Chapter 11 Between Urgency and Urgency
Huang Zicheng said: "So, we need to issue food stamps, cloth stamps, and coal stamps. But there is a more special commodity, and that is salt. What should we do with salt?"
He Xi was slightly startled after hearing this.
Today's Liaodong does not produce salt. Even Goryeo has a very bland taste compared to Japan, which may not have anything to do with the lack of salt. Must be purchased externally. However, the salt industry is a government monopoly, and salt tax has always been the second largest item of revenue for the imperial court. It has only been surpassed by tariffs in recent years.
Therefore, making a fuss about salt will bear great policy risks.
He Xi said: "You reminded me. I know that there is a method called the sun salt method, which can produce table salt faster than the boiling salt method. When spring comes next year, we will choose a suitable beach on Liaodong Beach and start manufacturing. Sea salt. In addition to supplying the interior of Liaodong, this sea salt can also be supplied to Korea and Japan. The imperial court has not stipulated that these two places belong to the Salt Transportation Department. Well, I will report to the imperial court to establish a new Northeast Salt Transportation Department to be responsible for the salt affairs here. .”
Huang Zicheng said, "Then there is only one last question. From the current gap in various aspects to next year's harvest, it will take about nine months. If nothing is done, these nine months may be able to get through. If we start doing it now. We don’t have to wait until September next year to have enough food. This method is not urgent, but it is slow.”
In fact, neither of them mentioned one group, namely the newly-immigrated Koreans.
Originally, He Xi wanted to be nicer to the people of Goryeo. After all, I want to calm down. But now it seems that we can only maintain the lowest standard of living. What kind of bill did not take into account the needs of the Korean people at all. After all, you only have so many things in your hands. We can't support this stall.
You can only give up selectively.
He Xi said silently: "Let's do this. In the past half month, Yao Guangxiao and General Ye will temporarily take charge of Liaodong affairs. I will find someone."
"who is it?"
He Xi said: "Yongchang Hou Lanyu."
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Introducing resources from outside is actually similar to attracting investment for future development. Nowadays, rich people. How can I get this person? There are roughly two groups of people. One is the nobles who became rich quickly because of the opening of the sea. The other one is Sapphire who just made a huge fortune.
As for these maritime merchants, He Xi has already sent people to invite them.
It's just that it's winter now, and it's freezing cold in Liaodong. No one wants to come. Even if someone wants to come, the land is covered with heavy snow, and the snow can cover the knees. On the sea route, the north wind is howling all the way, plus ice floes on the sea and so on.
Just a slightly normal person. Neither would choose this time. come here.
So, this thing needs to be a little slower.
But seeing Lan Yu, he couldn't be slow at all.
This is about the situation on the Goryeo battlefield.
Since last year, Japan destroyed the Goryeo Dynasty. After occupying a corner of the Koryo Peninsula. This situation actually lasted for several months. Lan Yu didn't even use troops. Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang visited the north. Lan Yu left Korea to meet Zhu Yuanzhang at Lushunkou. The reason for the meeting. There is another reason.
He Xi estimates. Lan Yu is holding back her ultimate move.
What a character Sapphire is. If you suffer a loss, you must take revenge. If I don’t retaliate now, I can only say that I am not ready. It's not that Lan Yu wants to swallow this matter. Once you figure this out. future battlefield situation. He Xi made a basic judgment.
Because He Xi didn't know when Lan Yu would start.
Once activated, Lan Yu is likely to lead an army across the battlefield. By then, He Xi may not be able to find Lan Yu even if he wants to find it. So He Xi had no choice but to rush to Beijing in the snow. I want to meet Lan Yu.
What? You said, this is winter and large-scale military operations are impossible.
No, no, no, what is a famous general? It means accomplishing something that no one thinks is possible. There are countless famous generals who have sent troops against the seasons. Even though troops were forcibly dispatched in winter, there were still many non-combat casualties among the soldiers. But is Lan Yu the kind of general who cares deeply about his soldiers?
Therefore, He Xi did not dare to take this risk.
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He Xi is even faster. When I arrived in Beijing. It has been the twenty-first year of Hongwu.
The place where Lan Yu entertained He Xi was very familiar to He Xi. It was the pavilion where He Xi entertained Lan Yu for hot pot. Just one year has passed. Change of position between host and guest. Lan Yu, who came in the snow that year, became the owner of this place. And He Xi, who is sitting here, is a guest from afar.
Previously, Lan Yu's official authority was higher than that of He Xi, but now He Xi has been authorized by Zhu Yuanzhang. The two were neck and neck, and it was impossible to say who was higher and who was lower.
Lan Yu said: "Brother He, you and I are old acquaintances. We came here in a hurry. We chatted while eating. I, Lan, will never postpone anything that can be done. It just so happens that I also have something to ask Brother He. Help. After Brother He has finished talking about your things, I will talk about mine."
Lan Yu said as she brushed a piece of mutton into the hot pot. The originally hard mutton softened immediately after being scalded in boiling water.
He Xi said: "Brother Lan, let's talk about your matters first. My matters are not urgent."
How can you not be in a hurry? But He Xi knew that he came to Lan Yu to get money from Lan Yu. This is a private matter, and He Xi feels that what Lan Yu wants to do with him is most likely not a private matter. But business.
Official affairs are easy to handle. Because what is being paid for is in the interests of the public. But private matters can be difficult to deal with. Because it involves touching Lan Yu's private property.
He Xi wanted to give Lan Yu a little sweetness first, and then talk about the next thing.
Lan Yu gave in several times, but He Xi insisted on talking about Lan Yu first. Lan Yu didn’t postpone it any longer. He said: "Okay. Then I will say it. I have been preparing for the second half of today, next spring. No. After the spring of this year, I will prepare to take over Tsushima Island in one fell swoop. These Japanese will be rounded up."
When He Xi heard this, he couldn't help but said: "It's really a big deal."
The current form of war is obvious.
The Japanese shogunate occupied a piece of land on the Koryo Peninsula. Moreover, this piece of land is separated from the core area of Goryeo, the west coast plain. Historically, in the early days of the Goryeo War, the North Goryeo army once pushed South Goryeo to the vicinity of Busan, which overlapped with a piece of land.
The reason why it could not be conquered for a long time was of course the support of the US military. But it is also related to the topography of mountains and rivers.
That's not to say that you can't attack. The Ming Dynasty's hundreds of thousands of troops were on the alert, and it was not impossible to defeat them. It's just that Lan Yu originally wanted to bypass the danger. Landing combat from behind. It's just that when Lan Yu was preparing his plan, he discovered a problem.
That’s because Japan’s navy is not good enough.
It’s not that Japan doesn’t have naval forces. But Japan's so-called naval forces are fine for fighting in the inland sea, but they are a bit weak when fighting on the sea. So the distance from Japan to Korea is not that far. The Japanese were all transshipped on Tsushima Island.
This allowed Lan Yu to see the fighter plane.
That was the fighter plane that wiped out the Japanese army in one fell swoop.
Lan Yu is not prepared to tangle with Japan. In the second half of the 20th year of Hongwu's reign, several offensives were deliberately launched. But they were all beaten back by the Japanese. However, those who attacked were the newly formed Weisuo Army, which was mainly composed of the Goryeo surrender army. The Ming army adjourned and supervised the battle. Not much loss either. It actually gave the Japanese confidence.
In the second half of the 20th year of Hongwu's reign, the Japanese transported a considerable amount of troops and supplies to the Korean Peninsula.
Lan Yu is preparing to eat these people in one bite.
He Xi had to admire Lan Yu's appetite.
You must know that the Japanese army surrendered with Goryeo. In total, there are at least hundreds of thousands. Hundreds of thousands of people may not seem like a lot. But a war of annihilation that wiped out hundreds of thousands of people in one fell swoop was considered a major battle even during World War II.
Lan Yu said: "I don't want to make it so big. It's just that the Japanese have exposed their flaws so obviously. It makes me feel embarrassed not to take action. After capturing these people, Kyushu Island will be mostly empty. By then, we will seize it. One of the three Japanese islands can be regarded as an explanation to His Majesty."
He Xi never expected it. Lan Yu also has follow-up plans. I couldn't help but ask: "Then what do you need me to do?"
Lan Yu said: "Ships, a lot of ships. Ships that can transport fifty thousand troops quickly. If there are more, that would be great. In short, the more the better. I have already inquired about the shipping fleet. For the lifeline of food, no Maybe you listened to my orders. I can only come to you."
"This matter shouldn't be a problem for you."
