Chapter 766: Insatiable

Unhurriedly stayed in Sakai Port, and did not rush to Kyoto. Why is this happening, Chen Xie didn't say, the people below are habitually obedient. For half a month in a row, shipload after ship of supplies arrived, but the main force of the 11th Division did not come, but was ordered to sweep Kyushu Island, pull out the local armed forces one by one, and with the cooperation of political workers, a vigorous campaign to crack down on local tyrants and divide the land. The 33rd Regiment, which advanced lightly, encountered no resistance from the formation along the way, and when it arrived at the outskirts of Sakai Port, it was also ordered to rest and recuperate.

Half a month was enough time for Chen Xie to collect and sort out all aspects of intelligence, during which Yamauchi Toyomasa brought 3,000 troops and asked to follow the new Japanese king to the north to rebel. Counting the time, twenty-five days have passed since the beginning of the Nagasaki landing. At this time, a news reached Chen Xie's hands, the rebels had withdrawn from Edo, and after some deliberation, a small half of the daimyo were scattered, and the rest were led by Satsuma and Nagasu and the two feudal clans, and they waved their troops south, and rushed to Kyoto in the starry night, and now the rebels gathered in Kyoto numbered no less than 50,000.

After hearing the news, Chen Xie gave the order to march to Kyoto. At this time, Chen Xie's intention was already obvious, that is, to give the rebels a time to assemble, and then solve the problem in a decisive battle, saving a lot of effort. At this time, Chen Xie's troops included the 3rd Division of the Infantry Division, the 2nd Regiment of the Mountain Brigade and its brigade units, the 33rd Infantry Regiment, and the 1st and 2nd Artillery Regiments (newly formed troops, equipped with new 105 retreat guns), and the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Regiments (mounted infantry, main combat missions, reconnaissance and pursuit).

This time the march into Kyoto had no bright spots in military affairs, and it was slightly insufficient to describe it with the words "dignified", and "cautious" was almost the same. However, this military operation was highly evaluated in the later military history of this time and space.

"Throughout the seven years of Jianxin's Eastern Expedition to quell the rebellion. The landing operations at Nagasaki and Sakai ports gave full play to their superiority at sea and had the effect of surprise. After the successful landing, they patiently rested and waited for backup, and at this time, the entire battlefield situation coupled with the unique geographical environment of Dongying, the rebels had to take the initiative to seek a decisive battle. This. For the yang to seek also, a dignified and upright teacher, a battle to determine the crown. ”

This is the assessment of a certain military historian, and it is quite pertinent. Chen Xie's idea is so simple, is it necessary for me to make any tactical changes? Completely redundant! It is to be upright and move forward step by step. Japan was such a large place, and after the 50,000 rebels landed at Sakai Port, there was not much room for maneuver, and logistical supply was difficult. You don't have to think about anything else at all. The rebels must seek a decisive battle and gamble or die. Another option is to fight Edo desperately, but the problem is that the nest of the Satsuma Domain has been wiped out, and there is no heart to continue attacking Edo. The other daimyo also have their own abacus, so it's as simple as that, rest in Sakai Port and wait for work. A decisive battle is a foregone conclusion.

The longer it drags on, the worse it is for the rebels. This has been agreed between Cheung Chau and Satsuma. The reason is very simple, because the strength of the Ming Empire is completely incomparable compared to Japan. Only by winning the decisive battle of Kuài will you have a chance to bargain. The more you know about Daming, the more you understand this truth. This is also the reason why the big man of the Ming Dynasty has been slow to move in Sakai Port, he is not in a hurry at all.

Maori Tsunashi on horseback has almost recovered. The battle on the Nameless Heights can be regarded as convincing him. Later cannons were not put to use in the end, because they were also given away. These cannons were not easy to come by, and he refused to just give them away.

He was reluctant before, but this time he didn't have a choice. After the news of the landing of the Ming army in Nagasaki and Sakai Port came, the entire battle situation changed radically. The hearts of the daimyos fluctuated, and even if the shogunate army did not have the intention of taking the initiative, everyone had no intention of continuing to fight Edo. There is only one way to keep the one in front of you, and that is to defeat the Ming army, which is not very much for the time being, on the battlefield, and then take the initiative to extend an olive branch to negotiate.

"Compared to Japan, Daming is a giant!" Mori Tsunahiro sighed, and Shimazu Tsunaki, who was riding side by side, twitched his cheek a few times, raised his horsewhip and pointed at the cannon that was dragging it up a small hill nearby: "Whether you can gain an advantage on the battlefield depends on the effect of the sudden attack of these cannons." ”

The battlefield chosen by Shimazu Tsunaki and Mori Tsunahiro was Yawata on the east bank of the Jogawa River, and they put on the momentum of a battle against the water. Of course, the battlefield they chose had to be accepted by Chen Xie, otherwise everyone would continue to drag it down, and in the end, the rebels would have to take the initiative to attack, which was the ruthless status quo.

Therefore, these two still have a fluke mentality, counting on Chen Xie to fight a decisive battle on the battlefield of their choice.

If it was a normal state, of course Chen Xie would not fight a decisive battle on the battlefield chosen by the enemy, but Chen Xie still chose this battlefield. The reason is very simple, fighting on the back means that there is no way out, for the rebels, morale will be much higher, but what to say about morale, once the casualties reach a certain level, no matter how high the morale is, it will not be able to bear it.

There is another reason, that is, the so-called Hachiman Iron, and Chen Xie has a deep grudge against this name.

When the main forces of the two armies were fifteen kilometers apart, the cavalry regiment in the vanguard and the cavalry of the rebels encountered. After a short exchange of fire, the rebel cavalry was completely powerless in the face of the rate of fire of the rear-loading rifles, and after dropping hundreds of corpses, the rebels retreated.

As Shimazu and Maori expected, the Ming army really launched an active attack. At this time, these two people seem to see a little hope, although it is very slim, but how many people don't shed tears when they see the coffin?

"Father, look!" Shimazu Yoshiki was riding on the back of a small horse, and suddenly raised his hand to point ahead. This is a high place, and you can see far away in the monoculars, and a Ming army that is marching suddenly stops, and soon puts on a scattered formation.

"What's the panic, this is a small army." Shimazu Tsunaki reprimanded his son, turned his head to look at Maori, and said, "Maori-kun, leave it to me here, and please leave it to Your Excellency over there." Maori Tsunahiro shook his head: "Actually, I'm worried about the back. Shimazu Tsunaki frowned and said, "Really? Actually, I'm worried, but do you and I have any other choice? "What are these two worried about? Naturally, the other daimyo behind you, what if they surrender to the shogunate? Isn't that just being flanked from the front and back?

Chen Xie did not march to Kyoto with the army because it was not necessary. At this time, Chen Xie was meeting the merchants of the Ming Dynasty in his residence. For the army, killing is the main theme, and for businessmen, it is a huge business opportunity.

"Grandpa, the shogunate didn't tell the truth, Sado's gold mountain must be taken, and the villain is willing to work for grandpa." Song Zhao is really not polite at all, as a representative of the merchants, the current Sakai Port is simply the world of the Ming merchants. Sado Kanayama has always been one of the main sources of income for the shogunate, and the production is relatively high. Tokugawa Iemitsu has been holding it in his hands all the time, refusing to take it out as collateral.

In this situation, how can the Ming businessmen, who have long been red-eyed, let go of such a big piece of fat. When the group visited Chen Xie, Song Zhao immediately rushed to this piece of fat. It is said that this request is very excessive, and as Song Zhao's identity, he should not covet this thing at all, but he has a small relationship, that is, he has been providing Japanese raw silk to the United Silk Factory in Huating for a long time.

In the Japanese market, Chen Xie has long encouraged private merchants to run, and his own caravans do not touch this line. In the past, the United Firm has never touched the maritime trade, not because Chen Xie is poor and generous, but because the United Firm has gradually transformed from a business entity in the past to a service entity. Banking, futures, ports, manufacturing, these are the mainstream businesses of United Group.

"Hehehe!" Chen Xie laughed three times, and in the face of the red-eyed businessman, his face suddenly sank and said, "What, do you think that someone Chen can't run Jinshan well?" With just one sentence, everyone's heads bowed. What else can you say, don't worry about it, hurry up and think about other deals.

"Grandpa, the villain has no form, please atone for your sins." Song Zhao pleaded guilty first, otherwise who knows how he will be at the mercy of him.

"Well, your idea is good, this king is not narrow-minded. I see, you are short-sighted, and you can make a lot of money. Sakai Port, don't open your mouth, it must be the reorganized government to take back power, Dongying can't run a parliament like the Ming Dynasty, and you don't have to worry about legislation and supervision. Another sentence, blocking the thoughts of these people.

Everyone is blind now, if you want to make a lot of money, Jinshan is one, and Sakai Port is another one. Originally, the result of the discussion was to bring the management power of Sakai Port under the consortium of Ming merchants. Who would be too little for money? As long as you have the power to manage the port, even taxes can be saved.

When everyone was dumbfounded, Chen Xie stabbed again: "Chen is the new king of Dongying, do you think that in Chen's Dongying, can you not pay taxes according to law?" Or do you think that Chen is not capable enough to manage the small country of Dongying? ”

This sentence was even more ruthless, and the hearts of all the businessmen were broken. It is normal for rich people to pursue power, and they have tasted it in Daming. I thought it would be the same in Dongying, but I didn't expect it to be the same thing at all.

Chen Xie's face sank again, and he pointed to a businessman and said, "You guys, you must be scolding someone Chen for crossing the river and demolishing the bridge." Yes, you did contribute to the battle of Sakai Port, but did you ever think that even without your help, I would still be able to take Sakai Port easily. And in the battle, you will also be affected by the pond fish. Or do you think that under Chen's rule, the benefits of doing business in Sakai Port will be much less than before? Well! (To be continued......)