Chapter 508 High-level talks

For Gao Qiaonan, his personal honor and disgrace have long been integrated with his boss Qian Tiandun. The height that Qian Tiandun can reach within the Haihan system also determines the upper limit of Gao Qiaonan's future career. Therefore, for Gao Qiaonan,

Gao Qiaonan is also very concerned about whether the Annan garrison will have the opportunity to participate in Haihan's military operation to occupy the northern part of Hainan Island.

Gao Qiaonan didn't know the contents of the telegram instructions sent from the base camp, but he understood the words "main force" very clearly. As for Qian Tiandun's addition that "the task will be a bit difficult," he was not very

Care. War is a matter of life and death. Is there anything more difficult than fighting on the battlefield?

"Pass my order!" Qian Tiandun put down the message and began to dictate the instructions: "Combat troops stationed in Heitu Port, Tushan Port, and Yong'an Port will gather at the Annan Field Training Center to report on the day they receive the order! Local

Defense is temporarily handed over to the police, militia and army logistics departments, all military personnel on leave will immediately return to the team, and all combat ships of the Navy will begin pre-war maintenance work!"

Qian Tiandun paused and then said: "In addition, please ask Major Feng Annan from Tushan Port to contact the Annan military and arrange a high-level meeting within this month. I will attend the meeting in person."

With Qian Tiandun's order, the entire northern coast of Annan began to move. The troops of the Haihan militia stationed in Annan were not concentrated together, but were stationed in several ports under the control of Haihan called concessions.

The colonial area in Annan was one of the earliest pilot areas for the military to build a militia system. After nearly three years of operation, the militia establishment was also considerable. The total population of Haihan in these concession ports was only three.

Thousands of people came forward, but the militia had three battalions with a total strength of about 1,800 people. In terms of numbers, it was almost the same as the regular army stationed in Annan.

As for combat effectiveness, the reserve force of the militia is certainly not comparable to the regular army that eats military rations. However, basic combat skills and tactics have been specially trained, and the commanders of the militia force are all former militia soldiers who have retired from the regular army.

They all have some actual combat experience. The equipment of the militia units is basically old-fashioned matchlocks that have been eliminated by the front-line troops plus some cold weapons. The level is basically the same as that of Annan's new army. Although these militia units are not enough to pull them onto the frontal battlefield.

It is enough to perform combat missions, but to maintain and protect local security in peacetime.

Although Qian Tiandun's order was sent to the strongholds along the Annan coast in the form of telegrams, it still took several days to complete the assembly and mobilization of troops, as well as the handover and exchange of defenses with the militia troops. Until mid-June,

The garrison troops from various places completed the defense change one after another and rushed to the training base on Cat Ba Island by boat. During this period, Qian Tiandun commanded the training troops garrisoned on the island and expanded the local garrison again, because this place is located on Cat Ba Island.

The number of training troops to be accommodated in the next two to three months will be double the current capacity.

Qian Tiandun concentrated all the main combat troops of the Haihan Militia in Annan on Cat Ba Island, and then began to conduct targeted combat rehearsal training. This time the military also spent a lot of money. According to Qian Tiandun's request,

A large amount of ammunition was specially produced and sent to Cat Ba Island for the combat troops to conduct live-fire exercises. There was even an artillery battery with complete combat organization sent together - of course this was temporarily transferred to the command of Qian Tiandun, the capital of the base camp

It is not yet strong enough to give the urgently needed artillery force to the Annan Military Region.

In late June, Qian Tiandun handed over the training affairs to Feng Annan and Mu Xiabai, who had rushed back to Cat Ba Island. He took a few entourage by boat to Tushan Port, where he would negotiate with Annan's Dingbei.

The counter-general Zheng Bai held an official meeting.

Zheng Bai was already the commander-in-chief of the Zhengjiang Hengshan defense line during the Annam Civil War a few years ago. Later, he went south to attack Hue. He commanded the North Vietnamese army to encircle Hue City and cooperated with the Haihan militia in the battle.

The title "Dingbei Conquers Rebellion" was added in front of his military rank as a reward. However, as far as his status in the army is concerned, he has basically risen and cannot be promoted. If he goes up any higher, he will have to be crowned king. But now the actual status of the Annan court

The person in power, Zheng Jie, did not proclaim himself emperor, but only bore the title of King of Qingdu. Zheng Bai wanted to move up the ladder, unless Zheng Jie proclaimed himself emperor, so as to free up space for him to rise.

But Zheng Zheng's desire to proclaim himself emperor is unlikely to be implemented for a while. In addition to traditional moral and reputation considerations, the country of Annam has not yet completely calmed down. In the vast mountainous area north of Thang Long Province, there are still

Some rebels in the Li Dynasty are still resisting. In the words of Haihan's military adviser, these rebel forces are extreme terrorists. Until the complete clearing of the northern mountainous area is completed, Zheng Jing cannot be said to have "completed his merits" for the time being.

, forcibly proclaiming himself emperor will most likely affect his own reputation.

As a high-ranking military official, Zheng Bai also knew the stakes involved. Therefore, he did not place his hope on Zheng Zhi's early proclaimed emperor in exchange for his own promotion. Instead, he placed his hope on the next generation.

Zheng Bai's second son, Zheng Ting, was sent to Tushan training camp by Zheng Bai to receive training as Haihan's military advisor when Annan first entered into military cooperation with Haihan. Later, he also fought with Haihan on the front line during the Annan Civil War.

The troops cooperated in operations, and even went to Sanya to participate in the advanced training class for senior army officers organized by the Haihan Militia Army. In 1628, they even followed the Militia Army to Guangdong and closely observed the operations of the Militia Army in Lijiazhuang and Dangan Island.

Zheng Ting can be said to be the first batch of young officers in the Annan Army to receive systematic Haihan military training, and he was quickly reused in the Annan Army. The Annan Guard Corps was established in accordance with the Haihan military establishment.

The first firearms unit was commanded by Zheng Ting.

This unit made a lot of achievements in the Annan Civil War, and Zheng Ting also rose to the top and became a representative of young senior officers in the Annan Army. If everything goes well, Zheng Ting will definitely be able to join the Annan Army before he is forty years old.

Fang's high-level position may even exceed the achievements of his father Zheng Bai - behind Zheng Ting, in addition to the support of the Zheng family itself, there is also the presence of Haihan, a force that cannot be ignored.

In the early days of their cooperation, the Zheng family and his son were actually wary of Haihan. They knew very well that the various military support measures Haihan provided to Annan were not free. Annan paid a huge price in land, population, and

Wealth, as well as various local laws and regulations that were obviously biased in favor of the Haihan people. But later they discovered that the Haihan people were not satisfied with obtaining these benefits, but were trying to gradually penetrate Annan society in a variety of not obvious ways.

.

Haihan's goods, Haihan's culture, and Haihan's various ideas have been pouring into Annan in recent years. Businessmen who have established trade relations with Haihan have made a lot of money. They can speak Chinese and write.

The Annan people with Chinese characters can find a job with a stable income under the Haihan people at any time as long as they are willing. Even young officers like Zheng Ting who have received Haihan military training have more promotion opportunities than the traditional way.

Much faster.

Qian Tiandun had a private meeting with Zheng Bai on this matter, which expressed Haihan's attitude: Haihan could try to push Zheng Ting to the top of the military as soon as possible, but the condition was that the Zheng family and his son would try their best to influence the Annan military, so that

Its pace is highly consistent with that of Haihan, and it will continue the military cooperation relationship between the two parties - simply put, it is to ensure the continued existence of arms orders and military training.

The method adopted by Haihan was simple and effective. Every year for military personnel exchanges between the two sides, the Haihan military would designate Zheng Ting to attend. At the annual joint military exercise, the commander of the Annan side designated by Haihan would also name Zheng Ting.

In short, as long as it is dealing with high-level affairs of the militia and military, Annan can basically only ask Zheng Ting to come forward. This kind of resources guarantees Zheng Ting’s status in Annan’s military. Although it may attract jealousy, as long as Zheng Ting is

While you are still in the army, no one else can even think of taking away this resource.

Although the Zheng family and his son did not agree with the Haihan people's approach of infiltrating Annan, they could not refuse the olive branch offered by the Haihan people. After all, everyone in the Annan court relied on the Haihan people. If they really made them unhappy, maybe

There is no fear of life, but if they want to replace Zheng Ting's position in the Annan Army, it is just a matter of time. You must know that there are not too many young officers in the Annan Army who admire Haihan.

You can easily pick out a large number of people who are willing to cooperate with the Haihan Militia, and these people probably don't have as many scruples as the Zheng family and his son, and they will never stop when they can climb up.

After Zheng Bai received the news from the courier from Tushan Port, he set out from Sheng Long Palace and spent two days rushing to Tushan Port to wait for Qian Tiandun's arrival. He and Qian Tiandun had already fought many times.

After the first meeting, I also knew that this young Haihan officer was very pragmatic and took the initiative to request a meeting. He must have some practical matters that needed to be negotiated. Moreover, Zheng Ting was not named to participate in the meeting this time, most likely because of the confidentiality of the matter.

Relatively high, its importance can be seen from this.

Qian Tiandun arrived at Tushan Port only three hours later than Zheng Bai. After landing, he did not go to the Tushan training camp. Instead, he sent people there to ask Zheng Bai to come to the Haihan Office on the Tushan Peninsula.

Have discussions.

"General Qian specially invited me to come here for a while. I wonder if I can give you any advice?" Zheng Bai didn't show any airs after receiving the news. He rode straight over and rode over. The two of them didn't exchange too many greetings after meeting.

Soon we got to the point.

"The main thing is to discuss with General Zheng the arrangements for this year's joint military exercises." Qian Tiandun responded: "In previous years, the joint military exercises were arranged at the end of the year, but this year because of some changes on our side, we hope to arrange the military exercise time.

Go ahead about two months."

"Then it will be about three months later?" Zheng Bai estimated the time and continued to ask.

"That's right." Qian Tiandun nodded and said, "In addition, the time, location, and method of the military exercises will change significantly compared with previous years."

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details!" Zheng Bai felt vaguely that this matter was probably not just a matter of changes in military exercise arrangements, but the reasons for the changes were probably the focus of this matter.

"This year's joint military exercise will be held on Qiongzhou Island. The content will include siege operations and field clearance. Live ammunition will be used in the process. However, the cost of transporting personnel, materials and ammunition during the military exercise will be borne by us."

Tian Dun calmly explained to Zheng Bai.

Zheng Bai's heartbeat immediately accelerated after hearing these words. Although Qian Tiandun said it in an understatement, Zheng Bai had already heard something unusual from it.

In previous years, joint military exercises were almost always held on Cat Ba Island. Each side sent about a thousand soldiers to conduct coordinated operations or group confrontations. The content was mainly amphibious landings, mountain warfare, and jungle warfare. In order to avoid

When unnecessary casualties occur, live ammunition is rarely used. As for being directly involved in overseas military exercises, it is unprecedented.

Zheng Bai noticed several key points mentioned by Qian Tiandun - Qiongzhou Island, siege warfare, live ammunition, and Haihan's side bearing the expenses. In previous military exercises, they all borne the expenses themselves, and Haihan had never done this.

He took the initiative to help Annan's participating troops take care of the expenses. Even the materials consumed during the process were provided by Haihan, and Annan's military paid every penny.

Qian Tiandun's words reminded Zheng Bai of something that has been rumored for a long time - sooner or later, the Haihan people will occupy the entire Qiongzhou Island and become independent from the Ming Dynasty. Although Zheng Bai himself has never been to Qiongzhou Island, he heard that

Zheng Ting described in detail the scale of the Haihan people's operations in Qiongzhou Island. It was really just a matter of timing to seize the whole island. But why the Haihan people didn't do this, the Zheng family could probably guess a little bit.

It’s just that I don’t want to offend the giant Ming Dynasty.

But Qian Tiandun's arrangement was undoubtedly Haihan's plan to take action against Ming Dynasty. But whether this matter was good or bad for Annan, and whether it was worth participating in, Zheng Bai couldn't judge for a while. Therefore, Qian Tiandun

After Dun finished speaking, Zheng Bai frowned tightly and did not answer immediately.

Qian Tiandun waited for a while, but when Zheng Bai didn't answer, he asked again: "If there is anything General Zheng doesn't understand, you might as well ask me directly, and I will try my best to answer your questions."

Only then did Zheng Bai come back to his senses and asked hesitantly: "May I ask General Qian, are you... are you arranging an ordinary military exercise, or are you planning to start a war?"

"Training troops in actual combat will have the best effect." Qian Tiandun did not immediately answer Zheng Bai's question directly, but went in circles: "Our joint military exercise this year, or joint military operations, will use

With live ammunition and attacking a real city, General Zheng is right to interpret it as starting a war."
Chapter completed!