Baidu otaku as Chongzhen

Chapter 385 Whimsical Plan

"Zhenjiang Fort..."

After Yang Reform asked about the situation of the cannon, he turned around in front of the sand table and carefully observed the terrain of Zhenjiang Fort.

"Is the Dachong River to the east of Zhenjiang Fort still sailable now? I mean, can warships go in?" Yang Reform asked after looking at the terrain for a long time.

"Returning to Your Majesty, there will still be a small flood in September and October on the Da Chong River, and boats can sail on it. After these two months, the flood season will go to March and April next year... The Da Chong River is still a big river, even if there is no During the flood season, the water surface is wider, and there is no problem with a slightly larger warship..." Sun Chengzong replied, he has made countless simulations of Zhenjiang Fort these days, and he remembers these things very clearly.

"Oh, that's good, I'm going to send warships in..." Yang Reform said.

"Your Majesty, Mao Wenlong also has a navy..." Sun Chengzong reminded.

"The navy at Mao Wenlong? No, his navy is probably not equipped with a few cannons, and it is useless to go in. It is useless except for transporting things and people. I sent people to recruit a lot of barbarians in the south. I'm afraid there will be news recently about the warships of the Yiren. The Yi people's warships have a large number of artillery pieces and they are accurate. If they sail into Zhenjiang Fort during the flood season, relying on the sharpness of the artillery, it may help Mao Wenlong a lot. ..." Yang Reform thought for a long time before expressing his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, do you mean to send barbarian warships in?" Sun Chengzong looked at it in surprise and asked. The emperor's idea was really new, and Sun Chengzong obviously felt that there were many things wrong.

"Yes, I plan to send the barbarians' warships up, but I don't know if the ships can go up..." Yang Reform said, although he said so, but he was really guilty, not sure if Da Chongjiang could sail warships, especially for foreigners battleship.

Sun Chengzong immediately came to the side of the sand table, inspected it carefully, and said after a while, "Return to your majesty, the Zhenjiang Fort is next to the Dachong River, not far downstream to join the Yalu River, and not far away is the estuary. It may be difficult to take a big ship. But smaller warships should be fine, especially flat-bottomed sand boats, you can definitely go, but you have to go with barbarian warships...the barbarian warships have sharp bottoms, which are suitable for sea battles, inland rivers, It may not be possible, this..., I really can't guarantee it..." Sun Chengzong thought for a while and replied.

Yang Reform also said it with the mentality of giving it a try, saying: "Oh, that is to say, it is better to use a flat-bottomed sand ship? Can't you use a barbarian warship?" Yang Reform asked a little regretfully.

Sun Chengzong thought for a while, and said: "Return to your majesty, this Zhenjiang Fort is close to the mouth of the sea, and the water is not bad. What I can guarantee is to walk on flat-bottomed sand boats, preferably centipede boats and warships. Centipede boats have several paddles. In this kind of waters Walking is very easy, but the battleship of the barbarians, this, really..." Sun Chengzong really "suppressed" the emperor's whimsical idea, it was a bit whimsical, and Sun Chengzong didn't dare to give it to him for a while. A surefire statement.

"Oh..." Yang Reform felt a little regretful, and said again: "What about the flood season? So I asked the flood season, if it is the flood season, can we take advantage of the high water level in the flood season and try it?" Yang Reform asked reluctantly.

Sun Chengzong wondered at the sand table for a long time before saying: "Your Majesty, this... I really can't guarantee it, but if it is the flood season and the water is high, maybe the barbarians' warships can be pulled to Zhenjiang Fort. Back off, isn't the battleship going to stay there?"

"Well, this is a question. Didn't Master Sun just say that the flood season lasts nine or twelve months? What I mean is that it would be a good thing if there are barbarian warships to support Mao Wenlong during these two months..." Yang Reform said .

"This..., Your Majesty, I really dare not say this, but I think that the large warships of the Yi people may not work, but the Yi people also have smaller warships, so it should be possible..., Your Majesty, this depends on the river during the flood season." How much water is there, if it can support the barbarians' warships, even if they are pulled by people, they can be pulled to Zhenjiang Fort... However, if they can't support them, they can only send some smaller warships, or It’s no problem to use my centipede boat or flat-bottomed boat, but there are fewer cannons...” Sun Chengzong was not sure that the emperor’s whimsical idea would work, so he could only use centipede boats and sand boats.

"Oh, that is to say, the warships of the Yi people entered the Dachong River and arrived at Zhenjiang Fort, depending on the flood situation at that time? Maybe it will work, maybe it won't work? Small warships will definitely work, but big ships may not?" Yang Reform summed it up and said.

"Returning to Your Majesty, yes, the barbarian warships depend on the flood situation. I suggest that your majesty use smaller warships, which are more reliable, and larger ships are afraid..." Sun Chengzong repeatedly reminded that the river is no better than the sea, and the big ships that go to the sea are more reliable. Can't walk in the river.

"Oh, I understand. What I mean is that the barbarian warships have a lot of artillery. If they can sail to Zhenjiang Fort, they can effectively support Mao Wenlong. Of course, if it is not a big ship, small warships are also fine..." Yang Reform said with a smile.

After hearing what the emperor said, Sun Chengzong was obviously relieved. If the emperor insisted on taking the big warship on the Da Chong River, it would be troublesome...

To be honest, despite being an imperial party, the imperial party was still shocked by the emperor's words. When did the emperor send people to the south to recruit barbarian warships?This issue……?The emperors were inexplicably surprised when they heard the dialogue between the emperor and Sun Chengzong.

Sun Chengzong knew about this, except for Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi, the other imperial parties didn't know about it. Now that they heard the emperor mentioning this, they all widened their eyes and looked at it with expressions of disbelief. with the emperor.

"Your Majesty, is this serious? May I ask Your Majesty, who did His Majesty send to recruit? Is there a certain number?" Liu Yanyuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, was the most dumbfounded. He didn't know anything about this kind of thing. He was inevitably a little jealous, so he asked Condition.

"Li Zhizao, Shangshu of the Ministry of War in Nanjing,... Li Zhizao probably knows everyone, hehe, he is very familiar with the barbarians. It may have been several months before he was asked to recruit barbarian warships..., this matter..." Yang Reform raised his head and swept the imperial parties around the sand table. Seeing the imperial parties' eyes widened, they looked at him in disbelief, knowing that what he said was beyond their expectations.So, he explained with a smile: "Hehe..., do you find it unexpected? Hehe, this matter is a long story, and it was not prepared for Mao Wenlong at the beginning, hehe, do you still remember the matter of the Ryukyu ambassador? At the beginning, I promised the Ryukyu envoys to restore the country for them and drive away the Wa country. I didn’t have any battleships at hand, so there was a matter of recruiting barbarian warships. Master Xu and Master Sun all knew about this matter..., but now , I think it would be a good choice to use the barbarian warship to help Mao Wenlong, but unfortunately, that warship may not be able to go up, hehe, what a pity..." Yang Reform explained with a smile.

Several imperial parties were even more stunned. Sure enough, it is not unreasonable for Sun and Xu to be called masters. Both of them participated in this kind of thing. It seems that the status of these two in the emperor's mind is very high. Yes, the emperor didn't know how many secrets there were for the two of them to participate, and several imperial parties couldn't help casting envious glances at Sun Chengzong.

In fact, Yang Reform also talked about superficial matters. He recruited barbarian warships. He also wanted to fight Japan at the beginning and save Ryukyu. The training of the new navy was to prepare for the North Korean landing at the end of October, but now, Mao Wenlong suddenly went crazy and attracted the attention of the wild boar skin in Zhenjiang Fort. Mao Wenlong allocated more resources to the past. As the saying goes, the plan cannot keep up with the changes. It is true, but it is a pity that the water in Zhenjiang Fort is not suitable for large ships. Otherwise, a dozen large ships will really go up. , Hundreds of cannons fired at the same time, and the wild boar skin had nothing but to cry.

Sun Chengzong calmly accepted the attention of the audience, and said: "Your Majesty..., this matter may have been going on for several months. If I remember correctly, it should be in May..."

"Hehe, it's been a long time, it's been several months, and there will be news soon..., just in time, this time Mao Wenlong fought Donglu in Zhenjiang Fort, let them take advantage of the flood season in September and October , appearing suddenly when necessary, to surprise Mao Wenlong, to surprise Donglu... Of course, it depends on whether the river can support the barbarian warship, if not, then we can only board a small warship , It’s just that the power is a bit weak..." Yang Reform said with a smile.

Several imperial parties were drooling with envy. They knew more or less about the warships of the barbarians. The emperor was building large-scale ships a while ago. The emperor consulted, otherwise, the imperial party that does not have a common language with the emperor is obviously unqualified. Therefore, he is not unfamiliar with warships, and he has some understanding of the warships of the Yi people. Warships are much more powerful, and the larger ones have more than forty or fifty Frangler cannons. If five or six ships can be hired, that is to say, there are more than two hundred Frangler cannons. Going to help Mao Wenlong defend the city, this Mao Wenlong is really lucky, just happened to meet the Emperor Unknown Prophet who got these barbarian warships..., that luck, I really can't say..., but there is also a regret, that is this The boat may not be able to go to Zhenjiang Fort.

Under the envious eyes of the imperial party, Yang Reform pointed to the east of Zhenjiang Fort with a stick, and said: "The east of Zhenjiang Fort is close to the Dachong River. If a passage can be blocked by warships, then the road to Zhenjiang In this way, I will not be afraid that Mao Wenlong will be trapped to death..." Yang Reform said a little proudly, although his original plan was broken by Mao Wenlong, but if Mao Wenlong can put the wild boar Skin is involved in Zhenjiang Fort, which consumes more strength, so it is not impossible to change the plan by yourself.

The imperialists are envious, if those warships can really go to Zhenjiang Fort, there will be almost no suspense in defending the city!Even the big ships may not be able to go up, even if some small warships go up, it will be a huge boost. If it is really impossible to defend the city, they can retreat.

"Your Majesty, if the barbarian warships can really go to Zhenjiang Fort, then Mao Wenlong can be said to be [-]% sure of defending Zhenjiang Fort. However, I am afraid that this will probably not work. Even if they can go, I estimate that they will be some small warships." , but even if only a few small warships can be boarded, it will be of great help to Mao Wenlong. Furthermore... the timing of the appearance of the warships must be carefully selected. It cannot be too early or too late. When it is just right, it is best to give Donglu a head-on blow as soon as he appears, and completely destroy Donglu's confidence in one fell swoop, then this battle can be settled..." Sun Chengzong reminded.

"Well, it makes sense. I think so too. If you go early, Donglu must be scared away when he sees so many cannons. If you go late, Mao Wenlong's losses are too great, or the city is lost. It’s only mid-September now, and there should be news about the Yiren fleet in the next few days. How to arrange it, I have to think about it..." Yang Reform looked thoughtful. appearance.

"Your Majesty, I think that in addition to the barbarian warships, it is better to send me to go to my own navy warships. If the barbarian warships are not enough, I will make up for them. But fortunately, the small boat can reach Zhenjiang Fort calmly, or transport troops, or transport supplies, or transfer the wounded out, so Zhenjiang Fort has a steady stream of reinforcements, Donglu wants to wear Zhenjiang Fort, I am afraid it is wishful thinking... "Sun Chengzong said lightly.

Several imperial parties were envious when they heard it. If a fleet really sailed into Zhenjiang Fort, suppressed Donglu with artillery, and then transported a steady stream of supplies and soldiers up, I don’t know what Donglu would do when he saw these scenes. What kind of expression is on, it will definitely be very exciting.

"Well, it makes sense..." Yang Reform nodded after listening. Using Westerners to train his new navy is an established goal. Although Mao Wenlong disrupted his rhythm, he can still mix and match, and he can still let himself Although the plan of using Western warships to fight wild boar skins may be a fantasy, it is the same with Ming Dynasty warships, but the deterrent effect is smaller and cannot form an overwhelming deterrent.

"... Tsk tsk, Your Majesty, I don't know how many barbarian warships Mr. Li can hire. If there are five or six ships, there are almost two to three hundred cannons. The east of Zhenjiang Fort is on the Dachong River. Attacking the city from the south, a cannon shot passed by, and the Donghu probably lost the courage to attack the city. Your Majesty, this is really God's help... With these warships, I don't have to worry about the Tartars not retreating..." Ministry of War Shangshu Liu Yanyuan was so envious, he was eager to try, and the thoughts that had sunk before floated up again. If it wasn't for the emperor's previous "warning", he might have proposed to the emperor to guard Zhenjiang Fort by himself at this time. What he envied was The Western warship hired by the emperor thought of the power of the cannons of the Western battleship. As for whether he could drive it, he would not go anyway, that is, he had a dry addiction.

"Hehe, there should be five or six ships, and there should be two or three hundred cannons. Once this fleet appears, I am afraid that the Tartars will retreat, but the key is whether these warships can go up..." Yang Reform laughed He explained that he was also thankful for Mao Wenlong's choice of battlefield. Mao Wenlong didn't choose an inland city. In addition, there is no good way, it will really be a bloody battle, and there is no certainty of victory, at most it will be a tragic victory, or an early reprint of the Dalinghe battle in the future, maybe it is not the ancestors. Dashou was forced to surrender, but Mao Wenlong died unyielding, and now he chose a city near the river. Even if he couldn't send large ships, he could also send small ones. For wild boar skins without a navy, that was enough. "Technology" to suppress the barbarians, this is the established strategy of Yang Reform.

"Your Majesty... I think that we should send someone who has both ability and political integrity and experience in commanding a navy to command this fleet..." Liu Yanyuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, suggested.

"This? It's not in a hurry. I haven't figured out how to do this. These warships haven't arrived in Tianjin yet. When we get to Tianjin, we'll know the exact number. Then we will form a new battleship with our warships." The fleet, when we arrive at the Yalu River, let’s talk about it. If you can get on it, it’s best, if you can’t, you’ll get on a small battleship... Let’s talk about it at that time. The timing of the attack is very critical. This is not yet mature. I have to think about it again. Let me think about it again. ..." Yang Reform thought for a while and said, this matter is of great importance, and it cannot be decided hastily. The Battle of Zhenjiang Fort made Wild Boar Pi no hope of victory. Therefore, the timing of the battleship's arrival is very important. This has to be cautious. If you go early, and scare Wild Boar Pi away early, you will not be able to consume your strength. As a result, Mao Wenlong suffered a big loss if he went late, and it was not worthwhile.

"Hehe, please keep the matter of the barbarian fleet a secret. Don't mention this matter to anyone, so as not to let the wind leak... I have to think about this matter again." Yang Reform smiled and thought for a while, There is no good plan yet, so I told everyone to keep it secret.

"The minister obeys the order..." The imperial party replied in unison.

"That's all about the Yiren battleship. As for the dispatch of troops, I think Mao Wenlong is the commander of Dongjiang Town. He still has a lot of guards in Phi Island. There must be some arrangements. For the time being, we will still focus on supporting supplies. In addition to grenades, we have to support some Flang machine cannons. This time, I am afraid that Donglu will transport some cannons to attack the city. Big companion, pass an order to Sun Yuanhua, and take some thousand jin Flang machines from him to Zhenjiang Fort... ..., the artillery used to suppress the Donglu... It is best to transport it as soon as possible, before the Donglu brigade arrives... Although Mao Wenlong has some artillery, I am afraid that it will not be able to suppress the Donglu's artillery..." Yang Reform After thinking about it, I ordered.

"The servant obeys the order..." Wang Chengen agreed.

"Master Sun, please select a group of elites from the new army and make preparations to support Mao Wenlong. After the selection, they will be transported to Phi Island by large ship. Phi Island is close to Zhenjiang Fort. If you need support, you can also Timely deployment..." Yang Reform said again.

"I obey the order..." Sun Chengzong agreed.

"In addition, the Ministry of War needs to do a good job in the statistics of the military exploits and pensions. Send people over as soon as possible to complete the statistics and identification. Only then can I issue rewards, pensions, and burn buried silver. This time, I want to hurry up, don't wait until the war is over to do this, I want to fight the war, count at the same time, pay the rewards, and deal with the aftermath, I want to see whether it is the Eastern Captives who have more heads, or my money More..." Yang Reform ordered again.

"The minister leads the decree..." Liu Yanyuan, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, agreed loudly.

"Household Department..., Household Department..., Household Department..." Yang Reform was puzzled for a long time, not knowing what job to assign to the Household Department. This Household Department is a cheating department. If you can’t get it, you can’t ask him to give a reward now, or ask him to pay money and food. It’s really cheating. If Bi Ziyan is not in charge, Yang Reform might not even stay here to discuss matters with the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Bi Ziyan looked at the emperor in embarrassment. The emperor's "household department" did not say anything for a long time. When he thought that his household department had no money and could not share the emperor's worries, Bi Ziyan felt embarrassed.

"The household department must do its job well, and collect the land taxes that have been increased this year as soon as possible. Nowadays, many places need money, and now Zhenjiang Fort is going to fight again, and money is tight..." Yang reformed the household department for a long time, but did not say anything. Why, so, let's talk about the things that are thousands of miles away from Zhenjiang Fort this time.

"Minister Zunzhi..." Bi Ziyan was very embarrassed, and replied with his head bowed, ashamed to see the emperor.

The expenses of Dongjiang Town are all from internal funds. In this war, the reinforcement materials are also money from internal funds. Most of the money and materials do not need to go to the Ministry of Finance. The role of the Ministry of Finance in this war is almost No.

(End of this chapter)