Water Margin official

Bian Xiang said: "Master, this dry village is all flat, and some of them cannot be used. I want to take the brothers down the mountain to practice."

Zhang Zhengdao did not object, but asked: "Brother Bian Xiang, where do you plan to train your troops?"

Bian Xiang had obviously explored the terrain of the mountains and rivers around Liangshan Mountain, and replied: "On the south bank of the Wei River in Puzhou, there is a Jielin Mountain, which stretches for more than a hundred miles. The cliffs are so steep that if you ride a fast horse, you can reach it in half a day."

Wen Huanzhang said: "Jielin Mountain is not far from Yuncheng County."

Zhang Zhengdao thought for a while and said: "That's fine. Living in a pool of water does restrict the cavalry's training."

Bian Xiang smiled and said: "My little brother will pull the horse to Jielin Mountain tomorrow and catch some game for the brothers on the mountain."

Zhang Zhengdao also smiled and said: "That's a blessing."

Fang Xuedu suddenly took the initiative and asked Ying: "After I went up the mountain, I didn't have any great achievements. I want to go down the mountain with brother Bian Xiang's flying cavalry army and learn some cavalry drill methods."

Zhang Zhengdao nodded and asked, "Brother Bian Xiang, what do you think?"

Bian Xiang hurriedly said: "With the military advisor following us, the flying cavalry army will definitely be even more powerful."

Zhang Zhengdao warned: "If you encounter a large group of officers and soldiers, you can temporarily avoid the sharp edge and be invincible."

Bian Xiang laughed loudly and said: "The village leader has a high regard for these bird boys who only know how to bully the people. If they encounter our Liangshan Flying Cavalry Army, I am afraid that they will be scared to death before they even get close."

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Fang Xuedu also smiled and said: "The leader of the village does not need to worry too much. Even though Tian Hu has been occupying the state capital in Weisheng Prefecture for a long time, no officers and soldiers have been able to wipe him out."

Zhang Zhengdao was stunned when he heard this. He thought of the official army of the Song Dynasty at this time. In addition to the Western Army, the Forbidden Army and the Xiang Army in various places were pitifully weak. The Liangshan Five Hundred Flying Cavalry Army did not dare to boast that they could defeat the Liao people, but they bullied

It's more than enough to bully these weaklings, not to mention the invincible Bian Xiang.

"It's true that I worry too much." Zhang Zhengdao said with a smile: "If you encounter villages and towns along the way, don't send troops to attack and harass them. This will ruin the reputation of Liangshan."

Bian Xiang patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, owner of the village, I know the rules of the village."

After a brief chat, Zhang Zhengdao took Wen Huanzhang to Ruan Xiaoqi's Southwest Water Village, while Fang Xuedu stayed behind and continued to discuss with Bian Xiang the method of horse army training.

Ruan Xiaoer took the Pinghai Navy under his command and went to sea for training, but he has not returned yet.

Now in the stronghold, only Ruan Xiaoqi's Wave-riding Marine Corps is present, with a thousand sailors under his command and thirty to fifty ships of various sizes, and they are also practicing day and night.

When we arrived at the water village, there were only about 300 water soldiers guarding it. Ruan Xiaoqi and the Talang water army patrolled the 800-mile water bank and have not returned yet.

Wen Huanzhang said: "Master of the village, why don't you go and see the two armies attacking Shanshan and Hanshan?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded and said: "That's fine."

The two left the water village, passed three more passes, and came to the Xishan Dry Village.

The two infantry armies of Gongshan and Hanshan are all stationed here, and the rows of barracks are all empty at the moment.

The Hanshan Army, led by Wen Zhongrong and Cui Ye, followed Ruan Xiaoer's Pinghai Army to go to sea for training.

Today, there are only two thousand attacking troops practicing martial arts in the mountain stronghold.

Ling Guang was wearing armor, carrying a wind-splitting knife, and Suo Xian, who was also wearing armor, was waving flags and rehearsing battle formations...

Jin Ding and Fu Xiang, who had just surrendered to the mountain and accepted their orders as deputy commanders of the attacking army, were practicing together with the soldiers.

Seeing Zhang Zhengdao and Wen Huanzhang entering Hanzhai, Ling Guang quickly handed the flag in his hand to Suo Xian and ran over to greet them.

Zhang Zhengdao glanced at the two thousand attacking troops and saw that the troops were neat and tidy, giving them the aura of a strong army.

"The village master's running and standing methods are quite effective. In a short period of time, he has been able to execute orders and prohibitions." Ling Guang said loudly.

Zhang Zhengdao said with appreciation: "Good practice!"

Ling Guang said humbly: "I don't deserve the praise from the leader of the village. I have been practicing for so long, but I have never fought a single battle, and I still can't show anything!"

Wen Huanzhang smiled and said: "After the beginning of spring, there will be two tough battles to be fought, and they will all be directed at your battalion of mountain attackers."

Ling Guang shouted: "We must call the Jeju officers and soldiers. They will never come back."

Zhang Zhengdao smiled lightly and said: "Destroying the Song Dynasty official army is just the beginning. There will be tough battles to be fought in the future."

Speaking of this, Zhang Zhengdao suddenly remembered a sharp weapon for attacking the city, and asked Wen Huanzhang: "Military advisor, are there saltpeter, sulfur and other substances in the stronghold?"

Wen Huanzhang asked: "Does the village leader want to refine gunpowder?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded and said: "This is a sharp weapon for attacking and defending the city."

Wen Huanzhang has lived outside Bianliang City for a long time, so he naturally knows that the Forbidden Army has been equipped with a certain number of powerful firearms, such as "Thunderbolt Cannon", "Thunderbolt", etc. Once set off, the mountains and the earth will shake.

"There should be some inventory in the cottage. Please ask Leader Wang Lun for details!" Wen Huanzhang replied.

Zhang Zhengdao muttered something: "One nitrate, two sulfur and three charcoal, one pound of soil saltpeter, two ounces of sulfur, and three ounces of charcoal, taken together, are black gunpowder."

Having said this, he couldn't stay any longer, so he dragged Wen Huanzhang away and went to look for Wang Lun.

Ling Guang was confused when he saw the leader of the village leaving in a hurry, but he immediately ignored it and continued to devote himself to the great cause of military training.

Zhang Zhengdao found Wang Lun in the residential area of ​​Houshan and extinguished the fire in his heart with just one sentence.

"Master, there is sulfur and charcoal in the village, but there is no saltpeter." Wang Lun replied truthfully.

Zhang Zhengdao frowned and asked: "Not at all?"

Wang Lun shook his head and said: "No!"

Zhang Zhengdao was full of passion, but his heart was completely chilled.

"Send people down the mountain to buy saltpeter, buy as much as you can." Zhang Zhengdao said immediately.

Wang Lundao: "Xiao Ke will send someone down the mountain to buy it now."

Zhang Zhengdao ordered: "There are also sulfur and charcoal, buy some."

Wang Lun nodded in agreement.

Zhang Zhengdao recalled the process of making saltpeter using local methods in his mind. He only vaguely remembered the method of making saltpeter from plant ash, but he forgot all the details.

"By the way, let's ask in the village if there are any craftsmen who have made firecrackers or Taoists who know how to make alchemy?" Zhang Zhengdao had to take a multi-pronged approach to discover such talents.

Wang Lun wrote them down one by one.

Wen Huanzhang said: "I once heard someone say that there are some gunners in Tokyo's Jiazhanku who are good at making artillery."

Zhang Zhengdao sighed and said: "If only one person can vote, he will be better than thousands of troops."

Although there were firearms in the Song Dynasty, they did not pay much attention to them. The gunners in Jiazhangku also set off cannons during various grand ceremonies and festivals.

Pulling himself together, Zhang Zhengdao said: "Let's get out the gunpowder first and see if we can make some thunder."

When Wang Lun saw that the village leader attached great importance to this matter, he immediately arranged for manpower to go down the mountain to purchase saltpeter, sulfur and other materials.

After arranging this matter, Zhang Zhengdao and Wen Huanzhang returned to Juyi Hall.

After the subordinates brought hot water, Zhang Zhengdao took a sip of water to moisten his throat, and then asked: "Military advisor, Shi Wengong, are you still unwilling to surrender?"