"Although the upper country is strong, it is still a foreign country; although North Korea is weak, it is still the mother state. Moreover, two groups of my sons have been officials for generations. If they are merged into the upper country, how do you know that they will not decline in three generations?"
Liu Chenglong said these words, which meant that he had no hope of persuading him in conventional ways and could only use this last killer weapon. In essence, the idea contained in it is nothing more than "I would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."
However, although this is a very common idea, it is too shameless under the clan politics of North Korea where Yangban looks like an imperial examination selection but is actually a ninth-grade Zhongzheng.
It's just that shamelessness is shameless, but as a member of a vested interest group, Liu Chenglong believes that Quan Li can't escape the shackles of this thinking.
Quan Li was not an ordinary military commander. He was born into a yangban family of the Andong Quan family. His father was Quan Zhe, who had served as a leader in political affairs. Therefore, the Quan family was actually a top yangban family.
However, Quan Li's career in his early years was very unsatisfactory. He was only able to pass the martial arts exam in the tenth year of Wanli (1582), and this year he was actually forty-six years old (a virtual age).
Even so, Quan Li did not immediately enter the political arena. It was not until the Imjin Japanese Rebellion that Quan Li was able to serve as the pastor of Gwangju on the recommendation of Liu Chenglong. You read that right. With his background, he would not be an official. So, once you do it, you will be a local official.
At that time, Quan Li was fighting under Li Gu and moved to Hanyang. However, Lee Hoon was eventually defeated by the Japanese army at Yongin, and Quanli had no choice but to retreat to Gwangju, where he quickly organized a thousand militiamen.
After the Japanese army arrived in Geumsan, the administrative seat of Jeolla Province was moved to Jeonju. Quan Li led his troops to the main gate of Jeonju to contain the Japanese troops. Quan Li personally monitored the formation, and if anyone retreated, he would be beheaded immediately. During this battle, militia leader Huang Jin was hit by a fire gun but still fought bravely. In the end, Kwon Ritsu, who had strict military laws, defeated Kobayakawa Takagye's partial army and regained Jeolla Province.
This was rare good news for North Korea at that time, so the North Korean court commended Quanli for his achievements and appointed him as the Jeolla Province Observer and Inspection Envoy the following year.
Quanli organized a total of more than 10,000 militiamen and monks to go to Gyeonggi Province in an attempt to regain Hanyang. He also continued to recruit troops on the way, and his final strength reached 20,000.
Soon after, Kwon Ryul arrived and garrisoned at Dalseong near Suwon. The Japanese army Ukita Hideie surrounded the city for more than a month, and the city's water supply was cut off. Quan Li was so anxious that he ordered a few war horses to be led to the city wall and washed the horses with rice, making them look like they had been washed with a lot of water.
The Japanese army wanted to cut off the city's water supply and surrender. Seeing this, they had no choice but to retreat to Hanyang. Quan Li took the opportunity to attack and killed more than a hundred Japanese soldiers. After this battle, the Joseon court ordered Quan Li to attack the Japanese army in Hanyang north, and the Battle of Xingju Mountain Castle broke out.
After the so-called "Victory of Haengju", although Quanli repelled the Japanese army, his troops also suffered heavy casualties and had to retreat to Paju to defend themselves. In June of the same year, during the second battle of Jinju Fortress, Quanli advocated an attack on the Japanese army and intercepted the Japanese army in Haman County.
However, the Japanese iron artillery team was actually the Japanese version of the volleyball formation, which completely defeated the Korean army in terms of field combat capabilities. Therefore, the Li army was defeated in this battle and had to retreat to Jeonju.
Even so, the overall performance of the Korean Army Division was too low. The court picked Kwon Li's performance to be barely satisfactory. Therefore, although he suffered a defeat, he was appointed Marshal of the capital and became the leader of the Korean National Anti-Japanese War. commander-in-chief. (Note: During this period, he was dismissed from his post by the North Korean court because he used very rough methods to treat deserters, but he was reinstated soon after).
However, Quan Li was able to become the marshal of North Korea because of the "Victory of Xingzhou". Is it really just because none of the generals of the Army Division could win? That's not the case, after all, although everyone suffers a lot from defeat, there is still something like winning once in a while, but other generals are not as good as Quan Li.
So Liu Chenglong made his words so straightforward, Quan Li fell silent and didn't respond for a long time. Liu Chenglong was not in a hurry, he sat back and waited like a prime minister.
I don't know how long it took, but Quan Li finally spoke slowly. He said: "Now the king has an order, ordering me to march eastward to cut off the Japanese pirate Guodao Shengmao's escape route to the south. This is both a king's order and a military order. Li is a minister. It cannot be violated.”
Liu Chenglong frowned and was about to speak, but Quan Li stretched out his hand to stop him, and continued: "Besides, this eastward march is not just to block the Japanese pirates' escape route to the south. There is another matter that is also very important, but I don't know if brother will consider it." Pass?"
Liu Chenglong has been obsessed with "clearing the emperor's side" recently. He can't think so much. He can only pretend to be calm and ask: "What's the matter?"
"Both the king and Admiral Ma mentioned that they ordered me to control the Jurchen coalition forces." Quan Li said: "In other words, the Jurchen army of 20,000 is about to go south, and at least it will pass Yuanshan. The Jurchens and I have been separated from Korea for two hundred years. The rivals, not to mention fighting to the death, can at least be called enemies for hundreds of years, and the depth of their hatred is no child's play.
And brother Jian, if no one is watching the 20,000 Jurchen coalition troops, who knows what crazy things they will do to us Korean people? Tell me, can I not go on this trip? "
Liu Chenglong was speechless for a moment, but he quickly came to his senses and sighed: "This is the consequences of the imperial court being controlled by others! Brother Yan Shen, think about it, if the imperial court can still maintain its independence now, the imperial officers and soldiers will not have to act on their own in everything. The orders of the Ming army are obeyed, so how can these Jurchens step into our Korean territory, causing us to have to worry about them harming the people?"
Quan Li said expressionlessly: "Having said that, the Jurchen Allied Forces came south to fight the Japanese pirates. And Lao Gaoge and Admiral Ma were willing to hand over the command of the Jurchen Allied Forces to me. This also shows that in their eyes, I am North Korea." Still the most important loyal vassal in the Ming Dynasty, he was originally valued more than the Jurchens."
Judging from Quan Li's attitude at this time, he really did not intend to "resist the decree." Whether he directly resisted the decree or made excuses to delay it, Quan Li had actually refused. If Liu Chenglong still wanted to convince him, he would have to find another way.
However, even maintaining the privileges of the two classes seems not enough to convince Quan Li, so what else can be thought of? Liu Chenglong felt very troubled.
There was silence in the tent for a while, and Liu Chenglong suddenly said: "I heard that Brother Yanshen is leaving, but the command authority is not certain? I mean, if Dong Zongrong of the Ming Army stayed in Yuanshan to rest, Brother Yanshen would have The command mentioned just now, and once Dong Zongrong completes his recuperation and goes south from Yuanshan, the command of this battle will be automatically transferred to him... including Brother Yanshen, everyone will obey his command?"
Quan Li was silent for a moment and replied: "I heard that Dong Yiyuan is a veteran of the Ming Army. In terms of seniority, he is actually older than Admiral Ma. If he goes south, I will naturally hand over the command. This is also the meaning of the question. .”
"What's the meaning of the title?" Liu Chenglong chuckled, but shook his head and said: "Brother Yanshen is the marshal of North Korea, commanding all the soldiers of North Korea. If Admiral Ma is the war admiral of the superior country, our country will treat it as a trivial matter. He was so big that he had to obey his orders during the war, so that was all.
But what about Dong Yiyuan? He is just an ordinary general, and he has just been defeated by the remaining 5,000 Japanese pirates with an army of tens of thousands. However, such an incompetent person can command a world-famous general like Brother Yan Shen. Isn't it because the superior country bullies the small and deliberately wants to kill the small? Is North Korea always the one to blame for everything? What kind of "the proper meaning in the question" is this? "
Liu Chenglong's words spoke to Quan Li's heart. Quan Li was a person who didn't want to succumb to others, otherwise he wouldn't have refused to become an official until he was in his forties - he didn't do well in the exam, and he wouldn't start from a low-level official.
He is actually a very power-hungry person, but his power-hungry is not a disobedience, but rather a belief that he is the top of Yangban, and he also likes to use strong means to demonstrate such power.
There are two things that illustrate his desire for power. The first is his domineering behavior when he forced Yuan Jun to attack. When the Japanese army invaded North Korea again, the imperial court asked the navy to fight back. Therefore, as the capital marshal, Quan Li ordered the North Korean navy admiral Won Kyun, who had replaced Yi Sun-shin at that time, to attack the Japanese army. However, Won Kyun had a negative attitude towards this.
Quan Li was furious when he found out and immediately summoned Yuan Jun to see him. After the meeting, he whipped Yuan Jun in public and forced him to fight. Won Kyun was forced to attack and was attacked by the Japanese army Todo Takatora in the Battle of Chicheonryang, and was defeated and killed. After that, the Japanese army swept across Jeolla Province, Chungcheong Province and other places.
To use an analogy that may not be appropriate, this is like the later Secretary of Defense calling the Minister of the Navy and ordering a beating in front of a group of subordinates. The Minister of the Navy was beaten until his skin and flesh were raw, and he had to submit. With such an analogy, do you think Quan Li's approach is outrageous?
There is another incident that is very famous in history but has not happened yet, which can better illustrate Quan Li's subsequent expansion. At the end of the war in original history, Quan Li cooperated with the Ming Army's Magui Department to plan to attack the Ulsan Japanese Fortress being built by the Japanese army.
At that time, Quan Li wanted to advance rashly, but Ma Gui thought it was inappropriate and insisted that he withdraw. As a result, the opinions of the two armies were not unified, and Quan Li failed to obey orders, which ultimately led to the complete failure of the subsequent battle. The Japanese army defeated the Ming and Korean coalition forces in the Battle of Ulsan Castle the following year.
Moreover, Quan Li's military exploits at that time became increasingly lackluster. Not long after, between September and October, he was defeated again in the Battle of Suncheon Castle.
All in all, Quan Li, who had achieved the position of marshal, was growing day by day. He is generally loyal to the King of Korea, Ri Ho, and does not participate in too many political disputes. Although he is a member of the Southern People's Party, he rarely participates in party disputes most of the time. However, once someone dares to point fingers at him, no matter who that person is, He can be stubborn or even violent.
Liu Chenglong mentioned the issue of command right at this moment, especially the issue of Dong Yiyuan possibly taking over the command from Quan Li at any time. This undoubtedly hit Quan Li's Achilles' heel, causing him to suddenly lose his previous composure and become Get angry.
In fact, it was because Liu Chenglong heard Quan Li calling "Dong Yiyuan" by his name just now that he knew that his words had an effect, so he struck while the iron was hot.
Quan Li's face turned green and white, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Brother Jian, what you said is correct. Not to mention that I am in charge of all the soldiers in North Korea. Let's say that our army will send 30,000 troops this time. Dong Yiyuan's troops are currently only two Wan, why should I take orders from him?"
Now that the fish had taken the bait, Liu Chenglong's tone of words changed again, and he sighed: "Yes, this is what I call the oppression of the superior country, especially under the current situation - there is no self-centered North Korea in Hanyang City." Once the soldiers are dead, even though the king's order has arrived, who knows whether the order is actually the king's original intention?"
Quan Li calmed down a little, frowned and asked: "Even so, the Ming Dynasty is still the superior country, and it came to help at the request of the king. Now Gaoge Lao and Ma Admiral are ordering North Korea with the emperor's edict, how can North Korea not So? Brother Jian, you don’t want me to lead my army to forcefully enter Hanyang and take over the city defense, right?"
Liu Chenglong thought: Even if I dare to think, how dare you do it? Even if you dare to do it, can you still do it?
Of course, it is impossible to say this. Liu Chenglong shook his head and said: "The Hanyang Ming Army has a righteous name. Naturally, we can't be so forceful. We have to make some calculations."
So Liu Chenglong told Quan Li his previous thoughts - he just wanted to take advantage of the current leakage of the war situation and the Ming army's need for troops everywhere, and wait for the main force of the Ming army to be transferred out again and again, and then Find another opportunity to drive a large number of North Korean officers and soldiers into the city, essentially completing the replacement of city defense.
After hearing this, Quan Li pondered for a moment and asked: "So Brother Jian means that my thirty thousand officers and soldiers cannot leave easily, otherwise even if Hanyang is empty, it will be difficult to find an opportunity to suddenly enter the city, right?"
"Yes, that's right." Liu Chenglong replied immediately.
"No, it would be very difficult to succeed in this case." Quan Li immediately shook his head and said to Liu Chenglong a little arrogantly: "Since my brother is not the leader, I'm afraid I don't know the thoughts of the commander of the first army. This is how I talk to you. Let me tell you: As long as I, the 30,000 people, stay near Hanyang, the Hanyang Ming Army will leave enough troops no matter what - even if some directions on the front line are turned from offensive to defensive."
Liu Chenglong was doubtful and pondered: "But Mr. Gao Ge has already taken action in person. I have seen that he has always led troops in battles, and there has never been a delay in the war. Therefore, the Ming army should attack quickly this time?"
Moreover, Mr. Gao Ge is currently in Sichuan. If the main force of the Japanese army moving south from Hanyang poses a huge threat to Sichuan, would Admiral Ma dare to sit in Hanyang City and ignore it? Isn't Admiral Ma afraid that if something goes wrong with Mr. Gaoge, his job may be at risk? "
Quan Li shook his head and said, "I really don't understand why Brother Jian would think that Gao Ge Lao would be able to take any precautions."
Liu Chenglong was stunned for a moment, frowned and said: "Compared to the Japanese pirates who have completely shrunk their troops to the vicinity of Busan, Gaoge Lao's troops are not many..."
"So what?" Quan Li spread his hands and said, "The Ming army's Japanese fleet had hundreds of warships. Could it be that they would just be stuck fishing outside Busan Port?
And Brother Jian, don’t forget what Yi Sun-shin replied to us before: The warships mobilized by Jinghua alone are definitely not something that the Japanese navy can resist! Then I have to ask, even if Sichuan is really in danger by land, if Gao Ge Lao wants to leave by water, who can stop him? "
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