The equipment of ships and the recruitment of soldiers in the water war are only one aspect, and more importantly, the command system of the naval army, that is, a large number of professional officers.

Compared to traditional land warfare, surface warfare is a completely different mode of thinking.

Except for people like Li Jiangyao, who are talented and intelligent, and at the same time have modern knowledge reserves, the vast majority of the generals and colonels of the Zhenjiang Army, including Xu Youchang, know nothing about water warfare.

If you insist on using the idea of cavalry and infantry to command the battleship across the battlefield, the final result can only be that you are abused by Bao Yuchun to doubt your life.

In view of this, Li Jiangyao paid special attention to the introduction of naval officers. In this matter, Lao Dong can't help much. After all, the establishment of the Yanwutang was under the rule of the Governor's Office, and the military department could not intervene.

Li Jiang thought about it and wrote a letter to Murong Xue, asking Murong Xue and Princess Fenyang to help each other. And his eyes were aimed at the former naval martial arts students of the Imperial Capital Yanwutang.

The Naval Martial Arts Department is a relatively marginal existence within the Yanwutang, and it was established late, and there are not many people trained every year. In addition, the world was in turmoil before, and many of the naval forces failed to be incorporated into the army after graduating from the martial arts department, and had to live in the civilian population.

Murong Xue and Princess Fenyang used their respective connections to inquire around, and successively contacted three hundred and fifty-one naval martial arts students who had already become ordinary people and lived an ordinary life.

On behalf of Li Jiangyao, the capital of the Zhenjiang Army, they issued a sincere invitation to those martial arts students who were slightly surprised:

Come, brethren of the trolls! Thousands of miles of rivers, let you crisscross and cross!

In the end, a total of 217 naval forces gladly applied for the draft, and with the covert response of the Intelligence Department, they gathered at the secret base of the 10th Army in Zhenjiang at Hongze Lake.

Hongze Lake, in fact, is not in the defense area of the Zhenjiang Army, but the strategic location this time is too unique, so that Li Jiangyao was selected to choose, after all, he was unwilling to give up, and finally relied on 200,000 arrows to "bribe" Chang Tao and seize this treasure land.

Hongze Lake is located in the north of Yangzhou and Taizhou, covering a very wide area and having a deep draft, which is very suitable for hiding and building good warships, and is also convenient for carrying out water combat training.

What's more, the waterways around Hongze Lake extend in all directions.

To the northeast, there is a waterway leading to the wide sea; To the west, it can enter the hinterland of the Central Plains through the Huai River; To the south, it is connected to another large lake, Gaoyou Lake, which in turn leads to the Grand Canal, which allows warships to sail directly into the river.

Even if Bao Yuchun's scout scouts or naval fleet went north from the Great River through the canal, they could only reach Gaoyou Lake first, and would not easily find the Hongze Lake base further north.

It is not only conducive to hiding soldiers, but also convenient for fighting, such a good place, 200,000 arrows are still very cheap.

-

"Jiang Yao, don't say it, this batch of naval martial arts is all good." Xu Youchang poured a cup of herbal tea, and said with a smile while wiping his mouth: "When I was in the imperial capital to perform martial arts, the cavalry department looked down on the infantry department, and the infantry department looked down on the sailors department, so I never thought that those fishers were anything great. However, during this time, I was really convinced, people do have the ability! ”

He took off his helmet and continued to speak excitedly: "Let's just talk about the first batch of new warships delivered, my men have been fiddling for three days, and the big ships are still spinning in place, like a drunken wine Mengzi. But as soon as the people of the naval army and the martial arts department went up, the battleship seemed to suddenly come to life, swooped out, and rampaged on the lake, as fast as a galloping horse! ”

Li Jiangyao heard him say something interesting, and couldn't help laughing: "So, there is a specialization in the art industry, and you have to rely on experts when it is critical, and you can't fool at all." By the way, have you found any good seedlings? ”

Xu Youchang nodded: "Yes!" I was very impressed by the three of them. One is Nie Xianzeng from Bianzhou, the other is Luo Yuan from Donghai County, and the other is Wang Wenlie, a native of Jiaozhou. They were all Wuke in 821 years, and when the Turks invaded, the three of them were still performing martial arts, but the imperial court did not take them to Yizhou, but each sent an official post to let them return to their hometowns to enlist in the army. ”

Li Jiangyao said with a smile: "The hometown of several of them, at that time, they were either fighting or being occupied by the rebels, and what they learned was useless, so it would be a little embarrassing." ”

"Yes, so after these three people returned to their hometowns, they all stayed at home and lived the life of ordinary people, burying the people with their skills." Xu Youchang said with emotion.

Li Jiangyao asked: "What are their characteristics, tell me a little about them, including how you plan to use them in the future?" ”

Xu Youchang sat up straight and replied seriously: "Nie Xianzeng is a little older, he is relatively calm, calm, and strategic; Luo Yuan is a fierce general, his personality and temper are very similar to Du Jian, and he has great courage; Wang Wenlie's family itself is a shipbuilder, and he has a lot of research on water combat equipment, and he has a bookish atmosphere, which is the pattern of a Confucian general. ”

He paused slightly: "After these days of observation, I feel that the three of them are very upright, brave and loyal, love soldiers like sons, and are very loved by the soldiers, so I plan to focus on training." At present, the Tenth Army is temporarily divided into four flags, of which three are the main fleet and the other is the light marines. I considered promoting the three of them to command a banner each, and at the same time let Nie Xianzeng serve as the Sima of the army to assist me in commanding the Tenth Army. ”

"Yes, when you are not there, let Nie Xianzeng temporarily take command." Li Jiangyao nodded and said: "Fighting a war is not child's play, and it is absolutely impossible for a layman to command an insider, so the sooner they mature, the more beneficial it will be to the whole war." When it's time to let go, you must boldly let go and let those two hundred naval forces and martial arts pick up the burden! ”

Xu Youchang solemnly agreed, and then asked, "Jiang Yao, how is the construction of the warship going?" Now more than 20,000 sailors are assembled in Hongze Lake, and only 28 warships are available, which is not a big deal at all. ”

Li Jiangyao smiled calmly: "I called you back this time for this purpose." Some time ago, because I had to buy high-quality wood, I delayed some work. At present, Mamu has solved seventy or eighty percent of the supply problem, and nineteen large docks in Yangzhou and Taizhou are in full swing, with an average of two warships launched every day. A new batch of 50 building boats and fighting ships are moored in the Sihe waterway, waiting for you to pick up the goods. ”

"Great!" Xu Youchang suddenly jumped up and said happily: "Fifty big ships, the soldiers are going to be happy now!" ”

Li Jiangyao smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Compared to Bao Yuchun's army, this number is still too insignificant, and it is possible to run out of them all in a fierce confrontation." Even if we were given another month, we would only be able to build sixty warships at most. The entire Zhenjiang Tenth Army was full of battles, but the combat strength of 130 to 150 ships was less than a fraction of that of the rebels. ”

Xu Youchang agreed: "If this ratio is converted to the army, its severity is not comparable to the situation when Metasequoia City was raised. ”

"That's why I called you back," Li Jiangyao said, "We have to unify our thinking first and work out a set of strategies to fight more with less, as we did back then." ”

Xu Youchang sat down again and asked seriously, "Do you have any ideas?" ”

Li Jiangyao nodded: "Eight words, avoid the real and attack the false, and snatch the warship." ”

"Building a ship requires a lot of money, materials and time. Every time we grab an enemy ship, our own combat power will increase by one point, and the enemy's combat power will be weakened by one point. Eliminating the advantages of one can finally reverse the unfavorable situation! ”

Xu Youchang nodded again and again: "You're right. Two days ago, Nie Xianzeng told me about the tactics of the naval army, and they mentioned that fire attack was the mainstay. However, it now seems that merely burning and depleting the enemy's fleet will not fundamentally create the superiority of our army. Bao Yuchun's strength is huge, and he can afford it more than us. Even if the Tenth Army exchanged one ship for ten of his ships, in the end we would collapse first. ”

Li Jiangyao bowed slightly: "Therefore, at the beginning of your preparations for war, you should establish the idea of snatching the enemy's warships and using them for your own use, and take this as the foundation to study and formulate various strategies, including: the goal of the attack, the mode of combat, the means of grabbing the ship, and the transfer route after you succeed." We must strive to win enemy ships in every battle, and the more we fight, the stronger we become! ”

"I've written them all down, and I'll talk to them right away when I get back!" Xu Youchang replied solemnly.

"In addition, we must try to consolidate the Hongze Lake base." Li Jiangyao instructed: "Although the location there is very superior, it is not foolproof. If Bao Yuchun gathered the main fleet and forcibly advanced northward, the Tenth Army would have no choice but to escape. ”

He paused slightly, and continued: "Therefore, after you go back, you must organize special manpower to build a number of military forts and arrow towers near the mouth of Hongze Lake, and set up a large number of trebuchets and giant crossbows. If conditions permit, sluices and underwater piles should also be added, and complex access channels should be preset, so that it is difficult for foreign ships to move an inch without anyone to guide them. ”

Xu Youchang replied loudly: "Obey the order of the capital protector!" Deploy as soon as you return to your duties. Not only Hongze Lake, but also Gaoyou Lake and the canal have also built a shooting fortress! ”

Li Jiangyao nodded with satisfaction, and continued: "I still have an idea, but it is not mature, I need you to discuss it with Nie Xianzeng, Luo Yuan, and Wang Wenlie." Can you send one or two warships out of the wide sea in the east and go around to the area of Quanzhou in Mingzhou further south? ”

Xu Youchang reacted and said in surprise: "Are you planning to outflank the rebels?" ”

"There is such an intention." Li Jiangyao smiled faintly: "Lao Jianhua has piled most of his men and horses on the Dajiang defense line, which will inevitably lead to the emptiness of troops in various parts of the south. If we can find out the deployment of the rebel sailors in the open sea, we will have the opportunity to transport a surprise army to land behind the enemy in large ships. In decisive battles, such actions can often play a key role. ”

Xu Youchang nodded convincingly, and suddenly smiled: "Jiang Yao, I doubt that when you were in the martial arts hall, did you go behind my back and Murong Xue to eavesdrop on the lessons of the Sailor Department?" ”