I studied in modern times

Chapter 913 Shock
September of the second year of Yuanyou (27).

Thirty miles west of Bianjing City is the camp of the First General of the Dragon Guard.

Zhao Xu, dressed in military uniform and carrying the emperor's sword, ascended the general platform surrounded by his ministers and looked down at the military formation on the parade ground, where the troops were well-organized, disciplined and silent.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu couldn't help but nod and praise: "He is really extraordinary in managing the army!"

"Your Majesty is so kind. I dare not take credit for it!" Di Yong bowed immediately.

Zhao Xu took a deep look at the future royal relative and current commander of the Imperial Guards, and said meaningfully: "General Guan, there is no need to be modest!"

"I have always rewarded those who have made contributions!"

Di Yong listened and understood instantly, bowing deeply: "I am grateful to Your Majesty for not abandoning me and promoting me from the ranks to the court. I will repay you with my life!"

Zhao Xu nodded, and then said: "Guan Jun, let's start the martial arts performance!"

"Yes!" Di Yong knelt on one knee: "I will obey your order!"

He stood up and waved to a general beside him.

Flags waved and war drums beat.

Zhao Xu looked at the generals standing around the platform.

These foreign officials and generals came from Xihe.

For the past month, they were kept in the capital by Zhao Xu.

Every day is filled with sugar-coated bullets, luxury cars and beautiful women.

This allowed them to fall into the gentle embrace of the city of Bianjing, and at the same time, gave them enough time and space to socialize with the powerful and build relationships.

At the same time, he also let Jia Zhongmin deceive them into buying a house in the Bian Jing Academy.

This is culture, also called soft power.

However, Zhao Xu knew very well that culture must be supported by military force to be effective.

Soft power without strong military support is not strength but a fat sheep.

This is true throughout history, both in China and abroad.

"Just watch carefully!" Zhao Xu said to the Xihe foreign officials and generals standing beside the general's platform.

"What a sight it is to see my Tiger Guards!"

The foreign officials listened to Zhao Xu's words and bowed in agreement: "Yes!"

So everyone concentrated and looked towards the training ground ahead.

Especially Xiba Wen, Wen Xixin, and Qingyi Jiegui Zhang.

The three of them have now submitted to the Song Dynasty.

In fact, they are already in a semi-subjective state.

However, the economic impact of their surrender was actually very small.

Completely intimidated by force!
Just like last year’s war, if the Song Dynasty showed signs of decline.

Not to mention Qing Yi Jie Gui Zhang, even Xiba Wen and Wen Xixin, the two seemingly "loyal" Tubo leaders, would immediately defect.

How can the little food in the plateau valleys compare to the joy of breaking into the heart of the Central Plains and burning, killing and looting at will?

Therefore, they are also most concerned about force.

Boom boom boom!
As drums beat, the military formation on the parade ground, accompanied by the waving of flags on the podium, a team of a hundred people walked out of the parade ground.

One hundred people, like one whole.

They marched in unison, forming five rows, facing the general platform, and bowed their heads. "The First General of the Imperial Dragon and the First Commander of the Throwing Bombs, we respectfully ask whether the emperor is well!"

"these are?"

The foreign officials and generals who were watching looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion.

Because, every one of the soldiers in front of them was tall, strong and powerful.

At the same time, their military formation was neat and orderly, and their advance and retreat were orderly; the entire formation seemed like a whole.

No matter from which perspective, this should be a strong army!
However, such an army is not wearing iron armor.

But it's light leather armor!
Besides, they did not hold any weapons such as swords, guns, bows or crossbows.

There were just some unknown objects tied around the waist.

Everyone became confused.

"What is the Song Dynasty going to do?" Qing Yijie stared at the army about fifty steps in front of the general's platform. He couldn't understand why the Song Dynasty would display such an army?

"Are they all cavalry?" Many foreign officials and generals murmured in their hearts.

As we all know, the Song Dynasty lacked good horses, so its cavalry were basically light cavalry.

Armored heavy cavalry like the Tangut Iron Harriers did not exist in the army of the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, the cavalry of the Song Dynasty basically wore leather armor.

But what about their horses?

Just as they were puzzled, they heard the childish voice of the Song official on the stage. "No need to be polite, gentlemen!"

"Let's begin the martial arts performance!"

"promise!"

Accompanied by a uniform response from the tall and burly soldiers.

Everyone widened their eyes and looked forward.

He looked at those burly soldiers, who stood up one by one and reorganized themselves.

Then, at the other end of the parade ground, a large number of soldiers appeared.

These people quickly cleared out a space.

It was also at this time that the soldiers at the front, under the command of their officers, began to line up and march towards the cleared space.

As they marched forward in a line, they were muttering to themselves.

"One, two, one...one, two, one..."

When they were about a hundred steps away from the stage, a sharp whistle sounded: "Beep..."

"Stand still! Stop!"

"Check the projectile!" All the soldiers chanted the same words at the same time.

Then they untied the things tied around their waists.

But they are conical jars, all black, maybe they are made of some kind of metal?

Maybe some kind of paint?
It doesn’t look very heavy, maybe only about three or five pounds.

While everyone was puzzled, the soldiers began to speak all kinds of incomprehensible words to each other, just like the meat doctors in the barbecue restaurants in Bianjing City reading out the names of dishes.

"The projectile is intact!"

"Check the fuse!"

"The fuse is intact!"

"Fire can burn!"

"You can throw!"

"The enemy is in the southwest, thirty steps away!"

"First team, get ready!"

Everyone saw that the soldier in the distance took a tinderbox similar to a fire starter and lit something like a rope.

The sunshine today is not very strong.

So, even though they were more than a hundred steps away, people could still see the flames of the burning rope.

"Throw a grenade!"

Accompanied by a roar.

The twenty burly sergeants in the first row made a throwing motion almost at the same time.

It was not until this time that the foreign officials understood why these soldiers had to choose people who were tall and strong with long arm spans.

original……

Should we ask them to throw the things they have in their hands?

But?

What's the point of them throwing these things?

On the battlefield, using a few kilograms of stone to hit people?

Not to mention whether it can hit the target, even if it does, if the opponent is a heavy infantry wearing iron armor, a few kilograms of objects hitting the armor will probably just be treated as a spit.

Moreover……

If you want to throw, why rely on arm strength?

You can use the slingshot!
The herdsmen on the plateau are all masters of slingshots.

You can easily use a slingshot to throw a stone a hundred or even two hundred steps away.

And the power is amazing!

Even an armored enemy is likely to be injured or even killed once hit!
But, the next second, all doubts were resolved.

The cone-shaped objects thrown by the twenty soldiers accurately hit the area about thirty steps ahead after being thrown.

Twenty cans fell to the ground.

Flames burst out and violent explosions sounded like thunder.

All the foreign officials and generals showed expressions of horror.

There were even devout Buddhists who knelt down and kowtowed: "The Bodhisattva has appeared! The Bodhisattva has appeared!"

Apart from ghosts and gods, who else can have such great power?
(End of this chapter)