"Xinghua, don't blame me for being too careful, I know you're not that kind of person, but what others think, how can we know everything?"

"Hehe, Brother Xian is worried about the yellow robe?" Luo Jian simply said it directly.

"Brother Xian, I said it a long time ago, I don't have the slightest interest in that position, not at all, you will know later." Luo Jian continued.

Shi Kefa was silent when he heard this.

When the two arrived at the gunpowder factory, they asked the steward to inquire carefully, and after learning the specific situation, both of them became a little nervous.

It turned out that the output of the gunpowder factory was not very high, and recently the merchant ships went to sea and took away almost all the inventory, and the first division went out to fight and brought a lot, and now the production can no longer keep up, and the most important thing is that the source of saltpeter ore is insufficient.

After listening to the steward's words, Luo Jian thought about it carefully, China's largest saltpeter mine is in Xinjiang, and there is no way at present, followed by Shaanxi, which is now under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the saltpeter mines in Yangzhou are all sporadic small mines, which have been mined almost at present.

"Xinghua, what should I do? Our firearms unit relies on this thing, and if the stock runs out, we will be in big trouble. Shi Kefa was also worried when he heard it.

"In any case, we will supply what the first division needs first, and supply as much as we want, we have not achieved the purpose of the campaign in this battle, and we can't cut off their supply." Luo Jian thought about it, and there was no other way but to respond first.

The factory manager agreed, and the two silently left the gunpowder factory and went back to Yangzhou.

In the camp of the First Division outside Yizhou City, Huang Degong was already a little impatient.

"I said Lao Liu, let's just attack the city directly, let's take Yizhou City, let's talk about it, I've been outside the city for more than half a month, and I'm tired of Lao Huang."

"Lao Huang, let's tell you the truth, we can't fight, there is less than a third of the ammunition left, we still have to guard against the Qing army's counterattack, if Yangzhou doesn't replenish us, we can only retreat."

Liu Zhaoji pulled Huang Degong aside and whispered.

"And what's going on? You're too consuming, you guys. Huang Degong didn't say anything more.

As he was talking, someone came in to report that the supplies from Yangzhou had arrived, and Huang Degong was more anxious than Liu Zhaoji, so he pulled Liu Zhaoji out in a hurry.

There were a lot of big cars and small cars outside, Liu Zhaoji took the list of materials in the hands of the team manager and looked at it carefully, frowned and asked, "Why are there so few gunpowder and shells?" ”

"Report to Senior Commander Liu, these are already all the stocks of the gunpowder factory, and the Metropolitan Governor ordered them all to be transported here."

Liu Zhaoji frowned and looked at Huang Degong when he heard this, but Huang Degong also shook his head and did not speak.

"Let's hold on for another five days, and if there is no ammunition replenishment for five days, we can only withdraw." Liu Zhaoji thought for a while and said.

Luo Jian and Shi Kefa were also anxiously waiting for news from Nanjing City in Yangzhou, two days ago Zhang Cheng had already spread the news that the Manchu Qing had quietly sent an envoy again, and Ma Shiying had blocked the news, and everyone still didn't know.

At this time, Ma Shiying in Nanjing City was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, and after the arrival of Ji Bilong, he directly submitted his credentials to the emperor, sternly questioning why the Yangzhou army ignored the peace treaty and challenged the provocation without permission, and the Southern Ming court must be responsible, otherwise the Qing Dynasty will launch an attack on the Ming Dynasty in Hunan and Jiangxi.

Ma Shiying found a group of ministers to discuss for a long time, but he couldn't get the essentials, and took Li Zhan and a few people to the palace to find the emperor today.

When I rushed to the palace, I saw that Ruan Dacheng was also there, talking to the emperor.

After Ma Shiying and a few people stepped forward to pay a visit, they said what they meant, Zhu Youxiang looked at Ma Shiying stupidly, and said What do you think?

"Your Majesty, for the sake of today's plan, you have to ask the emperor to decree that the Yangzhou army should withdraw its troops." Ma Shiying said helplessly.

"It's okay if I want to make an order, will the Yangzhou army listen?" Zhu Youxiang is not stupid, knowing that his holy decree does not work for Yangzhou.

"I have long said that the salary of the Yangzhou army cannot be less, so this will be an accident, right?" Zhu Youxiang understood very well in his heart.

"Your Majesty, it's useless to say these things now, you have to let the Yangzhou army withdraw as soon as possible." Ma Shiying saw that Zhu Youxiang was talking about the previous matter again, and said anxiously.

Ma Shiying turned his head to look at Ruan Dacheng, Ruan Dacheng also looked at him, and after a long time, Ma Shiying spoke:

"Brother Yuanhai, I'm afraid you'll have to work hard again this time." After thinking about it, it is not appropriate to send anyone to Yangzhou, who can talk to Yangzhou, there are only Ruan Chengcheng and Qian Qianyi in the court, Qian Qianyi is now closed to the house, chanting poems at home all day long, basically ignoring the government, it is not possible to invite him to Yangzhou, only to ask Ruan Dacheng to come forward.

"Ma Gebu, if you ask me to go to Yangzhou with such empty mouths and white teeth, I can't either." Ruan Dacheng said very simply.

"Okay, my palace will not be repaired for the time being, you can send the salary of the Yangzhou army." Zhu Youxiang said with a frown.

"The emperor can't, if you don't repair the palace at this time, you don't know what year and month you have to wait." Liu Kongzhao continued beside him.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Yangzhou Army is a self-challenger, and the Emperor can strictly order it to withdraw its troops." Li Zhan also said beside him.

"Okay! Then you two go to Yangzhou to spread the decree, as long as the Yangzhou army is willing to withdraw the army, my palace will be built. Zhu Youxiang looked at Li Zhan dissatisfied.

When Li Zhan and Liu Kongzhao heard this, they both shrank their necks, lowered their heads and stopped talking.

"Your Majesty, the minister will let the household department prepare the salary properly, how about asking Ruan Shangshu to work hard?" Ma Shiying said beside him.

"So be it, you all go down." Zhu Youxiang looked at the group of courtiers in front of him and said dissatisfiedly.

Ruan Dacheng's movements were very fast, and he set off early the next morning with the silver, and before leaving, he also sent someone to Yangzhou to inform Luo Jian and them in advance.

Luo Jian received Ruan Dacheng's report, laughed, and greeted the staff officer of the staff department and said: "Immediately inform Division Commander Liu that the first division will withdraw to Yangzhou, and the fifth division will do a good job in the defense of Xinyi, and this place can no longer be thrown to the Manchu Qing." ”

Shi Kefa got the news, hurried to the Dadu Governor's Mansion, and asked anxiously: "Xinghua, is the matter done?" ”

"It's done, Ruan Dacheng has already escorted the silver to set off, and I have already ordered the first division to withdraw to Yangzhou." Luo Jian said happily.

"Xinghua, is it good for us to do this?" Shi Kefa was not very happy to hear this, and asked with some hesitation.

"Brother Xianzhi, do you think it's better to put this silver in Nanjing and let them squander it, or should we use it for construction in Yangzhou?" Luo Jian asked with a smile.

"Xinghua, why do I think we have become a tripartite now? Now it looks a bit like the Three Kingdoms period. Shi Kefa said with a frown.

"Yes, there is a delicate balance between the three parties now, as long as we Yangzhou do not take the initiative, this balance will not be broken for the time being, and we Yangzhou also need time." Luo Jian concluded.

Shi Kefa listened and nodded yes.

When the people sent by the General Staff Department arrived outside Yizhou City, it happened to be the last day that Liu Zhaoji said.

"Division Commander Liu, Marquis of Jingnan, and the Governor of Dadu ordered the First Division to withdraw to Yangzhou immediately, and the defense of Xinyi was the responsibility of the Fifth Division, and this place could no longer be returned to the Manchus." The staff officer briefly conveyed the orders of the Grand Governor's Office.

"It's done?" Liu Zhaoji asked.

The staff officer nodded vigorously.

"Now we can withdraw our troops and withdraw with peace of mind!" Liu Zhaoji said happily.

Ruan Dacheng escorted to Yangzhou a lot of money, plus the arrears last month, a total of more than 2 million taels, Yangzhou's finances have become more relaxed.

Ruan Dacheng arrived in Yangzhou and made a lot of contributions in front of Luo Jian, in fact, Luo Jian already knew everything that happened in the palace from Zhang Cheng's mouth, Ruan Dacheng played a little role, but the role was not as big as he boasted.

But Luo Jian still expressed his gratitude to Ruan Dacheng, which made Ruan Dacheng a little flattered.

From Ruan Dacheng's words, Luo Jian heard that the fat emperor was already very dissatisfied with Ma Shiying, he thought that this was his opportunity, and hoped that Luo Jian could help him in Yangzhou, squeeze Ma Shiying down, and let him sit in the position of first assistant.

Hearing Ruan Dacheng's words, Luo Jian was noncommittal, Ma Shiying was on the stage, although he did everything possible to contain and prevent the Yangzhou army, but he still had the most basic view of the overall situation, if Ma Shiying stepped down, Ruan Dacheng had no foundation in the DPRK, and if Li Zhan and others were allowed to gain power, it would be even more harmful to Yangzhou.

Ruan Dacheng was a little disappointed when he saw that Luo Jian did not clearly express his intention to support him, but this disappointment was buried deep in his heart, and he did not dare to show it in front of Luo Jian, Ruan Dacheng returned to Nanjing with a trace of disappointment.

This year's rain is sufficient, spring ploughing and production are going very smoothly, Shi Kefa and others finally have some free time, and today Shi Kefa came to the Dadu Governor's Mansion to find Luo Jian.

"Xinghua, when will this fleet come back? It's been a month and a half, hasn't it? I'm always unsure. ”

"Brother Xian, since the fleet has gone to sea, it is superfluous for us to worry, the children are older, they must be released and let them go on their own, let's just do a good job of security."

"Xinghua, aren't you worried at all?"

"Don't worry at all, that's fake, we've already given them all our goods, what else can we do, I don't know how this battleship is built? Let's take a look? ”

Luo Jian understood Shi Kefa's feelings, this was the first time that Yangzhou Mansion had organized such a large-scale merchant ship to go to sea, and he did not wait for the day when the fleet returned, his heart was always hanging.

The two of them rode to Guazhou with the guards as if they were on a green trip, and the vigor along the way made both of them feel better.

"Jiangnan is good, the scenery is old, the sunrise river flowers are red, and the river is as green as blue in spring, can you not remember Jiangnan!" The scenery of Gangnam is so beautiful! Luo Jian was reading the poem on the horse, and he sighed with emotion.

"Yes, such beautiful mountains and rivers, we have to build it well." Shi Kefa followed.

"I said Brother Xian, you can't relax a little, today's such good weather, such a beautiful scenery, can you also come to two poems to praise? I have to talk about political affairs in two sentences. Luo Jian said with a smile.

"I also want to live the days of 'picking chrysanthemums under the east fence and seeing Nanshan leisurely', but the burden on our shoulders is heavy, where can we take care of those wind and snow? The source of saltpeter in the gunpowder factory has not been solved, why don't you pay attention to it? Shi Kefa glanced at Luo Jian with disgust.

"Hehe, can you rush saltpeter in a hurry? Can't you? Let's do things little by little, accumulate over time, accumulate thick and thin, and when our accumulation arrives, we will calm the world in one go, what does Brother Xian think? ”

"Well, I'm looking forward to this day coming soon."

PS: Thank you for the support of your friends last year, and I wish you good health, family happiness and wealth in the new year!