Chapter 1093: Disasters never come alone in Gengzijuan
Feng Ziying returned to the guest house, only to see Ruixiang and Baoxiang already waiting there. Looking at the time, it was just before midnight, which was just after four o'clock in the morning. At this time, the Ministry of War and the Cabinet came to summon them. Feng Ziying couldn't think of it. What's wrong with being out of power?
Even if the Chahar people broke through the Shunyi-Pinggu defense line, they would not come to call them. It would be up to the Ministry of War to figure out how to deal with it. It would be useless to go there on their own.
It was useless to think too much, so Feng Ziying took Baoxiang and Ruixiang out overnight. They were waiting at the corner door of Jia's house early. It is estimated that Ruixiang had already made arrangements before arriving.
Feng Ziying did not go home, but went straight to the Ministry of War Office. She first went to the Ministry of War Office to understand the situation before she could tell how to respond to the cabinet's inquiries, especially now that she didn't even know what the situation was.
As soon as he arrived at the Ministry of War's public house, he saw brightly lit lights inside. Fu Zonglong had been waiting at the door early, and hurriedly ran out when Feng Ziying arrived.
Seeing that Fu Zonglong's eyes were all red, he must have been up all night, and there were people moving around inside, Feng Ziying calmed down and then asked: "Zhonglun, what happened?"
"Good fortune never comes alone, but misfortune never comes alone, Ziying. I encountered several pieces of bad news this night. I wonder if today is unlucky?" Fu Zonglong sighed and lowered his voice: "Something happened in Banzhou."
Feng Ziying felt relieved, what’s the big deal? It had been expected a long time ago. Why did the Ministry of War need to call me for this?
Haven’t this been planned a long time ago?
It has been half a year since Wang Ziteng's Denglai army went to Huguang, and it will be half a year before Yang He takes office as governor of Yunyang. In addition, Geng Ruqi has been appointed as Tongzhi in Chongqing Prefecture. Doesn't it mean that Sun Chengzong will also be appointed as the commander of Xu Ma Bing Dao?
Aren't these series of arrangements aimed at Bozhou? How can we be so panicked? Even Feng Ziying was a little dissatisfied with Zhang Jingqiu and Chai Ke.
"That's it?" Feng Ziying glanced sideways at Fu Zonglong. There must be something wrong, and Fu Zonglong wouldn't be like this just because of this matter.
"Japanese pirates landed and harassed people in the Taicang area of Jiading. It is said that the scale was even greater than before the Renchen Japanese Rebellion. It is initially estimated that more than 3,000 Japanese pirates landed. Moreover, according to the reports from the guards at Wusongjiang Station and Baoshan Station, I am afraid that the number of Japanese pirates this time It’s not just as simple as coercing and colluding with coastal boat people and bandits as we originally said. In addition to a large number of Japanese ronin, there are also quite a few Japanese samurai and ashigaru..."
Fu Zonglong's words made Feng Ziying's heart skip a beat, and she finally came.
He has never let go of the power of the White Lotus Sect and the infiltration of the Japanese that he saw during the Linqing Civil War a few years ago. This is why he has been asking Wu Yaoqing to investigate the local White Lotus Sect network in Yongping Mansion after arriving in Yongping Mansion, but the Japanese pirates He didn't have many connections there, so he could only rely on Long Jin Lieutenant Zhang Jin.
But after Zhang Jin was transferred back to Beijing, the clues from Shandong and even Nanzhi could no longer be maintained. This was also a hidden worry in Feng Ziying's heart. Unexpectedly, it finally broke out.
Jiangnan coastal defense has been lax for a long time. When Shen Yourong discussed Jiangnan defense with Feng Ziying, he made it clear that the situation in Fujian was slightly better because he had served as the Fujian Navy Staff General for a long time, but the situation in South Zhili was quite bad.
Because after the Imjin Japanese Rebellion, the intensity of Japanese pirate attacks gradually weakened, and there was almost no major movement in the past few years. Therefore, the entire defense along the rivers and coasts suddenly collapsed, and cases of empty quotas and smuggling abounded.
If it is simply a Japanese pirate attack, it can be said that it is nothing more than arranging coastal and river guard posts to deal with it. There are still several military preparations and airs in South Zhili. The Japanese pirates directly chose South Zhili because they may have considered Denglai in Shandong. The naval fleet and the Fujian Navy have not yet completely degenerated, so they chose South Zhili. But is this purpose just to harass?
I'm afraid Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada are no longer the Tokugawa in the previous life. Now Toyotomi Hideyori's power has not been completely eradicated. It is said that they are still actively recruiting ronin and accumulating strength, but in fact they no longer have the Challenge the Tokugawa family's strength.
But the Tokugawa family could not find a suitable reason to go to war with Osaka. The famous names in Japan were not convinced by the Tokugawa family. Perhaps the Tokugawa family hoped to use troops in China to enhance their prestige. After all, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was involved in the Imjin Japanese Rebellion. His two performances in World War I were not good, and he died of illness in the end. If the Tokugawa family can achieve a good record in the war against China, it will undoubtedly help to enhance their prestige and deepen their impression among major names in Japan.
"Three thousand people?" Feng Ziying pondered. The number of three thousand people is nothing, even if it is several times larger than the scale of ordinary Japanese pirate attacks, but just saying that these three thousand people caused a disturbance in South Zhili, maybe Yes, but to say that conquering the city and drawing the territory to become the king is impossible. This is very likely to be a test.
But why did the Tokugawa family suddenly think of entering China? Are there any other secrets here?
Feng Ziying did not think that Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada would take the initiative because of their relatively conservative personalities. Someone must be instigating them here.
"Yes, three thousand people, Ziying, what kind of action do you think these three thousand people are?" Fu Zonglong was also a little strange, "I would say less. Compared with the previous Japanese pirate attacks, the scale has increased several times, but if you think Three thousand people can accomplish something, but what can they accomplish? What’s the point of just looting, burning and killing? I always feel like there’s something fishy here.”
"Zhonglun, the Mongol tribes are invading, the chaos in the southwest is raging, the Japanese pirates are also suddenly attacking at this time, plus the Donglu rebellion raid on Fushun, do you think this is just a coincidence?" Feng Ziying took a deep breath, "This It is a combination punch aimed at our great Zhou Dynasty. The cabinet and the Ministry of War must be prepared for this."
Fu Zonglong frowned, "The southwest side is certainly troublesome, but the imperial court has already made preparations. Don't you think the Mongols are just a gust of wind and rain, and they will go back to the grassland sooner or later. The Donglu side now has Fushun Pass, but it is not They also failed in the Ula tribe. How much trouble could these thousands of Japanese pirates stir up? They just spent more food, soldiers and horses. Anyway, Jiangnan has always been disgusted with the war in the north. Now it is better. The war is raging. Let’s see their attitude on their own territory.”
"How can it be that simple?" Feng Ziying shook her head, "The long-lasting corruption in the southwest will definitely drag down Huguang. If the bleeding in Jiangnan continues, it will inevitably affect the imperial court's wealth. The Mongols have messed up Shuntian Prefecture this time. Next year, hundreds of people in Shuntian Prefecture will be affected. How will ten thousand people survive? If the imperial court's wealth is insufficient, it will inevitably affect the defense of Liaodong. If the Eastern captives take advantage of the situation and rob them, how should they deal with it?"
This is a series of problems. Feng Ziying does not believe that the Ministry of War and the Cabinet will not be aware of it. If this situation continues, it will definitely destroy the financial situation that was finally improved through opening up the sea in the past two years. By then, the court will fall into a vicious cycle. Even a death spiral.
Fu Zonglong was speechless when asked by Feng Ziying. After a while, he said: "Then Ziying, what do you think we should do?"
"Zhonglun, if you and I can easily solve these problems, you and I should join the cabinet and become cabinet ministers." Feng Ziying laughed at herself, then patted Fu Zonglong on the shoulder: "Let's go, let's see Master Zhang and Master Chai first No matter what, there are always more solutions than difficulties, so you have to face them.”
The phrase "There are always more solutions than difficulties" made Fu Zonglong couldn't help but repeat it over and over again. He felt that Feng Ziying often had some unwritten words coming out of her mouth, and it was really worth savoring if you think about it carefully.
"Ziying, there is one more thing..." Fu Zonglong then remembered that there was another most urgent trouble, which was also closely related to Feng Ziying. He didn't have time to talk about it, "The Inner Khalkha and Horqin coalition forces went south."
This sentence was what really made Feng Ziying change her face. Those things that had little to do with her before were not her turn to worry about, but this matter was closely related to her, and she had only been back for two days. Did Zaisai break the contract and go south?
"Impossible!" Feng Ziying blurted out. He didn't believe that Zaisai would do this. This would do no good to the Inner Khalkha people. It would also destroy the mutual trust he had just established with himself. If he did this, the Inner Khalkha people would Then it would be impossible to gain the trust of anyone in Da Zhou. Zai Sai should understand the stakes.
"It's true. Mongolian cavalry has appeared in Fengrun and Yutian. Fengrun collapsed overnight because there were no defenders. Seeing that the enemy force was strong in Yutian, they also evacuated voluntarily. However, because they were worried about the Mongols going south in the early stage, many wealthy gentry families They have all fled into the capital city, and most of the ordinary people are hiding in the wilderness, so although the situation there is bad, it has not yet extended to Baodi and Liangchengsuo..."
As soon as Fu Zonglong introduced the situation, Feng Ziying slowly calmed down and shook her head: "There is something strange here. If the Neikalkha and Horqin coalition forces really go south, Liangchengsuo and Baodi will definitely be in trouble. They are all in Yutian and Fengrun." There has been a disturbance, has the neighboring Hazel Town been looted?"
Fu Zonglong shook his head, "I haven't received any news that Zhenzi Town was looted. Zhenzi Town is from your Yongping Mansion. Maybe they haven't heard back yet?"
Zhenzi Town is a large material distribution town in the west of Yongping Prefecture. It is also the choke point from Lulong and Luanzhou to Fengrun Yutian and other places. The meeting between Feng Ziying and Zaisai was there, and Zhenzi Town is only two or three meters away from Fengrun. Ten miles away, if these Mongolians are really determined to go south, how can they care whose territory you belong to and not take the opportunity to loot it?
"Zhonglun, let's go and understand the situation first. I don't believe that the Neikha people will break the contract at this time." Feng Ziying shook her head firmly.
“Is it possible that the people of Inner Khalkha were offended because of the delay in the court’s response?” Fu Zonglong asked.
"Impossible, Zaisai doesn't even have this little patience." Feng Ziying flatly denied it.
(End of this chapter)