At dawn, the Western Army kept its promise and handed over 210 warships to Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun was overjoyed and accepted the 210 warships in Huangzhou. There were 70 ships with thousands of stones alone.
There are also about a hundred thousand-stone warships, and the rest are hundred-stone sentinel ships. Zhang Jun himself also has more than two hundred hundred-stone sentinel ships. Together, they form a fleet of more than 430 warships.
A huge navy.
Zhang Jun has established a naval army of 30,000 men, led by his confidant Wu Shouzhi.
On the dock of Huanggang County, Zhang Jun looked at the densely packed warships on the river, his eyes narrowed with a smile. Wang Jingxiu, an aide next to him, was extremely worried. He clearly felt that his lord had been dragged into the water by Chen Qing, and he actually sent troops to seize the imperial navy's warships.
Isn't this a complete break with the imperial court? Without a financial foundation, how to maintain an army of 200,000 people is simply stupid!
At this time, Wu Shouzhi, the commander of the water army, stepped forward and clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, the only thing missing now is a water fort. We need a large water fort as the foundation."
Zhang Jun smiled and said: "I have already considered this issue carefully. I did not set fire to the water village in Dehua County on the other side. Didn't I just keep it for our own use?"
Zhang Jun had already planned that the Dehua water stronghold they attacked at night would guard the mouth of Poyang Lake. Occupying this water stronghold would be equivalent to controlling Poyang Lake, and it would also be equivalent to controlling the land with a radius of thousands of miles around Poyang Lake.
Half of Jiangnan West Road.
It can be said that the water stronghold in Dehua County is an extremely important strategic node. Since the Western Army has made it clear that it does not want this water stronghold, Zhang Jun will certainly not give up this golden opportunity.
Especially now that he has a naval force, the Yangtze River is no longer a natural chasm, and the north and south of the river have become thoroughfares. Zhang Jun's ambitions have already expanded outward along with the warships.
At this time, Wang Jingxiu, an aide, couldn't help but stepped forward and persuaded: "Since the prince has taken the warship, don't think about the Jiangnan West Road anymore. If you lose the warship, the court may suffer a loss, so I will bear it, but occupy the water village on the south bank.
Peeping at Jiangnan West Road, the nature is different. Your Majesty, the court will definitely fight back with all its strength, I am afraid a war will break out."
Zhang Jun has always thought highly of Wang Jingxiu, but he also doesn't like Wang Jingxiu's character very much. He is timid, worried too much, timid in doing things, afraid of wolves in front and tigers in back, and cannot achieve great things. He has already reached this point. Wang Jingxiu
You actually have to consider your relationship with the imperial court?
Zhang Jun said calmly: "When I capture Yangzhou, if the imperial court still does not hold me accountable, I will apologize to the imperial court!"
Wang Jingxiu couldn't say a word, and no matter how he tried to persuade him, it was of no use. The prince was determined to fight to the end.
He let out a long sigh and said: "I have been away from my hometown for ten years. I want to return to my hometown to visit my parents' graves. I hope your Majesty will give me permission!"
"I'm sure!" Zhang Jun agreed without hesitation.
Wang Jingxiu was really discouraged, turned around and staggered away.
At this time, another staff member Yang Shi said to Zhang Jun: "Mr. Jingxiu is mainly worried that the court will run out of money and food, but the prince only needs to put the army in Dehua County. This in itself is a strong attitude. If the court does not give the army
We can solve the problem of food and salary by ourselves. If the imperial court sends troops to attack, then we have naval forces and the Jianghuai retreat route. We can attack when we advance and defend when we retreat. Since the prince has done it, we should simply be stronger, like Chen Qing, and finally
It must be the court that compromises."
Yang Shi's suggestion touched Zhang Jun's heart. Now that he has done it, don't be timid anymore.
In the afternoon of that day, Zhang Jun's naval force of about 30,000 men and more than 400 warships occupied the military camp water village in Dehua County, and his sentry ships began to appear in Poyang Lake.
At the same time, Zhang Jun personally led an army of 100,000 people to attack Yangzhou Prefecture and seize Yangzhou and Chuzhou, which was Zhang Jun's dream for many years.
The reason why Zhang Jun had the confidence to fall out with the court was because of his years of accumulation. He had four million dan in grain reserves alone. Among the grain reserves, there were grain allocated by the court, grain from his own farming, and even Zhang Jun's grain reserves every year.
His tenancy rent alone is 600,000 dan per year, and nearly 2 million dan in three years.
Of course, there is also the accumulation of money. Zhang Jun's monthly salary of 200,000 troops plus other expenses is about 500,000 guan, all of which is borne by the court. However, in recent years, Zhang Jun has made great achievements through various channels such as selling private salt, commerce, and robbery.
He accumulated three million guan of money. In addition, he learned the military salary system of the Western Army and paid his military salary in the form of copper coins and land. Over the years, he saved millions of guan of money through military salary, and his money accumulation reached four
Millions of dollars.
This time, they negotiated with the Western Army. The Western Army purchased two million shi of grain from Zhang Jun at a price of 500 guan per shi and paid one million guan. In this way, Zhang Jun raised another million guan.
In this way, even if the court does not allocate monthly money and food, he can still support him for more than a year. This is the confidence that Zhang Jun dares to be tough with the court.
The news finally reached Lin'an.
The emperor Zhao Gou, who had been patient for a long time, finally broke out. In the imperial study room, Zhao Gou slammed the tea cup in his hand to the ground. "Bang!" The tea cup shattered into pieces.
Zhao Gou pressed the imperial case and roared like a wild beast, "Chen Qing bullied me, and now Zhang Jun has followed suit. Do you think I am a sheep or a rabbit, and let them bully me?"
In the imperial study room, the five prime ministers all lowered their heads, and the atmosphere in the imperial study room was very depressing.
No wonder Zhao Gou was so angry that he spent millions of dollars to build up a navy army, but Zhang Jun took over it at once. Zhang Jun now occupied the water village at the mouth of Poyang Lake, and urgent news came from Yangzhou that Zhang Jun
Jun has already occupied Chuzhou and is marching rapidly towards Yangzhou City. It is estimated that Yangzhou has been occupied by now.
Not only that, Zhang Jun deliberately sent troops to Jinghu North Road to give Chen Qing an excuse to send troops and completely occupied Jinghu North Road.
Without the assistance of Chen Qingshui's army, how could Zhang Jun have taken away his warships in one fell swoop? Their collusion was so obvious that it sent chills down Zhao Gou's back.
Zhao Gou finally restrained his raging anger and glanced at the ministers: "Tell me about it! What should I do now?"
Zhao Gou's eyes fell on Qin Hui and said coldly: "Qin Xiangguo is the right prime minister, you should express your stance first!"
Qin Hui sighed and said: "Zhang Jun's wolf ambition has been clearly demonstrated. If the court tolerates it any longer, he will only become more unscrupulous. The minister suggested that firstly, cut off the Huaixi Army's monthly supply of food and military salary, and secondly, that His Majesty should deprive Zhang Jun of his title."
, deprive Zhang Jun of his official positions as Prince of Qinghe County, Taiwei and Lianghuai Jiedu Envoy."
Zhao Gou nodded, "Qin Xianggong's suggestion is exactly what I want. We should immediately stop the transportation of money and food to the Huaixi Army. I remember that the money and food have not been transported this month!"
"Not yet. Even last month's has not been shipped out. This batch of money and grain is all stored in Yangzhou."
"Yangzhou?"
Zhao Gou was startled and quickly looked at Xu Xiantu.
Xu Xiantu understood the officials' worries and said calmly: "Your Majesty, don't worry, all the money and food in Yangzhou have been transported to Zhenjiang Prefecture, and the 20,000 garrison has also withdrawn south to Zhenjiang Prefecture in advance."
Zhao Gou breathed a sigh of relief and said again: "Ms. Xu knows the affairs of the Privy Council and controls military affairs. I want to know what the attitude of the Privy Council is."
"Your Majesty, the Privy Council is very worried about Zhang Jun's next attempt."
Zhao Gou frowned, "How do you say this?"
Xu Xiantu walked to the wall map, pointed at the entrance of Poyang Lake with a wooden pole and said: "Your Majesty, the water stronghold occupied by Zhang Jun is right here. It can accommodate up to 50,000 troops. The location of this water stronghold is so important that it is just stuck.
At the entrance of Poyang Lake, that is to say, Zhang Jun has actually controlled the entire Poyang Lake. Then the state capitals around Poyang Lake are also under the control of the navy. If Zhang Jun's water and land army moves south along the Gan River, it will also
The overwhelming momentum is equivalent to controlling half of Jiangnan West Road, so we cannot let him gain a foothold at the mouth of Poyang Lake under any circumstances, and we must be determined to fight at all costs."