1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 2187
Before Yuan Tao rested, he still endured tiredness. He called a few leaders of his team together for a meeting, and once again emphasized the points that need to be paid attention to.

Although Jindun was invited to Yangzhou this time, theoretically, he is a partner of the same camp as the Hui national salt merchants and needs to work together to deal with common opponents, but whether the Hui national salt merchants are really reliable, it is inevitable.

Although the Zhoushan authorities have decided to open the purchase of designated weapons to Huizhou salt merchants, there will still be a slight difference in performance between the muskets sold for export and the models equipped with golden shields.

Yuan Tao told everyone that they should not relax their guard during their stationing in Yangzhou, and especially pay attention to the custody of weapons and equipment. Each team must count the weapons they hold every day.After all, these salt merchants are too rich. If they don't impose strict control, there will be emergencies such as the loss of weapons one after another.

"These salt merchants are all talented people. When dealing with them, everyone must be careful. Don't be manipulated by them. If there is something you can't handle, don't make your own decisions. Come and ask me first. "Yuan Tao was worried that his subordinates would not be able to grasp the balance, so he simply took the responsibility on himself.

After the exhortation, he dismissed his subordinates and let everyone go back to rest.

Yuan Tao's status is extraordinary, and the accommodation conditions are naturally not bad. The Dai family specially arranged a spacious bedroom for him. The pillows and quilts on the bed are all new. In the room, the soothing sandalwood was ordered in advance, and a pot was made. Hot tea, reception work is still very thoughtful.If it wasn't for Yuan Tao's voluntary refusal, there would even be two personal maids to serve him in his daily life.

Of course, Yuan Tao is not an honest person who doesn't stick to meat, but in this special environment, he can't even think about hedonic matters.Moreover, he has always been wary of the benefits given by the salt merchant, and he would not agree to the other party's easy placement of personnel beside him.

Yuan Tao lay down on the bed after washing up. He originally wanted to reconsider the content of the discussion with Zhongyan Business today, but perhaps it was due to running around for a few days, and as soon as his head was placed on the pillow, he quickly fell asleep.

Early on the first day, when Yuan Tao was still eating breakfast, a hand came down to report that Dai Yingda's youngest son, Dai Chengrong, came to visit.

Yuantao recalled that Dai Yingda had mentioned yesterday that the personnel selected for military training in Zhoushan would be commanded by his son, even if he was invited to meet him.

When Dai Chengrong entered the room and saw Yuan Tao was still eating, he quickly apologized and asked Yuan Tao to have breakfast first, so he could come in later.Although Yuan Tao didn't care about such details, he had a little more affection for this young master of the Dai family.

Dai Yingda has 13 children. Dai Chengrong is the youngest son. At [-] years old, he has a calmness far superior to his peers. He voluntarily resigned and went outside, standing in the patio waiting for Yuan Tao to finish his breakfast first.

Yuan Tao is also not good at putting on airs to keep the other party waiting for a long time. After eating, he invited Dai Chengrong into the room again.After the two exchanged a few words, Yuan Tao took the initiative to cut to the point.

"I heard from Master Dai yesterday that the next person to be sent to Zhoushan for training will be led by the young master?"

"It's right here, I hope the shopkeeper Yuan can give some pointers."

Yuan Tao said: "I can't tell you the advice, but I really want to know first, has the young master been in military-related fields before?"

Yuantao was still a little worried about Dai Yingda's cronyism and chose his favorite young son, but he did not consider whether Dai Chengrong's personal situation was suitable for military training and become the commander of an armed squad.If Dai Chengrong has no talent and foundation in this regard, it is very likely that the training effect will be greatly affected.

When this musket team returns to Yangzhou, its combat effectiveness may not meet the expectations of the salt merchants. At that time, Dai Yingda may not think that the problem lies with his son, but will attribute the responsibility to Haihan's insufficient training level.

Yuan Tao didn't want Haihan to take the blame for the opponent's incompetence, so he thought it was necessary to make a preliminary understanding of Dai Chengrong's situation.If this kid is just a rich second generation who only knows how to eat, drink and play, or a pedantic scholar who has been instilled in too many classics and history, then it would be more appropriate to discuss with Dai Yingda early to avoid a situation that eventually develops out of control. There is no benefit.

Dai Chengrong replied: "Before I left, I learned something from the guard coach hired at home. That coach was also a military attache who led troops in the army in the early years, so it can be regarded as a contact with the military field?"

"Then I don't know what the young master has learned specifically?" Yuan Tao asked reluctantly.

Dai Chengrong hesitated for a moment, but still answered Yuan Tao's question.He learned to ride horses at the age of seven, began to practice swordsmanship with his master at the age of eight, and learned to draw a bow at the age of ten. When he knew enough characters at the age of twelve or thirteen, he began to read military books again. The line towards the general is being cultivated.

"Master Dai asked you to learn these things, does he want you to take the martial arts exam?" Yuan Tao was greatly surprised after hearing this, and dared to learn that this young man was more specialized than himself.

Dai Chengrong smiled and said: "Most of the people who take the martial arts exams are the children of generals and families in the military, but the lower ones are from salt merchants. Although they have studied martial arts for several years, they are limited by their own conditions and their strength is only mediocre. It is difficult to take this road. opportunity to get ahead.”

Yuan Tao was even more surprised now. It was hard to imagine that such a young man who was not in his twenties had such a clear and clear understanding of his own situation, so he continued to ask: "But Master Dai asked you to practice martial arts and read military books. In order to keep fit? Shouldn't it be that simple!"

Dai Chengrong knew that it was impossible to be sloppy with someone like Yuan Tao, so he replied calmly: "Treasurer Yuan doesn't know anything, our Hui-registered salt merchants are foreigners in Yangzhou. Tradition. The instructors of this military training can be hired from outside, but for safety reasons, the command of these personnel must be in their own hands, so basically every household of the seven major surnames will select a few people from the younger generation for training from a young age. The thing is to take over their own armed forces one day."

Yuan Tao suddenly realized when he heard his explanation, which makes sense why Dai Yingda wanted his youngest son to practice martial arts and military skills since he was a child.After all, of course, private armed forces must be in the hands of their own family members to be assured, and commanding operations is not something that just anyone can do.

Yuan Tao continued to ask: "So, there are people in your father's generation who have the same role as you?"

Dai Chengrong nodded calmly and said, "That's right. My third uncle, Dai Yingfan, is currently responsible for the defense of Daijiazhuang."

Yuan Tao recalled that it seemed that he had never seen this person before or after the reception yesterday.Dai Chengrong has already continued: "The third uncle has gone to Yangzhou city to do business in the past few days. It is estimated that he should be back today and tomorrow. He will definitely come to meet the shopkeeper Yuan at that time."

If Jindun's men want to take over the defense of Daijiazhuang, they must be handed over to the person in charge of the Daijiazhuang, and Dai Yingfan is not currently in the village. It seems that this matter will have to wait for him to come back.

Yuantao figured in his heart that Dai Yingfan, who was in charge of the command, did not hand over the command to his own children, but planned to hand it over to Dai Yingda's son. It seemed that there were other inside stories.

Sure enough, Dai Chengrong immediately explained the reason: "The rules set by the ancestors, the command power is all appointed by the incumbent head of the family, but the head of the family cannot take the role. After returning from Zhoushan, the next person will take over the command. It's a burden. At that time, the family will spend money to donate to the government to provide official posts such as a guard house, so that daily operations can be more convenient. "

After listening to this explanation, Yuan Tao understood that since it was the head of the family, Dai Yingda, who appointed the next commander, he must have given priority to arranging his own children.However, in this way, Dai Chengrong will automatically lose the possibility of inheriting the position of the head of the family, which can be regarded as a gain and a loss.When the next family chief appoints a new commander, Dai Chengrong's situation is actually the same as his third uncle.

As for the practice of donating money to officials, it is not uncommon. For a big family like them, if they want to keep their social status and family property, it is of course necessary to try to send their own people into the officialdom.Even if it is just a symbolic name, it may be able to play a role at a critical time.

Yuantao said: "Since the young master has previous experience in martial arts, it will not be too difficult to train in the army. As long as he observes military discipline during the training period, it will be fine."

If the experience described by Dai Chengrong is not false, then Yuan Tao really does not need to pick and choose. Conditions like Dai Chengrong, even if it is placed in the Haihan Army, must be the focus of training.

Dai Chengrong said: "I heard that the Haihan Army is very powerful. It is a blessing for three lives to have the opportunity to train in the Haihan Army. Even if the training is hard, I will not have a single complaint. I just hope At that time, the military instructors should not hide their secrets, and can pass on their true skills to me. If your country needs Yangzhou in the future, the Dai family will definitely help!"

Yuan Tao understood. Not only was Dai Chengrong not afraid of enduring hardships, but he was also worried that Haihan was hiding secrets here, and he paid tuition but did not learn his true skills.

I am worried that the salt merchants are not strict enough when they select people, but the salt merchants are worried that the personnel training provided by Zhoushan is watery.

But in this way, Yuan Tao is a little relieved about the seriousness of the salt merchants. Duan Tiancheng, who is responsible for training these people in Zhoushan, will probably be more happy about this. After all, it is much easier than training people who have no foundation at all. .

Yuan Tao chatted with Dai Chengrong and wanted to find out how capable this young man was, so he asked him again: "Our army's tactics are all based on the equipment of muskets. Have you ever touched a musket?"

Dai Chengrong nodded without hesitation and said, "Actually, I learned how to use an arquebus at a very early age, but although that kind of gun is powerful, it fires too slowly, and I don't think it's easy to use. The musket, which I have also seen below, is indeed stronger than the matchlock, but it is simply not available in the market."

Yuan Tao said: "I heard that you actually used muskets when you fought with Shanshan and Shaanxi salt merchants in the past?"

Dai Chengrong said: "The opponents use more muskets than us, and they have mastered the tactics of the army, so we have always suffered more. After a few more times, we dare not fight them head-on, and encounter an attack. We can only avoid its edge and preserve our strength.”

Yuan Tao said: "Then how did you use muskets to fight in the past? Have you ever learned special tactics?"

Dai Chengrong said: "I have learned a little bit. It was taught by the former nursing school instructor. According to him, it is the tactics of the army's firearms battalion, but we have practiced it ourselves, but it is always difficult to achieve results."

Yuan Tao nodded and said, "Can you take me to see the weapons and equipment you use?"

Yuan Tao had already guessed a few reasons, but he still had to look at the real thing before he could determine the problem.

Dai Chengrong agreed immediately, and then took Yuantao through the Daijiazhuang for a while, and stopped in front of a yard where someone guarded the gate.

"This is where we store our weapons and equipment." Dai Chengrong raised his hand to open the door, and the two guarding the door immediately opened the door and let them in.

After Yuan Tao went in and saw the weapons that the Dai family had carefully kept, he roughly understood their problem.

"You muskets have different standards, so it is difficult to achieve a uniform firing frequency during combat. And these muskets are inherently slow in firing speed. If they can't shoot at the same time to form a fire coverage, the power will be even greater. Discount... If I'm not mistaken, when the opponent's musket team is fighting against you, the uniformity of shooting is much higher than yours." Yuan Tao said his judgment while looking at the weapons.

"Manager Yuan is brilliant!" Dai Chengrong couldn't hide his admiration: "It's exactly as Shopkeeper Yuan said, we are at a disadvantage when we fight against the opponent's Musket Team."

Yuan Tao said in his heart that your opponent's muskets are all standard weapons purchased from Hirado, and you have also hired special military instructors for training, which must be better than your Dai family's half-assist guard instructor.Even if your instructor had been in the Ming army firearms battalion, he would at most teach tactics, and he couldn't purchase batches of standard muskets, so he couldn't change the passive situation of Hui-born salt merchants.

"When you finish training in Zhoushan, this problem should be solved." Yuan Tao is confident in this.He knew that the above had approved the sale of standard weapons to Hui-registered salt merchants, even if it was an export model with discounted performance, but there was still a good chance of winning against the muskets produced by Hirato.

What's more, Haihan's understanding and application of musket tactics is far ahead of this era. As long as Dai Chengrong's group learn [-]% to [-]%, it will be enough to smash their opponents.

(End of this chapter)