Chapter 2823

Zhu Youli was still a little confused about Chen Yixin's judgment: "What do you two adults mean by this, that the imperial court is ready to abandon Shandong?"

Chen Yixin looked at him and said: "What can we do if we don't give up? Do you want to fight us again with real swords and guns? Not to mention whether we can beat our Haihan Army, how can Mingting still raise enough money now?"

Do you want military pay and food to start the war?"

Zhu Youli was speechless for a moment. Although what Chen Yixin said was harsh, it was indeed the truth.

After Haihan occupied the two prefectures of Denglai, he did not take action against other prefectures in Shandong for several years. However, this does not mean that Haihan gave up his plan to advance westward. He was just making preparations silently and waiting for the time to come.

These preparations were both military and political. Chen Yixin did not want too many repetitions in the process of seizing various parts of Shandong, so he kept silent. But as the time gradually matured, Ming Dynasty should have also noticed that Haihan was going to attack

There were some signs that Shandong was taking action, so we took countermeasures in advance.

However, there is a huge disparity in military strength between the two sides. It is almost impossible for the Ming Dynasty to resist the Haihan army's attack on the frontal battlefield. What's more, with the current economic situation of the Ming Dynasty, there is no money or food for a war. What the Ming Dynasty can do at the moment is not to prevent the Haihan army from seizing Shandong.

, but to minimize one's own losses.

Although the combat effectiveness of this guard army is relatively poor, for Ming Dynasty, it is better to gather them into his own control area than to be absorbed by Haihan, causing the strength to wax and wane.

Bai Kesi said: "The prince said just now that even the Ming army in Jinan City has been mobilized. It seems that they are planning to give up even Jinan City?"

Chen Yixin smiled and said: "It's not that they give up, it's that they know the situation in Jinan City... Prince, can you tell me about it?"

Zhu Youli came back to his senses and nodded, explaining the situation in Jinan City to Bai Kesi.

The city defenses of Jinan City were severely damaged during the Qing invasion in 1639. Especially on the north side of the city facing the Yellow River, many city walls collapsed, the city towers were burned clean, and even the city gates were demolished.

After the war, the Chief Envoy of Shandong applied to the imperial court for funding to repair the city, but was ultimately unable to get approval. The reason was simple: the imperial court was financially tight and its military budget was even more limited, so it could only give priority to the needs of the northern border.

As for inland areas like Jinan, the probability of being attacked by the Qing army is much smaller after all, so repairing city defenses will not be listed as a priority, and the relevant expenses must be raised by the local government.

At that time, Jinan was robbed by the Qing army and was almost reduced to an empty city. It could not even provide relief to the refugees. It could only watch thousands of people fleeing to areas controlled by Haihan. Most of the officials came from other places after the war.

Those who were transferred here had no understanding of the local situation, so how could they find the funds to repair the city's defenses?

Since the imperial court didn't care about it, there was nothing to complain about. So the dilapidated city defenses were left unattended. Although Shandong had two chief envoys and commanders during this period, no one could

He was unwilling to spend the few remaining funds in his official treasury on repairing the city's defences.

When the imperial court sent imperial envoys to inspect the local area, the dilapidated city defenses became a prop for Shandong officials to cry out for poverty. They used it as evidence of local financial distress to apply to the imperial court for tax reductions and exemptions.

Within a few years, Haihan used troops heavily in Liaodong and defeated the Qing Dynasty steadily, and was no longer able to organize a large-scale invasion southward. Jinan returned to the stable state of an inland city and no longer had to worry about Qing invasion.

Next time, there was no motivation to repair the city's fortifications, and they simply fell into disrepair.

As for whether Haihan should be regarded as an opponent to be wary of, Shandong official circles have already reached a consensus. A war with the Haihan army? A decisive battle in Jinan City? What a joke, the wolf-like Qing army has nothing to do with the Haihan army.

In terms of resistance, if the Haihan Army wants to take Jinan City, how can it hold it?

If that day really comes, all that needs to be done is to evacuate what should be evacuated, and to surrender what should be surrendered, and everyone can complete the handover in an honorable manner. Didn’t you see that Dengzhou and Laizhou also passed the test like this?

The officials in Jinan are well aware of the future of the local area, and while they still have the power, they will make whatever money they can. Then spending money on city defense and military affairs, isn't that a complete waste?

If not for this, Prince De's Palace would not have cooperated with Haihan so prosperously in recent years, and gradually transformed from underground to semi-public form. Anyway, everyone is just to make money, Prince De's Palace has done all the places where incense should be burned.

If you express yourself, no one will cause trouble.

After listening to his explanation, Bai Kesi suddenly said: "I see... Since all the yamen have taken advantage of Prince De's Palace, then if the Ming Dynasty wants to reduce the vassalage, the local authorities may not be willing to cooperate."

Zhu Youli said: "That's true. Many officials are worried that the court's move will anger your country and cause it to lose its stable supply of supplies. But no one dares to publicly express support for the king or speak out against the court's decision."

Chen Yixin said: "The emperor is not knocking on their heads, so of course he will keep waiting and watching. When their interests are harmed, do you think these people will jump in a hurry?"

Zhu Youli said: "In that case, when will your country start taking action?"

Chen Yixin smiled and said: "This is a military secret and cannot be disclosed."

Chen Yixin didn't seem to say anything, but in fact he admitted in disguise that Haihan would indeed take action against Shandong. Zhu Youli was not stupid, and he immediately understood the implication.

Zhu Youli said: "Then before your country takes action, can you inform me so that everyone in the palace can be prepared in advance?"

Chen Yixin said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will arrange manpower to take the entire palace out of Jinan City in advance to ensure that Your Majesty will not be involved in the conflict."

The relevant preparatory work for the Northern Region has been completed, but in order to take action, the approval of the Executive Committee must be obtained. And Bai Kesi, who inspects the Northern Region on behalf of the Executive Committee, has such authority. So regarding

Chen Yixin wished he could break it down and give a detailed explanation to Bai Kesi about the current situation in Shandong, showing the many advantages of the Northern Region so that the Executive Committee could issue a pass for subsequent actions.

But in front of outsiders, Bai Kesi will not make a clear statement on this. The executive committee has to consider not only the preparedness of the Northern Region, but also many other factors. For example, the Northern Region has implemented

The military expansion plan, the possible response of the Ming court, and the governance issues after Shandong was included in the Haihan territory, etc.

If possible, Bai Kesi actually hopes that Chen Yixin will take time to go south to make a detailed report to the Executive Committee on the plan to take over Shandong and answer various questions that the Executive Committee is concerned about in person.
Chapter completed!