There has been no large-scale war in the world for three years, and now there is actually a war. Moreover, it is a war in which the Ming Dynasty participated. Countries around the world have sent observers to watch.

A strange scene of war appeared, with both sides fighting to the death on the battlefield. A large group of observers from various countries came to watch the killings on the battlefield with binoculars within the designated safety zone.

There is really nothing to say about the battle. The Russians still use traditional trench warfare. There is a barbed wire fence in front of the position, and a stretching bunker behind the barbed wire fence, with machine guns mounted on each shooting hole.

The middle area of ​​the battlefield is a death zone about one kilometer long. As long as humanoid objects appear here, they will be shot mercilessly by various weapons.

The middle area was full of mines, corpses that had not yet completely decomposed, and crows that were pecking at the carrion. The smell of corpses spread for more than ten miles, and it was so stinky that no one could stand in the trench.

Based on the relationship between spear and shield, since gas bombs became popular, gas masks were equipped as quickly as possible.

Both the Russians and the Ottoman Empire used poison gas bombs on a large scale.

However, after actual observation, observers from both sides gained a new understanding of poison gas bombs. In the face of well-trained troops, the power of poison gas bombs is really limited.

After being effectively contained by gas masks, gas bombs have actually lost their battlefield role. Since they are useless, they should not be used at all, and no one should use them.

What Li Xiao did not expect was that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons, which was carried out with great difficulty in Geneva, Switzerland, was quickly passed because of this war.

Countries have signed the convention one after another, including Russia and the Ottoman Empire, which are currently at war.

Everyone is pragmatic. Since using them has no effect, we might as well not use them. After all, manufacturing chemical weapons is not cheap. With this kind of money, it is better to produce some normal weapons.

Of course, the Ming Dynasty also sent out a military attache observation group, and not only did it happen, but the standards were quite high, because the officer who led the group was Mr. Ao!

"What the hell, how are you going to fight this bastard's war?" Ao Ye cursed as he put down the telescope.

Objectively speaking, the weapons of the first division are only slightly stronger than those of both combatants, but there is no generational difference.

Although the howitzer is powerful, it is not that powerful. The Aka rifle is also good, but it can only fire continuously. Although the general-purpose machine gun has fierce firepower and is light in weight, its range and power are also different compared to the Maxim.

Not much.

As for mortars, from Ao Ye's point of view, both sides are basically at the same level.

Even the tactics are basically the same.

After the artillery bombarded the infantry, the infantry could not rush down and continued the artillery bombardment. This was the only way to go back and forth, especially since Li Xiao always emphasized the role of artillery. This made the Liao army more dependent on artillery!

Mr. Ao even believed that the spirit of sacrifice shown by the Ottoman Empire army was better than that of the Liao army. Those guys who shouted: Ah! Mu! Ah...! Come on!, were obviously mentally abnormal.

In other words, they go to the battlefield just to die.

Many of them did not carry any weapons at all. Every night in the dead of night, someone would carry a pack of explosives on their backs. Then they would quietly lie down in the darkness and move their bodies inch by inch. They crawled over rotten and semi-rotted corpses.

Swim through a muddy pond, or pass a group of rats having a meal.

Few of these people could climb to the other side and detonate the explosives behind them.

Some of them were killed by landmines, some were beaten to death by sentries from the opposite side. Others, after being bitten by wolf dogs released from the opposite side, had no choice but to self-destruct. Some of them were even attacked by a large group of rats.

The dead people eat more. Rats at night are particularly bold, and they are no longer afraid of living people. Rats whose eyes are red after eating will take a few bites to taste the saltiness when they see a living person.

Despite this, people still sign up every day to sneak into the opponent's position and launch such suicidal attacks.

To be honest, Mr. Ao is unwilling to fight such an enemy. Whether it is offensive or defensive, this is a tactic that devours human lives. Even the well-trained Ming army is helpless in the face of such a battle.

No wonder Li Xiao said that trench warfare was torture for the participants. The war was not truly over until one party was forced to lie down.

Before one side is forced to lie down, both sides will fill this flesh and blood mill with the lives of countless soldiers.

After watching it for half a month, Mr. Ao no longer had the interest to continue reading. Leaving a few officers to continue watching and playing, he led a large group of troops back to Constantinople, and then returned to the country on an ironclad ship.

Li Xiao has no time to care about dogs biting dogs thousands of miles away. What he has to face now is how to deal with Mao Wenlong and his men.

After several months of investigation, Luzhu finally found out the truth. The mastermind of the assassination was actually not Mao Wenlong but Wang Tong.

The anti-corruption campaign in Liaodong has touched the hearts of too many people. Wang Tong, who has been in charge of Liaodong for many years, is naturally the one whose interests have suffered the most. Mao Wenlong, an old fox, has a terrifyingly sensitive sense of smell.

The two people got together over time. Mao Wenlong's original plan was to imprison Li Xiao and then usurp power.

But what Wang Tong proposed was to kill Li Xiao and then blame Ao Ye. After causing internal strife in the Liao army, they led troops to Beijing to stabilize the political situation.

After seeing Lu Zhu's report, Li Xiao was so angry that he had a headache. He thought it was Mao Wenlong who wanted to kill him, but he didn't expect it was Wang Tong.

"Mr. Sun, you said that we have been using it for more than ten years, but it has turned out to be a wolf." Li Xiao sat on the sofa and looked at Sun Chengzong, who was lying on the recliner with the presence of the old man.

It has been an old habit for many years, and when you encounter a knot that cannot be solved, you still have to come to Mr. Sun for help.

"He was originally a white-eyed wolf. In the year of Tianqi, he was the commander-in-chief of Datong. He had been an official and had seen the world. Later, he came to Liaodong and was used by you because of the strife in the officialdom.

He has been in charge of Liaodong for so many years. How many of his people belong to him at the top and bottom? If you got so many officers to transfer to Liaodong, it would be a harm to his interests.

It's great now, but we have to fight against corruption again.

Tell me, this anti-Fa will come back to him at some point. How could he be on pins and needles! I said you were the one who forced him to rebel!"

"Liaodong has become like that. Does it mean that we can't fight corruption anymore? If we don't fight corruption, the people will soon rebel." Li Xiao was so angry that he almost jumped up.

"It is necessary to fight corruption, but before fighting corruption, you should transfer Wang Tong to the central government instead of staying in Liaodong!

He has been in Liaodong for more than ten years, and there is no hope for him from above, and everyone from below is his people. If he doesn't have evil thoughts, who can have evil thoughts?

If he is transferred to the center and another capable general is sent to take charge of Liaodong, do you think this will happen again?" Sun Chengzong puffed out a puff of smoke from his mouth, and the words in his mouth choked Li Xiao until he was speechless.

Indeed, when it comes to political skills, this old fox who has been matured for a long time is still more powerful. Even Zhang Huangyan, who is an old fox, is somewhat inferior to him.

Seeing that Li Xiao didn't speak, Sun Chengzong took another puff of cigarette. "But it's a good thing that this matter has been exposed. Wang Tong has been in power in Liaodong for so many years, and his influence has become deeply entrenched.

Now we have the opportunity to eradicate Wang Tong's influence. This will also remove a cancer for the future. The official atmosphere in Liaodong will be renewed, which will further consolidate the status of the empire's industrial base.

In the long run, this is a good thing.”

"The fourth child is rectifying the south of the Yangtze River. Now there can be no chaos in Liaodong."

"You don't have to worry about things in Jiangnan. You have soldiers and guns, so why are you afraid of the scholars of the Donglin Party? Don't you know the saying that it takes three years for a scholar to rebel?

Let the fourth child be troubled in Jiangnan and don't be afraid of chaos. After the chaos, there will be great chaos. Take advantage of this opportunity to kill more of those weird people. The more people like this die, the fewer people will hinder the future great governance.

.

And you said that we are not planning to carry out large-scale battles in recent years. The country has enough time and energy to face chaos. The court is in our hands, what are you afraid of?

As long as in a few years, a large number of young people who have graduated from schools will enter the imperial court, you will have a steady stream of available officials!

Young people are always energetic, and their participation will change the twilight atmosphere of the court. The Ming Empire will soar into the sky like an eagle."

Sun Chengzong stretched his arms toward the sky, as if he wanted to embrace God. However, the smoking cigarette on his fingertips somewhat spoiled the scenery.

"It's not that there is no action at all. Next year Man Ye will go out of the Ili Valley to Central Asia to wipe out the Mongols there and avenge his ancestor's longevity.

Zu Kuan and Cao Bianjiao will also test their skills in the war between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, defeating the main force of the Russian army and allowing the Ottoman Empire to reoccupy Crimea.

The Russians were the masterminds behind killing Zu Dashou, and with the help of Dorgon and Jirhalang, the country's strength increased rapidly. If it is not eliminated at this stage, it is likely to become a nuisance in the future." Li Xiao said to the Russians

Full understanding of expansion capabilities.

This is a gluttonous nation with an endless desire for land. Even if the population is not enough to control it, it will not stop them from continuing to occupy other people's land.

"Russia is too far away. It is very difficult to reach Moscow. But... I heard that Napoleon once suffered heavy losses in Russia." Sun Chengzong, a wily man, showed a sinister smile.

Li Xiao immediately realized that Napoleon had suffered heavy losses in Russia. If he had the chance to take revenge now, he would be very happy. At first, he was only thinking about inciting the Ottoman Turks, but he forgot about Napoleon, who had a deep hatred for Russia.

"I think the French would also like to get involved."

"Not only the French, but also the Caucasians. They were also exploited by the Russians, and the Swedes were also unhappy with Russia. Tsar Peter was the nephew of the King of Sweden, but he was killed by Catherine.

There are also Poles and Prussians.

As long as you promise enough benefits, they will all be willing to participate in this war. Russia's territory is large enough, and it has been hundreds of years since the Kipchak Khanate was founded. The wealth collected is also enough!

If so many people are encouraged to carve it up, not many countries will refuse. Maybe even Britain, which has relatively good relations with Russia, will get involved.

This is a gluttonous feast, and believe me, no one wants to miss the opportunity to get a piece of it.”

"The countries that are close will share the land, and the countries that are far away will share the wealth. Russia is very rich, and this is a big cake." Li Xiao immediately remembered the coalition army composed of eight countries.

It was because China was too wealthy that it attracted so many wolves.

Now that I am organizing myself, there are not many people who can maintain the so-called chivalrous demeanor in the face of interests. The so-called demeanor of Europeans is actually very hypocritical.

"It has always been your method to drive them away for profit. Why did you forget this time? A ship cannot hold up the sea, and a single tree cannot make a forest. A business that can only survive alone will not last long.

The benefits you grabbed before were not valued by those countries in Europe because of their knowledge. But Russia's benefits are great in their eyes.

The battlefield is tens of thousands of miles away from our Ming Dynasty, and the expedition is the most draining of national power. Moreover, this expedition to our Ming Dynasty does not have many tangible benefits.

In this case, the best way is to bring all European countries in and share the benefits together!

Two fists are no match for four, and we are faced with the siege of a large group of countries. Even Russia will definitely be unable to withstand it."

"Dorgon and Jilharang must be handed over to Russia, otherwise...! They will be a disaster wherever they go!" Li Xiao gritted his teeth. These two Jurchen remnants are still causing harm to the Ming Dynasty at this time.

Most of the recent espionage cases solved by Luzhu are related to them. Because of the relationship between Daming Industrial Base in Liaodong, these two guys are always able to develop subordinates and can always spy on Daming's confidential information.

This time the anti-corruption campaign gave them the opportunity to lure a few key people into the trap. Fortunately, Luzhu detected it in time, otherwise Li Xiao would not have known how much technology they would have stolen.

"Let Li Xiu beat them and warn them that if they don't hand over these two people, the country will be destroyed. I believe they will hand them over! After all, to the Russians, Dorgon and Jilharang are both outsiders.

For the sake of two outsiders, no one will risk the destruction of the country to protect them."

"Probably not!"

"Now that we've finished talking about official matters, let's talk about some personal matters." Sun Chengzong looked at Li Xiao with a sly look in his eyes.
To be continued...