Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing discussed what happened after Ping Liao. It seemed far away, but it was not unfounded.
The main concern is still with Mao Wenlong. After Ping Liao, his whereabouts are likely to be recalled by the imperial court to the capital to rest at leisure.
In other words, he will become a hostage and a bargaining chip for the imperial court to restrict Dongjiang Town.
Put him under house arrest in the capital and nominally become a member of the nobility, but he can directly give orders to Dongjiang Town. For example, he can go to the southwest to quell the rebellion, or enter the Central Plains to suppress civil unrest.
To be honest, Guo Dajing did not want to participate in the battle to annihilate the peasant uprising army as soon as possible. Not to mention fighting in the mountainous terrain in the southwest that he was not familiar with and the Dongjiang Army was not good at.
Without money and food, trying to quell the civil unrest is an endless cycle. However, the imperial court's finances are close to collapse. With enough money and food, the civil unrest will not spread to the point of being out of control.
Therefore, the Dongjiang Army can defeat any peasant uprising army, but the revolt after suppression is like the grass on the plain that cannot be burned away by wildfire.
"After Ping Liao, if Dongjiang Town is given two or three years to run Liaodong well, then it will be possible to send troops abroad."
Guo Dajing stated his plan, "In the next two or three years, we will need the support of the imperial court to immigrate in large numbers. Liaodong will feed back the Central Plains, and the people will perish themselves if they are not suppressed."
Mao Wenlong nodded slightly and said: "This is certainly a safe policy, but the court may not be so patient."
After a pause, he said thoughtfully: "Perhaps, attacking Hu Duntu and eliminating the border troubles in the north can allow the court to postpone the deployment of the Dongjiang Army."
"This is a good idea." Guo Dajing immediately agreed. "With the Mongolian tribes surrendering, the imperial court can make money from the horse market and save money on nurturing rewards. It should be tempting."
Mao Wenlong laughed and said: "You have clearly seen through Wanzai's temperament. As long as you mention saving money, you will almost always be allowed."
"Long live the frugality and painstaking efforts to raise money are all due to financial constraints and lack of money and food." Guo Dajing shrugged his shoulders and said: "If money and food were abundant, we would not be in such a situation of internal and external difficulties."
Lack of money was the biggest problem of the Chongzhen Dynasty. In layman's terms, Chongzhen died of poverty.
But his poverty is not pitiable. Those corrupt officials and noble clan members in the capital alone have tens of millions of taels of silver in their homes. Chongzhen is guarding the gold and silver mountains to beg for food. Who can blame him?
An irresponsible emperor who only knew how to harm the people but refused to take action against the greedy and wealthy bureaucracy and vassals deserved to die of poverty and to be overthrown by the peasant uprising army.
In fact, there is a better choice for the strategic shift of Dongjiang Town after Pingliao. However, Mao Wenlong was unwilling to give up, and Guo Dajing was even less able to say it.
The so-called retirement after success, if Mao Wenlong wanted to relieve the court's doubts, he could retire and return to his hometown. Even if he stayed in his hometown in Zhejiang for a while and then returned to Liaodong, the court would not be able to say anything.
Mao Wenlong was not under the control of the imperial court, so Dongjiang Town and Guo Dajing had a lot of freedom. Either they could concentrate on running Liaodong, or they could attack Hu Duntu, or they could choose an opportunity to enter the Central Plains, all could depend on the situation.
But Mao Wenlong was definitely not content with this. He most wanted to stay in Liaodong, and it was not impossible to settle for the next best thing and serve as a nobleman in the capital.
As for Dongjiang Town, after Pingliao there were at least nearly 100,000 troops, and the imperial court could only dispatch 20,000 to 30,000 troops, so the loss of strength was not big.
As long as there is such a strong army guarding Liaodong, even if he is a powerless nobleman in the capital, he will not worry that the imperial court will kill the rabbit and kill the dog.
Naturally, Guo Dajing could not persuade Mao Wenlong to retire and return home. For this reason, he also thought of other plans to deal with the court.
The two continued to discuss in a casual manner. Guo Dajing suggested, and Mao Wenlong agreed. After merging the Juehua Navy, the first batch of Liao Town generals who were ordered to come to southern Liaoning were also decided.
Zu Dashou, He Kegang and Zhao Lejiao were the Liaoxi generals that Yuan Chonghuan relied on most. Now that Zhao Lijiao is dead, only Zu Dashou and He Kegang are left.
Guo Dajing still had a good impression of He Kegang. The reason was simple: he died fighting against the Japanese.
Of course, Guo Dajing did not intend to use bloody purges against the generals of Liao Town. As long as they knew the current affairs, they still had a place in Liaodong.
It's just that Guo Dajing can become a warlord, but he won't (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 442 Does Liao Town have a choice? Missing Person List
It is allowed to have other military leaders in Liaodong. This is a matter of principle, and it is the same for the generals of Dongjiang Town and Liao Town.
"Relatively speaking, He Kegang's power is weaker than that of Zu Dashou. It is actually a good strategy to weaken first and then strengthen." Mao Wenlong did not have special feelings for He Kegang, or because of Yuan Chonghuan's relationship, he had no favorable impression of the generals of Liao Town.
"If it can be used, use it; if it cannot, place it elsewhere." Guo Dajing was also unsure. Although Yuan Chonghuan had a high opinion of He Kegang, He Kegang did not have outstanding military exploits.
Moreover, no matter which general from western Liaoning comes to Dongjiang Town, he will have to go back to his training and cannot command the army immediately.
Whether it was tactics or mental will, Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing did not trust the generals of Liao Town, let alone use them with confidence.
I'm afraid, Liao Town doesn't have this awareness yet, and thinks that they are a rare commodity, and Dongjiang Town will warmly welcome them to join.
Not only must it be annexed, but it must also be integrated, completely integrated into Dongjiang Town, and there will no longer be the shadow of Liao Town.
To this end, Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing have already made arrangements, and they will use both kindness and power. They will not be merciful when it is time to be tough.
You must know that Mao Wenlong is not only a Marquis, but also has Shang Fang's sword. Even if he can't kill people casually and be demoted or demoted, he can still do it.
What's more, there is still a court above. Since Liao Town has to be dealt with, there is naturally no obstacle to what Mao Wenlong wants to do.
From now until spring plowing next year, Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing will spend all their energy on Liao Town. As for the Haizhou Acropolis that Jianlu gave up, there is no point in occupying and recovering it.
This is strategic brilliance. Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing have the same opinions, which can be described as heroes seeing the same thing.
Rushing to occupy the Haizhou Acropolis and pushing the outpost to the north of the Haicheng River will not be of great benefit to the Dongjiang Army.
First, the supply line was lengthened, which increased the consumption of food and supplies. To defend the Haizhou Acropolis, the garrison required four to five thousand troops. All the food and supplies needed had to be transported from Gaizhou, which was very costly.
Secondly, before the Dongjiang Army had the conditions for a major counterattack, the defense line advanced to Haizhou Guard, which did not pose much of a threat to Jianlu.
Moreover, the Haizhou Acropolis has been severely damaged by the builders. Building the city, building houses, and constructing fortifications cannot be completed in a short time. Winter is very close, and it is difficult to complete the project at all.
To fight the Jianlu, the army can just start from Gaizhou and reach Liaoyang, which also saves the trouble and investment of running Haizhou.
Of course, if the number of immigrants increases sharply and the three states cannot bear it, Haizhou will naturally be regarded as a place of recovery and more land will be added to accommodate immigrants.
There is no such urgency now. Haizhou Acropolis has become a buffer zone with Jianlu, just like Jinzhou and Guangning, which is also a relatively good arrangement.
According to the current population of Dongjiang Town, it is still feasible to continue recruiting troops and will not have any impact on normal production.
But Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing had to wait for the annexation of Liao Town. Wouldn't it be better and easier if they could add 30,000 troops for nothing?
"I am writing a letter to Zu Dashou. Let's communicate first and see what they mean. What are the conditions?" Mao Wenlong said slowly: "If we can let go of the officers and soldiers of Liao Town, we can keep him and his family safe."
Unless absolutely necessary, would Zu Dashou give up his military power and become a rich man, or would he obey the arrangements and start a new life?
Guo Dajing is not optimistic about this, but it doesn't hurt to give it a try. It is best to resolve the matter peacefully, and it is not his original intention to force a swordfight, although he does not take Liao Town seriously at all.
If we just take over Liao Town in its entirety and leave the generals and soldiers untouched, then the meaning of annexation will be lost, and it will be equivalent to raising a bunch of rubbish that neither believe nor use.
Therefore, drastic reforms in Liao Town are inevitable. This is also the trouble, as it will arouse the resistance of Liao Town generals.
Since it was unavoidable, Guo Dajing prepared for the worst. If Liao Town surrendered to the rebels, they would be wiped out together. This would only delay Ping Liao's timetable for another one or two years.
Once upon a time, Guo Dajing did not want to be so radical. He left Liao Town to be raised by the court, and he took Dongjiang Town to develop and grow, pacify Liao and eliminate the captives.
When Liaodong is pacified, it doesn't matter whether the imperial court takes control of Liao Town or Dongjiang Town takes action.
However, Chongzhen's impatience and the temptation of being able to defeat Liao in advance made Guo Da (this chapter is not finished!)
Chapter 442 Does Liao Town have a choice? Missing Person List
Jing changed his mind and implemented a somewhat risky plan.
Of course, taking all the limited resources of the imperial court was also one of the reasons for annexing Liao Town. The key is that Guo Dajing had his own analysis and judgment on the final result and believed that the possibility was very low.
If Liao Town surrenders to Jianlu, it will undoubtedly affect the balance of power between the enemy and ourselves. But it will not be enough to give Jianlu the strength to defeat Dongjiang Town. It will put pressure on Jianlu's logistics.
Moreover, the guys in Liao Town should also think that surrendering in the past is the best cannon fodder. They charge in the front and enjoy themselves in the back. The Jianlu will not care about their lives.
The reason is very simple. Their treason and surrender have blocked their way out. They can only work for the Jianlu with all their heart, fight for the only way to survive, defeat Dongjiang Town, and share Liaodong with the Jianlu.
On the contrary, if they were annexed and integrated by Dongjiang Town, the worst outcome for them would be to reduce their positions to serve the people, so that their personal and family life and property safety could be guaranteed.
Comparing this, Guo Dajing feels that Liao Town will not take the final step.
After all, this is not only related to personal official interests, but also the fate of their grandparents, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, etc.
………………
The officers and soldiers at the bottom did not know about such a major event as the annexation of Liao Town, nor did they want to know about it. They lived their lives and followed the arrangements and instructions from above, such as the rotation system.
The diversionary operation in Haizhou was of a large scale, using almost all the troops in southern Liaoning. The rotational rest was also temporarily canceled. Now that the major event is over, the officers and soldiers have time to rest and relax.
Every time it is time to take a break, there will always be officers and soldiers jumping for joy, which means family reunions and the relaxing enjoyment of leaving the military camp.
However, for Yang Daman, taking turns does not make him feel happy. As a brother, he has no relatives to reunite with, and he also wants to save his salary for relatives who hope to see him again.
"Lao Yang, let's go together tomorrow, and we'll have someone to chat with on the way." A group of junior officers who were taking turns with Yang Daman had already packed up and invited him warmly.
This officer surnamed Zhang is also a bachelor, similar to but different from Yang Daman. The places he goes to are the same, but the way he enjoys them is different.
Because Officer Zhang really has no relatives, unlike Yang Daman, whose relatives' lives are uncertain, but there is still hope.
There are many bachelors like this in the army. Their rotation is to return to residential areas near towns built specifically for them, also called resorts, to relax and rest.
Having no relatives and no desire to have a home, it would be troublesome to cook on your own. If you stay in a residential area, there are canteens that serve three meals a day, and there are other ways to spend time. Being close to the town, you can go to pubs to drink, go to markets for shopping, etc.
Yang Daman happily agreed to Officer Zhang's invitation, but he still missed his relatives in his heart.
"I heard that there are two more taverns, and the food is pretty good." Officer Zhang looked a little impatient, or he was salivating, "I have saved up my salary for several months, so I need to drink some good wine."
Yang Daman suppressed his thoughts and said with a smile: "If you save some money, you will spend it all. Don't you want to keep it to build a house, marry a wife and have children?"
Officer Zhang said nonchalantly: "Looking for a woman with a large family, preferential treatment from the military, dozens or hundreds of acres of land, but not enough to eat and drink? As for the house, it's good if it's just a salary from the official."
Many officers and soldiers think so. In order to relieve the physical and mental tension and the cruelty of war, spend the money you have and enjoy it first.
Although Yang Daman didn't agree, he didn't persuade him verbosely.
There are no eyesight on the battlefield. After a battle, who knows whether you will still be alive, it is better to enjoy yourself in the moment. Those who have families and relatives will naturally think carefully, unlike them.
At this time, a sergeant came over, gave Yang Daman a military salute, and said, "Sir, didn't you look at the newly arrived missing persons list? There is a person with the same name as you on it, and it is his wife and children who are looking for him."
The missing person list is similar to the missing person notice in later generations. It is a special convenience provided by the government for those whose relatives were separated during the war.
In the local area, the town is the unit and is posted in the town government; for the army, there is a special place for officers and soldiers to watch and search from time to time.
Yang Daman didn't take it seriously and said with a smile: "Maybe it's the same name?"
The sergeant was not sure, so he just informed me by the way (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 442 Does Liao Town have a choice? Missing Person List
Then he continued to talk about the information he had written down, "The woman's surname is Li, and her name is Li Yue'e; the son's name seems to be Yang Xiaohe..."
Before he finished speaking, Yang Daman's expression changed drastically. He didn't have time to say hello, and he strode towards the place where the missing person list was posted. He walked faster and faster, and finally started running.
Officer Zhang and the sergeant looked at each other in shock, but soon came to some realization.
"I'm afraid we won't be able to go together tomorrow." Officer Zhang was a little disappointed, but he smiled again and said, "If it's really a happy event, I can make Lao Yang spend money and treat me to a drink."
The sergeant also smiled. He was the one who reported the good news. The officer will definitely remember him when he is reunited with his relatives.
Chapter 442 Does Liao Town have a choice? Missing Person List