Chapter 229 Slaying the Dragon
Yang Chang immediately asked Wen Huanzhang to write a notice, and then ordered Wu Song to go to the city to post a notice to recruit soldiers.

Lin Chong has a talent for training soldiers and can shorten the training period of new recruits. Even if it is just a last-minute effort now, there will be no problem in training them into militia to defend the city.

Perhaps the best function of [Eye of Insight] is to help Yang Chang know people and use them well.

If we can fight for the world now, we can do this as well as rule the world in the future.

Yang Chang was not afraid that he could not hold on to Weisheng, but he was afraid of having to spend a huge price to hold it. The order between officials and the people that he had worked so hard to establish had finally been able to function well, and he did not want it to be interrupted by war.

In order to reduce the cost of war, it is necessary to use bows and arrows and artillery shells instead of manpower, so Yang Chang arranged the conscription, defense of the city, military supplies and other matters, and left the artillery commander Ling Zhen to the last.

"Tell me, how many more shells can you make with the raw materials you have on hand?"

"that is all."

Seeing Ling Zhen holding up two fingers, Yang Changxin thought that two hundred coins would be enough, so he nodded happily: "Two hundred is two hundred, you ask people to work quickly and try to finish it within three days."

"elder brother."

Ling Zhen interrupted Yang Chang and corrected him with a bitter face: "It's not two hundred, it's twenty."

"That's all?"

"The artillery army was established not long ago. During this period, we have been exploring mineral veins in various places, but we have not found saltpeter and sulfur. The raw materials used to make artillery shells were mainly brought from the capital, and the rest were purchased from various counties."

"A good cook cannot cook without rice. Mineral exploration is indeed not an easy task."

Yang Chang nodded as he listened, thinking that although Shanxi is a province rich in resources, without the assistance of technology in this era, both exploration and mining would be difficult, so he decided to keep it simple.

Suddenly remembering Ling Zhen's nickname, Yang Chang suddenly got an idea and asked, "Since you are proficient in this, you must know the origin of gunpowder materials. As long as it is not in the enemy-occupied area, you can find a way to buy it."

"Yes," Ling Zhen nodded and replied, "I heard that the saltpeter in the capital was mainly produced in Jiezhou. Although Jiezhou is not far from Pingbei Army, it is too far to transport it to Weisheng. In addition, this product is controlled by the government, so I am afraid it will not be sold easily. Sulfur is produced in Shangdang in Luzhou."

"Your words are as true as your deeds? I really got it right."

Seeing Yang Chang shaking his head and laughing at himself, Wen Huanzhang cupped his hands and said to him, "General, don't be disappointed. Although this cannon is a powerful weapon, there are too few people who can use it. In addition, a large amount of iron is needed for the shells. The cost of a shell is too expensive, and it cannot be reused after being thrown out. It is better to save it to build weapons. If the military control is going well, Weisheng should also be in short supply of weapons."

"Yes! War is all about money, and Weisheng is still too poor."

Yang Chang smiled bitterly at first, then said firmly: "The cost of artillery is a bit expensive, but it is very useful in war. It will definitely replace swords, so we have to save money and build it, and gradually improve it to reduce the cost. I don't believe that there is no saltpeter and sulfur in such a big country like Weisheng and Pingbei."

"Of course there is, but it will take time. The most urgent thing is to prepare more bows and arrows."

"Mr. Wen is right. Twenty is twenty. Keep them as your trump card. Go make them quickly."

"Yes."

Ling Zhen clasped his fists and just turned around, Yang Chang suddenly thought of the explosive packs in movies and TV dramas, so he stopped him again.

"Mr. Wen is right. It is not cost-effective to use iron to make cannonballs at this time. I heard that during the defense of the capital at the beginning of the year, bamboo tubes and other objects were often used to hold gunpowder? We can also use bamboo tubes to hold gunpowder, even if it is wrapped in cloth. It is also simpler to make."

"It's not impossible, but it would lose its lethality, just like a big firecracker."

"Since we can use cloth, we don't have to limit ourselves to the size of the shape. We can fill it with sand and gravel. As long as it can explode and make a loud noise, it will definitely have lethality."

“It feels doable!”

After receiving Yang Chang's advice, Ling Zhen left with great joy.

Looking at Ling Zhen's departing back, Yang Chang silently made a plan in his mind. Since Jiezhou and Luzhou had the raw materials for gunpowder, he would have to take over these two states first if he wanted to start an uprising in the future, otherwise his artillery army would be useless.

Although artillery shells are expensive, the explosive packs mentioned above are more affordable. Throwing bombs does not necessarily require a strong man, as long as the accuracy is up to standard.

Even though the conditions are not quite right now, we cannot give up on the development and use of gunpowder.

"They all left for some reason. If the general has no other instructions, I will go back to the provincial government office first?"

"General?"

Wen Huanzhang was the only one left in the hall. He asked Yang Chang to leave and found that he was absent-minded, so he went up to him, pulled his sleeve, and asked curiously, "What are you thinking about, General?"

"Ah I"

Yang Chang was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said seriously: "Although your plan to cut off the food supply is brilliant, the Jin people always rely on robbing for food. I am afraid there is no fixed food supply route. I am not afraid of not being able to fight with Han Li, but I am afraid that the people of Wei Sheng will suffer."

"hehe."

Wen Huanzhang laughed and bowed, thinking to himself, you saved my face just now? He can still save face for others in a critical moment. He is really a man who can do great things.

He straightened up and stroked his beard, explaining slowly: "Although I just said it in general terms, using the weak to defeat the strong is only a trick. Cutting off food is the most effective way. Han Li is not currently occupying Luzhou, so he should not harass the people of Weisheng. Only by fighting the Jin army first can we come up with a strategy to deal with it. Wen doesn't like to talk about war on paper, so the general doesn't have to worry too much. We can make plans after Commander Lin comes back."

"Well, go get busy first."

Yang Chang sent Wen Huanzhang out of the mansion before returning to the back house to meet his family.

He had been away from home for half a month and had been busy for another two hours when he came back. He thought his wife and children would have complaints, but unexpectedly, there was talking and laughing in the backyard.

When he arrived under the eaves of the main house, Yang Changcai was discovered by his wife and children, who happily welcomed him out.

Influenced by Qiu Qiongying, Yang Huang started to lay the foundation for martial arts last year. Now his legs and feet are as nimble as a big child, and he jumped into Yang Chang's arms like the wind.

"Good son, Daddy is not at home recently, have you been obedient?"

"Don't tell you."

"Ok?"

"Sun Wukong was trapped under the mountain. Daddy, tell me first, did he come out in the end? Huang'er will tell you if he is a good boy or not."

"So. Haha."

Yang Chang was surprised to hear people talking and laughing in the backyard. It turned out that Zhao Fujin was retelling "Journey to the West".

"He is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. He will become a Buddha in the future. He will not be pressed under the mountain forever. Someone will save him in five hundred years."

"Five hundred years? Huang'er is not even five years old yet. How long will that take? Will he be hungry?"

"Huang'er is a mortal. You may think five years is a long time, but immortals live as long as the heaven and earth. They don't need to eat at all. Five hundred years is not a long time."

"The gods are so powerful. Huang'er also wants to be a god, like Sun Wukong."

"hehe."

Yang Chang touched Yang Huang's little head and thought that children are so innocent that they dare to express any ideals without caring whether they are practical or not. However, they become more timid as they grow older, and then become ordinary people.

Yes, everyone has great ambitions as a child, but most of them cannot be realized when they grow up.

Some people live for one day and then repeat it for thirty thousand days. Very few people live for thirty thousand days. Such people are like Fighting Buddha, who come to the world with a mission.

When Yang Chang traveled to this world, he felt that he also had a mission, perhaps to prevent the Jingkang tragedy.

"Sir, let's go inside and talk."

"Alright."

Hu Sanniang and Qiu Qiongying, one on each side, supported Yang Chang as they moved into the house.

Zhao Fujin waved to Li E. She knew that they would have to talk about something later, so she asked her maid to take Yang Huang away.

But Yang Huang was unwilling to get off the ground. He hugged Yang Chang's neck and pushed Li E away, muttering, "Huang'er doesn't want to play now. I just want to listen to Daddy telling stories."

"Huang'er, be obedient!"

"father"

Zhao Fujin was worthy of being Yang Huang's biological mother. She controlled Yang Huang with just one sentence, but Yang Huang did not completely surrender, so he pitifully asked Yang Chang for help.

Yang Chang touched the back of his head and said earnestly, "Dad has something important to say. I'll tell Huang Er after I'm done. I promise you'll be the first to hear it. How about that?"

"really?"

"A man should keep his word." "Okay, keep your word."

Yang Huang responded 'generously' and stretched out his pink fist, which lightly bumped into Yang Chang's, before he reached out and was carried away by Li E.

When the four of them sat down around the table, Hu Sanniang was the first to ask, "I heard that your master's bows and arrows drove back the Jin army? Has the crisis in Weisheng City been resolved?"

"How can it be that easy? It will definitely come back again."

Mr. Yang frowned and shook his head, looking at the three of them and comforting them, "Don't worry, ladies. I can defeat Nianhan's army and Hanlibu's army. When Instructor Lin returns from gathering intelligence, I will discuss countermeasures with Mr. Wen. He is quite strategic and knows how to use troops. He must have a good way to defeat the enemy."

"It's a pity that there are too few shells in the city, otherwise I would have blown them to death."

Qiu Qiongying was filled with righteous indignation when she spoke, but after all she had made great contributions to the defense of the city, and Yang Chang could not criticize her in public, so he could only respond with an awkward smile.

This girl is shy. It won’t be too late to teach her a lesson when it’s late at night and everyone is pushing the cart.

Hu Sanniang observed Yang Chang's expression and when she saw that he had a strange look on his face, she immediately took over the conversation and used self-deprecation to change the subject.

"The princess worked hard to report the news, while my third sister went to the city to fight off the Jin army herself. It seems that I did nothing."

"Sister, don't say that. If you weren't here to look after the family, I wouldn't feel comfortable going out."

"Yes, yes, the princess is right. When the master is not around, you are our backbone. It will be of use even if we dare not do anything."

"you."

Seeing the three women living in harmony, Yang Changxin said that this was a great situation.

If I were to scheme like in palace fighting dramas, with chaos in the backyard every day, I guess I wouldn't have the energy to do anything big.

"Ask the kitchen to cook a few dishes. Our family hasn't seen each other for a long time. Let's have a reunion dinner tonight."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

Hu Sanniang stood up and called her personal maid to the door.

Since Yang Chang had been away from home for a long time, the women all pestered him to talk.

Among them, Qiu Qiongying was the most active and kept asking about the details of the Fenzhou battle. Everyone had a happy dinner at night. His son Yang Huang was worried about Wukong down the mountain, so Yang Chang told his wife and children the subsequent plot of "Journey to the West".

It's not that he doesn't want to explain in detail, but he has never read the original novel. His knowledge of the plot is entirely based on the TV series and the reruns on various channels during the holidays every year.

Yang Huang likes to listen to Journey to the West. He especially likes the monkey appearing out of nowhere and his fearless appearance. But after Sun Wukong set out on the journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures, he no longer had the excitement of making trouble in Heaven.

When Yang Chang started talking about the second half, his son was already yawning non-stop, and finally during the scene about the Kingdom of Women, he fell asleep in Zhao Fujin's arms.

After the story of Journey to the West was finished, Zhao Fujin and Qiu Qiongying left tactfully, leaving the first night after the man returned to the eldest sister.

Of course, Hu Sanniang would not refuse at this time. At night, she imitated Guanyin Bodhisattva and sat on the lotus platform, debating with Yang Changshe until late at night.

At midnight, Yang Chang's mind was empty.

He closed his eyes and was about to fall asleep when the person beside him suddenly stretched out his arms to hug his neck and said leisurely, "Sir, just now I heard you telling me about Journey to the West. I felt that you were very much like Sun Wukong, who became famous by beating people with sticks."

"Ok?"

Yang Chang thought that Hu Sanniang's words were meaningful, so he turned sideways and hugged her waist, saying meaningfully: "Of course, your husband has the golden hoop by his side, so stirring up trouble is no problem for him."

"Stop messing around. I'm serious."

"Really? That wasn't the case just now."

Hu Sanniang covered Yang Chang's mouth and replied with a blushing face: "If my lord is interested, I will serve you later. Although we have a daughter king, you are not allowed to leave tonight. I will rest for a while."

"The Queen of Daughters? Who is that lady? The White Bone Demon?"

"Hate."

As soon as these words were spoken, Hu Sanniang let out a groan in order to establish her authority, because the number of the three attacks on the White Bone Demon was the same as the number just now.

She was afraid that Yang Chang would tease her again, so she changed the subject and said, "Sun Wukong had the ability to cause havoc in the Heavenly Palace, but in the end he was suppressed by the Buddha under the Five Elements Mountain, and your Excellency is becoming more and more powerful now. I am afraid that you will also meet the Tathagata in the mortal world."

"Tathagata? Absolutely not."

Yang Chang responded resolutely, saying seriously: "Let's not talk about the fact that there is no Jade Emperor or Tathagata in the mortal world. Even if there is, I will kill anyone who stands in my way, and I will kill Buddhas if they stand in my way."

"I believe you have the ability, but what if you promise me the status of Fighting Buddha?"

"What is the Fighting Buddha? The fruit position that my husband wants does not require anyone's permission. I will not take it myself."

"Okay, I will help you too."

Hu Sanniang responded and rested for a while, then crawled into bed.

After a while, Yang Chang shuddered, and at the same time a faint voice came from the gap in the quilt: "Elder, eating this can really make you immortal?"

"Hmm? Don't doubt it, female Bodhisattva."

The night was cool as water, and the couple fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Hu Sanniang woke up early with a radiant look on her face, while Yang Changze slept until noon.

While Yang Chang got up and washed, Hu Sanniang sent someone to bring him breakfast.

He had just finished half a bowl of porridge when he suddenly remembered that Lin Chong had led the army on scouts yesterday, but did not come to report to him in the end. Could it be that he had chased him all the way to Xiangyuan?
"Madam, is there any news about Master Lin? Tell me as soon as he gets back."

"Sir, please take your time eating. Instructor Lin is waiting in the front yard. He arrived early in the morning."

"What? I don't want to eat anymore."

When Yang Chang heard that Lin Chong was returning to the city, he could no longer eat. He put down his bowl and went straight to the front hall.

When he met Lin Chong in the front hall, Yang Chang learned that tens of thousands of Jin troops did not return to Xiangyuan, but were stationed in the town of Feiting, thirty miles away. The worry that had just been put at ease became heavier again.

A thirty-mile journey can be covered in half a day by forced march.

Thinking that the knife was still hanging over his head, Yang Chang suddenly became anxious, so he went to the provincial government to ask Wen Huanzhang for advice.

Wen Huanzhang speculated that the retreating Jin soldiers would return to Xiangyuan to ask Marshal Han Libu, and would not continue the attack before receiving a response, so Weisheng still had time to prepare. He suggested that Yang Chang hurry up to recruit soldiers and send more scouts to monitor the movements.

Yang Chang thought it made sense, so he went to various places to inspect the preparations for war, and when he returned home it was already the end of the day and the beginning of the evening.

At that time, Yang Huang was playing in the yard, playing house with his mother, aunt and maids, and forcibly dressed up as Sun Wukong.

"Bajie, Master is tired and thirsty. Go ahead and explore the way ahead and get some vegetarian food."

"I won't go. The mountain ahead is covered with tall trees and dense forests. There must be monsters there."

"You don't want to go? You want to be beaten by my golden hoop?"

Li E dressed up as Zhu Bajie and worked with Yang Huang to get into the role.

Hearing the conversation between the two, Yang Chang first couldn't help laughing, and suddenly his body shuddered, thinking that since the "monster" is in Xiangyuan, should I go and explore the way?

This guy acted as soon as he thought of it. After making some preparations, he left the city with Zhao Fujin.

Before dark, the two men rushed to the vicinity of Feiting Town, preparing to bypass the Jin army's defense line at night and then go to Xiangyuan to understand the military situation.

Just as Yang Chang was observing the route, Zhao Fujin suddenly said, "Yang Lang, if you have the chance in the future, can you kill Han Li?"

"Ok?"

Yang Chang took a look at his own attire and thought to himself that Yang Guo once slayed the dragon and killed Mongke, and now the princess wants me to kill Han Libu, isn't it the same thing?

Although this move has certain risks, it is the most effective way to withdraw troops.

"Dragon slaying, great idea!"

(End of this chapter)