The small study room of the Zhenjiang Fort General Military Mansion was also as warm as spring. The charcoal fire in the corner of the room was burning red. Even if you were not wearing heavy fox fur and fur cloak, you would not feel the slightest chill in the room.
The inside and outside of the house are like two worlds, and the people in the house seem to be the masters of the outside world, talking about major events related to this land and the people in this land.
There were only three people in the room, Jiang Wan, Zhou Jue, and Li Zicheng.
Zhou Jue was the head of the civil affairs yamen who was responsible for his duties. Even though Sun Yuanhua came up later and was reused by Jiang Wan in many places, Jiang Wan never neglected Zhou Jue or weakened Zhou Jue's authority, which was related to the civil affairs yamen.
When dealing with matters, Jiang Wan often had to discuss it with him before making a decision.
Li Zicheng is the commander of the East Route Army. However, anyone with a discerning eye can see that this person is already the number one general of the military and political yamen, regardless of his background or qualifications. Jiang Wan's intention to train him is also obvious. Since the East Route
After the army changed its defense, Li Zicheng participated in a large number of military and political yamen decisions.
If nothing else happens, Jiang Wan's concurrent role as director of the military and political yamen will fall on him sooner or later.
One article, one weapon, and one decision-maker.
This is the absolute top management of the Overseas Zhenfu Division,
"Sun Yuanhua is a smart man, he should understand what I mean!" Jiang Wan was talking: "A Sanjiang Trading Company is not enough to completely tie the interests of this group of nobles in Beijing to our Overseas Prosecution Department.
At the same time, therefore, we must make enough concessions to them and give them enough opportunities. As long as they feel that whoever dares to suppress our overseas suppression department is cutting off their financial resources, then, even if we have
Trouble, we don’t need to step forward, someone will naturally jump out to help us solve these troubles!"
"Your Excellency, you are so far-sighted!" Zhou Jue sighed: "We are leading these distinguished nobles step by step. Even if they will understand your intention sooner or later, I am afraid that they will have to stand on our side and be on our side when that time comes.
Let’s advance and retreat together!”
"It's not a conspiracy in the first place. I don't like conspiracies!" Jiang Wan smiled slightly and turned to look at Li Zicheng: "Zicheng, what do you say?"
"Your Excellency must have thought more carefully than us!" Li Zicheng frowned and shook his head slightly: "But what's the difference between leasing it and selling it directly to them? It's just that they don't give us any money. According to Your Majesty's wishes, it's just free for us.
I need to give them some!"
"Of course there is a difference!"
Jiang Wan laughed: "If you are leasing, the ownership of these firearms is still owned by our Overseas Town Fu Division. If one day they don't pay the rent, we can justifiably take them back. You won't worry that we don't have the strength to take back our things!"
"
"Then what?" Li Zicheng asked puzzledly.
"Let me tell you!" Seeing Li Zicheng's confused look, Zhou Jue took over Jiang Wan's words: "Actually, whether it is leasing or selling directly to them, it is essentially the same. We just support them, but if we buy
, these nobles may not be able to get so much money at the moment, and we will have to do business with these firearms in the future, so naturally we cannot lower ourselves. If we agree on 20,000 taels per door, then it must be 20,000 taels.
A cannon from the Folangji people can be sold at such an expensive price. Ours is better than theirs, so why can’t it be sold at this price?”
"Lease it to them for a rent of three to five thousand a year, and it will come back in a few years. And when the Francois, the Dutch, and those messy overseas people come to buy from us in the future, we will see that we have
The top princes and nobles of the Ming Dynasty all sell it at this price, can they buy it cheaper than this price?"
"Oh!" Li Zicheng suddenly realized: "We are setting the tone for future business, and at the same time we are also supporting these extremely poor nobles!"
"That's understandable!" Jiang Wan laughed: "As for sending Chen Fusheng a boat and a few cannons, we can certainly afford it, but why, he is not my son. Besides, we can
If you give it to him, you can give it to others. Today the Duke of the Kingdom and the Marquis will come to your door tomorrow. Let’s give it or not. If we give it, we will suffer a big loss. If we don’t, we will offend more people.
Got it!"
"So, it's best this way. If you can afford it, buy it directly. If you can't afford it, pay a deposit and rent. You can make enough money in a few years to buy it, instead of waiting to save for a few years!" Zhou Jue
He also laughed and laughed: "We adults have controlled them to death!"
"Then I have no problem!" Li Zicheng nodded: "It's just a little bit of hope. Our people should use the good things first, and the things we don't want to sell are better than our own!"
"We only sell ship cannons, not land cannons!" Jiang Wan nodded: "I have thought of this a long time ago. Tieshan will specially customize some ship cannons, which will not affect our troops and equipment. Moreover, even ship cannons,
There are also restrictions in regulations, and gunpowder and cannonballs are customized as much as possible. Without our gunpowder and cannonballs, they will not be able to exert their power. However, these technical matters will naturally be studied by the craftsmen of the Ordnance Department.
Now, we don’t have to worry about it!”
Zhou Jue nodded slightly on the side. Many of the details were decided upon after many discussions between him and Jiang Wan. Now that he saw the results of his deliberations becoming reality, he felt quite proud.
a feeling of.
"Okay, this matter is settled, let's discuss the next thing!" Jiang Wan waved his hand: "While this winter, there will be no major war between us and the Tartars, Korea's strategy on this point is also
It is about to be settled. Ping'an Road and Hamgyeong Road are now in our hands, and the Joseon Royal Court has not reacted excessively to our substantial control. Next, all the energy of our Overseas Control Department before the beginning of spring will be
Put it on North Korea’s side!”
"What else is there to discuss? Just take them!" Li Zicheng's eyes lit up when he heard this: "If Mei Xiaofei's middle army doesn't have this ability, let me, the east army, come. I guarantee that before the spring begins,
Capture the royal court of Korea!"
"I don't agree to directly conquer North Korea!" Zhou Jue shook his head: "Although North Korea is weak, it will still cost us a lot of money and food to conquer them, especially if we use troops in winter, because of the severe cold in Liaodong and North Korea.
, the soldiers must have suffered a lot of casualties outside of the war, which is not worth the loss for our strength!"
"How can such a large territory be conquered so quickly that the gains outweigh the losses? By the way, Mr. Zhou, aren't you worried about the reaction from our court?"
Zhou Jue still shook his head: "There won't be any reaction from our court. The North Koreans have betrayed their faith and formed an alliance with the Tartars. In the past, I, the Ming Dynasty, did not have the energy to deal with them. Now, our Overseas Prosecution Department is in Zhenjiang Fort and wants to deal with them.
It’s just a matter of one sentence. As long as our Lord Jiang delivers a memorial to the cabinet, no one will object to us teaching them a lesson, as long as we don’t ask the court for money, food or soldiers!”
"Then why are you hesitating? Let's fight. There are no immortals in a war. If we don't fight because we are afraid of dying, then we generals will become useless!"
"What Zhou Jue said makes sense. I have been hesitating. Should I directly send troops and horses to force North Korea to bow its head, cede the land and cities and merge them into our Overseas Suppression and Control Department, or should I have a good talk with them and win them without any blood?
The other party is naturally the best. Besides, what we want is North Korea’s food, military resources and the market for our Ming Dynasty’s goods. What’s the use of asking for their land and cities? If we really want their land and cities, what else can we do?
We have to send troops to guard it, and we have to guard against their resistance from time to time. This thing is really not worth the gain!"
"That's right, what you think of, sir, goes together with what your subordinates think of!" Zhou Jue counted on his fingers: "Even if our Central Route Army and East Route Army were invincible and captured North Korea without losing a single soldier, this would
There are at least dozens of state capitals and hundreds of cities in North Korea. Even if we send two hundred people to guard one city, it will require at least 20,000 people. This does not include ensuring that these 20,000 people are fed, drank, and provided with weapons and equipment!
"
He shook his head repeatedly: "I can't eat it. I really can't eat it. It's not that our Overseas Town and Fu Division doesn't have the teeth to chew them. It's because they are chewed. We can't digest them. We are too small. Such a conquest and occupation can only drag them down.
I don't see any benefit in destroying us!"
He sighed: "Don't forget, the Tartars are still watching. This time they have captured Chahar. The next step will definitely be to compete with us. In the past six months, we have worked hard to accumulate strength.
, is to deal with the Tatars, not to be spent on North Korea!"
"Yes!" Li Zicheng nodded: "The Tartars are our biggest enemy!"
"Is that to focus on peace talks, supplemented by the threat of force?" Jiang Wan set the tone: "The Civil Affairs Office, as soon as possible, list the resources we can get from North Korea. As long as we need them, they have, what?
You can ask for it!"
"My subordinates will handle this matter as soon as possible!"
"Then the next step is to send someone to talk to them!" Jiang Wan looked at Zhou Jue, then at Li Zicheng, and her eyes fell on Li Zicheng: "Zhou Jue has to focus on various affairs of the Civil Affairs Yamen and can't get away.
Since this time it is clear that the purpose is to use force to intimidate the Koreans, I think it would be most appropriate to remove people from the military and political yamen!"
"I'll go!" Li Zicheng chuckled: "The adults are looking at me, don't you just want me to go, I just go, but I have to say it first, if the North Koreans really offend me with their rude words, I will kill them
A few, adults, please don’t turn around and scold me!”
"As long as you can come back safely!" Jiang Wan didn't care about Li Zicheng killing a few people: "We are here to show off our power, not to seek compromise. Of course we have to follow our own wishes.
Anyway, if you are a good person, someone will become a bad person later. If you become a bad person first, the people behind you will have to be good people!"
"Send a few capable people to help him!" Jiang Wan said to Zhou Jue: "He can't count on the specific things to be done. He just wants to scare people, and the people who do it must be people from the Civil Affairs Yamen!"
"I understand!" Zhou Jue looked at Li Zicheng and smiled narrowly: "It turns out that General Gou is just a decoration in the eyes of adults..."
"Let's go to your house later to discuss!" Li Zicheng glanced at him: "I will take two hundred soldiers there. I won't go anywhere unless you are poor!"
"No, no, no, I said the wrong thing, okay..."
Jiang Wan smiled and watched his two capable subordinates bickering: "Okay, if there is anything else, please leave if you have nothing to do. Who will be poor? Go back and discuss it. Don't make me have a headache by arguing here..."
After the two left, the study became quiet. A small figure poked his head at the door, walked in quietly, and added charcoal to the brazier. Another figure followed in and tidied the table quickly.
tea cup tea bowl.
"Dajin, Xiaojin!"
Jiang Wan stretched his neck and said, "Do you want to go to Seoul and have some fun? Your royal city in North Korea should be more prosperous and lively than Pyongyang!"
"The royal city!"
The girl who was packing up looked up, her eyes sparkling: "I heard them say before that it is such a big city, much bigger than Pyongyang. If you get lost while shopping in it, you will never be able to find it again!"
She shook her head: "I don't dare to go. If I get lost and I can't get back to the master, then I will be miserable!"
"If my sister doesn't go, I won't go either!" Xiao Jin Jian, who added charcoal, said: "Unless the master takes us there!"
Today, the two sisters, Kim Soyan and Kim Soya, have been with Jiang Wan for nearly a year, and they are no longer as afraid of Jiang Wan as before. They are not only very adapted to their own identities, but also to the environment around Jiang Wan.
Anyway, from their point of view, there is no safest place in the world to be around Jiang Wan. Occasionally, when they go out, everyone who meets them is very kind, and no one will bully them without opening their eyes.
Days like this were simply the days the two little sisters had dreamed of before.
"I don't have time to go to your royal city!" Jiang Wan chuckled: "If you want to go, you can go with General Li. With him taking care of you, in the entire country of Korea, you will not be afraid of getting lost and not coming back!
"
"Really?" The two sisters were not very familiar with Li Zicheng, but recently Li Zicheng often came to the General Military Mansion, and they also knew that he was their master's confidant.
"Of course it's true!" Jiang Wan said with a smile: "General Li is going to capture your king this time. If you follow him, you will get unexpected gains. Maybe you can go out from my place and go to the royal city and come back.
By then, you will be two little princesses!"
"Master is teasing us again..." The two sisters giggled: "We don't believe what Master says!"
Jiang Wan shook her head and laughed as she watched the two sisters' brisk figures running out of the house.
The two sisters will definitely not stay with him forever, and he will not take these two sisters as concubines. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange a way out for the two sisters. Li Zicheng has never married in the army.
Seoul, maybe these two little sisters really like it.
Of course, the status of these two little sisters is a bit low, but when they arrive in Seoul, as long as the King of North Korea is not stupid, he will not fail to take advantage of these two North Korean girls who have been by his side for so long.
At least it is good as a link to maintain the relationship between the North Korean royal court and itself.
Well, it seems to be a normal operation for the queen of North Korea to recognize two sisters or two daughters. Anyway, as long as the two sisters follow Li Zicheng to Seoul, they will definitely turn into phoenixes when they return.
At that time, as a princess or princess of North Korea, she was worthy of Li Zicheng.