Chapter 380: The favor of the country, the army’s fault
On the other end of the satellite phone, Chongzhen held the tea cup casually, took a sip, and slowly increased the pressure on Li Zhu.
Li Zhu wanted to show off, but he refused to give him a chance. Gao Li wanted to stand back and watch the show without paying a dime. How could that be possible?
The Ming Dynasty had already sent troops once for Goryeo, so it would be unreasonable to send troops again on a voluntary basis.
"Li Zhu, this time I plan to dispatch all four regiments of the Royal Army in Goryeo, with a total of 12,000 troops.
Among them, the number of firearms used by the Royal Army is one hundred and two. After this war, all the guns must be maintained and maintained. I can make the decision and leave them to you for your army training.
So this is 1.2 million taels, and there are hundreds of artillery pieces left. During the march, a certain amount of food, ammunition, and oil were consumed. Isn't this money?
Aren't the pensions and combat incentives given to the soldiers money? If you ask me to pay this money, then is Goryeo a vassal state or the chief envoy of the Ming Dynasty? I helped you, how can I tell the cabinet?"
"Your Majesty, it is not a small country that is ignorant of the truth. The country above is rich, and a little silver is just a drop in the ocean. Small countries also know that launching the army of the above country will cost a lot, and the heavenly soldiers are noble, so they cannot tolerate this.
But Goryeo was really poor and could not afford such a high military expenditure. In order to resist the Japanese, the small country was willing to fully pay for the pension expenses and food for this battle.
Your Majesty, please send your heavenly troops to attack for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and for the sake of pity for the poor small country! The small country will definitely set up a monument of immortality for your majesty, and every household will express gratitude to your majesty for your kindness."
Li Jian was so frightened by Chongzhen's words. If the Ming Dynasty suddenly used this as an excuse to demand that Goryeo be turned into a province, I am afraid that some of Goryeo's ministers would go crazy with joy and accidentally become regular officials.
Stimulate.
The satellite call had been hung up by Chongzhen, but Li Zhu still stared blankly at the red indicator light with some lingering fear.
"Hey! I'm already hungry. There's a lot of minced meat left over from Tianbing's meal today! I'm going to add more vegetables to the hot pot later, so I can replenish my baby!"
Under the setting sun, a group of people rushed home with jars full of oil and water.
Besides, let the Heavenly Soldiers of the Kingdom of Heaven rush to the front. If that flying iron bird drops bombs again, we will even save the pension of the Heavenly Soldiers of the Kingdom of Heaven."
Cui Mingji clasped his hands and bowed, saying that the ministers in the court did not dare to talk behind their backs until Cao Bianjiao and the others, who were all dressed in military uniforms, left.
"Are you ministers of the Shangguo! Or are you ministers of Goryeo? You said good things for the Shangguo to attack the slaves, and now the emperor of the Shangguo is demanding military expenses. Not only do you not feel ashamed, but you also feel that the emperor of the Shangguo is benevolent?"
"Impossible! Didn't you hear what the emperor said? The Royal Army is going..."
Li Jie paid his respects and did not want to hear this anymore. He asked the chief eunuch to announce his resignation from the court, and then summoned Li Hao, Cui Mingji, and Bingcao Banshu to train the two generals of the governor to go to the side hall for a private meeting.
The opponent they faced this time can be seen from the Japanese pirate tactical equipment analysis book. The Japanese pirates' equipment was very sophisticated, even better than that of Jiannu. It can be said that it was just a little worse than them.
In the last few days when I was humiliated in Shengjing, I once heard from Jiannu who had escaped from Jinzhou that the iron birds of the Shang Dynasty dropped oil bombs to attack them. People, vegetation and trees were burned into smoke for miles around.
"Hey! I won't listen to Liu Banshu's words. What's the matter? His Majesty said that Goryeo is barren, and the emperor of the previous country turned it into minerals in order to obtain military expenses. Isn't this kindness?
When the slaves were conquered, the king endured the humiliation and endured the heavy burden. None of us endured the humiliation and endured the heavy burden. Why didn't you say that the slaves were wrong at that time?"
When a group of people heard that there was twice as much meat, their eyes suddenly lit up. They were clamoring for it, scrambling for wooden basins and pots, and dividing the contents of the swill buckets cleanly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness! I will definitely come to Ming Dynasty years ago to listen to the Holy Will."
"Brothers! Hurry up and get ready! Set off with me tomorrow! For the Ming Dynasty! For His Majesty the Emperor! Wan Sheng!"
"this……"
"You care so much? Why don't you get twice as much meat today? As I said, you are not allowed to ask questions, and you are not allowed to fight today."
"How can the State be so aggressive now? Is this still a land of etiquette? The vassal state was invaded by foreign enemies, and the Heavenly Army of the State was dispatched and they actually asked us to pay for it. This was not the case when Emperor Wanli of the State was like this."
After a common man picked up a piece of luncheon meat, he shouted excitedly, attracting people around to watch. The soldier also saw it.
In the camp, a chilling atmosphere echoed in the huge square, and all the soldiers were cleaning their equipment and loading paper shell fixed ammunition into projectile bags.
The words of the general who oversees the training camp brought the whole discussion back to the court. Li Zhu looked at Bing Cao Banshu, Cui Mingji, and Li Hao, asking for their opinions, especially Li Hao, who was the most popular.
Someone who knows the Royal Army.
"Well, after the war, the Royal Army will also go home. After the war, I will arrange for them to change defenses.
"I am willing! As long as the general of the country can defeat the Japanese pirates, I am willing to use it to pay for the needs of this battle. However, what my subordinates said is also reasonable.
Therefore, the Royal Army, which had already crushed Jiannu, did not take it lightly, because they knew their own combat effectiveness, and they did not dare to be careless about the Japanese pirates who had the same combat effectiveness.
That is to find a way to cash out the five million taels of silver as soon as possible, and then persuade others not to cause trouble. At the same time, mobilize troops to prevent someone in the country from taking the opportunity to cause trouble.
I always feel that there is something wrong with the military deduction method mentioned by the emperor of the previous country."
Five million taels may not even be worth 500,000 taels in the end, but we can no longer bear the annual garrison expenses of more than 100,000 taels."
"Several of my dear friends have also heard that the Emperor of Shangguo has a very tough attitude this time, and the Royal Army has stationed in Goryeo. I am afraid that the Emperor of Shangguo is also peeking at our land of Goryeo!"
The one who was named and not allowed to ask for anything turned pale. He looked at the guard who was bringing out the swill. His lips trembled and he wanted to ask for mercy, but he didn't dare. Otherwise, he would never have it again.
But if hundreds of thousands of troops were mobilized for combat, the number of dead people, food and salary, and subsequent supplements would probably exceed 5 million.
‘Bah! What kind of son of a bitch is wasting food? The person watching the bucket is seriously derelict in his duty! You must report it when you get back.’
The only ones who know the power are the regimental and battalion-level commanders who have watched the video. Only they are qualified to mobilize these equipment, and naturally they also know how this powerful weapon can crush charging troops.
"That's right! Your Majesty, if we don't temporarily evacuate Seoul to Pyongyang first, as long as the Royal Army is still in Seoul, General Shangguo will definitely become the target of the Japanese army, and there will be a fight with the Japanese army without us paying any money."
As for the machine gunners and bazooka operators, they have only used blank ammunition and have never fired live ammunition. They have no idea of the power of their weapons.
Answer me, I don’t have time to continue bargaining with you.”
Chongzhen's voice echoed in the hall, and Li Zhuo's heart beat uncomfortably. He did not dare to refuse, and he also knew that refusing would only lead to death.
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask your Majesty to agree with what His Majesty has said. Goryeo has its own dignity. If you ask your Majesty to fight, you will naturally have to provide corresponding food, pay, troops and horses.
"You're not sensible. Shouldn't you worry about too much or too little? General, you did the right thing, you are the best. Today, his fault has been taken care of."
You don't need to worry about the rest of the arrangement of the troops and how to fight. Just wait for the Japanese country to be annihilated.
"For the Ming Dynasty! For His Majesty the Emperor! Wan Sheng!"
"Your Majesty, my ministers and others also think so. It's just that our country now has abundant military force. We should not conflict with it. We should fight back the Japanese army first."
Is that comparable to the military households in Seoul? Look at the leftovers from the heavenly soldiers, how many of the officials in the city can eat them?"
"Great, General, isn't it usually two hundred pounds? Why did it suddenly increase so much today?"
Let the generals of North Chungcheong Province cooperate with the generals of Shangguo in defense."
"It's great! Today's army pot can be even more fragrant, Pu Dekui, I will be a guest at your home today."
"Yes, Your Majesty! The emperor of the previous country has never made it clear, and General Cao of the previous country has not mentioned this matter. Do you really think we are not needed?"
"If that's the case, a five million pension won't be worth it."
"Counsellor Park, what you said is wrong. Since ancient times, when recruiting troops, haven't they been given food and grass? If the Japanese invaded Seoul and robbed hundreds of thousands of people like they did fifty years ago, how many people would that be?
Five million taels?
Besides, didn’t the emperor of the Shang Dynasty also say that he was considerate of the poverty of our country and we don’t need to use silver, we can use minerals. When the time comes, the transportation costs for the mines dug in Korea will also have to be borne by the people of the Shang Dynasty?
However, a musket is a musket, and an artillery is an artillery. Even if it is slightly different, it is still a firearm that can take away their lives. This is clearly stated in the analysis book and poster.
The shouts of unity swept through the camp, shaking the Korean people who were pushing carts outside or leaving with cans in their arms.
"Your Majesty, the emperor of the previous country has not asked us to cooperate and assist in operations. Isn't it too arrogant?
This time the Japanese invaded, there were more than 100,000 people, and the ships covered the coast. With so many Japanese pirates, how could the Royal Army of tens of thousands of people be able to stop them?"
Carrying a backpack, a gun and a pellet bag slung across his body, four grenades hanging outside the bag, and a mask on his mouth with only one eye exposed, he neatly left the camp at a trot and ran toward Seoul.
“Dong Yizheng, do you think we should withdraw our troops from the north at this moment and go south to support the Japanese pirates?
After the incident with the Fifth Guards Battalion fifty years ago, the training of the three armies is now under supervision, and many more gunners have been added. The combat power has become much stronger, and there may be no need to dispatch the heavenly troops.
Finally, I say it again, if I don’t see the King of Korea come over years ago, Korea will not need to exist.”
"Army pot, army pot, I love making army pot the most. I will eat the leftovers from the heavenly soldiers. I eat the same as the heavenly soldiers..."
"No, Jin agrees, this strategy is absolutely unacceptable. Now that the emperor of the country does not allow us to spend money on military expenses, there is a lot of room for maneuver, but not much can be spent.
Now that His Majesty's holy will for the battle order has been conveyed, I will lead the troops to attack, and I also ask the king to hand over the city defense authority of Cheongju and Chungju to our army."
I have ordered the Royal Army to enter a state of combat readiness. They will set off tomorrow morning to go to Cheongju and Chungju to guard the two chokepoints.
Then, a long dragon drove out from inside, with three people in a row. The long dragon was wearing black gloves and holding a flashlight in its hand.
The company commander also directed the squad leader to use a tricycle to open boxes of grenades and distribute them. The expressions on the faces of all the soldiers showed a burst of nervousness.
"That's right, we usually pay 10,000 taels every month, which already accounts for 10% of the tax revenue of the national treasury, but now it actually costs 5 million taels.
"What's the benefit of marrying into their military household? My eldest daughter wants to marry those scholars."
"The heavenly soldiers of the Kingdom are so mighty and majestic, it would be great if I could marry them."
Your Majesty! I dare to ask Your Majesty to reject the request of the Emperor of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Such huge military expenditure will only crush the people of Goryeo to death."
As long as there is that thing, the heavenly soldiers of the Shang Kingdom may be able to wipe out the entire Japanese army without even leaving Qingzhou and Zhongzhou, leaving the Japanese army with no chance to surrender."
However, if they knew that the Japanese pirates could not be as rich as Chongzhen, and that the elite firearms troops had the same number as them at most, and the rest were ordinary firecrackers and infantry, they probably wouldn't be so nervous.
Cui Mingji, the leader who was caught by his gaze, put his hands together and bowed and spoke.
The noisy civil servants in the lobby began to attack each other again. Li Zhu's eyes hurt when he saw it. He was not very able to control the situation. In the past few years, many people in the court had been dissatisfied with him since they surrendered and became slaves. But why didn't anyone come out?
Say something important?
"Yes, our country is a land of etiquette, and things should be done in such a polite and polite manner..."
I am just calculating for you how much the Ming Dynasty will pay. At the same time, I allow you to use Goryeo's minerals and Goryeo's manpower to pay off debts and hire your people for mining and transportation. During this period, every salary can be deducted. I won't let you
How about paying off the debt with cash?"
"That's right! His Highness already mentioned these situations when he escaped here, but is it really so powerful?"
The soldiers of the Royal Army can also understand this situation. After all, these days, ordinary people cannot live a prosperous life for a few days.
"Have you forgotten? The emperor of the previous country also had a plane flying in the sky. That plane could drop bombs and transport supplies.
The soldiers of the imperial camp and the city defense officials who were in Seoul noticed a long silver dragon approaching Seoul from the city wall, and were so frightened that they almost sounded the alarm.
The only place outside the camp that had contact with the Korean people finally returned to peace after the swill buckets were salvaged and even the oil stains were scraped off again and again.
Cui Yizheng, you can lead the government and start drafting edicts. I will send an eunuch to quickly go to Qingzhou with the letter, Zhong.
A tricycle pulling two buckets of swill drove to the side entrance of the camp. Three Royal Cadets and three Royal Army soldiers from different camps held a security detector in their hands to detect whether there were any metal materials inside.
Li Zhu looked down, hesitating to say anything. Although it sounded good, he felt out of breath when he thought about suddenly carrying two or three years of tax debt.
"I accept the decree!"
"Then who knows whether what His Highness heard is true? What if it is a lie fabricated by the defeated slave general to escape responsibility?"
Li Zhu looked at the left counselor who came forward to report. His face turned dark when he heard the bad idea. Why didn't you speak when the Emperor of Ming Dynasty said it just now?
You wait for me to bear the pressure and take the blame, and then you come out and ask me to go back on my word? Are you just pretending that the 10,000 people outside can't lift a firecracker?
"Wow! This, this is fragrant meat, such a big piece of fragrant meat."
"Hey, General, forgive me! General, forgive me!"
"Are you guys here again today? There are three hundred kilograms in total today! They are all fresh today, uh, fresh leftovers. Take a spoon and beat them by yourself. Remember to clean the bucket."
When the ministers in Gyeongbokgung Palace were worrying about Goryeo, the Royal Army barracks was outside Seoul.
"As for your girl who looks like a fire stick, it would be nice to have a military household. Besides, she is a heavenly soldier.
There are tens of thousands of people in the Royal Army. Even if the leftover swill from three meals is strictly restricted and cannot be wasted, the excess oil and water will always be left uneaten, which adds up to hundreds of kilograms.
What made him even more angry was that one of the ministers he glanced at actually lowered their heads and threw the pot to him.
Li Hao's words made several other people agree. After each expressed their opinions, Li Hao's small group had reached a consensus.
After the war, the small country no longer needs the protection of the generals of the superior country. The annual military expenditure of more than 100,000 taels is enough for the entire army of the small country. Your Majesty, please take back the heavenly troops."
In the early morning of the next day, when the stars were still shining in the sky, the gate of the Royal Army Koryo Camp opened directly.
Li Zhu's eyes suddenly lit up. Cui Mingji was right. He was disgusted by the Royal Army's entry into Seoul. With this opportunity, he could just let the Royal Army leave.
It’s just that the Japanese suffered heavy losses after the war and the Jian slaves were destroyed, so Seoul no longer needs the protection of the generals from the country. At the same time, the equipment should be left to our country to defend against another Japanese attack.”
"Your Majesty, His Majesty the Ming Emperor has ended the call, and the satellite phone has been left with you. If you want to contact His Majesty in the next few days, you only need to press the red button No. 2, and His Majesty's number will be automatically dialed.
Outside the camp gate, there were already more than thirty local people from Goryeo, and even servants of nobles in the city, looking eagerly at the wall, listening carefully to hear familiar voices.
"I also know that your country, Goryeo, is poor. Moreover, Goryeo has always been a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. If the Ming Dynasty ignores something, wouldn't it mean that it can't even protect its own people?
"He Dajian, as well as the Bing Cao Judgment Book and the Li Cao Judgment Book, will quickly hand over a token to General Cao.
A Royal Army soldier who knew Koryo came out, looked at a group of people, and said in Koryo that ever since the Koryo people discovered that they were pouring swill, they came to ask for it.
In their hands they all held clay pots or wooden basins, as well as some buckets and soap locusts for cleaning.
It was only because the officers at the higher level had told them in advance that the heavenly soldiers would pass by Seoul this morning and march towards Chungju and Cheongju, so they could calmly look at the long and sultry dragon outside the moat.
The distance from Seoul to Chungcheongbuk-do is more than 80 kilometers, and the distance to Chungju and Cheongju are 130 kilometers and 140 kilometers respectively.
Therefore, the army will take two days to officially arrive at Chungju and Cheongju on the second night to complete the task of garrison change.
As for the reconnaissance company, they have switched to horses at this time and are rushing towards Chungju and Cheongju. They will plan their camps and set up defensive pockets in advance.