Chapter 53: Controversy at the Northern Expedition Operation Command
Qianlong already had concerns in his mind.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will manufacture it itself.
Let's not talk about whether the quality can reach such a sophisticated level - Qianlong didn't have much confidence anyway.
The cost is just unbearable.
Might as well buy it.
But you can’t just point to one company when buying.
Must be separated.
Eggs cannot be put in one basket.
After discussing the price of muskets with Macartney and others.
Qianlong signaled that the conversation was over.
Macartney and Bulbulon walked out of the palace in confusion.
They didn't even know Qianlong's attitude towards cooperating with Britain and France to fight against the Ming Dynasty...
Of course.
It's not like they didn't gain anything.
Emperor Qianlong at least stated that he could purchase muskets from Britain and France...
"This is an Eastern king with a very deep palace."
Bulbulon said.
Macartney shrugged: "It's a pity that he seems to be overconfident. The empire he rules is actually so weak."
in these days.
Macartney and others also observed the situation of the Qing Empire.
The poverty situation in this country is shocking - of course, in fact, the British Empire and the Qing Empire were also bald monks. The workers in the factories in London may not have a better life than the farmers in the Qing Dynasty.
But similarly, it seems along the way that the equipment of this country's army is still the same as it was more than a hundred years ago. It is said that the tactical patterns practiced by the Qing Emperor's most elite Eight Banners soldiers are very old.
Even the country's most elite military was heavily equipped with shotguns, small-caliber matchlocks.
Macartney easily concluded that the Qing Empire was by no means as powerful as Westerners imagined.
They are big but not strong.
Almost the same as Russia.
And their rulers generally have hidden fears in their hearts - they are always worried about being overthrown by the Han people at the bottom, so they are always ready to withdraw from China.
This is such a country.
How can we resist Zhu Daohua's Ming army?
"Just wait, after his army fails on the battlefield, the Emperor of the Qing Empire will know that the country he rules is not a celestial country..."
"The Emperor of China wants to buy muskets..." Macartney rubbed his temples, "It seems... before we can stand with the Qing Empire, we have to do something with His Highness the Ming Dynasty. A deal..."
"He probably wouldn't refuse this opportunity to make money," Bourblon said.
The two of them were helpless.
Who let Zhu Daohua have the final say in Nanyang now?
Without Zhu Daohua's permission.
They couldn't even think of transporting any materials to the Qing Dynasty.
.........
After Qianlong met with the British and French.
Immediately, he sent an edict to Ming, appointing Fukang'an as General Fuyuan, and ordered Jiangxi Green Camp, Hunan Green Camp, and Guizhou Green Camp to lead 15,000 Green Camp troops each, and a combined force of 45,000 troops to enter Guangdong, and was accepted by General Fuyuan. Fukangan moderation.
At the same time, he ordered Fukang'an to recruit 30,000 rural soldiers in Guangdong and train 30,000 new soldiers. He also transferred the 5,000 Eighth Banner soldiers stationed in Guangzhou to Fukang'an's control.
Thus.
Fukang'an had 120,000 green soldiers, 30,000 rural soldiers, and 5,000 eight-banner heavenly soldiers.
A total of 155,000 troops.
In terms of military strength.
It is absolutely enough to control Guangdong Province.
In addition, he also gave Fukang'an a secret order.
Let Fukang'an secretly photograph people traveling to Nanyang to purchase sophisticated muskets and artillery.
It is not a secret to train the Eight Banners soldiers according to the methods of the Ming army - the teaching materials of the Ming Army and Navy Officers Academy, Qianlong had already obtained them.
Since Zhu Daohua can use this kind of military training method to train a new army.
That was used to train the Eight Banners.
Revitalize the power of the Eight Banners Heavenly Soldiers.
It can also have the same effect.
As for the musket purchased....
Qianlong also didn't trust it in the hands of the green camp soldiers in the south.
In addition to the 5,000 Eight Banners soldiers equipped in Guangzhou.
The rest will be sent to Beijing.
Used as equipment to form a new Eight Banners Musket Battalion.
The rise of Zhu Daohua in Nanyang made Qianlong realize that the glorious and prosperous era of Haiyanheqing in the Qing Dynasty might be lost.
The Eight Banners were the foundation of the Qing Dynasty.
The Eight Banners must restore the power of the heavenly soldiers.
In this case.
Only then can we deal with Zhu Daohua the way our ancestors used the Eight Banners soldiers to suppress the Han people and conquer the world.
There are many Han people.
There are few people in the Eight Banners.
Therefore, the Eight Banners rarely went into battle in all the wars between Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong.
And the same is true now. Qianlong does not intend to use the Eight Banners soldiers to fight Zhu Daohua.
Otherwise it would be too uneconomical.
But Qianlong also knew.
The prerequisite for the Eight Banners soldiers to suppress the Han people and fight.
To be an Eight Banners soldier, you must be a tiger.
Even if it is a paper tiger.
As long as it can bluff people.
.........
"Your Majesty appropriated 500,000 yuan for me to purchase 30,000 muskets..."
In the Governor's Mansion of Guangdong and Guangxi, Fukangan looked at Vicente, Liu Guangliang, and the general merchant of the Thirteenth Bank Wu Dunyuan and others.
"Sir, Ni Ming requires that all trade must be concentrated on Batam Island... If you want to buy muskets, you can only go to Batam Island to find Western merchants to contact."
Wu Dunyuan said after hearing this.
"only...."
"Just what?"
"Just trading on Batam Island must be exchanged for Ming Yuan before trading..."
"In emergencies, as long as you can buy a gun, it will be fine." Fukang'an waved his hand and said, "Who can go in this matter?"
Fukangan looked at Vicente and Liu Guangliang.
The two of them also knew.
Here in Fukang'an, they are the only two people who are familiar with Nanyang affairs.
"Duke Xian, I am willing to go."
The two people hurriedly got out of the queue and bowed.
Fukang'an nodded slightly, then turned to look at Wu Dunyuan: "What connections does the Thirteenth Group have in Nanyang?"
Wu Dunyuan showed a bitter look on his face when he heard this: "Since the Dutch were defeated by Ni Ming, Thirteen Hangs has lost this line. However, Yihe Bank bought a land in Batam Island in the name of Nanyang Chinese merchants. I opened a trading company, and now I have started to contact foreign businessmen from all over the island of Batam.”
"It may not be difficult to find foreign merchants who have muskets."
"good!"
There was a bit of a smile on Fukangan's face.
"If this happens, you will have made a great contribution!"
........
Just when Qianlong and Fukang'an were about to send people to purchase ordnance and strengthen Guangdong's defensive power.
On the side of the Ming army.
We are already working on plans for the Northern Expedition to Guangdong.
At this moment.
Within the newly formed Northern Expedition Headquarters.
The staff officers of the Ming army were arguing fiercely.
"Guangzhou is right at the mouth of the Pearl River. The Guangdong Navy can't stop my landing army at all. It only needs to rush along the river mouth to the foot of Guangzhou City and break through Guangzhou. The Guangdong Campaign can be decided!"
"No, no, no! This is too risky. The Qing Tatars have tens of thousands of troops in Guangdong. Once the war is delayed, troops from several surrounding provinces can be mobilized to rush for reinforcements. If they are surrounded under the city of Guangzhou, the consequences will be disastrous!"
"It's better to be safe. First occupy a stronghold on the mainland, send materials and personnel ashore, and then go to Guangzhou!"
In general.
The staff were divided into "radical faction" and "moderate faction."
The radicals believed that the Ming army would rush directly along the Pearl River estuary to the city of Guangzhou, land under the cover of artillery fire, occupy Guangdong in the First World War, and then use Guangzhou as the basis to attack Shaoguan, Jiaying Prefecture, and Zhaoqing.
The conservative faction believes that the Ming army is still small in strength and cannot take such risks.
It's best to find a secure landing spot on the coastline first.
After sending materials and personnel ashore and establishing a reliable and stable mainland stronghold, they then moved to Guangzhou, forcing Fu Ankang to mobilize the main force for a decisive battle with the Ming army.
In the midst of controversy.
Neither Zhu Daohua nor Napoleon, the general adviser of the Ming army, said anything.
Right now.
Gong Zhuman, the commander of Jinyi Guards, pushed open the door and entered.
Everyone's debate suddenly came to an end.
Jinyiwei.
Of course everyone knows what they are doing.
There were not many officers in the Ming army who wanted to have anything to do with the Jinyiwei people.
"Your Majesty, we discovered that Liu Guangliang, the son of Liu Qianxing, is operating on Batam Island. His purpose should be to help Qing Tatar purchase muskets."
"oh?"
Zhu Daohua had a look of interest on his face.
