Chapter 76

Chapter 74: A Test of Skill

In the gently swaying carriage, I set out on my journey once again. In this unfamiliar world, I had been wandering for more than half a year. Suddenly, I had a companion from the same time and space, a mysterious creature with the appearance of Yinluo, which couldn't help but make me feel a mix of joy and sorrow, lamenting the unpredictable twists of fate.

Feeling relieved that I was no longer alone, at least I had someone to communicate with normally, to share my thoughts and vent my frustrations. On a spiritual and mental level, it was a source of mutual comfort and warmth. However, although she looked younger than me, she seemed to have a head start in this world, being more familiar with daily life and information, which was something I currently lacked, though her reliability and trustworthiness were still to be determined.

At least I didn't have to gather information and scout alone to maintain a basic sense of security. My travel companion also greatly increased in number. For example, Yu Hou Fengjuan and his small team were designated to continue traveling with me, and he was tirelessly grateful, running around to serve me.

Another piece of potentially good news was that Han Liangchen, or Han Shizong, tacitly accepted a certain fact and decided to follow me south to see what would happen. This way, I managed to get a historical general without much effort, although his personal reputation and relationship were still at a friendly level, and his loyalty was around 60-70.

It's important to note that under normal circumstances, a well-known figure with a mature historical background and influential power is not easy to win over or change their stance. Relying solely on favors is not enough to bind someone long-term; they need to be given basic satisfaction, sufficient development opportunities, and the ability to realize their ideals and showcase their talents, among other reasons for following, to ensure a long-term mutual support and cooperation.

However, it was clear that there would be no more opportunities for them to act on this journey. With such an elite and authoritative escort team, most of the risks and hidden dangers along the way were basically eliminated. Not only were we warmly welcomed and escorted by local officials and garrisons, but we also didn't have to worry about any issues.

The only time they acted was to use a volley and a line attack to disperse a crowd blocking the road, leaving behind a large number of bodies and pools of blood, which scattered in a hurry.

Moreover, the journey was accompanied by Hongxiu, though she was a bit too young. After successfully inviting Chen夫人 onto the specially made carriage, she often stayed together, seemingly quite favored.

Our journey took us through various states and counties, from Mingzhou to Hengzhou, and then to Raozhou, Chen夫人's nominal hometown, but we didn't stay long and continued to Fuzhou, then to Jizhou, passing through Luling, Taihe, and entering Qianzhou, finally reaching Qianhua, the seat of the Southern Dynasty's Southeastern Administrative Region.

The terrain along the way changed from the vast water network plains to scattered hills, which then became more dense, turning into large basins and wide valleys between mountains of various sizes.

Thus, from the local area, we added 100 soldiers and 200 military laborers to clear the way and build bridges along the route.

However, as we moved further south, besides the scenery and local customs, there was another unique sight. On the relatively well-preserved major roads, the most common sight was the southward-bound refugees. The country had been in turmoil for a century, and not just the chaotic northern regions, even the most prosperous southeastern and Jingchu areas were constantly plagued by wars.

Therefore, throughout the year, the most common sight was these people, who, having no other options or harboring other dreams and aspirations, embarked on the southward journey. At least in the areas controlled by the Southern Dynasty beyond the ridge, there had been decades of basic stability and peace. Additionally, to compete with Luoyang for legitimacy, the Southern Dynasty often portrayed its territory as a heaven on earth, in stark contrast to the chaos in the north.

Thus, the southward migration never ceased, with the number varying by season and situation. Many died on the road due to hunger, weakness, or unsuitable climate, and along the way, there were numerous wild graves said to be filled with countless bodies, as well as pagodas and Buddha niches carved into the mountains by monks to appease the spirits.

As the sound of whips and galloping horses echoed, the convoy suddenly stopped.

"Up ahead is the ancient Meiling Road," Fengjuan came over to inform me.

"We need to stop and prepare for a while."

The so-called Nanling, or the Five Ridges, consists of the Yuecheng, Dufang, Mengzhu, Qitian, and Dayu Ridges, forming a continuous mountain range that cuts through the southern wilderness. The ancient Meiling Road is located in the middle of the Dayu Ridge.

The altitude is not particularly high, and there is a road winding around the mountain waist, but a man-made depression, 200 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 100 feet high, has been opened, creating a mountain road over 30 miles long, serving as a golden channel connecting the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers.

Therefore, this area was once a hub for merchants and travelers, and a large town called Anyuan was formed around the ancient post station at the foot of the mountain. However, all of this has long since faded, leaving only an outer checkpoint and a small military camp, with sparse flags and watchtowers, indicating the laziness and idleness of the second-line troops.

Behind the towering and continuous mountains lies the region known as the Lingnan, or the southern territories of the Southern Dynasty, which expanded from the original five prefectures of the South Sea Governorate and the Annam Protectorate and the Qianzhong Circuit, eventually dividing into seven land circuits and two maritime circuits.

This vast territory includes most of modern-day Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, parts of Yunnan and Guizhou, and much of the Indochinese Peninsula, as well as numerous vassal states and dependencies.

The Lingnan region has been known for its complex terrain of mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains, with numerous rivers and dense forests. It was originally a place of exile for criminals during the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Although the "Lingnan Three Prefectures" of Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiang were established during the Qin dynasty, significant development only began after the famous Tang chancellor Zhang Jiuling opened the Meiling Pass. After the reigns of Qianyuan and Taixing, to support the expansion of the South Sea and the continuous tribute system, the government spared no effort to mobilize military and civilian forces to cut through the mountains and open multiple mountain passes and water routes.

Then, the large influx of military and civilian settlers over two centuries developed and operated the Lingnan region. After the establishment of the Southern Dynasty, large-scale construction projects further developed this region, leading to the current situation of relative stability in the Lingnan area.

The region boasts majestic mountains, crisscrossing water networks, karst caves, and spectacular gorges, as well as beautiful coastal scenery.

Additionally, the Southern Dynasty also established five circuits in the Lingbei region, controlling parts of the Two Zhejiangs, Jiangxi, Jinghu, Xishu, and Yunnan-Guizhou. This was the result of the Southern Dynasty's establishment over a hundred years, including major military campaigns such as the Yongjia Advance and the Ningyou Northern Expedition, which were either failures or partial successes.

Spending the night in Anyuan Town, I was particularly impressed by another discovery. Due to the relative stability, the need for daily maintenance brought back the hardened road surfaces and telegraph poles, which were symbols of the Tang Dynasty's golden age.

It is said that during the golden age of the Tang Dynasty, known as the Qianyuan and Taixing Revival, the emperors' greatest achievements were the extensive construction and expansion of these two things.

Therefore, during the most powerful era of the imperial court, the central government could quickly convey and receive orders and feedback from the 27 circuits, 9 protectorates, over 600 prefectures, and more than 5,000 counties, as well as hundreds of vassal states and tributary territories, and respond to messages from the most remote or border regions.

With these extensive straight roads, the Tang army and supplies could be mobilized and distributed through the most efficient system of the feudal era, gradually alleviating the suffering of disaster-stricken areas and populations, or nipping rebellions in the bud.

After the Yiwei Rebellion, known as the Great Collapse, the straight roads and communication lines in the northern and southern regions were largely destroyed and left to decay in the wild grass.

Only the South Sea Governorate, which swore allegiance and seized the entire Lingnan region and the South Sea dependencies, managed to preserve most of the infrastructure and, despite the loss of technology and craftsmanship, has been able to maintain and use it to this day.

During this stop, Yuroruo also came over to chat with me and gave me a small surprise, taking out a精致的火铳 from a hidden compartment, which was a standard issue for the cavalry escort.

She pretended to be fascinated and got a spare one for me from Chen夫人's cavalry escort as a plaything.

I disassembled the main parts in a few quick moves, and neatly arranged them with the leather case, velvet cloth, and tools for cleaning, such as chamois leather and cotton swabs.

This was a rather primitive flintlock, with a thick smoothbore barrel and a constricted muzzle, a semi-curved grip, a delicate spring clip, and carefully selected flint, all intricately carved with a flying horse and cloud pattern, reflecting the ingenuity and legacy of previous time travelers, but only to this extent.

I then picked up the wooden powder flask and the bag of lead balls, and checked the accompanying tools. The lead balls were hand-melted and polished, with the weight to be adjusted individually.

I poured a little powder on my fingers, the composition of the gunpowder was unknown, but the grains were relatively fine and well-preserved, without clumping or moisture. The cap of the powder flask also served as a measuring tool, with a wax seal, indicating some waterproofing.

Based on this craftsmanship and material, it was likely a special equipment for a limited range, and widespread use would be enough to bankrupt the quartermasters and logistics personnel.

Thus, the fully armed force I had imagined was far from reality, and could only serve as a long-range suppression and auxiliary unit, like bows and crossbows, in large-scale cold weapon battles.

On the other hand, more room for equipment and tactical improvements also meant more opportunities and prospects for me, depending on how I leveraged this knowledge gap.

With this in mind, I got out of the carriage and gave a few instructions to Fengjuan, who was setting up the camp.

"What, the adjutant wants to try his hand?"

Although he was surprised, he found a spot by the mountain and carefully set up a wooden target.

Soon, curious cavalry guards gathered, eager to see the show. Without a sight, I had to stand 20 paces away and use the barrel's ridge to roughly aim.

With some effort, I pulled the trigger, and after a half-breath delay, there was a bang and a jolt in my hand. The white smoke from the muzzle startled a flock of birds and drew more onlookers.

The smell was pungent, and the smoke was thick, indicating that the gunpowder needed significant improvement.

Looking at the barrel, I saw a lot of residue, meaning it needed frequent cleaning, which would affect sustained firepower on the battlefield.

The first shot went who knows where, but that didn't matter. I reloaded, tamped down the powder, and inserted the lead ball, then reset the flint, as I had done before.

I fired again, and it went who knows where, but I didn't get discouraged. I found a wooden stake to use as a stand, and this time the shot hit the mountain wall next to the target, sending a spray of sand and rocks.

Examining the target, I estimated the trajectory and deflection, and walked to the bullet hole. A small piece of weathered rock had been dislodged, and a deformed lead ball was embedded in the hole, showing decent penetration and impact, at least for close-range use against light armor.

I fired a dozen more shots, finding the initial feel, and the last few shots hit the target, drawing a chorus of suppressed exclamations.

This test firing also changed the attitude of the cavalry guards who had come to see me make a fool of myself. According to Fengjuan, this weapon was known for its complexity and difficulty in use, making it a rare and exclusive item in the Southern Dynasty.

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End of Chapter 74

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