Chapter 1617 Ren Zijuan Thunder falls looking northwest (3)
Qi Bingzhong expressed the most dissatisfied problem among the generals in the northwest towns. Even daily food and salary could not be guaranteed. How could the imperial court provide hugely expensive firearm replacements for the four northwest towns?
This is obviously just a thought and an impossible dream.
Of course Feng Tang understood this, but if he wanted to mobilize the spirit of the people in front of him and get them to mobilize the army for hope, he had to draw a picture.
Of course, we cannot say that this is completely false, but it depends on whether the future development will develop as Ziying predicts. Once it goes as Ziying predicts, the status of this new force in the four northwest towns will suddenly increase. To the point where nothing can be done.
You must know that the third town of Xuanda and the second town of Jiliao are facing real pressure from foreign enemies. The Jurchens and Chahar people of Jianzhou are currently eyeing them with eager eyes. This means that the military strength of these five towns is basically contained by foreign enemies. There is not much maneuverability, and if something happens in the Central Plains, the only ones who can move are the four northwest towns.
At that time, I will be qualified to propose conditions to the court.
"Bingzhong is right. Given the current situation in the northwest, it is impossible for the imperial court to provide us with firearm replacements. To be honest, everyone may have seen the food shipped from Henan. In fact, I cut it first and then reported it. Let the merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi buy it for me from Huguang first, otherwise I will have to wait until I take office before buying it. The price of food has already risen, and I will have to pay at least 20% more silver..."
Several general soldiers also understood the meaning revealed in Feng Tang's words. Businessmen from Shanxi and Shaanxi were willing to take the initiative to advance the money for the purchase of military rations for the four northwest towns. This was not something that just anyone could do, at least not the former Trilateral Governor Chen Jingxuan. arrive.
In the North, without the support of Shanshan merchants, many things would be much more difficult. But if we can get the full support of Shanshan merchants, then many troubles and difficulties can be easily solved.
From this point alone, Xiao Ruxun knew that it was beyond his reach to become governor or even commander-in-chief. Without support from these aspects, he would have no choice but to do the job of one-third of an acre of land honestly, and still want to make some sacrifices. Whatever comes, it must be supported by external resources.
He Shixian wanted to think further, and he also vaguely knew that Shanxi businessmen opened large-scale iron ore and coal mines in Yongping Prefecture, set up iron factories, and jointly established arms workshops with the Ministry of War. It was said that they were doing very enthusiastically, and the governor at the time The Lord's only son, Xiao Feng Xiuzuan, served as a co-president in Yongping Mansion. You must know that Xiao Feng Xiuzuan was able to propose the strategy of opening up the sea at that time, and this had a great influence on the merchants.
The actions of Shanxi businessmen in Yongping Mansion must be related to the governor, and even reciprocal cooperation. He Shixian also heard that his old boss mentioned that the current fire guns in Liaodong are basically from the army in Yongping Mansion. Weapons workshop, otherwise how could the old boss dare to mention this matter today.
"Sir, I heard that merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi in Zunhua and Yongping are setting up firearms workshops. The Rumi blunderbuss, bird blunderbuss and even self-made fire blunderbuss in Liaodong should come from these two places, right?" He Shixian said in a deep voice. asked.
"Well, they can already make Lumi guns, bird guns and turtle dove guns, but the output is still limited. Self-generated fire guns can also be made, but the output is very small, and the quality cannot be guaranteed. Liaodong's self-generated fire guns are mainly made from Purchased by Xiyi." Feng Tang knew that this was his old subordinate trying to create a conversation for him, and he knew it well, "But it is estimated that by next year, the Zunhua Iron Works and Zunhua Firearms Workshop will complete the transformation, and the output of fire guns will be greatly improved. Improvement, and the production level of the red cannon can also be greatly improved. By then, all towns should have the opportunity..."
"The prerequisite for having a chance is that the Ministry of War can think of our northwest!" Xiao Ruxun couldn't help but raise his voice: "Sir, you were able to bargain with the Ministry of War when you were in Liaodong and get a lot of good things and good conditions for Liaodong. You can't be weak when you come to our northwest. In terms of momentum, we still have to argue with the guys from the Ministry of War, not to mention it can compare with Liaodong, Jizhen, Xuanfu, and Datong, but at least it should be on par with Shanxi Town, right?"
"Yes, I haven't seen any decent performance in Shanxi Town over the years, just hiding behind Datong Town. But because it is integrated with Xuanfu and Datong, it is also full of fat. In terms of hard work and merit, Yulin Town When was it worse than Shanxi Town, but when it comes to food, salary and military resources, it is said that the Three Borders and Four Towns will be last? Is this fair?"
Before He Shixian could speak, Ma Kongying also took up the topic and complained.
Feng Ziying also knew that the military generals in the four northwest towns had long been resentful of the imperial court's favoritism. However, the imperial court had limited financial resources and could only prioritize the most important ones.
Seeing that all the generals were a little restless, Feng Tang waved his hand, "Okay, don't I understand what you are saying? I have served as the general soldier of Datong, I have served as the general soldier of Yulin, and I have also served as the general soldier of Liaodong. Here, How could I not know about the situation? The imperial court only has so much money and has so much to spend. Don’t the ministers in the cabinet and the Ministry of War understand the situation in the border areas?"
Feng Tang's words sent all the generals back. In terms of qualifications, who can compare with this governor? He has served as the general of Datong three times, and the one in front of him also served as the general of Yulin, and also served as the governor of Jiliao. Looking at the commander-in-chief of Liaodong Town, it would be a joke to show off in front of him.
"The imperial court's thinking is very simple. There are border troops on all nine sides. Whoever is the most important and important in their minds must be protected first. That's right!" Feng Tang continued: "Jiliao faces Jianzhou Jurchen and Jurchen. The Chahar people, the Inner Khalkha people also joined last year, and here in Xuanda, in addition to the Chahar people, the Outer Khalkha people are now also mixed with the Chahar people, and there may also be Tumut people in Datong How close are Ji Liao and Xuanda to the capital? All the princes in the imperial court will have to think carefully about this."
"Where are we in the northwest? The Bu Shitu side has been at peace for a long time. The Mongolian tribes in the West Sea are silent. The Mughals are constantly fighting among themselves. We did not see much reaction from them when we took down Hami and Shazhou. Although this is possible They are all temporary and superficial, but in the eyes of the court officials, they feel that the northwest can indeed be put aside. In a sense, their rebellion has given us a push in the northwest. , although this has caused greater sequelae to the northwest, it cannot be denied that the first two years were probably the most satisfactory two years for our four northwest towns."
The generals were silent, and they wanted to trace the source. Everyone here was the beneficiary of the rebellion started by Kuai Bai, Liu Dongyang and others.
In addition to being promoted in official positions, more importantly, in those two years, the court's food and salary security was also given priority to the northwest.
This also has something to do with the fact that the original governor of the three sides was Chai Ke, who served as the right minister of the Ministry of War. But the most important thing is that the imperial court could not withstand the second rebellion in the northwest, so it was given preferential treatment.
However, this good time only lasted for a year or two. Since last year, the imperial court has returned to its previous attitude towards the northwest. No matter how much trouble you make, the imperial court will only use words to appease you, but no substantive support.
The reason why Governor Chen Jingxuan resigned was that he was forced into desperation by the generals below. Instead of being beheaded by mutiny and rebellion below, or being coerced into mutiny, it would be better to resign and leave. Whoever wants to come can come.
Even when the imperial court chose the governor of the three sides, no one was willing or able to do it, so Feng Tang had to be moved from Liaodong, which shows how bad the situation was.
Without the money Feng Ziying got back from the Jingtong Ercang case, Feng Tang would not have dared to set foot on this land.
With no food or money in hand, why do you subdue these arrogant and powerful generals?
Just relying on your original prestige may work for a while, but when everyone is really hungry, no matter how high your prestige is, it will not help.
"The thoughts of the princes of the imperial court are also very simple. There is no urgent situation in your northwest now, and it doesn't have much effect. Well, the imperial treasury is so difficult, so naturally your northwest will bear the brunt of the reduction. Even if it is temporarily retained, then this knife It is also hanging on the necks of our four northwest towns at all times. As for food and salary security, of course it can only be placed at the end."
"This is a very realistic problem before everyone. Moreover, now that the imperial court has established three new towns, financial resources are even more limited. Denglai, Jingxiang, Huaiyang, Denglai and Jingxiang towns are planning to conquer Bozhou. Prince Denglai Governor The Teng family was born as a military envoy in the Beijing camp and served as the governor of Xuanda. The Yang He family, the general soldier of Jingxiang Town, was a civil servant and a popular figure in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. How can they compare? Huaiyang was sent to Huaiyang by General Chen Jixian of the Fifth Military Camp, and With the support of the Jiangnan gentry inside and outside the court, how dare the court ignore it? They finally gave us in the northwest a chance to let you from Guyuan Town go to Bozhou to fight and show off, but you lost your troops and generals. If you don't take care of it, who will you take care of?"
These words made all the generals feel cold. They originally felt that Guyuan Town was aggrieved, but looking at it now, it seems that the other three towns are also being dragged down by Guyuan.
But in the current situation, it seems that the four northwest towns will always be at the bottom. What should we do?
The eager eyes of the generals returned to Feng Tang. Now everyone was a grasshopper on a rope. No one could escape. Even Xiao Ruxun, who had been a little unconvinced at first, had expectations in his eyes. No one wanted to do this. Who can bear to sit on the bench in the northwest and worry about the possible mutiny of the soldiers below?
"So everyone should understand in their hearts that if the four northwest towns want to revive their situation, if they want the court to pay attention to it, and if they want to give us priority in food, salary and military resources, then they have to go to war!" Feng Tang looked around with his sword, "But this war is not possible. You have to be particular about it. It is foolish to learn how to rebel and start a rebellion. It is meaningless to attack the divination rabbit or Su Nang outside the border wall. The court will not even bother to look at it. If not, they will punish you for being reckless. Provoke, then who should we fight?!"
(End of this chapter)