Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 723 I want to kill Ma Ping Liaodong

The journey from Koriyama-juku to Nohara-cho, the head of the Takasaki clan, is a long one.Although the distance between the two places is only more than 500 miles from the map, the traffic conditions on the roads of the island country are too backward.Not to mention A Miao and the others, even if the daimyo went to Edo to explain, they were often delayed on the road due to traffic problems.

No, two days after the group set off, it was raining heavily and they stayed at the dormitory for one night. When they were about to set off the next day, the guide learned from the townspeople that the river five miles ahead could not pass because of flash floods.

Li Wenqing didn't believe this evil, so he asked the village head of the station town to lead the way, and went to check the situation himself.When I got to the place, I was dumbfounded. I saw that the water depth in the passable place had exceeded 1.5 meters, and the current was so fast that it was obviously impossible to pass.

"Where's the boat? Are there any boats around here?"

Among the accompanying guards was a naturalized citizen from Mutsu. After listening to the other party's translation, the village head explained in embarrassment: "My lord, we are in the mountains and we don't have a boat."

Li Wenqing asked: "Then what did you do when you encountered this situation before?"

"Wait until the water recedes and you can pass."

"How long will it take?"

"It's really hard to say. The water will recede when the rain stops. According to past experience, it may take two or three days, maybe five or six days. I'm really sorry for delaying the trip of Lord Tianchao!"

After getting such an ambiguous answer, Li Wenqing rolled his eyes helplessly.He had to go back to the dormitory and explain the situation to everyone.No way, just wait.

Although A Miao and the others' trips were delayed, the village head of the camp town was secretly happy.Although there are only more than 30 people in A Miao's group, the expenses on board and lodging are quite a lot.Everyone lives in middle-class and upper-class housing, and the daily rent for each room is 180 to 200 Wen.In addition, there are more than 50 horses, and the supply of horse feed is a lot of money.

However, what makes the townspeople even more happy is yet to come.The guards platoon these guys have either been away from the island for many years or have never been here.I have to find something to pass the time when I have nothing to do, so I went to various shops in the town.Good guy!They don't buy wine, and they buy almost anything they see, such as local specialties, refreshments, and snacks.The shiny silver coins were given at the checkout, which made the boss go crazy with joy.

You must know that the dormitory town under the rule of the shogunate in this year pays attention to not opening for half a year, and opening for half a year.The annual attendance account is its main source of income, and the rent of ordinary travelers is not enough to fill their teeth.Being able to meet Beihai Town and his party with such a generous spending, the townspeople benefited from it from top to bottom, and laughed out loud in their dreams at night.They wished that such a distinguished guest would stay for five, six, seven or eight days.

Li Wenqing was not interested in going to the shop. He got up early every day and punched in the yard, sweating, and then went back to the house and took the trouble to disassemble and clean his pistol.Fortunately, his wife—that is, Chen Jishan's younger sister was also here. Although the couple didn't live together, they always had a chance to talk and even fight, so that they wouldn't be too bored.

A Miao was also anxious.Before she came to the island country, Zhao Xin said that after paying homage to her relatives this time, the two of them will settle things when they go back.Although Zhao Xin is a bit promiscuous, she can't give her a name, and she can't hold a big wedding, but she doesn't care.Whether it was Shen Xuan, Wang Zhenyi or Tang Xiao, she felt that she was the only one who could accompany Zhao Xin to the end.

"Duofu, what do you think he is doing now? I miss him, do you think he misses me too?"

Hearing the question from the "slave", Duo Fu, lying in A Miao's arms, closed his eyes and moaned.A Miao sighed and said, "Oh, I can't understand you even if I say it."

How lucky to say that I don't understand?This king has wives and concubines in groups, okay?The person you asked may be gone now.

Well, Zhao Xin is indeed wandering outside, but not blindly.

At the end of May, after inspecting the steel plant in Khabarovsk, he boarded three refitted armed speedboats with a company of guards. Dune and other places went ashore to inspect the spring plowing and sowing conditions in various places.By the time he arrived at Linjiangmen Wharf outside Jilin City, it was already mid-June.

Linjiangmen Wharf used to be the location of the water camp and shipyard of the Qing Dynasty, and it is located outside the west gate on the southwest side of Jilin City.After the Beihai Navy took Jilin City, the camp of the water camp was transformed into a garrison for the garrison.

Because he had been notified in advance, when Zhao Xin disembarked, all officers above the battalion of the garrison regiment came to the pier to greet him.The leader is Chen Jishan, his former guard company commander and current head of the Jilin garrison regiment.

"salute!"

Zhao Xin returned the salute and greeted Chen Jishan and the others with a smile.Whenever he shook hands with the officers present, before the other party introduced himself, he called out his name, which surprised and delighted the officers.

It is said that officers above the Beihai battalion must attend a short-term training course hosted by Zhao Xin before they are promoted, and before each course, he has to repeatedly review the resumes of the officers in training with photos and write them down in his notebook.After he memorized it by heart, he asked Shen Xuan and A Miao to help block the words, and only looked at the photos to guess the name.Therefore, regardless of the fact that there are hundreds of officers at the battalion and regiment level in Beihai, Zhao Xin knows who they are as soon as he sees them, and he can tell the exact number.

Zhao Xin asked himself that he didn't have the talent of photographic memory, so he could only do this kind of thing in a stupid way, and he didn't have the slightest chance to take advantage of it.

"How about it, you were hired as a contractor when you first came here, don't you blame me?" Zhao Xin patted Chen Jishan's shoulder, looked in the direction of the north of the city and continued: "The wooden city wall to the north has been demolished?"

Chen Jishan said: "It's all demolished. All the wood has been sent to the brick kiln as firewood."

Zhao Xin said again: "How is the propaganda to the residents in the city?"

The deputy head in charge of missions said: "There are broadcasts every day in the city and in the Guanxiang, twice in the morning and afternoon. The common people didn't understand at first, but later they understood the truth and supported them. Many people even took the initiative to go to the brick factory outside the city to find Do the work, and wait to live in the big tile house with green bricks."

Zhao Xin nodded with a smile and said, "Before winter this year, at least half of the house renovations in Jilin City will be completed. If there is another fire, I will be the only one to ask you." After he finished speaking, he turned to the officers at the side with serious faces Said: "You too."

"Yes. Guaranteed to complete the mission."

What they were talking about was the comprehensive renovation project of Jilin City.The reason for major changes is because the local fires are too frequent, basically a small fire every two years, and a big fire in four or five years.From 1790 to 1791, two consecutive years of fire broke out in Jilin City under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, burning down more than 8000 houses.If it were not for the rich local timber resources, tens of thousands of people would be displaced.

The former general of Jilin, Hengxiu, even followed the advice of an aide who knew Fengshui, and asked someone to make a "fire-avoidance map" on Xuantian Ridge outside the north gate, in an attempt to suppress the fire with the Kan hexagram representing water, which is ridiculous.

After the capture of Jilin City last year, the Civil Affairs Bureau quickly sent people to investigate. They found that more than [-]% of the wooden buildings in the city and in the Guanxiang area; not only the main streets are paved with logs or planks, but even the gutters on both sides of the streets They are also inlaid with wood planks.In addition, except for the warehouses where the government stores grain, all other private houses, regardless of size, are all made of wood for the walls, and the roofs are covered with bark or thatch.Because fires are burned for heating in winter, residents usually store a large amount of firewood in their yards.

That's it, what are you waiting for if you don't wait for the fire? !
The team in charge of the inspection wrote a report after returning home, suggesting that the entire Jilin City should be remodeled, otherwise there may be another big fire next year, and it will be too late to cry.In fact, not only Jilin City, but cities like Alchuka, Lalin, and Dasang Ula have the same problem, but because the population is not as large as Jilin City, the fire problem is not prominent.

So after the beginning of spring, the engineering team sent by the Civil Affairs Bureau selected a site outside the city; when the land thawed in April, they began to build the large brick factory needed.In addition, it is not enough to have a brick kiln, and there must be a supporting charcoal factory or even a coal factory.If there is a project, there must be people who work, and a large number of Qing troops who have nothing to do because of their surrender will have something to do.When they have money, they need to spend money, buy food and cloth, and support their families. The originally bleak market in Jilin City has also become prosperous.

Zhao Xin stayed in Jilin City for five days. In addition to inspecting the spring plowing, he also inspected the brick factory under construction accompanied by Chen Jishan.The most important project of the entire brick factory is the two oval pits and the 20-meter-high chimney for firing bricks. The local people were all amazed when they heard about it, and many people came to the construction site together to watch.

On June 6, Zhao Xin left Jilin City, went south by boat, passed the Songhua River, and transferred to the Huifa River. After three days of trekking by land, he arrived at Weiyuan, the headquarters of the Eastern Front Command of the Northern Navy, on June 20. fort.

This is the so-called "wicker edge".The so-called side wall is not a city wall at all, but a three-foot-wide embankment with a height of three feet. On the embankment, three willows are inserted every five feet. rope".On the outside of the embankment, deep trenches were also dug to prevent pedestrians from crossing.

As soon as he saw Deng Fei, the other party asked with a smile: "Did you bring everything?"

"That is required."

"Okay, I'm eagerly looking forward to your coming, so that I can wait for the rice to cook."

"Has the mobilization of the troops been completed? Has the task book been issued?"

"Make sure you arrive at the mobilization meeting held yesterday."

"Well, I'll go to the warehouse tonight."

"learn."

The words of the two of them seemed to be speaking to each other, but they were actually talking about the summer and autumn combat plan of the Eastern Front troops.This is a huge battle plan drafted by the North Navy's staff, revised many times, and finally signed and confirmed by Zhao Xin. The mobilized force is as high as 5 regiments, including migrant workers, etc., and the mobilized number is as high as [-]. many people.Except for the garrison regiments, garrison battalions and some recruits left behind in various places, the Beihai Navy has come out in full force this time.

More than ten days later, the Eastern Front troops will dispatch a huge force of eight regiments to launch a general attack on the Qing army entrenched outside the pass in the vast area from the north to the Liaohe River to the Daling River.This time, Zhao Xin wants to completely eliminate the Qing army outside the pass.

According to the deployment of the campaign, the Eastern Front troops will first attack Changtu, Kaiyuan, Tieling and other places south of the wicker wall with six regiments, and then go straight to Shengjing; secondly, the Lushou Mountain Station stationed in Hunchun The Ministry dispatched two regiments, took a boat from Mokuowei, bypassed the peninsula, first attacked Lushun, then attacked Fuzhou, Xiongyue, Gaiping, and Niuzhuang, and finally captured Jinzhou, forcing other states and counties in the inland area of ​​Liaodong to surrender.

In order to cooperate with the offensive outside the pass, the Qing Dynasty was unable to transfer most of the troops inside the pass to the north.The Jiaodong area will also dispatch four regiments, under the command of Sheng Haizhou, to attack the three prefectures of Laizhou, Qingzhou, and Wuding and recover them in one fell swoop.Among them, Wuding Mansion is in the northernmost part of Shandong, bordering Bohai Bay to the east, Tianjin Mansion to the north, Jinan Mansion to the south, and only 500 miles away from the capital. Once this place is taken down, the Qing court will feel very uncomfortable.

The more war comes, the more peaceful the atmosphere will be.Although Zhao Xin and Deng Fei were already very careful, and even the military supplies were brought by Zhao Xin himself, so as not to attract the attention of Manchu secret agents, the Qing troops in Changtu and Kaiyuan still smelled something unusual .First of all, there are a lot more drones flying in the sky than in previous days, and secondly, the activities of the Northern Navy reconnaissance team are very frequent.

The Manchus have been fighting Beihai for so many years, and although they have suffered disastrous defeats every time, their experience points have also been increasing.

Let go of the monster bird!The scouts are out!Then came the cannon blast!When he woke up, his soldiers had already arrived with their muskets.

So two days later, the urgent reports from Changtu and Kaiyuan arrived in Shengjing almost at the same time.Five days later, the Military Aircraft Office in the Old Summer Palace received an urgent six-hundred-mile request from Shengjing General Shu Liang in the middle of the night.

In the past, emergency military reports from various places were sent directly to Emperor Qianlong. No matter day or night, even if the eunuch fell asleep, he had to wake him up.However, since the spring of this year, the 83-year-old Qianlong has become more and more sluggish, sometimes sober and sometimes confused, and has been powerless to deal with many things; so Heshen, who has all the power, made his own decisions, and all memorials must be read by him first, and then according to the situation The degree of urgency shall be submitted by him personally.

He Shen didn't go back to his garden today, but stayed in the value house in Guajiatun.He slept very lightly, and Liu Quan just woke up as soon as he entered the room.He turned over and sat up, and under the candlelight, Liu Quan was holding a letter in his hand, and asked casually, "Where did you send it?"

Liu Quan asked his son Liu Yin to hand over a hot towel to He Shen to wipe his face, bowed his waist and said, "Master, there is an urgent report from Shengjing for six hundred miles, and there is a purple stamp of 'Urgent' on the envelope, and three chicken feathers are pinned on the seal. It was just sent in a stick of incense."

"What time is it?"

"It's only the second quarter of the ugly first day."

He Shen took the hot towel from Liu Quan's son Liu Yin and wiped his face, then took the letter from Liu Quan, and sat under the lamp with his clothes on to open it.Because he had just woken up, his face was blank and expressionless at first, but after watching the memorial for a few times, his expression darkened, and his face became gloomy and pale.He put down the letter, got up and walked a few steps back and forth in the room, looked up to the sky and sighed, shook his head and said, "I really come to whatever I'm most afraid of! Change clothes, I'm going to see the emperor."

"Master! The emperor is still asleep at this hour, why not?"

Before Liu Quan finished speaking, He Shen raised his hand to stop him, and leaned closer to the other party and said softly, "Zhao Ni is going to attack Shengjing."

"Ah!!" Liu Quan was so frightened that he couldn't speak for a while.

(End of this chapter)