Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

Chapter 94 said that the Northern King had already escaped, didn't it?

Lu Chen, who was in the Prince's Mansion, had naturally heard about the rumors circulating in Beijun.

It's impossible for the common people not to spread rumors when such a large convoy from the Prince's mansion travels south.

Lu Chen didn't pay too much attention to the rumors; he was already preparing to defend against the barbarians.

a few days later.

In order to get the people in the north of Beijun to cooperate with the scorched earth policy and relocate the population, the Northern King's Palace issued a proclamation, informing the people that the barbarians were about to gather 300,000 cavalry to march south, conquer Beijun, and establish a kingdom there.

The announcement caused a huge uproar in less than half a month.

Not only the people of Beijun knew about this, but the entire Great Xia, and even other countries surrounding Great Xia, knew that the barbarians were about to invade the south.

The people had already heard rumors of the barbarians moving south when the Northern King's entourage headed south. Now that the Northern King's entourage had issued a public notice, it proved that the barbarians were indeed going to move south.

Some common people thought that since even their king had fled, they would only face certain death if they stayed in the North Commandery, so they fled south in droves.

Of course, there are also some people who are unwilling to leave the place where they have lived for generations.

In order to get the people to cooperate with the scorched-earth policy, the Northern Prince's Palace quickly issued another decree that all people who cooperated with the scorched-earth policy would be exempt from agricultural taxes for two years when they returned to their original lands after the war.

Originally, Lu Chen intended to use the policy of exempting agricultural taxes to promote the planting of new crops, but there was no way to do so because some people in the north refused to leave, so he had to bring out the policy ahead of schedule.

If the people still refuse to leave under these circumstances, Lu Chen doesn't plan to interfere anymore.

He is currently busy training the new army and cannot devote all his attention to the scorched earth policy.

early morning.

After getting up, Lu Chen glanced at the icy beauty in his arms.

Just then, Bai Qingqing was also watching him. Bai Qingqing always woke up before him.

Seeing Lu Chen staring at her, Bai Qingqing blushed slightly on her cold and beautiful face, and then turned her head to look to the side.

After Lu Chen's wives and concubines left, Lu Chen would come to her bed every night. Her body and soul belonged completely to Lu Chen, but she still dared not look him in the eye.

Seeing Bai Qingqing's beautiful, shy expression, Lu Chen smiled slightly. After these days of exploration, he had figured out how to use the Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Scripture.

The Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Scripture is used to accelerate one's own cultivation, increase one's speed of absorbing spiritual energy, and also enable the woman to embark on the path of cultivation.

In other words, the Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Scripture is a dual cultivation technique.

Lu Chen plans to bring Mu Zixuan and the others back after the war with the barbarians ends, and then cultivate the Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Scripture with them.

Although the chances of becoming an immortal are slim in this world with scarce spiritual energy, it is still possible to extend their lives or maintain their youthful beauty.

At this moment, Lu Chen got out of bed. He didn't plan to greet Bai Qingqing in the morning; he had important things to do.

After getting up, Lu Chen ate something simple and then rode his horse to the new army camp.

When the people of Yancheng saw Lu Chen riding a horse, they were all shocked and began to discuss it among themselves.

"Didn't they say the Northern King had already escaped?"

"Yes, I saw the princess and her entourage heading south in their carriage."

"Why is the Northern King still in Yancheng?"

"Could this be a stand-in for the Northern King?"

"How could it be a stand-in? I've seen the Northern King several times; this is the Northern King himself."

"It seems that the Northern King only sent his wives and concubines south to seek refuge; he himself did not flee."

"I never expected the Northern King to have such backbone!"

……

Listening to the people's discussions, Lu Chen didn't pay much attention. He specially rode his horse to the new army camp so that the people of Yancheng would know that he had not left Yancheng.

Soon, Lu Chen arrived at the new army camp.

The new army camp was located outside the city. In order to facilitate the testing of artillery, Lu Chen specially ordered that the new army camp be built in a place far away from Yancheng.

After Lu Chen arrived at the new army camp, Mu Changtian and several other important generals immediately came to Lu Chen's front door to greet him, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Lu Chen nodded slightly, then asked, "Have all the new soldiers been recruited?"

Mu Changtian replied, "Your Highness, we have recruited them all; there are exactly ten thousand men."

No sooner had Mu Changtian finished speaking than Li Feng interjected, "Your Highness, I heard that the imperial court has issued an order to expand the army in Beijun. Now Beijun can have a maximum of 150,000 soldiers. Why don't we take this opportunity to recruit more soldiers?"

After they reported the situation of the barbarians moving south to the imperial court, the court immediately issued an order to the Northern King's Mansion to expand the army. However, so much time has passed, but Lu Chen has not continued to recruit soldiers, and he does not seem to have any intention of continuing to recruit soldiers, which makes Li Feng and the others feel somewhat puzzled.

Getting the imperial court to issue an order to expand the army is not an easy thing. Everyone knows that the Xia emperor has been weakening the power of the vassal kings. It is already quite good that the Beijun region can have an army of 100,000.

If it weren't for the turbulent situation within the Great Xia territory, which prevented the easy mobilization of a large army, the Xia Emperor would not have agreed to issue an order to expand the army in the Northern Commandery.

This military expansion order presents an opportunity for the Northern Commandery and the Northern King to rapidly enhance their strength.

However, the Northern King did not take immediate action.

Although the population of North County is small, recruiting 150,000 soldiers should not be a big problem.

Moreover, they are about to go to war with the barbarians. If they can recruit another 100,000 new soldiers in a short period of time, their chances of defeating the barbarians will be greater.

Upon hearing Li Feng's question, Lu Chen smiled faintly, "It's not about the quantity of soldiers, but their quality."

"Even if you recruit another 100,000 new soldiers now, can you train them in a short period of time?"

"If they went to the battlefield, the barbarian cavalry would probably scatter them with a single charge."

"Let alone new recruits, even the imperial army often gets scattered by barbarian cavalry when facing them. Don't you agree, General Mu?"

At this point, Lu Chen's gaze fell on Mu Changtian. Since it was time to discuss official business, Lu Chen did not call Mu Changtian "father-in-law" but directly addressed him as General Mu.

The reason Lu Chen looked at him and said this was because Mu Changtian had fought against the barbarians many times and was experienced.

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Mu Changtian said, "Your Highness is right. If we let the new recruits fight the barbarians head-on, they will most likely be wiped out by a single charge from the barbarian cavalry."

At this point, Mu Changtian changed the subject, "However, Your Highness, these new recruits don't necessarily have to fight the barbarian soldiers head-on. They can also defend the city."

They were originally on the defensive, so there was no need for them to rush in and fight the barbarian cavalry. Defending the city also requires soldiers. Even if these new recruits were not as good as the cavalry, they could still play a significant role in defending the city.

Therefore, Mu Changtian prefers to recruit more soldiers.

Lu Chen then said, "I understand what you mean, but rest assured, since the court has issued an order to expand the army, I will naturally expand the army, but not now."

"And in a few days, I will give you a surprise."

Hearing this, Mu Changtian and the others exchanged glances, all curious about what surprise Lu Chen was referring to.

Lu Chen then continued, "By the way, have you finished digging the cave I asked you to?"

Li Feng replied, "Your Highness, the digging is complete."

Lu Chen then said, "Take me there."

Then Li Feng and his group led Lu Chen to the cave of the artillery battalion.

Seeing the cave in front of him, Li Feng really wanted to ask Lu Chen why they had dug it, but in the end, he held back.

Since the Northern King made them dig the cave, it must have a purpose. I guess the Northern King will tell them what the cave is for later.

Lu Chen didn't hesitate and walked directly into the cave, saying as he went, "You all wait outside. No one is allowed to come in without my order."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, everyone immediately stopped in their tracks.

After entering the cave, Lu Chen opened his system backpack and took out a 122mm towed howitzer.

Lu Chen then glanced at the data on the howitzer.

[122mm caliber, 18000m range, muzzle velocity 690m/s, projectile weight 33.4kg, total weight 3400kg, fragmentation grenade kill distance 15-30 meters.]

(End of this chapter)