Fu Shanhe

Chapter 559 On the Edge of the Cliff
"My lord, in the short term, the situation in Myanmar will remain stable."

Given the future military campaign against the Mughal Empire, logistical support must keep pace, and local road construction will be a key focus of planning.

To alleviate transportation pressures, the government is considering relocating some of its military-industrial industries to Myanmar, transforming it into a forward operating base.

Wang Jingchuan replied with a serious expression.

There is a lot of overlap in power among the various departments of the Annam Protectorate, and the planning of the Ministry of Political Affairs often requires the cooperation of multiple departments.

Given that overlapping powers could lead to buck-passing and affect the efficiency of governance.

Li Mu once considered clearly defining the functions of each department, but later found that this was even more unreliable.

Strategic planning requires a holistic approach, as different departments have different interests and different starting points for considering issues.

In order to better govern the local areas, the government affairs department that initially assisted him, while still nominally a department, had actually become the overall coordinator.

The reason it was not upgraded to an administrative status is mainly due to the need for checks and balances of power.

Once the Minister of State rises above all other ministries, the Ministry of State's power becomes too great, essentially making the Minister of State a replica of the Prime Minister.

Such a thing must not be allowed to happen.

If it weren't for political implications, Li Mu would have been prepared to reorganize the Ministry of Government Affairs into a cabinet.

The current Ministry of State Affairs, although not officially a cabinet, is actually doing the work of one.

"The Mughal Empire has too many people. If we were to swallow it whole, we would suffer from indigestion."

Besides retaliating for their interference in our war with the Burmese, the more important reason for waging war against the Mughal Empire was to nip potential risks in the bud.

As the only ancient empire in the world with a population comparable to ours, its development potential is unmatched by any other country.

The reason it's performing so poorly now is mainly due to the caste system and the suppression by extremist religions.

Once a powerful figure emerges and breaks these constraints, a great empire will rise instantly.

The use of force against the subcontinent must be treated as a long-term project.

Not only should they be dismantled and broken up, but their living space should also be compressed.

It is right to build Myanmar into a forward base for the war, but that's not all.

With the development of technology, the military's demand for logistics will continue to grow.

You should work with the Ministry of Transport to plan a double-track railway from Yong An Province to Myanmar, as a major transportation artery in the future.

The construction of this road should be given higher priority than other infrastructure projects.

The necessary laborers should be obtained directly from the military. If the Kingdom of Burma can't provide enough, then they should be captured from the Mughal Empire.

Li Mu gave the order expressionlessly.

The seemingly casual word "grab" foreshadowed the birth of a history of blood and tears.

However, the colonial era was inherently filled with bloodshed.

The Mughal Empire, having gone astray, would not only fail to contribute to the Annam Protectorate, but would also be ravaged by European colonists.

Compared to those colonizers, the Annam Protectorate was at least somewhat ethical.

"My lord, even with a sufficient number of laborers, the construction cost of the railway remains high."

Unless the technology is further improved, we probably won't be able to afford this double-track railway!

Wang Jingchuan couldn't help but remind him.

Only after taking charge of a household did I realize how expensive firewood, rice, oil, and salt are.

Due to the limitations of the era, the price of iron remained consistently high during feudal dynasties.

If you trade with indigenous tribes, an iron pot can be exchanged for ivory of equal weight, plus some furs.

Even after the Annam Protectorate started industrial production, the price of high-quality iron was still five times that of rice.

What's worse is that iron is prone to rusting, so later railways used high-manganese steel.

Li Mu had only heard of this thing by name; he wasn't a metallurgist and had no idea what the composition of high-manganese steel was.

Even if we manage to develop it, we probably won't be able to afford it.

Currently, steel production accounts for less than 15 percent of the total steel output.

Scarcity drives up prices; with such low production capacity, prices naturally can't be low.

The main expenditures were on guns and cannons and shipbuilding, and the supply was basically insufficient to meet the demand.

There's basically no hope of increasing steel production in the short term.

"It's expensive, but consider it payment for technological innovation."

Sufficient space should be left on both sides of the railway to lay the foundation for future maintenance and upkeep.

It is estimated that once this railway is completed, the domestic steel industry will also be boosted.

When large-scale production is achieved, steel costs will be reduced, and the construction cost of the next railway will also decrease.

It's estimated that by then, the technology of steam locomotives will have matured, and operating costs will decrease accordingly.

The cost advantages of railway transportation will gradually become apparent in time.

Li Mu nodded and said.

The cost of technological progress always has to be paid for by someone.

As a technological pioneer, the Annam Protectorate enjoyed the benefits, but also bore the corresponding costs.

Fortunately, the Mughal Empire was able to foot the bill for this investment; otherwise, Li Mu would not have dared to build it so easily.

Throughout Chinese history, few emperors who embarked on massive infrastructure projects during their reigns have had a good reputation.

The main reason is that the investment is too large, which not only puts a heavy burden on the treasury, but also increases the burden on the people.

The constant conscription of laborers was simply unbearable for the people.

Li Mu was lucky, as he happened to live during the colonial era.

As long as the troops under your command are strong enough, you will have a continuous supply of labor that you can freely mobilize.

……

Nanjing City.

News came from the north that the northern barbarians had breached the capital and the defending general, Marquis of Fuyang, had died defending it.

The border troops stationed in the capital suffered heavy losses, and the remnants have retreated to Shandong to join the local Beijing garrison.

The situation in the north has deteriorated further, it's a foregone conclusion. Let's discuss how to handle the aftermath.

Wan Huaijin said, feigning composure.

Although he had a bad feeling from the beginning of the northern invasion, he always felt that Beijing could not be defended.

For both military and economic reasons, the Governor-General's Office also proposed abandoning Beijing and shrinking the defense line to the Huai River line.

However, as the capital of the Great Yu Dynasty, Beijing held immense political significance.

Even though the imperial court is currently in Nanjing, it is only a temporary "Southern Capital," and the governors and viceroys from various regions are urging them to return to the capital every day.

The imperial court replied that the capital had been severely damaged in the war and was currently under repair; it would be returned to the capital once the project was completed.

This political positioning determined that the Great Yu court could not abandon the capital.

Even knowing that the exhausted north was powerless to stop the northern barbarians from advancing south, they could only grit their teeth and hold on.

At one point, there were even plans to build a new defensive line near the capital to keep the enemy out of Beizhili.

Theoretically, it made sense, but the required funding was too high, so we had to give up.

The main problem was that other areas in the north fell into the hands of the rebels, and the imperial court only controlled a part of Beizhili.

Due to the continuous wars, there were deserted villages everywhere.

Aside from its political value, its economic value is virtually zero.

The cabinet, prevailing over reason, adopted a compromise, focusing on building up the Jianghuai defense line, but not abandoning Beizhili.

This approach reduces political risk, but it also disperses resources.

The imperial court's main resources were basically poured into the defense line along the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, leaving the capital to the border troops.

While seemingly showing sufficient trust and giving them important positions, this was actually a way to weaken the border troops in disguise. After the war, the population of Beizhili was sparse, making it extremely difficult to replenish qualified soldiers.

Both the number of soldiers and the necessary funds and provisions could only be allocated by the imperial court.

As a result, many of the new recruits were simply filling in the ranks without real ability.

The imperial court did not allow returns, so the border generals could only accept the goods with tears in their eyes.

While they might verbally proclaim the emperor's boundless grace, no one knows what they truly think.

The capital fell so quickly, partly due to the fierce offensive of the northern barbarians, but more so because the border troops and the court were becoming increasingly alienated.

The fact that the battle reports showed heavy losses but lacked specific casualty figures is the best evidence of this.

Knowing full well that the border troops were preserving their strength and that they needed manpower now, they could only pretend to be confused and not lift the lid on this matter.

"Immediately activate the Jianghuai defense line and order reinforcements from all regions to rush to the Xuzhou front line as soon as possible."

As for the border troops who retreated to Shandong, let them harass the northern barbarians advancing southward from the flanks, cooperating with the government troops along the Xuzhou line to defeat the enemy.

Shi Qingchen presented his solution with a blank expression.

He is very dissatisfied with the current situation.

Unfortunately, the cabinet lacked prestige, and not only did the military outwardly comply while inwardly resisting, but the local authorities also gave perfunctory responses.

No matter what kind of government order it is, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced when it is implemented at the local level.

So much so that even though they did a lot of good work, the results were contrary to expectations.

The government had hoped to enrich the country and strengthen its military, but unexpectedly, the court's fiscal revenue declined instead of increasing, and the army's combat effectiveness also continued to decline.

In the past, the border troops would have held a stronghold like Beijing, and the northern barbarians would have had no chance!
Even if we had just sent our troops out to fight the enemy in open field, the results would have been better than what we are seeing now.

"Lord Shi, the border army's combat strength is no longer at its peak."

Expecting them to take the initiative is pure fantasy; it would be better to concentrate them all on the Jianghuai defense line.

The garrison troops along the Xuzhou line were actually quite weak in combat.

The last time we were able to defeat the Liaodong rebels in Xuzhou was because the Marquis of Hanshui was in charge of the overall situation, which boosted the morale of the troops.

If it were any other general, it would be a miracle if they could accomplish even half of that.

The reinforcements sent by various provinces are slow on their way and cannot be relied upon in the short term.

The best option is to withdraw the battle lines and focus on defending strategic locations to prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control.

He Zheng immediately objected.

With the situation deteriorating to this point, the Great Yu court could not afford to lose.

Besides the border troubles in the north, internal strife was also a major reason for the demise of this ancient empire.

A few days ago, the Shanxi rebels marched south and joined forces with the Central Plains rebels, instantly increasing the military pressure on the Xiangyang front.

While attacking Xiangyang, the enemy also launched a separate offensive.

From Chongqing to Hanzhong, and then to Xiangyang, Wuchang and other places, all were engulfed in the flames of war.

Even the rebels entrenched in Tibet returned to Sichuan.

The rebel army that entered the northwest from the Western Regions also set its sights on the Shu region, and war was imminent.

War raged everywhere, and the situation that had just improved for the Great Yu Dynasty was plunged into trouble once again.

"Lord He, you should know that once Shandong is abandoned, the imperial court will lose the entire north."

Throughout Chinese history, no regime has ever managed to retake the entire north after losing it.

After taking this step, we will all be sinners in history.

When His Majesty assumes personal rule in the future, there will inevitably be those who will use this matter to their advantage.

"I'm afraid that by then, even escaping unscathed will be difficult for everyone!"

Shi Qingchen replied with a solemn expression.

Politics is complex, and strategic planning requires consideration of many factors.

Even when you know there are problems with the plan, you can only bite the bullet and go ahead with it.

The people of the world can accept defeat and abandoning the north, but they cannot accept the court's voluntary abandonment of the north.

For specific examples, one can refer to the treatment of officials who advocated abandoning their land during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.

He served as a renowned minister for over a century, yet he has now been overthrown and labeled a treacherous minister by the people.

Even Emperor Xuanzong, who was once praised to the skies, was seen as a mediocre ruler lacking foresight.

With past lessons already laid bare, what they are now abandoning is not some remote, impoverished area, but the vital northern lands.

It's likely that they won't even need to wait until after their deaths to have their cases overturned; their ancestral graves will be dug up while they're still alive.

"Hey!"

"Some things, even if you know they are impossible, you still have to do them."

Unless you can persuade the Marquis of Hanshui to abandon the war in the south and rush to the aid of the north again, the subsequent major battles are in jeopardy.

As you may have noticed, this southward invasion by the Northern barbarians is different from previous ones.

In addition to allowing their troops to plunder, they also continuously appointed local officials, clearly intending to establish their rule in the area.

Having decided to enter the pass and contend for the world, they would not limit themselves to simply grabbing a small amount and leaving.

If nothing unexpected happens, they will most likely temporarily ally with the rebels and seize all the prefectures north of the Yangtze River.

He Zhengze's words silenced the entire hall.

These are real-world problems that everyone has heard about.

Choosing to turn a blind eye is mainly because no solution can be found.

The Nanjing court also made a significant investment in strengthening its military.

The officers were selected from the border troops, and the soldiers were also carefully selected from good families. The weapons, equipment, and logistical support were also top-notch.

Having met all the conditions for the birth of a strong military, it was defeated by a rebel force when it came to actual combat exercises.

The government and the public are searching for the reasons for the failure, but so far there is no reason that can convince all parties.

"We can forget about the Marquis of Hanshui."

The previous supervisory group case caused a great uproar in the court and among the people. Even the Marquis of Hanshui was furious with those scoundrel censors!

The missing official has now been found, but the imperial court has yet to give him an explanation.

With nowhere to vent their anger, if we were to send him north now, even if we were at ease, could the civil and military officials in the court be at ease?

Even if the Marquis of Hanshui considers the bigger picture and remains silent on this issue, can his subordinates tolerate it?
"If we make even the slightest commotion, it might really lead to usurping the throne!"

Wan Huaijin said with a troubled expression.

Those who most want to support Li Mu to the throne are not his subordinates who fought in the north and south in the Annam Protectorate, but his old subordinates who developed within the Dayu court.

Unlike civil officials, who could continue to serve even after a change of dynasty.

These noble generals were all targeted for purging once the dynasty changed.

The best way to break the deadlock is to promote one of our own people to the top.

In the past, I was able to restrain myself because of the constraints imposed by my father's clan.

These older generations witnessed the glory of the Great Yu Empire and have a deep affection for the country.

The Liaodong rebels carried out a large-scale massacre in the capital, wiping out the very foundation that had maintained the rule of the Great Yu Dynasty, and the younger generation took over the reins.

From the moment they entered officialdom, they witnessed all sorts of absurdities in the bureaucracy, accumulating a bellyful of resentment.

As the situation continued to deteriorate, these people's loyalty to the imperial court also involuntarily decreased.

The reason why the front lines are suffering setbacks is not because the government troops are incapable of fighting, but because these people are unwilling to risk their lives for political struggle.

Everyone is busy preserving their strength; whoever prioritizes the overall situation will be the first to die.

The Marquis of Fuyang, who died in battle, was forced to become part of the rearguard because he chose to defend Beijing to the death for the sake of the overall situation.

(End of this chapter)