After Li Dexin sat down again reluctantly, she remained silent and did not take the initiative to speak.
Lin Jinglue said that he wanted to "discuss" the issue of military rations, but in fact he just wanted to ask for it from his own side.
But he can't change food and grass, and it's difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, so what else can he say?
Lin Tailai first introduced the situation and said: "This time the Japanese soldiers are so powerful that the headquarters plans to spend one year to drive them away. The number of troops required is estimated to be 100,000, and may even be more than 100,000."
Calculated based on this standard of military strength, including regular soldiers plus civilian personnel plus losses, it is estimated that 800,000 dan of military rations will be needed in the next year.
At present, Liaodong has only 200,000 military rations in stockpiles, and there is still a gap of 600,000 that needs to be solved.
This is the situation and this is the problem. I wonder what kind of help your country can provide us?"
After Li Dexin thought for a while, he replied: "As far as I know, there are 40,000 dan of grain stored in Pyongyang City. You can take it first and eat it."
This rhetoric again! Lin Tailai suddenly slapped the case and shouted:
"Three months ago, your country said that there were only a thousand Japanese soldiers in Pyongyang! You induced thousands of Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers to attack Pyongyang, but the result was a disastrous defeat!
What? Do you want to repeat the same trick this time? Once again induce the Ming Dynasty’s army to eagerly attack Pyongyang?”
Li Dexin could only argue: "There was absolutely no intention to induce it! It's just that our country has three capitals: Wangjing, Kaicheng, and Pyongyang, and Pyongyang is closest to the Ming Dynasty.
In any case, the priority should definitely be to regain Pyongyang as our foundation, there is no second option."
Lin Tailai said coldly: "Then please tell me clearly whether there are 40,000 shi of food stored in Pyongyang City?"
Li Dexin lowered her head and whispered: "That's unnecessary."
Lin Tailai was really angry and laughed. It was obvious how unreliable the North Korean nation was. Then he clutched his chest and felt tired.
Even if Governor Konishi of the First Japanese Army Corps occupied Pyongyang, he would not be able to eat up the original 40,000 koku of grain in three months, let alone transport it away with enough food.
As a result, North Korea cannot tell whether there is still food in Pyongyang!
It can only be said that the original so-called "forty thousand stones of grain storage" is probably just a book figure. No one knows how much is left in the granary, so Li Dexin can't answer it now.
Lin Tailai endured his temper and asked again: "If Seoul is recaptured and more than half of the country is restored before the spring of next year, how much tax and grain can your government collect in a year?"
Since ancient times, the biggest problem of military rations has been long-distance transportation, and being able to solve it locally has always been the top priority.
Lin Tailai does not expect North Korea to completely solve the military food problem, but it is also good for the local government to share as much as possible.
Li Dexin calculated silently and replied in a low voice: "Even if more than half of the country is restored, the maximum amount that can be collected is 80,000 shi."
"How much?" Lin Tailai asked again in disbelief.
Li Dexin lowered his head again and said in an even lower voice: "Eighty thousand stones"
Lin Tailai said angrily: "Five years ago, when I was just a rural sage in a county in Suzhou, I could help the court collect 100,000 shi of grain every year!
How can you, a big country in the East, only have 80,000 shi a year?
I have reason to doubt it, because I first said I needed 800,000 dan, and then you took advantage of the situation and said 80,000 dan, which is exactly one-tenth."
Li Dexin argued: "Our country's mountains and rivers are broken and people's livelihood is in decline. It is really difficult. These 80,000 stones include the supply to the king."
Lin Tailai's expectation was 200,000 dan, but in the end he only got 80,000 dan, and he didn't know whether it would be enough. The psychological gap was a bit big.
Covering his chest again, Lin Jinglue waved his hand feebly and said: "Otherwise, we should disband all your country's official army and those local rebels!"
Li Dexin said in surprise: "What does this mean? They can all assist the heavenly soldiers to fight against the Japanese."
Lin Tailai said angrily: "Your country only has this little money and food, so what are you going to do if you don't disband these government and army rebels? Do you still want me, the Ming Dynasty, to pay for military food?"
Also, don't mention assisting. I'm just afraid that your country's officers and soldiers will assist you, so it's best to stay away!
Since they are of no use in combat, what are they left for? They are all used as laborers to transport food and fodder!"
Li Dexin said anxiously: "No, if there are no officers and soldiers, is the country still a country?"
Lin Tailai said without any hesitation: "Except for the King's Guards and the Transport Team, your country will no longer need any government troops! That's it!"
Li Dexin argued: "Even if we serve as a transport team, there are no mules and horses! You can't just rely on shoulders and handbags to transport grain, right?"
Lin Tailai: "."
Damn it! There is one more thing to do, let you work as coolies and horses, and you have to be equipped with mules and horses first, right?
Seeing Lin Jinglue's unhappy expression, Li Dexin plucked up the courage and said, "Even if you kill ten more envoys, our country will not be able to produce 200,000 shi of military rations and the mules and horses needed for operation."
Lin Jinglue couldn't help but close his eyes and sigh. He found that dealing with North Korea could especially cultivate his patience.
"No matter what, give me 80,000 dan first next year!" Lin Tailai could only say harsh words.
At this time, Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong, also came to Jiulian City to discuss logistics matters with Lin Tailai.
After inspection, Lin Tailai felt that Governor Hao was quite talented and courageous, so he entrusted many more trivial matters to Governor Hao.
In the original history, during the confrontation period during the Korean War, Shi Xing, the Minister of War, and Shen Weijing, the great fool, advocated peace and canonized Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
But at that time, Hao Jie firmly opposed the peace negotiation, claiming: "Toyotomi Hideyoshi died unjustly. If the court still canonizes him, it will only make foreign countries think that our country has no one."
Later, Hao Jie was transferred to Nanjing because he disagreed with the mainstream of the court.
Seeing Governor Hao walking into the lobby of the shogunate, Lin Tailai greeted him and said, "I'm here just in time. Let's sit down and discuss the issue of military food transportation with the Korean envoy."
Then he told Governor Hao: "Because of the long and narrow geographical situation of Korea and the characteristics of mountainous plateaus, sea transportation is extremely important for the supply of military supplies.
Especially the further south you go, the farther away you are from the mainland of Liaodong, and the more important sea transportation becomes."
Then he asked: "Have you finished the statistics? How many ships can Liaodong mobilize now?"
Hao Jie replied: "There are currently fifty sea-going ships, each of which can carry three hundred stones.
The transportation of grain from Liaodong and North Zhili to North Korea can be carried about ten times a year. Based on this calculation, excluding the risk of losses and storms, the grain can be transported to more than 100,000 shi a year."
Lin Jinglue frowned and said: "It's not enough, it's far from enough."
Then he added: "The detailed message sent from Shandong said that Dengzhou has mobilized thirty ships, each with 500 shi.
You can first transport the general grain from Dezhou and Linqing Ercang by land to Dengzhou, then load it on ships from Dengzhou, cross the sea to Lushun, and then follow the islands to reach North Korea.
They expect to be able to transport six or seven times a year, adding up to about 100,000 shi.
Calculated in this way, the annual shipping capacity of Liaodong and Shandong is about 200,000 shi. Even if we add the land route, how can this be enough?"
Hao Jie then suggested: "With all the trees in Liaodong, we can start emergency shipbuilding. There should be a batch of new ships available by next year."
In addition, sea-going ships can be recruited from Nanzhi, Fujian, and Zhejiang to Shandong to increase cross-sea transportation capacity.
If we survive the first three or four months, it will not be a big problem to double our maritime transport capacity by next year.
The remaining shortfall will be supplemented by land transportation, which should be barely enough to consume the entire army."
Next to Li Dexin, listening to the discussion between Lin Jinglue and Governor Hao, her heart was almost twisted with envy.
What is the gap in national power? This is the gap in national power. There is really no comparison.
Just like Lin Jinglue said when he was cursing just now, one county in Suzhou may have more money and food than the entire tax revenue of North Korea.
Lin Tailai glanced at Li Dexin and said to Governor Hao: "When the military rations are transported to North Korea, North Korean civilians are still needed to transport them.
But now North Korea wants nothing and can't count on anything. Even mules, horses and other livestock are in short supply.
Therefore, I would also like to ask the governor to purchase thousands of mules and horses in Liaodong and other northern regions and lend them to the Koreans for use."
"Yes." Governor Hao agreed. His mentality was similar to that of Lin Jinglue just now - another job was added to the job!
Just as Governor Hao said, Lin Tailai turned to Li Dexin and said:
"If it is a large-scale sea transport, then you need to choose a location on the west coast of your country as a place to unload ships and store military supplies, and then transfer them to various places again.
Your country currently has no soldiers, no food, no livestock, but it should have land, right?"
Li Dexin asked: "I would like to hear the details."
Lin Tailai asked his subordinates to bring the map and displayed it on the public case. He first pointed to the far edge and said, "The first location is Yiju at the mouth of the Yalu River. It is close to the coast and Liaodong. It can be used as the earliest military ration distribution center.
The second location is Guangliang Town at the mouth of the Datong River. When Pyongyang is recovered and the army continues to move south, it can be used to unload military rations shipped by sea. Firstly, it can support the army nearby, and secondly, it can also use the Datong River water system.
The third location is Jianghua Mansion in the capital of your country. After recapturing the capital city of Seoul, we can transport military supplies to Jianghua Mansion to support the army that continues to move south."
At first Li Dexin was just listening silently, but when she heard about Jianghua Mansion, she finally couldn't sit still and said in a voiceless voice: "No!"
Lin Tailai snorted coldly: "Why not?"
Li Dexin explained: "Jianghua Mansion is the gateway to Gyeonggi. If the heavenly ship comes to Jianghua, my king will not be safe."
To be continued...