Volume B Chapter 171 Pressure (continue to update!)
Regarding Feng Ziying's curiosity about the situation in Liaodong, Zhao Shujiao did not hide anything and told him one by one.
"The abandonment of Kuandian Sixth Fort is the biggest mistake. The Ministry of War is so hasty, which will definitely lead to disaster." When Zhao Shujiao talked about this, he couldn't help but slap his legs with his palms and sighed, "Then Kuandian Sixth Fort is the biggest mistake."
There are at least tens of thousands of our people in the Zhou Dynasty in the fort area. They have settled there for decades. How can it be easy to give up now? They say they want to move back to the mainland. Where to move? How much does it cost to move? The court said
How much compensation can be given? Also, Kuandian Liubao is a border military garrison, so taxes are almost completely exempted. Once you return to the mainland, the taxes should be clearer than those of the Ziying brothers, right? Who is willing?"
Feng Ziying was speechless.
He also knew something about the situation at Kuandian Liubao. The decision made by the court was indeed a mistake, especially by Li Chengliang, who was the instigator. However, Feng Ziying also knew some of the reasons. Li Chengliang was not solely responsible.
On the one hand, the court has always been skeptical about whether Li Chengliang can still shoulder the heavy responsibility due to his old age. On the other hand, they are worried that the Li family has been entrenched in Liaodong for too long. In addition, the battle of Renchen was fought mainly by the Li family, so they are somewhat afraid of the Li family.
It cannot be lost at the end of Liaodong.
Li Chengliang was also aware of this. He was somewhat unwilling to give up because of his old age and lack of energy. He just wanted to retire as soon as possible and enjoy his old age. In addition, the Jurchen power in Jianzhou was in a period of rapid rise and there were constant conflicts with Liaodong Town. Li Chengliang was unwilling to take the responsibility of Shanqi.
He was given responsibility for the border provocation, and he also miscalculated that giving up the Six Forts of Kuandian might be able to obtain a buffer zone with the Jurchens in Jianzhou, and Xiao Daheng, the Minister of War, also agreed with this, so he left this extreme place.
Stupid step.
Of course, there are also some other factors, such as the consumption of military camps and garrisons, which is also a problem, but it should not be the main factor. It is just that everyone insists on reducing military salary expenditures as much as possible, so this can be regarded as a secondary factor.
Since many people who had settled in Liubao, Kuandian for many years were unwilling to move in, Liaodong Town took military measures to force the relocation, which directly led to a large number of people fleeing to the Jurchens and being taken in by the Jurchens.
Liaodong Town negotiated with the Jurchen side, but the Jurchen side also refused to hand it back, or even acknowledged it at all.
This situation became more and more intense, and many of them were even directly enriched by the Jurchens who moved to Hetuala, which also caused the Jurchens' power to increase greatly.
"Now the Jurchens are constantly harassing and eroding the Mongolian tribes in western Liaoning, and as their power continues to expand, they pose an increasing threat to the Mongolian left wing. Some Mongolian tribes cannot withstand the threats and inducements of the Jurchens and turn to them.
In addition, the Jianzhou Jurchen tribes are also constantly suppressing and embezzling other Jurchen tribes, and their actions are getting bigger and bigger. It can be said that the expansion speed is far beyond the expectations of our court ministers. I don’t know if our Ministry of War has any
The officials at the Ministry of War and the Cabinet were not informed of these situations. If they were aware, why didn't they take measures to contain and reverse this situation?"
After three rounds of drinking, Zhao Shujiao couldn't help but reveal all his inner anguish and worries.
He originally opposed the abandonment of Kuandian Liubao and the forced relocation of people. As a result, he angered his superiors and was eventually dismissed.
But up to now, he still insists that Kuandian Liubao cannot be given up. This is equivalent to giving Jianzhou Jurchen a broad and deep space.
Moreover, the land around Kuandian Liubao is fertile, and it is indeed a good place for farming. With Kuandian Liubao and the surrounding area, it is possible to create a wedge that reaches directly into the hinterland of Jurchen's home base in Jianzhou, and at the same time, it can also bring North Korea to the south
I have some scruples so as not to get too close to the Jianzhou Jurchens.
But now that the situation is irreversible, he can only do nothing.
"Currently, the Jianzhou Jurchens are sharpening their swords under the leadership of the slave chiefs, preparing to attack the Ula Tribe, Yehe Tribe, and Huifa Tribe of the Haixi Jurchens. At the same time, they are also frequently using troops against the East China Sea Jurchens. These tribes have been repeatedly attacked.
The Jurchen attacks in Jianzhou have greatly weakened their power. If the imperial court does not take any measures, once these groups are annexed by the Jurchens in Jianzhou, it will be really difficult to control the Jurchen forces in Jianzhou."
Feng Ziying listened very carefully and even made special inquiries about some tribes and situations that she was not clear about.
Zhao Shujiao also got interested, so he simply went to the desk, painted with wine, and painted the situation faced by the entire Liaodong Town one by one, so that Feng Ziying could more intuitively understand the current predicament faced by Liaodong Town.
The meal lasted for more than an hour before giving up. Feng Ziying had an intuitive understanding of Zhao Lejiao's loyalty.
Just what the other party said today can at least show that this person is loyal to the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he also has the kind of temperament that dares to tell the truth. These kind of people are the fundamental talents who can support one side in troubled times.
Although Feng Ziying had read "History of the Ming Dynasty" in her previous life, she did not read it in depth because she was interested, or because she hoped that she would not appear too ignorant in front of her friends and colleagues.
He didn't know much about the geography and terrain of Liaodong, and he had only a vague understanding of the various forces. As for why Xingting retreated from Kuandian Liubao to control the entire Jurchen and Mongolian right wing, and finally started to attack the Ming Dynasty, he only had a vague idea.
the concept of.
But one thing is clear to him. Once the Jianzhou Jurchens complete the conquest and unification of the entire Haixi Jurchens and Barbarian Jurchens, and then control the right wing of Mongolia, they will no longer have any worries. The Ming Dynasty will face various internal and external troubles.
, it’s like a patient with his hands and feet bound fighting with a healthy person who, although not strong yet, can attack flexibly.
It goes without saying that the Jurchens will become stronger and stronger in one war after another, and eventually wait for an opportunity to defeat the Central Plains Dynasty in one fell swoop.
The current situation in the Zhou Dynasty seems to be worse than that in the late Ming Dynasty.
Among the three major campaigns of Wanli, the Japanese rebellion occurred except for the Imchen period, but the sequelae were still endless. The Japanese did not seem to have died down like in previous lives, and the Tokugawa shogunate still seemed to need to prove the legitimacy of his rule with a victory in a war.
Feng Ziying has no memory of the Ningxia Rebellion, but it has definitely not happened yet, and the chaos in the southwest should not have happened yet, but according to the fragmentary information from Fu Zonglong and Wang Yingxiong, this hotbed seems to have been fermenting. , just waiting for the last moment to explode.
Zhao led the teacher away, slightly drunk, but more worried.
Likewise, his meal of wine also brought a lot of unexpected troubles to Feng Ziying.
Feng Ziying really wanted to enjoy the good life of a privileged class member of this feudal dynasty, but he also hoped that in this era, he could single-handedly bring some changes to this society and this country, and make this society and country move towards a better future. The good side is moving forward with faster progress.
But as he gained a deeper understanding of this dynasty and country, he sadly and powerlessly discovered that it was really difficult for one person to change everything.
But if you don't work hard and pay the hardship and price, I'm afraid even this beautiful life may come to an abrupt end due to a sudden war.
The only chance at present is that it is not too late in the timeline, but the feeling of having the sword hanging above his head is really uncomfortable, so he will struggle so hard to get to a higher level in the shortest possible time. Position, master more various resources that can be used for your own use. Only in this way can you win in this race against time and save your own good life in the future.
He was only worried about the situation in Liaodong before, but now he is very worried, and it seems that the northern Mongolian tribes still have ambitions to go south to the Central Plains to herd horses, and their strength still exists. Fortunately, their split situation is still there. It can make people feel a little relieved.
Feng Ziying felt a little uneasy when she returned home.
Although I know that it is meaningless to think about these things now, and I have no power to intervene in all this, my most urgent problem is to pass the Chunwei exam first, pass the Jinshi exam, and truly become a member of the scholarly civil servants of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Only then can I be qualified to talk about it. Others, but this kind of crisis and threat from reality still made him sleep restless.
Maybe he really should go to the fellow from Dongchang Prefecture to understand the current situation in Liaodong? Geng Ruqi, who works in the Ministry of War, may be able to understand the situation in Liaodong from a more comprehensive and higher position than Zhao Shujiao. Even if he is powerless now, at least he can It can also tighten the string within yourself.
The next day, Feng Ziying went straight to the Ministry of War and found Geng Ruxi.
Geng Ruqi was also very surprised by Feng Ziying's arrival. Feng Ziying was not polite and told what he had seen and heard last night, especially why the Jurchens paid such a large scale tribute, which far exceeded the regulations of the court and was unconstrained. trade with inland merchants without any control.
Geng Ruqi's answer made Feng Ziying even more anxious.
This was not the case twice before the Jurchens wantonly exceeded the scale and frequency of their tributes. The imperial court also had a conflicting attitude towards the Jurchens' arrogance and wantonness. At one point it required strong action, detaining Jurchens who exceeded the number or entered in violation of regulations. , one moment it is mainly about reprimanding and teaching, and the next time it is not an example, this strategy of changing orders every day also makes the subordinates at a loss what to do.
This also resulted in the Jurchen Tribute Corps not only being less restrictive in size, but also becoming increasingly closely connected with business groups in the mainland, making the export of various prohibited materials outside the customs increasingly prominent.
Feng Ziying returned to the academy almost with a helpless mentality. As soon as she returned to the academy, she informed Lian Guo Shi of the situation. He knew that Lian Guo Shi was also very concerned about the situation in Liaodong. He was the one who informed Feng Ziying about Geng Ruxi's anger and worry last time.
of.
The two of them discussed this situation for a long time, and planned to think about it separately and then work together to write a petition to the court after Spring.