Chapter 076 Big plan
Chen Cao's chess plan is very big. On the surface, everything is in Guangning City. In fact, his real intention is in Jinzhou Guard. Jinzhou Guard is located at the throat of the entire Dalian Bay. As long as he takes it as his own , Advances and retreats are both good things, and Zhang Pan was removed because Chen Cao didn't like this veteran veteran, and he was not Chen Cao's person.
Song Che nodded, and now he understood Chen Cao's specific plan: "Let me guard Guangning City."
Chen Cao glared and shook his head: "You can't do it. You have to go back and train a new army for me. Guangning City will be left to Wang Xiaojie to guard."
"New army?" Song Che frowned.
Chen Cao said with a mysterious face: "This time the imperial court lost more than 100,000 troops in Guangning, and it can no longer provide decent soldiers. Besides, the civil unrest in Shaanxi is getting more and more serious. The imperial court not only has no soldiers, but also no money. You can’t fight, you can only defend.”
Although Chen Cao was just guessing, Song Che was convinced by Chen Cao's words and immediately nodded: "I know, the imperial court will let local troops prepare and train new armies, and half of the military expenses will be paid by the imperial court. Half let the new army be self-sufficient."
"Of course..." Chen Cao smiled and nodded: "We can take the opportunity to develop our strength and train our troops well. There are plenty of opportunities."
"What about now?" Song Che pointed at Guangning City.
Chen Cao breathed out a sigh of relief: "Nurhachi went to conquer the three guards of Duoyan, and then went to conquer the Mongolian tribes. After these things are done, even if he loots countless things in Guangning, he must rest and recuperate. It is already July. , at least until spring next February, we still have time to prepare;
These tens of thousands of people mobilized to rebuild the city of Guangning. The old, weak, women and children did the light things, and the heavy ones were left to the defeated soldiers who fled and the exiled people. It is easy to repair Guangning City in three months. "
Chen Cao and Song Che talked for a long time, and then asked Xin Zhao to arrange people to do work for the people. I guess these people were sensible. After knowing the brutality of the Tatars, they expressed their willingness to build Guangning City, and Chen Cao provided Eat, for which these people are grateful to Chen Cao.
Chen Cao's plan was very big. Naturally, he couldn't simply build Guangning City. In addition to letting some soldiers return to Nanjing first, he also asked all warships and transport ships to go to the workshop to transport finished cement. He wanted to build it in Liaodong. A modern cement city.
At the end of July, the imperial court sent a letter ordering Chen Cao to return to Beijing to report on his duties. After receiving the news, Chen Cao immediately took a sea ship to Jinzhou Guard and had his first contact with Liu Aita, who had been waiting there.
Naturally, both sides must pretend to fight. Liu Aita surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, which did not mean that all his soldiers surrendered, so many people died in this battle. Liu Aita had no choice but to give up the Jinzhou Guard.
"The guilty general Liu Xingzuo met Uncle Dingwu..."
Liu Aita's Chinese name is Liu Xingzuo, so when he meets Chen Cao, he naturally calls him by his Chinese name.
Chen Cao quickly helped Liu Xingzuo up: "General Liu, you're welcome. Let's keep the story short to avoid causing trouble to you. Is there any valuable news?"
"Next spring, the Tatars will conquer North Korea." Liu Xingzuo said immediately.
"North Korea?" Chen Cao frowned, then nodded to express his knowledge: "What action will be taken against our Ming Dynasty?"
Liu Xingzuo shook his head: "Guangning is a great victory. All the soldiers left in Guangning must be withdrawn. The Eight Banners must rest and recuperate. After annexing the three guards of Uliangha and conquering Mongolia this time, they will rest for at least a whole year. I'm afraid it will happen later. Only then will Niannu Chief take action again."
"Then they conquered North Korea?" Chen Cao asked with a frown.
Liu Xingzuo said: "I ordered Amin to take action, and the criminal will follow suit. The order has been issued. After the spring starts in February next year, we will march eastward to North Korea."
"Huh..." Chen Cao let out a long breath. With North Korea as the scapegoat, he was freed up for a year to prepare in Liaodong. There was no problem at all: "General Liu, you have better internal information in the Tatars than Wanqing." There are many secrets, so you must ensure your own safety and don’t reveal your identity.”
"Sins will be remembered..."
...
August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival
After Chen Cao landed at Tianjin Guard, he quickly went to the capital. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, he entered Zhengyangmen. He first went to the Ministry of War to report, and then went to the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. Finally, he was invited to the mansion by Zhang Wenda.
"This year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the atmosphere in the DPRK is not good..." Zhang Wenda and Chen Cao were sitting in the pavilion in the garden admiring the moon.
Chen Cao took a bite of the mooncake and asked, "Is Uncle Zhang worried about Guangning?"
"I have already retired and I don't have much opinion on the situation of the court. However, the matter in Guangning affects the safety of our Ming Dynasty, so we have to be cautious. This time, I also know about your deeds in Guangning. Yes, Ke Cang didn't do it back then. I misjudged you, kid.”
Chen Cao smiled and poured a glass of wine for Zhang Wenda: "It's all in vain. I will die if I go back. I'm just lucky..."
"Death?" Zhang Wenda frowned, then figured out what Chen Cao meant, and then shook his head: "Party struggle, party struggle... Is it really what you said?"
Chen Cao quickly put down the mooncake and took a sip of tea: "Uncle, who made your mooncakes? Let's do this."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenda hit him on the head with the folding fan in his hand: "You bastard, my daughter made this with her own hands today, please be satisfied."
"Oh..." Chen Cao said with an embarrassed look on his face: "Let me tell my sister tomorrow that I didn't mean it."
Zhang Wenda looked Chen Cao up and down, then shook his head: "It's a pity that you are already married...I can't steal Ke Cang's person, hey..."
Chen Cao didn't understand what was going on, so Zhang Wenda added: "Tomorrow, during the great dynasty after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Holy Emperor will summon you to report on your duties. You must perform well. I may not give you any benefits."
"Hi..." Chen Cao waved his hand: "Don't worry, Uncle Feng, I was bleeding heavily last time..."
"You?" Zhang Wenda frowned and looked at Chen Cao.
Chen Cao immediately knew that he had said the wrong thing, and quickly changed the topic: "Uncle Zhang, is there any way to deal with Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen in the court?"
Seeing that Chen Cao was avoiding talking, Zhang Wenda was too old-fashioned to ask any further questions, so he continued: "The two of them were captured and taken back to the capital after they returned to Shanhaiguan. They were put in jail and sentenced to death..." Zhang Wenda vented his anger: "Wang Huazhen's master is Ye Xianggao, but this guy is attached to your eunuch party."
"I know this," Chen Cao interrupted Zhang Wenda: "Xing Shenyan told me everything."
"Xing Shenyan?" Zhang Wenda asked, "Is he in your camp?"
Chen Cao nodded, he was a little confused: "What's wrong?"
"This person has real talent and knowledge," Zhang Wenda said, "You have to make good use of him. His loyalty is acceptable, but he is just unsociable because he is young."
Chen Cao knew that Zhang Wenda meant that he was not gregarious, and Xing Shenyan did not like the Donglin Party, thinking that they were all fake students. It happened that he had real information, so when the Donglin Party extended an olive branch to him, he refused directly and was sent to Liaodong to participate in politics.
"Uncle, what if my nephew recommends himself to serve as the commander-in-chief in Liaodong?"
Zhang Wenda said without thinking about Chen Cao's sudden words: "Don't think about it. Although the Liaodong Commander-in-Chief is the second rank, judging from the situation during the Wanli period, he is the most valuable commander-in-chief in the entire Ming Dynasty. Soldier, as you are a distinguished noble, the court will definitely not agree to let you lead the army."
"Hey... why are we so guarded? We can't send any generals with real talent and knowledge." Chen Cao sighed.
Zhang Wenda immediately understood what Chen Cao meant, so he said leisurely: "Although you can't be elected, if you recommend some people to serve, it will be fine, otherwise you, a member of the eunuch party, will be fake."
Chen Cao's eyes lit up, Zhang Wenda liked to play Ji Feng the most, but this time he said it very straightforwardly, Chen Cao immediately understood the meaning, and quickly toasted to Zhang Wenda: "My nephew has cleared up the confusion, thank you uncle. "
...
The Hall of Supreme Harmony was destroyed and was undergoing intensive repairs. The imperial court was still held in the square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the imperial gate listened to the government.
Ever since Wei Zhongxian learned that Chen Cao had led his troops ashore and rescued tens of thousands of people, and also reoccupied Guangning City, he was very high-spirited and boasted that he had a great talent in the eunuch party who was capable of both literature and military affairs.
"Your Majesty has a decree. He will not announce anything today. He will only talk about Liaodong. Xuan, Jin Yiweinan Town Fusi Commander, Dingwu Bo Chen Cao, has an audience..."
Chen Cao wore the earl's python robe and walked quickly to the center of the royal road. Under the smiling faces of Tian Ergen and several old acquaintances, he saluted Zhu Youxiao on the royal platform: "Your Majesty, Chen Cao, long live our emperor. Long live..."
Wei Zhongxian spoke for Zhu Youxiao: "Ping Shen..."
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
"Ahem..." Zhu Youxiao cleared his throat: "Chen Aiqing, thank you for your hard work..."
Chen Cao quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty has spoken seriously. Everything I did in Liaodong was to share your Majesty's worries."
"Well," Zhu Youxiao responded: "It's a pity that we still lost Guangning, Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen, two bastards. I will never let them go lightly. Putting aside this, I intend to promote you as a marquis."
"Your Majesty must not..." Before Zhu Youxiao could finish his words, Zhao Nanxing, the new official minister, came out to stop him: "Guangning was defeated. Although Uncle Dingwu was subordinate to Mr. Sun Ge, he also had responsibilities. .”
Wei Zhongxian immediately gave Gu Bingqian a wink, and Gu Bingqian, understanding, stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, I heard that the soldiers who fled the battle in Xiping said that Uncle Dingwu arrived at Xiping Fort on time and fought against the slaves outside the fort. The cavalry, if it weren't for Sun Degong's traitor who rebelled against the enemy and caused the reinforcements to collapse without a fight, Uncle Dingwu would not have been defeated. But even so, Uncle Dingwu did not retreat directly, but gathered the defeated troops on Juehua Island. He went to rescue the people and recaptured Guangning City. The court must not sit idly by with such achievements."
"Master Gu," Zuo Guangdou said in a strange tone: "Those are just one-sided words. The court only looks at the results. If you lose, you lose..."
At that moment, the Eunuch Party and the Donglin Party began to quarrel again. Zhu Youxiao felt very unhappy. Seeing this, Chen Cao felt that an opportunity had come, so he raised his hands and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I think Master Zhao is right."
"Is this guy crazy?" Xu Xianchun looked at Tian Ergeng.
Tian Ergen admired Chen Cao from the bottom of his heart and said, "I don't know, my elder brother must have his own ideas."
Just when the people arguing in the square stopped and looked at Chen Cao in surprise, Chen Cao then said loudly: "We did lose the battle of Guangning. When I was in Liaodong, I carefully sent spies to investigate. Jiannu won this time After that, if you want to send troops to Liaodong again, it will be June or July next year at the earliest. I will occupy Guangning in order to have a bridgehead to fight against the slave establishment. If we look at the entire Guangning campaign, what I did is A casual matter should not be considered as a condition for becoming a marquis."
Zhu Youxiao frowned: "Seriously?"
Chen Cao nodded: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty."
Zhu Youxiao said, then turned to look at Wei Zhongxian, and then whispered: "My dear friend, Chen Cao is unwilling."
Wei Zhongxian was a little annoyed. It was obvious that he was the one who instigated Chen Cao to become a marquis. The person in front of him was unwilling to do so, which made him very embarrassed. He wanted to hear the reason, otherwise Chen Cao would have to be punished for his urine. This disobedient 'child'.
Chen Cao said: "Although these achievements are not enough to make you a marquis, I would like to ask Your Majesty to recommend three people for my hard work."
Zhao Nanxing and others immediately glanced at each other, trying to see clearly what Chen Cao wanted to say.
Zhu Youxiao was curious: "Who are they? What's the matter?"
"The former commander of Songjiang Guards, Tongzhi Wang Xiaojie, this man served as the vanguard from the battle of Gaizhou to the Xiping War. The commander of Tongwei disappeared during the battle of Empress Palace, so I asked him to temporarily take over the post of commander of Songjiang Guards. ," Chen Cao said, looking up and winking at Wei Zhongxian.
Wei Zhongxian was close to him. Seeing Chen Cao like this, he also had some concerns in his heart, so he nodded inconspicuously.
Upon seeing this, Chen Cao continued: "Guangning City is newly built. I think that Wang Xiaojie's contribution and bravery make him a brave general. For this reason, I would like to recommend Wang Xiaojie as the chief military officer of western Liaoning, responsible for garrisoning Guangning City."
"That's it..." Zhu Youxiao said silently, and then thought for a while: "The Ministry of War has reported Wang Xiaojie's achievements many times. Since you recommended it, I can trust it. The Ministry of War immediately issued a document appointing Wang Xiaojie as the Commander-in-Chief of Liaoxi Province. , Also, since the Songjiang Guards have not returned to the establishment, a new Songjiang Guards commander will be selected. As for the new Songjiang Guards, let’s form them on the spot.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty..." Chen Cao saluted Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, second person, I want to promote Man Gui, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan, to the commander-in-chief of Jinzhou. I already occupied Jinzhou before leaving Liaodong, where There is Lushun Pass. When our army launches a large-scale attack on Jiannu in the future, we can disembark from Jinzhou. This place is a strategic point and must not be lost."
Sun Chengzong was in the court. Hearing that Chen Cao actually wanted to promote the people around him, he was a little surprised. Many insiders looked at him, making him not sure what to do for a while, because he was a member of the Donglin Party. Boss, and Chen Cao is an important member of the eunuch party.
Zhu Youxiao nodded: "I'm sure, the Ministry of War will record this matter and handle it after the court meeting. Who is the third person?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Chen Cao handed over again: "The third person is Liaodong General Li Shaokuan. I would like to transfer him to Lushun General. Please transfer Zhang Pan, the former Lushun guerrilla, to the Changsheng Island guerrilla."
"Accurate performance..."
After all three people finished speaking, Wei Zhongxian was about to speak, but Chen Cao immediately said loudly: "Your Majesty, I have one more thing to ask your Majesty to do..."
