enjoyebooks Chapter 1464 Time is Limited
Chapter 1464 Time is Limited
After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly and said, "Sir, your considerations are so thorough. Our army's great cause is promising! From now on, you can participate in the decision-making of all matters, big and small, in the army. If there is anything you cannot decide, we can discuss it together."
Li Shanchang quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your trust, General. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
After this, Li Shanchang devoted himself entirely to military affairs. He posted notices everywhere to recruit talent, and soon many capable individuals came to join him, including strategists and generals. In training the army, Li Shanchang formulated detailed training plans and personally supervised the soldiers' training daily, maintaining strict standards for their movements and discipline. Thanks to his efforts, the army's combat effectiveness was significantly improved.
Zhu Qiwu wasn't idle either. He used his system to continuously check in, acquiring many useful items and knowledge. On one occasion, he obtained a batch of advanced weapon manufacturing blueprints through a check-in. He immediately found the army's craftsmen and worked with them to research and manufacture new weapons. After a period of effort, a batch of new crossbows and longswords were produced. These weapons were sharper and more practical than the originals, greatly improving the soldiers' combat capabilities on the battlefield.
Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased to see his army growing stronger under the efforts of Li Shanchang and Zhu Qiwu. He often discussed military affairs and formulated battle plans with Li Shanchang, Zhu Qiwu, and generals such as Xu Da and Tang He. Through their joint efforts, Zhu Yuanzhang's rebel army gradually gained a foothold in the Haozhou area, and its power grew increasingly greater.
However, as Zhu Yuanzhang's power continued to expand, it also aroused jealousy and hostility from some surrounding forces. Among them was a rebel army led by Chen Youliang, who was very dissatisfied with Zhu Yuanzhang's development. Chen Youliang was ambitious and had considerable power. He saw Zhu Yuanzhang as a thorn in his side and was always looking for an opportunity to eliminate Zhu Yuanzhang's army.
One day, Zhu Yuanzhang was discussing military affairs with Li Shanchang, Zhu Qiwu and others in his mansion when a scout suddenly came to report: "Report, General, Chen Youliang is leading a large army and is heading towards our Haozhou City. It is expected that he will arrive at the city in three days."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Chen Youliang's arrival was so sudden; he must have some ulterior motive. What are your thoughts on this?"
After a moment of contemplation, Li Shanchang said, “General, Chen Youliang’s arrival this time is surely intended to take advantage of our army’s unstable foothold and annihilate us in one fell swoop. We must not underestimate the enemy and must make full preparations. Our army now has some defensive fortifications in Haozhou City, and the soldiers have improved their combat effectiveness after a period of training. We can hold the city for now, and when Chen Youliang’s army has been unable to take it for a long time and their morale is low, we can launch a counterattack and surely achieve a great victory.”
Xu Da also stood up and said, "Mr. Li is absolutely right. Although Chen Youliang's army is numerous, our army is well-rested and has the advantage of occupying the city. We will definitely be able to withstand their attack. I am willing to lead a squad of soldiers to guard the city gate and ensure that the city is not lost."
After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and said, "Xu Da's words are exactly what I was thinking. However, we cannot rely solely on defense. Qi Wu, do you have any other good ideas?"
Zhu Qiwu thought for a moment and said, "Fourth Brother, I recently signed in and obtained some gunpowder formulas and manufacturing methods. We can use gunpowder to make some bombs and attack Chen Youliang's army when they besiege the city. This will definitely cause them great damage. At the same time, we can also send a cavalry force to circle around to the rear of Chen Youliang's army, cut off their food supply, and put them in a difficult situation."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with delight, and he said, "Seven Five, your idea is excellent. I'll entrust the gunpowder matter to you. Make sure to produce enough bombs as soon as possible. Xu Da, you are responsible for guarding the city gates and ensuring the safety of the city. Tang He and Zhou Dexing, you two will each lead a squad of soldiers, ready to launch a counterattack at any time. Mr. Li, you will be responsible for overall coordination and the actions of all parties."
Everyone accepted the order in unison and went to prepare. After returning to his residence, Zhu Qiwu immediately gathered some craftsmen familiar with gunpowder and began making bombs according to the formula and manufacturing method provided by the system. After a day and a night of hard work, a batch of bombs was finally completed.
Three days later, Chen Youliang's army indeed arrived at the walls of Haozhou. His army was a formidable force, with banners fluttering, swords and spears gleaming, and a vast, imposing force. Chen Youliang, mounted on a tall warhorse, gazed at Haozhou with a triumphant smile and shouted, "Zhu Yuanzhang, surrender now, or I will raze Haozhou to the ground!"
Standing atop the city wall, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Chen Youliang and shouted back, "Chen Youliang, don't be so arrogant! I, Zhu Yuanzhang, will not surrender easily. If you have the guts, then attack the city!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Youliang was furious and ordered, "Attack the city!" Instantly, Chen Youliang's army surged towards Haozhou City like a tidal wave. They carried siege ladders and pushed siege engines, charging towards the city gates and walls.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered, "Fire the bombs!" Soldiers on the city wall lit the bombs and hurled them at Chen Youliang's army. Several loud explosions followed as the bombs detonated among Chen Youliang's troops, sending flames soaring into the sky and dust billowing. Many soldiers were blown to pieces, their screams echoing through the air. Chen Youliang's army, startled by this sudden attack, panicked and their offensive immediately halted.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xu Da ordered, "Open the city gates and launch a counterattack!" The city gates slowly opened, and Xu Da led a troop of soldiers out like tigers, engaging Chen Youliang's army in fierce combat. Tang He and Zhou Dexing also led their respective troops out of the city from both sides, forming an encirclement of Chen Youliang's army.
Seeing his army in dire straits, Chen Youliang was extremely anxious and immediately ordered a retreat. However, at that moment, Zhu Qiwu's cavalry suddenly attacked from the rear of Chen Youliang's army, cutting off their supply lines. Chen Youliang's army was thrown into chaos, with soldiers scattering and trampling each other.
Standing atop the city wall, Zhu Yuanzhang witnessed this scene and was overjoyed. He ordered, "All troops, attack! Completely annihilate Chen Youliang's army!" Instantly, the city gates swung open, and Zhu Yuanzhang's army surged out like a tidal wave, launching a final assault on Chen Youliang's forces. After a fierce battle, Chen Youliang's army was utterly defeated and fled, and Zhu Yuanzhang's army emerged victorious.
Outside Haozhou City at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, yellow dust filled the sky, and a fierce wind whipped up sand and dust that rustled against the simple tents. Zhu Yuanzhang stood before the tent, his brow furrowed, gazing at the desolate land in the distance, his heart filled with worry. At this moment, Zhu Qiwu strode over with light steps, a confident smile on his face.
Zhu Qiwu patted Zhu Yuanzhang on the shoulder and said, "Fourth Brother, don't look so gloomy. I have a good idea that can solve our current big problem."
Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and looked at Zhu Qiwu, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Qiwu, what new ideas do you have now? Although our rebel army has grown to a certain size, we are short of food and supplies, and the morale of the troops is somewhat unstable. This problem is not easy to solve."
Zhu Qiwu smiled mysteriously: "Fourth Brother, do you still remember the modern water conservancy knowledge I mentioned to you before? I want to dig a canal outside Haozhou City to irrigate this wasteland. In this way, we can reclaim a large area of farmland, and the problem of food and fodder will naturally be solved."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, but he immediately frowned: "Digging irrigation ditches is no small matter. It requires a lot of manpower and resources. Moreover, we are not familiar with this terrain. What if we dig in the wrong place? Wouldn't that be a waste of effort?"
Zhu Qiwu said confidently, "Fourth Brother, don't worry, I have a plan. A few days ago, the sign-in system rewarded me with a terrain detector, which can accurately detect underground water sources and terrain trends. As long as we dig according to its detection results, there will definitely be no problem."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed: "Great! Seven Five, your system is truly amazing! Then let's do as you say. I'll gather the brothers right away and get ready to start."
Soon, Xu Da, Tang He, Zhou Dexing, and other generals arrived at the camp. Zhu Yuanzhang stood on higher ground and said loudly, "Brothers, we are currently facing a shortage of food supplies. Qi Wu has come up with a good idea. He will lead us to dig an irrigation canal to irrigate the wasteland, cultivate farmland, and solve our food problem. Are you all confident?" Xu Da was the first to step forward and said loudly, "Brother Zhu, we are not afraid of any difficulties if we follow you and Brother Qi Wu. We will definitely be able to dig this canal well!"
Tang He patted his chest and said, "That's right, Brother Zhu, Brother Qi Wu has a lot of ideas, we can't go wrong if we listen to him!"
Other generals echoed this sentiment, and morale soared.
Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Zhu Qiwu took out a terrain surveying instrument and began to survey the terrain. While operating the instrument, he said to everyone, "Brothers, this surveying instrument shows that if we start digging from this stream in the east of the city, following the terrain, and dig all the way to that wasteland in the west of the city, we will be able to successfully divert water. Everyone, divide into several groups, divide the work and cooperate, and strive to finish the project as soon as possible."
After receiving their orders, everyone got to work. Zhu Qiwu and Zhu Yuanzhang supervised and guided them, resolving any problems that arose.
Just as everyone was working enthusiastically, suddenly, a soldier ran over in a panic, shouting, "Something's wrong! The Yuan army is here!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed, and he immediately asked, "How many Yuan soldiers are there? How far are they from us?"
The soldier, panting heavily, said, "There are probably over a thousand of them, and they're only a few miles away!"
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment and said to Xu Da, "Xu Da, lead a group of brothers to set up an ambush outside the city to block the Yuan army. Be sure to delay them until we finish digging the irrigation canal."
Xu Da accepted the order and left. Zhu Yuanzhang then said to Tang He, "Tang He, you lead some brothers to protect Qi Wu and the brothers who are digging the irrigation canal. We cannot let the Yuan army ruin our plans."
Tang He nodded in agreement and led his soldiers to surround Zhu Qiwu and the people digging the irrigation ditch, ready for battle.
Soon, the sound of horses' hooves and shouts of battle arose in the distance as the Yuan army surged forward like a tidal wave. Xu Da led his ambush troops out from both sides, engaging the Yuan army in fierce combat. In an instant, swords clashed and battle cries shook the heavens.
Watching the fierce battle, Zhu Qiwu felt anxious and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Fourth Brother, can Brother Xu Da hold out? We need to speed up the digging of the irrigation canal."
Zhu Yuanzhang said firmly, "Seven-five, don't panic. Xu Da is brave and skilled in battle; he will definitely be able to hold off the Yuan army. Let's speed up and try not to be disturbed by the Yuan army before the canal is completed."
Hearing this, the men dug even harder. However, the Yuan army was too numerous, and Xu Da's ambush troops were gradually becoming overwhelmed. A soldier rushed over and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Brother Zhu, Brother Xu Da is about to collapse! The Yuan army is about to charge!"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said to Tang He, "Tang He, you lead a group of brothers to support Xu Da. You must keep the Yuan army out."
Tang He accepted the order and led his soldiers to the battlefield. Zhu Qiwu watched the increasingly fierce battle and grew anxious. He knew that if the irrigation canal could not be dug quickly, not only would the food supply problem remain unsolved, but all their efforts would be in vain.
Just then, Zhu Qiwu's system suddenly issued a notification: "Ding! The host is facing a crisis. One temporary enhancement potion will be awarded. After use, you will gain super strength and speed for one hour."
Zhu Qiwu was overjoyed and used the potion without hesitation. Instantly, he felt a powerful force surge through his body, and his speed increased dramatically. He picked up a shovel and began digging like the wind, several times faster than before.
Everyone was stunned to see Zhu Qiwu suddenly become so powerful. Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed in surprise, "Qiwu, what is this...?"
As Zhu Qiwu dug, he said, "Fourth Brother, don't ask. This is a system reward. Time is limited, so let's dig quickly!"
Under Zhu Qiwu's encouragement, everyone dug even harder. Before long, more than half of the canal had been dug.
However, by this time, the Yuan army had already broken through Xu Da and Tang He's defenses and was charging towards the area where the irrigation canal was being dug. A tall, burly Yuan general, wielding a large sword, shouted, "Kill! Kill all these rebels!"
Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately picked up his weapon, stood at the forefront, and shouted, "Brothers, protect Qiwu! Protect the irrigation canal!"
The soldiers took up their weapons and fought a desperate battle against the Yuan army. Although Zhu Qiwu had gained superhuman strength, he was still struggling against such a large number of Yuan soldiers. He had to dig irrigation ditches while also dodging Yuan attacks.
Just as Zhu Qiwu was feeling somewhat overwhelmed, suddenly, a young general charged out from the side, wielding a long spear, and like a tiger descending a mountain, felled the Yuan soldiers who approached Zhu Qiwu. Zhu Qiwu looked closely and realized he didn't recognize the general, so he shouted, "Who are you? Why are you helping me?" (End of Chapter)