After returning to Muguyu empty-handed, Zhou Shuyuan, Wang Feng and Zhao Yun gathered at the General's Mansion under the order of Wei Zheng.

After looking at his subordinate who looked dim and even a little listless in front of him, Wei Zheng asked calmly: "Why, an action of returning home empty-handed makes everyone so listless..."

Wang Feng plucked up the courage to answer: "General, there is one thing... Since our Tiger and Leopard Army was formed, it has not returned with full loads. But this time, it has not been rushing for dozens of miles in a row, but also left tens of thousands of kilograms of grain in Zunhua City to provide relief to the victims. It was simply a loss of wife and army..."

Zhao Yun followed closely and complained: "General, after receiving the order to play the Tartar Yellow Banner, I was happy for a long time, thinking that the cavalry regiment finally had an opportunity to practice with the official army. However, what I didn't expect was that the official army with tens of thousands of troops was actually a waste. Just when I saw us, I all retreated to the military camp and turtle, and didn't even give us the cavalry regiment the opportunity to train. I rode back and forth on the war horse for a day."

Wei Zheng waved his hand and said, "Okay, don't complain about this... After all, none of us expected that the Tartars would plunder Zunhua City so cleanly, and they didn't leave us any more..."

"You're so anxious, everyone calls me. There are two major issues that need to be discussed with you..."

After seeing everyone focusing their eyes on themselves, Wei Zheng continued, "The first thing is a question I mentioned in Zunhua City..."

"The Tartars changed their past habits and plundered craftsmen in Zunhua City, and even the elderly were not spared. There must be a problem... Everyone thinks about what conspiracy Huang Taiji and Dorgon were planning."

Military advisor Zhou Shuyuan first said: "General, the role of craftsmen is only one way to the Tartars who advocate martial arts, that is, to build weapons... The Tartars have tried their best to scrape craftsmen, so they must have wanted to build more sophisticated weapons in the Later Jin Dynasty."

"Weapon..." After hearing these two words, Wang Feng suddenly thought of something.

His eyes lit up and he exclaimed at Wei Zheng: "General, military advisor, I understand... Tartars. Tartars are going to build muskets..."

"When I was in Zunhua City, I heard from the women and children who were not captured by the Tartars. When the Tartars arrested craftsmen in the city, they asked everywhere who would build muskets and artillery. In the entire Zunhua City, as long as they could build muskets and artillery, no matter whether they could walk or not, they were caught by the Tartars. Even if they were dragged by a car, they would also drag him to the Later Jin..."

"So, I'm sure, the Tartars' purpose of catching these craftsmen was to build muskets and artillery and build their own ignition troops."

Wei Zheng nodded and affirmed: "It must be like this..."

"In the past, the Tatars defeated the official army in the battles between the Tartars and the official army, so the Tartars did not pay attention to the firearms in the hands of the official army, believing that firearms are not as good as bows and arrows. However, after several battles with us, Dorgon, who had failed many times, finally discovered that bows and arrows were not the opponents in front of excellent firearms..."

"Under this situation, if the Tartars want to defeat our Tiger and Leopard Army, there is only one way to develop the firearms troops..."

"General, I agree with this idea too..." Zhou Shuyuan said.

Zhao Yun followed closely and agreed: "General. You are right. Only by developing firearms can the Tartars have the possibility of confronting us. Otherwise, with only bows and arrows, as long as we have sufficient firearms and sufficient troops, the Tartars will never be our opponent."

At this time, the expression on Wei Zheng's face did not relax because of the unsolving doubts, but instead became more solemn.

He once again looked at everyone's puzzled eyes and said: "If this judgment is true, then the next question will be more important to the future of our Tiger and Leopard Army..."

"Do you feel that Zunhua can no longer stay..."

When military advisor Zhou Shuyuan fell into deep thought, Zhao Yun, who had a straightforward personality, had already asked one step ahead and puzzled.

"We are fine in Moguyu, why don't we stay in Zunhua anymore..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Feng followed and asked, "Yes, General, the Mushroom Valley under our feet has been built with great effort. Isn't it a pity to just give up like this..."

"And, even if we give up Moguyu and stop staying in Zunhua, where will we go..."

"Without the imperial edict of the court, we left Zunhua with our army to resist the imperial edict. To put it more seriously, it is rebellion... General, you have been saying that now we are not yet at the time of turning against the court, nor are we still in the strength to turn against the court. In this case, how can we leave Zunhua and find a new territory..."

Wei Zheng waved his hand and said, "We will discuss this issue later... Now, let me tell you why we can't continue to stay in Zunhua..."

"A big touch on the reason why this idea suddenly came up is what I saw and heard in Zunhua City today..."

"As far as I know, there are only elderly, weak, women and children in Zunhua, and there are also elderly, weak, women and children who have no food. Such a group of people even have self-protection problems. How can we support our Tiger and Leopard Army..."

"Although our Tiger and Leopard Army has been incorporated by the court, so far, we have not received a ounce of silver from the court. If we cannot receive it in the future, how long can our Tiger and Leopard Army last..."

"The court does not give us food and salary, and we have no territory and no income. It won't take long to stop us and turn against the court first when we are not strong enough. This is what I least want to see..."

"The second is the judgment we just made."

"If the Tartars are really developing firearms, then we, who are located at the border, will be the target of attack and revenge of the Tartars. Therefore, if we do not leave Zunhua, we will be trapped in the constant battle with the Tartars. The total strength of our Tiger and Leopard Army is so large, and it is rarely supplemented. If we continue to fight with the Tartars in this way, we will only suffer."

"So, no matter from any aspect, we can't continue to stay in Zunhua..."

"Not only that, we must find a way to leave Zunhua as soon as possible and enter the Central Plains. Only when we reach the Central Plains can our tiger and leopard army develop and grow and truly have the possibility of self-protection..."
Chapter completed!