Xu Caining had the biggest reaction: "Firearms are our magic weapon to win against the Tartars. If they are stolen by the Tartars, then our advantage will be gone. This matter must not only be strictly investigated, but also we must prevent such things from happening again."
!”
"Kill one to serve as a warning to others, and serve as a warning to others!"
She looked at Li Fuyao instead of Jiang Wan with a murderous look. In her mind, Jiang Wan brought up this topic probably because Chen Yue was from Zhouzhuang and was considered a direct descendant of the Jiang family brought up by Li Fuyao. Jiang Wan
I didn't deal with this person because I wanted to give Li Fuyao some face.
"Sister is right!"
Li Fuyao said calmly: "This is not just collaborating with the enemy, it is simply surrendering to the enemy. This person must die!"
"No, no, no!" Jiang Yanran seemed to understand a little bit of Jiang Wan's thoughts: "My brother's focus is not on how to deal with this person, but on how the Tartars might deal with our overseas suppression department.
Firearms, if they don’t have countermeasures, then even if they fight again next year, they still won’t be able to take advantage!”
She said solemnly: "It's enough to suffer a loss once. If you continue to suffer a loss a second time even though you know it, you are a fool. Although the Tartars are cruel, they are not fools!"
The girls began to think deeply. Apparently Jiang Yanran's words made them realize that the life and death of a traitor was no longer a matter for them to consider at this level. They should stand higher and look at the problem at a higher level.
"I can't imagine how a barbarian army mainly composed of cavalry can resist a large number of troops equipped with muskets and cannons!"
The room was quiet for a long time, and Catherine shook her head. During this period, she had filtered through her mind almost all the battle cases she knew, but she still could not find a primitive cavalry unit that could defeat the firearms unit.
examples of battles.
"Our muskets today are far more advanced than those a hundred years ago. However, even a hundred years ago, the Spanish Expeditionary Force, led by Colonel Pizarro, had less than two hundred people and faced tens of thousands of people.
The Inca Empire's army was out of control. This army of less than two hundred people completely defeated the opponent's army and captured the opponent's emperor!"
"ah!"
Except for Jiang Yanran, who had a slight impression of this matter, all the other girls opened their mouths without exception: "Two hundred people versus tens of thousands of people?"
"Although I also know that this is outrageous, but this is history!" Catherine shrugged and said: "And now our overseas defense department has far more than 10,000 armed musketeers and hundreds of cannons.
Under this situation, I really can't think of any way for the opponent to reverse this equipment disadvantage. In fact, when facing our muskets and cannons, I'm only worried that they are not brave enough!"
She looked at everyone: "Because the braver they are, the faster they will die!"
"Is that so?" Xu Caining turned his eyes to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan nodded lightly: "However, the Tartars are much more powerful than the Inca Empire's army. That empire had no iron weapons!"
"If they don't even have iron weapons, aren't they just a bunch of natives?" Xu Caining curled his lips and said, "That's pretty much it. How could such an outrageous thing happen? The Tartars have no shortage of iron weapons!"
"A lot of their ironware was exported from our Ming Dynasty!"
Li Fuyao said softly: "However, if nothing happens, the imperial court's measure to ban trade with the nine borders that the master mentioned will be implemented by the whole people after the new year. By then, if the Tartars want to obtain iron weapons, they will have to mainly obtain them from the sea.
Well, the Mongols are even more short of iron than they are!"
"If this is the case, it would be a good way to trick them into wasting a lot of fine iron on imitating fire guns to weaken the enemy!"
"Eh!" Jiang Wan's eyes lit up. He really didn't expect this. Sure enough, a miracle could be achieved by working together. He clearly knew that the other party could not produce firearms with the same performance as his own on a large scale, but if the other party was convinced that they could
It's pretty good if you can make it.
"This idea is very interesting. I will let Gao Sheng see if there is room for implementation later!"
"Brother!" Jiang Yanran said: "Have you ever felt that you are acting too steadily? You can't always think how powerful the opponent is. It's not like our troops have never fought against them. It's not like you don't know the result.
You know, according to me, as long as the soldiers and horses of the imperial court do not cause trouble, do not hold back us, but continue to cooperate with our overseas garrison, the soldiers and horses in front of us will be directly pushed to Shengjing one day.
I feel weird!”
"That's because this is not a game, people will die, many people will die!"
Jiang Wan was slightly startled, and said seriously: "I know how much I weigh, and I also know the strength of my army, but this soldier, the place of life and death, the way of survival, is the most dangerous thing in the world.
, and more importantly, I can only win and feel that I cannot lose. As long as I can get the final victory in the end, no matter how steady it is, I feel it is worth it!"
Jiang Yanran glanced at Jiang Wan in surprise, and then nodded slowly: "That's right, we can only win, we can't lose, there are thousands of people who can't lose. If we really lose, what will happen next?
That was truly the darkest day in China for a hundred years!"
"If the Tartars can't find a way to restrain our firearms, then they won't have much chance of winning!"
Xu Caining nodded slowly: "It's a good thing to be steady and steady, as long as you know it well, but at least it can be seen that up to now, the Tartars are still more afraid of our firearms. As long as they are afraid, it will be an advantage.
at me!"
"It seems that everyone has similar opinions, so I'm relieved!" Jiang Wan laughed: "Okay, let's not talk about it anymore. This little accident shouldn't ruin our mood. Where's Polu?
, bring Polu out, and I’ll take him to set off firecrackers!”
The sound of crackling firecrackers was heard, mixed with the laughter of women and children. This huge General Military Mansion was no longer a cold yamen, but had the warmth and atmosphere of home.
The spring of the sixth year of Chongzhen came slowly and unhurriedly as Jiang Wan's family was reunited.
After the New Year, the first person to leave was Xu Caining and Jiang Yanran. She took Jiang Yanran's ship and returned to Daming by sea directly from Xiaoshan City. Li Fuyao and Xiaojiu stayed in Zhenjiang Fort to discuss matters over at Hao Jing'ao.
With Jiang Yanran taking care of her, there is no urgent need to go back for the time being, and even if she does go back, there is a high probability that it will be Catherine who goes back this time.
Because the battle between the Portuguese and the Dutch was about to break out, Kesselly was in charge of Hao Jing'ao's Four Seas Branch. Not only did she have a suitable identity, but it also facilitated her to mediate between the Portuguese and the Spanish. And Li Fuyao returned,
That is a waste of resources.
As the general manager of Zhouzhuang who has provided a large number of junior officers to the Overseas Pressure Division over the past few years, although Li Fuyao is silent, her power in the army of his Overseas Pressure Control Division is definitely not low, and as Jiang Wan, she is
Her status as one of the wives also allowed her to handle many things that caused headaches for others in the military and political yamen, but were just a piece of cake for her.
Chen Yue's case also made Jiang Wan realize that within the overseas garrison, a special yamen is also needed to deal with the leakage and loss of ordnance. Such matters are handled by the Military Intelligence Department and Tieshan City.
It is far more accurate, fast and reliable to deal with it at any time than to have someone whom Jiang Wan absolutely trusts and who is absolutely capable.
Li Fuyao has no lack of experience in this field and is popular in the military. It is the most suitable for her to do this. At the Civil Affairs Office, Li Fuyao is watching over the leasing and selling of firearms.
, and don’t worry that they will step on the red line.
"You will be the head of this audit department!"
Jiang Wan was not polite at all: "The Audit Department is also under the name of the Military and Political Yamen, and has some overlap with the Military Intelligence Department. But most of the time, it can act independently. You can find the personnel yourself. When necessary,
, you can ask someone from the Military Intelligence Department to support you!"
"So, the job that the master has given me is to be the chief accountant, specifically to find out who stole money from our pockets?"
Li Fuyao blinked his eyes and asked with a half-smile, "How about I just let go of Haojing'ao?"
"Catherine is more suitable to do things over there than you!" Jiang Wan glanced at Catherine beside him: "Don't forget, you were in Haojing Ao where you evacuated at the beginning, but it was Katherine who was always there.
Manager, the Audit Department is where you should go right now!"
"What about Xiaojiu?"
Li Fuyao said: "I also plan to let her take care of things there after I leave Haojing'ao. It seems that I have been taking her with me to do everything, and I have taught her so many things in vain!"
"Ask her what she wants. If she wants to stay in Hao Jing'ao and let her be Catherine's deputy, it will be much easier for Catherine to have her help. If she doesn't want to stay there, she can go to the Audit Department with you.
That’s okay, you are the head of the Audit Department, and if you arrange for her to do something, is there anyone who objects to it?”
Jiang Wan glanced at Xiao Jiu, who had his head lowered: "Xiao Jiu, if you find it hard and do nothing, you can just stay in the General Military Mansion. Be a big housekeeper for me and let me see your
He’s also good at what he does!”
"Xiaojiu will do whatever the teacher arranges!"
Xiaojiu's face showed a haha smile, just like the little girl Jiang Wan used to be who didn't know how to feel sad all day long.
"Then stay in the General Military Mansion and manage it well. From now on, you will be the chief steward of the General Military Mansion!" Li Fuyao nodded: "You have grown up, and you are no longer the one who follows me every day.
Little girl, weren’t you envious of Li Qiu’an, the chief steward of our Tenth Prince’s Palace? If you want to do better than him, maybe many people will envy you in the future!”
"Okay, okay!" Xiaojiu nodded seriously: "Xiaojiu will definitely be a competent housekeeper!"
"when are you leaving!?"
Jiang Wan ignored Xiao Jiu, who looked excited, and let her and Li Fuyao chatter about some topics that he didn't understand, and turned his attention to Catherine.
"Let's go when you drive me away!" Catherine looked at her pitifully: "It's hard for my eldest sister to leave. You should spend more time with me and Sister Fuyao. Are you so anxious to drive me away?"
"Who is in a hurry to drive you away!" Jiang Wan said in a dumbfounded voice: "If you want, you can live here for the New Year next year, but what about the Portuguese and Dutch people?"
"I'll damn them!"
Catherine's long eyelashes trembled a few times: "Is there anything more important than me being pregnant with your baby?"
"Okay, it's easy. You decide for yourself!" Jiang Wan couldn't resist. He had already discovered that Li Fuyao and Xiaojiu were secretly listening to what he and Catherine were talking with.
"At least until February!" Catherine pursed her lips and smiled: "Because of the monsoon and ocean currents, even if the two sides are anxious to fight again, it will be after February. However, before that, you promised my servant
Bing, you have to be ready for me. That girl Yanran is unreliable. You sent hundreds of people to Ryukyu, but he doesn’t even know how to use them. It’s still unclear whether these people are useful or not.
When the time comes and someone returns it, we will suffer a big loss."
One day, Jiang Wan suddenly became energetic: "By the way, what exactly did you and your uncle talk about? You only gave a rough outline. I never asked you about the specific details!"
"Two thousand mercenaries are responsible for transporting them, and food and weapons are provided by them. The mercenaries are worth twenty thousand taels of silver per month. If anyone is killed in battle, double the single hiring fee will be paid!"
Catherine said proudly: "That is, if one person dies, they have to pay twenty taels of silver!"
"Twenty thousand taels of silver a month!" Jiang Wan smiled slightly. At this moment, he really didn't have 20,000 taels of silver in his eyes: "It doesn't sound very interesting!"
"I provided my uncle with two plans. One is to pay a one-time payment of one hundred thousand taels of silver. We will bring our own weapons and dry food and help them fight until the war is introduced. During this period, the size of our mercenaries must not be less than 2,000 people.
How many people die will be replenished!"
"The other one is the plan I just mentioned, which is 20,000 taels per month, paid monthly, and compensation will be paid when the person dies!"
She sighed with regret: "It's a pity that my uncle is too stingy. He chose the second option. I know that the Victor Chamber of Commerce's treasury has more than 200,000 in cash and cash at any time.
What about the ten thousand taels of gold? This money is not his, so do you know what he is saving for the Chamber of Commerce?"
"Besides money, what else can we get?" Jiang Wan smiled slightly, he was more concerned about this than money.
"Control of War!"
Catherine pursed her lips and smiled, looking very proud: "Once our mercenaries join the battlefield, it is not up to them to decide when the war will stop. Since my uncle can hire mercenaries,
Well, if the war goes against the odds for the Dutch, I think they would also be willing to spend money to hire mercenaries. Of course, whether it is the Dutch or my uncle, if we really get control of the war, we have to wait until they defeat both sides first!
"
She smiled like a wily fox: "And it's not difficult for us to do this!"