On the sixth day of the first lunar month of the AD year, the day after Zhu Jingyuan returned to the new capital of Yingtian Prefecture, he held a military affairs meeting in Wuying Hall.
The principal persons in charge of the Governor's Office, the Military Aircraft Department, Sima and the subordinate three military departments, Sikong and his subordinate departments of industry, ordnance department, and West Factory were all present.
After everyone saluted Zhu Jingyuan and took their seats, Zhu Jingyuan motioned to Lu Liang, the governor of the West Factory, to explain the situation first.
Lu Liang immediately stood up, followed a prepared list of important matters, and explained the latest information about Thailand and Spain to everyone present:
"Your Majesty, colleagues, Honglu Temple and the Military Aircraft Department have long expected that the situation within the Western and Eastern countries is quite critical.
“Several countries with a strong military atmosphere may choose to launch foreign wars to divert domestic conflicts.
“Accurate intelligence recently obtained by Xichang shows that this situation will soon become a reality.
"The situation in Thailand and Spain may be more critical than we originally expected.
"Xichang has confirmed that the monarchs of Prussia and Lucia had issued secret mobilization orders when they left their homeland for the UK to attend the coronation ceremony of King George two months ago.
“In the next two months, the scale of military mobilization between the two countries became larger and larger, reaching a level that could not be concealed.
"Among them, Lucia's troops are mainly mobilized in the north, and the suspected targets are the two countries in northwestern Thailand.
"Prussian troops are mainly mobilizing in the south, and the target is likely to be Austria.
"At present, the two countries seem to have no intention of cooperating in combat operations.
"But what is unexpected is that according to the instructions expressed by William of Prussia to His Majesty in the past, he will declare war on Denmark immediately after returning.
“So our current judgment is that Prussia is preparing to deal with Denmark first before taking action against Austria.
“William and Nicholas of Lucia are taking a train to return to their homeland, most likely to prepare for war in advance.
"Start the war before the monarch of the target country returns to the country."
Lu Liang stopped temporarily when he said this, and bowed slightly to Zhu Jingyuan above, indicating that he had finished speaking for the time being.
In fact, it gave Zhu Jingyuan time to issue orders and other ministers to discuss and analyze.
Zhu Jingyuan raised his hand slightly, motioning Lu Liang to sit down first, and then asked other ministers for their opinions.
The military generals and officials at the scene were all a little excited at this time.
Most generals are eager for war. Only when war breaks out can they play their greatest role.
Only in this way can one achieve greater meritorious service and obtain a higher hereditary title.
At the same time, it will also directly eliminate the potential sense of crisis that the military attache's status will be reduced.
Although the status of military attachés has been relatively stable since the Renwu Dynasty, the situation in the history of the Ming Dynasty must be considered.
Especially now that His Majesty is famous for his peace talks...
The world has been at peace for more than ten years, and now we finally see the possibility of war again.
More importantly, they both saw an opportunity to make their mark in history.
If Ming Dynasty actively or passively joins the all-out war again, it may be a war that completely unifies the world.
Before the Renwu Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty was dominated by the mainland.
It is not that certain lands and people exist outside the world, but the power at that time was unable to control more distant places and people.
The situation is different now. Now the world of Ming Dynasty is the whole world.
Since the land and ocean beneath his feet are a huge sphere as a whole, they have been completely explored by Ming Dynasty.
Ming Dynasty now also has the power to truly and completely control this "world ball".
Completely unifying this new world is the common dream of most military personnel and political personnel in the Ming Dynasty, as well as military and political enthusiasts.
Of course, there are also potential threats and crises.
After the Ming Dynasty completely unified the world, there really was no other country around.
Border threats will also completely cease to exist.
Without enemies outside the territory, what is the meaning of the existence of the army?
Internal suppression and control of the situation?
Or should we search for enemies in the vast space outside the world?
However, these are things for the distant future.
It is also something that the next generation of soldiers must consider.
The generals on site are all the most senior generals, and they may retire in the next few years.
The greatest glory they can obtain in this life is right in front of them.
That is to unify the world.
Now they have no other ideas.
Lu Junde, the Army General and Aircraft Minister who was once responsible for taking over Long Island, first stood up to explain his thoughts:
"Your Majesty, fellow comrades, I think our Ming Dynasty should also prepare for mobilization and start partial recruitment of reserve forces for training.
“The current size of the Ming Dynasty’s entire army is not enough to quickly control the entire western continent and the western colonies of Mozhou and Yinzhou in a state of emergency.
“I believe that the number of readily available troops should be increased to at least 20 million.
"To fight a liger against a rabbit, we still need all our strength. We should seize the opportunity and strike with all our strength, so that all the achievements of the ages can be accomplished in one battle."
Lu Junde did not directly state the goal, but what he wanted to do was already self-evident.
Then everyone at the scene looked directly at Zhu Jingyuan after hearing this question.
They all wanted to confirm the attitude of His Majesty the Emperor.
Lu Junde's words are actually a hint to His Majesty, whether you want to do it or not, to give everyone a sure idea.
The emperor's attitude is very important when it comes to major events like this, and it should be said that all organizational heads are involved in major events related to the fate of the organization.
If the attitude of the head of the organization is not clear enough and resolute enough, and if he is inconsistent, the people below him will also be half-hearted.
Even some subordinates have the determination, perseverance, and ability to get things done.
There will definitely be more people worried about the repeated attitudes and decisions of organizational leaders, which will lead to hesitation and delay in key matters.
Even if the head of the organization is completely incompetent, as long as his attitude gives a clear direction, the number of people holding him back will be greatly reduced.
In addition, Zhu Jingyuan himself is famous for peace talks. Is he interested in war?
So not only the military attachés and generals were watching Zhu Jingyuan's attitude, but also the civil servants and engineering people were waiting for Zhu Jingyuan's attitude.
Zhu Jingyuan was silent for a moment, then responded directly and issued a series of orders:
“It is the duty of our great Ming Dynasty to educate all the people in the world.
"Of course I hope that the world will be peaceful and that people all over the world will spontaneously accept the enlightenment of the Ming Dynasty.
"But if things go against their wishes and the monarchs and courts of the Western countries act in the opposite direction, then I, the Ming Dynasty, will definitely raise troops to punish the people.
“Since the situation in Thailand and the West is tense now, and Prussia and Prussia may provoke a war at any time, Ming Dynasty must also make complete preparations in advance.
"The Military Aircraft Department immediately came up with a reserve recruitment plan, the Ministry of War completed the relevant budget submission as soon as possible, and the Governor's Office made preparations for training.
"Use the fastest speed to double the number of military bases in the land and sea handover areas with the Thai and Western countries."
Zhu Jingyuan directly expressed his attitude.
Zhu Jingyuan originally had the idea of unifying the world.
It's just that when the world situation was peaceful in the past, we couldn't express it.
Now that the situation is tense, even if such words are said internally, they will not be leaked immediately.
But it can give relevant senior officials a reassurance.
After saying these few words, everyone at the scene breathed a sigh of relief.
No matter what the emperor wants to do, as long as he can express his attitude decisively, that will be the best result.
Now the emperor has no record of going back on his word before.
What he said ten years ago that he would not annex and rule the Western continent by force now seems to be an attitude he has to express in public.
Moreover, His Majesty also gave a reason.
Ming Dynasty hopes for peace, but if you kings and courts want to seek death and persecute the people of the Western Continent, then Ming Dynasty will have to help.
This is to criticize the people, relieve the people, and do justice for heaven.
This is a just cause.
This shows that the emperor is indeed prepared and has even thought of excuses.
The Ministry of Rites can just promote it in this direction.
At the same time, Zhu Jingyuan asked the Military Aircraft Department to come up with a plan immediately, which was not an exaggerated request.
The mission of the Military Aircraft Department is to study strategies and constantly discuss and formulate various plans that may or may not be used.
Therefore, there are a lot of similar plans in the warehouse of the Military Aircraft Department.
Just choose a plan that has been established in the past and is recognized as safe, and make slight adjustments based on the current situation.
The plan to double the number of troops in the border areas is also ready-made, and it was even shown to Zhu Jingyuan, so Zhu Jingyuan directly proposed it.
Zhu Jingyuan's order was given to the Military Aircraft Department, the Governor's Office, and the Ministry of War.
But after he finished speaking, everyone at the scene stood up and bowed together to show their attitude of taking orders.
Zhu Jingyuan was not surprised either.
This order of his was to set the direction of Ming Dynasty's future military planning.
Everyone will be affected.
Zhu Jingyuan waved his hand again, asking everyone to sit down and continue the discussion.
This time, Sima Wang Yinzhi, the ninth minister in charge of military affairs, did not sit down, but directly asked the emperor for instructions and explained his suggestions:
"Your Majesty, the current situation in Taixi is complex and urgent, and we will soon begin to recruit reserves and recruit troops to the front line.
“I believe that the Ming Dynasty’s original military equipment replacement work should also be adjusted and coordinated accordingly.
"First, there are difficulties at the budget level. Recruiting reserves and recruiting troops to the front line will inevitably occupy the financial budget, and other aspects can only be reduced.
"Secondly, we need to retain enough troops that are ready for combat at any time. We will definitely need to adapt to the replacement of equipment, and it will take time for the upgraded troops to regain their combat effectiveness.
“Therefore, I suggest that the current equipment replacement work be divided into more batches, but the size and quantity of a single batch should be reduced.
"For example, the Army's helicopters and anti-armor missiles, the Air Force's jet fighters and bombers, and the Navy's plan to install missile weapons on ships.
"In order to ensure that in the process of updating equipment, the actual combat effectiveness of the vast majority of active troops must not be affected."
After Zhu Jingyuan heard this, he thought about it for a moment:
"According to the report, the Military Aircraft Department will cooperate with Sima to come up with an adjustment plan as soon as possible.
“You don’t have to worry too much about the budget, the financial situation in the past two years has been relatively good.
“When the Army recruits reserve personnel to resume training, they can directly use new equipment and synchronize reserve training and equipment change.
“In terms of naval construction, except for the two battleships that have already started construction, no new battleships will be designed and started.
“The construction plan for eight capital ships will be resumed this year, but all of them will be aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.
"The specially designed guided missile cruiser project will also be officially launched.
“As for the Air Force, aircraft that have been in service for more than ten years and have obvious malfunctions will be gradually phased out and retired.
“If the aircraft is in good condition, military weapons and equipment will be dismantled and then sold to civilians for use.
“Aircrafts that have been in service for more than five years and are in good condition will be transferred to Jinyiwei for use.
“The new jet bombers prioritize supplying border and frontline troops.
"Stop the production of piston propeller fighters, reduce the number of piston attack aircraft and bombers, and replace them with turboprop and turbojet aircraft."
After Zhu Jingyuan finished his instructions, a large group of people stood up and bowed in agreement.
Wang Yinzhi did not continue talking about the budget. Zhu Jingyuan said that if there was no problem with the budget, then there would be no problem.
The fiscal revenue has been increasing every year. If we reduce the adjustment in construction and investment, we should still be able to cope with the current adjustment.
The military meeting chaired by Zhu Jingyuan lasted all day and discussed a large number of directions and details of military adjustments.
Six days later, on the eleventh day of the first lunar month of the AD year, news came again from Xichang and Honglu Temple.
Lu Liang, the governor of the West Factory, took two telegraph newspapers directly and ran to the emperor's office in Wenhua Hall.
After saluting Zhu Jingyuan, he handed the telegram to Zhu Jingyuan and verbally explained the details of the message received:
“Your Majesty, King William of Prussia has returned to Berlin.
“He immediately issued openly political demands to Austria through the League of Nations and his own foreign channels.
"He called for the union of Austria and Prussia, which together would form a German Empire.
“The King of Prussia of the House of Hohenzollern becomes Emperor of Germany.
“The Habsburgs gave up their title of emperor and pledged allegiance to Hohenzollern, the emperor of all Germany, and the Duke of Austria was promoted to King of Austria.
"The Habsburgs will continue to retain authority in the existing Austrian regions."
Zhu Jingyuan looked at the telegram handed over by Lu Liang and felt a little confused when he listened to Lu Liang's verbal explanation.
Is this going to... Anschluss?
But the current German state has not yet been born, this is Prussia.
Why did Prussia change the country's name from Prussia to Germany?
Because the current condition is a peaceful merger? But to completely conquer the remaining Austrian areas by force?
However, the current Austrian Empire is not the Austrian country before World War II, but the size of the Austro-Hungarian Empire before World War I.
In addition to the Austrian region in later generations, it also includes Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other regions in later generations.
Zhu Jingyuan asked Austria to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty a while ago, but the other party did not agree.
Then it is definitely impossible for the other party to be loyal to the German Emperor of Hohenzollern.
Zhu Jingyuan put down the first telegraph newspaper and continued to read the contents of the second one.
Lu Liang also continued to introduce more details:
"Prussia did not explain in its public announcement what the consequences would be if Austria refused.
“In other words, this announcement is only a notification in name only.
"It means to let all Germans and outsiders see that Prussia is sincere in peacefully establishing a unified Germany.
“However, according to the information we have internally, if Austria refuses and will definitely refuse, Prussia will make another strong territorial claim.
"Demand that all the Germans in the territory ceded by Austria should be gathered to Prussia...
“And will request the League of Nations’ mediation and support.”
Zhu Jingyuan suddenly smiled:
“If Austria refuses again, if the League of Nations does not force Austria to compromise, then the Prussians will go to war.
“The Austrians will certainly refuse, and the League of Nations will not be able to force Austria to cede territory.
“Prussia thus completed the mediation process through the League of Nations.
"He has given Austria two chances, but Austria still does not accept it and is unwilling to cooperate.
"Then the League of Nations can only allow the two countries to go to war to solve the problem."
Lu Liang said immediately:
"Your Majesty is wise, based on the intelligence we have obtained and the judgment of analysts.
“Prussia is preparing for war and preparing public opinion.
"So, Your Majesty, should we take action now? Or should we conduct some targeted investigations and preparations?"
Zhu Jingyuan thought for a while:
“We have all made plans, we just need to execute them step by step, and let the people from Honglu Temple deal with them through the International Alliance.
"However, intelligence work must continue, and remember to issue reasonable rewards to those who have made meritorious services."
Lu Liang bowed and agreed:
"I obey the decree."
