Chapter 57: Arrival of the Artillery Corps

“Good! Everyone, listen to you!”

“My woman is still in the east; I have to find a way to send her a message.” A man sat in the corner, sighing. “I was thinking of waiting until she could have a few full meals before letting her come, but who knew something like this would happen.”

“Exactly.”

That night, no one could sleep peacefully.

They waited until the gongs sounded outside, signaling the guards to let them out to line up for food.

The guards took the opportunity to relay a notice from above: “The artillery corps from Weishan Pass will be arriving shortly. The things they carry can take a life in an instant; if you don't want to die, stay far away when you see the artillery corps.

From this moment on, no one is allowed to leave their group arbitrarily. The city walls must be built before the Yan army arrives, so you must work even harder than before.

Do you understand!”

The guards led them to eat before sending them back to work. At this time, it was still dark, and the areas were lit by torches. Zeng Laosan, standing in the middle of the line, suddenly heard the sound of wheels in the distance.

Unable to tell where the sound was coming from, he nudged the person in front of him. “Big brother, do you hear that?”

“It’s wheels. A lot of wagons are coming.”

“Is it the soldiers from Hongjia County?”

“Doesn't sound like it.” Zeng Laoda lowered his voice. “If it were the Great Liang army, why wouldn't they be carrying torches?”

Just as he finished speaking, a voice shouted from the distance: “Artillery corps from Weishan Pass arriving. Extinguish all torches ahead!”

People in the camp immediately began to move, running along the direction of the artillery corps' approach to extinguish all the torches and bonfires on the road.

Zeng Laosan saw that the torches three miles away from them had all gone out.

“Lord Meng!” Zuo Datou ran forward a few steps to intercept Meng Changqing. “My Lord, do not approach any closer. Forty Heaven-Shaking Thunders have been safely recovered. This is General Chen of the artillery corps.”

“Lord Meng.” A young officer emerged from behind Zuo Datou. His voice was young, and his tone carried a hint of pride. “I wonder if Lord Meng still remembers me?”

It was currently the darkest hour before dawn, and there were no lighting fixtures nearby; Meng Changqing could only make out his general silhouette.

But hearing him speak like that, it was clear he recognized her.

Artillery corps, Chen, not much older than her, had dealt with her before—there was only one possibility: “Chen Xingqi!”

“Haha! You are indeed remarkable, recognizing me just by my voice.”

The son of Vice Minister Chen of the Ministry of Works, Chen Xingqi.

While in the capital, he had been deeply interested in the study of firearms. The reason Meng Changqing had been able to witness the test explosion of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder was because he had dragged her along.

He had originally intended to use the might of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder to intimidate Meng Changqing, hoping to threaten her into not flattering the Crown Prince, but the moment Meng Changqing finished watching, her eyes had lit up. In that instant, Chen Xingqi knew this woman was surely his kindred spirit.

“Why are you here? When did you join the artillery corps? How could your mother bear it?” Meng Changqing fired three questions in rapid succession, making Chen Xingqi instinctively step back. “Goodness, why are you as wordy as a woman?

Is this the time for small talk when a great enemy is at our gates? Business comes first. Tell me, where do you intend to bury the Heaven-Shaking Thunders?”

“By the riverbank. I have already marked the spot, but I fear it is too dark to see clearly now.” Meng Changqing turned and shouted, “Captain Yang! Please lead them to identify the marks.”

“Yes!”

Chen Xingqi cupped his fists toward Yang Zheng. “Captain Yang, please lead the way. Don't worry, just tell me the location, and I will have the transport convoy maintain a distance.”

“It is no matter.” Yang Zheng said as he led Chen Xingqi along. “The situation is critical; no one knows when the Yan army will arrive. The sooner the Heaven-Shaking Thunders are buried, the more peace of mind we will have. If you lack manpower, General Chen, do not hesitate to ask.”

“No need, we have enough men. Since you haven't been trained, I fear you might only cause more trouble.”

“Brother Zuo, you've worked hard.” Meng Changqing said to Zuo Datou, “Go back and rest.”

“Yes.”

Having survived many battles, Zuo Datou knew that during wartime, one must seize every opportunity to conserve strength.

“Bafang.” Meng Changqing turned. “Let's head up the city wall.”

In less than half an hour, Yang Zheng returned. “Reporting to My Lord, the artillery corps has begun burying the Heaven-Shaking Thunders. I asked General Chen; they will need an hour.”

“Understood.”

Another half hour passed, and the sky gradually brightened. Standing on the city wall, Meng Changqing saw the artillery corps carefully leaving the minefield area.

“Tell all the soldiers and civilians below that they must not approach that area under any circumstances.”

“Yes.”

“This is a fine gift we have prepared for the Yan army; we cannot let the Jiewan barbarians get to it first. Captains, you must find a way to prevent the Jiewan barbarians from entering that zone.”

“Trees... the government has brought the Heaven-Shaking Thunders. Are we still running later?”

Just as Zeng Laoda was about to answer him, he heard a guard shout: “Listen up, everyone! The Heaven-Shaking Thunders have been buried. They are meant for the Yan cavalry; anyone who steps on them will be left with nothing but bones. From now on, do not run around recklessly!”

A fellow villager sighed in despair, “Heavens, are we just waiting to die?”

“Big brother, what is a Heaven-Shaking Thunder?” Zeng Laosan happened to return with an empty basket.

Zeng Laoda told him, “It is a very powerful weapon. When it explodes, the sound is as loud as thunder, and even the ground shakes. Anyone standing near it won't stand a chance at living.”

“To think such a thing exists!” Zeng Laosan was amazed. “Then what are we afraid of? The Yan army definitely won't be able to cross.”

“Sigh, it's not as good as you make it sound,” a villager said. “That thing doesn't distinguish between friend and foe. One wrong step, and it's our own people who die.”

“Since it's something we placed there, we must know where it is. How could we step on it by mistake?”

“Sigh, Xiao He, you really are a child. You're thinking too simply.”

Zeng Laosan was indignant. “It's not that I'm thinking simply; it's that your brains can't keep up.”

“What are those three doing over there!” Seeing them standing together for a while, a guard rushed over, brandishing a whip. “Get back to work!”

Zeng Laosan hoisted his basket and left, running quickly this time so the whip wouldn't land on him.

Meng Changqing looked back at the men climbing up the slope. “General Chen, are the Heaven-Shaking Thunders properly positioned?”

“You can trust my work.” Chen Xingqi looked down from the city wall. Below the wall, the soldiers had just finished killing another group of Jiewan barbarians and were retreating into the city.

Seeing a corpse nearby with its head severed from its body, Chen Xingqi quickly averted his gaze. “Meng Changqing, aren't you afraid?”

“Afraid of what?” Meng Changqing said. “I see you aren't afraid either. If you were, you wouldn't be here.”

Chen Xingqi gave an embarrassed laugh. “That's true. I'm not afraid at all.”

Meng Changqing asked, “I didn't hear news of you leaving the capital. When did you go to Weishan Pass?”

“I came right after the New Year,” Chen Xingqi said. “It's thanks to you that I was able to persuade my father.”

“What?”

“I told my father that since His Majesty sent you to Liangzhou, he must have great expectations for you. I came to follow you so that when you achieve great things, I can bask in your glory.

You know as well as I do, I can't even recite the *Analects*. I am destined to never walk the path of the imperial examinations in this lifetime. My father and brothers' achievements cannot compare to your family's, so I can only hope to secure a minor official post through these unconventional skills.”