Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 122 Admiral Li’s visit

At the banquet, Prime Minister Liu became more and more enthusiastic. All the officials of the Ming Dynasty had dark faces. However, this was a banquet hosted by others and it was difficult to interrupt. The most anxious person was Li Rubai. He wanted to speak several times, but every time he wanted to stand up, he sat back down.

"Zhang Tiantian, I have no personal grudges with Admiral Li. At first, Admiral Li wore stars and moons and didn't even have time to wait for his baggage. He hurriedly marched to the gate of Pyongyang. In the first battle, the Japanese felt the thunderous wrath of the heavenly soldiers. At that time, Admiral Li also gave me a gift I also tried my best to provide Admiral Li with a poem. However, although our country, Korea, is small, it is also a loyal vassal of the Ming Emperor. If Your Majesty feels that our country, Korea, has done something wrong, he must issue an order to punish him, even if it means to I, Mr. Liu, killed me, and Mr. Liu had no regrets. However, Admiral Li unreasonably accused our country of collaborating with Japanese invaders. This is a huge crime, and we, the Korean monarchs and ministers, will not admit it. If the Heavenly Soldiers still lack something to march in, we will We will try our best to make up for it, and I just hope that the heavenly soldiers can continue to advance as soon as possible and drive the Japanese out completely. I, the Korean state, will serve the heaven from generation to generation."

"That's not it. I'll go talk to Admiral Li another day. Our two families are working together to expel the Japanese from North Korea. This is the bottom line set by His Majesty. I also ask Prime Minister Liu to pass on what I said. Tell it to the king. This banquet is still too extravagant. In the future, when supply and demand are met, there will be no need to be so extravagant. Right now, everything is focused on the front line."

"Liu will definitely tell His Highness the truth about Zhang Angel's words. Thank you also to Zhang Angel for your concern for our country."

After the banquet was over, Li Rubai hurriedly left and rushed to the Admiral's Mansion.

"Brother, don't read the battle report yet, something big has happened."

"Second brother, we have already said that the army should call you admiral. How can you, the eldest brother, show the majesty of the military order? Tell me, what is it that makes you so flustered?" Li Rusong said unhappily.

"Admiral Li, you are not here today. Your good friend Liu Xiang directly read the black complaint against you to Shi Zhang. He just said that you are domineering. After all, it is a banquet hosted by North Korea, and you are not here. I It’s hard to argue. Brother, you’d better go find Mr. Zhang and read it.”

"Zhang Shidu was on a mission to North Korea this time, and he was not conducting military affairs in North Korea. Wasn't Song Jinglue also present at that time? Song Jinglue didn't say anything?"

"Brother, what can Song Jinglue say? This is a grudge between you and the Korean monarchs. It's too late for everyone to hide. Who will join in the fun? Zhang Shidu has said this several times, saying that Admiral Li is not here , I will come to visit you later. You are not really waiting for Zhang Shidu to come to see you. At the moment, Zhang Shidu has come to North Korea on His Majesty's order. What if His Majesty has any other secret orders? "

"Oh?" When Li Rusong heard the word "secret decree", he sat up straight with excitement.

"Brother, Zhang Shidu has given you a lot of face this time. He has said it himself several times, saying that the soldiers commanded by General Ma, including General Ma, will be under the unified control of Admiral Li."

"Oh? So now I am still in charge of the entire army? Doesn't the imperial court intend to divide my military power?" Li Rusong was a little surprised.

"According to Zhang Shidu, the imperial court has no such intention. Just now, Prime Minister Liu exaggerated your matter, and Zhang Shidu didn't say much. But going forward, it will be hard to say. North Korea In order to win over Zhang Shidu, the banquet was quite sumptuous, and I don’t know what North Korea will do later." Li Rubai reminded.

"Well, it's too late today. Let's call tomorrow. Tomorrow you call Rumei and we go to visit Zhang Shidu together. Do you know where Zhang Shidu is staying now?"

"I know. At the banquet, Prime Minister Liu explained the detailed arrangements for the placement of Zhang Shidu and General Ma and his party." "That's good. I'll send you my greetings early tomorrow morning and rush over in the afternoon." Li Rusong decided. arrange.

In the afternoon of the next day, Li Rusong led Li Rubai and Li Rumei to Zhang Xiao's house.

"Admiral Li, Wang Jing is short of everything now, but not the house. I don't know what happened to the original owner of this house. Once the war comes, all the property will be of no use and cannot be defended." Zhang Xiao sighed.

"Yesterday, there was urgent business in the army. I was really sorry that I couldn't go to greet Zhang Shidu and General Ma." Li Rusong said.

"Have Admiral Li ever met General Ma? This time the imperial reinforcements have arrived at 10,000, but in the future, I am afraid it will be difficult for large troops to come for reinforcements."

"Are the imperial troops already so stretched?"

"There is no way. The Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, and it is necessary to retain enough soldiers and horses in important places. There are many vacancies in the guards in various places. Therefore, the imperial court also wants to help North Korea recover the kingdom's army. It cannot be used to charge and fight. We all rely on our Ming Dynasty’s army to fight.”

"Zhang Shidu, I see there are Jianzhou Jurchens among the reinforcements. Didn't North Korea not agree to the Jurchens joining the reinforcements before?" Li Rumei asked.

"Only a thousand people. If North Korea is afraid of even a thousand Jurchens, then forget about them. But now the navy of the imperial court has been assembled and ready to go to North Korea to support. Before, the court was still debating whether to let the navy Set off directly from the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and land directly on the Japanese mainland. Later, the court decided to let the navy directly enter and aid North Korea. "

"That's good. In fact, after these battles, the Japanese have suffered heavy losses, but the Japanese ships have been coming and going, and the Japanese's men, horses and equipment have been replenished. If our Daming Navy can control the sea routes, then It's time for the Japanese to panic." Li Rusong said.

"Admiral Li, at the banquet last night, Prime Minister Liu of North Korea said something. Admiral Li must have known about it. I am afraid that the leader of North Korea has some opinions about Admiral Li. Can Admiral Li tell you the whole story and the merits? I also want to report it to Your Majesty. Your Majesty is still waiting for Admiral Li to win a great victory and return to the court, to give you a promotion, and to carve a stone for you to record your merits."

"Your Majesty's great kindness, I will repay it to the death like a pine tree. Zhang Shidu, I didn't agree to the invasion at first because the North Korean monarchs and ministers gave false information. If our army had entered rashly at that time, I'm afraid we would have suffered a lot. Mr. Liu's troops are waiting for him later. After arriving, our army marched straight into the royal capital of Joseon. But now the Japanese have learned the lesson and built cities and fortresses along the coast. They stationed heavy troops in Ulsan, Busan, Sunchon and other cities. They refused to fight with our army in the field, and in important places such as granaries. It is also under strict guard. Our army tried to attack Ulsan a few days ago. The troops suffered a lot of casualties, and the artillery bombardment was of little effect. If I were to insist on attacking at the risk of human life, I don’t know how many casualties it would take to win. Next. Rusong is not a pedantic person, but now that most of the territory of North Korea has been recovered, why should our army pay such heavy casualties to help the Koreans fight. At that time, Wang Zhongsi refused to attack Shibao City, which was spared by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. If The imperial court insists that our army attack, so Li also wants to go to the imperial court and make a powerful statement."

"Your Majesty really wants to end the war in Korea as soon as possible, but your Majesty also knows that it is not easy for you to fight in Korea. Admiral Li, please rest assured that Zhang did not use Shang Fang's sword to force the general to attack this time. The general can fight however he wants." Zhang Xiao said.

(End of this chapter)