Zhenjiang Fort transferred two battalions of soldiers and horses to defend Pi Island. This was something that other battalions and the people knew.
But as time went by, some people finally began to notice that something was wrong.
Since it is a change of defense, naturally there are soldiers and horses returning to Pi Island, and there are also soldiers and horses coming from Pi Island to Zhenjiang Fort. However, the soldiers and horses transferred have been gone for several days, but the soldiers and horses of the change of defense have not come over yet. This is too big.
It's not normal anymore.
The generals in the army, at least the generals above the rank of general, would not find it strange, because they participated in Jiang Wan's plan and knew what the Nanhai Camp and the Guards Battalion were doing, but the common people had no idea at all.
What they knew was that many of the officers and soldiers who gave them a great sense of security were suddenly transferred away, which caused them great anxiety about the safety of Zhenjiang Fort.
However, their anxiety was nothing compared to Jiang Wan's.
He didn't expect that just after he sent out his troops, the imperial court would actually send someone to hold him back.
The Battle of Liaoyang was in full swing, and the imperial court wasted no time in dispatching reinforcements to Liaoyang to resist the Tartar offensive. However, at this time, it sent a military supervisor to serve as the supervisor of Dongjiang Town, and this military supervisor turned out to be
Sent directly from the palace.
The flavor here is very elusive.
At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, there was no such thing as a supervisory army, which is what is often said: "The Hongwu Dynasty had no supervisory army!"
It was not until the Jiajing Dynasty that the system of military supervision was basically established. The military supervision was generally divided into eunuchs and civil and military supervision. However, due to the Ming Dynasty's consistent style of emphasizing civility over military affairs, the civil and military supervision system was actually almost the same in the end.
Dead in name only.
Often the person who commands an army is not a military general but a civilian official, so it has become normal for eunuchs to supervise the army. Moreover, since eunuchs must rely on the imperial power, the essence of supervising the army is the emperor's control, balance and distribution of the leading generals.
In this regard, eunuchs are only loyal to the emperor, and they have natural advantages over other officials.
However, no matter from the perspective of the system or the actual operation, the emperor's dispatch of the supervisory army was a clear signal that the emperor, if not distrustful of this army, felt that he needed to check and balance it.
And the Dongjiang Town in front of us is like this.
Jiang Wan knew that this was his inevitable reaction after being indifferent to Zhu Youjian's secret order. In fact, if Zhu Youjian reacted like this, he would be able to accept it, but what he didn't expect was that at this juncture,
Zhu Youjian was sent to supervise the army.
The supervisor's name was Song Jian. Jiang Wan didn't know where he was from. He didn't even know the name at all. However, according to the news sent from Pidao, the supervisor showed up as soon as he arrived at Pidao.
After issuing the imperial edict, he directly took over Pidao and ordered Pidao's Huben, Huwei and Fenyong battalions not to be mobilized without authorization.
Most of the soldiers on Pi Island are veterans from Dongjiang Town, plus some new recruits who have been training recently. Faced with the imperial edict, they did not even think about resisting.
Some of the princes sent out around him served as some middle and low-level officers, and then the news was spread. Otherwise, even Jiang Wan would not know what happened.
And there was another thing that made Jiang Wan don't know what to do now.
Zu Dashou, who was sent to Pi Island, was beheaded by Song Jian. This slap not only hit Jiang Wan hard on the face, but also created a huge problem for Jiang Wan.
This Song Jian clearly came here to compete with Jiang Wan. From the moment he arrived in Dongjiang Town, everything he did was basically against Jiang Wan, and everyone gave him the courage and rights.
Naturally it goes without saying.
The only good news is that Fan Zhen's fleet was in Tieshan City when the accident occurred. As soon as Jiang Wan learned the news, he immediately informed Tieshan City. This prevented the fleet from returning to Pidao or Tianjin. Jiang Wan
It's unclear what the fleet will encounter if it returns to Pidao or Tianjin, but judging from the things the supervisor Song Jian has done, it seems that nothing good will happen.
The fleet that stayed in Tieshan City decisively changed its course and headed directly for Haojing'ao.
Jiang Wan's order is for Fan Zhen's fleet to merge with Jiang Yanran's fleet. In this case, at least in Haojing'ao, the fleet will still have the ability to protect itself, which is better than being completely controlled by the court.
As for the fleet's trade direction, I'm afraid it will have to change for the time being. The trade from Daming to Busan will definitely no longer be the focus of trade. However, Jiang Yanran's Sihai branch has been operating for more than a year, whether it is Ryukyu or
There should be no shortage of trade opportunities in Nagasaki, and perhaps Siam and Chenla further afield, so there is no need to worry about the source of the money for the time being.
However, all these are just expedient measures. The key to solving the problem lies with him, Jiang Wan. Jiang Wan knows this better than anyone else.
"Commander, you called me here late at night. Is there a battle?"
In the Zhenjiang Fort, Kong Youde, who was summoned late at night, was a little geared up. The individual summons at this time was of great significance to Kong Youde.
"Kong Youde, how do I treat you?" Jiang Wan pondered and said slowly: "Tell the truth, I don't want to listen to your lies and empty words!"
"The commander-in-chief is as kind as a mountain to the generals. Without the commander-in-chief, there would be no Kong Youde today!" Kong Youde said loudly: "Without the commander-in-chief, Kong Youde would be just a small general until now. He might have starved to death last year.
It’s a leather island!”
"So, you are quite satisfied now that you are in charge of a battalion under my command!" Jiang Wan asked.
"This is all given by the commander-in-chief, I will burst into tears of gratitude!" Kong Youde replied without hesitation.
"Then don't be the staff general of Kong Ziying!" Jiang Wan nodded: "How about becoming a staff general next to me?"
"Everything depends on the Commander-in-Chief's orders!" Kong Youde replied without any hesitation. However, after finishing speaking, he smiled sarcastically: "But Commander-in-Chief, I, Kong Youde, am just a rough man. I can't fight or kill."
Okay, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help the commander much with things like staff military aircraft!”
"Then if the imperial court orders you to continue to be the staff general of Kong Ziying, but I insist on having you come to my side to be the staff general, how do you choose?" Jiang Wan stared at the other person with a vague look in his eyes.
There is profound meaning.
"Does this have to be chosen? Of course the general will listen to the commander-in-chief!" Kong Youde looked serious: "Although the general is a general of the Ming Dynasty, the future of the general is given by the commander-in-chief. Whoever is good to the general will win the war."
Doesn’t the general know?”
Jiang Wan sighed inwardly. Sure enough, Kong Youde was not a loyal person. He was just a mother if he had milk. In other words, if the court gave him money, food and a future, he, the commander-in-chief, in Kong Youde's heart, would also
It's nothing.
Of course, Kong Youde may be telling the truth now, and he has no intention of betraying himself. However, if there is enough temptation in front of him, can he still maintain this idea as he does now, that is, only
He knew it himself.
"The imperial court has sent a military supervisor to us in Dongjiang Town!"
Jiang Wan smiled slightly: "This Eunuch Song, the supervisor of the army, arrived at Pi Island a few days ago. Originally, the Huben Battalion was to be transferred to take over the garrison of the two guard battalions in Nanhai. However, Eunuch Song stayed on Pi Island to rectify military discipline.
…”
He paused, looked at Kong Youde's face, and then continued: "But Eunuch Song didn't know that I had sent the two battalions of the Nanhai Guards to Kuandian to fight the Tatars via North Korea on the pretext of changing defenses.
It’s okay for him to improve military discipline, but this timing is really inappropriate!”
Kong Youde's face finally changed, and there seemed to be a look of fear in his eyes.
Jiang Wan's words were understated, but he understood almost as soon as he heard it. This was the new supervisor who directly took over Pi Island and controlled the soldiers and horses on Pi Island. Moreover, at this time, this supervisor did
This kind of thing is almost like stabbing Marshal Jiang from the back, or even stabbing Liaoyang.
If Dongjiang Town is in civil strife and has too much time to take care of itself, then supporting Liaoyang will become empty talk.
This is a dead eunuch whose head was kicked off by a donkey!
"If the commander-in-chief has anything to say, just give it to Kong Youde. Even if Kong Youde goes through fire and water, he will take care of it for the commander-in-chief!"
"Don't be so nervous..." Jiang Wan knew what Kong Youde was thinking at the first glance, but this was exactly what he wanted.
"Hu Ben, Geng Jingzhong and Yao Chunyong from Huwei camp are all your old friends and colleagues. You are no stranger to them. I have thought about it a lot. If someone goes to Pi Island and asks the supervisor to come to my Zhenjiang Fort, this
The candidate must be you. Lord Supervisor, there may be some misunderstandings about my use of troops. Only you are suitable to explain to me in front of Lord Supervisor. How are you willing to go through such a long journey for me?
?”
"Through fire and water, I will do whatever it takes!"
"Then, go back and get ready, let's go immediately!" Jiang Wan said: "The military situation is urgent, so I won't talk nonsense. I have released the two battalions of Dongjiang Town soldiers and horses. At present, I don't know the victory or defeat, life or death. I really don't know.
I don’t want to waste energy on these things with Lord Supervisor anymore!”
"The general will understand..."
Kong Youde hesitated for a moment, seeming to think that Jiang Wan's attitude was quite mild. He asked boldly: "Commander, I will go to Pi Island. How many people should I take with me?"
"What do you think?" Jiang Wan smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter how many people there are, what's important is that the people you bring with you must at least be loyal and reliable to you!"
"I have more than 3,000 people in Kongzi camp, and all of them are reliable to Kong Youde!" Kong Youde was stunned and said loudly.
"If you don't mind the trouble, then take them all with you!" Jiang Wan nodded slowly: "I will give you food and grass for Kongzi Camp for seven days. If there is no news within seven days, I will treat you as a prisoner.
Your Excellency has stayed in Pi Island to enforce military discipline!"
"In the next seven days, I will definitely report the news to the commander-in-chief!"
Kong Youde nodded fiercely, stood up and left.
"Commander!"
After his figure disappeared, Gao Sheng's figure came out from the side: "Let him take away all the Kong Ziying. If we don't come back, then the Pidao side can really compete with us!"
"What do you think of Kong's moral character?" Jiang Wan shook his head.
"I don't dare to say anything unreasonable. However, the commander-in-chief asked him to lead the army away this time. I don't dare to agree with the commander-in-chief's approach!"
"Haha!" Jiang Wan laughed: "It's yours. It's yours after all. It's not yours. You can't keep it. Most of the soldiers in the Kongzi camp are soldiers dug by Kong Youde from various camps. The recruits only account for
A very small part of Kong Youde said that he could be believed by more than 3,000 people, but there is only so much water in his words!"
Gao Shengsheng looked at Jiang Wan in confusion: "If Kong Youde really didn't intend to follow me wholeheartedly, now that the Nanhai Battalion and the Guard Battalion are not in Zhenjiang Fort, these more than 3,000 people are the biggest hidden danger to our Zhenjiang Fort. With courage and loyalty,
I have diluted the soldiers and horses of the two battalions with a large number of new soldiers. Now I am confident that I can control these two battalions, but I may not be able to control the Kongzi camp!"
"They went to Zhenjiang Fort. If they could solve Song Jian's matter, that would be the best. If they couldn't solve Song Jian's matter, and were instead controlled by Song Jian in the name of supervising the army, then the same would be true for me at Zhenjiang Fort.
Good thing!"
"With my current two battalions of soldiers and horses in Zhenjiang Fort, plus the two battalions of Nanhai and personal guards that I can recall at any time, the opposing Tatars may have some difficulties. However, if someone wants to drive me away and seize my military power, I am afraid that they will
It’s not that easy anymore…”
"The commander has thought carefully!" Gao Xingsheng was silent for a moment: "Within ten days, the four walls of our Zhenjiang Fort can be closed. Although they are still crude and crude, there is still a difference between having walls and not having walls against invading enemies.
Big!”
"It's best not to fight with the same room!" Jiang Wan also let out a long sigh: "There is no need to worry about fighting with the same room. When the enemy is at hand, His Majesty does this. It really chills me!"
"Commander, I will be outside, and your orders will not be accepted..." Gao Xingsheng took a deep breath: "I dare not say that I know everything about the commander. At least I have followed the commander for so long. The commander has worked hard, and even
He did not hesitate to spend all his wealth to build and revitalize our Dongjiang Town troops and horses. These actions can be seen by our Dongjiang Town troops and horses, so why can’t the people in the imperial court see them..."
Gao Gaosheng was a little indignant: "Mr. Sun is like this, and so is your lord now. Does the imperial court have to reuse those incompetent and sycophant people to turn the country of the Ming Dynasty into a mess? They are happy to see the people all over the world displaced and miserable.
Are they happy now?"
"Haha!" Jiang Wan raised her head and looked at him: "I said in front of Your Majesty that if everyone in the world performs their duties and keeps their duties, then the world will naturally be peaceful. Your Majesty asked me a question at that time!"
"What did your Majesty ask the Marshal?"
"Your Majesty asked me, if there are civil servants who are greedy for money and military officers who are afraid of death, and if there are people who are lying dead and doing nothing, what should you do?"
"How did the Marshal answer His Majesty?" A bright light seemed to flash in Xing Sheng's eyes.
"The humble minister can only use his meager power to let these people know what 'duty' is!"
Jiang Wan looked at Gao Sheng and smiled a little tiredly: "I said I have always thought and done this, do you believe it?"