The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 301: Warmongering (Commemorating the 2021 National Memorial Day)

In the first year of the Tianqi reign, Grand Tutor Liu, despite the undercurrent of chaos in Shaanxi, insisted on solving the Japanese problem first.

In his opinion, Shaanxi is a quagmire, not to mention the plague. Sending troops to Sanqin will not be worth the cost in the short term. That place is too poor...

The Kaiyuan Army expanded rapidly, with its strength increasing to 100,000. However, it was short of money and food. The Japanese pirates frequently provoked them in Korea, so attacking Japan was a way out. Fighting to support the war was a good idea.

According to the time traveler's limited historical knowledge (which is actually very unreliable), the shogunate under the second shogun had sufficient silver and food, making it more suitable for him to go on a conquest.

~~~~~~
In October, before the Kaiyuan Expeditionary Force assembled in Busan, food and supplies needed by the Eastern Expeditionary Force had already begun to be shipped to Korea.

At the same time, the two major corps of the Guards marched south along the North Grand Canal to fight against the She Chongming rebels who were wreaking havoc in the southwest.

In Shandong, under the command of Yuan Chonghuan, all grain transport ships were dispatched to restore their transport capacity and assist the troops in transporting military supplies.

As many as hundreds of thousands of shi of grain and fodder entered Dongchang Prefecture along the canal, and then were loaded onto trucks and transported to Weihaiwei Port.

On the official road from Jining and Linqing to Weihaiwei, ox-horse carts transporting grain to the east every day blocked the post road, which was connected for fifty or sixty miles from end to end, and people could not see each other... The whole country was in turmoil, and some scholars at that time compared Ping Liaohou's expedition against Japan with Emperor Yang of Sui's expedition against Goguryeo.

In the first year of the Tianqi reign, Liu Zhaosun, confident that his navy was complete and his soldiers and horses were strong, launched attacks from all directions. His army marched east to Japan, pacified Chengdu in the west, conquered the Grand Canal in the south, and occupied Russia (Cossacks) in the north. He was extremely aggressive.

Later keyboard historians are often surprised at Taizu's reckless use of troops at this time, but they often ignore the fact that Liu Zhaosun's health was deteriorating and his end was approaching, so he overdrew all his war potential and took such a desperate gamble.

~~~~~~
Southwest of Qingzhou Prefecture.

Yuan Chonghuan, surrounded by several guards, followed a group of Henan merchants' carriages and slowly headed east.

This time, the long-distance cross-regional transportation of grain and grass mainly relied on civilian forces. Unlike the Battle of Liaoxi, Liu Zhaosun issued salt permits in the name of the court, giving grain merchants greater profits, and it was in the more prosperous economy within the Great Wall, thus attracting more people to participate.

“People’s support is available.”

Yuan Chonghuan was riding on a horse, looking up at the grain transport team that stretched for dozens of miles in front of him, laughing heartily. Two rows of yellow teeth covered with tartar immediately appeared on his tanned face.

"Yuan Ducha, you've got more than just the people's support. You're actually offering food and drink to welcome the royal army. I heard the Kaiyuan army is punishing the clowns and they're running low on food and fodder. Even the grain merchants from Fujian have come, eager to help overcome this difficult time. Merchants from Henan, Huguang, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and even Shanxi have all come, promising to help Ping Liaohou clean up the mess and bring the throne to Fusang!"

Yuan Chonghuan nodded slightly after hearing this, and turned to his deputy, the civil servant beside him.

"Old Xu, just get to the point. Don't be so pretentious. You're in the military, not writing articles for the Imperial Academy! I've told you so many times, but you just can't change this bad habit!"

The civil servant named Lao Xu was a head taller than Yuan Chonghuan. Upon hearing this, he quickly pulled the reins and bowed his head on horseback, pretending to be listening to the instruction:

"Yuan Ducha's teachings are true. I know I was wrong."

Yuan Chonghuan waved his hand and continued:

"Merchants are profit-driven, so just pay the full price. Those people from Fujian were brought here by Li Dan, not just for the salt permits; they're here to cooperate with us. Tell the shopkeepers to be more polite to the merchants and not scold them for no reason like they usually do! Although these shopkeepers are not Kaiyuan soldiers, they have accepted our money, so they must abide by our rules. Do you understand?"

Xu Zhiyuan was surprised when he heard this, and then he suddenly understood and expressed admiration:

"That's why I say that Yuan Ducha is the most capable minister under the command of Marquis Ping Liao. I admire Marquis Ping Liao's way of employing people the most. It's really brilliant. With Yuan Ducha in charge of the transportation of food and fodder, this eastern expedition will surely..."

Xu Zhiyuan was still shaking his head and talking non-stop, when he suddenly looked up and found that the rear of Yuan Ducha's mount was moving away from him and had already moved forward five or six steps.

"Yuan Ducha, please wait a moment!"

~~~~
A group of light cavalrymen with small flags on their backs accompanied the postmaster to a blocked grain train. The portly one waved the badge in his hand and shouted:

"What are you doing here? Push the broken carriage out of the way!"

"Sir, all my wealth is tied up in this cotton. I'm counting on shipping it to Weihai to exchange for salt permits. If I lose the cotton, I won't be able to survive..."

The postmaster didn't even look at the cotton merchant kneeling on the ground, and ordered several of his soldiers to smash and loot the carriage that had fallen on the side of the road.

A group of grain merchants stood behind and watched coldly.

The cotton merchant hugged the postmaster's calf and begged him not to steal his goods.

"Master Jun, I don't want to carry it anymore. I will go back by myself..."

"You've delayed thousands of grain carts for so long, ruining Ping Liaohou's grand eastern expedition. I should be thankful I didn't charge you with the crime of collaborating with the Japanese and throw you into the sea to feed the turtles! Get out of here!"

The postmaster raised his whip, pointed at the grain merchants watching the excitement, and said angrily:

"What are you looking at?! You can earn one hundred taels of silver from the Marquis of Ping Liao with one cart. I've given you such a big benefit, and you still dare not do your job properly!"

After saying that, he whipped the Henan merchant in front of him.

The whip was suddenly grabbed from behind, and the postmaster flew into a rage.

"What's the matter? Do you dare to rebel? Come on..."

Before he finished speaking, the shopkeepers who were robbing in front of him suddenly stopped, holding the bulging cotton bags, and looked up in horror at the back of the chief officer.

The surroundings became quiet.

A strong Lingnan dialect sounded behind me.

"You bastard! You've ruined everything for me! (You've ruined everything for me!)"

A group of northern merchants in front of me looked around blankly.

A lean Kaiyuan official, surrounded by guards, approached and commanded in a less than standard official language:
"Since you are a soldier and have taken money from the Kaiyuan Army, you must abide by the Kaiyuan Army's laws."

The postmaster immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly:

"Yuan Ducha, please spare my life! Spare my life. I just want the military supplies to arrive sooner..."

Yuan Chonghuan's face was gloomy, and he waved his hand and said:
"They are looting the people and embezzling military supplies. According to the law, they must be executed! Come, chop off these people who are harming the country and the people!"

~~~~~
The waters around Yingzui Port were jammed with large and small Fujian ships. Thousands of merchant ships from Liaodong, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong were loading and unloading goods at the port.

More than a dozen flat-armored warships opened their portholes, revealing their terrifying gun muzzles, and were cruising on the sea five miles away.

Behind the flat-armored ships followed thousands of smaller bird boats and wave-breaking boats, like a large group of ducklings following their mother duck.

All ships, regardless of size, are fully armed and arranged in battle formation. As soon as a merchant ship leaves the port, the fleet will cut through the waves and come forward to escort it.

The local military households in Baichi Cliff skillfully stepped onto the sampan, which was more than ten feet high, and carried bags of food and quilts onto the deck.

Under the command of the captain, the sailors, speaking with accents from both the north and the south, neatly stacked the food and military supplies on the deck into the bottom of the hold.

After Weihaiwei Commander Yang Qilong fled to the south of the Yangtze River, this coastal garrison fell into panic for a time.

Rumor has it that the Kaiyuan army will come to Weihaiwei for revenge, and Ping Liaohou will kill everyone to avenge his wife and daughter.

Then Liu Zhaosun did not start a massacre. He just asked Pei Dahu and Shen Lian to lead the Jinyiwei to capture several garrison officers who participated in the rebellion and take them back to the capital to be beheaded.

The remaining ordinary military households will be forgiven.

In order to transport grain for the Japanese conscription, Liu Zhaosun once again recruited local soldiers and civilians, and offered high rewards. Those who participated in transporting grain received three coins of silver per person per day.

At the Baichiya Guard Station, Chief Xie Yang touched his bald Mediterranean hair, which was on the verge of being completely bald, and looking at the busy crowd on the coast, he couldn't help but sigh:

"Marquis Ping Liao, despite past grudges, gave the Weihaiwei military households a chance to survive. In just two days, he recruited several thousand men. With the assistance of Li Dan and Zheng Zhilong from Fujian, the army will have no worries about food and fodder for this eastern expedition."

Surrounded by a group of officials, Ping Liaohou held up a telescope and looked into the distance.

A large Fujian ship loaded with gunpowder and lead bullets was slowly sailing out of Yingzui Port.

A flat-armored ship, half the size of the Fu ship, followed closely behind at high speed, sailing parallel to the right wing of the Fu ship at a distance of about fifty steps. Command flags were waving on the decks on both sides, and the sailors were discussing what formation to form.

Liu Zhaosun put down his telescope, glanced over Director Xie's bald head, and looked at the people around him:

"This is just the beginning. The battlefield is changing rapidly. We can only be free of worries after all the food and supplies are safely transported to Busan! Shen Lian!"

Shen Lian immediately stepped forward and began to report the latest progress of the Suoyi Guard to Ping Liaohou.

Over the past three months, Shen Lian, Yang Tong, Zhao Yuanzhi, Pei Dahu, and others have recruited eighty-seven members from the active 80,000 combat and auxiliary troops, and selected twenty-three from the original intelligence bureau, forming a new intelligence force of 110. Marquis Ping Liao personally named it the Suoyi Guard.

As for why this name was chosen, Liu Zhaosun was not sure.

Maybe it's because it rains a lot in July and August, so everyone wears straw raincoats every day.

"This month, the Mino Guard killed fifteen Japanese spies in Lushun and Jinzhou and captured one hundred and twenty. Most of the fifteen Japanese pirates who died starved to death after landing... They were short and weak, with almost no weapons, and posed little threat. Ninjas are far inferior to the Bayara of the Later Jin Dynasty..."

"What ninja? Just a bunch of stupid people from Kaga and Iga."

Liu Zhaosun didn't have a good impression of Japan in his previous life.

Putting aside various historical issues, these residents who call themselves the "Land of the Rising Sun" are polite and respectful on the surface, and they bow to each other as if they wish they could break their waists when they meet.

In fact, they focus on small details and lack great virtues.

They bow properly and are sincere, but they still have to do bad things, and every time they do something, it is a heinous crime that crosses the bottom line of humanity.

"Marquis Ping Liao, how should we deal with the Japanese pirate captives?"

Liu Zhaosun collected his thoughts and said to Shen Lian:
"Send them all to Zhaoyuan and let them spend the rest of their lives mining."

"General Qiao, how's things going with Li Zong?"

Qiao Yiqi walked out of the crowd, bowed and said:
"Marquis Pingliao, the Joseon King Yi Jong has agreed to send thirty turtle ships to assist in transporting troops, but they have no food, and they don't have carriages to transport it. They also said that after entering Joseon, everything will be up to the Ming army themselves."

There was a burst of laughter all around.

Liu Zhaosun's expression changed slightly, and he shook his head repeatedly:
"Thirty ships? How would that be enough? This Eastern Expedition will require 20,000 combat troops, 40,000 auxiliary troops, and countless civilians. If they weren't short on warships, why would they ask North Korea for help?"

Liu Zhaosun was very dissatisfied with the King of Korea, whom he had helped to ascend to the throne. If it were not for Jin Yuji's sake, he would have wanted Wu Aheng to land directly in Busan and get food and grass on the spot several times.

"General Qiao, I'll have to trouble you to go to Seoul in person and negotiate with Yi Jong. Ten thousand musket soldiers, two hundred turtle ships, five thousand Korean horses, and one hundred thousand pounds of gunpowder are required within two months. Tell the King of Korea that I am half-relative to him. This time, the Korean soldiers will accompany the Kaiyuan Army on the Eastern Expedition. Don't try to be sneaky and cunning like they did during the Wanli Aid to Korea and the Sarhu Campaign! When I arrive in Fuso and kill Tokugawa, I will not treat Korea unfairly. Then I will give all of Tsushima Island and the surrounding islands to Korea. Haven't they always wanted that precious land?"

Qiao Yiqi opened his mouth wide and remained speechless for a long time.

Now they haven't even touched Tsushima Island, but they're already promising post-war rewards.

Ping Liaohou is becoming more and more skilled at making big promises.

Ma Shiying echoed beside him:
"Marquis Ping Liao is a master of strategy, and I admire him."

Liu Zhaosun glanced at him and was about to ask the executive director how the play was going when Pei Dahu suddenly came forward and whispered:
"Lord Liu, the Madam has come to Shandong."

Liu Zhaosun was slightly stunned:
"Which lady?"

"They are all here, and they brought Zhang Yan with them."

……

~~~~~
The two ladies took Zhang Yan with them and left the capital, heading straight for Wendeng County.

When Ping Liaohou learned about it, the three stunning beauties had already arrived in Weihaiwei in a carriage, and were only half a day's journey away from Wendeng.

After Liu Zhaosun arranged other military affairs, he was not in the mood to correct "Wang Hai", so he hurried back to the county government office with Wu Xiao and several guards.

The August heat was still lingering, and the weather was still rather hot. After all the hard work, everyone was drenched in sweat.

Ping Liaohou then remembered that he had been busy and had not taken a bath for several days. He did not want Jin Yuji, Yang Qing'er and others to see his appearance in this state.

So I decided to take Wu Xiao and the others out to soak in the hot springs.

Wendeng is rich in geothermal resources. Even someone as indifferent to worldly affairs as Liu Zhaosun knows that there is a small spring every three miles and a large spring every five miles in Wendeng. The spring water is of excellent quality and is a must-have for health experts.

As soon as I sat down at the county government office, I heard the guard report that a merchant from Fujian brought a Mr. Qian to ask for a meeting.

Liu Zhaosun was anxious to see Jin Yuji, and wanted the guards to say they were busy with official business. But then he remembered that Li Dan was powerful and must be taken seriously, so he quickly let someone in and asked Ma Shiying to come over as well.

A rather shrewd tea merchant from Fujian came over and knelt down to salute when he saw Ping Liaohou. Liu Zhaosun hurriedly helped him up.

"I am the special envoy of Mr. Li, and I am Zhao Pu, a countryman from the southeast."

Countryside Zhao Pu is not wild at all.

After a few words, Liu Zhaosun found that this person's speech and behavior were quite appropriate.

Just as he was about to talk about the war against Japan, he accidentally caught a glimpse of a handsome and heroic middle-aged man following behind him.

Zhao Pu quickly introduced:
"This is Qian Muzhai of the Zuochunfang. We are old friends. He was a Jinshi in the 37th year of the Wanli reign and served as the chief examiner of the Zhejiang Provincial Examination. He is currently the Zhongyun of the Youchunfang and is currently compiling the 'Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong'. He is also the Marquis of Ping Liao. Muzhai not only passed the imperial examination, but his poetry and prose are also excellent. He is known as the 'leader of the poetry world'. I heard that the Marquis of Ping Liao has a masterpiece..."

Ma Shiying coughed twice beside him, and the tea merchant immediately stopped talking.

Liu Zhaosun smiled slightly. This subordinate of Li Dan was indeed smart. He did not mention the matter of attacking Japan when they met, but came forward to give him such a big gift.

You will be more relaxed when discussing business later.

He called Ma Shiying in a low voice and after asking him some questions, he confirmed that the Qian Muzhai in front of him was the famous Qian Qianyi in history.

Qian Qianyi stepped forward and saluted:
"I've long heard that Master Liu is an extraordinary person. Seeing him today is even better than hearing about him! It's a pity that I'm just an amateur. I've spent my whole life studying classics and working on documents, but I can't emulate Ban Dingyuan and throw down my pen..."

Liu Zhaosun, hearing the tone of his words, probably guessed Qian Qianyi's purpose for coming to Wendeng, and said with a smile:
"Qian Zhongyun is extremely talented, but it's a pity for him to be a mere sixth-rank official. I will submit a memorial to the Emperor and recommend you to come to Shandong to seek a real position."

Qian Qianyi was immediately moved to tears of gratitude. Liu Zhaosun helped him up and said with a smile:
"Qian Zhongyun, I value talents for my country. Right now, the Ming Dynasty is in need of talents like you."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. Seeing Yang Qing'er approaching, Liu Zhaosun said with a stiff upper lip:
"Manager Zhao, Qian Zhongyun, you two have come all the way from the capital, and you must be exhausted from the journey. Why don't you come with me to soak in the hot springs and chat about some interesting things about Japan?"

After passing the imperial examination, Qian Qianyi waited two years in Jiangnan before arriving in the capital two years ago and securing a sixth-rank position as Zuo Chunfang Zhongyun, a position in the Qingshui government. Witnessing the Kaiyuan army's efforts to support the emperor and quell the rebellion, he decided to follow the Marquis of Ping Liao and join a wise ruler, earning the title of "follower the emperor."

On his way to Wendeng, he happened to meet his friend Zhao Pu from Fujian. After a conversation, the two hit it off and decided to become partners (to make use of each other).

I didn't expect to encounter such a thing just after meeting the wise leader!

The rumor that Ping Liaohou was not interested in women was known to the world (in fact, it was just a rumor)

So when he heard that they were going to take a hot spring bath together, the first thing Mr. Qian thought of was that Liu Zhaosun had a relationship with Long Yang.

It should be noted that this habit was quite normal among the Jiangnan scholars of the same period.

In his "Self-written Epitaph", Zhang Dai of the late Ming Dynasty said, "I like fine houses, beautiful maids, and catamites..."

Could it be that Marquis Ping Liao also has improper thoughts about me?

If not, how can we be sincere to each other as soon as we meet?

Although Qian Qianyi was keen on fame and fortune, he also knew propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame, and was far from selling out the integrity of a scholar for the sake of fame and fortune!
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he remained silent for a long time. Finally, he straightened his clothes and slowly spoke:

"Thank you for your kindness, Marquis Ping Liao, but..."

"It's just that the water is too hot to go in."

The tea in Liu Zhaosun's mouth spurted out, and he tried hard not to laugh out loud.

It seems that Qian Qianyi will never be able to get along with water in his life.

It's either too cold or too hot.

Whatever!

I just don’t know where Liu Rushi is now?
"Well, I'll ask Mr. Qian to help me correct the manuscript. It would be best if I could write a preface for General Anyuan..."

At that moment, Ping Liaohou left Qian Qianyi behind and took Wu Xiao, the shopkeeper Zhao and others out of the county government office and headed towards Wendeng Lishan Hot Springs.

On the way, Ma Shiying recited the Han Chinese poem "Hot Spring Fu" to liven up the atmosphere. The text goes like this:
"Looking at the treasures of the Central Region, none has the spirit of this water. ... The Emperor nurtures his subjects and nourishes their essence. When the six qi are in disorder, there are diseases to be cured. The hot springs are here to flow the years, to remove harshness, and to maintain moderation. O Emperor, benevolent! He protects lives!
(End of this chapter)