12dz Chapter 255 Liangzhou Horse Market
Chapter 255 Liangzhou Horse Market
Liangzhou Horse Market
There are large areas of barren land in Black Dragon Fortress, but thanks to the persistent efforts of the Great Xia soldiers in repairing and developing it, much of the land is now available for effective use.
However, even so, the western side of the opposite shore of the central lake remains pristine. In addition to the dense woodland stretching for miles, there are also several miles of overgrown, muddy swamps.
At this moment, many soldiers had followed Mo Yuming's footsteps and arrived at the central lake.
About a hundred feet away from them, in the lush grass, a small team could be clearly seen working busily and methodically.
The small squad of soldiers, wielding sturdy ropes, were seen tightly binding the three enormous, blood-eyed, greedy wolf demonic beasts. Each beast was spaced fifty feet apart, arranged in a straight line.
Meanwhile, the three captains in charge of the test-firing of the anti-magic bullets were already in position. They were all elites carefully selected from the military camp, possessing not only superb archery skills like hitting a target from a hundred paces, but also battle-hardened and experienced sharpshooters.
When it comes to targeting targets hundreds of feet away, especially when facing these giant magical beasts that are half the height of a person, they are completely confident and can do it with ease.
After the squad of soldiers responsible for binding the monsters successfully withdrew to a safe area, Mo Yuming gave the order without hesitation:
"shooting!"
As soon as he gave the order, the three guard captains quickly took aim and fired, their anti-magic bullets carrying a sharp gust of wind as they hurtled straight toward the Blood-Eyed Greedy Wolf Beast in the distance...
Boom, boom, boom!
After the three cannon shots, the three demonic beasts a hundred feet away were instantly blasted to pieces, turning into dust and smoke along with the surrounding weeds and soil, which drifted into the air. Three huge craters, each five feet in diameter, appeared centered on the target, and all the weeds within a radius of several dozen feet around the craters were blown flat on the ground.
Soldiers hundreds of feet away could clearly feel the ground beneath their feet tremble three times in a row.
"Is this the power of the Demon-Slaying Bullet?"
Jiang Yuheng and every soldier present were stunned.
This is absolutely divine! Its power rivals that of the magic crystal cannon. But that magic crystal cannon is clumsy and heavy, and it takes half a day to fire a single shell.
With this lightweight and convenient anti-magic bullet in hand, it could hold its own against ten magic crystal cannons. By the time the magic crystal cannons were ready, the anti-magic bullet would have already fired ten shells.
"Victory is certain! Victory is certain! Great Xia will surely prevail!..."
The soldiers present, witnessing this scene, were filled with righteous indignation and couldn't help but shout loudly. With such advanced weaponry and such wise leadership, the Great Xia Empire would surely dominate the Tianxuan Continent!
There were enough gunpowder packs, so each of the hundred soldiers was given three gunpowder packs to practice firing the anti-magic bullets, along with the dozen or so models of the anti-magic bullets.
Ten people take turns launching the anti-magic bullet model, hitting the target in the distance, and then picking up the model bullet so that the second group can fire it.
After three rounds, all of the more than one hundred Crimson Shadow Guard soldiers had mastered the operation of the Demon-Slaying Bullet.
Jiang Yuheng then organized the Crimson Shadow Guard into squads of five men each, ten men each, and thirty men each.
Each battalion consists of a squad leader, company commander, and battalion commander, totaling forty men. Currently, there are over one hundred men divided into three battalions. Battalions that are not yet at full strength will be supplemented when the next batch of soldiers arrives.
From now on, every three battalions will form a Shadow Guard. When all are at full strength, they will form twelve guard units, collectively known as the Twelve Shadow Guards. The guard unit currently composed of more than one hundred Red Shadow Guards will be numbered A and called Shadow Guard A. The second unit will be called Shadow Guard B, and so on. The units following behind will be Shadow Guard C, Shadow Guard D, and so on.
Once the formation was complete, Jiang Yuheng immediately issued an order to dispatch the first battalion of the Armored Shadow Guards to the border military camp of the Zheng Lan Kingdom. He also distributed all sixty Demon-Slaying Bullets to them.
The Demon-Slaying Bullet is a powerful weapon and should not be used indiscriminately unless absolutely necessary. The Crimson Shadow Guard's primary weapon is the Wind-Chasing Arrow. They lie in ambush from high ground, controlling the entire battlefield, and launching attacks on key enemy personnel to disrupt enemy morale.
The second and third battalions will remain on standby until the second batch of anti-magic bombs arrives in the afternoon, at which point they will be dispatched to their respective battlefields.
The main building of the former city lord's mansion in Zhongyuan City, now the eighth floor of the teaching building of Zhongyuan University. In a large hall, more than twenty members of the Grand Secretariat who could spare time to attend the meeting, including Su Yangyan, Huo Chengde, Ji Xianlin, Ji Jiahe, Fang Yixiu, etc., had arrived early.
The Central Plains City University is currently under renovation and has not yet begun enrolling students. Apart from those on the eighth floor, everyone else in the teaching building has been isolated, and the main gate is heavily guarded, preventing anyone from approaching.
The meeting began immediately after Mo Yuming and Jiang Yuheng arrived.
Jiang Yuheng had already shared the meeting content with everyone. Before the meeting, everyone was already familiar with the issues, so after the meeting started, everyone actively and frankly expressed their thoughts and concerns. Everyone agreed on taking precautionary measures in advance, but disagreements arose on whether to take the opportunity to proactively seize surrounding areas to expand the territory or to passively defend and maintain neutrality.
As a representative of the pro-war faction, Jiang Yuheng believed that the soldiers of the Great Xia Empire were now brave and skilled in battle, and well-equipped, capable of fighting ten men each, and invincible wherever they went. Now was the perfect time to launch a legitimate war against Wu Ji and take advantage of the situation to expand the territory of the Great Xia Empire.
The conservative faction, led by Su Yangyan, believes that the Great Xia Empire is at a critical juncture in its development toward prosperity and strength. It should focus its main efforts on revitalizing the economy, attracting talent, and improving its own strength. Moreover, the Great Xia Empire is currently sparsely populated and its number of soldiers is insufficient, making it unsuitable for launching a war.
While everyone was debating, Ji Xianlin offered his personal opinion: although he had heard of the fighting capabilities of the Great Xia soldiers, he had never actually witnessed them.
However, the fact that they were able to grow from scratch to their current size in such a short time certainly demonstrates their exceptional combat strength. But their numbers are limited, and even if they can seize more land, they will also face more enemies around them.
A powerful army needs time to expand, and when the battle lines are stretched too long, it is difficult to replenish troops immediately.
But now is an excellent time to expand, and it shouldn't be missed. So he thinks expansion is not out of the question, but it must be done within one's means.
Once a territory is captured, it must be firmly established. This must be done without weakening the defenses of other areas. One cannot risk exposing oneself to danger for a small gain.
Ji Xianlin was the most senior among everyone present, and everyone agreed with his analysis. Mo Yuming also strongly agreed with Ji Xianlin's statement and ultimately decided to take advantage of this opportunity to seize one or two more cities and counties, while ensuring his own safety.
As for which two cities to capture, everyone's attention was focused on Jingzhou of Zhenglan Kingdom and Liangzhou, the largest city under Xijing City.
Liangzhou is adjacent to Zhongyuan City. Two official roads leading from Zhongyuan City to Zhongdu pass through Liangzhou. Moreover, the several counties and districts under Liangzhou's jurisdiction are flat and rich in resources, making it one of the main grain-producing areas of the Great Red Kingdom, known as the "Little Granary." It is also the main production area of the Crimson Cloud Horse, one of the most famous warhorses in the Tianxuan Continent.
Most importantly, after incorporating Liangzhou into the territory, the area where soldiers are stationed will not increase much, because Liangzhou is a semi-enclosed basin with the Hengduan Mountains to the south. The terrain is complex and it is an uninhabited area.
To the north flows the surging Ji River. After flowing from the Central Plains city to Liangzhou, the Ji River is joined by several tributaries, making the river several times more turbulent. Moreover, Liangzhou is high in the west and low in the east, causing the Ji River to have a large drop in elevation in this section, making it extremely dangerous and a natural barrier.
Across the river from Liangzhou lies Xin County, under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou. Xin County has few entrances and is mostly barren wastelands and swamps. The swamps are rife with miasma and poisonous creatures, unsuitable for human habitation. After capturing Liangzhou, the number of passes requiring garrisoning hasn't increased; there are still two, and they are easier to defend than the two passes in Zhongyuan City.
As for Jingzhou, a major factor was that Wu Yi of the Zhenglan Kingdom planned to use this opportunity to provoke a conflict. The Battle of Jingzhou wasn't something the Great Xia wanted to fight; it was a matter of self-defense. Moreover, the Great Xia had trump cards up its sleeve for attacking Jingzhou. Since it was unavoidable, the only option was to fight!
After everyone reached a consensus, they discussed together how to begin the deployment.
……
Liangzhou covered an area of nearly 10,000 li, encompassing one prefecture and three counties, with a population of nearly one million, roughly the same size as Shangyuan City. The prefectural capital, Liangzhou, was located on the banks of the Ji River and was a small city with a population of 300,000.
Liangzhou was famous for its Red Cloud Horses, so the city was mostly populated by caravans and merchants involved in horse-related industries.
On this day, an old man and a young man arrived in the city. They were simply dressed and belonged to the kind of small merchants with a little money. The two of them rode in a rented carriage to a restaurant built on the bank of the Ji River.
"Esteemed guests, would you like to stay at the inn or have a meal?"
The waiter, who was soliciting customers at the door, rushed forward to greet them when they arrived.
"Two superior rooms, and bring some food to the rooms."
said the old man.
"Alright, please come upstairs, both of you!"
The waiter quickly ushered the two to a guest room on the second floor.
“Master Ji, although Liangzhou is located on the main transportation route from Da Chi Kingdom to Zheng Lan Kingdom and Xiang Huang Kingdom, it should have been a prosperous place where merchants gathered. However, it is sandwiched between Zhongyuan City and Jingzhou City and has not developed its own characteristics. Therefore, it has been squeezed by the two cities and has always been lukewarm.”
Although its jurisdiction is similar to that of Shangyuan City, its prosperity is far inferior to that of Shangyuan City!
The boy stood by the window, gazing at the surging Ji River outside, and said...
"Tell me, what is the main product of Liangzhou?" Old Ji asked with a smile.
"Our main products are grain and Crimson Cloud Horses!"
Mo Yuming didn't understand why Professor Ji had asked this question.
"And who are the people who produce the grain and feed the Crimson Cloud Horses?"
"Farmers and herders!... Oh! I understand! Those who grow grain don't have enough to eat, and those who herd livestock don't have enough to wear!"
"That's right! It's because more than 90% of the population of Liangzhou are farmers and herdsmen. These people at the bottom of society can't get a life of luxury no matter how much grain they produce."
Therefore, Liangzhou was not prosperous, but it was actually very wealthy. However, this wealth was concentrated in the hands of a very few people, and these wealthy people did not reside there permanently. Thus, it was more accurate to describe Liangzhou as a slum than a city.
"Yes, that's why Liangzhou has always been lukewarm."
"Enough said. This afternoon, let's go to the horse market. That's the most popular place in Liangzhou City. If you want to understand Liangzhou, you have to go there."
Leaving the inn, it's a 15-minute walk along the street to the wide street lined with shops on both sides, and there are many more people coming and going.
Mo Yuming looked up at the shops, which were filled with all sorts of goods: brightly colored armor, various styles of combat boots, beautifully woven whips, saddles, bridles...
"Isn't this the horse market? Why don't I see any horses?"
Mo Yuming asked curiously.
"Hehe, of course there are places to buy horses. Let's go check out this 'Red Horse Shop'!"
Ji Xianlin led Mo Yuming into a shop filled with various types of armor.
"What would you like, sir? Our shop sells all sizes of light and heavy armor, battle robes and boots, bridles, saddles and whips—everything you could want!"
When the waiter saw a customer arrive, he quickly came over to greet him warmly.
How much are the foals today?
Ji Xianlin looked at the light armor hanging on the wall.
"You've come at the perfect time, sir. Today, we have ten fine red steeds for sale, and seven more to go. Here is the information on these steeds; please take a look."
Seeing that the customer had come to buy a horse, the waiter quickly handed Ji Xianlin a piece of parchment covered with writing:
Number one colt, five feet tall, four hooves treading on clouds, five years old, robust physique, price five gold;
The second colt, 4 feet 9 inches tall, with a red cloud pattern, is four and a half years old and has a beautiful physique. It is priced at five gold and thirty silver.
Number three...
Number four...
……
Number 10...
Do you have any fine horses?
Ji Xianlin returned the parchment to the waiter.
"Sorry, this shop only sells foals!"
"Then I'll go check out other stores."
Ji Xianlin turned to leave with Mo Yuming.
"To be honest, there are fewer adult fine horses available recently. Most of the good horses have been picked up by military and noble families. Although a few shops still have a small number of fine horses, they are the ones that have been picked over. You might as well buy this colt. In less than half a year, it will be able to catch up with those inferior fine horses."
Seeing that the two were about to leave, the waiter deliberately tried to persuade them to stay.
"This huge horse market has no horses for sale? I was here just a few days ago, you can't fool me!"
Ji Xianlin pretended not to believe it at all.
"If you don't believe me, you can go to the ranch where the horses are kept. Even three days ago, you could really pick any horse you wanted at the horse market. But just the day before yesterday, the Marquis of Xijing led his team and took away three thousand horses directly from the ranch. Yesterday, some wealthy families took away nearly two thousand more."
The entire Liangzhou region only produces a little over ten thousand fine horses each year. It's only early autumn, and the princes and noble families have already taken away all the horses they bought before the new year. Where are there any fine horses left to sell?
The waiter was a little excited, and his speaking speed and tone changed.
"The Marquis himself came to buy horses? Such a big deal, the bosses must have made a fortune! Young man, you seem a bit unhappy. Did the boss make a fortune and not give you a few red envelopes to celebrate?"
Ji Xianlin, as expected of a seasoned veteran, perfectly mimicked the character's expression.
"Make a fortune? Will they even buy? They'll be lucky to break even with a small amount of money. I estimate that more than half of the business owners in the horse market will go bankrupt, and decades of hard work will basically go down the drain!"
"How could this be? Why are they buying so many horses at once? Are they preparing for war?"
Ji Xianlin said in surprise.