Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 206: Tang soldiers arrive at the border, the general says bombs and grenades

On the city wall, Tang general Su Dingfang watched the Korean army retreat like a tide and couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Haha, these Korean thieves, now you know how powerful our Tang city wall is! Let's retreat for now and return to camp to rest. But we must be careful of their tricks and increase our vigilance!"

The soldiers cheered in unison, their faces filled with joy and pride of victory.

Then they walked down the city wall in an orderly manner and returned to the camp.

In the camp, the cooks had already prepared steaming hot meals.

On the second day, at dawn, the Tang army led by Cheng Yaojin and Li Jing arrived at the border like a steel torrent.

The sound of horse hooves was like thunder, raising clouds of dust. The army was in neat order and their morale was high.

The soldiers who had been watching from the city wall saw this and shouted excitedly: "General Li and General Cheng are here!"

The shouts instantly spread throughout the entire camp, and the originally slightly tense atmosphere was immediately replaced by joy and excitement.

Su Dingfang and his military advisor hurried out of the camp to greet them. Cheng Yaojin shouted from a distance, "Haha, we're here! We didn't miss any of the fun, did we?"

Li Jing's expression was calm. He quickly scanned the camp and the city wall and asked, "How was the battle yesterday? Were there any unusual movements by the enemy?"

Su Dingfang stepped forward and reported in detail the Goryeo army's siege yesterday and the solid defense of the city walls.

Li Jing nodded slightly and said, "Although the enemy has retreated temporarily, they will definitely not give up. We must take advantage of this opportunity to carefully plan our next strategy and make sure that the Korean thieves will never return."

Everyone entered the tent, and the atmosphere inside was serious and solemn.

Li Jing spoke first, his eyes calm and resolute. "Everyone, yesterday, the Koreans attacked our border wall but were unsuccessful. I'm sure they're racking their brains in their camp trying to figure out how to break through. We can't afford to slack off. We must not only defend the wall, but also find an opportunity to attack proactively and catch them off guard."

Cheng Yaojin slapped his thigh and shouted, "That's right, we can't just wait for them to attack. In my opinion, we should send some elite troops tonight, sneak into their camp, set it on fire, and burn them to a pulp. Let's see how they can still act so arrogantly."

The military advisor gently waved his feather fan, frowned slightly, and said, "General Cheng's plan may disrupt the enemy, but it may not cause much casualties and will be easily detected by the enemy. I think we can first send some men to feign defeat and retreat, luring them into pursuit. We can then set up an ambush along the way and wipe out their remaining forces in one fell swoop."

Su Dingfang also nodded in agreement: "Military Advisor, this is a brilliant plan. However, the person who lures the enemy needs to be very alert and feign defeat and retreat convincingly, so as to lure the Korean army into taking the bait."

Everyone was talking at once, expressing their opinions on how to deal with the Goryeo army. Discussions were going on in the tent one after another, just to decide on the best strategy to defend against the enemy.

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "No rush, no rush. Let's figure out how to make this bomb grenade first. If we can make it, throw it into the camp of those Koreans, and I guarantee they'll be in tears."

Su Dingfang looked puzzled and blurted out, "A bomb? What is this? I've never heard of it before."

Li Jing's expression was solemn as he patiently explained, "This is a powerful new type of firearm. It's filled with gunpowder in a special container. Triggered by a detonator, it instantly unleashes a powerful impact and destructive force, capable of producing unexpected effects on the battlefield."

"If we can successfully develop and deploy this weapon in large quantities, the combat effectiveness of our Tang army will be greatly enhanced, and defeating the enemy will become much easier."

"However, the production process is quite complex and requires careful consideration of many aspects, from the formula and proportion of the gunpowder to the material and structure of the container. There are strict requirements. We must discuss it carefully and strive to create this weapon as soon as possible."

Su Dingfang said anxiously: "Yes, yes, yes, such a powerful item must be made as soon as possible. With it, we don't have to be afraid of the Korean army anymore. We can definitely defeat them."

Cheng Yaojin waved his hands repeatedly, glaring, and said, "Don't be impatient, don't be impatient! This thing is no joke. If we make the slightest mistake, it will explode in our own camp, and there will be a huge chaos."

Su Dingfang frowned and asked in confusion: "Why? Can't we just be more careful?"

Li Jing's face was serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Because this bomb is very easy to explode. Gunpowder is flammable and explosive. If there is any mistake in the production process, such as incorrect proportions, sparks from collisions and friction, it may cause an explosion. If our brothers are injured, it will be disastrous."

The military advisor nodded in agreement and continued, "Right, right, right. Besides, our city walls are very strong. The Korean army won't be able to break through them anytime soon. We still have time to figure out how to make the bomb. We must not rush into anything. We must ensure safety first."

Su Dingfang nodded in sudden realization: "I see, then there's really no time to rush. We need to be cautious in everything."

The military advisor nodded slightly after hearing what Su Dingfang said. He then turned his gaze towards the crowd and asked, "Have the materials needed to make bombs and grenades arrived?"

Cheng Yaojin grinned and replied, "It's here, it's here. I arranged to buy and collect them a few days ago, and they've all been shipped to the camp. They're just waiting for us to tinker with them and make this amazing thing."

Li Jing stood up, walked over to the pile of materials, examined them carefully, and said, "Although the materials are complete, we can't be careless. Every step of the production must be strictly in accordance with the established method, and we must arrange for someone to carefully monitor it to prevent any accidents."

Su Dingfang also came forward and looked at the materials, his eyes full of anticipation. "Thank you for your trouble, General. I am willing to work with you all to carefully produce it. We must make this bomb a reality on the battlefield as soon as possible, so that the Goryeo army can fully witness the powerful tactics of the Tang Dynasty."

The military advisor walked out of the barracks, looking at the exhausted faces of the men, and said earnestly, "Everyone, the army has traveled a long way to the border and must be exhausted. It's not appropriate to immediately engage in heavy work. Let's rest first. Only by conserving our energy can we better prepare for the subsequent battles."

Cheng Yaojin scratched his head and laughed, "Alright, my old bones are really a little tired. I'll have a good sleep first. Maybe I can come up with a clever plan to defeat the enemy in my dreams."

Although Su Dingfang was anxious, he also understood the truth of Li Jing's words and nodded in response, "General, you are absolutely right. I will immediately arrange for the soldiers to take turns to rest, ensuring that the camp is alert while allowing everyone to recover their strength."

The military advisor gently waved his feather fan and said, "After General Cheng and General Li have rested properly, we will carefully plan the bomb making and defense strategy. By then, our ideas will be clearer."