When Gao Jie was stationed at Yunyang Mansion, Zhu Yixi learned the news through Sun Changzhou.
Even when Luo Rucai was killed and Zhang Xianzhong captured Wuchang, he also knew something about it.
Some news from inside and outside Tongguan finally got through.
There are now three major thieves in the south, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and Zuo Liangyu, running from west to east, with Zhang Xianzhong right in the middle, neither above nor below.
"Zhang Xianzhong, when did you go to Sichuan?"
Zhu Yixi couldn't remember the specific time, but she was deeply impressed by Zhang Xianzhong's so-called Tu Chuan.
In his plan, Sichuan is his territory, how can it be occupied?
"No, the Xiangyang area is currently dominated by Li Zicheng. Unless Old Li moves, Zhang Xianzhong will never dare to move a step."
Zhu Yixi thought about it: "In other words, only if Li Zicheng enters Tongguan and there are no stumbling blocks, Zhang Xianzhong can dare to enter Sichuan."
Thinking this way, he felt at ease.
Therefore, during these days, he spent time in the epidemic prevention camp, teaching writing, asking about the welfare, and spreading wine and meat, which greatly won the favor of the soldiers.
On the other side, he assigned Wang Yu to specialize in artillery, and built a large number of artillery, such as French cannons, tiger squat cannons, etc., dozens of which were built every month, and equipped with train battalions.
In private, he asked the craftsmen to make a flintlock gun, and mounted the flintlock gun with a knife.
As a result, the flintlock gun was originally relatively long, reaching four feet, but now with the addition of a foot-long dagger, it has reached five feet.
In this way, it is enough to be used as a spear.
For the two thousand epidemic prevention battalions, they started practicing with long guns to prepare for the flintlock rifles. As long as the flintlock rifles are customized in mid-June, they can be installed.
The whole month of May was extremely fulfilling.
And right at the end, there was an unexpected surprise.
"You mean, there are thousands of strong laborers in Longshouyuan?"
Zhu Yixi looked at Sun Changzhou with some surprise.
"Yes, they are all good and strong laborers."
Sun Changzhou hurriedly presented his strategy: "I heard that the Governor is planning to leave Tongguan eastward. With these strong men, it will take less than half a month to become a man who dares to die."
"I heard that Qi Jiguang and Marshal Qi used miners from Yiwu to defeat the Japanese pirates."
"You also know Marshal Qi!"
Zhu Yixi was surprised, and then waved his hand and said: "The situation at Longshouyuan is complicated. I'm afraid that the Governor is powerless."
Don't even think about it. If he could do it, would Sun Chuanting still have to send out soldiers from three households to forcefully pull people? Obviously it would be more difficult.
"This Qingtian should be comparable to this one!" Sun Changzhou said doubtfully.
"One attack is enough to boil public dissatisfaction. Another attack, and they might be in cahoots with the intruders."
Zhu Yixi smiled.
Although he said this, he still remembered this place in his heart again - Longshouyuan.
When push comes to shove, this is his best source of troops.
That's right, he did not support Sun Chuanting's idea of leaving Tongguan to fight, nor did he think the Qin army would win.
First of all, in terms of military strength, Li Zicheng's army reached 300,000, among which he killed Luo Rucai, He Yilong, and Yuan Shizhong, and annexed their elite leaders.
A conservative estimate is that there are fifty thousand old thieves who have been fighting for several years.
As for the Qin army, they lost all their elite troops in the Taoyuan battle last year. The new recruits have been training for more than half a year. How can they fight?
What worries Zhu Yixi even more is that the Qin army was barely able to unite because of Sun Chuanting. There were deep conflicts among the generals and they were unable to unite as one like Li Zicheng.
After spending several months in the Qin army, Zhu Yixi understood that the generals of the Qin army had many backgrounds as thieves, and it had become a habit to fight against Qin and Mu Chu. To put it bluntly, they had no determination to die.
In this case, it is difficult to defend the capital, and the only way to fight is to die.
On June 1, Zhu Yixi invited Sun Chuanting to witness the cannon test.
Sun Chuanting was very happy. He also wanted to see the power of the red cannon.
"These two red cannons both weigh three thousand kilograms and took a month to make."
Zhu Yixi introduced cordially.
When Sun Chuanting heard this, he came closer and took a look.
Two red-coated cannons, mounted on artillery carts, were slowly pushed in. Each one required about ten people.
The cannon body is about one foot long, the muzzle is dark and extremely deep, and its back is also black, as if it were made of iron.
"No, this is iron!" Sun Chuanting said in surprise: "Why don't you use copper materials? Even if you want to save money, you can't use iron materials? This is killing people, you know?"
As he spoke, Sun Chuanting's tone became sharp.
"Duke Xian, calm down!"
Zhu Yixi hurriedly explained: "This iron cannon uses a new method. It has been tested and is no different from an ordinary bronze cannon."
"Yeah?"
Sun Chuanting was doubtful.
However, he still had some trust in Zhu Yixi, so he reluctantly sat down and watched from a distance.
On the artillery side, dozens of artillerymen who had been taught by Wang Xi had already begun to operate the artillery in a decent manner.
Wipe the barrel, aim, pull out the shell, insert it, ignite...
In the distance, two miles away, there are two dilapidated thatched houses, which are the targets this time.
Wang Xian sat aside, also quite nervous.
After all, he was an official, and Sun Chuanting respected him very much: "Thank you for your hard work, prince. The cannon in red is not easy to make."
"Anyway, I can still serve the imperial court despite my age. It's worth it."
Wang Xi shook his head and said excitedly: "Saving the country through practical learning is my lifelong ambition."
After listening to his words, Sun Chuanting became more and more respectful, and then waited for the artillery to be fired.
"Light the fire -" Zhu Yixi waved the flag and shouted.
Soon, the gunner fired, and with two blasts, two huge iron bullets flew into the air impatiently, and with the appearance of a huge smell of sulfur and smoke, they pierced the sky.
In the blink of an eye, the two thatched houses were destroyed and ceased to exist.
"Okay -" Sun Chuanting stood up, shouted, and then said happily: "This cannon is not inferior to the eleven bronze cannons in the capital."
"It seems that the iron cannon has great potential!"
Immediately, he remembered something again and said in a deep voice: "Prince, Jingming, Jiannu's side has sharp artillery. This kind of method must be strictly guarded and not leaked."
"My subordinate understands!"
Zhu Yixi hurriedly said: "I have kept it secret and will never leak it."
"The cannon is made of red clothes, it can be said to be an enemy of ten thousand people."
Sun Chuanting nodded, and then said: "Where should the red cannon be placed? Xi'an City?"
"The Governor of the Constitution should be placed in Tongguan."
Zhu Yixi said seriously.
"Tongguan?" Sun Chuanting wondered: "That place is already a natural danger. Is the red cannon superfluous?"
"If Tongguan cannot be protected, the city of Xi'an will naturally not be protected."
Zhu Yixi said sincerely: "Besides, if you leave Tongguan in the east, Tongguan is the back of the Qin army. No matter how strong it is, it should be."
After thinking for a while, Sun Chuanting said seriously: "You are right, it should be placed in Tongguan."