Chapter 305: Plate Armor Troops abandoned their guns and used crossbows. Yao Guangxiao obtained a token to communicate with the Japanese pirates.

"Everyone, start the drill immediately as you normally would during training!"

Following an order from the governor-general Ping'an, 1000 soldiers wearing plate armor quickly took off the crossbows they were carrying.

They sat on the ground under Zhu Gang's puzzled gaze, stretching their legs and feet to push the bow.

These soldiers clamped the crossbow arm with their feet, used the strength of their legs and waist to draw the string, and then took the arrow, bit the string, aimed and shot.

Then rows of crossbowmen continued to pull the strings, load arrows, and shoot in batches, forming a rain of arrows.

Zhu Gang immediately noticed that these soldiers using crossbows were not equipped with long swords for self-defense.

Perhaps it was because of the consideration that if the enemy rushed in front of them, the crossbowman’s ability to defend himself would be limited.

Therefore, they were surrounded by special guards holding long-handled weapons.

The plate armor worn by heavy crossbowmen is more of a defense against enemy hand-to-hand attacks.

It would be better to say that it was to gain a certain defensive advantage in the confrontation between the two armies.

They formed an independent phalanx, which was unstoppable when advancing and as solid as a rock when retreating.

By placing yourself outside the enemy's attack range, you can attack your opponent in one direction.

While the main formation is facing the enemy head-on, the heavy crossbowmen will use their strong crossbows to defend and concentrate their firepower to defeat the enemy when attacking.

The whole process is somewhat similar to the "non-contact war" proposed by the Lighthouse Country in later generations.

Although the firing speed of a crossbow is far lower than that of a bow, the arrowheads it fires are extremely powerful and fly several times faster than a bow.

So when the crossbow is fired, the arrowhead pierces the air.

The bowstring rebounded and rubbed violently against the air, making a sharp whistling sound.

When the shooting stopped, the target 500 meters wide and 3.05 meters high located 1.83 steps away.

When Zhu Gang approached and observed, he found that it was covered with 68-72 cm crossbow arrows.

"I have said before that this elite breakthrough force can be equipped with flintlock rifles. Why do they still need to use crossbows?"

Before Ping An could say anything, Zhu Di, dressed in military uniform, came over and answered the questions raised by Zhu Gang.

“I had the soldiers of the Shenji Battalion use their flintlock rifles to fire 150 rounds of bullets at a target of the same size 100 steps away.

As a result, they only hit 40 targets, and this was not a human-shaped target, otherwise the hit rate would be even lower.

The mission we are carrying out this time is of a special nature. In order to avoid accidental injuries, I ordered people to use crossbows instead of flintlock rifles without authorization."

Zhu Gang knew clearly that this was the first appearance of the plate armored troops in the Ming Dynasty.

If they are unable to suppress the assassination mission carried out by the four major families in Jiangnan with unmatched strength, it will probably affect the subsequent development of the elite breakthrough force.

Perhaps he had already seen through Zhu Gang's thoughts, and in order to completely dispel his concerns, Zhu Di immediately transferred the plate armored troops to the human-shaped target area.

"Everyone, aim at the human-shaped target in front and get ready to shoot!"

Although the human-shaped target was only 150 steps away from the soldiers using crossbows, considering that the naked eye can usually only see objects about 50 meters away, Ping An still equipped them with flag signal soldiers to guide the target.

"1000% of the crossbow arrows hit the target!"

After listening to the target reporter's report, Zhu Gang turned to look at Zhu Di and Ping An.

"Let's go to the command post and discuss tomorrow's deployment."

As the three of them headed for the underground command post of the Five Military Governor's Office, a serious disagreement broke out again between Yao Guangxiao and Li Ziwen. "Why should I contact that Ashikaga Naofusa?
In my opinion, this evil monk chose to sail out to sea from Quanzhou instead of taking the long way around, which clearly shows that he has ulterior motives.

Maybe a net has already been set up there, just waiting for our family's elite members to die!"

As soon as Li Ziwen finished speaking, Zhao Wei, the head of the Zhao family, stood up and slapped him in the face.

“During the first discussion, you opposed Master Daoyan in every way.

You knew clearly that it was he who was recommended by me to join the Jiangnan Aristocratic Family Alliance, but you still insisted on having your own way.

Without any evidence, Master Daoyan was accused of a "false" crime!

In my opinion, Li Wenzhong chose to keep you here because he wanted to plant a pawn for the imperial court within our Jiangnan Aristocratic Family Alliance.

Otherwise, so many people in the Li family would have lost their heads or been exiled to Lingnan. Why are you the only one who survived?"

Facing the questioning looks from the others present, Li Ziwen quickly said with a look of grievance: "I have long been sworn enemies with the Ming Dynasty. How could I possibly be a lackey of a tyrant?"

Yao Guangxiao, who was sitting next to Zhao Wei, nodded and said, "Mr. Li is right. If he really had a problem, he should have been caught long ago.

Besides, the Jiangnan Li family has already withdrawn from the Jiangnan family alliance. Even if Master Li is left here alone as an insider, it probably won't have any effect.

The most important thing is that I have obtained accurate information.

Tomorrow is the auspicious day for the wedding celebration of Prince of Jin Zhu Gang and Xu Miaoyun, daughter of Duke of Wei.

This is a great opportunity to carry out the assassination. If we miss it, it will be too late to regret it!"

As he spoke, Yao Guangxiao took out a map from his sleeve and ordered someone to hang it on a wall not far away.

"Please look at this, everyone. This is a map of Shangyuan County, the seat of Yingtian Prefecture, where the imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty was located.

The most important thing for us right now is to find out the defense deployment of Prince Jin’s Mansion on the day of the wedding ceremony…”

As time went by, everyone's attention was unknowingly drawn to what Yao Guangxiao was saying.

After all, everyone now knows that what the Jiangnan Aristocratic Family Alliance is doing now is equivalent to putting the heads of the nine clans on their belts.

If accurate intelligence is not obtained, not only will the assassins sent out to carry out the assassination mission die in vain, but they themselves will not be able to leave the Ming Dynasty smoothly.

At this moment, Su Zhao, the oldest patriarch of the Su family, suddenly interrupted and said, "Master Daoyan, you just said that the part of the Shenji Camp stationed in Yingtian Prefecture brought the plague that was prevalent on the grassland over there.

Is this information accurate? Is it false information deliberately spread by the Jinyiwei?"

Zhu Linfeng, the head of the Zhu family who had remained silent, also said with a worried look on his face: "When I heard Master Daoyan talk about the details of the 'Yixing case' before, I felt that the King of Jin was scheming.

He was so cruel that he hid a small number of Jinyiwei spies among the yamen runners who were chasing the criminals.

If the masters in the temples of Chongde County had not fallen for the evil scheme of King Jin, how could they have caused the tragic deaths of more than 200 innocent monks? "

Yao Guangxiao sighed upon hearing this, and then said with a sad expression: "It is precisely because of the cunning schemes of the King of Jin that we have to evacuate from the territory of Daming in advance.

After all, no matter whether the news of the plague is true or false, those assassins sent out to carry out assassination missions will never come back alive!"

Zhao Wei and Su Zhao looked at each other, and the latter took out half of the jade pendant and handed it to Yao Guangxiao.

“This is a token used to pass messages between me and Ashikaga Naofushi.

As long as the master gives this item to the other party, he will take you to Japan to seek asylum."

(End of this chapter)