He Renlong paced back and forth anxiously on the shore, casting anxious eyes to the shore from time to time.
The coast is still frozen. Although the weather has become warmer and sunny, and the temperature is gradually rising, the frozen harbor cannot be thawed in a short time. Although in the past few days, the ice on the coast is slowly growing. It is melting, but it will take at least two or three days for the ships coming from Dengzhou to actually dock.
"Sir, there is no need to be in such a hurry. As long as we can reach the shore, with the current wind direction, we can reach Dagu within three days. This is much better than walking to Quang Ninh with our legs. I heard that the ice and snow are melting there too. , the road surface is very bad." Seeing He Renlong being so anxious, the general was relieved.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up. The governor's order came too late. If I had known we would have gone directly to Jinzhou. It's basically not frozen over there. Even if there is some thin ice, it will have melted long ago." He Renlong He sighed and said, "Also, the railway track construction has just been built from Anshanyi to Liaoyang. In my opinion, if it is built to the south, it should not be built to Niuzhuang. Niuzhuang will be frozen in winter, so why not It is better to go directly to Jinzhou to build a port, a frost-free port is much more useful than a port that cannot be used for navigation for three or four months in winter."
The general nodded, but then shook his head: "Sir, if we really want to lay all these rails, the cost will be too scary. If all these fine iron rails are laid, how many cannons can be fired? Besides, Well, Niuzhuang is much closer to Liaoyang than Jinzhou to Liaoyang. I guess the businessmen also think they can save a lot, right? There are almost no people from Haizhou to the south, and the population from Niuzhuang to Liaoyang is still there It's slightly more, maybe for this reason. It shouldn't cost so much, just use it to transport goods on both sides. The people along the line can also benefit from it. There are too few people in Liaonan."
"You are short-sighted. The Governor has long said that Liaodong will be built into Shandong. Just how many people can be accommodated in the Liaozhong and Liaoxi corridors, Liaonan is the big one. Let me tell you, Jinzhou will definitely be better than Niuzhuang in the future. Strong, if the railway track from Jinzhou to Liaoyang is paved, it will be really simple for immigrants from Shandong. Just land in Jinzhou, and then walk along the railway track with a carriage. It can be hundreds of miles along the way. It has been developed, and this alone will make the job of relocating residents much easier."
He Renlong had been following Cao Wenzhao under Feng Ziying for a long time, and had always had many contacts with Feng Ziying. Feng Ziying often talked to military generals who were familiar with him about matters related to the national economy and people's livelihood.
In Feng Ziying's view, a qualified senior general must understand some aspects of civil affairs and people's livelihood, especially matters involving logistics and supply, and must have a deep understanding of the future of Liaodong. Planning and construction concepts.
Therefore, He Renlong felt that he seemed to have matured a lot in the past two years. He was no longer as focused on fighting as before. At least he also knew about the people's livelihood and civil affairs matters involved in the evolution from tactics to strategy.
"Then we have to wait. It won't take ten years until the railway track from Liaoyang to Jinzhou is laid, right?" The general is also looking forward to it.
"Huh, ten years. According to the Governor's idea, this railway track must be laid within five years, maybe even three years. This is the requirement that the Governor made to the businessmen. The businessmen all find it a bit difficult. Still figuring out how to implement it.”
He Renlong was filled with emotion. The governor was probably the only one in the Zhou Dynasty who could be so obedient to this group of businessmen who were said to have great power in the capital city.
The development and construction of Liaodong has actually been talked about for many years. Every year, the imperial household department spends the largest amount of money and food in Liaodong Town, far more than Jizhen and Xuanfu. The reason is that it is too difficult for Liaodong to be self-sufficient in food. Secondly, the climate is not suitable, but as you can imagine, the consumption of a hundred thousand troops and their families here is huge, and they all have to be transported from outside. Before the sea transportation is opened, everything has to come from the Gyeonggi and Liaoxi Corridor. , the loss is astronomical.
In a word, Liaodong is a pure military town, unlike Jizhen Xuanfu, which is directly adjacent to Shanxi Province. The output is too little and the distance is too far, so it will cost a lot to support it.
But things are different now. Niuzhuang, Jinzhou, and Jiuliancheng have all opened ports. Although Niuzhuang is still the main port now, Jinzhou and Jiuliancheng will become lively in a few years, and Liaoyang and Guangning are both trying Planting potatoes and corn has achieved very good results. Although the taste is a bit unpalatable, the yield is really not bad and is more than enough to fill the stomach. This suddenly reduces the pressure of food transportation.
If we wait until a large number of immigrants come in, Liaodong may really develop into the second Shandong in the future, which will be much better than Shaanxi.
He Renlong is from Shaanxi, but he knows the barren and bitter cold in northern Shaanxi. The climate in Liaodong is not as good, but the land is very fertile and the products are quite rich. It is really a place where no one can starve to death.
In He Renlong's view, Liaodong has failed to develop from the Ming Dynasty to the Zhou Dynasty. It is definitely a bunch of mediocre people who are ruining the country. How long did it take for the Governor to take over? Even if the Governor's father was added, it would be nothing more. Six or seven years ago, the situation is completely different now. It is no exaggeration to say that things are changing with each passing day.
Why did Jianzhou Jurchen collapse without warning? Isn't this the work of the Governor?
Logistics support was solved, and new firearms were constantly innovated. Even though the Jianzhou Jurchens were repeatedly bribed to bribe the Liaodong Army to rebel, they still managed to solve the Jianzhou Jurchens who had caused the court a headache for ten or twenty years. He Renlong I can't think of anyone who can be as gifted and talented as the Governor.
Sometimes He Renlong wonders how the governor can have such fantastic ideas and great talents to make a place completely transformed in such a short period of time, not only in the place, but also in the military.
Look at the update speed of firearms, heavy firecrackers, self-generated firecrackers, long-barreled heavy artillery and tiger crouching cannons, and even improvements in gunpowder. All of this means that the Zhou army is no longer the type to face nomadic cavalry in the past. It can only be exhausted and defensive.
After thinking about it, He Renlong put his mind back on how to set sail south as soon as possible.
The freeze here in Niuzhuang has entered its final stage, and the weather has quickly warmed up in late March, but the sea ice doesn't thaw in a day or two, so you have to wait.
But the problem is that there is something going on in Gyeonggi Province. The descending army must rush to Dagu as soon as possible. Now it takes less than a month to reach Dagu by land. It can be reached by sea in three or four days, and the soldiers can also get sufficient rest. Unlike a month-long long-distance land journey, it is impossible to rest without two or three days.
Although Feng Ziying's instructions did not clearly state anything, neither He Renlong nor Cao Wenzhao cared.
Feng Ziying is the governor of Ji Liao, and although they are from Denglai Town, they were ordered by the Ministry of War to rush to Liaodong to take over Feng Ziying's full command. However, they can act arbitrarily on the territory of Ji Town and Liaodong towns. This is Feng Ziying's power.
Even without that, they don't care.
Denglai Town has long been marked with the word "Feng". From Feng Tang to Feng Ziying, no one has doubts about this. They and the Feng family already have a mutually beneficial relationship. Even if they want to invest in others now, Others will not believe it, let alone accept it.
As a direct descendant of Feng Ziying, He Renlong still knew some information.
There are disputes in the capital and disharmony within the cabinet. It may be a fight for the next chief minister. Originally, it was just a dispute between civil servants, and it was not the turn of the military to intervene.
But when the emperor was involved, the nature changed, involving the garrison in the capital, and might even involve Liu Xuan's Xuanfu army. This was probably why Mr. Feng felt nervous and had to prepare in advance.
However, He Renlong still felt that Mr. Feng was not too impatient.
Logically speaking, the best way to prevent mutiny is to strike first and nip it in the bud. If you really suspect that something is going to happen, intervene directly and make arrangements. Whether it is the Jizhen Army or the armies in Beijing, as long as it is in advance, Intervention, He Renlong felt that it should be completely handleable.
But Mr. Feng seems to be a little slack or careless, although he is aware of some problems inside. However, it has not made the most decisive decisions and measures for a long time, but has allowed these situations to change.
This is what puzzles He Renlong the most. With Mr. Feng's keen insight, it is impossible not to notice the subtle changes here. With his skill and means, it is impossible not to solve these problems. Even if he is not good at it, But as long as Qi Xiang and Sun Chengzong join forces, there is nothing that cannot be won.
Perhaps Mr. Feng has his own deep meaning. All he and his team need to do is follow Mr. Feng's instructions and arrive on time.
After walking around the coast again, He Renlong still couldn't sit still.
The ice floes at the edge of the port have gradually melted, but it will still take a few days to set sail. However, Master Feng's military order is imminent, and the Xue fleet from Dengzhou is already on its way. If it reaches this coast, it will still be Frozen and trapped here, it will delay important things.
Can these frozen seas be solved early? It doesn't need to be very wide, it just needs to open up a channel to barely get out to sea.
Thinking of this, He Renlong immediately went to find the manager of Niuzhuang Port.
"Actually, there is no way. It turns out that there has been an experiment in Liaodong, which is to delay the freezing and wait for late ships to enter the port, or to open the port in advance, but the cost is not small. It is to use a large ship to wrap a layer of iron material and then fill it with large rocks. Use ox-horses to move forward, force the bow of the ship to press on the ice, crush the ice, and slowly open up a channel..."
When the Niuzhuang Port and Navigation personnel who were good at this mentioned this method, He Renlong suddenly became excited. As long as he could arrive on time, it would be worth the big expense.
