Tongzhou Wharf.

Leading two 500-ton converted cargo ships to the north was Xu Wentao, deputy of the Shangyuan Qianhu Institute, who saw Zhu Daolin leaving a group of eunuchs and coming over, and immediately led the two captains to rush forward to salute and report:

"During this time, the weather in Jiangnan was very bad, the rain on land was much heavier than in previous years, and the water level of the small rivers and lakes around Baoshanwei skyrocketed.

"There are also storms on the sea, and the officers and men of the freshwater fleet and the warships have returned to Jinling Shangyuan Port to rest and recuperate, and when we leave Baoshan Port, the wind and rain are mixed, the wind is strong and unpredictable, and the tide height in the coastal waters is about two meters, and it is estimated that we will not be able to go to sea for half a month to 20 days."

Zhu Daolin nodded, roughly calculated the time, now is the season when the cold and hot air currents over the Jiangnan region and the East China Sea converge and the weather changes sharply, he asked the two captains who had matured, and learned that the sea conditions in the Yellow Sea were not very bad, and the two transport ships were in good condition.

Zhu Daolin satisfactorily instructed the two captains to lead the brothers on board to go ashore to rest, and ask Guo Zhongjun to receive this month's military salary in advance, so that the brothers could buy things and take them home, and set sail immediately after loading the horses tomorrow morning.

When the two captains learned that they could stay overnight, they happily saluted and thanked them, and followed Guo Zhongjun to receive the military salary issued in advance.

Zhu Daolin and Xu Wentao, who had not shaved his beard for more than ten days, walked slowly, and briefly told Xu Wentao about the situation of entering Beijing and facing the saint and the upcoming battle in the north.

Xu Wentao was excited after hearing this, and immediately asked Zhu Daolin to participate in the war: "General, let your subordinates be the vanguard in this battle, Denglai ground and even the entire Liaodong, your subordinates are very familiar with it!" ”

Zhu Daolin asked him not to worry: "Brother Wen Tao, there is something I want to ask for your opinion, are you willing to leave the water master." Back to the old business? ”

Xu Wentao replied without hesitation: "Of course I do, if it weren't for the repeated exclusion of the Liaodong generals, and the mother of the family is getting old, she always wants to return to her roots, and her subordinates will never be willing to leave the front line in Liaodong without achieving anything." ”

"To be honest, although the subordinates love sailing. I like the powerful guns on the battleship, but my subordinates' favorite thing is to ride a horse and gallop on the battlefield! ”

"Brother Wen Tao, our army is different from other armies in terms of equipment and training, and the combat methods are very different, and our cavalry is also equipped with short-barreled flintlock muskets, which need to be coordinated with formed musketeers and artillery to form a close whole."

"The same goes for the cavalry scout battalion that is currently training at the South Battalion. All operations were carried out around the entire battlefield, and for a considerable period of time, the cavalry could not form an army on its own. Zhu Daolin kindly reminded.

Xu Wentao nodded: "My subordinates understand that in the current situation, even if they buy back enough war horses, they will not be able to train enough cavalry within two years...... But it doesn't matter, as long as you can beat the Manchu Qing Tartars, even if you are willing to be an infantry subordinate! ”

Zhu Daolin explained: "Don't worry. I called you out because it takes ...... next battle."

"To be honest, I've never been able to make up my mind about your use. It's not that I don't trust you, it's that the stakes are so high that I have to be cautious! ”

"Before I ask for your opinion, there is a highly confidential matter that I want to tell you in advance, but I must not say it until the battle in the north is over."

Xu Wentao's heart sank: "The general can rest assured." The confidentiality ordinance is always kept in mind. ”

Zhu Daolin nodded, took Xu Wentao's arm and walked to the edge of the dock: "The emperor secretly ordered me to expand the naval division and the new army as soon as possible, and lead the Jiangnan New Army to the north to quell the rebellion before the end of the year." ”

"As long as the Kong Youde rebels are eliminated and Dengzhou is taken, the emperor will announce it to the world. I was officially appointed as the Governor of Haiphong in Daming and the Chief Military Officer of Dongjiang Town, gave me the title of General Fengguo, and set up the Governor's Office of Haiphong in Baoshanwei, and put Qingdao Wei, which was expanded on the basis of Weihaiwei and Fushan Thousand Households in Jiaozhou Bay, together with Baoshanwei, under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Haiphong. ”

"My responsibility is that I must open a sea for the emperor before the end of next year to replace the rebirth of the sick Caoyun, and after the end of the Dengzhou counterinsurgency, I will lead the land and water armies under my command to take over the defense of Jinzhouwei, Weihaiwei, Lushunkou, Guangludao and Phi Dao, and launch an attack on the Manchu army to relieve the heavy pressure on the front line of Xuanda."

Xu Wentao stopped and looked at Zhu Daolin in shock, his bearded mouth moved, but he couldn't say a word.

Zhu Daolin patted his arm: "You are from a cavalry, capable, qualified, and only you have fought with the Manchu army among my officers, so I want to appoint you as the acting commander of the new army in the northbound counterinsurgency operation, and you will personally command the battle under the city, and you only need to take the credit of Dengzhou." ”

"At that time, I can justifiably recommend you to the emperor as the commander of the guard, so that you can be in charge alone."

"It's just...... This matter is very important, and I still need to ask for the opinion of Wei Guogong to see if he is willing to give you to me, as well as Ling Tang and his sister-in-law, who finally moved from the north to the south, and just lived a few days of stable life, I am afraid that I am not willing to let you leave Jinling City. ”

Xu Wentao suddenly took a step back, knelt down with a "bang", and stared at Zhu Daolin with blazing eyes: "Xu Wentao swears to the sky, follow the general all his life, and die after death!" ”

"If you violate this oath, heaven and earth will not tolerate it!"

"Hurry up!"

Zhu Daolin stepped forward quickly and dragged Xu Wentao up: "You and my brother don't need this set, there are people around who are not good-looking......

"Okay, since you have made your choice, go back and report to Nanda Camp immediately, follow the first batch of new troops who are about to become an army for a month, and seize the time to familiarize yourself with the coordinated combat methods of infantry and artillery, and familiarize yourself with the equipment and training of the two cavalry battalions."

"We're going north by mid-November at the latest, but then you're going to have to get out of the navy completely."

Xu Wentao was excited: "My subordinates want to go to Jinzhouwei." ”

Zhu Daolin shook his head: "Go to Weihaiwei, Weihaiwei is one of the four Davids of my Ming Dynasty, although it has been abandoned for many years, the foundation is very good, there are forts, there are acropolis, and there are more than 800 veterans who are familiar with the local customs and customs, and the territory is large enough, only a little repair is needed, and the scale of the Chengzu period can be restored." ”

"I plan to build Weihaiwei into a large-scale training base and command center that attaches equal importance to land and water, recruit Qilu young people for training on a large scale, and continuously replenish Jinzhouwei and Phi Dao, so there must be a trustworthy general in charge, and you are a well-deserved candidate."

Xu Wentao was grateful, and immediately told Zhu Daolin all his views and ideas, and finally suggested that Zhu Daolin take over Mao Wenlong's old department, which was now forgotten on Phi Island.

As long as the Jiangnan New Army is strictly trained in accordance with the military orders, military regulations, and drill codes, the Phidao Army, which has been fighting with the Tartars for seven or eight years, will surely become a strong army with extremely combat effectiveness, and it will not be a problem to form the most difficult cavalry to establish.

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