In the east of Thang Long City, not far from Xiangfu Gate, there is a newly built cement pier.
Cement is Jinghua's monopoly product, and it has been in short supply for several years since its introduction. It is extremely tight. With the financial resources of Annan people, it is impossible to buy cement, so it is obvious that this terminal can only belong to Jinghua Group.
The status of the "Jinghua Group" in today's Annan is equivalent to the "second royal family", or to be more precise, more like the "ruling party" in the future, and the Annan royal family...
Just like the royal family of a constitutional monarchy under one-party rule, it is basically a mascot. When needed, it is put out for people to visit; when not needed, it is kept in the palace as pig feed.
Therefore, Xiangfu Gate, the "imperial gate" in the past, is just an ordinary gate in the eyes of Jinghua Group. However, Jinghua Group still has some scruples when using it. They do not enter and exit through the main entrance of Xiangfu Gate, but
Take the small doors on both sides.
Because that main entrance was what Gao Pangshi walked through when he entered Thang Long City for the first time.
The Annan royal family was not taken seriously by them at all, but the master must not be disrespected. In their view, the status of their master should be higher than that of anyone except the Ming Emperor, so the main entrance of Xiangfu Gate is only
Master can leave.
In fact, Gao Pragmatic has never issued any instructions on this kind of issue, and he doesn't care about this kind of thing - it's just a door. It's built for walking. Why build it if it can't be walked? It's a waste.
Today, on the Xiangfumen Jinghua Pier, there is a large number of new troops called the "Thang Long Garrison", nervously lining up on both sides of Pier 1 to prepare for the welcome ceremony.
Gao Pingshi is still in the city, who can Thang Long have such a grand scene?
This person was none other than the pragmatic Gao Mengnan, the second brother of Dafang. As the director of the Guangzhou Private Port, he did not personally command any troops in this southern expedition, including the Jinghua Fleet, which was mainly the Guangzhou Port Transport Fleet.
They were all led by Gao Jing, the leader of the transport fleet, but Gao Mengnan was the number one contributor to the material support of this southern expedition!
In addition, his identity is different from other private port managers. His surname is Gao, not Gao from Gao pragmatism, but Gao from Gao Jie. He is Gao pragmatism's elder brother.
This cannot be ignored. At least Gao Jue, the commander of the "Thang Long Garrison", paid great attention to it and personally brought people to greet him.
Gao Jue was transferred from Dafang to work under Gao Jingshi, and Gao Jie was kind to him.
A fleet of fleets swam up from the east, including about twenty armed transport ships from Jinghua and more than thirty large and small merchant ships from other merchants.
As Jinghua's "Sixteen Articles" began to be implemented in Annan, these Ming maritime merchants who were affiliated with Jinghua's Guangzhou private port also made profits, and their business in Annan began to expand rapidly. Now that the "boss" of Guangzhou Port is coming
, then of course we come together, this is equivalent to Jinghua providing free escort, why not?
What's more, if you come with Jinghua's fleet, you can also enjoy the envious and fearful eyes of those Annan people, which makes you feel as if you are in the clouds.
The fleet flagship docked at Pier 1, and there were naturally dedicated personnel to take care of matters such as dropping the anchor and putting down the ladder. After Gao Mengnan stepped onto the ground, Gao Jue smiled and walked up to him and bowed his hands: "Little Gao Jue, have you seen the second eldest brother?"
master."
Gao Mengnan grabbed Gao Jue's arm and laughed: "Come on, you are already a 'commander', so don't always be a 'small one'. By the way, how many people are you in charge of as a military commander now?"
?”
Gao Jue smiled and said: "According to the master's request, the strength of the Shenglong garrison is 50,000."
Gao Mengnan was shocked: "Such a large establishment? How many armies did Annan arrange in total?"
"There are only two in total." Gao Jue said with a smile: "In addition to the Thang Long Garrison, there is also a Jingang Garrison with a strength of 30,000 people. However, because the construction of Jingang has not officially started, the Jingang Garrison is currently
He also stayed in the north and has not yet gone south.
The second master may not know something. One of the Cen and Huang families is divided between the west of Shenglong and the other east of Shenglong. They are both large areas. Each of them only has 20,000 people left in Annan. Although they have strong fighting power,
But suppressing the ground still requires more people, so the Jinggang garrison is now helping them guard some places."
Gao Mengnan clicked his tongue and exclaimed: "It's incredible, you are now stronger than the commander-in-chief of a town. I have never heard of any commander-in-chief in the Ming Dynasty who can have 50,000 direct troops... Gao Jue, please be honest with me."
You are really entrusted with a heavy responsibility and are extremely trusted. You must be careful when doing things. Remember not to have no scruples in doing things just because you have people in your hands. You must ask for instructions when you need to ask for instructions and report when you need to report. Although I will seek truth in the future.
You must return to Beijing, but you must have a plan in your mind. What matters should be decided on a temporary basis, and what matters must be approved by him first... You must grasp the appropriateness in this, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand." Gao Jue said, "If I can't decide for the moment, I can ask you what you mean first."
"No, no, no, no!" Gao Mengnan waved his hands quickly: "Don't ask me what I mean. You can either make your own decisions about military matters, or send a speedboat directly to Tianjin Port to Qiu Zhen for instructions. What should I do? I don't understand.
Military Affairs.”
Seeing his expression, Gao Jue suddenly understood that it was not that Gao Mengnan didn't understand military affairs, but that he avoided getting involved in military affairs - he was Gao Jie's adopted son, and when he was young, he also fought against Japanese pirates with Gao Jie, the admiral of Caojiang.
He was avoiding suspicion.
Although he is Gao Jingshi's elder brother in terms of status, since the position given to him by Gao Jingshi has little to do with military affairs, with his cautious personality, he will definitely not interfere in matters related to military affairs.
However, Gao Jue knew that the new position Gao Jingshi planned to give him would inevitably have something to do with military affairs.
But he couldn't mention this to Gao Mengnan now.
Who would have thought that Gao Mengnan himself changed the subject, and while he and Gao Jue were inspecting the appearance of the Thang Long Garrison that came to greet him, he asked: "If Qiu Zhen lets me come to see him this time, does he want to transfer me to Annan?"
"
Gao Jue was shocked and looked at Gao Mengnan in confusion: "This..."
"Looking at the look on your face, I must have guessed right." Gao Mengnan smiled bitterly and said: "Actually, I don't care where I work, but Guangzhou Port has a very heavy task now, and I have just started to get started, and now I have been transferred suddenly, no
I know who will take over... Oh, I'm not doubting whether others can do it well, I'm just worried about the time it takes to get started... I heard that Pragmatic has big plans in Annan, and I think these plans need the assistance of Guangzhou Port... I
I’m afraid it will delay things.”
In fact, the arrangement for Gao Mengnan was not a secret in itself. The reason why Gao Pragmatic did not disclose it was mainly because he was worried that Gao Mengnan himself did not understand "distributing to the Southern Barbarians".
Now seeing that Gao Mengnan didn't seem to have that intention, Gao Jue relaxed and said with a smile: "My master's plan in Annan is indeed very big. Second master, I'm afraid you can't even guess how big this plan is."
"Really?" Gao Mengnan was a little surprised, but also a little cautious: "Don't tell me... you really plan to let Annan change his surname, right?"
Gao Jue was stunned for a moment before he understood the meaning of Gao Mengnan's words. He shook his head and said, "How can there be such a thing? The master didn't mention it, not at all."
"Oh?" Gao Mengnan thought to himself: Could it be that I have gone astray?
Gao Jue took the initiative and said: "Second Master, although I have put 50,000 people in the north now, I only plan to put 30,000 people in the south. But if I am not mistaken, I am afraid that my focus is in the south."
Gao Mengnan's heart moved, and he pondered: "Southern China? You mean that Golden Port City?"
Gao Jue nodded and said: "I always feel that sooner or later, I am afraid that I will take action against the Champa people, or even the Cambodians."
"Cambodia? Is it Chenla?" Gao Mengnan said in surprise: "This place is no better than Annan. It is a completely barbarian land. Although it is said to be a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, the influence of the Ming Dynasty is over there... I'm afraid.
Not big, right? Why would he be interested in that place? "
Gao Jue shook his head: "I don't know very well about this one, but I heard the master mentioned that Cambodia is very suitable for growing rice, with three crops a year, and the plain area is very large. If it can be developed
Well, maybe even more productive than Huguang."
Gao Mengnan was shocked, horrified, and his voice changed slightly: "Is the grain output higher than that of Huguang? Is this true?" It seems that the Chinese people have always attached great importance to grain.
"Yes, the master said it himself."
Gao Mengnan gasped, and after a while he said: "Zhenla...it seems to be almost finished." Then he asked: "What about Champa? Is it also suitable for growing rice?"
"Is it Champa? I don't know very well, but... the master and Gao Jing seem to have discussed this issue. It may be related to the port."
"The port..." Gao Jue was a little surprised: "Isn't Jingang about to be developed? I heard that this place is very good, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much effort to build a new city on a blank land, how could I occupy the city?
Is there a better port nearby?”
Gao Jue didn't know much about this and shook his head to express his ignorance.
"No, that's not right." Gao Mengnan thought for a moment and said, "When I came here, I heard Gao Jing say that Qiuzhen also wanted to build a port south of the mouth of the Gang River. This means that the main port in Bei Annan will be
There, and there is Golden Port in the south, and two main ports, one in the south and one in the north. Considering the size of Annan, this should be enough. But he is still thinking about occupying the city. This is probably not for business.
He went to Hong Kong...Besides, there aren’t many people in Champa, right?”
Gao Jue smiled bitterly and said: "Second Master, you'd better go and talk to me about these things. I really don't understand very well. My main task now is this Shenglong Guard Army. According to the master's plan, this Shenglong Guard Army
Although the army is based on the Annan people, many of the mid-level and high-level officers are servants of our Gao family. The master said that some systems of the servant guard regiment should be transplanted to completely master this army. I am so young that my hair is growing thin these days.
I’m so busy that I don’t have time to think about other things!”
Gao Mengnan laughed loudly, patted Gao Jue on the shoulder and said, "Okay, okay, it's not difficult for you. I'll go and ask for the truth myself."
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