Chapter 362 The Man Who Arrived Is Named Bai
The next morning.
At Qichuan Ferry.
Amidst a thunderous rumble of hooves, Zao Ying’s unit galloped back along the Yellow River’s west bank, shouting urgently as they rode: “Wang Jiayin’s naval forces are here!”
Her cry instantly stirred the quiet Qichuan Ferry into a flurry of activity.
The Gao Family Village Militia, who had been on standby for a day at the docks, immediately tensed, every person swallowing hard.
Bai Yuan stood on a hastily erected arrow tower, yelling down to Zao Ying: “Roughly how much longer until they arrive?”
Zao Ying: “The fleet’s speed is no slower than horses. We just got here; they’ll be right behind us.”
Bai Yuan: “How many people are there?”
Zao Ying shook her head: “I don’t know how to estimate troop numbers by the size of a fleet; I lack that experience. If they were on horseback, I could tell you the exact number in a glance.”
Zao Ying: “My people can dismount and help you defend the dock.”
Bai Yuan shook his head, smiling: “Precious cavalry cannot be used like that, Commander Zao. Please lead your cavalry unit back a li. If our wooden stockade wall is breached, then you can charge in with your cavalry to finish them off.”
Zao Ying: “Alright!”
She knew it wasn’t easy for Gao Family Village to train these few hundred cavalrymen. Those raw recruits had started from scratch, learning to ride, enduring countless hardships to transform from infantry into clumsy cavalry. Having them dismount to defend the dock would indeed be a waste.
It would be better to retreat and act as a second line of defense.
“Then, Master Bai, be careful.”
Zao Ying galloped a li northwest, creating a suitable distance for a cavalry charge.
Bai Yuan, meanwhile, turned to scan the river to the north....
He couldn’t see very far!
He reached into his robe and pulled out a long, slender iron tube.
This was a treasure Young Master Bai had given his father, named a “telescope.” It was an invention Young Master Bai had conceived after his physics lessons. He’d asked the blacksmiths at Craftsman Well to forge the iron tube, then enlisted a glassmaker Xing Honglang had brought back from Xi’an to create two lenses. Finally, these pieces were assembled into this simple “telescope.”
The craftsmanship was still crude, and the magnification wasn’t high.
But it certainly allowed him to see farther than the naked eye.
Bai Yuan lifted the telescope to his eye, and sure enough, he could see them now: a massive fleet, its vanguard already visible on the northern river. Leading the way were several medium-sized merchant ships, followed by a vast cluster of small fishing boats.
The smallest were mere skiffs, while the larger ones could only hold a few dozen people.
They stretched across a wide expanse of the river, a sprawling, imposing sight.
The Yellow River’s current was swift, making navigation difficult here, but the rebel forces included many fishermen who had plied the Yellow River their entire lives. These men expertly steered their vessels, allowing the fleet to move across the river as if on solid ground.
On the lead ship, a large banner unfurled, bearing a single character: “Bai.”
Bai Yuan turned to Wang Er, who stood beside him, and chuckled: “Brother Wang Er, it seems the one leading the fleet to attack us is you, that’s Baishui Wang Er’s ‘Bai’ banner.”
Wang Er: “My surname is Wang, and my banner would bear the character for ‘Wang’.”
Bai Yuan: “Oh, then it must be your subordinate Bai Mao. He’s leading the enemy to attack us!”
Wang Er: “Bai Mao is right below us, wearing a Yellow Hat.”
Seeing that Wang Er wasn't grasping his jokes, Bai Yuan could only spread his hands: “Hero Wang, you do seem to lack a sense of humor.”
Wang Er gave a wry smile. Indeed, he did lack a sense of humor; he hadn't truly laughed many times in all these years.
On another arrow tower, Feng Jun also strained his neck to look at the river. But without a telescope, he couldn’t see as clearly as Bai Yuan. He could make out the ships but not their banners, so he turned to Bai Yuan’s arrow tower and shouted loudly:
“Master Bai, have you identified which bandit leader has arrived?”
Bai Yuan: “I only see a ‘Bai’ banner. It seems I’m attacking myself.”
Feng Jun burst into laughter: “Master Bai can still joke at a time like this; it puts my mind at ease.”
Bai Yuan turned back, lowering his voice to Wang Er: “See? Others understand my jokes.”
Feng Jun shouted: “Since it’s the ‘Bai’ banner, the one who has come must be Wang Jiayin’s top general, Bai Yuzhu.”
Bai Yuan: “Oh? I haven’t heard of him.”
Wang Er whispered: “Bai Yuzhu is a very mediocre fellow. His abilities aren’t outstanding; he’s neither brilliant nor foolish. His status in Wang Jiayin’s army is second only to Zijing Liang, but despite his high position, he often goes unnoticed. He’s the kind of person you’d throw into a crowd and easily forget.”
Bai Yuan listened, then huffed: “Both surnamed Bai, yet he’s easily forgotten while I shine brilliantly. He truly brings shame to those of us named Bai.”
Wang Er: “He is not actually surnamed Bai. Bai Yuzhu is merely a nickname.”
Bai Yuan: “......”
A strange silence lasted for five seconds.
Bai Yuan splayed his fingers, palms upturned, and addressed Wang Er: “You’ve come back to Gao Family Village this time solely to poke holes in everything I say, haven’t you?”
Wang Er: “???”
Feng Jun shouted loudly: “Master Bai, what are you still chatting about on the arrow tower? The rebel fleet is approaching fast! Quick, think of something!”
Bai Yuan’s spirits were galvanized: “Right! Everyone, hold your positions, stand where you’ve been assigned. Gao Family Village Militia, follow me!”
He swiftly climbed down from the arrow tower, and the Gao Family Village Militia gathered around him.
Bai Yuan led his hundred men to the front of the two stainless steel cannons.
The two cannons had already been fixed onto stone platforms, their muzzles aimed obliquely at the Yellow River. On the river, Bai Yuzhu’s fleet was rapidly approaching.
Bai Yuan: “Bring the gunpowder pouches!”
Padi Tu handed him a large pouch of gunpowder with both hands.
Bai Yuan, as if loading an arquebus, poured the entire pouch of gunpowder into the cannon’s breech. Then he took a pre-prepared ramrod, shoved it into the muzzle, and tamped it, repeatedly, pressing the gunpowder firmly into place.
“Bring the cannonball!”
A very tall and robust militiaman next to him handed over a cannonball with both hands.
Bai Yuan reached out to take it, but his whole body dipped, and the cannonball hit the ground with a loud thud, narrowly missing his foot.
Bai Yuan’s expression changed: “So heavy?”
“It’s a solid iron ball, how could it not be heavy?” Wang Er bent down, picked up the cannonball with both hands, and helped Bai Yuan push it into the barrel.
Bai Yuan then took the ramrod again, pushing the cannonball until it rolled to the bottom, pressing firmly against the gunpowder.
He gave a low chuckle, then moved behind the cannon, lifted the small cover on the touchhole, and placed a slow match into the opening, next to the gunpowder, before closing the cover tightly.
“Done!” Bai Yuan declared triumphantly: “Cannons must be used this way. They’re no different from arquebuses.”
This seemingly casual but perfectly executed maneuver was, surprisingly, correct!
The principle behind these European-style cannons and the Ming Dynasty’s large-caliber smoothbore arquebuses was identical, and their method of use was exactly the same.
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