Steel Dynasty - Chapter 463

[Chapter 463 Proxy War]

“What Governor Niu said is right, maybe I am overthinking it.”

Xiao Ming suddenly realized that he was taking too much control now. This was all because of the problems he had developed in the previous two wars. It always feels like every attack of the barbarians is directly related to him.

In fact, the most unlucky people for the barbarians going south this time were King Liang and King Zhao. Just like King Zhao and King Liang sat on the mountain and watched the tiger fight, he now seems to be in the position they were in before.

Niu Ben continued: “Although His Highness is the prince of the Great Yu Kingdom, His Highness is also the Lord of the vassal state now. The pros and cons of the two should be weighed. After all, everyone was watching the joke when we fought bloody battles. The soldiers were They have always been dissatisfied. For these soldiers, they only have His Highness in their hearts. If they are allowed to die for King Liang and King Zhao at this time, they will not be happy. “

Hearing this, Xiao Ming suddenly sighed. This is the current reality of Dayu.

In fact, the people of Dayu did not have the concept of family, country, or nation at all in their hearts. For them, only the nobles and feudal kings were the objects of their allegiance. Now that his fiefdom had no nobles, the only one they loyal to was him.

Niu Ben reminds him now just to tell him that he needs to give the soldiers a reason to fight, otherwise the morale of the soldiers will be very low.

“I understand.”

Xiao Ming said, he is just eating carrots and not worrying anymore. The emperor is not anxious and the eunuchs are anxious. Xiao Wenxuan is so calm, so what should he worry about.

While the two were talking, a servant suddenly said outside the main hall: “Your Highness, a general named Luo Hong is asking to see you?”

“Luo Hong? Isn’t this Luo Xin’s brother?” Xiao Ming said in surprise.

Niu Ben also showed a puzzled expression. He said, “Why did Luo Hong come to Qingzhou? There must be a reason.”

Xiao Ming nodded and said, “In that case, let him come in.”

The servant turned and left. Go, after a while, Luo Hong, dressed in military uniform, appeared in the main hall.

“Luo Hong, see your highness, see Governor Niu Ben.” When they arrived at the main hall, seeing Xiao Ming and Niu Ben there, Luo Hong bowed and said.

Xiao Ming said: “General Luo, please sit down without any courtesy. You don’t need to be polite. I have good relations with your father, so there is no need for these false courtesy.”

“Your Highness, if you come to Qingzhou to visit, I will naturally not be so polite to you. It’s just that this time I You came to Qingzhou under the emperor’s orders. “

Oh? Did the emperor ask you to come to Qingzhou?” Xiao Ming asked doubtfully.

“Exactly.” Luo Hong nodded, then took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, please read it.”

After taking the letter, Xiao Ming read it. In the letter, Xiao Wenxuan mentioned that he has recently There are many signs that the grassland is different from the past. One is that the barbarians have tightened the sales of war horses. The second is that the barbarians’ trading volume of iron ore and saltpeter in border trade has increased. The third is that the barbarian tribes wandering on the grassland have sent banner leaders. Head to Shengdu.

Xiao Wenxuan concluded from these unusual things that the barbarians might be preparing to plunder the country of Chongqing again and make the country surrender under the feet of the barbarians.

However, in the letter, Xiao Wenxuan did not show his previous worries, but seemed to be ambitious. He only talked about purchasing 500 more artillery pieces and 15,000 matchlock guns from Qingzhou. All these matters were entrusted to Luo Hong. , because now Luo Hong is the chief general of the firearms camp, and he also ordered Xiao Ming to be responsible for Luo Hong participating in the training of the Qingzhou Army, so that Luo Hong could become a general commanding the firearms troops like Luo Xin.

“Five hundred artillery pieces, fifteen thousand matchlocks, big business.” Xiao Ming grinned.

Luo Hong seemed to have known the content of the letter. He said to Niu Ben: “Captain Niu, I will rely on the Governor in the future.”

Niu Ben was confused by Luo Hong’s move and looked at Xiao Ming strangely. .

With a helpless smile, Xiao Ming gave the letter to Niu Ben. After reading it, he suddenly realized that Xiao Wenxuan was really good this time. Not only did he purchase firearms, but he also asked Xiao Ming to help him train the generals of the firearms camp.

This time, in addition to Luo Hong, thirty firearms battalion generals arrived in Qingzhou.

The reason why Xiao Wenxuan asked Luo Hong to take action was naturally because Luo Hong and the Qingzhou Army had fought side by side and were familiar with each other, and Luo Xin was in the Qingzhou Army, which was also a relationship.

“Since this is my father’s request, I have no choice but to comply. Governor Niu, I will leave this matter to you.” Xiao Ming winked at Niu Ben as he spoke.

Niu Ben understood and said: “Yes, Your Highness.”

After settling the matter, Luo Hong continued: “Your Highness, this barbarian movement has made King Liang and King Zhao worried. It is said that they have sent officials to Qingzhou to purchase firearms. It seems that His Highness will make a lot of money this time by resisting the barbarians.

“Really? I haven’t heard about it, but I would be very happy if it happened.” Xiao Ming said with a smile.

The two joked with Luo Hong for a while before Niu Ben took Luo Hong away.

After seeing the two of them off, Xiao Ming frowned. Xiao Wenxuan’s actions this time gave him a sudden realization. Just as Niu Ben said, he did not have to personally participate in the war, but wanted to use the war to make a fortune in arms.

Training generals for Xiao Wenxuan is equivalent to him conducting a proxy war. As the name suggests, he does not directly participate in the war, but sells weapons to the court, King Liang, and King Zhao, so that they can fight for him.

In this way, he could not only stay firmly in the rear, but also make a fortune by selling war supplies, while the court, King Zhao, and King Liang only needed to pay in silver.

After thinking about this, Xiao Ming laughed softly. In this way, he could not only consume the barbarians’ vitality on a large scale, but also make money. Why not? Just as Luo Hong said, just four days later, procurement officials sent by King Zhao and King Liang appeared in Qingzhou and made requests to Xiao Ming to purchase artillery and matchlock guns respectively.

This time King Zhao did not send Zhao Yuanliang, but a strange official, who probably understood the conflict between Zhao Yuanliang and him.

The same goes for King Liang, who also sent trusted officials.

Among them, King Zhao proposed to purchase 600 artillery pieces and 7,000 matchlock guns this time, while King Liang proposed to purchase 400 artillery pieces and 6,000 matchlock guns.

Including orders from the imperial court, the military workshop now has an additional business of 1,500 artillery pieces and 28,000 matchlock guns.

“Your Highness, the fiefdom’s finances are now much better.” Pang Yukun was so happy that he couldn’t see his fangs after learning about this.

The huge arms order brought huge wealth to Qingzhou, and Xiao Ming, who was originally constrained by money, suddenly became rich.

With this money, Qingzhou’s industrialization process will develop more steadily. Xiao Ming has to sigh, it is better to make money by selling arms.

(End of chapter)