Although Hong Chengchou did not command the troops in western Liaoning for a long time, he still had a keen eye and saw the problem of exhausted border affairs.
Among the various tribes in Guanning, it has long been common for them to withhold pay and pay to support a small number of servants. The income of ordinary soldiers can only barely make ends meet. How can they have the will to fight?
Each general has his own thoughts and is afraid of the enemy and is timid to fight. Moreover, he has a strong tail and cannot be lost. It is really difficult for the commander to control him. If there is a war, he will definitely preserve his strength and wait for an opportunity to flee.
The Liao soldiers have become inert. Previously they had no intention of making progress and could only serve to defend the territory. Now facing the iron hoof of Donglu, his liver and gallbladder are broken, and it is difficult to stand still.
Hong Shaobao believed that all the soldiers in western Liaoning were useless. They had no fighting spirit and no fighting ability. They could only be used to exterminate the rogue bandits. If they wanted to resist the Eastern invaders, they would need to be vigorously organized.
To rectify the local snake tribe, which had about 100,000 soldiers and horses and had been entrenched for many years, Hong Chengchou needed two more things, one was Shang Fang's sword, and the other was boxes of silver.
Killing someone without the emperor's authorization will inevitably lead to criticism from both the government and the public.
Without pay, the military training strategy cannot be implemented smoothly.
The so-called stabilization of borders is out of the question.
Hong Chengchou had hinted between the lines that if the braided army surrounded the two cities of Ning and Jin, given the strength and combat power of his troops, they would not be able to win the battle, and they would suffer heavy losses if they sent troops.
The Donglu field battle was very fierce, and the king's division could not defeat the slave army. They rushed to support from a long distance. The gains were small, but the hidden dangers were huge. If not, the two cities of Ningjin and Jin would be besieged for a long time or fall.
Hong Chengchou's meaning is very clear, that is, his troops do not have the ability to win in field battles. If the two cities of Ningjin and Jin are besieged and ask for help, the reinforcements from Shanhaiguan will be sacked before they can relieve the siege.
Field warfare is the most critical issue in rescuing the Second City. If the field battle cannot be won, relief from the siege will be out of reach. If the braids are allowed to siege the Second City, it will become the second Daling River in the long run.
From this, we can know that if we want to win in the field, we must organize the original troops while training the new army, and use this to improve the combat effectiveness. Otherwise, it will be too late before the incident occurs.
So the problem is stuck here. Even if the emperor agrees with the content of the memorial, if Taicang is exhausted, the army preparations for war will be just empty talk. If any commander is appointed to take office in western Liaoning, there will be nothing he can do in the end.
Before raising troops, one must first raise pay. Without sufficient pay, silver, and food, not to mention gradually regaining the lost territory, even holding on to the few remaining strategic locations would be a problem.
The most troublesome problem for Hong Chengchou when he was in office was lack of money. Now he can leave this difficult matter to Wang Zaijin. The prince will help him solve it, and the biggest obstacle to reorganization has been eliminated.
"I think what Hong Chengchou said is true. Now that the Liao Dynasty is in ruins, we should vigorously rectify it. Your Highness's intention to strengthen the border defense is a long-term plan, and this is the right way."
Wang Zaijin believed that what the young prince and Hong Chengchou said were correct, and he was one of the few people in the government and the public who had a far-sighted view of border affairs.
If the imperial court did not have enough money for him to come this time, or if the Holy Emperor still wanted to make immediate changes in border affairs, then he would definitely not agree to take the post.
To completely solve the urgent problem of Donglu, we need to start from scratch in an orderly manner. It is extremely unrealistic to expect to reverse the current decline within three to five years.
Yaoji felt that what he should say was almost what Lao Wangtou said. Whether he wanted to do it or not was his business: "So, Aiqing is willing to take up the post of governor of western Liaoning?"
The matter of silver has been settled for you, and you have been given arbitrary power. If you still disagree, then you will really have to let others do it.
At this point, Wang Zaijin agreed in disguise. He stood up solemnly and saluted with his hands in his hands: "I dare not live up to His Highness's expectations!"
The prince had agreed to all the conditions he had proposed, and he had a very clear understanding of Liao affairs. His requirements for him were not high when he took office. Wang Zaijin gave up the idea of returning to his hometown and planned to make a difference.
In particular, the prince planned to strengthen Shanhaiguan and use this place as the place for the decisive battle with the Donglu, which was very suitable for him. The old Wangtou wanted to show his colleagues who criticized him that the strategy of the year was still effective today.
The master agreed, and Yaoji was relieved, but he still had to express his concern by asking for advice: "That's good. I'm just worried about Aiqing's physical condition. Can she adapt to the severe cold climate in western Liaoning?"
If necessary, I really need to photograph two imperial doctors as Lao Wangtou's personal doctors and follow him to Shanhaiguan. Otherwise, I will send a letter of condolence to this guy on the day he is not saved.
Wang Zaijin was obviously very dissatisfied with this issue, especially when others said that he was in poor health: "Although the old man is old, his muscles and bones are still strong, and he has never lost his appetite. There is no way to mention the patient. Please be at ease, Your Highness." "
A general hates being linked to things like whether he is old and able to eat. As long as he is not bedridden for a day, he can put on his armor, mount his horse, and lead his troops into battle. Especially when it comes to facial expressions, no matter whether you are healthy or not, you must speak with certainty.
Yaoji knew that if he continued to use Lao Wangtou's body to talk about things, it might lead to awkward conversations, so he stopped talking and said instead: "In this case, with Aiqing sitting in Shanhaiguan, coordinating the overall situation and controlling various ministries, I will You can sit back and relax!”
Regardless of whether it works or not, we must put Lao Wang on his head first, and let the Royal Chicken taste the "Lao Wang next door" that has been stored for many years. And he must be optimistic about his beautiful wife, and don't bring in a loser at every turn.
You must know that what "Lao Wang next door" is best at is sneaking into the other person's house when the male host is not around, and having some imaginative and mouth-drying things with the hostess...
In line with the combat principle that if the enemy does not move, I will not move either. As long as Huang Taiji dares to lead the main force of pigtails into the pass to plunder, the "old kings next door" will definitely make the female relatives of pigtails who stay behind the rear happy.
If the "old kings" are not good enough, there are still tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers. They are not good at other things. When it comes to "sex, sex", they are almost self-taught. Money and women are both strategies that the Japanese urgently need. supplies.
If the woman who had been played with could still be cashed out, the Japanese army would have shouted in unison—Yo Xi~! His Royal Highness is so wonderful!
Let Huangtaiji and all the flag owners taste what it feels like to have your home stolen. Don't you often do this?
Now, retribution has come. Maybe a lot of female relatives will be patronized, and the Japanese soldiers will give you a bunch of mixed-race sons for free!
"Previously, I have offered generous terms, which I conveyed to the shogunate through Japanese envoys. The Japanese may send tens of thousands of soldiers to assist in the war, mainly to land in the Liaodong Peninsula and harass the hinterland of the Donglu, so that they cannot attack in autumn. Heading south in a big way.”
It is still necessary to let Lao Wangtou know about this matter of inviting foreign aid. Don't wait until he goes to court tomorrow. This guy is the person who knows the least about the matter in the court and the public, so Fan Fan has to explain it to him first.
"...I hope your highness will think twice. There has always been a rift between our country, the Ming Dynasty, and the Japanese country. Inviting them to send troops is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger!"
After Wang Zaijin took a rough look at the transitional sea battle plan, he basically agreed with this strategy, but he still had many concerns about the ruthless Japanese country.
"My dear, you can rest assured. The Japanese country is no longer the same as it was decades ago. After the decisive battle with the Ming Dynasty, it is only unified in name. The various places are in harmony with the shogunate, and the shogunate also needs the help of the Ming Dynasty to help them. Weaken the strength of various places. Secondly, this time the fleet of General Zheng Zhilong is responsible for transporting the Japanese troops to land. If the Japanese troops turn against the Japanese army, they will definitely not be able to return to the Japanese country. Thirdly, this palace has given the shogun huge benefits. Every year It's no less than a million taels of silver, but it's a huge sum of money, and it will definitely not be used in a shady manner."
Obtaining the monopoly right to sell white sugar was something that the Tokugawa generals only dreamed of, and a certain prince not only had white sugar in his hands, but also more delicate soft white sugar.
Emperor Taiji could ask someone to promise benefits to him, but he would never be able to give him so much as a certain prince. He could give him so much that even the Tokugawa generals could not refuse.
There is no need to worry about Zheng Laofi. Making money by transporting sugar to Japan is as easy as directly casting copper coins. He will not be happy if he does not get involved in this big deal between the two monarchs.
"Your Highness is offering millions of silver coins to the Japanese country? It must be against the vassal rules!"
Wang Zaijin believed that paying such a huge sum of money to the Japanese country every year was really not worth the gain. It would be better to use this money to train 20,000 new troops.
"No money spent!"
Yao Ji smiled mysteriously. Yang Jinchao and Xi'er knew the truth. It was true that they didn't spend any money, not even a tael of silver.
"..."
Wang Zaijin was immediately confused. The prince had just said it would cost one million silver taels, and now he changed his story. Could it be that he was deliberately deceiving him?
"Neither the government nor the public have learned about this matter. Can Aiqing keep it a secret?"
Just tell a few people, there is no need to spread the word widely at this stage.
"nature!"
Since he was going to hear a secret that no one else knew, Wang Zaijin had no choice but to agree to the prince's request.
"I guess Aiqing knows the price of sugar in the Ming Dynasty, but Aiqing may not know the price of sugar in Japan, so...hehe!"
Even if there is a middleman making a profit, I can still borrow soldiers without spending cash.
"That's it~!"
Although Wang Zaijin was old, he was not suffering from cerebral palsy. Even if the prince didn't tell him directly, he could figure out the mystery with just a little thought.
"Exactly!"
Lao Wangtou already knew what was going on, so Yaoji would not deny it.
At this time, the Japanese country did not plant sugar cane on a large scale, and all the sugar needed domestically had to be imported.
When Old Fart Zheng kills the Dutchman whose claws are too deep, Daming can become Japan's exclusive supplier of sugar.
Wang Zaijin did not expect that a mere sugar business would involve millions of taels of silver every year.
No wonder the prince doesn't want the government and the public to know about it, presumably the prince can also make a lot of profits from it.
Lao Wangtou did not believe that the prince would tell lies, because the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War were available for inspection.
To put it more simply, the truth can be found out by asking the two ministers directly, so transporting sugar to Japan should be a sure thing.
In order to facilitate export, a certain prince planned to build a giant sugar factory in the capital or Tianjin, specifically for refining white sugar.
Yaoji is not stupid enough to let Zheng Laopi transport sugar cane from Guangdong and Guangxi to Tianjin. He only needs to process it into coarse sugar locally, then transport it by sea to Jingjin, filter it into white sugar, and then export it to Japan.
If everything is done in one step in the Guangdong and Guangxi areas, the sneaky old Zheng will inevitably sideline a certain prince and deal alone with the Tokugawa general. This is very bad.
Unlike the Japanese state, China has a long history of sugar. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there are records of malt sugar in the works "Book of Rites" and "Chu Ci".
The malt sugar made in the south is made from rice, while the malt sugar made in the north is made from millet. There is not much difference in taste. Later, malt sugar made from sorghum and sweet potatoes was invented.
With the rise of sucrose, it gradually replaced the leading role of malt sugar, and better varieties were introduced to Indochina during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
This also made sugarcane one of the main crops cultivated in Sanfang from the late Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period. Later, the founder of the pastry industry became Zhuge Liang...
After Portugal lost the spice trade, it relied on its half-baked sugar business to make a fortune. It planted sugar cane on a large scale in its South American colony of Brazil. In the early seventeenth century, its sugar exports accounted for more than half of the European market share.
This also attracted the attention of their old enemies, Spain and the Netherlands, especially the latter, which was founded on maritime trade. Its sugar exports to Japan have now reached 2,000 tons.
A certain prince thinks this is very unfriendly, so on the basis that the CIF price per kilogram is 50 yuan lower than the other party's, he is trying to persuade Zheng Laofi to wait for an opportunity to send the Dutch warships and merchant ships to the bottom of the Western Pacific... …
In order to compete fairly with Western powers, ask the Chinese businessmen who were massacred by Spanish troops in Luzon this year, have they ever received fair treatment?
Anyone who ruins my business will be killed no matter how far away!
This is the business motto of a certain prince!
For a certain prince, business without competitors is a good business!
Better to let all your competitors die if you can!
Because a dead competitor is a good competitor!
No matter who it is, as long as it interferes with the business between a certain prince and the Tokugawa general, he must be eliminated quickly.
Even the Dutch across the ocean could not do it. It seemed necessary to support King Philip so that his army could regain the Netherlands.
With the heartless cannon that can carry out direct fire attacks, the defensive power of the bastion that the Dutch are proud of will be greatly reduced, and the Spanish army may take advantage of the situation to reverse the situation of the war.
As long as Philip IV was not Emperor Hui of Jin in Spain, he should agree to the military and technical cooperation plan with the Ming Empire, because the king did not want to continue to see a series of defeats.
Looking around the world, whether it is militarily or financially, the only person who can save the Er-Ha alliance is a certain prince. Giving up this cooperation opportunity is equivalent to waving goodbye to victory.
Yaoji can be sure that the result Philip IV wanted for the Thirty Years' War was definitely not defeat and peace.
Not only did the loss of the Netherlands lead to financial collapse, but they also gained nothing except consecutive defeats on the battlefield.
After the powerful France personally sent troops, the outcome of Spain and the Mud Empire was already doomed.
The European Continental War has reached this point, and the Erha Alliance has almost exhausted its financial resources, while France's losses are negligible.
Without the help of powerful foreign aid, the possibility of the Erha Alliance turning defeat into victory has become extremely slim.
France can fight for another thirty years, but its opponents cannot last even ten years.
This is the current gap between national powers, and we have to admit it whether we are willing or not.
