Chapter 246 Recuperation
"This battle cannot be fought now..."
In the internal meeting, there are only several important generals such as Song Che, Wang Xiaojie, Tang Kainian and Huang Chunyao.
Chen Cao knocked on the table: "Obviously, Jiannu wants to kill Yuan Chonghuan completely by releasing the news that Yuan Chonghuan has negotiated peace with them."
The news brought back by Xin Zhao was comprehensive, and it was naturally sent by Zou Weilian. It turned out that Chongzhen had no murderous intentions that night, and the news that completely exploded that Chongzhen wanted to kill Yuan Chonghuan was an urgent document sent from Juehua Island.
"Although Pi Dao has only three thousand soldiers, he is still the commander-in-chief of the town. He was good at killing Mao Wenlong, which is a bad start. If future governors follow this example, the generals may have dissatisfaction."
Huang Chunyao shook his Kong Ming fan and said thoughtfully: "According to the students' opinion, the emperor was not only angry that Yuan Chonghuan was good at killing Mao Wenlong, but he should also be looking for a scapegoat for this time of establishing slaves, breaking through the border and entering the invaders."
In fact, according to Chen Cao's later generations' understanding of history books, Zhu Youjian's temper and character determined that this emperor was a face-saving emperor. Shandong was so corrupt and millions of people were robbed. If he was allowed to commit such a big crime, It's definitely not possible to back him up. Moreover, he is the new emperor who has ascended the throne. Before the eunuch party's power is completely eliminated, it is a good choice to rely on the Donglin party to take action.
The fact that Yuan Chonghuan killed Mao Wenlong was just a good excuse for him to kill him.
"Yuan Chonghuan actually had the power to quell the chaos," Song Che said rarely: "The emperor has no money, so he can't reward them. I guess the court is also anxious about how to deal with them. Humph, he rushed to hand them over by the neck, but he didn't This avoids the criticism that the emperor is good at killing heroes."
"In the final analysis, it is still the result of Yuan Chonghuan's arrogance," Chen Cao concluded, and then said what he thought: "The private peace negotiation was decided by Emperor Tianqi. Wei Zhongxian told me about it just to delay it. The imperial conscription time was a way to relieve the pressure on the central government. However, in the eyes of interested people in the Donglin Party, this matter was a killer move. Now that Emperor Tianqi is dead, the new emperor has ascended the throne and praised the Donglin Party. Moreover, The emperor had a deep hatred for the eunuchs when Tianqi was still there. The reason why he did not kill him when he first came to power was for the sake of the court's situation;
There are various reasons why Yuan Chonghuan is trapped in a cocoon this time, but from the overall strategic perspective, I still prefer that Jiannu should rest and recuperate. "
As he spoke, Chen Cao drew several lines on the map of the round table, and then pointed his sword at Guangning City: "After we withdrew, Huang Taiji used Guangning City as a forward stronghold. According to reliable information, the people plundered from Shandong this time were Millions of people were imprisoned here, and the Han officials around Huang Taiji made plans to use these Han people to farm and create food for them."
Now even the food in the north has to be supplied by Chen Cao's foreign trade group. The eight Shanxi merchants' smuggling business can only continue by contacting the foreign trade group, otherwise they will lose money transporting grain from Sichuan.
"Jiannu probably also felt that the food they received from Shanxi had decreased in recent years, and that's why they planned to farm. So I thought they would never go to war again until at least three years before Chongzhen."
The establishment of slaves and no troops was a big trouble for Chen Cao. Why?
According to Chongzhen's urinary nature, once the external pressure decreases, he will definitely point his finger at the inside. Now the internal troubles of the Ming Dynasty do not lie in Shaanxi, but the focus lies on Chen Cao, the self-proclaimed Duke of Liang.
Although Songjiang is not big, the Su and Song Prefectures provided food for the entire Southern Zhili Province of the Ming Dynasty. In addition, they could also pay the court's grain tax every year. Without Songjiang Prefecture, how could Suzhou Prefecture be a dominant family? business?
What's more, this is a difficult moment for the country and Chen Cao must not be allowed to succeed.
Obviously, all the generals present here understand Chen Cao's meaning.
"What do you mean, sir, once the slaves are established and the army is stopped, the imperial court will definitely send troops to deal with us?"
Huang Chunyao asked Chen Cao to explain Tang Kainian's doubts: "General Tang thought more easily. It was a bad idea to send troops. Now the garrison in southern Zhili has become Qi Boyu. That old man is not as bold as Wei Guogong and dares to send troops. But as long as the court orders The connection with Songjiang has been sealed, and we have no way to advance or retreat on the land. Unless the father-in-law orders us to use force to clear the road, we can do it."
Chen Cao also heaved a sigh of relief and said: "Not only the slaves, but also the imperial court needs to cultivate their body and breath, and we need it even more;
Our New Army has just been established. Basically, those who can fight and have experience in the Dingwu Army have been transferred to the New Army as officers. The only organic unit in the Dingwu Army now is the First Division of Tang Kainian, and the rest The two divisions have either transferred officers and soldiers or recruited new soldiers, and their training cannot keep up. How can they fight? "
The First Division has more than 10,000 people, which looks like a lot. Once they are dispersed to face the enemy, their strength will be stretched thin. This is why Chen Cao has been thinking about it.
"Although the troops in South Zhili are corrupt, they can't handle the large number of people. Besides, our Songjiang Prefecture is on the coast, but we are tightly surrounded. If we really want to break through, unless Suzhou Prefecture is also in our hands."
Chen Cao said and looked at Huang Chunyao: "I heard that Zhang Pu, the son of Fu Shen who took the lead in resisting the tax in Suzhou last time, has some friendship with you?"
How could Huang Chunyao's intelligence not understand what Chen Cao said: "Students save you. I wonder how far my father-in-law needs students to go?"
Chen Cao rolled his eyes for a long time: "How is Suzhou's preparedness?"
Zhao Xin spoke: "The Suzhou magistrate's office has a thousand-household military office under its jurisdiction, the governor's office has three thousand Fubiao camps, the salt inspection office has more than a thousand salt officers, and there are two thousand soldiers under Su Song's command.
In addition, there are Zhenhai Guards and other garrison troops. The total strength of Suzhou's entire army should be about 30,000. "
Thirty thousand troops were placed in Suzhou Prefecture, which was second to none in the entire Ming Dynasty. Suzhou was close to the sea and was also the center of the Southeast Salt Channel. The entire salt industry along the southeast coast was in the hands of the Salt Patrol Yamen located in Suzhou.
"In fact, if we use the strength of the First Division, it is more than enough to attack Suzhou. I am afraid that Suzhou City's city defense is very high. Once those people take over the city and defend it, the 10,000-strong First Division is really not enough."
After the Qing army entered the pass, they also used more than 100,000 troops to besiege Nanjing City. The Green Camp Han army alone was 70,000 strong.
Suzhou's city wall was second only to Nanjing City. Chen Cao really didn't have the confidence to capture Suzhou with 10,000 people.
"Zhang Pu can be used. If he is willing to surrender, that would be a good thing."
Chen Cao's first argument gave Huang Chunyao confidence. Seeing this, Huang Chunyao said again: "When Zhang Pu reestablished his society, he invited students to join him, but at that time the students happened to join the Duke's sect. This time, he should go Some results."
"What you do is your business. I don't care. Those people have control over Suzhou. We cannot let the scholars in Suzhou think that our Songjiang is a wolf's den."
After explaining Huang Chunyao, Chen Cao was about to tell his confidants: "We have made a lot of money in recent times. Since the slaves need to rest and recuperate, we should also rest and recuperate. I think the imperial court has suffered such a big disaster in Beizhili this time. It is a good thing that the disaster will not be against us, and it will be ignored even if it is not possible;
After the new army was recruited, each army strengthened training and strictly followed the drills. "
Everyone left, but Chen Cao left Song Che alone: "Shi Xiu, how about Hou Guoxing and Ke Guangxian?"
Song Che heard behind his back that Chen Cao had taken Hou Guoxing's mother as his mistress, but it was difficult to explain this kind of thing openly, so he said: "I left Ke Guangxian's regiment in Ryukyu, and he was responsible for the Ryukyu garrison. Hou Guoxing followed the father's instructions. His orders were left at Fangjin Village, and he and the Marquis of Xianning were constraining each other and could not make a big wave."
Song Che wanted to continue talking, but after thinking about it carefully, he decided to forget it and brought the topic back: "Master, I still suggest that it is most appropriate to recall Hou Guoxing back and hold it in your hands."
Chen Cao raised his eyebrows: "I agree with your idea, but..."
Of course Song Che knew what Chen Cao meant by hesitating, but he couldn't mention it: "I'm just suggesting that everything is up to the father-in-law."
"Can your son leave now?"
"Hehe, it's okay, I just learned to call you daddy recently."
"Let your son come to the house more often from now on. My boys are worried about not having good friends to play with."
.
The first section of railway track in Shanghai County had just been laid on the sleepers. When the first fixed iron was driven into the square hole below the railway track, a roar broke out at the scene.
Li Maocai wiped the sweat from his forehead and ordered his men: "My father-in-law's deadline is one month. What about the people from Huating?"
"The people from the ninth team have just cleared it up. If we come here quickly, it will take about an hour, sir."
Li Maocai shook his head: "Send someone to urge them and tell the people of the Ninth Team that if the two roads cannot be connected within today, the entire Ninth Team will be expelled from the workshop and will never be hired. You don't have to come back. Where?" Where are you going back?"
One of his foremans was sweating on his forehead, but it was cold sweat: "Yes, yes, I will do it immediately..."
"The official road from Shanghai to Huating is not very big. Although there are no obstacles such as mountains along the way, there are many high-altitude forests and the like. It is located under the Yangtze River and is crisscrossed by water canals. Li Mao was able to travel within thirteen days. We have tried our best to open up the road.”
Xia Yunyi walked behind Chen Cao, and the two of them went up to the newly built Shanghai West City Gate at the same time. With the help of the telescope, they could clearly see the railroad tracks on the sleepers one mile west of the city.
"Thirty thousand people, under construction day and night, if they can't even lay thirty miles of land, what use do I need them?"
Chen Cao put down his telescope and pointed downwards: "How much will it cost to build a station from the starting point of that railway track? In addition, the wages of these 30,000 people must not be in arrears. Once it is completed, we will give them first." A reward of one tael per person."
Thirty thousand taels is a small amount in Chen Cao's eyes, but to Xia Yunyi, it is a large transaction: "Yes, students must be rigorous in their work."
