Chapter 1046 Ji Zi Juan Fu Bo
“Yes.” Feng Ziying said concisely and to the point.
“What Ziying means is that as long as the imperial court finds a solution to this problem, the Mongolian tribes and the Jurchens in Jianzhou do not actually have the strength to pose a substantial threat to the Great Zhou Dynasty?” Yang Sichang asked further.
“Absolutely.” Feng Ziying nodded.
“It seems that Ziying already has some ideas in her mind?” Yang Sichang asked again, “Can you tell me?”
"Well, I have some rough ideas." Feng Ziying was not modest. "In fact, it was brought up before, and now the court is gradually solving it. For example, if the northern shipping problem, especially the shipping in Liaodong area, is solved, bulk goods including grain will The cost of material transportation has dropped by at least 70%. It can be said that most of the logistical support problems in Liaodong can be solved..."
"Currently, Yongping Prefecture is trying to open the Yuguan port, and some practical results have been achieved. It is expected that in the next three years, the transportation costs of grain, cloth, salt, tea and other materials in the entire Western Liaoning Corridor area can be saved by more than 60%. It needs to be transported from the south of the Yangtze River through the canal to Tianjin Wei or Tongzhou, but it can be transported directly to Yuguan. From Yuguan, it can be landed directly to the Liaoxi Corridor. In the future, this situation can be copied to Niuzhuang and Jinzhou Zhongzuo Institute at the mouth of the Sancha River. In this way The supply problems in central and southern Liaoning can also be easily solved."
Zheng Chongjian didn't believe it was so simple. He hesitated for a moment and then said: "Is the Jianzhou Jurchen issue that troubles the imperial court so simple?"
"Big Chapter is not simple." Feng Ziying shook her head, "If you want to say how many elite border troops there are in the Great Zhou Dynasty, let's say at least six or seven hundred thousand elite troops in the Nine Borders? Taking half of it is more than enough to destroy the Jurchens in Jianzhou, but can Will you give half of it? Even if you can give half, can these three to four hundred thousand troops be allowed to gather in Liaodong? No, let alone fight, even if these three to four hundred thousand troops are allowed to stay in Liaodong for two or three months, Liaodong will If they all collapse, they will have to eat people!"
Feng Ziying said in a serious tone, "Liaodong as a whole is simply unable to supply the food needs of such a huge population, no matter what aspect it is, it cannot be met!"
Zheng Chongjian was stunned, but Yang Sichang nodded silently.
In his letter, his father Yang He also talked about the imminent chaos in the southwest. He said that the court was currently trying its best to raise various materials, including food, to prepare for the war. However, the terrain in the southwest was rugged, transportation was difficult, and logistics support costs were higher. It was shocking. As the governor of Yunyang, Yang He was actually one of the members of the future southwest counter-insurgency core group. Naturally, he knew how difficult this logistical support was, so he mentioned it frequently in his letters to Yang Sichang.
The southwest is like this, hanging in a corner of the northeast. Without sea transportation guarantee, only the land route of the Western Liaoning Corridor can support it. The difficulty and cost can be imagined.
Precisely because the situation in the southwest is at stake, the imperial court is also eager to resolve the crisis in Gyeonggi and prepare for the next step in dealing with the chaos in the southwest. Knowing that the Mongols can only bring a gust of wind and rain without the risk of overturning, the imperial court Of course, I hope the problem can be solved as soon as possible.
“In addition to shipping, is there any other way?” Zheng Chongjian was a little unwilling.
"There is another option, but it is not urgent, and it can only alleviate it. It cannot fundamentally solve it. The fundamental solution requires shipping." Feng Ziying briefly introduced Xu Guangqi's attempts in Tianjin, which also aroused great excitement between the two. curious.
“Since these new crops introduced from outside have such high yields and adaptability, as long as Liaodong vigorously promotes them, wouldn’t it be possible to solve the problem in one fell swoop?” Yang Sichang and Zheng Chongjian were both particularly excited.
Feng Ziying smiled wryly and briefly described the difficulties that may be faced in the specific promotion of yield, adaptation and cultivation. The two of them could roughly understand that this was not as simple as imagined. Without ten or twenty years of exploration, trial and promotion, and supplemented by The gradual growth of population cannot truly achieve a virtuous cycle.
However, both of them felt that Zaisai's conditions for redeeming prisoners were a good deal. Two hundred thousand taels of silver for more than 50,000 prisoners of war was less than four taels of silver per person. They both felt that it was too cheap. Feng Ziying did not tell them deeply. For others, maybe Yang Sichang knew some secrets but pretended not to know, so Feng Ziying naturally didn't mention it.
While Yang Sichang and Zheng Chongjian were still discussing with Feng Ziying, messengers from Yongping Prefecture and Liaodong also arrived in the capital city at almost the same time.
The entire hall was filled with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, as if the candlelight burning around the hall suddenly dimmed, and the figures in the entire hall became gloomy and gloomy.
"Oh, okay, Liaodong reports good news but not bad news all day long. What instigated Shuerhaqi's rebellion, and granted Jianzhou right guard commander can restrain Nurhaci. What Haixi Jurchen can definitely be used by me to restrict Jianzhou Jurchens, what was the fight for the Jurchens in the East China Sea then and now?"
Emperor Yonglong's hoarse voice echoed in the palace, "Is Feng Tang repaying my expectations for him with such an ending? Give him whatever you want. I almost turned over the inner treasury and transferred everything to him in Liaodong. What happened? ?”
All the cabinet ministers frowned. Ye Xianggao glanced at Zhang Jingqiu who was silent and wanted to say something, but he held back for the time being.
A border general defecting to the enemy can be said to be the worst example. If it is an ordinary low-level officer, that would be fine. However, a guerrilla general, and a general stationed in a key position like Fushun, surrenders to the enemy, and even directly colludes with the foreign enemy to let the enemy in. , and joined hands with foreign enemies to loot a place, destroy passes, and open the door to the enemy. This kind of behavior can be said to have never happened since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
This is more shocking than the defeat of the Beijing camp and the capture of tens of thousands of people. Perhaps in the minds of ordinary people, the defeat of the Beijing camp is more shocking, but in the minds of the court officials, especially the important ministers, the betrayal and surrender of the generals to the enemy is the most shocking thing. The most shocking thing.
Furthermore, the destructive impact of a border general surrendering to the enemy is even more unimaginable. The harm may not be eliminated and undone for ten or eight years, especially for a veteran general like Li Yongfang who grew up in Liaodong.
“Your Majesty, Lieutenant Long had a good understanding of the situation of the generals in each town, including the generals in Liaodong Town…”
Lu Song's heart tightened. In the past, when the emperor asked about this kind of situation, he usually summoned him alone in the east study room for questioning. Asking him directly at the court meeting only happened when he was extremely angry. This was really for Long. The captain is dissatisfied with his work, and perhaps wants the captain to give an explanation to the cabinet and the Ministry of War.
"Oh?" Emperor Yonglong's eyes were blazing, falling on Lu Song like a sharp thorn, causing him to shrink subconsciously.
“According to the information obtained by the subordinates, the situation of the generals in Liaodong Town is similar to that of other border towns, and there are not many special circumstances.”
Lu Song paused for a moment. Although the emperor was furious and lost his temper, Lu Song would not divulge Long Jinwei's secret in front of these important officials. There are some things that can only be controlled by the emperor, and the important officials also knew it well. bright.
"My subordinates are quite familiar with Li Yongfang's situation. He came from a military household in the border areas and was promoted through meritorious service. When Li Chengliang was the commander-in-chief of Liaodong Town, he was gradually promoted from the Qian Commander-in-Chief and the General Commander-in-Chief, and later served as the Commander-in-Chief and Yonglong Commander-in-Chief. He served as Fushun guerrilla general for three years..."
“He has two sons and one daughter. His son-in-law, Wu Changchun, was a scout in the army. He was literate, good at martial arts, and agile. Wu Changchun took the daughter of Zhao Yihe, a subordinate of Li Yongfang, as his concubine..."
“Li Yongfang has a long history of dealings with the Jurchens in Jianzhou. Among them, he controls most of the fur goods, dried vegetables, ginseng and antler, and horse trade in Fushun, as well as the spirits and salt tea trade.…”
There was not much emotion in Lu Song's tone, just a very bland introduction.
This is not a secret. Which military general here is not engaged in these professions? As long as weapons, iron materials, and large quantities of food were not involved, Captain Long would turn a blind eye.
This is also a tacit secret within the Zhou Dynasty. Otherwise, who would be willing to work in the border areas? Especially those high-ranking generals who are pampered.
Feng Tang was also engaged in the trade of furs, ginseng and spirits, and even took the initiative to report to Long Jinwei.
Senior generals such as the town’s chief soldier, deputy chief soldier, staff general, and guerrillas each maintain dozens to hundreds, or even thousands of personal soldiers. How do they support them?
Ordinary generals do not rely on mountains and rivers to make ends meet. If they really have to rely on their family's small livelihood to support their own soldiers and bodyguards, it would really be a big joke.
“Li Yongfang has a gloomy personality, but he is good at communication and very good at winning people’s hearts. However, his methods can also be ruthless. He has many confidants under his command, and many of his subordinates are intimidated..."
Emperor Yonglong interrupted Lu Song coldly: "So, Li Yongfang didn't just rebel and surrender to the enemy, but the whole of Fushun surrendered to the enemy?"
Lu Song choked and his voice became lower, "The humble position has not yet been rewarded, but judging from the situation of the humble position, it should be so. Even those who are unwilling to surrender to the enemy will probably be dealt with by Li Yongfang..."
Emperor Yonglong snorted coldly, "This is the result of the supervision of the Ministry of War, Long Jinwei, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. What did Liaodong Town do? Once Fushun was lost, the eastern gate of Liaodong Town was opened, and the Eastern captives could march straight in. …”
"Your Majesty, although Fushun was lost, Liaodong Town has organized an army to recapture it. However, the walls of the pass were greatly damaged and need to be repaired..." Chai Ke forced himself to explain for Feng Tang, "Feng Tang also used the Ula tribe to join Ye He. The incident forced the Donglu to fight, and Cao Wenzhao defeated the enemy in one fell swoop outside the Zhenbei Pass, killing nearly a thousand of them..."
"Beheading thousands of enemies? How many imaginary numbers are there?" Emperor Yonglong snorted mockingly, "Did Feng Tang also learn to use this method to fool me? I haven't said anything about holding him accountable."
(End of this chapter)