Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 245 Within Ten Steps, the Musket is Fast and Accurate [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

When Ma Fang met Yan Maoqing, Yan Maoqing was meticulously tidying up his armor.

This set of armor was prepared by Guo Xun when he came to Datong, just in case. Now that Yan Maoqing is determined to go out of the pass to launch a surprise attack on Anda, he gave this set of armor to Yan Maoqing to wear.

This is an unassuming set of armor, yet it conceals hidden secrets.

The so-called dark armor is iron armor wrapped in cotton cloth and needlework, which can protect against enemy knives and arrows.

What Yan Maoqing liked most about it was its "unremarkable appearance".

The color and style of this thing look not much different from the armor of ordinary soldiers. In the chaos, as long as the rather conspicuous phoenix-winged helmet is removed from the head, one can easily hide among the soldiers and not become the target of the enemy, or use the golden cicada's shell to escape when necessary.

It seems Guo Xun is one of the same kind of people...

"Greetings, General Yan."

Ma Fang was clearly not very familiar with the official titles and did not address him as "Minister" like the officials in Datong did, but instead habitually called him "General".

Yan Maoqing's youthful appearance also shocked him.

He had never seen such a young general; he even looked slightly younger than himself.

However, this is understandable. Someone like him, who was captured by the Tatars at a young age and enslaved on the grasslands, and who finally escaped and was registered and served in the border garrison, already had dark skin and rough skin. He would definitely look older than a scholar like Yan Maoqing who was sheltered from the wind and sun.

He also heard Zhou Shangwen say that...

Yan Maoqing is now a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court, and also an imperial envoy appointed by the emperor.

Although it was somewhat irregular in terms of the system, the fact that Yan Maoqing had chosen him to lead the army was a rare opportunity for him to make a name for himself. It was as if his family's ancestral graves were emitting auspicious smoke. If he handled things well, he would surely rise to prominence in the future.

So that's what he's thinking right now.

If such a miraculous encounter was due to good fortune emanating from one's ancestral graves, then what about Yan Maoqing?
His family's ancestral graves must be emitting billowing smoke, just like when beacon fires are lit on the frontier.
After all, even if Yan Maoqing is the son of an important official in the court, if he is not a nobleman who directly inherits the title, very few people can have such rank and power at this age.
"No need for formalities, please make yourself at home."

Yan Maoqing smiled and returned the greeting, then continued adjusting his armor while speaking in a very amiable manner.

"Has General Zhou already conveyed my message to you?"

"General Zhou only said that General Yan specifically asked me to lead the cavalry to provide support. As for how to provide support, what tactics to use, and how to march, General Zhou only told me to follow General Yan's instructions."

Ma Fang was still a little reserved, standing to the side with her lips pursed.

"I don't know much about military matters, so I don't have any specific plans for you. You're free to do whatever you want."

With the help of his servants, Yan Maoqing finally managed to put on the rather heavy armor and fasten the spring-loaded belt around his waist. After looking it over, he said,

"We will set off tonight, with all soldiers carrying only three days' rations. Our goal is to win this battle quickly, eat meat at Fengzhou Beach, and then return. Therefore, we will not consider the issue of resupply."

"Now I will only tell you my marching route and the estimated time of arrival at Fengzhou Beach. As for how you march, what tactics you adopt, and how you support the Hero Battalion, that is your business and you can decide for yourself."

"So, are you confident?"

"This……"

Upon hearing this, Ma Fang was momentarily at a loss for words.

What? You have no confidence at all?
Confidence is usually built on a foundation of thorough preparation. Yan Maoqing's plan is far too vague, so how can he feel confident?
"You have been a slave in the Tatars for many years. With your understanding of the Tatars, it is not difficult for you to command the cavalry against the Tatars and use cavalry to counter cavalry and speed to counter speed."

Yan Maoqing added,
"My Heroes' Battalion will go straight into Fengzhou Beach, blooming from the middle of the Tatar royal court, catching the Tatars off guard."

"Your cavalry's most important task is to contain the Tatar cavalry, preventing subsequent reinforcements from encircling me and avoiding a passive situation like that of Li Ling of the Han Dynasty, who was isolated and helpless, and was always being chased by the tail and unable to escape."

"You should understand what I'm saying, right?" "I understand, but..."

Ma Fang wanted to say something more.

But then they saw Yan Maoqing hang two short muskets, each less than a foot long, on his snap-lock belt, pat them down, and then grin.
"There's nothing wrong with that. Let me tell you, I am the most favored minister of the current emperor."

"If anything goes wrong on this trip, the Emperor will definitely not forgive you afterward. You will definitely have to pay with your life. Don't say I didn't warn you then."

This is a hand cannon that he specially commissioned from the craftsmen of the Armory when he was training troops in the capital. It also uses the flintlock ignition method of self-propelled muskets.

He certainly doesn't need to personally lead the formation for the "three-stage attack".

But how could he not know the principle that "within ten steps, a gun is both fast and accurate"? Of course, he would take advantage of his position to prepare two guns in advance for any eventuality.

The only drawback was that the handguns of this era could not fire in rapid succession, and they were also much larger than the pistols of later generations.

Furthermore, unlike bullets in later generations, bullets could not be stored in the chamber at any time. They had to be loaded and pistol-filled in advance before use, making them inconvenient to carry around.

"..."

Ma Fang then shifted her gaze from the two short, unfamiliar muskets and looked at Yan Maoqing with a strange expression.

That doesn't sound like something a good person would say!

Putting aside the question of whether or not one's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke, why do I feel like I've boarded a pirate ship?

"Let's go, I'll take you to see the Heroes' Camp's tactics first."

Yan Maoqing stepped forward, patted Ma Fang on the shoulder, and then walked ahead.

"Perhaps after seeing the Heroes' Camp's tactics, with your abilities and talent, you should know how to support us and give Anda a big surprise."

As he spoke, Yan Maoqing added in his mind:
It also gave Da Sha Zhu a big surprise...

……

West Garden.

"This thing emitting blue smoke never disappoints me!"

Having just read the memorial jointly submitted by Guo Xun and Yan Song on behalf of Yan Maoqing, Zhu Houcong felt refreshed and invigorated, even feeling an urge to share his joy with Huang Jin.
"Huang Ban, it has been some time since I have received such a delightful and pleasant secret memorial. Come here and read this secret memorial to me a few more times so that I can hear it properly again!"

"According to the decree..."

Huang Jin quickly stepped forward, took the document, and carefully read it word by word.

The contents of the secret memorial were not complicated. It said that Yan Maoqing had just arrived in Datong and, just as he had in Taiyuan, dealt with all those who or things that were obstructing the establishment of the carbon tax office and the tribute system with the same swift and decisive action.

It is expected that within a few days, coal trade with Altan Khan can officially commence through the carbon tax office.

Things have been done perfectly at this point.

But as Huang Jin continued reading, he felt that something was missing, a strange sense of incompleteness.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was missing, but this indescribable sense of loss lingered in his mind.

After all, the person going to handle this matter is Yan Maoqing...

(End of this chapter)