Lin Haijiang was looking at the map carefully and carefully, looking through the documents from time to time, and it was hard for Li Anmin, Jia Wuji, Zhang Yunji and others on the side to imagine that the head of state had just created a news with an absolutely shocking surname an hour ago, that is, he had appointed a female captain!

Moreover, this female captain is also the captain of the empire, and even the only two main battleships in the world, women have always only served in logistics, medical care, service, etc., in addition to a team of female gendarmes in the gendarmerie corps of the Ministry of Justice, Xia Xue can be said to be the first female soldier in the Chinese Empire, and she is also the female officer with the highest military rank.

However, for Li Anmin, Jia Wuji and others, they most want to know what the head of state is thinking at the moment? And Zhang Yunji felt chills when he saw Lin Haijiang looking at the map, and Lin Haijiang's reading of the map had become a signal that the Chinese Empire was ready to go to war!

Unlike soldiers, who are eager to prove themselves in battle and with meritorious deeds, what Zhang Yunji hopes most is that there will be a peaceful environment for building and developing the country's basic industries and cities.

A few days ago, the Empire's Deputy Minister of Finance, Cluna, and the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, Fu Shanxiang, visited and evaluated the finances of various provinces of the Empire, and it can be said that although the Empire's economy has relied on the issuance of silver dollars to enter the cycle of good surnames, this does not mean that the Empire has sufficient funds to mobilize for continuous wars, and the reckless use of military force is equivalent to a large-scale destruction of the economy.

Lin Haijiang knew that the main army forces of the empire were all involved in the front line to confront the main force of the Qing army, and the imperial army lacked strategic depth configuration, and once it was attacked by the Qing army, it was bound to give up part of the occupied area, which was very unfavorable to stabilizing the rule of the occupied area, so Lin Haijiang decided to give the monk Lingqin and Zeng Guofan a rope, so that they could not be so free and easy, and pose a threat to the newly recovered area of the empire at any time.

Lin Haijiang planned to use the main force of the Navy's First Fleet and the main force of the Second Fleet to dispatch about five brigades of the Marine Corps to carry out a beach-rushing landing at Dagukou, because Lin Haijiang had received reliable reports that the arms and supplies provided by the Russians to Beiyang and the Armstrong coastal defense guns that Beiyang had newly purchased from Britain were stored in Tianjinwei.

On the one hand, Lin Haijiang is ready to weaken the aggressive momentum of Beiyang in the front, and on the other hand, Lin Haijiang can remind the Qing court through this landing that their Gyeonggi Zhili is not safe, and their navy and marines can then threaten any point of its long coastline, so that the Qing court is overwhelmed, and if the fortification is everywhere, it will inevitably greatly weaken the mobile strength of the Qing court, and the Qing court will inevitably increase taxes in order to purchase ships to defend the coastal defense, and the foundation of the Qing court's rule will be even more shaken under the anger of the heavens and the people.

Lin Haijiang completed the deployment and preliminary deduction of the entire campaign in his own mind, but Lin Haijiang did not hand over this figure to the Strategic and Tactical Research Office of the General Staff for detailed deduction and arrangement, but directly issued an executive order to Li Anmin, ordering Li Anmin to complete the preparations for departure before November 10, 1861, and start the Dagukou landing battle before the 20th, seize the Dagukou with lightning speed, encircle Tianjin Wei, and give a warning blow to Zeng Guofan's Beiyang. Let the panicked Qing court urgently transfer the Beiyang New Army and the Monk Lingqin army back to defense.

If this tactical action can be used to achieve the strategic goal, then Lin Haijiang can get at least 22 months of stable development, and can calmly stabilize the basic construction of the people's livelihood and the adjustment of military deployment in the new Guangfu Zone, providing a new basis for the next strategic formulation.

Li Anmin is very interested in the plan that the Führer has sorted out, compared to the navy has just divided the fleet, and the addition of a large number of fresh blood has made the navy more vigorous and vigorous, but also made the navy of the Chinese Empire look more immature, the imperial navy urgently needs a few battles to train the troops, and the various units of the Marine Corps stationed in various places have been watching the army fight big battles, and they are already staying in a rusty state.

Jia Wuji, the new director of the Strategic Research Office of the General Staff, is also very interested in the Führer's proposal, after all, he and Li Anmin are both soldiers, and they have a special interpretation of the essence of the war. Now with the current economic situation of the empire, it is really not suitable to launch a large-scale military operation, we are now on the verge of exhausting the army, this will be very dangerous, only the first and second fleets of the imperial navy, the army plus the marines and the second-line garrison units in various places, our defense expenditure accounts for about 47% of the overall income, it can be said that all the operations of the empire are around the war, we are fighting for the sake of the war, with the current situation of the empire, the army after continuous combat material consumption is close to the bottom line, All of them turned to strategic defense, almost all of us in the world except Prussia are enemies, Britain and France have different degrees of bad relations with us, the aid from Britain and France has been interrupted for a long time, and Britain's sale of normal standard built warships to Beiyang at an unprecedented low price is a signal, if our army rashly attacks Dagukou and threatens the rule of the Qing court, it will very likely trigger the intervention of foreign Zhang Yunji European colonial forces, and we are not afraid of a single Britain or France, if it is a coalition of the whole of Europe? The Russians' power at sea is not enough, but their power on land cannot be ignored! From the point of view of the international situation, it is really not appropriate to start the next war immediately at this moment. ”

Lin Haijiang was slightly stunned after listening to Zhang Yunji's words, this battle is not allowed by politics, but strategically it must be fought in order to gain the initiative, what should he do? Soon, Lin Haijiang made a decision, fight! It is necessary to fight, sometimes it is not a good thing to think too carefully, it is difficult to achieve a big thing after being afraid of wolves and tigers, and in terms of the current international situation, the rise of the Chinese Empire will inevitably be interfered by European colonists or even joined forces, which has become inevitable.

Lin Haijiang took a deep breath and said to Zhang Yunji: "I know very well what is at stake in your suggestion, but we also have to consider whether Britain and France, countries that have huge interests in the Qing court, will they give up their previous treaties and colonial interests, if not, then our recovery cause will inevitably collide and conflict with the imperial colonization of Europe, since we want to fight, then why not start a war at the time and place we choose?" Firmly grasp the initiative in our hands? ”

Zhang Yunji was a little helpless, because the head of state was secretly changing the concept at all, he did not support the war, and he thought that it was really not appropriate to start a war at this moment, especially for the Qing court and the hinterland of the Qing court, which was very sensitive internationally, and finally Zhang Yunji had to helplessly say: "Since the head of state has a resolution, my unconditional support is it, but I hope that the scale of this campaign is best controlled within two months, and the people of my logistics supply department should accompany the combat troops and transport back all the strategic materials that can be used to feed the war. Reduce the economic pressure on the empire. ”

Zhang Yunji's promise made Li Anmin and Jia Wuji breathe a sigh of relief at the same time, if Zhang Yunji insisted on opposition, the two were worried that it would shake the Führer's determination to launch the campaign, now that the battle determination has been issued, then the only thing left is how to deploy combat troops and draw up a battle plan.

Lin Haijiang patted Zhang Yunji's shoulder cordially and said, "After a while, the work of Clouna and Fu Shanxiang will trouble you, the head of the wartime logistics supply center, to be responsible!" ”

After hearing this, Zhang Yunji glared at Lin Haijiang with his mouth open and said, "Führer, this kind of joke can't be made!" Didn't you say hello to Member Fu Shanxiang and Vice Minister Clouna in advance? ”

Lin Haijiang smiled slightly: "That's right! They are definitely against this battle plan, so I invited you to participate in today's strategic seminar, which can be regarded as taking it very seriously! ”

Zhang Yunji said with a helpless expression: "Führer, can we have a discussion?" You don't have to pay so much attention to me in the future, I really feel a little burdened by your attention so much! In addition, you don't look like a strategic seminar, but a secret meeting to share spoils arbitrarily! No wonder you did not submit the battle plan to the Strategic Research Office of the General Staff, but summoned Jia Wuji. ”

Lin Haijiang said indifferently: "You are a capable person who works hard!" For capable subordinates, I will only use them! ”

Lin Haijiang's words made Zhang Yunji, Li Anmin, and Jia Wuji roll their eyes almost at the same time, and Zhang Yunji suddenly said as if he suddenly remembered something: "Führer, I don't have any opinion on wearing multiple hats now, and you also said that those who can work harder!" But should my allowance and subsidy also be on par with my ability? ”

Zhang Yunji's words made Li Anmin and Jia Wuji's eyes light up almost at the same time, Lin Haijiang hurriedly looked at his watch and said: "I forgot that I still have a meeting for a while, I'll go first, let's talk about allowances and subsidies next time." ”

After Lin Haijiang left like a gust of wind, Zhang Yunji looked at Li Anmin and Jia Wuji helplessly, Jia Wuji smiled: "I remember that the last time was to urinate, this time it was to escape, it seems that Zhang Lao, your wish is not easy to come true!" ”

Zhang Yunji said with emotion: "The head of a big empire in the hall was the emperor before he was released, how can he beat him like this?" My family has a large population, low income, and food and clothing! ”

Zhang Yunji's words made Li Anmin and Jia Wuji have an impulse to think about the old man Haibian, because everyone knew that Zhang Yunji did not receive the 21st level allowance of the imperial military, nor the 27th level allowance of the local system, but the special adviser allowance he received, and there were real estate in Guangzhou, the Imperial Fortress, Southeast Asian Province, Hainan Province, Liangjiang Province, and even the Lianghu Province, which had just recovered most of the country, and even bought rubber plantations in the Indochina Peninsula, where wars and conflicts were frequent, and Zhang Yunji's special allowance was equal to the allowance of at least six major generalsZhang Yunji has already had the experience of awarding medals three times, accompanied by the annual medal allowance and subsidy, Zhang Yunji, who is a concubine in the fifth room, crying poor, makes Li Anmin and Jia Wuji, who are still alone, have a feeling of unreasonableness.

The Chinese Empire can be said to be a very efficient group, once a strategic goal is formulated, then all the personnel will consciously twist into a rope and work hard in one direction, and the main force of the Chinese Imperial Army and the main force of the Qing court in the two lakes have entered a kind of sit-like war, both sides are desperately digging deep ditches and building high fortifications, lest the other party take the lead, Zeng Guofan and Seng Greenqin are putting Lin Haijiang, who almost never thinks according to normal people's thinking, to surprise the army, and Lin Haijiang is also wary of Zeng Guofan and Seng Lingqin's desperate bets.

It can be said that after a period of rest, whether it is the Chinese Empire or the Qing army, the attack will become difficult, the only sad thing is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom that is caught in the middle and is uneasy, but under this condition, whether it is the Qing Army or the Chinese Imperial Army, no one is willing to attack the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's full defense of Banbi Mountain or Tianjing, because that is to be prepared to gnaw hard bones, if the attack fails, then it will give the opponent who is eyeing the side a chance.

In the small-scale contact engagement, Zeng Guofan also began to gradually calm down, from encouraging the patrol to attack the other party's active provocation, the head of the soldier 30 taels of silver, the non-commissioned officer 50 taels, and the second lieutenant of the officer 80 taels of different prices to encourage the troops, to now the reward has been doubled but few people responded.

In addition to the first few ambushes of the opponent's several squads, cut off the head and hang on the gate of the Xingyuan battalion, as a result, Xingyuan was hit by mortars that night, and more than 500 riders who went out to pursue were ambushed by the opponent's mines and machine guns, and almost all the troops were annihilated, since then, the reconnaissance detachment of the Chinese Empire began to be active in the entire front line, the general-purpose machine gun team cooperated with the ambush, the single artillery went deep, the sappers planted mines, sniped officers, kidnapped hostages, burned fire grain and grass, destroyed bridges, etc., but all the means that can be thought of are all strange.

It can be said that the Beiyang New Army was beaten to the point that he couldn't even let out a fart, Zeng Guofan regretted his original actions, and the current New Army patrol team no longer dared to leave the ten miles range of the Xingyuan camp, even so it was always attacked and complained, and going to the battalion patrol has been regarded as an act of excessive bravery, and the elusive snipers of the Chinese Empire have tortured the Beiyang New Army to be suspicious all day long, and the morale is not as good as before.

On the contrary, the Qing army's own team monk Grinqin has not had so many troubles as Zeng Guofan, compared to this group of Qing army, it is very nourishing, except that the salary is less than sixty percent less than the Beiyang New Army, everything is quite comfortable, according to the Qing army's own words, that person's money and people eliminate disasters, who gets more salary, who is good, who should go to work hard!

Whether you want to fight or not can be said to be between the thoughts of the high-level on both sides, but Lin Haijiang is not as anxious as Zeng Guofan, nor is he as carefree as Monk Greenqin, in order to launch the landing battle at Dagukou, Lin Haijiang decided to concentrate the main ships of the Imperial Navy on a tentative visit to Hong Kong and Singapore to see the reaction of the British, although Prussia has revealed to the Imperial side Britain's recent moves in Europe, Myers has also brought back relevant information, Britain seems to be looking for allies in Europe, It is prepared to give the Qing court military aid and loan support at a critical moment.

Lin Haijiang knew very well that the Qing court was a withdrawal bank that did not need to be repaid in the eyes of the European colonial powers, and this bank was still open 24 hours a day, and more importantly, the bank's security measures were rotten to the point of being in a state of confusion.

On November 1, 1861, the First and Second Fleets of the Imperial Chinese Navy set sail in the port of Guangzhou, which can be described as lively and noisy, even Shen Yilan, who usually does not come forward easily, also stood on the dock with colorful clothes to see them off, while Wanxin and Jiang Rong'er stood together, all looking at Lin Haijiang with their eyes, and Fu Shanxiang stood in the middle of Shen Yilan, Caiyi, Wanxin, and Jiang Rong'er, and added the purple juan and lily on the other side, and the seven women were divided into four groups!

Shen Yilan brought her own body girl colorful clothes, Wanxin and her junior sister Jiang Rong'er fought against her, and Zijuan and Lily were also staring at the other two groups, the three groups can be said to be full of gunpowder, and the girls are also high-spirited!

Shen Yilan only felt that her competitors were so strong today, and when she remembered that her father often told her that she was the main house, which was equivalent to the queen, Shen Yilan unconsciously regained her self-confidence, and frequently waved her handkerchief to Lin Haijiang! The most helpless is Fu Shanxiang, she regrets very much why she listened to Cluna to see her off, but as a result, Cluna couldn't come to something temporarily, and she became a loner.

Jiang Rong'er saw Shen Yilan's appearance of waving a handkerchief, tied the handkerchief a few times in anger, stretched her body, and threw two or two silk embroidered gold handkerchiefs to the position where Lin Haijiang was standing on the side of the ship, and was planting Lin Haijiang's left eye, who was not at all defenseless, the head of state was attacked, and there was chaos on the deck of the ship, Shen Yilan glanced at Jiang Rong'er and Wanxin angrily, turned around and left with colorful clothes!

Jiang Rong'er and Wanxin also left one after another, and the ship left the port and began to fire a salute! The crowd of farewells began to disperse slowly, and Fu Shanxiang was about to turn around and leave, when he suddenly found that there was a person in the crowd who looked at him as if he was familiar? When she searched for it, she didn't disappear without a trace.

Lin Haijiang chose the Hainan as the first flagship of the visit, followed by the Indochina Peninsula, and the Zhenyuan, Dingyuan, Weiyuan, and Laiyuan ships of the First Fleet and the ships of the Second Fleet, such as Blitz 01, Blitz 02, and Blitz 03, formed a double column, and each ship maintained a staggered position at a distance of 20 chains.

The first anchorage of the fleet of the Chinese Empire after anchoring from the port of Guangzhou was Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, Lin Haijiang knew that his old acquaintances such as Bao Ling had already left, and the current port was Sir McDonald, and he still had some interest in this Sir McDonald.

(To be continued)