Chapter 974
: Your Excellencies’ Brilliant Plan
Chapter 974: Your Excellencies’ Brilliant Plan
Jingnan,
There was a bustle in the imperial camp. As the sun set and dusk approached, bonfires had been lit in various places in the camp, and the same was true on the corresponding county city walls, with bright flames visible.
now,
In the tent of Marquis Luo Yun,
Zhang Jinyu pointed to the topographic map on the table and asked Ningbian to hang it up.
"Everyone, General Hu has roughly drawn up the defense of the county city. The North City and the West City are heavily armed, while the East City and the South City are relatively less armed. Therefore, I have decided to divide my troops to attack. As for the method of attacking the city, if you have any good ideas, please discuss them. As for the crossbows, there are a total of twenty, all of which are divided equally between the North City and the West City. I have decided to use large shields for protection and escort the crossbowmen to shoot at close range. What do you think?"
This is the method Zhang Jinyu remembered the Jurchens used. At that time, the Jurchens used only wooden shields, which were very effective. Now that they have been replaced with iron shields, they should be no worse than wooden shields.
The generals in the tent were overjoyed. The Marquis had finally made up his mind to attack the city. Only Duan Wenyuan asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"My Lord, didn't you say you wanted to rest for a few more days and wait for news from Prince Beijing and Prince Dongping? Why did you change your mind now?"
Could it be that there was some bad news coming from Prince Beijing? Before Marquis Luo Yun could speak, General Xuanwu Ling Yuantao started shouting loudly,
"General Duan, it is the Marquis' decision whether to fight or not. Prince Beijing is in Xihe County, so far away. Even if the news comes, it will be a few days later. By then, the hot food will be cold, how can we eat it?"
"Yes, after we take down the county town, we will head south directly and destroy the Taiping Sect's lair, and make that Chu Sect Leader kneel down and beg for surrender."
General Xuanwei Li Zongbao also stood up with great ambition. He had already accumulated a lot of military merits. If he could make a few more great achievements, it would be enough to raise his title.
After these words were spoken, there was a commotion in the tent. The King of Jin seemed to be inspired by the morale of his generals, and his worries gradually dissipated.
Zhang Jinyu smiled, reached out and patted the table, and instantly the tent became quiet.
"Everyone, what you said makes sense. The reason why I changed my mind is because scouts from Weizhou and Linyue Mansion reported that the Fallen Leaf Valley leading directly to Linyue Mansion has been blocked by the enemy's camp. The road is blocked. The only way is to capture Weizhou to the east and go south to bypass it. I decided to destroy the place where the enemy's weapons and armor were forged. As for the White Lotus Sect, we need to wait for an opportunity to act."
As for how to wait for the right opportunity, it depends on how the White Lotus Sect acts. They can't eat meat by themselves while the two princes can't even have a sip of soup. As for who is more powerful between the two sects, in Zhang Jinyu's mind there is no difference. They are just from evil cults and use the same routines.
"My Lord, if that's the case, attacking a city is nothing more than that. As long as you give the order, I am willing to be the vanguard."
Yang Shixiong had always had a cold face, but today when he spoke, he was very aggressive. After seeing blood, he changed so much. Yang Shixiong is worthy of being the first general of the Beijing Camp.
"Okay, in that case, I will not delay any longer. Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. we will cook. After 11:00 a.m., all the troops will gather to attack the city. Tonight, we will divide our forces and set up camp to besiege Linshan County City. We must not let a single person escape."
Zhang Jinyu's eyes flashed with coldness, and he thought a lot in his mind. As the saying goes, beat one, pull one, or raise one, and the other one can't be beaten to death. I don't know what those Taiping Army thieves said. The three counties in Lingnan have already fallen. In this way, even after the rebellion in Jingnan is quelled, it is still impossible to completely wipe it out. After all, there are many mountains in the south and the miasma is everywhere. It really can't be solved by more soldiers.
He could only use Linyue Mansion as a barrier to suppress the three Lingnan counties. If the imperial court really wanted to wipe them out, they would have to send someone else. He did not want to get involved. Therefore, after recovering southern Beijing, he would use Gu Ping's troops to garrison Linyue Mansion and Linzhou. This way, he would have a buffer zone and could report to the imperial court.
So stopping at Lin Yue Mansion was the end. He calmed down, glanced at everyone, took out the command arrow and placed it on the table.
"Tomorrow, General Dingbei Hu Shoucheng will lead 50,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry to attack the East Gate."
"Well, I will take your order,"
Hu Shoucheng stood up, clasped his fists, responded loudly, and took a few steps forward to receive the command.
"General Duan Wenyuan of Dingxi led 80,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry to attack the South Gate, waiting for an opportunity to strike."
"I will accept the order,"
Duan Wenyuan stood up, clasped his fists, and stepped forward to receive the order without any hesitation.
"Okay, General Dingnan Yin Renchang, lead 80,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry to intimidate the north gate and try to reduce casualties."
Zhang Jinyu took the command arrow and gave one more instruction. The north gate was the strongest, with the most defenders and perhaps the heaviest casualties. He needed to suppress the momentum of the main camp. The reason why he was chosen was because in the last battle, he commanded with confidence and was able to hold his ground.
Hearing the Marquis' instructions, General Yin's face became solemn and he nodded in response;
"I will obey your order,"
"Okay, for the remaining people, General Xuanwu Ling Yuantao will stay behind to guard the main camp with 50,000 men, and the rest will follow me to attack the East Gate. Upon receiving the order, you will immediately start your troops and set up camp. Don't be lazy."
"Yes, Lord Marquis,"
All the generals stood up to answer, except for one person, Ling Yuantao, who looked anxious. Why did they keep him here? Just as he was about to speak, his body was agitated, and the brocade wrapped around his left arm trembled. The wound instantly hurt a lot. He sighed in his heart and said no more.
Subsequently,
The generals left the tent with solemn and excited expressions, and went back to gather their troops. Soon, the sound of drums and assembly horns could be heard throughout the camp.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were on the move, covering the sky and the sun. The first one to gather his troops was Hu Shoucheng. After sending his personal soldiers to inform the marquis, he immediately led his troops out of the camp and walked along the north gate in a show of force, which attracted the defender Chang Hao on the city wall. He kept beating the drum to gather the soldiers and make defensive arrangements. But after a while, he had to watch the army pass by and go east.
"Captain, something is wrong. The imperial soldiers did not move during the day, but they left the camp just as night was approaching. It looks strange."
An incense master stood on the top of the city wall and looked out. There were dense figures flashing, at least tens of thousands of soldiers. Could it be that they had to fight at night? This was a taboo in military strategy.
Chang Hao frowned and stared at the officers and soldiers outside. After a while, he actually saw some clues. Outside the soldiers, there was a large amount of baggage, and it was obvious that they were going to set up camp. To the east, they were heading to the east city gate.
"Immediately report to the Left Protector that the imperial army has been divided. Nearly 100,000 soldiers have gone to the east, bringing a large amount of baggage with them. They should be heading for the East Gate."
"Yes, Captain, I will pass the order on immediately."
At the same time, outside the South City Gate,
The same drums are beaten to gather the generals.
The commander of the South Gate was the confidant of the Left Protector, Captain Zhao Ze. He stood behind the battlements and looked outside. The imperial court's troops had already set up camp. Looking down from above, he saw bright lights and endless soldiers and armor. His face was a little solemn. Although he realized that the imperial court would definitely make up its mind to capture Linshan County, he was shocked to see so many soldiers.
"Come here, report to the Left Protector that the imperial court has divided over 100,000 troops and has set up camp outside the South City Gate. They should be preparing to attack the city. I hope the Left Protector can make plans early."
"Yes, Captain."
A personal guard behind him took the order and left, but the solemn atmosphere never dissipated. Although Linshan County City was strong, the city was very large. Fortunately, Master Chu left behind a lot of troops. It all depended on how the imperial court fought.
Outside the West City Gate,
In the camp,
Zhang Jinyu did not rest in the big tent. Instead, he stood at the gate with Ning Bian and others to see them off. It was not until General Yin, who was the last to leave, led his troops out of the camp that he looked at the west gate not far away. There were flames rising into the sky and vaguely visible figures of people moving around.
"My Lord, is there anything wrong?" Ning Bian followed the Marquis's gaze and noticed the movement at the west city gate, so he asked casually.
"There's nothing wrong with it. It's just that after these actions, I don't know which unlucky guy was left behind by the Taiping Sect leader Chu to guard the city. I'm afraid he won't be able to sleep well tonight. He is surrounded from all sides and can't escape even if he has wings."
"My Lord, I think those who can stay here are not good-for-nothings. That Master Chu is no ordinary person."
Ning Bian retracted his gaze. No matter who it was, they were doomed to die. Who would be willing to stay? If they were of low status, it would be difficult to command the troops. If they were of high status, how could they be willing? Those who could stay would definitely be difficult to deal with.
"Well, you are right. Those who can stay to fight are willing to die. We will see the quality of the defenders tomorrow. If we can win in one battle, there is no need to use those Thunderbolt Chariots. If not, we will have to make long-term plans."
"Yes, Lord Marquis,"
In Zhang Jinyu's heart, he had already marked the person named Tian with a bold red mark. He was a talented person, but it would be a disadvantage for him to stay in the court. It would be better for him to shine under his command.
"Go and call out the chief official Tian, and find a quiet tent for him to have a feast."
"Yes, Lord Marquis, I will finally understand."
Ning Bian instantly understood what the Marquis meant. He wanted to recruit this person, so he winked at the guards around him. The guards nodded and left quietly.
In the city of Jinling in Jiangnan,
At this moment, the sky was already dark and the afterglow of the setting sun was particularly enchanting, adding a touch of auspiciousness to the peaceful Jiangnan region. However, the people in the city were in a hurry, with a hint of worry on their faces.
Jiangnan, which had been peaceful for a long time, was now plagued by disasters. In addition, the White Lotus Sect was causing great trouble on the west bank of the canal. Merchants and cargo owners traveling from south to north were even more cautious.
Jiangnanchun Restaurant,
The candles have been lit,
Eunuch Yang was hosting today. Shen Wanhe, who led the Textile Bureau, had already set up a table of fine wine in the West Garden Flower Hall to entertain the Supervisory Envoy Su Chongsu. It could be considered a welcoming banquet. Even the Inspector General Jing came to accompany him. Together with the three people from the prefectural government, basically everyone was there.
The main hall and flower hall are in the East Garden, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, adding a sense of solemnity in the spring breeze.
In the restaurant,
A table of fine Jiangnan delicacies was placed in front of everyone.
Eunuch Yang sat in the main seat, wearing a dark-patterned python robe made of fine Shu brocade, with a bright yellow jade belt tied around his waist. There was a faint smile on his face, and that smile was like thin ice floating on the water, which would break at the touch of a finger. However, his eyes were as sharp as ever as he scanned the crowd.
"Come on, it's a rare gathering for all the gentlemen. I seldom come to Jiangnan. It's a great honor to meet all the gentlemen, especially for Lord Su to come here. Cheers, everyone."
"Eunuch Yang, please,"
"please,"
Everyone responded and raised their glasses to drink. On the left side of Eunuch Yang was the Supervisory Envoy Su Chong who had just arrived in Jinling, and on the right was the Inspector General Jing. The rest of the people sat down in turn. After finishing their drinks, Eunuch Yang spoke again;
"Everyone, come and taste the specialties of Jiangnan, which are not available in the capital. Sir Su, please come in."
"Thank you, Eunuch Yang."
Su Chong nodded, stretched out his hand, picked up a golden crab from Jinghu Lake with chopsticks, and slowly peeled and ate it. Seeing this, Eunuch Yang smiled and said,
"Oh, Lord Su is the one who knows how to eat. This golden crab is something I love when I go to Jiangnan. Lord Su likes it too. What is it called?"
He said it suddenly, and even forgot the words. Jing Cunliang took the chopsticks and picked up one for Eunuch Yang, saying;
"Great minds think alike. Eunuch Yang, please come as well. Speaking of golden crabs, they are a specialty of Jinling. They are raised in the water of Jinghu Lake and are available in spring and autumn. The golden crabs in spring are fresh, while the golden crabs in autumn are plump. Eat spring crabs today, and switch to another one in autumn."
There seems to be something else behind the words. Now the days are not over yet, and I am thinking about autumn.
"Well, that's a good point. The purpose of life is to satisfy one's appetite. I just came to Jinling, and I tasted the delicious food with my first bite."
Su Chong finished eating a crab. Although it tasted delicious, the spring crab was thin and it was difficult to eat the meat. It was really a pity.
"Alas, Lord Su is so young, yet he holds a high position. This is enviable. I like young talents. Jiangnan is the most prosperous place in our Dawu Dynasty. Who would have known that such a big incident happened to the Xinbei dike? Although the gap has been repaired, so many fertile fields have been flooded. The longer it takes, the more trouble it will cause. Everyone is here. How is Lord Su doing in resolving the dilemma by reforming the relief system?"
It's no wonder that Eunuch Yang is anxious. The Suzhou Weaving Bureau has already assembled looms, and many people have also used government soldiers to force mulberry planting. Although there are some effects, the overall results are unsatisfactory, so the gap is very large. The four counties of Jinling have 150,000 acres of tax land. As long as it is in place in one step, the gap can be filled. Unfortunately, there has been no movement. His eyes condensed and he glanced at everyone again.
Su Chong did not speak. The matter here had not been sorted out yet, so how could he interrupt? Only Jing Cunliang put down his chopsticks, took over the conversation and said;
"Don't worry, Master. Lord Su's plan has been discussed with the chief official of the yamen. Lord Jia, what did your prefectural yamen discuss?"
Jia Yucun straightened his official robe, as if prepared, and stood up and bowed.
"Lord Jing, Eunuch Yang, disaster relief is a complicated matter. Fortunately, Lord Shen gave us more grain, which can be used for a month. As for the ideas of the county magistrates, I also asked them. They all thought that the idea of the Chunyang County magistrate was the best. He said that the government would guarantee that each acre of good land would be exchanged for 10 stone of grain, and the people would be hired to farm. Then the land could be purchased. Both parties would benefit. Seeing that there was a solution, I agreed."
What he said made sense, but the adults were a little distracted. Now one stone of grain in Jiangnan is worth ten taels of silver, and now one acre is worth one hundred taels of silver. How could the gentry and nobles be willing to do that?
Eunuch Yang narrowed his eyes and said nothing. Lord Jing and Lord Su also kept silent. Only Shen Wanhe, who was at the end of the table, frowned. With such a method, the nobles in Jinling City would definitely not buy it. If so, wouldn't it delay the spring planting? The official in purple robe moved slightly. Although he looked gentle and elegant, he could hardly hide his anxiety at this moment.
"Sir, there is nothing wrong with the discussion, but the price is a bit high. In the past, not to mention ten stone of grain, even fifty stone of grain could be taken out. Now that Jiangnan has suffered from a disaster, the price of grain remains high. This should be considered. I guess there are not many families in Jinling City who would register."
It seems to be a reminder. The key point is the price. He also read the notices issued by the four county offices. It is a good thing, but unfortunately, others don't buy it.
"Lord Jing is right, but few people went to register. I also told you about these things, but the two county magistrates of Chunyang County and Yong'an County actually submitted a memorial to me. Eunuch Yang, Lord Jing, please take a look. They said that this is the food ration for the family. After the autumn harvest, there will be some surplus. This is the minimum they need. After all, they are counting on them to be servants. It is reasonable and well-founded, and I can't say anything."
Jia Yucun looked embarrassed and placed the memorial written by Xu Changwen on the table intact. For a moment, everyone at the table was silent. Eunuch Yang's face became more and more ugly.
"Master Jia, so the idea of converting fields into mulberry trees is not feasible?"
"Eunuch Yang, please calm down. These can still be discussed. However, if someone from an aristocratic family with military honors buys the land and changes its nature, won't it still be impossible to collect taxes?"
Jia Yucun was not in a hurry. There were only so many tax fields left in Jiangnan, and the court's taxes still depended on them. If anyone dared to take action, the court would not have enough taxes by then, and no official would be able to escape.
"That's true. I wonder how Lord Jia will respond."
Eunuch Yang thought about it and realized that what he said was true. If he couldn't even collect these taxes, he would have no hope for anything else.
"My Lord, let's do as Magistrate Xu said. The government will guarantee the sale of the land. The government will take 40% of the taxes, and the servants will take the remaining 30%. Only the buyer can keep the last 30% and the contract will be signed. This way, we can save the government taxes and guarantee the servants' survival. It's a three-pronged approach."
At this point, Jia Yucun's eyes sparkled. The two Xu County Magistrates who came this time were indeed talented. Unfortunately, the power of the powerful in Jiangnan was complicated, and some people didn't even want to pay a tael of silver. Although the method was good, no one was interested.
Almost a sigh.
Everyone at the table had different expressions. The person who could come up with this idea was a genius. Eunuch Yang thought for a moment and looked at Jing Cunliang, asking if it was feasible.
Lord Jing smiled bitterly when he saw this. It was a good thing, but no one agreed to it. No matter how good the policy was, it was just the waiter's boasting.
"Prefect Jia, Lord Su, what do you two think?"
Jia Yucun bowed and said nothing more. Only Su Chong put down his bowl and chopsticks, took the brocade cloth to wash his hands,
"As long as there is a good policy, why not do it? As for whether anyone will appreciate it, it depends on their luck. If it really doesn't work, I will submit it to the capital and the government will take the land. Of course, it would be best if someone takes it."
Su Chong was even more daring, asking the government to take over his land. This was unheard of.
(End of this chapter)