Chapter 358: Cannons: Just Oversized Firearms
Gao Yiye: “With the Heavenly Lord watching over me, how could I ever be unsafe?”
Bai Yuan: “The Heavenly Lord, bless his venerable heart, is a very busy man.”
Just as they spoke, Li Daoxuan interjected: “Yiye, tell Bai Yuan that reinforcements from Gao Family Village are already en route. Furthermore, the Craftsman Well has finished two cannons, and I'm bringing them over now to hand them to him.”
Gao Yiye's eyes lit up. “Master Bai, the Heavenly Lord has arrived......”
Bai Yuan, overjoyed by the news, responded: “It's excellent that reinforcements are here! As for the cannons, you can't just give them to me directly here. The common folk of Heyang County aren't yet fully aware of the Heavenly Lord's grand deeds. If a giant hand suddenly descends from the sky, it would scare everyone in the county town senseless.”
Li Daoxuan affirmed: “Indeed, we mustn't startle them. So you'll need to leave the city and go somewhere uninhabited outside the walls. I'll place the cannons down there.”
Bai Yuan exclaimed: “Understood!”
He and Gao Yiye swiftly led over a hundred militia members out of the city. San Shier, who was hardly a fighter, also scurried along to witness the spectacle. Once they reached a secluded spot far outside the city, they scanned their surroundings, confirming no one was about. This way, the locals wouldn't be alarmed.
Only then did Li Daoxuan lower the two stainless steel cannons.
The entire militia of over a hundred men sprang into action. Dozens strained to push and pull the heavy cannons, while others cradled cannonballs, and a few carefully hoisted the gunpowder bags, before they all made their way back to the county town.
As they reached the city gate, they spotted the Heyang County Magistrate, Feng Jun, hurrying back. Behind him trailed house guards, yamen runners, and a large contingent of militia. He had moved with astonishing speed to mobilize militia from every village and town across Heyang County.
The two groups converged at the city gate. From a distance, Feng Jun's gaze immediately fell upon the two cannons the militia struggled to move. He recoiled in surprise. “Good heavens, Master Bai, where in the world did you acquire these cannons?”
Bai Yuan chuckled. “Didn't I mention last time that I would find a way to procure cannons?”
Feng Jun pondered this, and indeed, recalled the conversation. He had been astonished then to hear Bai Yuan claim he could acquire cannons, but he never imagined the man actually *could*! This was truly formidable. Just how powerful was Bai Yuan's backing? Even the Governor might defer to him.
However......
Yet...
The color of these cannons, though, was somewhat peculiar.
All the Western cannons Feng Jun had ever seen were either dull black or a greenish-black mix of bronze and iron. Yet, these cannons before him gleamed with a silvery sheen. What strange material could they be made of?
Bai Yuan cut in: “Lord Feng, this is hardly the time to stand gawking at the cannons! Our priority now is to gather our militia, bring these cannons, and make haste for Qichuan Ferry.”
Feng Jun's spirits lifted. “You're right! Let's depart at once.”
His contingent of militia was numerous, and they even had oxen, horses, and mules at their disposal. With a few oxen, they could easily pull the two cannons forward. Cannonballs and gunpowder bags could be loaded onto carts, saving a considerable amount of manpower.
The large crowd prepared to advance southeastward.
Bai Yuan turned to Gao Yiye and San Shier. “You two should remain in Heyang County. There's no need for you to personally venture into a war zone and risk danger.”
Both understood they would be of no use on the battlefield and didn't argue. Gao Yiye stated: “The hundred militia members guarding me must accompany you. This, too, is the Heavenly Lord's will.”
Hearing that it was the Heavenly Lord's command, Bai Yuan found it difficult to object further. “Very well, Saintess, please take utmost care.”
Bai Yuan, along with the hundred Gao Family Village militia, joined Feng Jun's formidable contingent of fifteen hundred Heyang militia. Together, they marched grandly toward Qichuan Ferry.
The Qichuan Ferry was over thirty *li* in a straight line from the county town, a journey that would take at least half a day.
Feng Jun still felt a prickle of unease. He had little confidence in the small militia force under his command. Wang Jiayin commanded fifty thousand men! How were they supposed to fight this battle? He felt utterly adrift.
Bai Yuan offered a reassuring smile: “Lord Feng, there's no need for alarm. Look, we have two cannons! We'll emulate the General-in-Chief of Shanxi: set up these cannons at the ferry, unleash a barrage of shells at Wang Jiayin's fleet, sink a few of his vessels, and those bandits will retreat on their own.”
Hearing this, Feng Jun felt a measure of relief. “Master Bai's words are indeed true. We *do* have two cannons.”
Just then, he suddenly realized something was amiss.
“Master Bai,” Feng Jun began, “it seems to me that the people accompanying you are the Saintess's personal guards. Among them, is there anyone who actually knows how to operate a cannon?”
Bai Yuan stammered: “Uh!”
Feng Jun gasped: “You acquired cannons, but you didn't bring any artillerymen?”
Bai Yuan hedged: “Well, about that......”
Seeing his expression, Feng Jun knew instantly that disaster loomed. “Oh, Master Bai, what good are cannons without artillerymen? We're doomed! Utterly doomed!”
Bai Yuan waved a dismissive hand. “Don't panic! A cannon is merely an oversized firearm. Its method of use surely can't be all that different from a flintlock rifle. I am proficient with flintlock rifles; I can dispatch Fan Shan Yao with one from a hundred paces! Is there any reason I wouldn't know how to use a cannon?”
Feng Jun was speechless.
Bai Yuan declared: “At any rate, a flintlock fires, and a cannon fires; both are arts of archery. And of the gentleman's six arts, I am very particular about the ‘archery’ aspect. Don't worry, I will personally operate the cannons and assure you, Wang Jiayin's fleet will be blown to smithereens!”
Feng Jun remained silent, two streams of nosebleed quietly trickling down his face.
Bai Yuan frowned. “Lord Feng, why the sudden nosebleed? Doesn't that only happen when your emotions are in turmoil?”
Feng Jun cried out: “My emotions right now are *extremely* tumultuous! Is there anyone who could possibly hear what you just said and *not* feel tumultuous? Is there? Is there? Is there?”
Bai Yuan fell silent.
The two continued their march, engaging in an awkward conversation, until half a day slipped by and they finally arrived at Qichuan Ferry.
At that moment, construction on the cement castle by the ferry had only just begun; its completion was still a long way off.
However, a long wooden wall had already been erected. It was fashioned from entire tree trunks, driven deep into the earth side-by-side. But there hadn't been time to build a platform for defenders to walk along the top, so it was merely a single, standalone wall. It formed a semi-circle, enclosing the entire waterfront area of the ferry.
It was rather like the long wall at the modern Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River, built to enclose that part of the falls and restrict visitor access.
Master Zhang from Xiazhuang, with his four hundred militia, was stationed behind the wall.
Additionally, Wang Er from Baishui, Bai Mao, and a hundred villagers from Wangjia Village were camped nearby.
Beyond them were throngs of laborers, numbering in the thousands. Some were busy constructing roads, others building the cement fortress. The entire ferry area buzzed with activity.
As soon as Feng Jun and Bai Yuan's forces arrived, nearly four thousand people crowded the ferry. It was quite a sizable gathering, with heads packed tightly together all along the small waterfront.
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