Daming Yinghua

Chapter 454: Zhejiang Soldiers and Taiwan Navy

The winter nights in the south of the Yangtze River may not be as bitingly cold and chilly as those in the north, but they are still like a gauze or a net that wraps people tightly.

Qi Jin pushed aside the curtain of the sedan chair and felt the cold night wind blowing towards his face.

He had been a soldier for decades, either riding a horse or walking, and had never been in a sedan chair like he was today, wearing a floral silk cotton brocade robe commonly worn by local rich men in the Suzhou and Songjiang areas.

Li Daniu, who was dressed as a servant following the sedan chair, hurriedly approached the sedan and asked, "Master Qi, what's the matter?"

Qi Jin waved his hand: "Nothing, I just want to take a breath. I have been on the march and fighting all my life, and I am not used to having a tent over my head when I am on the road."

Li Daniu agreed with a smile.

Starting from the first year of Taichang, Madam Zheng clearly divided the intelligence and espionage lines into three parts: the border towns from Xuanda to Liaodong were given to Xu San, the capital and its surrounding areas were given to Hua Er and Chen Sanni, and the area from Shandong to Susong was given to Li Daniu.

This time, his wife asked him to invite General Qi to Nanjing in disguise to meet Hong Chengchou.

When Li Daniu saw Qi Jin, as soon as he opened his mouth, the old general excitedly realized that there must be a tough battle to be fought. Without Li Daniu's explanation, Qi Jin understood that the Ministry of War did not send an open transfer order to the south through the official postal channel, but the State Council led by Zheng Haizhu came forward. Such caution was to prevent the news from leaking out.

Sure enough, when they entered an inconspicuous house in the west of Nanjing, they met Hong Chengchou, who took out a long wooden box and said straight to the point: "General Qi, I have brought the troop transfer order signed by Minister Xiong of the Ministry of War."

Although it was the first time Qi Jin had dealt with Hong Chengchou, seeing that he was entrusted with such an important task like Li Daniu, he thought that Zheng Haizhu also regarded him as a direct confidant, so he did not shy away and said frankly with satisfaction: "Yes, the officials of the Ministry of War in recent years have been on good terms with your Madam Zheng. It is not surprising that Zhang Quan is like this, but Xiong Tingbi, this nine-headed bird, has a much hotter temper than Zhang Quan."

Since entering the State Council Temple, Hong Chengchou has often heard Zheng Haizhu talk in detail about the disputes between the border generals and the civil officials in the capital. At the same time, his superior has repeatedly reminded him that on the basis of solving the core issue of military pay, the court's control over the border generals should be enhanced. By winning decisive battles and gradually exporting field armies such as Sichuan and Zhejiang troops to the outside of the Great Wall, the contradictions between local warlords and the court in the capital can be eased.

Hong Chengchou followed Qi Jin's lead and said in a friendly manner, "The Ministry of State Affairs often consults with the Ministry of War in normal times. Minister Xiong knows about border affairs and, like Minister Zheng, regards the Liaodong Jiannu as a serious threat. This time, he will cooperate sincerely with our Ministry of State Affairs. General Qi, by then, Minister Xiong and Minister Zheng will be stationed in Liaoyang, together with Yang Lian, the governor of Liaodong."

After hearing this, the last few worries in Qi Jin's heart faded away.

Not fearing a big battle is a character ingrained in the bones of the descendants of famous generals like him.

But he was also an old general who loved his soldiers like his own sons. He had seen a lot of dangers in his life. In addition, with the previous experience of the elite soldiers of the Qi family army being killed by their own people in Jizhen, Qi Jin had to worry about whether his foreign army would receive wise combat arrangements and fair rewards from the court officials as they did in Fushun after it went to Liaodong again.

After hearing Hong Chengchou's details, Qi Jin felt relieved that the officials of the State Council Temple, like the officials of the Ministry of War and the Governor of Liaodong, would go to the front line in person.

Even if he had no friendship with Yang Lian and Xiong Tingbi, at least he could trust Zheng Haizhu.

Qi Jinxin trusted the latter not to lose his reason and righteousness for the sake of greed for merit, and sitting in the position of a civil official in the central military tent, he easily issued orders to advance, without distinguishing between necessary sacrifices and fearless death for both the main army and the guest soldiers, just to gamble on a great victory in exchange for his own career advancement.

Hong Chengchou said, "The food and silver will be delivered to General Qi after the first month of the year. We will move north by sea, so as to avoid the possibility of Jiannu spies passing on information as we move further north. At that time, Lieutenant General Xu of the Zheng Camp in Chongming will send a ship to pick up your soldiers. During this period, General Qi had better keep his mouth shut even if he is talking to his subordinates. After all, Zhenjiang is not far from Songjiang, and there may be spies on the merchant ships from Korea who have been rewarded by Nurhaci."

Qi Jindao understood: "Don't worry, Shaoqing Hong, my adopted son died at the hands of the Jiannu spies. How could I think that you, the temple minister, are too cautious?"

"Okay, then I'll have to trouble General Qi to tell me the number of firearms and chariots in the chariot camp, as well as the number of soldiers and horses of the northern expeditionary army. I'll meet with Lieutenant General Xu in the next few days and instruct him to plan the ship arrangements."

Qi Jin opened the wooden box and studied the transfer order from the Ministry of War. He saw that it only said to go to Dongjiang to join Mao Wenlong's troops. He then turned to a piece of jute paper folded under the transfer order. After opening it, he found a finely drawn topographic map.

Familiar place names such as Liaoyang, Fushun, Qinghebao, etc. are prominently listed, and of course, there is also Nurhaci’s old nest: Hetuala.

But the most detailed painting is the one between Hetuala and Fushun Pass.

"The court wants to gather all the Ming troops here?" Qi Jin asked. Hong Chengchou nodded and said, "Zheng Siqing only gave this map to General Ma and General Qi, the commanders of two foreign troops. As for how to fight at that time, we will adapt to the situation. General Qi's troops are mostly chariot soldiers and firearms soldiers. It is particularly important to arrange the battle array according to local conditions. With this map in hand, the general can prepare first."

Qi Jin could hear the implication of Hong Chengchou's words. Zheng Siqing really cared about the interests of the guest troops and would do everything possible to prevent them from being blinded. At the same time, he also trusted his and General Ma's prudence and would keep the planned location of the general attack secret.

Qi Jin's gaze fell back on the three words on the map: Sarhu.

It was almost midnight when Qi Jin walked out of the house, got into the sedan chair, and looked up at the starry sky in the winter night.

"Old Wu, how are you and Bond doing in heaven? Have he and A-Mei given you any great-grandchildren? I guess I'll be coming up soon. Wait for me. I'll take my men and have a good fight to avenge Bond, and then I'll come up to drink with you."

Two thousand miles away, the South China Sea.

In the same month, the breath turns into ice by the Qinhuai River, while in Beigang, Taiwan, it is as warm as spring.

Yan Siqi stood under the coconut tree in the yard, gazing at the bright moon in the sky in a trance.

His wife Wen Akun came over and asked, "Can't sleep?"

"Ah."

"It's the imperial court. Do they want you to go to war?"

Yan Siqi's gaze fell back on his wife's face: "How did you know?"

"I see you sitting in the knife room tonight."

Yan Siqi's tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

After six or seven years, my wife, a native Taiwanese, has not only become fluent in Chinese, but is also increasingly able to understand my subtle thoughts.

"Our navy is indeed going out to fight, and Yang Tiansheng will lead the ships." Yan Siqi said to his wife.

"When?"

"Probably, next spring."

"Are we going to fight the Frankies on the island like we did last time?"

Yan Siqi shook his head: "Much better than them."

Wen Akun didn't seem to be interested in exploring how powerful this enemy was. He asked calmly and gently, "Brother Yan, do you want to take the boat yourself?"

Yan Siqi was silent for a moment, then put his arm around his wife's shoulders and answered her question with a silent movement.

Wen Akun stroked his bulging belly and said softly, "If you want to go, go ahead and bring your good knives with you."

The husband's arm moved.

Wen Akun still spoke calmly: "Just tell me which place is colder than Hirado? Then I will know how to prepare clothes for you."