In the Grand Manager's Mansion, Zhang Liang stood by the window, watching the battleships lined up on the river spraying flames and black smoke, and water columns rising into the sky with deafening noises.
Zhang Liang looked ugly.
This new type of artillery has unparalleled power. Although he has not personally operated it, he can only see the huge water column splashed by the lead shot on the water after the artillery is fired. Once it hits an enemy ship, it will be shattered into pieces in an instant!
There is no doubt that warships equipped with such artillery will be the main force of the navy in the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, but he, the general manager of the Canghaidao March, can only watch the excitement from a distance... In the future Eastern Expedition, he will be on the same water surface.
The status can be imagined.
I originally thought that if I got the position of General Manager of Canghaidao March, I would definitely be able to take charge of the upcoming Eastern Expedition and become the commander of the Tang Dynasty Navy. As long as the Eastern Expedition went smoothly, I would be able to get a huge feat at my fingertips!
But now...
A feeling of suffocation settled in his chest, and Zhang Liang wished he could scold his mother!
Cheng Gongying, a confidant and counselor, hurriedly walked in from outside. When he saw Zhang Liang turning his head with a gloomy expression, he naturally knew the commander's mood at this moment.
But the matter was so important that he did not dare to hide anything, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Commander Qi, the quartermaster just came to report that the army has run out of food and can only last for three days. If the army cannot replenish the food in time, I'm afraid
In three days, we will face the risk of running out of food... In addition, the spring rains are continuous and the weather is humid. Many soldiers have ulcers on their hands and feet and even have gastrointestinal discomfort. The army is in urgent need of medical treatment."
Zhang Liang's eyes twitched, his face was so dark that it could drip water, and his eyes were filled with the anger that he was trying to contain!
It’s so deceiving!
The dignified Canghaidao Marching Chief could actually be reduced to a situation where he had no military rations to cook and no medicinal materials to treat the soldiers? This was still within the territory of the Tang Dynasty, the richest Jiangnan, it was simply unbelievable!
That’s just the way it is!
Canghaidao is a temporary yamen, in charge of the East China Sea Division, and is not part of the daily establishment of the Ministry of War. Naturally, the required baggage cannot be obtained from the center. All logistical supplies are handled by the Suzhou Governor's Office. But the Suzhou Governor Mu Yuanzuo is simply a bastard.
Dan, colluding with Fang Junhang, kept saying that Suzhou's treasury was empty and that supplies could not be sustained, and they squeezed the baggage that should have been allocated to Zhang Liang to the minimum without limit, often only 10% or 20% of the 10% was allocated...
Doesn’t this allow people to live?
Zhang Liang also went to discuss it several times, using both soft and hard methods, both civil and military, but with no effect at all. The governor of Suzhou was a feudal official of the imperial court. Although his title was not as high as Zhang Liang's, civil and military had different paths.
If you don’t have a subordinate, you won’t even care about him, the general manager...
Looking at the generals who command one side in the world, is there anyone more aggrieved than Zhang Liang?
He is simply the laughingstock of the world...
Holding back the anger boiling in his chest, Zhang Liang asked: "Have the Jiangnan nobles taken any action? Have the promised grain and grass supplies been shipped?"
Do you want to return to Chang'an in despair and cry to His Majesty?
This is absolutely not possible.
Zhang Liang understands His Majesty Li Er's temperament very well. Don't stress any difficulties to him. He only cares about the results. What qualifications does a commander-in-chief who is being made difficult by others and can't even maintain his supplies of food, grass and baggage have to cry in front of him?
As a last resort, Zhang Liang had no choice but to compromise with the Jiangnan nobles.
He even ordered the Jingzhong family to become enemies of Jingzhao Mansion and resist Fang Jun's Dongshi renovation plan...
As long as he can persist until the start of the Eastern Campaign, even if he cannot serve as the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Campaign, he will still have a share of the credit. On the contrary, if he cannot survive that time, he can only return to Chang'an in despair, and his reputation will be ruined.
Lost in this corner of the south of the Yangtze River...
Cheng Gongying looked ugly, shook her head and said: "Originally we agreed to deliver food and medicinal materials yesterday, but until now there has been no movement. I wonder if something happened to those families?"
The Zhang family in Xingyang stood up to resist Fang Jun, and the Jiangnan gentry who owned countless shops in Dongshi secretly funded Zhang Liang. This was a secret exchange condition reached by both parties.
Could it be that the Jiangnan nobles want to go back on their word?
Zhang Liang felt that something was not going well and asked, "Have those Jiangnan nobles done anything recently?"
"Nothing amiss has been found. We are still trading in Huating Town as usual. Goods are coming in and out every day. It is quite prosperous."
"Send someone to hurry up and find out what's going on? If these Jiangnan nobles dare to shit and pee on my head, I have to imitate Fang Jun and show them some color!"
Zhang Liang ordered while holding back his anger.
It’s okay for Fang Jun to dominate him, but you clowns dare to go back on your word and play with me?
I really thought it was still the Sui Dynasty!
"Here!"
Cheng Gongying responded, turned around and walked out.
As soon as he reached the door, he turned back, followed by Gongsun Chang, one of Zhang Liang's pretenders...
Gongsun Chang walked in quickly in a panic and shouted: "Commander, something bad has happened!"
Zhang Liang's heart skipped a beat and he shouted: "Why are you so panicked? As long as I am here, the sky will not fall!"
"Here..." Gongsun Chang was frightened, swallowed his saliva, walked up to Zhang Liang in three steps, handed Zhang Liang a letter sealed with lacquer, and said quickly: "Beijing Central sent people to come to Zhang Liang.
Come on, it’s said that all our shops in Dongshi were demolished by Fang Jun’s guys. The rubble is everywhere and it’s a mess..."
"What?!"
Zhang Liang's eyes were about to burst, and he yelled: "Fang Jun, how dare you bully me to this point!"
The shops in Dongshi are not only the property of the Zhang family, used to accumulate money, but also the face of the Zhang family in Xingyang! They just reached a tacit agreement with the Jiangnan nobles here, and Fang Jun was asked to demolish all the shops and buildings...
…How can the Zhang family of Xingyang still be established in Guanzhong?
How can Zhang Liang stand up in court?
Fang Jun, I will fight with you until death!
Zhang Liang was so angry that his eyes almost popped out. He took the letter from Gongsun Chang's hand, ripped open the seal with a "tear" sound, and read ten lines at a glance.
Gongsun Chang said angrily: "That Fang Jun went too far. He trampled the commander's face to the ground like this. If we just let it go, where would the commander's face be? Why not let me lead a group of dead soldiers and return to the capital to beat the commander with a hammer?"
Assassinate with the sword to save the commander's face! Even if you die, you will not hesitate!"
Cheng Gongying also said: "We have been cornered by Fang Jun. If we don't fight back, wouldn't we make the world laugh at us?"
Among aristocratic families, face is an extremely important thing, representing honor and status.
Often for the sake of the family's face, any interests can be sacrificed, even the lives of the children in the family...
If the Zhang family of Xingyang launches a counterattack, even if they are still oppressed by Fang Jun in the end, it will be inferior to others and will arouse sympathy; but if they stop and let Fang Jun bully him and do whatever he wants, it will only be ridiculed, and the Zhang family of Xingyang will be reduced to a
The laughingstock cannot stand.
But when Zhang Liang looked at the letter in his hand, his originally angry expression gradually calmed down...
After a long while, he handed the letter in his hand to Gongsun Chang, sighed softly, and said, "Let's take a look."
Gongsun Chang took the letter with a look of astonishment, Cheng Gongying also came over, and they watched it together.
After reading the letter, Gongsun Chang scratched his head: "This... there is such a turning point?"
He only listened to the servant who delivered the letter talk about what happened in the capital, without opening the letter to read it first. The servant only knew that his family's shop building in Dongshi was forcibly demolished, and a group of children were even imprisoned in Jingzhao Palace.
As for the agreement between Zhang Shenwei and Fang Jun, he didn't know anything about it, so Gongsun Chang didn't know the inside story either.
After reading the letter, I realized that Zhang Shenwei had already reached an agreement with Fang Jun in private...
Cheng Gongying finished reading the letter and said quickly: "Commander, judging from your humble position, what Dalang did is really the most appropriate choice. In this way, we are not turning to Fang Jun, but standing on His Majesty's side. Only then
It’s a long-term solution!”
Are you still on the side of the aristocratic family?
Or should he change his mind and abandon the family and stand behind the emperor again?
Zhang Liang had trouble making a decision for a while.
Each of these two sides has its own pros and cons.
If you stand on the side of the aristocratic family, you can certainly get support from the Jiangnan nobles, but the family in Beijing will definitely be hit hard. With Fang Jun's decisive and ruthless behavior, the losses are simply immeasurable; if you stand behind the emperor again, you can quickly get rid of the current situation.
It's a dilemma, but the reputation is ruined...
Chao Qin, Mu Chu, half-hearted, the grass on the wall will fall with the wind... This will be his bright sign from now on.
how to choose?
Zhang Liang was distraught and faced a dilemma.
At this moment, a soldier suddenly ran in from outside the door and shouted: "Commander, something bad has happened, the battleship of the Royal Navy is coming!"