Renzi Scroll, Section 33, A Word Awakens the Dreamer
Before coming to see Shen Yourong, Feng Ziying had been thinking about how to talk about this conversation with Shen Yourong, and to what extent or depth it should be discussed, which made him think a lot.
Feng Ziying's impression of Shen Yourong came from two aspects: on the one hand, memories from past lives, and on the other hand, contacts in this life.
What he could remember from his previous memory was that Shen Yourong was a naval general and had served in the Jiliao, Fujian and Zhejiang, and Denglai naval forces for several times. He had rich experience, a tough character, and a strong patriotism. He had fought against Japanese pirates. , also fought against the Red Mao Fan, and repeatedly defended the sovereignty of the Ming Dynasty. This experience alone is enough to prove that Shen Yourong is an excellent navy commander.
From the contact in this life, Feng Ziying could also feel that Shen Yourong was very discerning and his concerns about Jianzhou Jurchens were quite consistent with hers. This also meant that she and he had a common goal, which was to contain the Jurchens and even destroy them. To achieve this, in the future, coastal control over Liaodong, Liaonan, and even North Korea must be firmly in hand, and the supply lines in the Liaodong region must be gradually shifted from land to sea. This can greatly improve support efficiency and reduce transportation costs. Cost can even be said to be the key to winning or losing the Liaodong strategy in the future.
Feng Ziying had some understanding of the defeat of Ming Dynasty in Liaodong in her previous life. Misjudgments in various situations, tactical failures, and personnel errors were indeed problems in Feng Ziying's view, but this was not the key to the failure of Ming Dynasty in Liaodong. The key was to ensure security. question.
With the expansion of the Jurchen power in Jianzhou and the short-term rise of Chahar Lin Dan Khan, a huge pincer-like suppression was formed on the situation in Liaodong. After Lin Dan Khan was defeated by the Jianzhou Jurchen, Liaodong suddenly became like an isolated island, lacking sufficient resources. The reserve population guarantee to maintain the operation of the entire Liaodong Town cannot long-term support the needs of the Liaodong Army. It can only be supplied through the Liaoxi Corridor, which makes the supply more difficult and costly. In addition, North Korea's Li Cong adopts a slip-up policy. Unable to provide substantial support to Ming Dynasty.
When the price of food in Liaodong was several times more expensive than in the capital, and when the court's guarantee for Liaodong could only be supported by silver rather than substantive materials, the war was already lost.
Lack of sufficient financial and material support, coupled with the loss of maneuverability and depth, caused the Ming Dynasty and Liaodong to gradually lose its strategic initiative. The most important thing is that the support of various materials was too expensive, which made it difficult for the Ming Dynasty to support it financially, and could only carry out Strategic contraction.
It's just that there is no Jiliao Navy in Da Zhou, so Feng Ziying will seize the opportunity to push Shen Yourong to the position of Admiral of Denglai Navy. Wang Ziteng's contempt for the Navy actually gave Shen Yourong a chance. , allowing him to monopolize the power of the Denglai Navy. Of course, this is also because of his full support behind it.
Shen Yourong valued Liaodong as much as himself. In his opinion, the Japanese pirates and the Hongmaofan were foreign enemies from afar, and the Jianzhou Jurchens were the imminent and real threat to the hinterland of the capital. Because of this, Feng Ziying was I feel that I can achieve deep cooperation with him.
But this shock may be related to the internal struggle for the throne within the Zhang family of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Feng Ziying is not sure what attitude Shen Yourong holds.
Shen Yourong was from Xuancheng, Ningguo Prefecture, and theoretically from Jiangnan. However, he was a warrior with a martial arts background, and his thoughts were different from those of the gentry. The gentry also looked down on such warriors, and Shen Yourong had always been there. Among the military, the recognition of the imperial court should be far higher than that of Prince Yohitada or the slightly nihilistic geographical concept of Jiangnan. Feng Ziying is still somewhat sure of this.
If we just talk about the Jurchen threat in Jianzhou and the security of Liaodong, Feng Ziying believes that Shen Yourong will definitely agree with her. But when it comes to the possible confrontation between the north and the south, it will even require Denglai Navy, Fujian Navy and Guangdong Navy to protect it if it happens. In this situation, Feng Ziying felt that in order to ensure the support of the imperial court based on the north, Feng Ziying felt that it was necessary to communicate and persuade the other party well.
Seeing Feng Ziying's solemn face, Shen Yourong seemed very relaxed, "Mr. Feng, judging from your posture, do you think you have something important to communicate with me?"
Prime Minister Shuntian and Admiral Dengrai are theoretically incompatible with each other, but the tacit understanding and cooperation between the two over the years need not be mentioned. Everyone has this awareness.
Feng Ziying nodded, "There are indeed some important things that I want to communicate with Master Shen, but for a while I couldn't find a suitable place to start."
"Oh?" Shen Yourong was very curious. He had seen the former Xiao Feng's eloquence, and the princes in the court also praised his talent. How could he still be so eloquent when facing him? What can't be said?
You must know that last year, when he was a co-president of Yongping Mansion, he wrote to him asking for support from the Denglai Navy. He was sent by the adventurous Hou Chengzu to lead his army northward. With this friendship, Shen Yourong felt that there was nothing else he could do for him. Is it difficult for Feng Ziying to speak up?
"Master Feng, is there anything we can't be honest with each other about? Or is it so serious that you find it difficult to make a choice?"
Shen Yourong smiled and said: "I have experienced a lot, and you have become famous since you were young, and now you are the Prime Minister of Shuntian Prefecture. You are favored by the emperor and favored by the cabinet. The performance of Yongping Prefecture has impressed everyone in the court. The military I was shocked. After Huaiyu came back, he was full of praise for you, saying that you are a tiger father without a dog son. You are both civil and military. You beat the Mongols to pieces. It is amazing. It is a big thing. I miss you and me. Can we talk about it too?"
Shen Yourong's boldness aroused Feng Ziying's passion and ambition. He stood up and bowed solemnly, "Thank you for reminding me, but Ziying is too narrow-minded."
Shen Yourong had a very good impression of Feng Ziying, not only because Feng Ziying strongly recommended him back then, which made his originally gloomy career brighter again, but also because of the similarities in many views and ideas.
He even thought that Feng Ziying was more suitable to lead troops. After Hou Chengzu came back, he talked about Feng Ziying's training regulations for fire gun soldiers, which made him look askance. However, Feng Ziying's outstanding performance as a civil servant made him realize that this person might really be the future leader. It is rare for someone to be so close to a big shot, and it is even more difficult to make friends with them.
Shen Yourong smiled slightly and nodded: "In that case, I am also very curious today and want to hear what is so difficult for you, so worried and entangled..."
Feng Ziying couldn't help but laugh. Shen Yourong's grace and generosity made her seem a bit petty. She didn't trust the people she hired and didn't trust the people she doubted. Since she believed that the other party was a trustworthy person, others dared to risk the world's disapproval and send troops north to support her. What's wrong with me and being honest with myself?
"Sir Shen, I wonder if you have heard in Denglai that Jiangnan has been unstable this year?" Feng Ziying thought it would be better to talk about a few signs and issues first to see the other party's attitude, and then get to the core step by step.
Shen Yourong frowned slightly and then said: "I am from Xuancheng. Although I have been away for a long time, I still know a little about the situation in my hometown. The Nanjing side feels that the imperial court is too harsh on Jiangnan in terms of taxes and hopes to reduce them. In addition, Maybe the imperial court is too biased in favor of northerners in terms of spring positions?"
"Then what do you think?" Feng Ziying continued to ask.
"It is not for me and other military officials to comment on the theory of imperial policy, but since you asked, Mr. Feng, I don't answer, which makes me unupright. Well, every policy of the imperial court will indeed benefit some people and harm some people. How to balance it? This is a problem for the court, but the defense of the north must not be neglected at all. It is difficult for the Jiangnan gentry to feel the pressure from the north. The court should respond through Lin Wenchen, a scholar from Jiangnan in the DPRK. I feel that the current court is not doing a good job in this regard. As for the issue of Chunwei Jiangnan posts, this is an old matter that has been disputed between the north and the south for many years, and the court should consider it."
As expected of a sophisticated veteran, Feng Ziying's answers in these aspects were all watertight, but Feng Ziying was still very satisfied. It was enough that he could hear the attitude tendencies.
"Then what do Master Shen think of the performance of the Denglai Army in Bozhou?" Feng Ziying suddenly changed the topic to Wang Ziteng.
Shen Yourong was startled, and after pondering for a long time, he said, "Ziying, do you think that Prince Tengbie has some agenda?"
"Is it just that Prince Teng has other plans?" Feng Ziying was even more certain when she heard Shen Yourong calling herself by his own name instead of Master Feng.
Shen Yourong's color changed slightly. As the waves rocked slightly and the ship's plank moved slightly, his clear face looked even more profound in the flickering light. After a long pause, he sighed and said, "The situation is really serious." Is it that bad? It’s impossible for the court to be unaware of it, right?”
This sentence also made it difficult for Feng Ziying to answer.
He always felt that it was impossible for the court to be unaware of such a big thing, and it was impossible for there to be no clues. However, he negotiated with Long Jinwei, reported it to Qi Yongtai and Qiao Yingjia, and even mentioned it to Chai Ke, but he got nothing. Although there were many formal responses, most of them thought that he was making a fuss, which made him have to reflect on whether he was really neurotic.
Could the imperial court not be aware of the problem that Shen Yourong could sense?
Is there something wrong here?
"Master Shen, I don't know." Feng Ziying could only reply with some difficulty: "The imperial court may be aware of it and even have countermeasures, but I always think that the imperial court still does not pay enough attention, or that they are too complacent and underestimate it. Various impacts and subsequent impacts that may occur once an incident occurs."
Noticing the bitterness and embarrassment on Feng Ziying's face, Shen Yourong asked again: "Have you ever reflected on that Ziying?"
"Of course." Feng Ziying nodded in surprise, but seeing the depth in Shen Yourong's eyes, she seemed to understand: "What your lord means is..."
"The imperial court won't be so dismissive, right? This is no different from other things." Shen Yourong said slowly.
