Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

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Xiahou Dun was furious but couldn't think of a rebuttal, so he had no choice but to obey Cao Hong, and the troops slowly advanced. Soon, a messenger returned: "Report! Dian Wei's army has encountered fierce resistance! They seem to be in great trouble! They appear to be still circling around Mianchi City." Cao Hong was overjoyed. Soon after, messengers returned in droves, all reporting that Dian Wei had encountered fierce resistance; some had witnessed a fierce battle between the Luo Jun cavalry and Dian Wei's cavalry, with both sides suffering heavy losses.

"Hahaha," Cao Hong exclaimed with delight, "Did you hear that! Luo Jun's iron cavalry has run to Mianchi and is fighting Dian Wei. Now we are definitely safe!" Xiahou Dun also showed a happy expression.

"All troops, attack! Target Hongnong! Hurry!" Cao Hong shouted the order. The Cao army began to advance at full speed, with cavalry breaking out of their square formations and charging forward in battle ranks.

The enemy force of 850 was indeed small! The retreating troops consisted of only a few infantry and chariot soldiers and a small number of cavalry. After resisting for a while, they all fled into Hongnong City. Taking advantage of this, Cao Hong ordered a strong attack. The troops on the city walls clearly had little fighting spirit. After resisting for a while, they deserted their posts and ran away. Cao's army broke through the city gates and rushed into the city.

Cao Hong ordered his troops to search the city, but found no trace of the fallen soldiers. Cao Hong climbed the city wall and saw scattered scattered infantry and cavalry fleeing towards Hangu Pass.

"Hahaha..." Cao Hong said triumphantly, "I hereby officially announce the recapture of Hongnong! The recapture of Hongnong, a major town in western Central China!"

However, Hongnong had become a ghost town. It was said that the people inside had been forcibly relocated to the west, and that they would receive land free of charge under a system called "equal land distribution"... Cao Hong had no interest in this. With no people around, he ordered his soldiers to find their own houses, cook, and rest. Troops were deployed on the city walls, clearly indicating that this important town was heavily guarded and ready for battle.

In the dead of night, all was quiet. Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun were drinking, cursing Yu Jin and the like. Suddenly, someone outside shouted, "Fire! Fire!" Then they vaguely saw flames. Cao Hong rushed outside and saw the center of the city ablaze with red, flames shooting into the sky, accompanied by crackling sounds.

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Great Fire

Meanwhile, Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun occupied Hongnong, only to have a great fire break out that night. Cao Hong composed himself and sternly ordered, "No chaos! The troops at each city gate are not to move; anyone who disobeys will be executed! The rest of the troops, go and put out the fire!"

Cao Hong, as expected of a great general, handled the situation well. Fearing that the enemy might take advantage of the chaos to launch an attack, he quickly ordered reinforcements to be placed at each city gate, preparing for battle, and requested Xiahou Dun to inspect and supervise the battle. As for the fire inside the city, Cao Hong led the rest of his troops to rush to put it out.

It turned out that dry firewood doused with oil had been hidden in the houses, and once ignited, it burned fiercely. Cao Hong, leading his personal guards, shouted and yelled, trying to find the arsonist. After searching for a long time, they only saw their own troops, covered in soot, frantically searching for water to put out the fire. Finding water was not easy; many of Cao Hong's soldiers were burning, screaming in agony. Some were trapped inside, enveloped in billowing smoke and dust, clearly also facing certain death.

Cao Hong was furious and searched everywhere for the arsonist. Suddenly, a loud explosion came from the east of the city, followed by a huge burst of flames, indicating that the east side of the city was also on fire. Cao Hong rushed over, only to see fireballs being thrown into the city from outside. These fireballs were different from usual; they crackled and burned on their own, and many exploded upon contact with oil. The Cao army soldiers had never seen anything like this before. A fireball, burning fiercely on its own, struck a Cao soldier, and suddenly, with a "boom," the fireball exploded, instantly blowing the soldier to pieces. Cao Hong, witnessing this horrific scene, was also somewhat panicked. What kind of weapon was this? How could it be so powerful... Not to mention the ordinary Cao soldiers, who felt it was divine punishment and fled their posts. Fireballs rained down from the sky, burning and exploding fiercely, causing heavy casualties among the Cao army at the east gate, with cries of agony filling the air.

"What's going on!" Cao Hong cursed. Xiahou Dun happened to be patrolling the area and called out to Cao Hong from the city wall. Cao Hong hurried up and saw a large area of ​​fire in the distance, which looked like the ravaged army. The ravaged army surrounded large trebuchets, and fireballs were being thrown into the city.

"Charge out! Shoot them down!" Cao Hong roared in fury. How could they possibly organize themselves? Besides, the city gate was ablaze, almost destroyed, and flames raged everywhere. "General! Leave now! We can't stay here!" His soldiers urged Cao Hong to evacuate immediately. Cao Hong, filled with resentment, had no choice but to flee to the west side of the city, where the fire hadn't yet reached.

"Cao Hong! Get out of here now! We can't stay in the city!" Xiahou Dun shouted. "The Luo army is going to burn Hongnong City to the ground! If we stay here foolishly, we'll all be burned to death!"

At this moment, fire also broke out at the west gate, with flames raging fiercely in all directions. Clearly, the Luo army had spared no effort in setting the fires, and their efforts were extremely effective. Cao Hong was left with no choice. It seemed that Hongnong had been recaptured, but the Luo army only wanted to leave him with rubble! He angrily ordered, "Those who can still move, organize yourselves immediately! Abandon the wounded, those carrying the fire! Follow me to the north gate!" Cao Hong chose the north gate because Dian Wei's large army was located there, making it obviously safer.

How could the north gate remain untouched by fire? The flames raged, setting all the houses near the north gate ablaze. The massive city gate was reduced to ashes, leaving only remnants of wood. Cao Hong disregarded everything else and led the charge into the inferno, followed closely by Xiahou Dun and then the cavalry. Cao Hong's horse was strong; although it neighed from the intense heat as soon as it entered the fire, it didn't hesitate and charged forward. Cao Hong suffered some burns, but was otherwise unharmed. The cavalry were lucky; they still had their horses and managed to barely escape the flames. The infantry, however, were doomed. How could they possibly cross the inferno? They didn't have enough water; there was no more water or containers available within the city. Only a small number of infantrymen fought their way through the fire; the rest either suffocated from the thick smoke or perished in the flames within the city walls. The situation was utterly horrific. Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun charged out, but lost most of their men. Some of them scattered and ran away in other directions, some were captured, and some gradually returned to their units.

Cao Hong dared not stop or rest, and reluctantly led his team to continue northward, hoping to join forces with Dian Wei.

After receiving Cao Cao's orders, Dian Wei hastily led 100,000 cavalry, bypassing Luoyang and advancing westward along the Yellow River. The fleeing troops, who were leisurely retreating westward, seemed startled upon seeing Dian Wei and hastily slipped into the city of Mianchi. Dian Wei launched a fierce attack, and the fleeing troops retreated in disarray. Dian Wei, believing the city had fallen, was overjoyed and unsuspectingly rushed into the city. However, he was met with stray arrows in every street and alley, suffering heavy casualties and slowing his advance. The fleeing troops resisted step by step, but when one stronghold could not be held, they would flee to the next. Dian Wei's troops could only mop them up one by one, suffering heavy losses each time. They were bogged down in Mianchi for an entire day.

The battle became even more brutal the next day. They finally encountered the legendary Luo Army's iron cavalry from Guanzhong. The Luo Army cavalry outnumbered them, and the Cao army fought desperately, engaging in an unprecedentedly fierce cavalry duel. The casualties on both sides were roughly 2:1. Eventually, the Luo Army withdrew from the battle and fled into Caoyang City. Dian Wei dared not pursue, and could only advance slowly, planning to attack Caoyang the following day.

However, after Cao Hong occupied Hongnong, Dian Wei's advance seemed much easier. Caoyang City encountered little resistance, but the number of fallen troops seemed small, consisting only of a few cavalry who quickly retreated towards Tongguan after a brief resistance. Dian Wei considered that his mission was to recapture Mianchi and Caoyang, and now that the mission was complete, there was no need to pursue them to Tongguan. Reaching Tongguan would be pointless; he couldn't capture it and might even suffer heavy losses. That night, Dian Wei's army rested in Caoyang.

At night, soldiers shouted that there was a great fire to the south. Dian Wei climbed the city wall and saw it! To the south, it seemed to be Hongnong City. The fire illuminated the south as bright as day, and thick smoke billowed across half the southern sky. Dian Wei's first reaction was to send cavalry to investigate, but then he thought, the enemy situation is unclear, how can (good Zhao) send out troops or divide forces so casually? He could only order his troops to be on high alert. Dian Wei's army spent the night in fear, but nothing happened. At dawn the next day, Dian Wei saw Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, and their cavalry, charred black from the fire on the city wall. These men were covered in soot, their clothes and weapons were all blackened, and they looked terrified.

It turns out that Dian Wei's deployment was a special circumstance on the battlefield. Dian Wei led his cavalry around Luoyang, heading straight for Mianchi and Caoyang, demonstrating Cao Cao's decisiveness. Ma Chao remained calm under pressure, putting up a series of resistances at Mianchi and Caoyang, preventing the main force from being tied down by Dian Wei. Cao Hong's assessment was correct; the main force of the fallen army was indeed forced to concentrate in the north to resist Dian Wei. However, he misjudged two points: first, fighting Dian Wei in the north did not mean they couldn't spare the main force; second, given the speed of the fallen cavalry's movement, the main force could easily be transferred from Mianchi to Hongnong within a few hours, even if the north and south lines were only a matter of hours.

Chapter Forty-Eight: Powerful Gunpowder

Changes in the speed of troop movement signify dramatic shifts in the course of war. For example, during World War II, Germany's blitzkrieg tactics, with its tank corps, annihilated Poland, a major Eastern European power, in just a few months, shocking the world. Faced with this rapidly advancing armored onslaught, the Polish army was simply unable to react and was utterly routed.

The Luo Chen army's cavalry, equipped with stirrups and riding fine horses, became the most elite cavalry of the time. This cavalry was clearly faster than any other force, and Cao Hong assumed that the main force of the Luo Chen army and Dian Wei were engaged in fierce fighting in the north and unable to attend to the south. Unexpectedly, the Luo Chen army used street fighting and other methods to delay Dian Wei's attack, allowing the main force to launch a high-speed raid on Hongnong and deliver a fatal blow to Cao's army.

Of course, another crucial element of this battle was gunpowder. Through diligent research, Zhang Heng finally made significant progress in gunpowder. While the explosive properties of this gunpowder were still unstable, and it lacked advanced technology like cannons, it could still be launched using a traditional catapult, causing it to burn intensely and sometimes explode—making it perfectly usable in actual combat. In its early uses, gunpowder was primarily utilized for its combustion properties; for example, its first use in warfare during the Tang Dynasty was to burn down city gates. Even Zhang Heng, a renowned scholar, could not escape the principles of gunpowder utilization. Clearly, for gunpowder to further unleash its full potential, further research into artillery and the stabilization of its properties were necessary.

Regardless, this still-developing gunpowder easily reduced Hongnong to rubble, burying tens of thousands of Cao Cao's soldiers. This battle clearly left a deep psychological scar on Cao Cao's army, which is understandable, given how futuristic this weapon was. Where in the Three Kingdoms period did such a powerful incendiary weapon exist…?

Upon seeing the fire at Hongnong, Luo Chen deduced that the battle was over and his army had already taken the opportunity to retreat calmly back to the Tongguan area. He then took the southern route, reaching the vicinity of Hongnong, where he indeed encountered no Cao army. Luo Chen galloped all the way and returned safely to Tongguan.

Luo Chen wasn't in a hurry to return to Chang'an. Cao Cao had mobilized a large army; how could he let this go so easily? Luo Chen gazed into the distance from the top of Tongguan Pass; the great fire at Hongnong in the east still seemed to be emitting wisps of smoke…

"My lord, you summoned me here..." Zhang Heng climbed the Tongguan city wall and saw Luo Chen with his back to him, gazing into the distance. "Ah, yes, sir..." Luo Chen snapped out of his reverie and pulled Zhang Heng to the city wall. "Cao Cao's army arrived but found nothing. I predict he won't give up easily and will likely lead his troops to attack Tongguan. I would like to ask you to assist the army in the defense of Tongguan this time, and also to conduct an on-site investigation of the use of gunpowder."

“No problem, no problem.” Zhang Heng readily agreed. “I was just looking forward to seeing how effective the gunpowder was in person. Ma Chao said it was pretty good; it burned down the entire Hongnong.”

"Yes..." Luo Chen nodded, "The power even exceeded my expectations. Cao's army suffered heavy casualties, and the deaths were so gruesome that it was unbearable to look at."

"What a pity..." Zhang Heng sighed. "But this time, the burning of Hongnong used most of my gunpowder... It was obviously a waste. Did Ma Chao fire it randomly? It caused an unprecedented fire. Look, it's still smoking... It's terrifying."

Indeed, Cao Cao's army subsequently arrived at Mianchi, Caoyang, Hongnong, and other places. Cao Cao himself rode to Hongnong. "How could this happen..." Cao Cao was shocked. One can imagine that the fire was extremely large; even dry firewood, or even firewood mixed with oil, could not possibly produce such an intense flame.

“The strength of the Luo army is astonishingly powerful,” Guo Jia said worriedly. “First, their cavalry can launch such a long-distance raid with incredible speed, far surpassing our own. This means the enemy can quickly approach our lines, deliver a fatal blow, and then retreat safely, leaving us no time to react. Why are their cavalry so fast? Second, the Luo army possesses such weapons. I have never seen anything like them in my entire life. These two points are extremely strange…”

“That’s right…” Cao Hong said dejectedly, “I personally witnessed a soldier being blasted into pieces after touching the fireball, accompanied by a huge explosion. That thing was just too powerful…”

"Then you also made command errors!" Cao Cao reprimanded. "The army marched into Hongnong, and then you thought you could rest easy because you didn't know where the enemy was. As a general, you must always pay attention to the enemy's situation and try to figure out their intentions. If the enemy mysteriously disappears right under your nose, you must be very careful!"

"Yes, yes," Cao Hong replied obsequiously.

"I want to see just how powerful the Luo army has become..." Cao Cao gritted his teeth. "All troops, attack! Tongguan!" Nearly 400,000 troops under Cao Cao's command marched forward, heading straight for Tongguan, while more than 100,000 remained on the Luoyang front. This was the second time Cao Cao's army had approached Tongguan.

"What about Hebei?" Guo Jia asked.

"If we don't resolve the matter of Luo Chen now, my rear will never have peace! Moreover, the greatest significance of this battle is to ascertain the strength of Luo Chen's army. Previously, it was Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and others who fought against Luo Chen's army, and as a result, several of their generals suffered heavy losses without exception. This time, I want to see for myself," Cao Cao said. "Luo Chen, this enemy, is becoming increasingly powerful and quite mysterious, which is worrying..."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia nodded in agreement: "Indeed, very mysterious, a bit strange..."

Luo Chen, standing atop Tongguan city walls, watched as Cao Cao's army, divided into three routes—left, center, and right—was arrayed in formation, with siege ladders and other siege equipment ready to attack the city. He couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Lord Cao, all these years have passed, and you're still the same! Still using this method? Isn't there anything more effective?"

Cao Cao was quite annoyed below the city. Had Luo Chen come up with some incredibly powerful new method? He didn't reply, but instead drew his sword and shouted, "Attack!"

Just like a few years ago, the dark mass of Cao Cao's army surged forward like a raging tide.

Several fireballs were hurled from within the city, some striking Cao Cao's soldiers and setting large areas ablaze. Others exploded in mid-air with a deafening roar, instantly killing dozens of Cao Cao's soldiers below, their flesh and blood flying everywhere.

Cao Cao was dumbfounded. Guo Jia reacted quickly: "Lord Cao, retreat quickly! Get away! This thing is too terrifying!" After saying this, he instructed Xu Chu to lead Cao Cao's horse and gallop backward, and he followed suit. Behind them, a large number of fireballs burned everywhere, making crackling sounds, along with the terrified screams of Cao Cao's army.

Seeing that Cao Cao had retreated, the Cao army soldiers, without waiting for orders, hastily and frantically followed him in retreat. Countless soldiers were trampled to death, and the attacking army followed Cao Cao for a long distance before stopping.

Chapter Forty-Nine: Meeting

Meanwhile, while the north was embroiled in fierce fighting, the south remained remarkably peaceful. Liu Bei, along with his founding group, fled to Huang Zhong's territory in Shangyong, temporarily escaping danger. Ma Dai also returned to Tongguan. Only Xu Shu remained in Shangyong to accompany Liu Bei and the others.

Zhang Juzheng was recently in a state of utter disarray. Three rebellions by powerful clans had erupted in Yizhou, a consequence of the implementation of the equal-field system and the militia system, which had severely damaged the interests of these clans. The equal-field system was clearly intended to break down land annexation, but Zhang Juzheng, upon taking office in Yizhou, was enraged to see large landowners annexing vast tracts of land, forcing many peasants into the status of hired laborers, creating a class dependent on these landowners. This not only led to a sharp decline in national tax revenue but also to a shortage of soldiers, severely weakening the feudal state. Upon investigation, he discovered that the large landowners were using their privileges and the power and influence of their powerful clans to forcibly annex the land. In previous years, Yizhou had suffered from severe drought and war, leaving peasants with no way to survive, and landowners had seized vast amounts of land through various means, acquiring it at low prices.

Zhang Juzheng was an iron-fisted ruler; he didn't consult with anyone. His approach to rule was gentle... but he directly dispatched troops to reorganize the land, forcibly implementing the equal-field system and the militia system. This caused many powerful clans to rebel, relying on their local strength. Three rebellions broke out this month alone. Fortunately, Lü Bu was quite capable; his troops swept across the land, quickly routing the rebels. Zhang Juzheng showed no mercy; any rebel leader captured was immediately executed, and their families and powerful clans also faced severe punishments such as execution and exile. Many clans were purged during the suppression of the rebellions... The forced implementation continued, and Zhang Juzheng was spinning like a top, busy handling government affairs reported by various counties, as well as military matters. He also had to oversee personnel appointments and removals... Clearly, Luo Chen trusted him completely, essentially entrusting him with all the power in Yizhou.

“Minister Zhang…” a civil official outside the door said in a low voice. “What is it? Speak quickly, I’m busy,” Zhang Juzheng said impatiently. “Prime Minister… I’m giving you this.” He placed the small piece of paper on the table and slowly withdrew.

"Liu Bei..." Zhang Juzheng glanced at the note, a hint of grumbling in his voice. He was far too busy to be meeting Liu Bei. Why not send Zhuge Liang? Or even have Xu Shu speak to him directly? Wasn't Zhang Song supposed to be a diplomat, always picking fights? The other day, out of boredom, he even held a debate competition in Guanzhong, declaring himself the champion. Why wasn't he allowed to go...?

Despite his grumbling, Zhang Juzheng still had to carry out Luo Chen's orders. He suspected that Luo Chen might not be entirely at ease with Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu, given that both had served under Liu Bei in history… “Come on! Prepare the horses! Hurry to Shangyong!” Zhang Juzheng threw down his mountain of work and ordered urgently, clearly believing that time was money and he didn't want to waste a single minute.

Zhang Juzheng set off that day and arrived in Shangyong the next. Liu Bei was about to take his leave and hinted this to Xu Shu, who had already sent Sun Qian to speak with Liu Biao. Liu Biao was quite hospitable, mindful of their kinship. The Cai family, however, expressed wariness, unwilling to allow Liu Bei's forces to enter Jingzhou. Liu Biao overruled their objections, saying, "Liu Bei is my brother, a great sage! Don't speak nonsense! He's in trouble today; how can I turn him away!"

Xu Shu was quite sincere: "We have no objection to Liu Bei going to Jingzhou. However, Prime Minister Luo Chen heard that you are in Shangyong and specifically instructed Minister Zhang Juzheng to come and meet you. We hope that you will do us the honor..." Liu Bei, seeing this enthusiasm, could not refuse and waited in Shangyong for a day. At dusk, Zhang Juzheng's entourage was already speeding towards them from afar.

Zhang Juzheng's aura was indeed powerful. He was flanked by Imperial Guards personally assigned by Luo Chen, and his carriage was extremely luxurious. This was partly because Zhang Juzheng was inherently flamboyant and not particularly discreet. Secondly, as the governor of Yizhou, Zhang Juzheng always traveled with great fanfare to intimidate the local powerful families. Luo Chen, on the other hand, always traveled simply, usually accompanied by Yan Qing and a few attendants, riding a horse himself. Sometimes, he even traveled alone with Yan Qing. However, he didn't seem to mind Zhang Juzheng's extravagant behavior. Zhang Juzheng was someone Luo Chen had obtained from the system; he was absolutely loyal, and Luo Chen trusted him implicitly, even more than Zhuge Liang.

Zhang Juzheng arrived in Shangyong City in a great hurry. Upon entering the main hall, he found Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, and a group of others already waiting for him. Liu Bei and his subordinates Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Jian Yong, and Mi Fang were also invited.

Hearing the clanging of swords and armor and the sound of orderly footsteps outside the door, Liu Bei guessed that Zhang Juzheng's guards were lining up. Sure enough, Zhang Juzheng entered the main hall a moment later. This Zhang Juzheng was dressed in a red Ming Dynasty official robe, embroidered with cranes, made of exquisite silk. Liu Bei felt that the attire was somewhat strange, but it was indeed luxurious and exquisite, displaying a powerful aura. As for his hat, Liu Bei found it a bit comical. Zhang Juzheng glanced around and saw that the person with large ears was sitting at the head of the guest's seat, which he guessed was the legendary Liu Bei. He then forced a smile and hurriedly went over, bowing and saying, "Uncle Liu, Uncle Liu, I have long heard of your great name, a hero of the world. Meeting you today greatly fulfills my lifelong desire." Liu Bei hurriedly rose and returned the bow, saying, "I have long heard of your decisive and efficient governance, and your ability to govern the country effectively. You are a capable assistant to Prime Minister Luo. It is an honor to meet you today."

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After exchanging pleasantries and compliments, they sat down. Zhang Juzheng, an arrogant and disdainful man, knew better than to be swayed by Luo Chen's high regard for Liu Bei. He began by flattering Luo Chen, saying, "Prime Minister Luo is currently commanding a large army in the north, engaged in fierce battles with Cao Cao's forces. He is unable to attend to the matter and has entrusted me to pay my respects to the Imperial Uncle. Once the northern campaign is over, the Prime Minister will certainly make a special trip to visit you." Liu Bei, ever the smooth talker, avoided the main issue and replied humbly, "I have long wished to pay my respects to Prime Minister Luo. You are a young hero, admired throughout the land… Cao Cao is my greatest enemy, but unfortunately, my forces are weak, and I have repeatedly been unable to defeat him…" He then sighed.

Zhang Juzheng was getting impatient. He had long heard that Liu Bei had suffered repeated defeats, and while his perseverance was admirable, what good was perseverance alone? Zhang Juzheng abandoned his roundabout approach and said directly, "Prime Minister Luo admires the Imperial Uncle's talent and has heard that the Imperial Uncle wishes to go to Jingzhou… But Liu Biao of Jingzhou has no ambition. How can the Imperial Uncle display his talents? I, Prime Minister Luo…"

Before Zhang Juzheng could finish speaking, Liu Bei laughed and said, "I appreciate the Prime Minister's kindness, but Liu Biao is my kinsman..." He then recounted Liu Biao's welcoming words to him.

Zhang Juzheng smiled outwardly, but inwardly he was unconvinced. Perhaps Liu Biao feared the Cai family's growing power, which posed a threat to the Liu family of Jingzhou, and thus brought in Liu Bei, a member of the same clan, to counterbalance the Cai family's influence…

Chapter Fifty On the City Tower

Liu Bei politely declined Zhang Juzheng's invitation. Zhang Juzheng, left with no other option, said, "In that case, if you, my lord, ever need anything in the future, Prime Minister Luo and I, Zhang Juzheng, will certainly do our utmost to assist you. Please don't hesitate to ask." Liu Bei quickly thanked him.

Xu Shu said with some worry, "Cao Cao has great ambitions. After conquering Hebei, he will surely march south. At that time, Jingzhou will be in great danger. If Liu Biao is still alive, the situation will be better, but if Liu Biao passes away, the situation will be extremely dangerous. Imperial Uncle, you must be careful." Liu Bei nodded in agreement and sighed, "Cao Cao is powerful. At that time, I, Liu Bei, can only do my best to fulfill my responsibilities and not let down Liu Biao and the people of Jingzhou."

Huang Zhong disagreed: "As you all know, according to the latest battle reports from the front, Cao Cao has gathered an army of 500,000 to besiege Tong Pass, but suffered a major defeat in the first battle. Now, from north to south, the entire western region of the country is under the control of our Prime Minister Luo. Cao Cao will definitely be wary. Based on this analysis, Cao Cao may not dare to send troops."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head repeatedly: "Cao Cao is powerful. If he takes Hebei, his strength will probably even surpass that of Prime Minister Luo. The Central Plains are rich, economically developed, and densely populated, which is incomparable to our western regions. If Cao Cao takes Hebei, he will basically possess the combined strength of Cao Cao himself and Yuan Shao. His power is unimaginable." Xu Shu nodded in agreement: "This time, Cao Cao's western expedition has amassed an army of 500,000 in just a few days, all of them field armies with regular formations. Such a powerful mobilization capability comes from the strong economic and population strength of the Central Plains. To be honest, our western regions cannot achieve such a powerful mobilization."

"How does Luo Chen Xiang plan to deal with Cao Cao's western expedition?" Liu Bei asked curiously.

“Um…” Zhang Juzheng and the others hesitated. Gunpowder was a highly confidential matter, and gunpowder technology was strictly forbidden from being divulged. Only Luo Chen's top confidants knew about the Luo Army's gunpowder capabilities. Zhang Juzheng, Xu Shu, and Huang Zhong clearly dared not speak of it casually. Liu Bei immediately noticed this and cupped his hands, saying, “If there is anything that is inconvenient to disclose, please do not trouble yourself.”

Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and then said, “At present, although our army is far outnumbered by Cao Cao’s army at Tongguan, we have a considerable advantage in combat strength. Therefore, it will be difficult for Cao Cao’s army to break through Tongguan. If Cao Cao’s army insists on going ahead, it may repeat the mistakes of the previous bloody battle at Tongguan.”

"So, your army doesn't feel any pressure keeping Cao Cao out of Tong Pass?" Liu Bei asked.

“That’s right, you could interpret it that way. Cao Cao’s army would be better off withdrawing voluntarily, otherwise it would be detrimental to both sides,” Zhang Juzheng sneered. “To be honest, Uncle, Prime Minister Luo just notified all the senior generals this morning, requesting them to discuss a reasonable plan for marching north to attack the Xiongnu. Our army doesn’t have time to get entangled with Cao Cao and delay our important business.”

"Your army intends to march north to attack the Xiongnu?" Liu Bei was astonished. "Currently, Cao Cao has a massive army of fifty thousand men at Tong Pass. Cao Cao will further expand his power, making him a formidable enemy. The Xiongnu's land is barren; defeating them wouldn't actually bring much benefit..."

“Indeed…” Zhang Juzheng seemed to have a headache as well. “From my perspective, I disagree with sending troops. The Central Plains are in chaos right now. We should first pacify China and then attack the surrounding barbarians. Although the Xiongnu are arrogant now, they have maintained a temporary peace with us and have not launched a large-scale invasion. So the best solution is obviously to maintain peace and focus on dealing with the affairs of the Central Plains. I wonder what Prime Minister Luo thinks… I will submit a memorial to Prime Minister Luo to express my opinion.”

Xu Shu and Huang Zhong were clearly also skeptical about attacking the Xiongnu, but neither of them spoke. They speculated that Luo Chen might have some ulterior motives...

The two chatted for a while longer. Because of Luo Chen's edict, which told Zhang Juzheng not to force the issue, Zhang Juzheng organized a banquet, and afterwards saw Liu Bei and his subordinates off.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao's army suffered a crushing defeat in their first battle, their ranks thrown into chaos as they retreated several miles in a frenzy. They gradually calmed down, hastily forming a defensive formation, but surprisingly, no pursuers followed. Still reeling from the initial shock, Cao Cao's army fortified their camps for two days, gathering bows, arrows, catapults, and other equipment, and dared not launch another attack.

Luo Chen gazed from the Tongguan city wall at Cao Cao's heavily fortified camp. Clearly, Cao Cao's army dared not launch another attack easily this time, and instead frantically gathered weapons and prepared their equipment. Cao Cao, uncertain of the situation, did not make any further decisions, but merely ordered his army to prepare for battle.

"Prime Minister Luo..." someone said softly from behind. Luo Chen turned around and saw Zhang Heng and Ma Chao standing behind him, as if they had something to report.

"What brings you two here?" Luo Chen asked quickly, noticing their serious expressions.

"It seems our army has used up a lot of gunpowder in this battle..." Zhang Heng said worriedly. "I looked from the city wall, how come Cao Cao's army is so large!" Obviously, Zhang Heng was just a scientist, not a military commander. Cao Cao's army of hundreds of thousands attacked the city at the same time. There was a dark mass of troops below the city, and the sound of drums could be heard for miles around. As far as the eye could see, there were Cao Cao's army flags everywhere. If one had never led troops into battle, this formation was indeed frightening.

"Yes..." Luo Chen nodded in understanding. "So, to what extent have we depleted our ammunition? How much longer can we last?"

“Judging from this situation, we can fight twice more,” Zhang Heng said.

Luo Chen was somewhat surprised. Two attacks? During the Battle of Tongguan, Cao Cao's army attacked over a hundred times, and our army fought tenaciously, suffering extremely heavy losses. They had thought that gunpowder, that powerful contraption, would completely turn the tide, but after two attacks, they were done for… back to square one. "How could the consumption be so high? Didn't your team manufacture a large amount of gunpowder? I saw Lin Chong directing soldiers to transport it by the barrel and crate for several days, mobilizing tens of thousands of men. How could it be so fast?"

"Prime Minister, you are unaware... the main problem is that Cao Cao's army is too numerous," Ma Chao said dejectedly. "Cao Cao's army attacks from all directions, firing gunpowder non-stop, which quickly depletes their reserves. Cao Cao's army is like swarms of ants... Moreover, in this battle of February 2.9th, most of Cao Cao's soldiers were seeing gunpowder for the first time, and they were all frightened away after a while. If Cao Cao's army attacks for a longer time next time, I'm afraid I can only hold out for one more time..."

“Just once…” Luo Chen murmured, “This won’t do…”

"Have you ever heard of cannons?" Luo Chen suddenly turned to Zhang Heng. "What? Cannons...?" Zhang Heng was clearly confused, which was understandable, since although he was a scientist, he was a Han Dynasty person.

"Hehehe... Let me demonstrate for you." Luo Chen said, taking the ox horn used by the cavalry for signaling. "Look, with a tube like this, if it's cast from steel into a regular cylindrical shape, and cannonballs are stuffed inside, you can find a way to precisely fire the cannonballs into the enemy camp. And I can roughly control the landing point of the cannonballs."

Chapter 51 Sun Yuanhua

“Cannonballs…” Zhang Heng was still confused. “Cannonballs can explode? Are cannonballs made of gunpowder?”

"Almost, almost..." Luo Chen, being a liberal arts student, clearly couldn't explain it clearly either. But Zhang Heng's comprehension was obviously excellent. "In this way... it means improving the accuracy of gunpowder firing, the gunpowder exploding, and accurately hitting the target. This greatly reduces the amount of gunpowder used... Is that correct?"

"Yes, yes," Luo Chen said, quite pleased. If a modern person were to explain something the ancients had never seen before, the ancients would certainly find it difficult to accept, because it would be unimaginable and something they had never witnessed. Unexpectedly, Zhang Heng understood Luo Chen's intention quite accurately. This surprised Luo Chen; he had thought Zhang Heng wouldn't understand at all. Ma Chao, however, looked completely bewildered.

"Look," Luo Chen said with great interest, "If this bull horn is a cannon, now aim, light the fuse, and launch the cannonball. After a certain amount of time, the cannonball will reach its designated position." As he spoke, Luo Chen pointed the bull horn at a sword left behind by Cao Cao's army below the city. He pointed with his hand: "Fire now! Explode!" With a loud "boom," the spot where Luo Chen pointed exploded precisely, and the sword was instantly shattered into pieces.

Zhang Heng and Ma Chao were both greatly surprised, as Luo Chen rarely displayed this ability in front of others. He had only used it once before, when he was angry after watching a gunpowder explosion demonstration.

"Well, Mr. Zhang Heng, can you make it?" Luo Chen asked.

Zhang Heng was engrossed in watching, both surprised and fascinated, and extremely excited. When Luo Chen asked him a question, he immediately wilted. Although he understood, Luo Chen had only explained it briefly and was asking him to do it—clearly, it was too much to ask. Many of the principles were hundreds or even thousands of years ahead of their time. "Your Majesty… this seems very difficult. Without a detailed explanation, I am ill-equipped to handle it."

“Yes, yes,” Luo Chen nodded. “There must be a detailed explanation, otherwise it’s impossible to do. We’re not gods…” Luo Chen looked at Zhang Heng. This thin scientist seemed quite tired, with dark circles under his eyes. He seemed even thinner than when Luo Chen last saw him.

"Oh dear! Mr. Zhang Heng, you don't seem to have rested well. This can't go on..." Luo Chen was even a little panicked. Zhang Heng was a pillar of the nation's science and technology, and also the principal of Chang'an Academy. Without Zhang Heng, many technological advancements would be delayed. Zhang Heng couldn't afford to fall ill. Luo Chen had been feeding him fish and meat supplements every day for the past few days, but Zhang Heng still hadn't gained weight... "Mr. Zhang seems to need a helper..."

Luo Chen mentally commanded, "Open the system." The system hadn't been opened in a long time. The last time was to acquire Zhang Heng at great expense. But now it seemed that acquiring Zhang Heng was Luo Chen's most worthwhile investment, bringing immense value, mainly because this talent greatly promoted technological development. Since the last time the system was opened, Luo Chen's controlled territory hadn't expanded much, but due to Zhang Juzheng's strong promotion of the equal-field system and the militia system, Luo Chen's strength had greatly increased. The economic strength of Guanzhong and its western regions, as well as Yizhou, had greatly developed, and the population had also increased considerably. Although it couldn't compare to the Central Plains, the gap had narrowed considerably. Since the last time, due to Yuan Shao's major defeat, Cao Cao's strength had increased, and the overall situation was somewhat unfavorable for Luo Chen. But this was almost historically inevitable, because Luo Chen's strategic choice was to attack Yizhou and abandon Yuan Shao. Now that Yizhou had been conquered and Yuan Shao had suffered a major defeat, it was expected, and overall, this was Luo Chen's choice that maximized his interests. Because of the Xu Shu incident, Luo Chen's army and Cao Cao's army mobilized large numbers of troops. Luo Chen also took the initiative to lead his army to attack Cao Cao's northern military defense positions centered on Luoyang. The facts show that Cao Cao's forces were numerous and powerful, and could not be easily taken. Furthermore, Cao Cao's army possessed immense strength and mobilization capabilities, making them a formidable opponent.

Luo Chen checked and found that his control power had increased to 25, almost doubling. This surprised him; the equal-field system and the militia system must have greatly increased the power of his controlled areas. His internal cultivation power was 15, not bad either, as he had used it all up last time. He clicked on the internal cultivation power section and searched for "artillery." Sure enough, a book titled "Artillery Technology" appeared, along with some craftsmen and even an expert named Sun Yuanhua. Luo Chen looked at it; this man was a famous gunpowder expert from the Ming Dynasty who made significant contributions in resisting the Jin and suppressing bandits. Even more impressive was that his teacher was the renowned technologist Xu Guangqi. Luo Chen searched for Xu Guangqi and found that the system had placed him in the control power section at level 18. Luo Chen hesitated but didn't move; it was too expensive… He returned to the artillery search section. Sun Yuanhua's requirement was level 12, cheaper, and one Sun Yuanhua should be enough. The book "Gunpowder Technology" consumed level 5, perfect. It seemed his internal cultivation power was about to run out again; it seemed he still didn't have enough. Luo Chen selected the book on Sun Yuanhua and artillery manufacturing, and clicked "Confirm." A hollow system notification immediately sounded: "Insufficient internal cultivation power. You can exchange for a character using control power. Exchange?" So, both control power and internal cultivation power could be used to exchange for a character. Luo Chen clicked "Continue." A bright light appeared, and "Artillery Technology" was already in his hand, with Sun Yuanhua beside him, saying, "My lord, 730."

Zhang Heng was preoccupied with the task Luo Chen had given him, so he didn't pay attention. Ma Chao, seeing a living person appear out of nowhere, couldn't help but stick out his tongue.

"Mr. Zhang Heng," Luo Chen said smugly, tossing him the book "Artillery Technology." "How about it? Can you understand it?" Zhang Heng hurriedly flipped through the book; it was a detailed explanation of Luo Chen's idea, and he was overjoyed. Although Zhang Heng was proficient in chemistry and astronomy, he was still somewhat lacking in mechanical engineering, and this would obviously require a lot of his effort, which worried Luo Chen. So he said, "Mr. Zhang Heng, I've found you an expert, Sun Yuanhua."

Sun Yuanhua was also a thin old man, and the scientist Luo Chen had found looked quite similar... But Sun Yuanhua had led troops and fought in battles, so he seemed stronger, even though he looked very thin... Sun Yuanhua also came over, clearly confident, and understood it without much effort, saying repeatedly, "Not bad, not bad! Very detailed, many parts seem to have been optimized."

Luo Chen was overjoyed to see that he recognized him. He said, "Mr. Sun, you will serve as the Deputy Director of the National Technology Bureau, assisting Mr. Zhang Heng in his work. Furthermore, you will be the head of the Artillery Bureau, fully responsible for this artillery task. Mr. Zhang Heng will provide assistance and guidance."

Chapter Fifty-Two: Conferring Rank

It is said that Luo Chen used the system to exchange for Sun Yuanhua, an artillery expert, and ordered him to be fully responsible for the technological breakthroughs in artillery manufacturing.

Luo Chen suddenly realized that neither of them seemed to hold official titles and were outside the civil service system. When the civil service was ranked back then, Luo Chen hadn't considered technical personnel. Perhaps it was because there hadn't been any major technological breakthroughs at the time, making it difficult for Luo Chen to rank them; also, it was a strictly confidential matter, not to be publicized. But now, Zhang Heng alone was the principal of the Chang'an Academy, and the term "National Technology Bureau" had been used publicly. The National Technology Bureau quickly became a powerful institution, receiving substantial funding, and in principle only responsible to Luo Chen, already employing hundreds of thousands of artisans and soldiers. Zhang Heng's reputation soared; he was a renowned "technical expert," a contemporary great scholar. Officials in the capital were all humbled before Zhang Heng, addressing him as "teacher" or "sir," and even high-ranking civil officials like Zhuge Liang showed him respect. Now, in principle, it should be appropriate to rank Zhang Heng and others.

After considering for a moment, Luo Chen said, "Mr. Zhang Heng, you have worked diligently for us for so many days, achieving a qualitative breakthrough in gunpowder technology. Your contributions are truly invaluable... According to the civil official ranking system, I appoint you as... a military advisor. What do you say?" Ma Chao, standing beside him, couldn't help but stick out his tongue again upon hearing this. As everyone knows, there is currently only one civil official at the military advisor level: Zhuge Liang, the head of the close advisors. Generally speaking, Zhuge Liang assists Luo Chen in managing state affairs, and serves as regent when Luo Chen goes on campaigns—a position of immense power. The only one comparable to Zhuge Liang is the Grand Minister Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Juzheng first served as the governor of Guanzhong and the areas west of it. After conquering Yizhou, Luo Chen transferred him to be the governor of Yizhou. He implemented the equal-field system and the militia system with swift and decisive measures, becoming Luo Chen's favorite and a vanguard in promoting Luo Chen's national institutional reforms. He can be said to be Luo Chen's most trusted person. However, Zhang Juzheng did not hold a position in the prime minister's office but officially served as the Grand Minister in the court, so he did not have a formal ranking. However, in terms of general treatment and status, Zhang Juzheng was only at the rank of military advisor. Now, Luo Chen's direct promotion of Zhang Heng to the same rank is somewhat unexpected. Zhang Heng was not a statesman, rarely involved in politics, and not someone who engaged in strategic rule. To put it bluntly, he was someone who researched various technologies. Luo Chen's direct promotion of him to the rank of military advisor shows that Luo Chen values ​​practical technologies, national systems, and strategies equally.