Chapter 68 Treating People with Sincerity and Perseverance
The power is intimidating and the words are heart-breaking.
The Battle of Guangdong may be the last chance for the resurgence of the Southern Ming Dynasty. However, because Zheng Chenggong's naval division "played" and "resolutely refused to move forward", Jin King Li Dingguo finally failed in Xinhui, and the two broad divisions also suffered heavy losses. This is a great opportunity.
It flows eastward, and He Sheng sighs loudly.
If it weren't for the arrival of Zhu Yongxing, a time traveler, who worked hard to integrate the remnants of the army and relied on his own foresight to gradually reverse the situation in the precarious southwest, China's history would have repeated that tragic scene. Thinking of this, Zhu Yongxing
How can we not be filled with anger and heartache?
"General, if you disobey orders and use your own selfish motives, you will be punished by death." Yang Yandi kowtowed his head heavily, sweating profusely. He could never afford to say this, "But I will never dare to die."
If you despise the imperial court, I will never dare to look down on His Highness even if I die. Your Highness's heart-wrenching words will only be revealed by death."
"You are guilty." Zhu Yongxing said categorically: "Without being able to meet the troops in advance, and without a letter explaining it, receiving the title without following the order is a false story. You think that I have something to ask for, so I can exaggerate my own status and ask for wealth.
No? If you don’t have your navy master, I can’t accomplish anything, so I’m condescending to you and asking for help with soft words?”
"The last general will not dare, the last general will not dare." This is Yang Yandi's behavior. Although this is not what he thinks in his heart, there is nothing to justify.
Zhu Yongxing stopped in front of Yang Yandi and was silent for a long time before he said, "Yang Yandi, are you a loyal minister of our Ming Dynasty?"
"The last general will be loyal to the Ming Dynasty and will never have second thoughts. If you violate this statement, you will be struck by thunder and die." Yang Yandi was lying on the ground, but he could not see the smile flashing across the corner of Zhu Yongxing's mouth.
Zhu Yongxing stopped talking. He turned around and walked back to his seat. Yang Yandi was frightened and fell to the ground, waiting for the verdict.
"Get up!" Zhu Yongxing's deep voice rang out, "You can work hard to support me, which shows that you still have the heart to make up for your mistakes. I am not a narrow-minded or harsh person. I'll leave this crime for now."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness." Yang Yandi kowtowed again and stood up slowly. He felt his knees and legs were sore and wobbly. He barely stood firm, bowed his head, and listened to the instructions.
The room became quiet again, and only the sound of Zhu Yongxing's rustling paper could be heard. Yang Yandi took a peek and saw Zhu Yongxing's expression was serious, and he lowered his head in a hurry.
"I had something to say to Deng Yao and Chen Shangchuan that day -" Zhu Yongxing raised his head and said, "Huang Jin is rebellious and must be conquered. Do you know who this person refers to?"
Yang Yandi was shocked. He raised his head in astonishment and met Zhu Yongxing's gaze. He blinked and lowered his eyelids slightly. He tentatively replied: "Could it be that he is the last general?"
Zhu Yongxing snorted and said calmly: "I know that Huang Jin is your deputy general and has great trust. Although I am looking at his future now, I will not ask about unknown crimes. The martial arts hall is still short of instructors who are familiar with water warfare. I will go there.
What do you think of Huang Jin staying?"
"Your Highness expresses your love and care. I will burst into tears of gratitude and dare not obey my orders." Yang Yandi bowed and replied.
Zhu Yongxing nodded, paused, patted the table gently, and his tone became much gentler, "General Yang, please come and sit down."
Yang Yandi hesitated for a moment, walked over slowly, and sat halfway down on the stool with a respectful posture.
Zhu Yongxing pointed to the map on the table and said: "General Yang is familiar with naval warfare and has just returned from the sea. Please introduce to me the current combat situation of the South China Sea Fleet!"
Yang Yandi quickly cheered up, introduced the situation, showed off his talents, and tried to remedy his image in Zhu Yongxing's mind.
Zhu Yongxing also relaxed his expression. While listening attentively, he added a few words, smiled and expressed a few words of appreciation.
Only then did Yang Yandi realize that the Crown Prince Min was not only majestic, but also had a gentle side. He also had something in his belly. He answered all questions he asked and occasionally said some surprising words.
"The Qing Navy seems not to be good at fighting at sea? However, Shi Lang and Su Li should not be underestimated." Zhu Yongxing said thoughtfully: "The Qing Navy is concentrated on the southeast coast. If they want to attack Jinxia, they will definitely fail.
If it is known in advance when it will attack, the South China Sea Fleet may be able to quietly dispatch and intercept its defeated army at sea."
Yang Yandi hesitated for a moment and said tactfully: "Your Highness has a wonderful idea. It's just that the sea is so vast that it's not easy to calculate the time accurately."
Yes, Zhu Yongxing also felt regretful. Without modern communication equipment, it was impossible to accurately grasp the enemy's movements; the ship's speed depended on the wind, which was also full of variables. Although this idea was good, it was extremely difficult to realize, so he could only give it up for the time being.
"I want to buy a Xiyi ship. What suggestions does General Yang have?"
Zhu Yongxing has had this idea for a long time, but he was short of money and could not implement it. In a few months, when the mirror is successfully manufactured, he can sell it to Southeast Asian countries and mainland China, making huge profits at his fingertips. And he has already
Send an envoy to Siam to discuss the purchase of ships, and the price can be quite favorable.
"Xiyi ships have a deep draft and are best suited for sailing in open seas. They have many and sharp cannons, so they are indeed very good." Yang Yandi changed the topic and said, "However, a deep draft makes it difficult to get close to the shore. This is a minor disadvantage."
Yes, now the focus is not on distant sea navigation or combat, but on coastal harassment and inshore navigation and immigration. Moreover, sea-going ships with deep drafts will be slow to move and unable to maneuver when entering the Yangtze River. Zheng Chenggong suffered such a loss when he attacked Nanjing.
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Zhu Yongxing knew that he was a little impatient. He had to eat his food one bite at a time and accumulate strength bit by bit. First he had to deal with the Qing army, and then he had to deal with the Xiyi whose claws were getting longer and longer.
"That makes sense. Ships can be purchased, but they should mainly be medium-sized." Zhu Yongxing accepted the advice and nodded in agreement, "It can also sail in shallow water, so it is the most suitable for the current tactics."
Yang Yandi was a native of Qinzhou and a pirate. He was originally a subordinate of Xie Chang. After Xie Chang's death, he "led the people on his behalf. In a situation where violence and incorruptibility were the rule, no officer or soldier dared to do anything." Although he had a shady background, he was different from others.
It is commendable that the pirates Su Li and his ilk, who were unjust for their own interests, were able to remain righteous even when there was no hope of revival. They would rather lead their troops to Annan to become survivors of the former Ming Dynasty and become developers of the Mekong Delta.
What's more, Yang Yandi came to plead guilty in person and handed over his subordinates to Chen Shangchuan's command, which shows his heart. Zhu Yongxing had enough of his majesty, so he switched to gentle methods.
Talking in the evening, Zhu Yongxing called for food and ate at the same table with Yang Yandi as a sign of kindness. At the same time, he also finalized the arrangements for Yang Yandi's old and weak men and relatives, as well as the treatment of the soldiers.
Being teased with both coercion and courtesy, Yang Yandi, who originally came to plead guilty, was completely submissive. The family members of the soldiers and generals were properly placed. On the other hand, they were not just hostages in disguise.
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What Zhu Yongxing was most worried about was that Yang Yandi's men had a legacy of piracy and were difficult to manage. Therefore, he established the South China Sea Fleet, gradually disrupted and reorganized several maritime armed forces, and then sent personnel from the Military Justice Department and the Propaganda Department into the army. Those who should be eliminated were eliminated.
, the supplement was supplemented, and the South China Sea Fleet was slowly and firmly controlled.
It's still a short period of time, but the results have been seen. Deng Yao and Chen Shangchuan have basically solved the problem. Yang Yandi doesn't seem to have much of a problem.
It is obviously not enough to just grant official titles to these three people, but Zhu Yongxing really can't get any more material benefits now. However, "overdraft" has become Zhu Yongxing's habit. In layman's terms, it is to give people hope.
As an incentive, Yang Yandi saw the salary system formulated by Zhu Yongxing. Although it was only on paper, it also allowed him to see the opportunity to prosper in the future. What interested Yang Yandi even more was the medal and pension system. After all, his subordinates had a bright future.
, the troops are also easy to lead.
The awarding of medals is an important reward system in the military. It plays an important role in stimulating the ambition and sense of honor of officers and soldiers, boosting morale, and consolidating and improving the combat effectiveness of the troops. It has always been valued by the armies of various countries.
Zhu Yongxing personally designed the patterns and has produced a batch of medals, which are being distributed to various theaters and awarded to those who have made meritorious service in previous battles. I believe this new thing will shock the Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers.
Don't talk about the matter of making a marquis, for one general's achievements can lead to thousands of deaths. These two sentences reveal a common phenomenon in feudal society. A general's military exploits are earned by the lives of thousands of people.
The wind gradually picked up, wrinkled the autumn water, and also turned over the picture album of history. Page after page, the bones covered the field, and blood flowed into rivers. How many successful generals did not step on the corpses of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians to build the country?
In the annals of history, only the great achievements of generals are recorded. Who can remember the ordinary soldiers who shed their blood and sacrificed their lives and abandoned their families and children?
Zhu Yongxing has gradually changed these bad habits in the army. Starting from the time when new recruits join the army, the information is required to be written as detailed as possible. If he sacrifices, he will not be an unknown soldier, but will be engraved on a stone tablet, archived in the Mission Department, and enshrined.
The living characters of Yu Zhong Martyrs’ Shrine.
Leaving a name on a piece of paper is something that a sergeant or a commoner would never dare to dream about, but it is now slowly becoming a reality. Although it cannot keep up with the history, it can make future generations feel proud and bring glory to the faces of relatives and family members, which is undoubtedly
It is thousands of times better than dying in obscurity.
Although the aftermath and pensions consume a lot of financial and material resources, they are necessary for modern armies. If the soldiers cannot be distracted, how can they radiate more heroic fighting spirit? Do they rely on looting, burning and killing?
Zhu Yongxing is not trying to build a "beast army".
Yang Yandi stayed in Mengzi for two days, and Zhu Yongxing had three long conversations with him. Not only about the naval battle, he also explained his ideas and plans to Yang Yandi.
I treat people with sincerity, but who wouldn't respond with sincerity? Compared with the convoluted thoughts of literati, Zhu Yongxing prefers the straightforwardness of military commanders. Moreover, only through contact and conversation can he better understand and grasp Yang Yandi's thinking
and habits.
Yang Yandi left, but Huang Jin stayed. Zhu Yongxing tried to control the hidden dangers in his own hands, and letting Huang Jin be a well-known instructor without any soldiers was probably the safest way.
Although Yang Yandi was sent away, Zhu Yongxing had to face another person, a guy who gave him a lot of headaches but could not be easily convicted.
Among the people, he is known as the Seven Sages of Chaozhou, and his official status is courtesy. He is the Minister of the Second Ministry of War, the Taibao of the Crown Prince, and the Grand Scholar of Wuying Palace. Guo Zhiqi is really a stubborn and loyal minister. But how to treat him, he has to be careful about how to deal with it.
, are not suitable.
"Your Highness." Guo Zhiqi didn't look at the way Zhu Yongxing frowned and stroked his forehead, and said eloquently: "The court has already made arrangements for how to appoint officials. If His Highness is promoted and appointed based only on his likes and dislikes, where is the court's laws? Now that the situation is somewhat stable,
We should open up courses to recruit scholars and recruit talents."
Zhu Yongxing hummed and said nonchalantly: "In my opinion, the foundation of the imperial court is not solid and the situation is precarious. Shouldn't these things be slowed down?"
"Your Highness, what you said is wrong!" Guo Zhiqi said bluntly: "Even if the situation may be repeated, we must still show our attitude. Opening a subject to obtain scholars can show the confidence of the imperial court's revival, and secondly, scholars can become officials.
Hope. And the thoughts of rebelliousness will subside. In the early years of Yongli, Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty started to open schools to recruit scholars, attracting many Han scholars from the north and winning over people's hearts."
Traditional things, no matter they are good or bad, will only make things worse if they are eradicated overnight. The imperial examination system has existed for thousands of years and has its own rationality. It is arbitrarily denounced as a tool of dictatorship. It cultivates slaves and suppresses talents, and
Inappropriate. The enthusiasm of Chinese intellectuals to participate in and discuss politics and their sense of mission to take the world as their own responsibility were cultivated by the imperial examination system.
Zhu Yongxing fell into deep thought. To put it bluntly, the imperial examination is a piece of cake hanging in front of the noses of scholars all over the world. It is a sweet bait to induce scholars all over the world to cooperate with the government. Tell people all over the world that becoming a prime minister from a commoner is a dream that can be realized through studying.
.Let scholars have institutional guarantees for their lofty ideal of taking the world as their own responsibility and studying to serve the country.
"Your Highness is very intelligent, which is rare in the world." Guo Zhiqi continued: "Chinese people attach great importance to the clan. Success in the imperial examination is a matter of one person on the surface, but behind it is the painstaking efforts of one or even several generations. The family is a community, and if one loses, everyone loses.
.One glory and two glory. The glory brought by the imperial examination is not for one person, but for the common glory of the family."
"This is when one person attains enlightenment, and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." Zhu Yongxing said with a wry smile.
"A man only suffers from being unknown. How can a general or a prime minister be famous?" Guo Zhiqi smiled and said: "Being named on the gold medal list is the dream of scholars all over the world. The imperial court will open a subject to recruit scholars, which can win the hearts of southerners."
Zhu Yongxing nodded and said with a smile: "Mr. Guo's words make sense. Well, asking me to believe in Buddhism is also trying to win people's hearts. Many people in Yunnan believe in Buddhism, so this move must have deep meaning."
"In fact, His Highness does not have to enter Buddhism. As long as he respects Buddhist temples, worships monks, and prints Buddhist scriptures, that's enough!" Guo Zhiqi said.
"Well, let me think about it carefully." Zhu Yongxing thought for a while and said: "It is feasible to open a subject to get a scholar, but it is not suitable at this time. It can be set early next year, so that the news can be spread widely and talented people can
Make preparations early.”
Guo Zhiqi had no intention of leaving yet, so Zhu Yongxing could only pretend to look through the documents and glance at the old master furtively.
"Your Highness, indiscriminately granting titles is a real trouble in the future." Guo Zhiqi brought up the old matter again and admonished him again, "Reviving the Ming Dynasty will not happen overnight. There are many wars, and there are many opportunities for military generals to perform meritorious services. If they have merit, they will be granted titles, and they will be rewarded in the future.
It’s a reward, but what should I do with it?”
Alas, it is still the Confucian thought. Those who are brave enough to shock the emperor will be in danger, but those who have made great contributions to the world will not be rewarded. This logic itself is wrong, which makes generals feel anxious and cautious after being promoted to a certain rank due to their merits. However, it is wise to protect themselves.
There are so many lessons learned in Chinese history. Han Xin, Ying Bu, Yue Fei, etc. are all bloody lessons! People have no choice but to disbelieve, but they have to be fearful and careful.
This old guy is also afraid that I will use this to win people's hearts and make things difficult for the court in the future, right? Zhu Yongxing felt helpless about this, but it did not mean that he would listen to Guo Zhiqi's advice. He was perfunctory and hypocritical, and finally temporarily put this old master
Sent away.
………………
A common problem among time-travelers is that they have a sense of superiority due to having hundreds or thousands of years more knowledge than the ancients. In their hearts, they always think that they are better than the ancients and have a broader vision than the ancients. Therefore, most time-travelers
People always want to stand at the pinnacle of power, thinking that this is the safest way, and that only they can turn the tide and bring great benefits to the country and the people.
Zhu Yongxing was not exempt from this. In his eyes, Yongli was a cowardly and incompetent emperor. He could not establish an efficient and strong leadership core, could not survive, could not drive out the Tartars, and restore China. If Yongli was allowed to rule personally, I am afraid that
Soon after it gathers popularity, the people's hearts will be exhausted, and those favorable policies and regulations will come to an end. From a big perspective, the great cause of resisting the Qing Dynasty and revitalizing China will achieve nothing; from a small perspective, if the Qing army wins, it will not succeed.
There is no place for death.
Guo Zhiqi's persistent remonstrance sounded the alarm for Zhu Yongxing. Although he had to face a possible attack by the Qing army at this time, he was confused. The further he thought, the more difficult it became.
This is how people's thoughts are. The more rigid they are about something, the broader they think. It's like a seed is planted in the heart, which quickly breaks out of the ground, spreads its vines quickly, and makes Zhu Yongxing's heart full of twists and turns.
Around, in a mess.
The more he thought about it, the more depressed he became, and the more he thought about the consequences, the more serious the consequences would be. He couldn't even taste the food in his mouth. He simply pushed the rice bowl and took a long breath, wanting to spit out the worries in his heart.
When Mengzhu saw Zhu Yongxing come back, his face turned gloomy and he didn't say anything. It was rare to see him like this, and he only took two bites of food. Knowing that something unhappy must have happened to him, he spoke softly: "Your Highness,
Nine times out of ten, life will be unsatisfactory, but you have to eat this meal. This is the broth I made myself. Please try it and see if it tastes good."
Zhu Yongxing smiled bitterly and nodded. Although Mengzhu was considerate, this matter was special and it was really hard to tell her.
"Well, this soup is good, what is it made of?" Zhu Yongxing took a few sips and asked casually.
"It's a little bird that Long'er caught with a net." Mengzhu said with a smile: "She just can't sit still and is always thinking about when the mirror promised by His Highness will be delivered? If you hadn't said that the workshop is poisonous
, she ran to see it a long time ago."
"Mercury is really poisonous." Zhu Yongxing took a few more bites, shook his head and said, "I'm full, I want to take a walk."
"I'm full now, how about staying with His Highness?" Mengzhu also put down the bowl and chopsticks and said with a smile.