Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 139 Naval Investigation

Dengzhou City, Naval Camp.

Lu Yan rode his horse to the gate of the naval camp, followed by Zhao Changying and a dozen personal guards.

The naval camp was located east of Dengzhou City, right next to the sea. The camp gate was dilapidated, and the four characters "Dengzhou Naval Force" on the lintel had faded and peeled off, making it impossible to see their original color.

"This is the Dengzhou Navy?" Lu Yan frowned.

"Yes," Zhao Changying said. "I have inquired and found that the Dengzhou Navy nominally has fifty warships and three thousand sailors, making it the largest navy in the north."

"In name only?"

"Yes." Zhao Changying lowered his voice, "Actually—I don't know either."

Lu Yan nodded and dismounted.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Two guards stood at the camp gate, their clothes ragged and their spears rusted.

Upon seeing Lu Yan and his group, the two guards quickly stepped forward to stop them.

"Halt! This is the naval camp. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted!"

"A nobody?" Zhao Changying sneered. "Open your dog eyes and take a look. This is Magistrate Lu of Dengzhou!"

The two guards were taken aback and carefully examined Lu Yan.

Lu Yan was dressed in official robes, with an official seal at his waist, exuding an extraordinary air.

"Sir, Magistrate!" The guard's expression changed, and he quickly knelt down. "I was blind and did not recognize your greatness. Please forgive me, Your Excellency!"

"Get up." Lu Yan waved his hand. "Where is your captain?"

"The sergeant is in the camp," the guard said. "I'll go and report right away."

"No need to announce my arrival," Lu Yan said. "I will go in myself."

He stepped into the camp gate.

The naval camp was desolate.

The barracks were dilapidated, with mottled walls and broken roof tiles.

The drill ground was overgrown with weeds, and there was no sign of anyone practicing there.

Several soldiers squatted in the corner, sunbathing, their clothes disheveled and listless.

"This is the Dengzhou Navy?" Lu Yan's face darkened.

"Master," Zhao Changying said in a low voice, "it seems to be worse than I imagined."

Lu Yan didn't say anything and continued walking inside.

As he walked deeper into the barracks, he saw the dock.

More than a dozen warships were moored at the dock, but most of them were dilapidated.

Some ships had rotten hulls, some had broken masts, and some were simply piles of rotten wood.

"These ships—" Lu Yan frowned, "are they usable?"

"Reporting to you, sir," a voice came from behind, "there aren't many usable ones."

Lu Yan turned around and saw a military officer in his forties walking over.

The man was burly with a dark complexion, wearing a tattered military uniform, and had a knife hanging at his waist.

"Who are you?

"This humble general is Wang Tiezhu, a naval officer in Dengzhou." The officer bowed and said, "Greetings, Prefect."

"Commander Wang." Lu Yan nodded. "I've come today to inquire about the navy's situation."

"Please ask, sir."

"The Dengzhou Navy nominally has fifty warships and three thousand sailors," Lu Yan said. "But what is it actually like?"

Wang Tiezhu's expression changed, and he hesitated for a moment.

"My lord—this—"

"Speak your mind," Lu Yan said. "I'm not here to investigate or assign blame; I just want to know the truth."

Wang Tiezhu gritted his teeth and said, "Your Excellency, in reality—there are fifty warships on the roster, but less than twenty are ready to go to sea, and only about ten are capable of fighting. As for the sailors—there are only seven or eight hundred sailors."

"Seven or eight hundred people?" Lu Yan frowned. "What about the remaining two thousand or so people?"

Wang Tiezhu lowered his head, not daring to speak.

"Is it a salary for no one?" Lu Yan sneered.

Wang Tiezhu trembled and knelt down.

"My lord, please understand! I am merely a lowly sergeant; these matters—I cannot make the decisions—"

"I know," Lu Yan said. "It's those officers who are drawing salaries without working, not you. Get up."

Wang Tiezhu stood up, his face full of fear.

"Take me to see those warships," Lu Yan said.

"yes.

On the dock.

Lu Yan walked around the dock, carefully examining the warships.

Of the eighteen warships, only twelve were usable.

Among them were three large warships, five medium-sized warships, and four small fast boats.

"How long has it been since these ships were repaired?" Lu Yan asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency," Wang Tiezhu said, "some ships—haven't been repaired for three or four years."

"Three or four years?" Lu Yan sneered. "No wonder it's rotten to this extent."

He walked up to a large warship and examined it closely.

This ship is a Fujian-style ship, about eight zhang long and two zhang wide. A small cannon is mounted on the bow, but the cannon is rusted and looks like it hasn't been used for a long time.

"Is this cannon usable?"

"Reporting to you, sir," Wang Tiezhu said, "this cannon—is broken."

"broken?"

"Yes," Wang Tiezhu said. "It broke three years ago and has never been repaired."

Lu Yan shook his head and remained silent.

He continued walking forward and came to a group of soldiers.

The soldiers were squatting on the ground; some were mending fishing nets, some were drying fish, and some were simply sleeping.

"Are these people sailors?" Lu Yan asked.

"Yes, sir," Wang Tiezhu said. "But—but usually when there's nothing to do, they just—"

"Just doing side jobs?" Lu Yan sneered.

Wang Tiezhu lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Lu Yan walked up to the group of soldiers and carefully examined them.

Most of these soldiers were pale and thin, and dressed in rags, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition.

"How long has it been since you received your pay?" Lu Yan asked.

The soldiers looked up at Lu Yan, their eyes filled with terror.

"Reporting to you, sir," a soldier said in a trembling voice, "we haven't received our pay for three months."

"Three months?" Lu Yan frowned. "Aren't the imperial court's military salaries paid monthly?"

"Sir," the soldier said, "the military pay is paid monthly, but—but by the time it reaches us, there's not much left."

"Was it deducted?"

The soldier lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Lu Yan sneered inwardly.

These officers are incredibly audacious, drawing salaries without working and withholding military pay.

"Commander Wang," Lu Yan turned to Wang Tiezhu, "among these soldiers, are any from Dongjiang Town?"

Wang Tiezhu was taken aback.

"Dongjiang Town?"

"Yes," Lu Yan said. "I have heard that Dongjiang Town has been plagued by constant warfare in recent years, and many defeated soldiers have ended up in Dengzhou."

"Your Excellency," Wang Tiezhu said, "there are indeed some."

"Take me to see them."

"yes.

Deep inside the barracks, in a dilapidated house.

Lu Yan met several defeated soldiers from Dongjiang Town.

There were about twenty of these people, all of whom had migrated from Dongjiang Town to Dengzhou.

The leader was a man in his thirties named Li Daniu, who was originally a minor official in Dongjiang Town.

"Li Daniu," Lu Yan looked at him, "when did you come from Dongjiang Town?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency," Li Daniu said, "I came here in the third year of the Tianqi reign."

Why did you come to Dengzhou?

"Reporting to you, sir," Li Daniu said, "things in Dongjiang Town are too tough. Supplies and provisions are insufficient, weapons are incomplete, and we still have to fight the Jurchens. I simply couldn't endure it any longer, so—I escaped."

Lu Yan nodded.

Did you know Kong Youde when you were in Dongjiang Town?

Li Daniu's expression changed.

"Kong—Kong Youde?"

"Yes," Lu Yan said. "I've heard that Kong Youde is now a guerrilla commander stationed in Dengzhou. Do you know him?"

Li Daniu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Reporting to you, sir, I know him. I used to be—a subordinate of Commander Kong."

A glint flashed in Lu Yan's eyes.

"Tell me, what kind of person is Kong Youde?"

Li Daniu was silent for a moment, then said, "Guerrilla Commander Kong—is a capable fighter. He fought many battles against the Jurchens in Dongjiang Town and made many contributions. But—"

"But what?"

"But he has a bad temper," Li Daniu said. "He has a terrible relationship with his boss and they argue all the time. And—"

He lowered his voice.

"Moreover, he harbored deep resentment towards the imperial court."

"Complaints?" Lu Yan frowned. "What complaints?"

"Guerrilla Commander Kong felt that the imperial court was being unfair to Dongjiang Town," Li Daniu said. "The rations and pay were insufficient, the weapons were incomplete, and there were no rewards for winning battles. He often said that the imperial court was treating Dongjiang Town like a pawn and that something bad was bound to happen sooner or later."

Lu Yan was secretly surprised upon hearing this.

According to his knowledge of history, Kong Youde should still be in Dongjiang Town. How come he was transferred to Dengzhou so early?

Could it be that my arrival changed something?

He remained calm and continued to ask, "When was Kong Youde transferred to Dengzhou?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency," Li Daniu said, "at the end of last year, I heard that General Mao had a conflict with the imperial court, and the court transferred Commander Kong away as a warning to General Mao."

Lu Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

History has begun to shift.

Kong Youde.

He had seen this name in history books from later generations.

The Dengzhou mutiny during the Tianqi era was launched by Kong Youde.

That mutiny plunged Dengzhou into war, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

Kong Youde is currently in Dengzhou.

Moreover, his resentment towards the imperial court grew stronger day by day.

"Li Daniu," Lu Yan said, "where is Kong Youde currently stationed?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency," Li Daniu said, "Guerrilla Commander Kong is stationed in a military camp north of Dengzhou City, with more than a thousand men under his command."

Lu Yan nodded.

"Alright, I understand. You may leave now."

"Yes."

Li Daniu and the others left.

Lu Yan stood there, silent.

"Master," Zhao Changying walked to his side and said in a low voice, "what are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about Kong Youde," Lu Yan said. "This man is a potential threat."

"Hidden dangers?"

"Yes," Lu Yan said, "His resentment towards the court is growing daily, and he has over a thousand men under his command. If one day he rebels—"

He paused, then didn't continue.

Zhao Changying's expression changed.

"Master, you mean—"