Seeing the marked location, Li Zhaoji fell into deep thought, and suddenly said: "Guo Xu, this is a very creative idea. ”

Guo Xu's strategy is very clear, that is, to fight in the south and trade in the north.

Historically, the Qing army's wars in the Outer Northeast, whether it was the conquest of the Jurchen tribes or the struggle with the Cossacks for the Outer Northeast, were limited to the position near the Heilongjiang River. Then the Mokowei fortress is within the range of the Qing army's troop projection, but the temple street is different.

It is located at the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, more than 2,000 kilometers away from Liaodong, the core area of the Qing army's rule, although there is a river, it is difficult to use troops in that direction, even if it is used, it cannot last, as long as a fortress is built, the Qing army will not even send troops to fight.

And the local people are completely different from those in Vladivostok.

The Jurchen tribes near Vladivostok have been beaten by the Qing army and know how powerful they are, so they will not betray easily, but the lower reaches of the Heilongjiang River are different, the Manchus are relying on the reward of Wu Aya to rule, and the local tribes lack fear of the Manchus and do not have much loyalty.

"So, you support my strategy?" Guo Xu asked excitedly.

Li Zhaoji nodded: "Yes........." As he spoke, he took out a sheepskin from his arms, snatched Guo Xu's pen, wrote a line, signed and sealed, and completed it in one go. He said, "You can take this list and immediately receive fifty thousand taels of silver, which is my support for you." ”

Guo Xu respectfully took the list and said, "But I still need other support, people." ”

Li Zhaoji nodded: "Of course, for such a long-distance colonization, you need reliable people, but you also know that the Eastern Brigade and the Navy have stretched the population of the trading company. ”

Guo Xu immediately said: "I don't compete with the Navy and the Army for human resources, what I need is Liaodong Baoyi and Korea, fresh people, Japanese." ”

Guo Xu introduced his plan in detail, he wanted to use the funds given by Li Zhaoji to build an army, the initial plan was 300 people, this army was dominated by the newly liberated Baoyi slaves in Liaodong, and Jeju Island had been captured, although Liaozhen and the trading company did it together, but Liaozhen didn't care about an island in the open sea at all, and didn't care about the people on the island.

On the contrary, the trading company attaches great importance to Jeju Island, which is a horse breeding farm in North Korea and Xian, with all kinds of facilities and talents for horse breeding, and the site is also very suitable, and Lee Zhaoji has sent someone to take over, and wants to transport the excellent breeds and horses selected in Liaodong to be raised there at the right time, and also plans to introduce excellent horses from Europe and Arabia to improve.

And Guo Xu hopes to draw some craftsmen from the local people of Jeju to join the team of Tusho.

As for the Japanese, they are used as farmers in Guo Xu's planning, but he has never been to Temple Street, and he doesn't know if the local agricultural production can be carried out.

But even if it's not suitable for growing food, vegetables and the like are certainly suitable.

Of course, Guo Xu did not expect to recruit people from Sado, because there was the most shortage of people in the trading company except for fresh water, and the increase in the production of the Sado gold and silver mine depended on more manpower and fresh grain from smuggled from the court.

Guo Xu wanted to directly lead the North Sea Fleet into Japan to plunder the population, which could not only meet the manpower gap needed for colonization, but also bring other benefits.

Obviously, Guo Xu was very thoughtful, his colonization activities were as little as possible to reduce the investment of the trading company's resources, and in order to reduce the resistance from the top management of the trading company, he also avoided competing with other people in the trading company for resources as much as possible.

Lee said: "Yes, but don't indulge in raiding the coast of Japan, because robbery is addictive." ”

Guo Xu nodded hurriedly, there are not many people under his command, and Japan is full of samurai, one careless will be damaged, and the resources he has at his disposal cannot withstand the loss of any defeat.

"I'll come up with a plan as soon as possible for you to decide, and everything you need will be laid out in it.

Obviously, for me, the position of commander of the North Sea Fleet is far less important than the status of the pioneer of the Outer Northeast. And the Jeju, the most powerful warship in the trading company's navy, should not go with me to the wilderness on a transport mission, so I think she should be handed over to Commander Chen's command. Guo Xu said, obviously he has a lot of brains, and he doesn't want his flagship to be better than the commander's of the navy.

Li Zhaoji smiled: "Okay, she will accept the command of the sixth son, but she is still your flagship." Guo Xu, pioneering is an activity far from the core of power, and I want to use the ownership of this battleship to maintain your position in the trading company, do you understand? ”

"Thank you, big boss." Guo Xu nodded immediately.

Seeing that Guo Xu was about to put away the map, Li Zhaoji stopped him, drew his hand in the middle and upper reaches of the Heilongjiang River, and said: "Be careful of the Cossacks that may be infested in this area, as well as the more northerly areas of the coastline, there may also be Cossacks. ”

"Cossacks, what? Beasts? Guo Xu frowned, unable to understand this word at all.

Li Zhaoji wanted to explain, but he was a little hesitant, because he was afraid that his simple explanation would make Guo Xu despise the Cossacks.

After thinking about it, Li Zhaoji found a blank piece of paper and said while drawing: "The Cossacks are also a group of people who are pioneering, and their appearance is similar to that of foreigners. ....... from a territory under the rule of the Golden Horde of the Mongol Horde. ”

Seeing the doubts on Guo Xu's face, obviously he couldn't understand what the Golden Horde was, Li Zhaoji was very helpless, and continued to introduce: "They are from the inland region of Europa, and I think they are the strongest pioneers in the world.

They can use any firearms that exist in this world, muskets and artillery of all kinds, they can ride horses, they are good cavalrymen, they can build ships and sail ships, they are blacksmiths and carpenters, they are fierce and cunning, they are shameless and brave.

They have all the skills they need to colonize, and if I had an empire, I would definitely have them under my command as my eagle dogs. If I had them, I would certainly send them to you to help you in your career. ”

As he spoke, a rough map of the Eurasian continent was drawn, on which Li Zhaoji marked the Heilongjiang River, and marked the outer northeast region with grid lines, and also drew the latitude and longitude to mark the vast Siberian region east of the Ural Mountains, and the approximate territory of the European part of Russia today.

"You see, the outer northeast that you want to open up is such a small piece, and this is the territory of the Russian state in Europe, and between the two, this vast area, which is equivalent to two or three Ming lands, were all opened up by the Cossacks for the emperor of Russia.

And from what I've heard from Europe, they've arrived in this area this year, which is the one you have chosen, north of Nuergandus. They are still exploring and pioneering south along the Heilongjiang River, and I believe that you will soon hear the notoriety of their cannibals in the outer northeast, and even encounter them. Li Zhaoji said.

The expression on Guo Xu's face gradually became solemn, and he asked, "Big shopkeeper, how many Cossacks are there?" ”

Li Zhaoji immediately shook his head: "No, no, you misunderstood, the Cossacks are not a people, but a species. They were a group of peasants who were dissatisfied with the Polish and Russian aristocracy and fled to the steppes, where they established their own kingdom.

Of course, I can't say any of this. And the Cossacks were the eagle dogs of the Russian emperor, and how many there were in Siberia, I don't know. But in the Outer Northeast, this number is not large, and they often carry out expeditions and raids in the size of one or two hundred or even a few dozen people.

In this cold mountain forest, they are your direct opponents. And they also came to plunder precious commodities such as furs. ”

"It sounds like a tough group of people, but I think it's also an opportunity," Guo said.

You say that they have a notoriety of cannibalism, and apparently, everywhere such people are nasty. And if they can even do such a thing as cannibalism, then there is nothing they can't do. Therefore, under their control, various tribes and peoples will definitely be dissatisfied with them, and we can take the opportunity to win them over and get their support. ”

Li Zhaoji nodded: "Very good idea, but only if you can defeat them."

So, Guo Xu, don't always want to rely on ingenuity, train your army well, in this kind of battlefield, the quality of soldiers is very important. I'll let the arsenal in Tamsui give you weapons as a priority. ”

Guo Xu's face was solemn, he nodded heavily, and he said again: "Big shopkeeper, I want to find a few helpers from your personal entourage." ”

Li Zhaoji understood what he meant: "Guo Xu, I completely trust you. ”

Guo Xu said: "In fact, I do need a helper. Everyone knows that the navy and army are more promising departments, and the talents in the trading company will not want to go to the bitter cold, if there is a place with enough talent, but there is no opportunity to express themselves, then this place must be your personal guard.

All of them could write and calculate, and each of them aspired to make a difference. ”

Li Zhaoji asked: "Do you have a candidate you are interested in?" ”

Guo Xu said: "That Luck Dehun is good, he changed his name, no one knows his identity, if he chooses a few Manchurians to work for me, then the development of the Northeast will definitely get twice the result with half the effort." ”

Li Zhaoji smiled slightly: "People are from the Manchu royal family, but you let him be your deputy to attack the Manchu flank, do you think this is reasonable?" ”

Guo Xu thought for a while: "At least in the early stage of development, he was really needed. ”

Li Zhaoji nodded and said, "Okay, you go to him, if you can convince him, bring him here, and I'll rest on your bed." ”

Guo Xu went immediately, and after a short time he brought Luck Dehun.

Luckedhun was also an enterprising man, he now controlled the hussar battalion of the Eastern Brigade, but it was clear that he could not fit in with the army, and the higher-ups here knew his true identity and were not at ease with him.

"If you participate in this program, you will serve as Guo Xu's deputy and provide him with help for a year." Lee Siu Kee said.

"Is it only a year?" What Luck Dehun wants is not to help someone, but to get a chance to rise.

Li Zhaoji nodded and handed Luck Dehun a slip of approval: "You can choose a group of people to serve Guo Xu at will, but they are your people, your team." When you leave, they will also leave with you, and with this slip you will receive twenty thousand taels of silver.

A year later, I hope that you can establish an army for you to drive in the development of the Outer Northeast, the size of this army should be about three hundred people, and each one of them should be like a Cossack, as for what a Cossack is, Guo Xu will tell you. ”

"I think you'll give me a chance to conquer a land in a year's time. ”

Li Zhaoji smiled: "That land is too big for you to conquer, but I really need you to do such a thing."

One year, or maybe two years, and if two years, I will give you another ten thousand taels of silver to sustain your army. ”