Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 524 Recruitment
Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "Now we only have the two captured Qingzhou bandit leaders, [Ironback Wolf] Cui Hao and [Hairy Star] Kong Ming. I'm afraid they won't be able to exchange for much gold and silver."

"Otherwise, if it were normal times, it naturally wouldn't be exchanged for much gold and silver. Right now, Yidu City is in need of soldiers and generals, so Song Jiang must be willing to exchange at this time. Firstly, it can show that Song Jiang values ​​righteousness over money, which can also win people's hearts. Secondly, in the future, when recruiting, Song Jiang will need the help of brave generals like Cui Hao." Liu Hui Niang said.

"As for Dengzhou, we can also send a message to Master Wu to capture [Iron Fan] Song Qing, [No Shame] Mu Hong, and [Little Shame] Mu Chun alive to increase our bargaining chips."

Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly after hearing this. "If we can capture alive the four people in Linzi and Qiancheng, namely, [Golden Scaled Python] Ma Yuan, [Fierce and Great Lang] Helian Jinming, [Hungry Big Bug] Yao Shun, and [Sima Shi] Wanqi Chun, it will be more advantageous for the trade. Wanqi Chun is a brother of Wanqi Rong who defected to Gao Qiu. Song Jiang dare not not save him."

Zhao Zhen wrote an official document and sent it to different places.

Kong Ming, the Mao Tou Xing who was imprisoned in Weizhou, was also sent to the city of Yidu.

I won't talk about how each place acted after receiving Zhao Zhen's order. Zhao Zhen looked at the Yidu City, which had been bombarded for days but had not broken the city wall, and said to Liu Hui Niang: "Hui Niang, what do you think Song Jiang feels now?"

Liu Hui Niang covered her mouth and laughed, "Sir, I am not a worm in Song Jiang's stomach, how would I know. It doesn't matter what Song Jiang thinks, now the most important thing for you is to integrate these groups of people in the camp."

Zhao Zhen nodded and asked, "After these days of contact, I found that these people are what Liangshan needs. The only thing is how to convince them?"

"Sir, I have little contact with others, so it's hard to say. But this Gao Gang, there is a nine out of ten chance that he can change his allegiance to you." Liu Hui Niang said with a smile.

Seeing Zhao Zhen looking at her with burning eyes, Liu Hui Niang continued, "Sir, Gao Ang and General Ling Zhen are old acquaintances. During the attack on Yidu, he was shown all kinds of artillery in the camp. Ever since he saw all kinds of artillery, he has been determined to get his hands on it. General Ling Zhen once asked me about it, but I declined. Sir, you can let Brother Ling Zhen use this as a test, and he will definitely be willing."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly.

The Firearm Battalion has three divisions: [Bird Gun Division], [Cannon Division], and [Flying Thunder Division], with a total of 2500 people, forming an independent army. In terms of weapon configuration, the troops are not sufficient. For example, if a hundred Flying Thunders are built now, it will take 2500 people to use them all.

Not to mention the three invincible general cannons, ten Portuguese cannons, thirty mountain-splitting cannons, ten Weiyuan general cannons, five sub-munitions cannons, and more than a thousand bird guns and three-eyed guns that were captured at the time, which also needed people to operate.

Ling Zhen worked with the Artisan Supervisor to copy five new mountain-splitting cannons and one Weiyuan General cannon. He also cast more than a hundred bird guns and three-eye guns, and the rest of the cannons were also copied gradually. The fireworks, medicine, lead bullets and other things that troubled the Firearms Battalion had also been solved. If Gao Qiang could be persuaded to surrender, the Firearms Battalion could be put to better use.

At that moment, Zhao Zhen sent someone to invite Ling Zhen, who was firing cannons in front, to come over. After greeting him, Ling Zhen asked, "Sir, why did you call me here?"

Zhao Zhen was not in a hurry to ask Gao Gao about his affairs, and asked first: "Brother, how is the situation ahead?"

Ling Zhen replied: "According to my husband's instructions, the firing of artillery has been slowed down. However, except for the mighty and invincible general cannon, there is almost no damage to the city wall."

"It doesn't matter. We never intended to attack Yidu right away. But there is one more thing I want to hear your opinion on," said Zhao Zhen.

"It's okay to ask, sir."

"Brother, is it possible to recruit this Gao Qiang?" Zhao Zhen asked.

Ling Zhen heard this and said, "Sir, this guy is just like me. In the past, he used wind and fire cannons, golden wheel cannons, mother-and-child cannons, car box cannons, and sky-blasting cannons. They are just similar to catapults, but instead of stones, they use gunpowder. He has been envious of the various cannons I use now. After the withdrawal tonight, I will have a chat with him. I am not afraid that he will not come."

Zhao Zhen was delighted when he heard this and said, "That's great. Brother, just go and tell him that he wants to surrender. The Firearms Battalion has a lot of equipment and needs someone like him to lead it."

After sending Ling Zhen away, Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "Hui Niang, Ling Zhen also said so. It seems that we can convince Gao Gao with great confidence." Liu Hui Niang asked, "Sir, can Xu He of Yanzhou surrender to Peng Qi?"

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Liu Tong and Li San have gone to Yingzhou to fetch Peng Qi's family."

Liu Hui Niang said, "If that's the case, why don't you ask Peng Qi to talk to Hu Yanzhuo and Han Tao? The three of them are close friends, and now the court has issued an edict to reprimand them. Their future is uncertain, so isn't that a good opportunity?"

Zhao Zhen listened and said with a smile: "Hui Niang is indeed worthy of being called the [Female Zhuge], and Peng Qi is indeed the best person. If Hu Yanzhuo and Han Tao can be persuaded, Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo will surely be able to join us. The remaining three people, Zhang Qing, Gong Wang, and Ding Desun, cannot support the army on their own. If these three forces are integrated, there will be no rivals in the two routes of Jingdong."

After laughing, Zhao Zhen sent someone to Sishui to fetch Peng Qi.

Zhao Zhen and Liu Huiniang climbed up the flying tower again and again, and looked around the Yidu city wall. Seeing that the top of the city was well defended, Liu Huiniang sighed: "Everyone says that Song Jiang is just a minor official in Yuncheng, but he is very good at defending this city. Mortar shells such as the Mountain Splitting Cannon and the Weiyuan General Cannon could kill soldiers on the top of the city two days ago, but now that the cowhide shields are hung on the top of the city, the mortars are useless."

As he was talking, he heard a series of "bang bang bang" noises from below the city. It was the firing of the submachine guns and Portuguese cannons. Half of the projectiles flew over the top of the city wall and shot into the city, while the other half hit the top of the city wall.

The bullets hit the cowhide shields, most of them tore the cowhide, and a few knocked down the entire cowhide shield.

The Qingzhou bandits on the city walls saw this and quickly dealt with them under the command of several leaders. There were not many casualties on the city walls. Instead, the subsequent firing of the wind and fire cannons caused a flurry of activity on the city walls.

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "That won't do. Although we are not in a hurry to capture the city, we can't let the Qingzhou thieves have it too easy."

Liu Hui Niang said, "Don't worry, sir. We have already thought of a countermeasure. We have only paralyzed him these past few days. Tomorrow we will have the archers fire a round of rockets to burn the cowhide fence, and then release the mortars. By then, there will be many casualties on the top of the city."

As it was getting dark, the cavalry that had been patrolling the city of Yidu returned to camp, and the artillery battalion also packed up their artillery equipment and returned to the central army camp.

Ling Zhen invited Gao Gao to his tent to drink, and Gao Gao happily went.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Ling Zhen said, "Deacon Gao, these past few days, you have been pestering me to release these cannons myself. It's not that I'm stingy, but these cannons are treasures that my husband got from somewhere else, and they will not be used easily. They were taken out only to encircle and suppress Song Jiang. You have seen their power, and if you really want to release them yourself, there is a way, but I'm afraid you won't be willing."

Gao Gao heard this and asked hurriedly, "Brother, please tell me, how can you let me fire such a cannon with my own hands?"

Ling Zhen said: "Brother, you are now the steward of the Artillery Bureau. My husband will definitely not reveal these artillery, unless you also join my husband like a brother. In this case, I will let you release these artillery."

Gao Gao said: "My husband was also appointed by the court. Why do I have to rely on him?"

"Brother, you should know that although the lord is conferred by the court, he is the governor. He obeys orders but not announcements. To put it bluntly, we only recognize the lord, not the official."

After hearing this, Gao Gao couldn't help but ask, "Is my husband going to rebel?" As he said this, he was also surprised.

Ling Zhen laughed and said, "Brother, you worry too much. Since ancient times, it is not uncommon to hide good bows when the birds are gone. It's just that you are preparing for a rainy day. After all, most of your subordinates are outlaws, and there are also many wanted criminals. Not to mention that there are many evil people in the court who are blinded by evil and see you as a thorn in their eyes. Therefore, you must have some means to deal with it."

Gao Gao said, "Hey, brother, you are right. In the current dynasty... Forget it, I won't say more. It is useless for us to say more. I have always been interested in firearms. If you don't mind me, I will join you. Please introduce me to the emperor."

(End of this chapter)