Chapter 189: Jiang Jiao sent the soldiers, and Gonggong Li explored the truth

The acting king, who was very politically far-sighted, was relaxed after confessing to Zhang Zhimu. Because he has long seen that the days of the Ming Dynasty are numbered. If the Ming Dynasty was seized by Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others, these princes of theirs would die without a place to be buried. This time he bet on the Yaogang people, which was actually a gamble. But this kind of gambling is a decision made by a politician who weighs all the pros and cons, unlike a gambler. They know that they are only qualified to block when they still have chips in their hands, and when they lose, they are empty-handed, and they don't even have the qualifications to go to the table.

Zhang Zhimu, Chen Yufeng, and Ouyang He didn't feel surprised by what they said to the acting king, and their psychology was more down-to-earth.

Chen Yufeng said to Zhang Zhimu: "From now on, Mr. Ouyang and I will start preparing for the westward expedition with all our might. ”

"I think when Mr. Lu comes back from Baotou, a few of us will also touch together. Without Mr. Lu, the God of Wealth, we can't do anything. Hehe! ”

The three of them laughed for a while, and Ouyang He said: "I saw Mr. Lu arrive at the Hetao, looking at the vast land there, his eyes are similar to looking at silver. Now he is planning with the people sent by Mr. Lu. Mr. Lu's heart is much bigger than that of Mr. Chen and me. We didn't see his final plan, but I did know that the canal he planned to build was already dozens of miles long. And that's not all. ”

"Lao Lu knows the truth that there is as much land as there are canals to build, this person is greedy." Chen Yufeng also said with a smile.

After Dai Wang and Jiang Jian visited the kiln for a few days, they invited Zhang Zhimu and Ouyang He from the kiln to go over together.

Zhang Zhimu knew that the prince and Jiang Ji would not go back empty-handed, and they had to talk about something substantive before leaving.

In order to show that this conversation was more formal, the acting king and Jiang Jian deliberately chose the venue of the meeting in the small conference room of the hotel.

As soon as everyone sat down in the conference room, the atmosphere was not so relaxed, because the environment was not a relaxed environment.

Zhang Zhimu joked: "Haha! It seems that the prince wants to give us a little seriousness today. ”

"No, no, we've been here for days. I also want to have a good chat with everyone in Yaogang. I think your little meeting room is good, and we have to use it once we come. Wang Ye explained.

Jiang Pai took over and said: "Zhang Dongjia, you don't know, since the prince arrived in Yaogang, the whole person has changed, we all say that the prince is now like a kiln gang person." Because he has long put down the majesty of the prince being the prince at the same time. It will be very kind to meet everyone. It took me a long time to get used to it. ”

"O you! I don't know how to follow the customs. The prince said, "Look at what the whole kiln is like?" If we go out with a shelf and engage in those pomp, it will make the kiln people think that they are monsters. ”

"I think it's because the prince is adaptable." Ouyang He also complimented.

It's much better to talk about the laughter.

"For many days, we saw new things and things every day in the kiln, and all this was far beyond my imagination. If I were to say thank you today, I would feel out of sight. I still say the same thing, if the people of Yaogang need this king in the future, please speak. The prince said.

"The acting king is gracious. When we went out to fight the Mongols, if it weren't for the support of the prince and Jiang Zongbing, how could we have so much confidence. It can't be so smooth. Because of your support, we have no worries. It should be us who say thank you. Besides, Lord Wang, you can come to the kiln gang is an affirmation of our kiln people. You can tell from the popularity of the people everywhere you go. So we want to thank you for coming to the kiln. Zhang Zhimu's words were sincere and decent.

"I should support you. As soldiers with the responsibility to defend the territory, you have done what should have been done by us, and if we don't support you, then we can't say it. Jiang Ji said.

"However, since we are all friends, there is one thing I am not happy with to talk about." The prince quickly turned to the topic, "Your railway is really good." But why did you turn to kill Hukou when you cultivated to Shanyin, and didn't go to the Great Fellow Cultivators? Could it be that our Datong position in the hearts of the people of Yaogang is not as good as a small killing mouth? ”

Zhang Zhimu had already prepared how to deal with such a question, "Lord Wang, please listen to me." You also know that we now have tens of thousands of people outside the pass, but these people are obviously not enough relative to the threat of the Mongols. We can't have too many troops there, so we have to build the railroad there as soon as possible, so that we can support by railroad at any time if something happens. As for the railway to Datong, we have planned it for a long time. This year, our railway will be repaired to kill Hukou, and next year our railway will be repaired to Baotou. After that, we can build the railway to Datong. ”

"Isn't that another few years to wait?" Jiang Zhi quit, "Zhang Dongjia, you must know that our Datong is the top priority of the entire northern defense line." If the railway between Datong and Yaogang is connected, Datong is really made of iron. ”

"General Jiang Bing, in fact, our consolidation of Baotou and Dongshengzhou has greatly reduced the pressure on Datong. We have to keep the foot we reach out of the gate safe. Ouyang He said.

"Yes, yes! You're right. I wonder if there is a way to ensure that the railway to kill Hukou can be built, and the railway to Datong can also be built. "The king wants to see if there is a way to do both, because what the kiln people say is also the truth.

"We understand what the king means, and I think it can be so. We also have some people building a railroad from the kiln to the cement plant, and a lot of road construction will be done by the fall. Their side is finished, and our plan is to build a railway to Hequ, so that we can divide some people to build a railway to Datong. If we don't have enough people, we can recruit some more workers. Zhang Zhimu felt that since the acting king was so motivated, it was better to push the boat down the river and go to Datong Railway to repair.

"Zhang Dongjia, in fact, you can find the workers' affairs in Yanbei, you can build the railway, and let those farmers work on the construction site, so that they can earn a little silver. Don't you care about them or anything else, aren't they all happy? Jiang Ji said.

"Mr. Jiang's suggestion is very good, in this way, our workers only need to do those highly technical jobs. Our current rail production is sufficient, and the sleepers are also up to date. Zhang Zhimu said that in fact, many sections of the road in the north are now built by local farmers.

"It would be nice if that were the case. We are all looking forward to the early construction of the railway to Datong. The king asked, "After the railroad is finished in these places, where are you going to build it?" ”

"Haha! We haven't figured it out yet. Building railways is really a matter of money, and we have to do what we can. Zhang Zhimu said: "But my personal idea is that if we still have the strength, we will build the railway along the Fen River to Tongguan." This is just my personal opinion, and I haven't discussed it with anyone else in our kiln gang. ”

"Isn't it up to you to make the final say?" Jiang Ji was puzzled, "Do you still need to discuss with others?" ”

"You're wrong, Mr. Jiang." Zhang Zhimu said: "The major matters in our kiln are collective decision-making, and we don't make a word, so that we can make fewer mistakes." Even if you make a mistake, you can correct it quickly. ”

Hearing this, Dai Wang and Jiang Jian both nodded.

Jiang Pai said: "There is one more thing, we were embarrassed to speak, but there is no way, we can't say it." ”

"Mr. Jiang, you're welcome." Zhang Zhimu knew what to say and said what he wanted to say.

"Up to now, the imperial court has not even supplied us with half of the military rations, and the salaries have been delayed again and again. We have more than 100,000 officers and soldiers there, and the morale of the army who has not eaten is unstable. So I also asked Zhang Dongjia to think of a way to help solve some military rations. Jiang Pai said: "Zhang Dongjia, we will not ask for your grain for nothing, and of course we will not give you any silver for nothing." But we have the copper you need, and the coal. We exchange things for something, what do you think? ”

"We can't afford to ignore emergencies. However, when it comes to the food of more than 100,000 officers and soldiers, we must think of a proper way. Zhang Zhimu said: "It is said that more than 100,000 people, each person per year is counted according to two stones of grain, and if you are half of the difference, it is a difference of more than 100,000 stones." We can find a way to get the grain, but your copper is also limited, and it is impossible to pay the food forever. ”

"Alas! I can't take care of the far away. Today, I just ask you to help me solve this year's food. Jiang Yan lowered his head, and he couldn't say anything more when the acting king was here.

The acting king also said: "The road of the imperial court is interrupted from time to time, and the grain cannot be transported at all." We can't watch the officers and soldiers run out of food. Otherwise, what else is there to defend here? ”

"Okay, the food matter is settled. When Mr. Lu comes back, I will ask him to call you and then determine how to handle the food. Zhang Zhimu agreed to this.

"There's one more thing I'd like to discuss with you. We now have too many soldiers, especially the salaries of the imperial court are always not allocated on time, and we can't afford to raise so many soldiers. So we're going to lay off some of the soldiers who have been with me for years. Can Zhang Dongjia help me arrange it? Our soldiers all know that the veterans who went out of the customs are doing a good job, and they all want to follow Zhang Dongjia to find a way out. Jiang Ji said.

Zhang Zhimu was a little puzzled, and asked: "General Jiang, aren't your soldiers the number set by the imperial court?" I only heard that there were empty salaries, but I didn't hear that there were extra soldiers. This soldier can't be cut out casually, right? ”

"Hey, hey! Zhang Dongjia, you don't understand this. The amount of soldiers given to us by the imperial court is far from enough to be deployed in front of the Great Harmony, and this has been the case in all dynasties. We are all going to recruit a lot of additional posts. We have prepared our own food and salaries for the extra soldiers. Now we can't get enough food and pay from the imperial court, and we can't afford to raise so many soldiers ourselves. In addition, all of our guards and checkpoints can be equipped with telephones, so we can use a lot fewer soldiers. Besides, we have you kiln gang people behind us, and we have more confidence in our hearts. If we really have ** annoyance, you won't care. Especially since you have gained a foothold in Baotou and Dongshengzhou, we are much less stressed. In this way, I consulted with the acting king and decided to abolish the posts. But this layoff is not easy to arrange for the soldiers! "Jiang Ji is telling the truth.

This incident made Zhang Zhimu's heart move. Q: "How many are you going to make cut?" ”

"Thirty or forty thousand!" Jiang Jianxin said, I won't look for you if there are fewer people.

Zhang Zhimu glanced at Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He, and said in his heart: "We just want to expand the troops, so you sent them to the door." But Zhang Zhimu didn't show his face, and after thinking for a while, Zhang Zhimu said: "Can you choose some young ones, we can arrange them into our army in Yaogang." As you know, the number of troops we have left the customs is still a little small. When your army is cut off, we will arrange for you to go outside the pass, which means that there is no reduction in the army in the north. But our army needs young people, because they have so much to learn. Not when you're old. ”

"How old do you need to be?" Jiang asked in.

"About twenty years old! The younger the better. Zhang Zhimu said.

Jiang Jian said in his heart: "At such an age, we need it ourselves." However, he understands that Zhang Zhimu uses different weapons, and they need a lot of skills. The training is also difficult. Q: "How many people can you accept?" ”

"Twenty thousand young soldiers." Zhang Zhimu looked at Jiang Zhi and said.

"That's still 20,000 yuan?" Ginger inlay bargained on the spot.

"If you can ask me to pick 20,000 young soldiers, I will promise to accept you 20,000 veterans." Zhang Zhimu put forward the conditions.

Jiang Jian glanced at the acting king, who had not spoken, and it was obvious that the acting king was very satisfied with this result. Jiang Pai said: "Okay, you go to Datong as soon as possible to pick people." After picking people, you also have to bring back our veterans. ”

It should be said that both sides are happy. But Zhang Zhimu said: "Acting Wang, Jiang Zongbing, we are doing our best to do this this time. Because last time we already arranged a group of veterans. We know that it is not easy for these veterans, they come back home, they have no skills, and their families have changed a lot. Many people will starve to death soon after returning home. So we'll do our best to arrange them. ”

The acting king was moved and said: "Zhang Dongjia, you have arranged them well, and their merits are immeasurable!" ”

The acting king came to Yaogang this time, and his family and entourage, everyone bought a large bag and a small wrap. They have never seen a shopping mall like Yaogang Department Store, and they can see a lot of things here that they couldn't think of before.

The kiln people also sent a lot of things from the kiln to the prince and Jiang Jiao.

When they left Yaogang at night, because after they took the car to Niutou Mountain, they rested on the car until dawn, and then they could get off the train and take a carriage to Datong. If you go during the day, you have to rest after getting off the train and walking a short distance, which is inconvenient.

Dai Wang and Jiang Ji were very satisfied with this trip to the kiln.

Zhang Zhimu, Chen Yufeng, and Ouyang He were also very satisfied. Unexpectedly, when they left, they also gave 20,000 young soldiers to the Yaogang people. Such soldiers have been training in the barracks for a long time, and when they arrive at the recruit training camp in Yaogang, they are much faster than those newly recruited recruits.

When it came to Datong to select new recruits and bring veterans, Qin Peng took a regiment of the First Infantry Division of Yaogang to do it.

Ouyang He said: "The 20,000 people they picked back from Qin Peng will definitely be qualified. But the 20,000 layoffs are not necessarily all old veterans. There won't be so many veterans in any team. Of those 20,000 people, at least 5,000 can be singled out. It seems that there will be no problem in forming another five infantry divisions. ”

Chen Yufeng said: "It is better to have some cavalry. ”

"Huh! It depends on Qin Peng's ability. Ouyang He said.

A few days after they left, Gonggong Li came to Yaogang again.

When Gonggong Li saw Zhang Zhimu, he still laughed and said, "Zhang Dongjia, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

"You're not going to say you miss me, are you?" Zhang Zhimu was not polite, and pointed to the seat with his hand.

"I did miss you a little, so I came over to see you." Gonggong Li didn't say anything, so he sat down as he spoke.

"Tell me, what's going on this time?" Zhang Zhimu asked.

"I heard that the acting king and the general army of Jiang Jian have arrived at the kiln gang, can I ask them what they are doing?" Gonggong Li didn't hide it and asked directly.

Zhang Zhimu hated this kind of spy behavior very much, but in order not to cause trouble for the acting king and Jiang Ting, Zhang Zhimu said patiently: "There are two serious things, one is that they are short of military rations, and the second is that they have a large number of veterans who can't arrange it, so they beg us to arrange a job." Why did Gonggong Li discover any secrets again? ”

"No, no, I'm just asking. You see that it is a big deal for the acting king and Jiang Zongbing to go to Yaogang, once the emperor asks, I also know how to answer. "Father-in-law Li is very good at speaking.

Zhang Zhimu said: "You don't have to think about it so much, I just need to write a secret letter to the emperor when I have time." Originally, Zhang Zhimu wanted to stimulate this Gonggong Li.

Gonggong Li seemed to be really angered by Zhang Zhimu, and couldn't help it, Gonggong Li said: "I'm here to ask for the emperor today." One of them, a general soldier and a vassal king, left his post without permission, and he didn't say hello to the emperor first. ”

When Zhang Zhimu heard what Gonggong Li said, his heart became steady. This shows that the acting king and Jiang have nothing to do with the emperor when they come to the kiln. Zhang Zhimu said: "I will explain this matter to the emperor when I write a letter to him. ”

At this time, Gonggong Li knew that he had said something wrong, Gonggong Li regretted it, he had been doing this job for almost his whole life, how could he make such a low-level mistake. If you let the emperor know, you won't kill yourself. So Gonggong Li hurriedly said: "I won't bother Zhang Dong's family about this matter." We'll just explain it ourselves. ”

"What's the matter? No one should be suspicious of people, I want to make it clear. Zhang Zhimu said deliberately.

Gonggong Li knew that he was caught by someone to braid, and said, "Okay! Zhang Dongjia is a master, even if he lets me go! "Father-in-law Li is still very straightforward, and he admits defeat if he loses.

Zhang Zhimu said: "What are you talking about, Gonggong Li has dealt with me for so many years, do you think I'm a villain?" ”

"No, no, Zhang Dongjia is definitely a frank gentleman. I have always admired Zhang Dongjia very much. It's just that I'm a servant of the emperor, and sometimes I can't do things that completely satisfy you. Please also ask Zhang Dongjia to forgive me. "What Gonggong Li said was also sincere.

Yang Qinglian also knew that Zhang Zhimu was reluctant to talk to Father-in-law Li more, and it happened that Li Zhi called. Yang Qinglian knocked on the door and came in and said, "Director Li called and asked if you had time, and he wanted to come over." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Please come over!" ”

Gonggong Li was very interested, stood up and said, "If there is something in Zhangdong's house, I will leave first." ”

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The Song army occupied Hokkaido, and Yuankou landed on the island of Kyushu. Opening up the Japanese battlefield. --Progress of "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty".