Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 644 is indescribable.
In the past, battle reports would describe in detail how many troops both sides deployed and what new tactics they employed, whether it was due to favorable timing, terrain, or popular support. In short, they would have a general idea of ​​what happened.

But these days, the battle reports, apart from the sounds of banging and booming, don't seem to reveal any underlying principles.

In terms of timing, the defending side was a northern army, skilled in fighting in cold weather, while the attacking side consisted entirely of southern soldiers, whose adaptability to cold weather was obviously not as high as that of the northern army.

In terms of terrain, the defenders held the river pass tightly, which was high and had a good view. As the saying goes, "high ground beats low ground," so they had a significant geographical advantage.

In terms of people, Li Mi's governance in the area was actually quite good. Compared to other warlords, Li Mi was already a very benevolent type. The people did not hate him. On the contrary, they were quite afraid of Tian Wei's army, after all, several groups of separatist warlords had been fighting under the banner of Tian Wei.

The three companies with the innate advantage were not superior. In terms of generals, soldiers and equipment, the two sides were at least similar on the surface. However, Li Mi's camp was obviously more prestigious and had a better reputation than the new army's Shenji Battalion. The Gao brothers were also capable of fighting the grassland barbarians in the cavalry field.

However, even with such a near-equal situation and the advantage of favorable timing, location, and popular support, Li Mi's troops, while on the defensive, were routed by the New Army.

To say he acted is not accurate. What actor would send their best team to act with someone else, especially when they were ultimately disqualified?

In other words, the new army completely crushed Li Mi's army this time, but how they did so is unknown. To this day, no detailed battle report has been presented to any of the various factions.

So Gao Shilian came over in person to inquire.

Li Mi and Gao Shilian were cousins, and they had a good personal relationship. The Gao brothers who died were the nephews and nieces of Gao Shilian's cousin.

The deaths of soldiers in battle are not necessarily a sign of hatred, but Gao Shilian was obviously very curious about what kind of sorcery Xia Lin possessed that could wipe out the best light cavalry in the Central Plains in such a short time.

However, seeing it today has truly broadened my horizons. Although I don't understand the principle behind it, judging from the effects that Gao Shilian experienced after handling the real thing, the cavalry clearly no longer has a significant advantage.

Its range is longer than that of a bow and crossbow, its power is greater than that of a bow and crossbow, its rate of fire is faster than that of a bow and crossbow, and its operation is more convenient than that of a bow and crossbow. Even its maintenance is simpler than that of a bow and crossbow. An old man who is nearly seventy years old can easily perform the operation of a seasoned archer without any practice.

Previously, Gao Shilian often heard Xia Lin talk about technological crushing, and he used to scoff at it. But now that he has truly witnessed it all, he realizes that the emphasis of this technological crushing is not on technology, but on crushing.

"Lord Xia, may I ask what the cost of this thing is?"

"The cost is still quite high. The cost of one of these is roughly equivalent to twenty-eight high-quality steel crossbows."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he was singing praises to the old era, but rather that he was, after all, a person of the old era, and seeing it being driven out like this, he couldn't help but feel a little reluctant.

After all, people like him, from the old era, will eventually have to leave the stage of history. He played the leading role his whole life, and overnight he was nothing. It would be a lie to say he wasn't a little disappointed.

"However, the larger the batch, the cheaper it is. And how should I put it, once a production line is set up, it can be mass-produced at any time. The only problem right now is that bullets cannot be mass-produced and can only be die-cast one by one by hand."

"It's so expensive, do soldiers all need to be equipped with it?"

"Minister Gao, let's do the math. This thing will eliminate not cavalry, but armor. Because cavalry can also use it."

Gao Shilian suddenly looked up, his brows relaxed, and his mind cleared.

The two brilliant minds in the world said nothing, but exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.

Yes, cavalry can also wield it, and if thousands of light cavalry were armed with such...firearms, wouldn't they be a whirlwind of destruction on the battlefield?

It turns out that it wasn't the era of cavalry that was over, but rather the era of armored soldiers. This actually gave Gao Shilian some comfort, since the old era had left some remnants for them, the old folks.

Gao Shilian left satisfied. Xia Lin stood at the small ferry crossing, watching his small boat slowly disappear into the evening mist, and felt a bit sentimental.

When I first met Gao Shilian, he was a figure representing the pinnacle of the previous era. At fifty years old, he was full of vigor and self-satisfaction.

However, Gao Shilian at this moment is just a withered old man, facing things he has never seen before with a bit of caution.

Although it's not entirely accurate, Gao Shilian was like the patriarch of a large family in the late Qing Dynasty. Although he still had full confidence in his Qing Dynasty, he was filled with anger and fear, and perhaps even a little relief, when he saw his descendants cutting off their queues one by one and starting to challenge his absolute authority.

Under the great wheels of time, even a powerful prime minister, who held immense influence in the court, was as humble as a child abandoned by his parents.

Not long after Gao Shilian left, Old Zhang returned, carrying the food he had brought for Xia Lin that evening.

"What did he talk about with our Prime Minister? He could spend the whole afternoon here."

"Let him see what a 56-and-a-half has to do."

"Damn it..." Old Zhang cursed under his breath, "Aren't you bullying an old man?"

"It's not really bullying, he should experience the tide of the times."

Old Zhang laid the food on the table: "Oh, and by the way, help me write a letter of introduction to the medical school." "Why? What's wrong with you?"

“It wasn’t me, it was Wu Ning.” Old Zhang picked up his rice wine and drank it all in one gulp. “Ah… it’s a long story. We talked about the baby this afternoon, but there’s something I haven’t told you. Several times Wu Ning seemed to be pregnant. She didn’t have her period, felt nauseous, vomited, and her belly was swollen. She even said she could feel the baby moving, but in the end she just couldn’t give birth.”

Xia Lin scratched his head: "Isn't this a false pregnancy? I always thought only dogs did that."

"So I need to ask the Medicine King to check if she is a fox reincarnated."

"You have such a sharp tongue..." Xia Lin laughed and shook his head, "Alright, I'll send you a letter."

"Keep it a secret, or people will laugh me to death."

"Don't worry, even if you don't trust me, don't you trust the Medicine King's character?"

The two started eating as they talked, when Old Zhang suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "By the way, did you know that a strange thing happened in this year's imperial examination?"

"What the hell do I know? I've been fishing here for ages, and the results of the autumn examinations are out?"

"Yes, it's out. The Ministry of Rites is conducting the palace examination on behalf of the Emperor. This year, a remarkable person emerged, achieving second place in the civil service examination and first place in the military examination."

"Oh? There are such magical creatures?"

“You know him too?” Old Zhang said with a smile. “He’s the little apprentice you taught in Changsha, the young master of the Lin family. He’s changed his name to Lin Weizhi and claims to be your student. Then, on the day the results were announced, he was arrested by the Investigation Department and is being investigated.”

Xia Lin was stunned: "Is he crazy? Claiming to be my disciple at a time like this?"

“That’s what I said too. I even told him not to admit to having a relationship with you, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s stubborn. I had no choice but to report it to the Dali Temple. You know Anzi, he’ll investigate whenever he wants. Fame and fortune are one thing, investigation is another.”

"That idiot..."

“He’s a man of principle. He even came to me yesterday and asked if I could bring him to meet you.”

Xia Lin remained silent, while Old Zhang continued, "He also said that you yourself said that the day you would meet would be when he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, and that he came as promised."

"I'll see him," Xia Lin said with a smile. "Bring him here tomorrow."

"Sure." Old Zhang raised his glass. "Want to know how many people Anzi has investigated this time?"

"How many?"

"According to the latest data today, 17,572 officials of the seventh rank or above have been dismissed and investigated. This accounts for 30% of all officials in the Great Wei. Everyone in the court is in danger, and all levels of power are trying to bring down An Zi. All the pressure is on Ma Zhou. I'm afraid Ma Zhou can't hold on any longer. In less than five days, the Great Wei will come to a standstill, and that will be the time when An Zi is convicted."

Xia Lin lowered her eyelids: "Wouldn't Ma Zhou be going down then too?"

“Yes, Ma Zhou will be dismissed and exiled for his poor handling of An Zi’s matter. At that time, I will begin to organize scholars and common people to launch a national protection movement.” Old Zhang slowly raised his eyes and looked at Xia Lin: “Do you think it can succeed?”

"I don't know," Xia Lin shook his head and said, "but the seeds of struggle must be sown. Do you think they will suppress it?"

"Yes." Old Zhang squinted. "I've already received the news; they've been secretly preparing for a while now. Be prepared for bloodshed."

"Let's do it." Xia Lin slammed his hand on the table. "On the day of victory, we'll erect a monument to them and write their biographies."

"Do you think it can succeed?" Old Zhang asked again.

However, Xia Lin shook her head and repeated, "I don't know. Are you scared? If you're scared now, you can quit. I understand and won't blame you."

"I'm not afraid. What do I have to be afraid of? We were just a bunch of down-and-out people who scavenged for scraps behind the restaurant. Now we have a chance to go down in history. Even if we fail, we can just consider these years as the last fantasy of us freezing to death in front of our dilapidated house in Luoyang."

"Joy of Life?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Old Zhang raised his glass: "Come on, brother. Wish me luck. If I succeed... no, even if I can make them back three feet, my life will have been worthwhile."

Xia Lin raised his glass and clinked it against Lao Zhang's: "If we really lose, we'll secretly go to Chang'an and continue to scavenge for scraps."

"No, Chang'an won't do. I can't get used to the swill there; it doesn't suit my taste. I'd better go back to Luoyang. I know a place where there's plenty of swill."

(End of this chapter)