The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 485 Is the Minister of Works Okay?

In April, the capital city is already covered with lush grass and singing birds, but the ice and snow in Nurgandusi in the northern border area are just beginning to melt.

Wanli was still in the Mountain Resort, discussing with Yongnian Earl Wang Wei how to build steam engines and ironclad warships, when Qi Jiguang's urgent report, sent over 800 miles, had arrived.

This year they are going to wipe out the Jiannu. Qi Jiguang means that in order to minimize casualties, they must attack before the ice and snow melt.

Otherwise, once the ice and snow melted, the Jiannu could start building defensive facilities.

This does make sense.

They are the attacking party. The more defensive facilities the enemy builds, the more difficult the attack will be and the greater the casualties will be.

It is better to attack earlier. It will just be a little colder. It should not be too cold in Nurgandusi now. It will definitely not freeze people to death. Attacking later will cost the lives of many soldiers.

There is no time to lose, the sooner you strike the better.

After receiving the report, Wanli immediately gave instructions to Yongnian Earl Wang Wei, and then took the second son Zhu Changxu and imperial concubine Qin Lan to Daning Guard to meet up with the cavalry of Shenwu Camp stationed there, and then went straight to Nurgandusi.

Daningwei is actually not very far from Nurgandusi. If you go north along the right bank of the Laoha River to the intersection of the Xilamulun River and the Xiliao River, and then follow the south bank of the Xiliao River to the left bank of the Liao River, the whole journey is less than a thousand miles.

However, Wanli still had to go to Liaodong Town to pick up Zhang Yuande, and they had never taken the route up the river, so he chose to follow the original route through Yizhou Wei, then cross the Liao River from the north of Dingliao Zhongwei, and then go north through Tieling Kaiyuan to arrive at the military camp of Nurgandusi.

This is a bit of a long way around.

It took them five or six days to reach the Liaohe Wharf northwest of Kaiyuan.

The ice and snow in Liaodong Town had already melted by now, but the area north of Kaiyuan was still covered in white, and the road was invisible.

Fortunately, Qi Jiguang had already ordered the Shenjiying to start transporting food and grass, so they only had to run north along the path created by the Shenjiying's food carts.

Two days later, around 5 p.m., as the sun set, the huge phalanx of chariots from the Shenshu Camp finally came into view. Qi Jiguang had already ordered his men to open a huge gap in the south, and he himself led a group of officers to stand by the gap and wait.

At this time, the hair and beard of this Ming Dynasty God of War were as white as the snow around him. Although his body was still standing straight, his face revealed a trace of fatigue that could not be concealed.

Seeing this, Wanli quickly rode forward and raised his hand, saying, "Yuan Jing, please don't be polite. It's really cold outside. Hurry up and mount your horse. Let's go to the tent and talk."

Although the ice and snow in Nurgandusi have begun to melt, the temperature is still hovering around zero degrees. It may be a few degrees during the day and may drop below zero at night.

In addition, the wind is strong here, and it is really cold when the whistling cold wind blows.

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang immediately ordered his personal guards to bring the war horses and follow Wanli and his family straight to the big tent in the middle.

At this moment, white smoke was coming out of the chimneys of the large tent in the middle, and the coal stove inside should be lit.

Upon seeing this, Wanli went straight to the big tent where the map was placed, asked everyone to dismount, and then walked quickly into the tent.

It was extremely cold to ride a horse in the snow and ice. He felt that his face was about to be frozen.

Fortunately, the big tent was already warm and hot, and the palace lanterns around were all lit, making it bright inside.

He took off his heavy gloves and rubbed his face vigorously. With the help of Imperial Noble Consort Qin Lan, he took off his thick sheepskin coat. He then let out a long sigh and said kindly, "Xiao Lan, quickly ask the imperial chef to prepare dinner. I will talk to Yuan Jing first."

After saying that, he called Qi Jiguang and Zhang Yuande to the big table in the middle and habitually looked at the map on the table.

On the table right now is the map of Nurgan Regional Command. Qi Jiguang seems to have drawn a lot of lines and made a lot of annotations on it.

It's obvious that the old coach has been thinking about this all winter.

He glanced at Qi Jiguang's aged face and asked with concern, "Yuan Jing, it's very cold here in winter, can you handle it?"

Why did you ask this after looking at the map?

Qi Jiguang was stunned for a moment, then said carefully: "Your Majesty, it is really cold here in winter. Even if you wear thick clothes, you will feel frozen after staying outside the tent for less than half an hour.

However, it was okay in the tent, very warm. As long as I stayed inside and didn't go out, I wouldn't feel cold.

As for my health, it is fine. I am not even seventy yet. When Zhifu was nearly seventy, he was still leading troops to quell rebellions. I am still able to lead troops in battle."

In history, you would have died long ago.

However, that's because you were made impoverished by the three great families of Puzhou and had no money to see a doctor.

You don’t have to worry about the medical expenses now. I’m just worried that your body can’t take it.

Wanli sighed inwardly, then nodded slightly and said, "I'm glad you can still hold on. So, how do you plan to suppress the main force of the Jiannu?"

I have been thinking about this for almost half a year.

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang pointed to the map and explained in detail, "Your Majesty, I have already sent scouts to explore the north of Changbai Mountain.

There are no traces of human beings to the northwest of Changbai Mountain. This section of the south bank of the Songhua River is still mountainous. It is very dangerous for scouts to go in. The enemy can hide in the dark and shoot arrows from behind, but they won't be able to detect anything. I have not ordered scouts to go in and investigate.

I guess that the Jiannu are deliberately avoiding us, and their main force should be in the northeast of Changbai Mountain.

This distance is a bit far. In order to avoid an ambush in the mountains in the middle, our army has to build a pontoon bridge and bypass the open area on the north bank of the Songhua River. This detour is at least a thousand miles.

I think we should act without delay. We cannot wait for the navy ships to sail all the way from the mouth of the Heilongjiang River to advance here. That would take at least a month. If we wait for more than a month before advancing, the Jiannu will have no idea how many defensive facilities they have built in the mountains.

I believe that after we have prepared the food and fodder here, we should send the cavalry of the Shenwu Camp as the vanguard to build the pontoon bridge first, while the Shenji Camp will follow with the food and fodder and artillery carts.

Also, the Sichuan Army must quickly start from the south, rush along the west side of Changbai Mountain to the northwest side of Changbai Mountain, and then enter the mountain and push forward to the east."

This route of advance is quite safe.

Nurhaci loved to set ambushes in the mountains and forests. The cavalry of the Shenwu Camp and the soldiers of the Shenji Camp were not allowed to go into the mountains and forests to fight this guy, so they had to let the Sichuan Army soldiers go into the mountains.

Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "How many troops are you planning to mobilize to clear out the enemy?"

We can’t transfer too many people over there yet.

Qi Jiguang explained in detail: "I plan to first dispatch the Shenwu Front Camp, Shenji Front Camp, Shenji Rear Camp and Ma Qiancheng of the Sichuan Army to suppress the rebellion.

As for the follow-up, it depends on whether the navy warships can successfully reach the Songhua River from the mouth of the Heilongjiang River.

If the navy warships don't arrive, we can only mobilize this small number of troops to suppress the rebellion, because the Shenji Camp and the Sichuan Army only have so many food carts and can't carry too much food and grass. Moreover, the round trip distance is too far, and it will take them at least ten days to half a month to transport the food and grass."

The problem of transporting grain and fodder is really troublesome.

The Songhua River is not connected to the Liaohe River system, and the navy warships have to travel more than 10,000 miles around it, which is too far.

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slowly and said, "You are right, there is no time to lose, we must advance quickly.

The transportation of food and fodder is indeed a problem. We must quickly dig the canal, otherwise, if Nurhaci escapes again, we will not be able to pursue him."

Will this guy run again?
Judging from what happened last time, this guy will most likely run away again.

This is not surprising. A commander who truly understands military tactics will never fight the enemy to death when he knows he cannot win.

Qi Jiguang nodded slowly upon hearing this and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Nurhaci is indeed a formidable opponent. He may even try to escape. This canal must be dug quickly."

Then start digging quickly.

Wanli asked directly, "Yuan De, have you decided on the garrison officers for the Nurgan Command?"

This has naturally been prepared long ago.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuande quickly pulled out a manuscript from his bosom, presented it with both hands, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have made a preliminary draft. I hope Your Majesty will make your decision."

What else is there to decide?
This time, the Nurgan Regional Command will transfer more than three million households for garrison. There will be five to six hundred commanders alone, more than three thousand thousand thousand thousand hundred-households, and more than thirty thousand hundred-households. There will be more than one hundred thousand general and small flags!
I probably don't recognize any of the ones you've nominated. If I really want to decide on them one by one, I'll have to understand them one by one, which will take at least several months.

I don't have the time for that.

Wanli took the account book and flipped through it briefly, then stuffed it back and said solemnly, "I won't look at this. I don't have that much time. Anyway, you are responsible for the people you promote. If there are any problems, I will only hold you accountable."

There are so many people, and I don’t know them all.

You hold me fully responsible!

Okay, I will deal with whoever recommends me if there is any problem. I also told my subordinates the same thing.

Zhang Yuande nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand. I will do my best to supervise."

That'll do.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Hurry and have them come over on the navy's express ships to prepare to receive and reorganize the garrison troops. I will issue an order tomorrow, ordering the navy and the express ships of the Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan Provincial Command to cooperate with the Five Military Commandery to bring these garrisons over. We will strive to dig a clear canal this year."

what?
Does this mean that I will be in charge of building the canal?

Zhang Yuande heard this and said carefully, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. How do we dig this canal? I really don't know how."

This canal cannot be dug randomly. If you do so, not only will it not be able to be dug through, but your own people will also be drowned.

you will not?
I can’t do that either!
There are so many things to do in developing the Nurgan Dusi that I actually forgot about this one.

Wanli was stunned for a moment, then said decisively, "Uncle, send someone to deliver my oral instructions 800 miles away, and order the Minister of Works Zeng Tongheng to come to the audience."

It just so happened that he also wanted to let the court officials know that he was busy at the Nurgan Regional Administration and had no time to return to Beijing.

However, he really didn't know the Minister of Works Zeng Tongheng.

This guy seems to have no fame in history.

He just heard from Shen Li that this guy was tough enough, never fawned on others, and even scolded Yang Bo, so he appointed this guy as the Minister of Works.

Is this Minister of Works okay?

Shen Li, please don't make random recommendations to me.

(End of this chapter)