bookcurios Chapter 286 Jing County Spy
Chapter 286 Jing County Spy
After tireless efforts day and night, Shi Li finally succeeded in making gunpowder. Although its effectiveness was only half that of Luancheng's, it could at least be put into a clay pot and ignited.
"Hahaha~ We also have this thing called gunpowder!" Seeing that gunpowder was successfully developed, Hou Lin ran over excitedly to watch.
"Although the explosives are a success, we still need to figure out how to use them on the battlefield. And those huge iron tubes they use are probably launched with this gunpowder. We still need to figure it out."
Shi Li had heard Yu Shaoqin describe the situation on the front line and knew that Luancheng had such a powerful weapon, but it was a pity that he had never seen it with his own eyes.
"Hey! We've only seen the thing you mentioned from afar. If we can get closer to take a look, we can also imitate it." Hou Lin couldn't help but look disappointed when he heard Shi Li say this.
"Can we send someone to approach the soldiers of Dingzhou Army and try to find out more about this weapon?" Seeing this, Xia Shao at the side hurriedly reminded.
"This is a good idea. Let's look among the team, pick out a few smart ones, sneak into Jing County, and try to win over a few soldiers to ask them." After hearing this, Shi Li felt that what Xia Shao said made sense.
……
In June, the weather in Jing County was already starting to heat up. Soldiers were shedding their winter clothing and donning long shirts. A few, still in their armor, wandered into a restaurant.
The leader was a tall soldier. As soon as he entered the door, he shouted loudly: "Shopkeeper, give me some delicious dishes and a jar of new military wine."
The innkeeper came out upon hearing the noise and saw that it was a soldier in armor. He hurried forward and said, "Sir, General Shan has ordered that soldiers on duty are not allowed to drink alcohol."
"We're not on duty, so we're taking a day off today. Let's come out and relax."
The shopkeeper had been in business for many years and knew that soldiers on leave would not wear armor when traveling. He smiled wryly and said:
"Sir, please don't deceive me. How can I wear armor during my rest? If you want to eat something delicious during your lunch break, just order a few dishes and I'll arrange it for you..."
"Why are you talking so much nonsense? How can you drink without paying? You keep blabbing!"
Before the shopkeeper could finish his words, the leading soldier stood up with an unhappy look on his face and shouted.
The shop owner was so scared when he saw this that he took several steps back.
"General, it's not that I don't want to sell you wine. It's just that Jing County has issued such a military order. If the inspector finds out, I won't be able to open my shop in this county. I hope you can forgive me."
At this time, another soldier advised: "Brother, don't make things difficult for the store owner. He is right. Although we are not on duty, we are on standby, which is no different from being on duty."
"Hey, hey, hey, how about this?" At this time, a middle-aged man at a table stood up and said, "You young men have worked very hard and rarely come out. How about this, I'll treat you and find a secluded place for us to have a good chat?"
When the soldiers saw that the person who was talking was a stranger, they wanted to decline his kindness, but unexpectedly the person glanced at them and signaled them not to speak for the time being.
The shop owner was not stupid. He would be a fool if he didn't do business. So he said deliberately in an awkward manner: "Young man, just pay for the meal. Don't let me pay in the end." He didn't mention anything about drinking.
"Of course, I'm treating all the generals, so I do have this little money." After saying that, he stretched out his hand to gesture to the yard at the back. It seemed that they often came here and knew that they could sit down and eat in the yard at the back.
The soldiers followed the man to the backyard.
The backyard was not large, but it had three side rooms. One of the rooms had a kang (a bed) and a square table.
After several people entered, they all took their seats.
"Since you are here, please don't be polite. I will treat you to a drink, but don't drink too much." The middle-aged man spoke first.
Seeing that this person spoke clearly, the leading soldier also clasped his fists and saluted, saying:
"We are soldiers under the command of the Wei Commander. The food in the barracks today is too bad, so we thought we could come out for a change of pace and have a drink. Who would have thought..."
"Don't worry, I have also served in the army, and there are many rules in the army." The middle-aged man didn't care at all, waved his hand, and looked indifferent.
"So, big brother was once a soldier too. It seems like it's fate!"
"Yeah yeah!"
As he was speaking, the waiter brought two or three cold dishes that had been prepared in advance, as well as a jar of wine.
When the dishes were served, several people filled their wine bowls, clinked their glasses together, and then took a sip.
"This wine is strong. I've never tasted such good wine before." A soldier couldn't help but sigh after drinking the wine.
"Yes, this wine is only available in Dingzhou." Another soldier echoed.
"I think this wine is not as strong as the one in my house. That's what we call a real good wine!" The middle-aged man put down the wine bowl and said disapprovingly.
"Isn't this the only wine in this tavern?" asked the leading soldier in confusion.
The middle-aged man looked outside the room and said in a low voice, "I bought much stronger wine at the wine shop in Dingzhou. It was much more enjoyable to drink."
"Oh? There is such wine?" Everyone was amazed.
Most people in the military like to drink, so when they hear that there is better wine, they can't help but feel curious.
"Well, it's not advisable for everyone to drink too much today. Let's take a day off and come to my house for a drink. Do you have the time?" The middle-aged man picked up the wine bowl again and asked tentatively.
"There are still three days left before the holiday. I wonder if big brother will be free by then?" The leading soldier was not blinded by the temptation after all and asked the middle-aged man.
"Yes, of course." The middle-aged man was secretly happy and could not miss this opportunity.
Then, everyone in the side room started to clink glasses and eat and drink.
This middle-aged man was none other than the spy sent by Shi Li. There were not many of them, and they were scattered in several corners of Jing County. They were specifically there to inquire about military affairs, and this time their target was the artillery.
Three days later, the middle-aged man bought some braised meat and some vegetarian dishes, and together with three soldiers, he came to a private house in casual clothes.
"Brother Pu lives here."
The last time they drank together, the leading soldier was a squad leader named Wang Tiezhu. He knew that this middle-aged man was called Pu Xuesong, so the two of them called each other brothers.
"Yes, it's a bit shabby, not as good as a pub, but at least it's quiet."
"Brother, you're too polite. We are all rough guys. When we drink, we don't care about the food or where we drink." Wang Tiezhu said carelessly, and patted his teammate on the shoulder.
"Yes, yes, yes." The teammates nodded in agreement.
"Bian Lao San, there are guests coming. Cook the food and let's drink together."
There is still someone in the house, Pu Xuesong shouted loudly.
"Hey, guests are coming. I'll go cook the food right away. Please come in, sir."
A man who looked even older than Pu Xuesong came out of the house, his face full of wrinkles, and came out to greet him with a smile.
"This is Bian Lao San, who lives with me. We are both miserable people, single bachelors!" Pu Xuesong said self-pityingly.
"Brother, don't say that. Aren't we all single?" Wang Tiezhu smiled and quickly dispelled Pu Xuesong's resentment.
The house is a three-room stone-walled guesthouse, with a bedroom on each side and a living room in the middle. There is a square table in the middle and four benches around it, which can accommodate four people sitting on each side.