While Li Yan was waiting for Li Zicheng's reply, he also received the news that Li Mu had taken control of Ningwuguan. He was basically relieved, as long as he controlled an advance base, it would facilitate his southward movement. Moreover, Jiang Xiang surrendered, and the Yanmen Pass could be regarded as the pass he mastered.

What he has to do now is to continue to increase his troops in Datong, control the two Great Walls inside and outside, and let the people of Datong also get the land and become his soldiers. Datong is a border pass, and it has long been at the forefront of the struggle with the Mongol tribes, and as long as the people of Datong are willing to serve, then they will become the best soldiers.

The former Ming Dynasty Wang Yi was already dealt with by Li Zicheng in March, and Datong had enough land for the people to share. And the recruits in Shandong have already started training, and after another month, the first batch of recruits will be distributed. Fortunately, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi and other places are all northern languages, and although there are differences in dialects, they have not yet reached the level of complete incomprehension. As long as the training is attentive to the official language, coupled with the learning of literacy classes, the soldiers will be able to communicate with each other.

But it's not all good news, Shandong Denglai Sailor made Li Yan very angry. Originally, there were not many officers and soldiers of the sailors who came back, but after they were given the fields, many of these people were unwilling to continue to be sailors, but wanted to be infantry soldiers.

Li Yan summoned the highest-ranking naval officer who had surrendered to Beijing and sent the chief Zhang Hanmo to Beijing. The sailors of the Ming Dynasty still used the army establishment, and the number of people under his command was almost what kind of official position he gave, so this Zhang Hanmo was only in charge of two or three hundred sailors, and brought back seventeen ships. The largest of them was just an old two-hundred-material warship, and the others were small ships such as mother ships, chain ships, eagle ships, and Cangshan ships.

"Knock down on the generalissimo." Zhang Hanmo came in and knelt down to salute Li Yan.

Li Yan didn't let him get up, and asked dissatisfiedly: "Do you know what I asked you to come over from Shandong for?" ”

Zhang Hanmo replied tremblingly: "I know it." ”

"Then tell me what's going on with you?!" Li Yan coldly ordered. He had already given these sailors enough preferential treatment, twice as much as that of the Army, but these people were not satisfied, and they did not want to be sailors anymore.

Zhang Hanmo replied: "Back to the Generalissimo, the sailors are tired of life on the water. Only three or four percent of the food and salary given have been deducted, and every time you set sail, it is a separation of life and death. Generalissimo Heaven's grace allocates them land, and the land alone can allow them to live, so many people are not willing to take risks. ”

"Foot soldiers are just as dangerous!" Li Yan said dissatisfiedly: "After a tough battle, some troops will also have two or three percent casualties. Moreover, the treatment of the sailors is twice that of the foot soldiers, and it is also increased accordingly in consideration of your situation at sea. You're still not satisfied?! ”

"The lowly is satisfied." Zhang Hanmo hurriedly said: "But some sailors don't want to be scared anymore. The sailor is different from the land, if the ship sinks, then there is really no place to die. And the ship is old, and it's easy to get into trouble, so ~"

"Have you ever fought a naval battle?" Li Yan frowned and asked.

Zhang Hanmo knew that Li Yan knew the real situation, so he had to reply honestly: "Although we are only responsible for shipping grain to Liaodong, the ship is really old, not to mention the naval battle, just a larger wave, which may make the ship fall apart." There was originally little wood suitable for shipbuilding, and it was all used to build merchant ships, and the imperial court had always spent too much silver in Liaodong, and the expenses of our sailors were almost insignificant. This time, he was given the gift of the generalissimo and had land, so many people did not want to be a sailor anymore. ”

Li Yan was very angry, it turned out that the conditions he gave were too generous, but it made those sailors not want to continue to earn food and wages on the warship. But at this time, there was only such a small amount of water division to work in, and he couldn't use drastic means to chill the water master's people.

So he calmed down for a moment before saying, "If you are willing to continue to serve in the water master, the treatment will be doubled." How many people can you convince to stay? ”

Zhang Hanmo hesitated for a moment before replying: "Fifty or sixty percent should be no problem." In fact, he can still guarantee this amount, and many of those who can come back and surrender are his brothers in life and death. This friendship, coupled with Li Yan's favorable conditions, should only be a lot more if they can stay and continue to operate the ship.

Li Yan instructed: "You must retain more than seventy percent of the personnel. You go back and tell the sailors that the infantry army has the rules of the infantry army, and they may not be able to adapt to it. As long as they can't adapt, I'll kick them out of the army, and what they've gotten will be taken back! ”

"My subordinates understand." Zhang Hanmo immediately agreed.

Li Yan immediately asked again: "With enough wood, can the shipwright build a bigger warship?" ”

"I don't know about this lowly position." Zhang Hanmo cautiously replied: "However, the sailor has not purchased a large warship for a long time, and even if there is wood, it is still a little difficult to build a large ship." ”

Li Yan nodded and ordered, "Okay, I'm waiting for your good news." Also, when you go back, you have to think more about how to use the existing ships to fight, and you want to be able to win. ”

Zhang Hanmo kowtowed again and said, "I understand my humble position." After going back, we must think diligently, so that our sailors can form combat strength as soon as possible and help the generalissimo pacify Jiangnan. Retired from his position. ”

After Zhang Hanmo retreated, Li Yan was worried. finally surrendered a small sailor, but half of them were still making a fuss. Moreover, the strength of this water division is very weak, and he really doesn't have much hope if he wants to perform well in the water war. Coastal defense is a problem, let alone fighting in the far seas.

Although the ships were equipped with artillery, the ships had been in service for too long, so they did not dare to open fire. Maybe if you don't hit the enemy's warship, your own ship will be shattered. At this stage, his sailors can only build more small boats, attack with fire, or use ** to fight against the enemy.

He instructed Sun Sifu: "Send a letter to Huang Desheng and ask him to recruit sailors from among the fishermen in the coastal zone, and the salary will be three times that of ordinary foot soldiers." But it should be reflected in the wages paid, and the field given by each sailor is half of the footmen. In addition, as much as possible, shipbuilders and workshops from all over the country were gathered together and a shipyard was set up in Tianjin. ”

"Okay, my subordinates will let the scribe write it right away."

Li Yan continued: "Also, send a letter to Henan and ask General Li Zhong to pay attention to the precautions in the direction bordering Li Zicheng. If the negotiation fails in the future, be careful of Li Zicheng's sneak attack. There is also news from Nanjing, and efforts should also be made to investigate. Now Zhang Xianzhong has also lost his sharpness, and he wants to guard against Nanjing's army going north. ”

"Yes." Sun Sifu agreed.

...