Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 216: Trends Are Moving

Kah Khan is dead.

The generals on the grassland were filled with grief.

In order to preserve the existing morale, Li Hao had to conceal the news of Kah Khan's death from the outside world, only saying that he was injured, and vigorously recruited doctors to treat Kah Khan.

Among them, Dr. Zhang, who knew the truth, was naturally silenced.

Li Hao has already begun preparations for retreat.

During this period, Bazin became a little depressed.
He called Gao Zhi to drink with him.

Gao Zhi thought that Bazin was in a bad mood because of the death of Kah Khan, so he tried to comfort him.

Unexpectedly, Bazin shook his head and said:
"That's not the case. I just didn't expect that the cowardly Tuole would inherit the Khan throne..."

As he spoke, Bazan told Gao Zhi about the difference between Kah Khan's eldest son Tuolei and his second son Duolei.

In Bazin's eyes, Kah Khan's eldest son Tuolei was weak, indecisive, and liked to learn useless Han culture and etiquette. He was an outlier on the grassland.

The second son, Dolei, was brave and good at fighting, decisive in his actions, and good at riding and archery, which obviously better fit the image of the Khan in his mind.

Before, Bazan was just a small guard chief beside Kah Khan. He had no chance to make a name for himself. His martial arts skills were the only thing that impressed him. Therefore, he had a good relationship with Duo Lei, who was also good at martial arts. Unexpectedly, it was Duo Lei who inherited the Khan's throne...

Bazin sighed and expressed great regret that Dorei could not inherit the throne.

After listening to Bazin's story, Gao Zhi fell into deep thought.

Bazin may just be a little depressed.

But Gao Zhi is different.

Gao Zhi, who was familiar with the changes of dynasties in China over thousands of years, realized the problem almost instantly.

"Bazan, you said the Khan finally kept Li Hao. What did he say?"

Bazin scratched his head and said:
"After the Prime Minister came out, he told everyone that the Khan had told him how to retreat."

Gao Zhi narrowed his eyes and said:
"If we are just discussing the withdrawal, why do we need a private meeting?"

"This..." Bazin also noticed something was wrong.

"So what did they say?"

Bazin inquired.

Gao Zhi speculated:
"The Khan passed the throne to the eldest son, but did not mention the second son at all. I'm afraid this shameful statement is to instruct Li Hao to get rid of the second son and his followers!"

"what!"

Bazin's face was filled with horror. Wasn't he one of the Second Young Master's followers?

No wonder Kah Khan had to go and talk to Li Hao alone.

Gao Zhi guessed Kah Khan's thoughts almost completely with just a few words.

This is not because Gao Zhi is a prophet. It is just that similar things are common in the history of China. As long as you know a little about history, you can guess the general situation.

"We need to prepare for this early!"

Gao Zhi said.

Bazin nodded solemnly.

Outside, Fang Yong was busy arranging soldiers to attack the city.

The two sentences that Kah Khan managed to say after being shot by an arrow barely restored the morale of the grassland soldiers.

But not much.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Kah Khan was seriously injured, but they didn't know how serious his injury was. The morale of the grassland soldiers was still very low. If Kah Khan didn't show up, the city might be captured in the next few days.

With great vigor and determination, thousands of troops rushed out.

Artillery fire roared all night long and flames burned fiercely on the city walls.

Although it was winter, the grassland soldiers guarding the city were sweating profusely.

Underground, engineers were waving shovels and were almost digging to the bottom of the city.

While the siege was fierce outside, the people inside were also making corresponding efforts.

Those who had been rescued by Li Ni before made use of their connections one by one.

Gunpowder Manufacturing Bureau of the Ministry of Industry. Luo Daqing stared at the manufacturing site with bloodshot eyes.

He was a craftsman in the Ministry of Industry, specializing in making gunpowder.

Hereditary craftsmen like him originally had no rank, but after Emperor Longqing's new policy reforms, the status of some craftsmen in the Ministry of Works was elevated, including Luo Daqing.

He was promoted to the ninth rank of craftsman, specifically responsible for managing the production of gunpowder.

Luo Daqing contributed to Fang Yong’s powerful artillery.

After the grassland people entered the city, they sent soldiers to surround Luo Daqing's yard, threatened Luo Daqing's family, and ordered Luo Daqing to make gunpowder for the grassland.

Luo Daqing had a son in his old age, and did not want his family to be extinct, so he could only work for the grassland people.

In the past month, as Fang Yong led his troops to attack the city, the capital's artillery and gunpowder consumption was huge.

Luo Daqing was busy every day, leading other craftsmen to make gunpowder for the grassland people day and night, and he was extremely exhausted.

That night, Luo Daqing returned home as usual and fell asleep.

His wife hurriedly called Luo Daqing and said:
"Boss, please don't sleep anymore, something happened!"

Luo Daqing asked with all his strength: "What's wrong?"

His wife reached out and picked up the child from the kang, and said anxiously:
"Today I was washing clothes in the yard. When I came back home and untied my child's diaper, I saw that he had become like this!"

As he spoke, he unswaddled the child.

Luo Daqing took one look and sat up instantly.

"Oh my God, what happened!"

His only son was black and purple in color, and no one knew what disease he had.

His wife said with tears in her eyes:
"I do not know either!"

Luo Daqing said:

"Go find a doctor!"

His wife said aggrievedly:
"The door is full of Tartars, they won't let me out at all!"

"Hey!"

Luo Daqing slapped his thigh anxiously.

I couldn't care less about anything at the moment.

I'm going out with the child in my arms.

But the grassland soldiers guarding the door did not understand Chinese and were stubborn, so they would never let Luo Daqing take the child out.

There have been orders from above.

Luo Daqing can go out, but women and children are not allowed to leave the house!
The two of them were so anxious that they were pacing around at the door, but they didn't know what to do.

On the eaves, Li San from the Yanzi Gate in the capital watched this scene and laughed secretly with the dye in his hand.

Luo Daqing really couldn't communicate with the Tartars, so he had no choice but to hand the child to his wife and go out to find a doctor.

Nearby, there is an old man named Yan, who is known as the King of Hell, meaning that he is so skilled in medicine that he can snatch people from the King of Hell.

Luo Daqing found Doctor Yan's clinic and knocked on the door urgently.

Doctor Yan opened the door.

Luo Daqing hurriedly explained the situation.

Since it concerns the continuation of the Luo family's bloodline, he dare not be careless at all.

Doctor Yan had no expression on his face after hearing this, and just said:
"If you want to see a doctor, you need five coins."

Upon hearing this, Luo Daqing hurriedly took out a tael of silver from his clothes and handed it to Doctor Yan.

However, Doctor Yan did not accept it, but said calmly:

"Yan has a rule in his medical practice: he will not accept fees that are stolen, robbed, or cheated."

Upon hearing this, Luo Daqing hurriedly said:
"How can you say that, Doctor Yan? This money of mine was not robbed, stolen, or defrauded. It was earned honestly!"

Doctor Yan glanced at Luo Daqing and said:
"Earned it honestly? Bah! Everyone knows that you make gunpowder for the grassland people and fight us Han people. You are a traitor! Your money is not as clean as the money you robbed or cheated!"

(End of this chapter)