Chapter 350 349 Chen Ju's Secret Visit

Wei Guangde learned about the combat experience of Yu Dayou's chariot from Chen You. Although he felt that this thing had some effect, to be honest, the so-called actual combat was not very valuable.

The two sides were at best just confronting each other, and there were some feints, but in the end there was no big fight. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to judge the true power of this new weapon in the battlefield environment.

Of course, Wei Guangde also knew that the current Mongolian cavalry, due to the lack of iron materials, can only organize light cavalry units. Even Altan Khan's headquarters did not form a heavy cavalry unit for breakthrough.

The current Mongolian cavalry is similar to the kite-flying tactics used in later generations to play games and fight monsters. They wander around the enemy's army and throw arrows to attack the enemy until the enemy can't withstand the attack and the army collapses. They will take advantage of the situation to kill into the enemy's army.

As long as they can defend against the Tartar cavalry's projectiles and the army stands firm, after the confrontation, the Mongolian cavalry will most likely choose a tactical retreat because there is no good opportunity.

In Yu Dayou's battle, it is obvious that the Tartars were troubled by insufficient manpower.

Although Yu Dayou's troops are similar to theirs, don't forget that there are still hundreds of Ming troops in Niuxinbao nearby. They are not comparable to those military households in the mainland who don't know what war is. They have been fighting with the Tartars in the border towns for many years, and their combat effectiveness is also quite strong.

Although the Ming army is nominally divided into two groups, it is actually three groups. The thousand Tartars need to be divided into three forces for defense, and they also need to choose key attack targets.

The Ming army in Niuxinbao needs to allocate a small number of cavalry for surveillance, and the 200 cavalry in the rear of the Ming army also need to allocate corresponding cavalry for response, so that the remaining cavalry that can attack the Ming army infantry will be greatly reduced.

So when they found that the Ming army had a slight advantage in manpower, and the other side used a weapon they had never seen before, they found that they could not take advantage after several attempts, and it is understandable that they gave up this military action on their own initiative.

The role of the chariot can also be seen by the Tartars. The baffle is too obvious. It is to defend against their rain of arrows. It is equivalent to the sword and shield soldiers in front of the Ming army before, but this thing has a larger defense area.

After asking the messenger to go down and have a rest, Wei Guangde went back to the Hanlin Academy to think about this matter after having lunch at home.

The letter paper was also laid out on the desk, and he was thinking about how to reply to Yu Dayou.

It was very simple to test the court's opinion, but Wei Guangde felt that it seemed a bit too hasty to do this now.

The court would not turn a blind eye to weapons with actual combat effects. Even if the cost was extremely high, a small number of troops would be equipped instead of being shelved. Moreover, Yu Dayou made a low-profile infantry fighting vehicle.

Compared with the chariots equipped by the Ming army before, the cost of the unicycle chariot was much cheaper. If its effect was proved after actual combat tests, there was no reason not to equip it.

And the reason why it was too hasty was that it was not really put into the battlefield. The unicycle chariot looked so simple, how could it convince people.

Although the cost of a chariot is low, it does not mean that the national treasury can be wasted wantonly. Now that the court is in a tight financial situation, it is time to save money. The Qingliu people are naturally willing to take advantage of Datong.

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde picked up the pen and wrote down his thoughts on the letter paper.

The cost of a chariot is not high. If Datong has sufficient funds, it can allocate a sum of money from the government office to build some, draw troops for relevant training, and wait for the Tartars to attack the military forts around Datong to conduct an actual combat, a real combat.

After the actual combat effect is achieved, apply for the court's military expenses, and allocate the expenses of the Datong government office from the military expenses.

Otherwise, with the combat power of the current chariot, it is difficult for the court to accept it, let alone allocate funds for it. Even if according to Yu Dayou's idea, the establishment of seven chariot battalions is only a thousand chariots, and the required military expenses are only a thousand taels, it is difficult for the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to accept it.

In fact, even if Li Wenjin, the governor of Datong, wrote a letter about this matter at this time, it would probably only attract the attention of some people in the court, but it would only be attention rather than support.

You know, if the chariot is really effective, it is absolutely impossible for Datong to build such weapons alone. The nine important towns and the Beijing camp must be equipped.

After writing the letter, Wei Guangde did not put it into the envelope immediately, but planned to go back at night and think about it.

At this time, Wei Guangde thought of Gao Gong.

Gao Gong is a relatively strong person. He has always advocated a strong counterattack on the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Mongolian Tartars.

On this point, he and Emperor Jiajing have the same attitude.

Let Lu Bu go out and call Zhang Ji, "Take my letter to invite Mr. Gao Gong, I will treat you at Xifeng Tower tonight."

Wei Guangde did not call other people, including his fellow villagers, and planned to talk to Gao Gong alone about the matter in Datong, and also asked him to take care of Yu Dayou who was exiled there.

The two men had very different official positions. Gao Gong knew more about the government affairs in advance than Wei Guangde. Sometimes, if the topic of discussion involved Yu Dayou, Gao Gong could help to turn things around.

Time was a bit tight. After all, it was already afternoon, and it was unknown whether Gao Gong could keep the appointment.

"If you meet Mr. Gao and he agrees to keep the appointment, you should go back to the mansion first and bring me the letter from Datong that is pressed by the paperweight on the desk in my study."

Wei Guangde would certainly not let Gao Gong see the letter written by Yu Dayou. He just wanted to use the picture of the chariot drawn by Yu Dayou.

Unfortunately, Lu Bu returned to the Hanlin Academy soon.

"Master, Mr. Gao has an appointment tonight, but I have an appointment with him for a banquet at Xifeng Tower tomorrow night."

Hearing Lu Bu's words, Wei Guangde nodded.

Since it was not a big deal, there was no reason why Gao Gong had to come. In fact, when he explained to Zhang Ji at the beginning, he made it clear that Gao Gong would go home to pick up the things if he agreed to keep the appointment.

"knew."

Wei Guangde nodded and agreed.

There were no arrangements for that night, and Wei Guangde did not go home directly after getting off duty. Instead, he went out to drink and listen to music with his colleagues, and played until he was almost under night ban before saying goodbye and returning home.

However, Wei Guangde was a little stunned after entering the door. The front lobby was actually brightly lit.

The Wei family is rich, but they are not so rich as to use lamp oil and candles arbitrarily.

At this time in the evening, except for the rooms where the guards stay, other rooms will usually turn off the lights early to rest. As for places like the lobby, it must have been pitch dark.

There were lights on inside, and it looked like there were a lot of candles lit. Wei Guangde knew that this could only happen if there were distinguished guests.

"Who's coming?"

Wei Guangde asked the concierge, who was closing the door and had not had time to report the situation at home to Wei Guangde.

At this time, when he heard Wei Guangde's question, he hurriedly stopped what he was doing, walked to Wei Guangde's side and whispered, "Sir, Eunuch Chen from the palace is here. Madam has asked someone to prepare tea to serve him."

Hearing this, Wei Guangde frowned slightly and said, "Why didn't anyone notify me?"

Wei Guangde's whereabouts are known to his family.

When a guest comes to visit, the lady does not arrange for someone to deliver a letter to her, asking him to go back early, and makes the guest wait for a long time. This is a very rude behavior.

"Eunuch Chen didn't allow us to deliver the letter. He came in secret. No one else knew except the people around me and my wife."

The man hurriedly leaned into Wei Guangde's ear and whispered, "Madam, she gave up now. It's not that I didn't come to report to the master, but that Eunuch Chen and Madam refused to let me do it."

Without enough time to go back and change clothes, Wei Guangde walked directly towards the living room.

When I entered the door, I saw that it was Chen Ju sitting in the room, drinking tea and reading a book in his hand. No wonder there were so many candles in the room, making it so bright.

Of course Wei Guangde would not be reluctant to part with those few candles, just for a few pennies, but he was a little curious in his heart as to why he came to his home today.

Wei Guangde clearly remembered that on the boat that day, Chen Ju told him that he would have to reduce the number of meetings between the two of them in the future if there was no big deal.

"Brother Chen, what brought you here?"

When Wei Guangde entered the room, he cheerfully clasped his fists and said to Chen Ju.

Chen Ju raised his head and glanced at Wei Guangde, then put down the book in his hand, smiled and nodded from Wei Guangde, then glanced at the door, the meaning was self-evident.

Wei Guangde whispered a few words to Zhang Ji who followed behind him, and then Zhang Ji turned around and left.

Wei Guangde smiled and walked to Chen Ju and sat down. He didn't say anything, but just looked at him curiously.

After waiting for a while, Chen Ju estimated that Zhang Ji had already cleaned the outside, and then he reached out to pick up the teacup on the coffee table and took a few sips before putting it down.

Glancing at Wei Guangde, there was no impatient expression on his face, and then he chuckled. However, Wei Guangde relaxed in his heart, knowing that he did not have any unfavorable news for him and wanted to inform him in advance. Chen Ju's expression suddenly changed, and his expression became serious and solemn.

Seeing this, Wei Guangde's heart skipped a beat for no reason.

He was certain that something big had happened to Chen Ju, otherwise he would not have broken the rules they had agreed upon before.

"I'm here this time mainly to remind you to be careful with your food and accommodation in the future."

When Chen Ju finished speaking, Wei Guangde's eyes widened and he stared at him in shock.

After a while, Wei Guangde asked carefully: "Brother, what do you mean by this?"

"Haha. Look."

As he spoke, Chen Ju raised his right hand and showed it to Wei Guangde. Wei Guangde realized belatedly that at some point, he had something that should be a silver needle sandwiched between his two fingers.

"Brother, do you mean someone wants to harm me?"

When Wei Guangde saw this, he still didn't understand the meaning of Chen Ju's words, but there was still something wrong in his understanding.

"Haha. Who would want to harm you? He must have done too many bad things."

Chen Ju was just joking.

"Then what's the meaning of brother's words?"

Wei Guangde heard that Chen Ju did not say that anyone was trying to harm him, but he still couldn't let go.

He knew that Chen Ju would not act without aim. Since he came here tonight, he must have his own motives.

"My godfather heard news about Governor Lu."

At this time, Chen Ju opened his mouth and said something earth-shattering.

"Captain Lu? Lu Bing?"

Wei Guangde only heard the beginning, then he uttered a sound of surprise, and then covered his mouth with one hand.

Because at this time, Chen Ju raised his right hand and swung his index finger from side to side, signaling Wei Guangde to be quiet.

But what Wei Guangde didn't know was that Chen Ju was still a little proud at this time.

He was also shocked and inexplicable when he heard the news, but he seemed to be much calmer than Wei Guangde, if it weren't for the fact that his crotch was slightly wet.

"Brother, you should just tell me what Eunuch Gao is going to say."

Wei Guangde finally lost his patience and started asking questions.

It was about Lu Bing, but Lu Bing was already dead. Combined with Chen Ju's previous reminder to be careful about what he ate, and the dazzling silver needle, they were both telling him that he was in danger.

When others are in danger, Wei Guangde can still stay out of it, but now it seems that he is also involved.

Although Wei Guangde thinks that he has not offended anyone, sometimes people may not know that they have offended someone.

If you block someone's path to promotion, it is also an offense, and you may not know it yourself. At this time, all he can think about is whether the Zuo Zhongyun of Zuo Chunfang, the Zuo Chunfang of Zhanshi Mansion, who was promoted by the imperial appointment, has been targeted by someone, and he has caused others to hate him.

Although Huang Jin is low-key, it seems that the entire Dongchang is not noticed by the officialdom, but it is Dongchang after all, a powerful role that all officials once talked about.

Seeing Wei Guangde frightened, Chen Ju continued, "The emperor asked the East Factory to investigate the cause of Governor Lu's death. You should have heard about the cause of Governor Lu's death."

At this point, Chen Ju saw Wei Guangde nod, and then said, "According to the news received by godfather, the East Factory has discovered that the batch of pills has been tampered with. Only the surface is poisonous. Peel off the surface of the pills, and the inside is harmless to eat."

"You mean, Governor Lu was poisoned to death? Who did it? The target is. Your Majesty?"

At this point, Wei Guangde's eyes widened, a little shocked by his own guess.

Someone wants to poison the emperor, which is regicide. If caught, the family will be confiscated and the clan will be exterminated.

Who would do this?

What's the benefit?

Chen Ju shook his head, "We are still investigating. Is the target the emperor or someone else? However, judging from the current situation, it may not be aimed at the emperor.

Everyone in the palace knows that after the elixir is produced, someone has to test it. The toxicity is so strong that it will take effect soon after people eat it, and they can't wait for the emperor to take it.

So, this matter is strange. Neither the godfather nor the eunuch Huang thinks that this is a conspiracy against the emperor. It seems that they want to poison Lu Bing."

At this time, Wei Guangde has lowered his head and his mind is calculating rapidly.

In fact, it is very simple to think about it. That is, whoever benefits the most from Lu Bing's death, then that person may be the murderer.

In addition, this murderer can reach into the West Garden, and there are not many families in the capital who can do this.

Undoubtedly, Wei Guangde only thought of one person, that is Yan Song.

The relationship between Yan Song and Lu Bing is not a secret in the circle of dignitaries in the capital.

Combined with what Lu Yi said to Wei Guangde alone when Wei Guangde went to the Lu Mansion to pay his respects that day, Wei Guangde realized that perhaps the Lu family had some guesses at that time, but they were not sure.

Moreover, Lu Bing was dead after all.

The Lu family was not sure if they really let go and investigated. Even if the results were finally found, would Emperor Jiajing be fair to their family?

At that time, perhaps they were more worried about the Yan family's next blow to the Lu family.

It seemed reasonable, but Wei Guangde always felt something was wrong.

Would an old fox like Yan Song do such a thing?