The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 348: False Text to Confuse the Enemy
On the ninth day of the second month of the twentieth year of the Wanli reign, the imperial examination of the Renchen year was held on time.

Early in the morning at around 3:00 am, before daybreak, the large square in front of the Imperial Examination Hall was already lit up.

Wanli even ordered people to make a bunch of super-large palace lanterns. When they were lit, they were like torches, much brighter than torches.

Dozens of such lights were lit around the large square in front of the Imperial Examination Hall, making it as bright as day.

At this time, the candidates for the imperial examination had not arrived yet, but the soldiers of the Beijing camp had already begun to gather in the square.

Tens of thousands of soldiers in the Shenshu front camp gathered like flowing water and soon formed neat square formations.

The officers and generals who led the troops gathered together, drew lots, and the square formations quickly turned into long dragons and entered the tribute hall.

Soon after, the Imperial Examination Hall began to brighten. Countless palace lanterns and oil lamps were lit one after another, and the entire Imperial Examination Hall was as bright as day.

At this moment, the people around were awakened.

Is it daybreak?

Why is there such a bright light?
Why is it so bright over there in the Imperial Examination Hall?
Countless people who had gotten up early were running around in the streets and alleys to tell each other, and more and more people were running around the Imperial Examination Hall to watch the excitement.

Those candidates who got up early to grab a seat were stunned. They were still holding lanterns, but who knew that the lanterns were useless at all. The area in front of the Imperial Examination Hall was as bright as daytime.

This time the examination will be extremely lively. After the candidates enter, the square in front of the examination hall will be filled with soldiers from the Beijing camp. No matter day or night, every three hours or so, there will be bursts of orders in the square in front of the examination hall.

Every time, there were tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of square formations, arranged in neat rows, which was extremely spectacular. The people watching the excitement around were enjoying themselves very much.

Wanli seemed to be very concerned about this imperial examination, but in fact, he didn't care at all!
These were all arranged in advance, so he didn't have to worry about it at all.

Every day in the palace he discussed with Qi Jiguang how to destroy Japan.

The imperial examination was almost over, but he didn't even go to take a look.

As soon as the North Grand Canal thawed, he issued a secret order, ordering all generals to prepare their troops and get ready to start the battle.

That afternoon, at about 5 p.m., as it was getting dark, Yu Zigao and Li Yuansheng boarded a naval warship and quietly arrived at the imperial city.

They were not just the two of them. Qin Liangyu, Ma Qiancheng, Deng Zilong, Peng Xingu and others also came with them.

Wanli and Qi Jiguang had already been waiting for them in a side hall where maps were displayed.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli asked impatiently, "How is it, Yuansheng, how much money did you bring back this time?"

Li Yuansheng said excitedly: "Your Majesty, most of what the Spanish brought this time is gold.

Nanyang is rich in gold and the price of gold there is cheap. According to their gold-silver price ratio, it is about ten to one, and according to our calculation, it is fourteen to one.

They paid us an extra five or six million taels, and adding to the money paid by other merchants in Southeast Asia, the gold and silver I brought back this time is worth about thirty million taels."

That’s great! I finally have money and can recruit troops on a large scale.

Wanli then asked, "Liangyu, how many Sichuan troops have been recruited?"

Qin Liangyu said without hesitation: "Your Majesty, including the original troops, we have gathered 200,000 troops."

That’s not enough. You are the main force in fighting against the Japanese pirates and the Jiannu.

Wanli shook his head repeatedly and said, "Not enough, not enough, far from enough."

Isn’t that enough?

Upon hearing this, Qin Liangyu couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Your Majesty, how much is enough?"

I have money now, so naturally the more troops I have, the better.

Overseas trade brings in at least 30 million taels of profit a year. This money cannot be kept for reproduction; it must be spent and circulated. Only then will the Ming Dynasty gradually enter an era of prosperity.

The foundation of a prosperous era is military force. Only when the military force is strong enough can a truly peaceful and prosperous era be created.

As for what to do after recruiting so many troops, it is actually very simple, that is expansion, let the soldiers expand the territory, and then grant it to the soldiers.

Now the troops under his command are far from enough, let alone destroying Japan, they are not enough to wipe out the Tatars, the Oirat and the Jiannu.

With at least 30 million taels of profit a year from overseas trade, it would certainly not be a problem to support a million-strong army.

How to expand this million-strong army depends on needs.

What he needed most now was a strong mountain warfare force. To conquer Japan and defeat the Jiannu, both relied on strong mountain warfare forces. Wanli thought carefully and then asked, "Liangyu, do you think that if we gather the local chieftains of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, we can mobilize 500,000 troops?"

what?
Five hundred thousand troops!
It seems that the source of troops is available, but the question is, how to manage 500,000 troops?
Qin Liangyu was stunned for a moment, then said carefully: "Your Majesty, I cannot manage so many troops, let alone thousands of chariots.

It was already difficult for him to manage 50,000 troops, and now he is unable to manage even 100,000 troops.

If the Sichuan Army expands to 500,000, then Yang Yinglong will probably be the only one left to manage. His brothers are all good generals."

Are you kidding me? Let Yang Yinglong be in charge of hundreds of thousands of troops!

Wanli thought about it carefully, and then said decisively: "Yang Yinglong, the deputy general, is in charge of 100,000 troops. It doesn't matter if you don't have enough generals. I will assign you a general from the Beijing camp.

Let’s put it this way. I will equip you with five deputy generals and ten lieutenant generals. Each deputy general will be in charge of 100,000 troops, and each lieutenant general will be in charge of 50,000 troops.

"Let Yang Yinglong manage the 100,000 Bozhou troops himself and assign them his own lieutenant generals. Qiancheng, your deputy general, counts as one, Minping counts as one, and Yuan Jing will assign the rest for you."

That's not a big problem.

She definitely cannot manage 500,000 troops alone, but she can manage five deputy generals without any problem.

It would be a bit difficult for one deputy general to manage 100,000 troops, but with two lieutenant generals, it would not be a big problem.

Qin Liangyu nodded repeatedly upon hearing this and said, "Okay, Your Majesty, I will mobilize 500,000 troops for you."

There is also the issue of equipment. It is easy to manufacture cold weapons for 500,000 troops, but there cannot be too few muskets, as the Japanese pirates also have muskets.

Wanli thought about it carefully, then said decisively: "Yuan Jing, you and Wang Guozhang are responsible for the weapons and equipment here in Liangyu. The Shizhu Tusi soldiers should be equipped with more muskets, and the other Tusi soldiers should be equipped with cold weapons."

Qi Jiguang nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli thought about it carefully, then asked, "Yunqing, are there enough naval officers and soldiers now?"

Deng Zilong nodded slightly and explained, "Your Majesty, it's enough for now. However, the Longjiangzhou Treasure Shipyard is still continuously producing Fuchuan and Centipede ships of 1,000 and 2,000 tonnes. Every year, at least 100,000 naval officers and soldiers are recruited to operate the newly built ships."

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Okay, I will recruit another 100,000 naval officers and soldiers this year."

Three hundred thousand plus one hundred thousand only makes four hundred thousand, which seems like a lot of money.

Wanli thought about it carefully again, then said decisively: "Yuan Jing, pass on my order. The border troops of Gansu, Ningxia, Guyuan, Yansui, and Pianguan have suffered heavy losses in the battle with the Tumed tribe. They need reinforcements. Each border town must have 100,000 troops."

This is just a cover. They had already driven away the Tumed tribe, and they were just building a city fortress over there.

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang bowed repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Now the military strength should be almost enough, at least enough to destroy Japan in one battle.

Wanli thought about it carefully and then said, "Liangyu, you will take the navy's express ship back tomorrow and quickly recruit troops. At the same time, you must also prepare for the expedition. In March, you will have Yang Yinglong lead 100,000 troops on the navy's express ship to Liaodong.

In April, you let Qian Cheng lead 100,000 troops on the navy's express ship to rush here, and in May and June, there will be another 100,000 troops. The Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan Commandery only needs to leave 100,000 troops to guard the place.

In June, you will come with us, and I will let Minping lead 100,000 troops to garrison the Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces."

Upon hearing this, Qin Liangyu bowed repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli then gave detailed instructions: "Yunqing, you must mobilize 3,000 naval centipede ships to go to Bashu to fetch Sichuan soldiers, and do one trip a month.

Remember, these centipede boats will go directly down the Yangtze River and out to sea, then row along the coast to the Liao River entrance, take the Liao River waterway, and pull them to Dingliao Zhongwei. From there, they will enter the mountains and take Dingliao Youwei, rushing to Zhendong Fort to station and wait for orders."

Deng Zilong bowed repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Next, we have to find out some news from Japan.

Wanli thought for a moment and then gave detailed instructions: "Yuansheng, quickly send the goods to Japan and investigate thoroughly there to find out how many troops and ships they have assembled and when they will attack.

Now the Zhejiang Party has discovered something is wrong. When you come back this time, don't try to extort their goods. If you meet their people in Japan, don't pay any attention to them. Just think of it as getting rid of them and working on your own.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuansheng bowed repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Toyotomi Hideyoshi thought that the Ming court was busy with the imperial examinations and palace examinations and had no time to deal with them.

Little did he know that Wanli had already begun mobilizing troops to fight him!

(End of this chapter)