Chapter 235 [Goodbye Li Xin, Iron Factory Inspection] Part 1
In the next few days, Mu Linfeng had nothing to do and occasionally went to Meixiang Tower. He originally wanted to see Liu Rushi, but he couldn't meet him.
Liu Ru was either receiving guests or was not seeing them behind closed doors. Although Li Fangyi knew Mu Linfeng's thoughts, she didn't say anything good to Mu Linfeng or Liu Rushi secretly.
After all, Liu Rushi is the number one girl in Yangzhou Meixiang House at this moment, and she is Li Fangyi’s financial bargaining chip.
Chen Yuanyuan, Gu Meisheng, Bian Yujing and the four girls from Kou Baimen in Mu Mansion were surrounding Mu Mu all day long, and they seemed to have gradually forgotten that there was Mu Linfeng, the great Mu Mu.
Mu Linfeng changes a woman's room every three days. If he sleeps at Chen Yuanyuan's place during these three days, he will rest at Bian Yujing's place for the next three days, and then Gu Meisheng will sleep for the next three days.
Linfeng spent the night in Li Fangyi's Meixiang Building.
Time flew by, and the day of the transaction with Li Xin was coming soon. Mu Linfeng sent someone to the iron factory to inquire about Wu Xing's progress. Wu Xing said that it could basically be completed within the deadline, and Mu Linfeng felt relieved.
Mu Linfeng also often went to the military camp in Yangzhou to discuss with Shi Kefa and Zhu Dadian how to attack Jiangnan.
What Shi Kefa meant was to have Huai'an, Yangzhou and Luzhou send troops southward at the same time. Huai'an would send troops to attack Nantong, and then march all the way south to continue to attack Changzhou, Suzhou and Wuxi.
Yangzhou sent troops south to attack Zhenjiang first. After Zhenjiang was pacified, they went straight to Jinling. After occupying Jinling, they continued south to attack Wuhu, Xuancheng and other cities around Jinling.
Luzhou sent troops straight south to capture Anqing on the north bank of the Yangtze River, then crossed the river to capture Chizhou, and then continued south to capture Huangshan.
Finally, the Huai'an Army moved from Suzhou to the west, and the Luzhou Army moved from west to east until the two armies turned around. At this time, the Yangzhou Army could stick to Jinling and send only a small force to help the Luzhou and Huai'an Army turn around and clear the obstacles in between.
Shi Kefa finally said that as for the Fengyang Army, they could send their troops north to capture Suzhou directly, then capture Xuzhou, consolidate the power in the north of Yangzhou, and then move eastward to open up the connection between Xuzhou and Huai'an to prevent future troubles in Yangzhou and Huai'an.
When Mu Linfeng heard this, he clapped his hands repeatedly and said, "Master Shi is indeed a military wizard. This kind of warfare is really popular in all directions!"
Zhu Dadian kept saying from the side: "That's right, that's right. I'm afraid only you, Xianzhi, can think of such an all-out strategy."
Hearing this, Shi Kefa quickly shook his head and said: "This method of warfare is absolutely impossible if it relies solely on swords and other weapons. We have less than 60,000 men and horses in Yangzhou, less than 50,000 men and women in Huai'an, and up to 40,000 men and women in Luzhou.
There are only more than 30,000 troops in Yangyang, so a large number of muskets and siege cannons are necessary... Moreover, outside of Fengyang, the troops from the three counties have to cross the river, and the number of ships is not small. Such preparations require at least three
A month to half a year..."
Mu Linfeng couldn't help but nodded after hearing the words: "Yes, for such a large-scale battle, sufficient preparations must be made, and food and grass are also a problem. Now Yangzhou has just begun to implement the distribution of farmland to each household. Although the people have their own land,
It’s not the farming season yet, and Huai’an has just started to implement it, while Fengyang and Luzhou haven’t started to implement it yet. If we wait until there is enough food and grass, it will have to be at least until the beginning of next spring, when farmers will plant the grain and harvest it... Sigh...
"
Hearing this, Shi Kefa said: "Well, yes, Mu Shuai thought carefully, but Shi still forgot about the issue of food and grass, so if we either don't start a war and develop the four counties currently in hand first,
We will wait for these four counties to stabilize before trying to develop. If we don’t fight, a war will shake the world..."
Zhu Dadian was listening clearly. He originally expected a big battle to be fought, but now that Shi Kefa and Mu Linfeng told him that preparations would take at least four or five months, and that the war would have to wait until the Year of the Monkey, the Horse and the Moon, he couldn't help but said anxiously:
"The four counties of Yanghuai and Fenglu were originally important areas for the imperial court. Before Zhu came to take office, the imperial court said that these four counties were the granary of Jiangbei. They should have stored a lot of surplus grain. As long as the firearms production could keep up, it should be available after the Chinese New Year.
Is there a war?"
Shi Kefa couldn't help but shook his head and said: "Brother Zhu, although you are the governor of the four counties of Yanghuai and Fenglu, appointed by the imperial court, how much do you know about the real situation of the four counties of Yanghuai and Fenglu?"
Zhu Dadian heard this and said curiously: "Why, before Zhu took office, he had already sent people to inquire about it. Is there anything wrong?"
Mu Linfeng smiled and said: "Mu knows what Mr. Shi means. In today's world, corrupt officials are everywhere. General Zhu, how many grains of the four counties of Yanghuai and Fenglu are still in the granary?"
"
Shi Kefa couldn't help but sigh slightly when he heard this, and kept shaking his head.
Zhu Dadian heard this but remained silent, extremely angry.
Mu Linfeng finally made the decision: "That's it. As for Mr. Shi, now Mu appoints you as the general marshal of the four counties to coordinate all the matters of conquering Jiangnan. You will dispatch all the troops and horses of the four counties... I will appoint Wang Zhizhen.
Your Excellency, please do a good job in logistics to ensure the success of the war. As for the firearms, there is no need to worry. I believe Mr. Wu can allocate time to meet the time limit of the war. To say the least, as long as the logistics preparations are sufficient, even if the firearms are only prepared in the original quantity,
Half of them must also start to attack Jiangnan..."
Mu Linfeng said and glanced at Zhu Dadian who was standing aside. After all, Zhu Dadian was once the governor of the four counties appointed by Chongzhen, but now he is just a general under Shi Kefa's account. At this moment, Mu Linfeng handed over the four counties to Shi Kefa, even though Zhu Dadian
No matter how good your relationship is with Shi Kefa, you will definitely have some ideas.
Mu Linfeng quickly said to Zhu Dadian: "As for the capture of Jiangnan, General Zhu will be there to assist Mr. Shi. After all, General Zhu, you are a generation of generals who have experienced hundreds of battles. This time to encircle and suppress Liu Liangzuo, General Zhu also
He has made great contributions, so General Zhu must assist Mr. Shi!"
Zhu Dadian did have some ideas just now, but now that he heard Mu Linfeng say this, he was obviously trying to promote himself, and immediately smiled and said: "Don't worry, Commander Mu, with my brother Zhu Dadian and Xian here, as long as that old boy Wang Zhizhen can
The food preparations are sufficient, Wu Xing has the firearms ready, and Zhu is definitely on the line to capture Jiangnan. It is only a matter of time before he captures Jiangnan!"
Mu Linfeng laughed steadily, then patted Zhu Dadian on the shoulder and said: "Well, General Zhu is right at all. If the morale of our army is as high as General Zhu's, we will have everything in the world!"
Mu Linfeng then discussed some details with Shi Kefa and Zhu Dadian, and then said to Shi Kefa: "Mu will send a secret letter to Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui and Liu Liangzuo now, asking them to start making full preparations now..."
Shi Kefa said: "That's good. The only problem at the moment is that, Marshal Mu, you asked Shi to be the general marshal of the four counties. I'm afraid Hong Chengchou will be dissatisfied. Hong Chengchou has always been extremely self-reliant and arrogant. I'm afraid he may not be able to listen to Shi.
.”
Mu Linfeng thought about it, and then said: "It doesn't matter, Mu will write him a letter personally. I believe he will put the overall situation first..."
Mu Linfeng asked for pen and ink, and then wrote a letter to Hong Chengchou. In the letter, Mu Linfeng told Hong Chengchou about the capture of Jiangnan, and also told him the approximate time limit for the capture, and stated that this battle could only be
Victory, not defeat, explained the interests to Hong Chengchou, but the key to this letter is the last paragraph. Mu Linfeng promised Hong Chengchou that as long as this war is over and dozens of counties in the south of the Yangtze River are pacified, Hong Chengchou will be transferred to Jinling to replace Mu Linfeng in managing the subordinates.
There are dozens of counties below.
After writing the letter to Hong Chengchou, Mu Linfeng immediately wrote two more letters, one to Fengyang Commander-in-Chief Wu Sangui and Luzhou Commander-in-Chief Liu Liangzuo. The general content of the letter was similar to that to Hong Chengchou, and at the end he added a paragraph entrusting him with important tasks.
He also made a promise and informed the three counties that Mao Pijiang and others had been appointed to take up posts in the three counties to preside over the changes, and asked them to give them to the commander-in-chief of the three counties respectively.
Mu Linfeng naturally knew that this section was indispensable. After all, these three generals were all demoted generals. Except for Wu Sangui, who seemed to be more reliable at the moment, Hong Chengchou and Flow were not so reliable. He could only attract them with benefits.
After Mu Linfeng wrote the letter, he immediately sealed it and asked Shi Kefa to send someone to the three counties immediately, instructing the person who sent the letter to deliver the letter to Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui and Liu Liangzuo.
After Mu Linfeng agreed with Shi Kefa and Zhu Dadian on the war, he exchanged a few words with Shi Kefa and Zhu Dadian, then left the military camp and returned to Yangzhou Mansion.
Mu Linfeng rode his horse all the way north. As soon as he arrived at the south gate of Yangzhou, he saw the servants of Mu Mansion already waiting at the south gate.
Mu Linfeng knew something must have happened, and hurriedly asked: "Wait for me here. Is there anything urgent in the house?"
The servant immediately replied: "Sir, Mr. Li Xin from the northwest has been waiting in the mansion for a long time. Mr. Su has asked the little people to look for him everywhere!"
Mu Linfeng's heart trembled when he heard this, and then he calculated the days in his mind, and then he remembered that the day after tomorrow was the deadline for delivery to Li Xin.