of Da Jing were honest, you couldn't ask so directly, right?

Even if they invited you to observe the battle, you couldn't directly ask about military secrets, could you?

Fang Zheng looked at Li Yuanzhao.

Li Yuanzhao nodded, then stood up and said, "Good question, I am willing to be frank with you all about this matter."

"In seven days, Da Jing's army will be ready to advance towards the six major dioceses. As for the route of advance..."

Li Yuanzhao stood up and walked to the map.

Fang Zheng immediately called for someone to bring pen and ink.

Li Yuanzhao held the pen and pointed at the map with the end of the pen, saying, "This is the Holy City, and this is Sangjak.

Whether the rebel prince of Da Jing will appear on the front lines is still unknown, so Da Jing's army will directly take Sangjak this time."

With that, he took the pen and drew a long straight line on the map, from the Holy City through the six major dioceses to the end at Sangjak.

The slight discussion in the hall came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion as they looked at the map.

He drew a straight line... this was the route of advance, so crude?

Mord froze in place, stammering, "May I ask Your Majesty, what does this line mean?"

Li Yuanzhao's mouth twisted, and he was about to show off!

Fang Zheng preemptively said, "It's quite simple!

Our Majesty is also a mathematician, and the meaning of this line is... the shortest distance between two points is a straight line."

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line... Mord understood this sentence.

But what does this have to do with the tactics and strategies of war?

"Can Marquis Jianye explain further?"

Fang Zheng easily said, "Simply put, it means going in a straight line.

Although the customs and culture of the West are good, His Majesty is a nostalgic person and is anxious to go home for dinner."

"On the way, it's just killing gods when encountering gods, and killing Buddhas when encountering Buddhas, and finally pacifying the rebellion and going home."

"Of course, it's impossible to go completely in a straight line.

Our army will only choose the most direct and convenient route to advance, that's what it means."

Li Yuanzhao crossed his arms and nodded deeply.

That's exactly what it meant.

Absurd!

A great sense of absurdity filled everyone's hearts.

Especially Mord.

The impression of this emperor and this Marquis Jianye was very good when they first met, but now the style of painting suddenly changed when they talked about the war.

The style of these two people suddenly became sloppy.

It felt like they weren't here to fight a war, their attitude was as relaxed as if they were on a picnic.

Could such an emperor... win a battle?

Pride comes before a fall!

Were the people of Da Jing too rich, and had they forgotten how to fight wars after living in comfort for too long?

However, in an instant, Mord denied his own idea.

The Emperor of Da Jing had just met a group of outsiders, and it was absolutely impossible to reveal the specific tactical arrangements.

Since the other party was unwilling to answer, they were just saying it casually... it should be like this.

Since the other party was so perfunctory, Mord didn't want to ask any further and could only deal with it casually.

Instead, he asked, "I have one more thing I want to ask Your Majesty, I wonder if Da Jing's Divine Punishment weapons can be sold to our country?"

Li Yuanzhao instinctively wanted to refuse, but Fang Zheng took over the conversation and said, "Yes, of course, as long as the price is right, Da Jing can sell anything."

"Really?" Everyone's eyes lit up.

Speaking of Divine Punishment weapons, they had become well-known after so many years of dissemination.

Although their mobility was insufficient, they were extremely powerful for defending cities.

There was no better city defense weapon than this.

They didn't expect the people of Da Jing to agree so easily.

This was definitely an unexpected gain!

Li Yuanzhao tugged at Fang Zheng's sleeve and whispered, "Lao Fang, that is a national treasure, how can we easily sell it to them?"

"Your Majesty, our weapons will definitely be eliminated in the future.

The existing flintlock guns, short guns, and old-fashioned cannons equipped in the army were all produced at great expense, and they are about to be eliminated without being used much.

It is perfect to sell them to them," Fang Zheng said in a low voice, "Of course, the newest and best ones are still in our own hands."

"Now that they're here, why not take the opportunity to make a fortune!"

"That's right, that's the logic... it's a waste to keep those junk," Li Yuanzhao agreed.

Having seen the new equipment, he completely looked down on the old garbage.

Fang Zheng turned his gaze back to the crowd and said with a smile, "Speaking of the so-called Divine Punishment weapons, in Da Jing, they are actually called firearms, and there is far more than one type."

"The city defense cannon is the prototype of the Divine Punishment weapon, also known as the Nine Heavens Thunder Protecting the Country General Cannon!

It is expensive to manufacture and contains a large number of precious metals, and needs to be used with Da Jing's special shells.

There are also firearms suitable for single-soldier combat, the heroic weapon Flintlock Qilin, the Da Jing Eagle..."

"It can be said without exaggeration that Da Jing's Jing-style equipment is famous throughout the East.

Countless countries have come because of it, and Da Jing has signed firearms trade agreements with many friendly countries."

"Today, all of you who are here must be willing to conclude a treaty with Da Jing and be friendly countries.

Since General Mord asked, let's go visit the firearms after dinner, and then everyone can take the first step to talk about how to trade, how about that?"

"Good! Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you Marquis Jianye for the hospitality!"

Mord responded excitedly, clenching his fists tightly, his eyes filled with unconcealed fervor.

Jing-style equipment? I'm going to get it!