Late Yuan Dynasty: I am the true emperor

Chapter 461 The right time, right place and right people
Seeing that the three were somewhat sensible, Lu Jin reassured them again, "The three of you are still aware of the greater good, so don't worry. What Liao Yong'an said to you is exactly what I wanted to say. The reason I was able to build such a large empire in two years is because of the word 'trust'."

“A person cannot stand without integrity. I will definitely keep the promise I made to you. I will reward those who have made merits and punish those who have made mistakes. Although the three generals were not under my command before, they were all members of the righteous army and made great contributions to the cause of overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty. I have seen all of this.”

"I'll say it again: once the world is at peace, regardless of whether you achieve merit again, I will acknowledge your past contributions. At that time, you, Lieutenant General Chen, will certainly be granted a marquisate."

"On the contrary, Xu Shouhui usurped the throne and became emperor early on, but what can he give you? You three attacked Mianyang in the west and took Yueyang in the south, but he only gave you the position of governor."

Lu Jin spoke ill of Xu Shouhui to his face, but as former officials of the Xu Song dynasty, the three of them couldn't very well join Lu Jin in criticizing their former master. Chen Youliang and Zhang Dingbian didn't know what to say, so Zhang Bixian took the initiative to speak.

“Your Highness is right. Strict discipline is essential for the army, and the most important thing is to have clear rewards and punishments. Although we have never rendered meritorious service in Your Highness’s army, Your Highness has seen and remembered our past anti-Yuan deeds. Such kindness is deeply appreciated, and we will be loyal to Your Highness and serve you to the death on the battlefield.”

Chen Youliang and Zhang Dingbian quickly followed suit, kneeling on one knee and saying, "We are willing to die for Your Highness on the battlefield."

"Very good, very good! With three more outstanding talents today, how can we worry about the world being in turmoil or the land being restored? Please rise quickly, you three. There is no need for formalities here, and you don't need to kneel like the Tartars. From now on, you only need to follow the ancient Chinese custom and bow." Lu Jin immediately stepped forward and helped the three of them up.

The three of them thanked the emperor again, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

This time, Lu Jin made a promise in person, which was quite different from what Liao Yong'an had relayed before. After all, their statuses were different. Lu Jin's personal promise naturally carried a different weight. Moreover, Liao Yong'an had only said that he would definitely be given a title, but he didn't say what title. Now, Lu Jin said in person that it would be at least a marquis title, which was earned through his past merits in Xu and Song. To be honest, this treatment was already very high, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was the highest possible.

However, Chen Youliang still said, "Your Highness has treated us so well, how dare we lie on our laurels and do nothing? Please grant us real positions, otherwise our colleagues in the Holy Martial Army will laugh at us."

Lu Jin immediately nodded and said, "Of course. General Chen is such a heroic figure who can lead a large army across Huguang. Wouldn't it be a pity to leave such a talent idle? As for the arrangements for you, Liao Yong'an should have told you before you came, right?"

Chen Youliang nodded. "General Liao told us that if someone from Dingbian was to be sent to the Imperial Guard Division, they had to come to the Privy Council first and ask me whether I wanted to go to the land or the navy. I finally chose the navy."

“Not bad.” Lu Jin looked at the three of them before saying this.

"Yu Tongyuan's independent heavy artillery regiment has already set off with the Second Front Army. It's too late to reorganize it into the Imperial Guard Division now. Even if you go to Dingbian now, you won't make it to the Shandong Campaign. You can stay in Jiankang for now and become the deputy commander of the vanguard regiment of the Second Imperial Guard Division. First, learn our army's system and tactics. I will use the prisoners of war from this southern campaign to select elites to form a vanguard regiment for you. After the new regiment is formed, you can train them for a few months. If we launch the Northern Expedition next year, you will definitely have a chance to use your skills."

Zhang Dingbian was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Lu Jin then looked at Zhang Bixian and said, “My Privy Council has five ministries, with ranks equivalent to the six ministries of the previous dynasty. Bixian can first go to the Military and Political Department of the Privy Council to serve as a principal officer.”

Zhang Bixian quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Finally, Lu Jin looked at Chen Youliang and said, "As for General Chen, I'm afraid you'll have to make do for a while. When you were choosing your navy, did Liao Yong'an say anything to you?"

Chen Youliang nodded and said, "Commander Liao told me that after the inland battles are over, the navy will be of no use. His Highness intends to convert these inland naval forces into a navy for conquering the coast. Commander Liao also revealed to me that His Highness intends to conquer Japan, Annam, and other places. Is this true?"

“We do have that plan.” Lu Jin nodded. “However, whether or not to attack Japan, and when to attack, is another matter. We definitely need to take Annam. However, Annam is separated from Guangxi by towering mountains, so it is not easy to attack by land. The transportation of supplies is also quite inconvenient. The best way is of course to take the sea route and strike the enemy’s lair directly.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Youliang immediately nodded in agreement. Zhang Bixian, on the other hand, asked, "The Yuan court has also launched several campaigns against Annam, but has not gained any advantage. Why does Your Highness insist on attacking that malarial land?"

Lu Jin immediately said, "Yan and Yun have been separated from our Central Plains dynasty for more than four hundred years since that brat Shi Jingtang ceded them to the Northern Barbarians. We must launch a northern expedition to take Yan and Yun back, right?"

All three nodded. Their various rebel armies had started up, and their slogans were either anti-Yuan or northern expedition, but their main goal was the same: if they didn't drive the Yuan invaders out of Yan and Yun, then what kind of anti-Yuan or northern expedition would they be?

Lu Jin immediately countered, “Annam is the same. Since the First Emperor unified the world and sent Zhao Tuo to attack the Baiyue in the south, the Han Dynasty established Jiaozhi Prefecture there, and the Tang Dynasty established Jinghai Army there. Annam has been part of China’s territory for over a thousand years. It was only during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period that it broke away from China’s rule, and it has been more than four hundred years since then.”

"The weak Song Dynasty was incompetent, and it failed to recover either Yanyun or Annam. Once we drive out the Tartars and inherit the Chinese legal system, we should naturally recover the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties. Since we were able to recover Yanyun, how can Annam be an exception? This is a matter of righteousness!"
"Now that we've discussed righteousness, let's talk about benefits. Annam has fertile land and a warm climate, where rice can be harvested three times a year. If we harvest it, the grain output alone will be comparable to that of the Jiangnan region. Moreover, due to its unique climate, Annam can also grow some crops that the court urgently needs but that cannot be grown in the Central Plains. These are all advantages of Annam."

"There is another crucial point: Guangdong and Guangxi in Lingnan lack coal mines, and even half of the southern region lacks coal mines. Without coal mines, Guangdong and Guangxi will find it difficult to become prosperous and strong in the future. However, Annam happens to have the coal that Guangdong and Guangxi urgently need. There is a Hongji Coal Mine there with astonishing reserves, amounting to billions of tons, and it is high-quality anthracite, enough to supply Guangdong and Guangxi for hundreds of years. Based on this alone, we must take back Annam no matter the cost!"

The three of them frowned upon hearing this. They understood that Annam rice could be harvested three times a year and had a high yield, but they didn't understand what crops that couldn't be grown in the Central Plains were, or what coal had to do with whether Guangdong and Guangxi could become prosperous.

However, although they couldn't understand it, they didn't object. They were all military officers and officials, and only when there were battles could military officers have a chance to use their skills. Opposing the expansion of the border was something that civil officials did. They would not let go of these opportunities to make merit.

Zhang Bixian nodded and asked again, "What about Japan? What is Your Highness's reason for wanting to attack Japan?"

"There are many reasons. In terms of righteousness, Japan has rebellious intentions, and its ruler has even overstepped his bounds by calling himself Emperor. Do you know where the title of Emperor comes from?" Lu Jin asked rhetorically.

All three shook their heads. Lu Jin explained, "This is the title of Emperor Wen of Sui, the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty. He and Empress Dugu were jointly called Emperor and Empress. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Japan had close diplomatic relations with the Southern Dynasties and learned a lot from China."

"After the founding of the Sui Dynasty, the first time Japan sent an envoy to pay tribute, the letter began with 'The Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun addresses the Emperor of the Land of the Setting Sun,' treating the Chinese emperor as inferior. If Emperor Yang of Sui had not been preparing to conquer Goguryeo at that time, Japan would have been attacked."

The three men exchanged bewildered glances upon hearing this, and Chen Youliang exclaimed in surprise, "How can the Japanese be so arrogant and conceited?"

"Otherwise, why do you think Japan and China have fought so many wars? The Tang Dynasty even fought the Battle of Baekgang with Japan. The Tang army won and subdued Japan, making it a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. Moreover, the Tang Dynasty has repeatedly sent envoys to China to learn various cultural and technological skills over the centuries."

"When China's national strength declined during the Song Dynasty, Japan became arrogant again. The Yuan Dynasty launched two expeditions against them, but the Japanese army was completely annihilated and returned in defeat. They then paid even less attention to China. If we do not teach them a lesson, they will become a scourge sooner or later."

"Barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue. Unlike the Tang Dynasty, which completely subdued them, they will not behave. Furthermore, the fact that Japan is not connected to China by land has fostered a mentality of relying on foreign powers for support. They can send pirates to frequently harass the Chinese coast, and China cannot punish them. This makes them even more emboldened. Therefore, to conquer Japan, a navy is indispensable. General Chen will lead the navy in the future, and there will be no shortage of battles to fight." However, after listening to Lu Jin's words, Chen Youliang felt something was amiss. The Yuan Dynasty's two campaigns against Japan ended in complete defeat and annihilation. Why send me there? Isn't that sending me to my death?
So he tentatively asked, "But Your Highness also said that Japan relies on the ocean for its own strength and has the vast ocean as a shield. The Yuan Dynasty's two expeditions against Japan ended in complete defeat and annihilation. It seems that Japan is not easy to defeat. We should consider this carefully."

"Hahahaha." Lu Jin burst into laughter upon hearing this. "General Chen, you don't think I'm going to send you to your death, do you?"

Chen Youliang quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "Your subject dares not, I have absolutely no such intention."

Lu Jin waved his hand and said, "Come with me."

He led the three to a map of Northeast Asia and then explained, "The Yuan Dynasty suffered two major defeats in its two campaigns against Japan, simply because they were bad at fighting."

"The Yuan Dynasty can't fight?" Zhang Bixian thought to himself. "You're probably the only one who dares to say that the Yuan Dynasty can't fight. If the Yuan Dynasty can't fight, then how were the Jin and Song Dynasties destroyed?"

"Yes, they just don't know how to fight. How can a general be a general if he doesn't know anything about astronomy, geography, or climate?"

Lu Jin pointed to the map and said, "The Yuan army's two expeditions to Japan were not actually defeated by the Japanese army, but by the weather. Every year from June to September, there are many hurricanes in the sea in eastern Kyushu. The wind blows from the sea to the coast and can cause tsunamis that can flood villages. The wind is so strong that it can destroy houses and uproot trees. Even trees as thick as a person's waist can be uprooted by typhoons."

"Both of the Yuan army's two eastern expeditions were launched during the typhoon season. The sea was filled with fierce winds and torrential rains, which would capsize even the best ships. The Yuan army crossed the sea to launch expeditions, yet they did not choose favorable weather. How could they not be defeated?"

Chen Youliang then realized, "So that's how it is. Therefore, if you want to conquer Japan, it is best to choose winter and spring, from October to May. Before the strong winds arrive in June, you must bring your ships back to port to avoid the storm."

“That’s right, exactly.” Lu Jin nodded and said.

"In addition, the Yuan army made several major mistakes in its eastern expedition to Japan. Since ancient times, military expeditions have always been based on the right time, place, and people. The Yuan army chose to launch the expeditions during the typhoon season twice, which was not in accordance with the right time."

"The Yuan army was eager to attack the island, so they ordered Goryeo to build ships. As a result, they were all crudely made, and they were all flat-bottomed sand boats. I heard that you are of Tanka origin and are good at naval warfare. You should know the difference between flat-bottomed sand boats and sea ships."

Chen Youliang immediately nodded; he did indeed understand this.

Lu Jin continued, "It's one thing to lack ships, but the supply of provisions is also inadequate. Without a stable rear, the army will have nowhere to rest once it sets out, and we don't even know the climate in Japan. Therefore, these two factors combined mean we are at a disadvantage in terms of terrain."

"Finally, there is the issue of human resources. When the Yuan army launched its eastern expedition against Japan, it used a coalition of Mongol, Goryeo, and surrendered Southern Song troops. They did not understand each other's languages ​​and were not united. The two armies were supposed to march out together, but one of them failed to arrive on time, leaving the other to fight alone. This is why there was no human resources."

"Without any of the advantages of timing, location, or popular support, it's no wonder they lost! If we were to fight Japan, would we be as foolish as the Yuan Dynasty? We would certainly make thorough preparations. You must know that once the army moves, it costs tens of thousands of gold coins every day. How could I possibly send you to your deaths?"

Chen Youliang then said awkwardly, "I had no such intention. I was just a little worried because I heard that the Yuan Dynasty had suffered complete defeats in its two eastern expeditions. Since Your Highness is so confident and prepared, I have nothing to worry about. Whenever Your Highness wants to launch an eastern expedition, just appoint my generals!"

Lu Jin was satisfied upon hearing this and said, "You'll have your chance to prove yourself. But as I just said, we don't even have many proper seagoing vessels right now. It will probably take quite a while to gather enough ships to cross the sea."

"When you came, you should have seen that ship outside the city, right?"

Chen Youliang immediately nodded, "I saw it."

“That’s a ship built for the navy, but there’s only one right now.” Lu Jin pointed to a model ship on the table next to him. The three of them looked over and realized that there was another small ship that was so exquisitely made. It was exactly the same ship that they had seen outside the city.

“The navy only has this one ship right now, and it can’t be used by the navy for the time being. If you really feel like you have nothing to do, I can give you two jobs: either stay in Jiankang and supervise the construction of naval ships in the shipyard in the future, or go to sea with this ship next year to learn how to use this kind of ship. Which one do you choose?” Lu Jin asked him immediately.

Upon hearing this, Chen Youliang pondered for a moment, then instead of answering directly, asked, "May I ask Your Highness, this ship has a very strange appearance; how is it different from ordinary seagoing vessels?"

Lu Jin immediately asked, "Have you seen our army's artillery in Wuchang?"

"I have seen it. When Liao Shuai fought against the Miao army, he used more than a hundred cannons to fire at the Miao army at once. The scene was very spectacular. The three of us saw it with our own eyes."

Lu Jin immediately pointed to the cannon muzzle on the ship model and said, "Like the army, the navy ships also use cannons as their main weapons. Each window on this ship is a cannon. The ship in front of you can hold a full 96 heavy cannons, which is comparable to one and a half artillery regiments of the Imperial Guard. In the future, all naval ships will be built in this way."

The three men's eyes widened in surprise. "So many cannons?"

"That's right, and this ship is incredibly fast, at least three times faster than any of the ships you've ever seen. When the wind and current are favorable, it can travel a thousand miles a day. Its operation is also different from that of ordinary ships."

"So, are you going to stay and build the ship, or go out to sea with it?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Youliang asked again, "Although I grew up on a ship, I have never been to sea. If I could go to sea, I would naturally like to see it. But I wonder where Your Highness intends to take me on this one ship?"

Lu Jin smiled and said, "It's not that far, only about 100,000 li. I can be back in a year at most."

The three of them froze in place upon hearing this.

(End of this chapter)