Water Margin 015

And as the gates of Juyong Pass were gradually lowered and the Jin soldiers who harassed them daily surged out once more, Fang Zhiyi also noticed that their numbers were significantly greater than before.

"Since you want to play with firearms with me... then don't regret it."

The Jin defending general's face was full of excitement: "Get ready, everyone! Today is the day we beat these Song troops until they cry for their parents!" He hadn't expected that these cowards, who had been hiding in the city repairing walls, would actually come out into the open field today.

But before he could finish his words, a sudden roar echoed from the distance.

The restless Jin soldiers immediately fell silent and looked in that direction, only to see a round object falling from the sky. The moment it hit the ground, the sphere exploded with a loud bang, and screams instantly rang out.

"What is that? What kind of sorcery?"

Before the defending general could react, more roars sounded, and dozens of spheres smashed down. The densely packed Jin soldiers instantly became living targets.

"What are these things???" The last thought in the general's mind was a question.

And after the artillery shells carpet-bombed the area, the Song army, having held back their frustration for half a year, began their charge. Scattered Jin soldiers raised their guns to fight back, only to find that the enemy had the exact same equipment.

No, it was even more powerful than theirs! The guns in the hands of the Song soldiers could fire three times in a row!

Almost at the same time, the Western Route Army, which had previously retreated, also began to advance.

When the news that both Juyong Pass and Huangya Pass had been breached reached the Jin State, the Jin ruler was dumbfounded. He had just sent a batch of guns manufactured by the State Preceptor, so how could the passes be broken?

Equally dumbfounded was Shao Jiang. He didn't understand what exactly had happened either. If the system hadn't notified him in time, he would still be sound asleep with beautiful women in his arms.

"They must have stolen the guns and copied the design!" The conclusion Shao Jiang reached was quite logical.

However, he was also responsible for the Jin State's defeat. Facing the furious ruler, Shao Jiang could only claim that he had other methods. But when he started researching cannons, he discovered that there didn't seem to be enough resources in the Jin territory, and even if there were, he didn't know where to find them.

One had to know that with the current level of craftsmanship, unless a nation mobilized its entire strength to manufacture firearms like the Great Song did, with the assistance of the entire Imperial City Department, it would be impossible to produce them! Let alone in the Jin State!

With frequent defeats on the front lines, the Song army, equipped with cannons and muskets, fought as if they were pumped with adrenaline. Even the Jin State's most treasured Iron Pagoda cavalry was as fragile as paper in front of those cannons.

The panicked Jin ruler listened to his ministers' words, concluding that Shao Jiang must have secretly passed information to the Song Dynasty; otherwise, why would the Song have more firearms than them?

Shao Jiang never expected to be labeled a spy. In an instant, he fell from the prestigious position of State Preceptor to a death row inmate, facing severe torture intended to force him to reveal how to make muskets and more powerful cannons.

Shao Jiang didn't have much of a backbone. He confessed everything before he was even interrogated. However, the things he produced left the Jin State thoroughly confused. They couldn't understand his hand-drawn blueprints at all, but when they turned around to ask Shao Jiang, he couldn't understand them either.

"You cunning Song person, how dare you play tricks on this king?"

Looking at the red-hot branding iron, Shao Jiang panicked and loudly called out to the system to save him.

But the system suddenly said, "Detected that the host's mission has completely failed. The system is entering a silent state, waiting for the next host..."

Shao Jiang's face was filled with despair.

"My Lord, as per your instructions, that minister accepted the silver, and the matter is settled... Shao Jiang has already been killed." An Imperial City Guard reported.

Fang Zhiyi nodded in satisfaction, and Little Hei darted out almost at the same time.

It had held back for a long time to find this opportunity.

Fang Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to return to Bianjing. The upcoming battles could be left to those guys with endless energy.

"How is it... did you find any clues?"

Little Hei swayed its body and let out a burp. "This kind of system seems to go dormant after disconnecting from its host. I tried to deconstruct its information..." It suddenly froze and then panicked.

"Oh no, that thing found out!"

"So fast?" Fang Zhiyi was also shocked.

Suddenly, an Imperial City Guard on the left was swept off his horse by a staff. Fang Zhiyi turned his head in surprise, only to see a snow-white figure dart out.

"Gao Lian, give me your life!!!"

"Damn it! How did I forget about this guy!"

Lin Chong's ambush was extremely sudden, and the location he chose was very tricky. This narrow path was situated right where the forest met the stream, so narrow that only two people could walk shoulder to shoulder. The Imperial City Guards behind couldn't charge up, and those in front couldn't turn around.

Fang Zhiyi also witnessed for the first time the strength of the Panther Head, who could rank in the top ten at Liangshan.

Perhaps he was a bit cowardly, but the martial arts skills he possessed were genuine. However, Lin Chong at this moment didn't seem decisive enough.

Fang Zhiyi could even clearly see the dirt and weeds on his body, imagining how long he had been ambushing here.

"What a talent..."

"Originally, you deserved to die, but you also fought against the Jin people..." Lin Chong gripped the spear in his hand, his eyes full of hesitation. But the next moment, his eyes suddenly became bloodshot, and even his pupils turned red. The Imperial City Guards who surrounded him were knocked down one after another.

Fang Zhiyi also sensed a very unnatural aura.

Until that long spear thrust straight toward his heart.

The scarlet in Lin Chong's eyes gradually faded, and his expression became somewhat bewildered. He looked at Gao Yanei in front of him, who was staring blankly at him. Gao Yanei's eyes gradually shifted from helplessness to panic, and then he suddenly let out a howl before falling off his horse, dead.

He was stunned for a moment. Just now, it felt like Gao Yanei had become a different person? What was he doing just now?

However, facing the surrounding Imperial City Guards, Lin Chong threw down the spear in his hand. Since he dared to come today, he had never thought of going back.

He heard that Song Jiang had also died on the battlefield, and Wu Song had lost an arm... It was somewhat a pity that he hadn't gone to the battlefield himself...

The news of Fang Zhiyi's death reached Chong Shidao's ears. Chong Shidao looked at the nearby Jin State capital and gritted his teeth. "Within three days, slaughter your way through this place for me! To see the Lord off!"

She Kecun was escorting artillery shells. Seeing the suddenly appearing Imperial City Guard, he was a bit dazed. Then, upon hearing the news of Fang Zhiyi's death, he instantly stood frozen on the spot.

"The Lord once left several secret letters in the Imperial City Department, and one of them is for you, my Lord..."

Chong Shidao and several others received similar letters, and even Liang Nian'en in the palace received one.

Those civil officials who had been severely suppressed learned of Fang Zhiyi's assassination and wished they could erect a monument for Lin Chong. But soon they realized that whether Fang Zhiyi was there or not didn't seem to matter, because the order he had established was still operating. The emperor was still under house arrest, and the Imperial City Department had seemingly become a massive and precise machine, strictly executing Fang Zhiyi's arrangements from when he was alive.

"Holy crap, are you saying I almost really died just now?"

"Nonsense," Little Hei puffed out its chest. "Hurry up and thank me."

"Thank my ass. Run, now!"

"I haven't found the entrance to the next world yet. You wouldn't want to run into a max-level transmigrator right after entering, would you?"

"Then take your time..." Fang Zhiyi looked down. History was being rewritten this time. After the Song dynasty destroyed the Jin dynasty, Chong Shidao aimed his forces at the Liao dynasty. As for the original Liangshan forces, barely anyone was left, just as it was written in the novel. "Tsk, the momentum of fate here is incredibly strong."

Little Hei suddenly grabbed him and dashed out.

.......

"My Lord, Marshal Chong, Duke She, and the others are waiting for you to discuss the matters of opening up maritime trade."

"Did the Emperor attend as well?"

"He did, but he complained it was boring and left early."

The person with the obscured face stood up, coughed lightly, and walked out. On his desk were a few neatly arranged papers, densely covered in tiny writing.

"Detailed rules for the internal election of each head of the Imperial City Department..."

"Regarding the shift rotation methods for the personnel monitoring the Directorate of Ceremonial..."

"The core and balancing points of the parliamentary system..."

"Qin Hui must die."

Next to the last line was a circle drawn in red cinnabar ink, indicating that it had already been completed.