The top ten candidates who won the martial arts examination in the first year of Xianchun, led by the examiners Fan Wenhuan and Ma Tingluan, knelt down on the ground of Jiying Hall and shouted in unison: "See the emperor, long live the emperor. Long live the emperor."
"No need to pay tribute."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Except for Ouyang Jianqing, I immediately recognized Shi Yuqi, Lu Mengshan and others who were competing that day.
Fan Wenhuan went up and said: "Your Majesty, please declare the decree."
"Okay, I now announce the list of top three candidates for this martial arts examination, Shi Yuqi."
"The grassroots are here."
"I order you to be the best candidate for this martial arts examination, to serve in the infantry of the Forbidden Army, to be granted the title of Martial Cavalry Lieutenant, to be awarded the title of Xuan Feng Lang, and to receive the rank of seventh rank."
"Your Majesty Shi Yuqi, thank you for your grace."
"Su Bingyi, I have chosen you to be the second best in this martial arts examination, to serve in the Ministry of War, to be awarded the title of Yunqi Lieutenant, to be awarded the title of Xuande Lang, and to receive the rank of seventh rank."
"My lord, Su Bingyi, thanks the emperor for his kindness."
"Su Bingyi, are you a descendant of Su Shi?"
"Back to the emperor, exactly."
"Then why did you abandon literature and practice martial arts?"
"Your Majesty, Mongolia in the north is eyeing our court now. I am willing to serve as Huo Qubing during the Han Dynasty, protect my family and country, and return our rivers and mountains."
"Okay, go to the Ministry of War and work hard, Ouyang Jianqing."
"The grassroots are here."
"I appoint you as the number one scholar in this martial arts examination, to serve in the Navy of the Forbidden Army, to be granted the title of Xiaoqi Lieutenant, to be granted the rank of Feng Lang, and to receive the rank of Sixth Grade."
"Your Majesty Ouyang Jianqing thanks the Emperor for his grace."
After the announcement by the top three officers, I said to the remaining seven people: "Lü Mengshan, the seven of you are assigned by the official department to temporarily hold the title of eighth grade."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"I am very pleased to have you young people who are determined to join the army and serve the country. I hope to see you serve the country in future wars."
"I will definitely live up to the emperor's kindness and love."
The military officers in the Song Dynasty had various official positions. It can be said to be the most confusing and difficult-to-understand official system in the history of the dynasties. I have not figured out who is a lieutenant or a lieutenant. On the contrary, the Mongolian army has a simple organization.
From the leader of ten thousand households to the leader of hundreds, it is clear at a glance.
"Master Chen, Fan Aiqing, Wen Aiqing, Lu Aiqing, the four of you will follow me to the Ministry of War."
The six ministries, the Privy Council, Zhongshu Province and other important imperial institutions are all located in the south of the palace.
Among the six ministries, the Ministry of War is the least valued department. Since Taizu, the Song Dynasty has used culture to control military affairs, and the Ministry of War has always been ranked at the bottom of the six ministries, not to mention that there is the Privy Council above it. The Navy Department is located in a corner of the Ministry of War.
It seems even more inferior.
Anyone who knows the history of the late Southern Song Dynasty knows that it was precisely because of the superiority of the Southern Song Dynasty navy that the fate of the country was delayed, and the subsequent emperors survived for several years. However, no one paid attention to it at the end of the Song Dynasty, even the famous general Li Tingzhi.
In this way, this situation continued until the end of the Qing Dynasty hundreds of years later, when foreign warships and artillery bombarded the country, and they finally woke up.
I looked at the few Navy Departments in front of the palace and the main generals of the Privy Council Navy Department. I frowned slightly and said, "Which dear lady can tell me about the situation of our Navy?"
The eyes of these people all looked at the veteran on the far left.
Jia Sidao introduced: "Your Majesty, this is Li Beiyang, the minister of the Ministry of War and the commander of the navy department in front of the palace. He is a descendant of Li Bao, the famous navy general of our dynasty a hundred years ago, and is also the oldest general in the navy.
Li Dutong, come and tell His Majesty."
Although Li Bao is a little-known person, in the 31st year of Shaoxing, he led more than 3,000 naval officers to annihilate the Jin Kingdom's 70,000 navy soldiers. After this battle, the Jin Kingdom no longer had the strength to form a navy army to go south, and even
He didn't even dare to try. After this battle alone, some people in later generations listed Li Bao as one of the top ten famous navy generals in ancient times.
Li Beiyang is nearly sixty years old. He has joined the navy with his father since he was more than 20 years old. He knows the navy of the Song Dynasty very well. When Li Beiyang saw Jia Sidao, he nodded and said: "Your Majesty, I am going to the navy to divide the navy." It is divided into three departments: the navy in front of the palace, the navy in coastal areas, and the navy in local areas. There are a total of 100,000 soldiers and tens of thousands of large and small warships. Your Majesty wants to know the situation of the navy. One answer.”
I thought for a moment and said, "Let me first understand the types of warships of our navy and the status of their weapons and personnel."
Li Beiyang said: "Your Majesty, there are many types of warships in our navy. There are seventeen types of warships currently in service, including Red Horse, White Harrier, Sea Falcon, Sea Loach, Zouke, and Mengchong. Each warship is based on The soldiers are equipped with different sizes. For example, the largest warships are equipped with about five or six hundred people, while the small warships are equipped with several people. The weapons are equipped with crossbows, artillery (equivalent to trebuchets), fireballs, and racquets. poles, scythes, etc. The arms include archers, card players, gunners, swordsmen, crossbowmen, gunners, etc., as well as auxiliary personnel such as gunmen, fire guards, etc. The newly added warships are also equipped with some muskets. Your Majesty, if If you want to know the root cause, you can go to our shipyard or visit the navy station in person."
I nodded and continued to ask: "What is the power of our current warships?"
"Your Majesty, the power of our warships is divided into three categories. One is powered by hand-rowing oars, the second is powered by foot wheels, and the third is powered by propellers."
"propeller?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, this is composed of several small wheels, which can also be called large wheels."
"I see." I thought to myself, thinking it was some kind of advanced power source.
"Li Aiqing, what is the main purpose of the navy?"
"Your Majesty, there are three main things. One is to prevent waterway attacks from northern Mongolia, the other is to arrest pirates, and the third is to suppress smuggling."
I asked one after another about the origins of the navy personnel and warships, as well as the navy's combat strategies, etc. Li Beiyang answered them one by one in an orderly manner.
"Well, very good. What about the situation of the navy in the Coastal Planning and Provisioning Department?"
Li Beiyang said: "It's almost the same, but the specific affairs are not very clear to me."
Fan Wenhuan pointed at one of the generals and said: "Your Majesty, this is Li Zengbo, the envoy of the coastal system. Mr. Li, come and tell your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, the Coastal Division Navy has 20,000 people, mainly in the area from Dinghai to Guangnan East Road. Its warships are equipped the same as other naval forces in our country. The only difference is that the warships are mainly large ships. Because they are in the sea It cannot be powered by wheels, so it is all propelled by paddles.”
"Aren't all the naval forces in the local department the same?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I'm here to ask you, if you go to the sea, where can you reach?"
Li Beiyang said: "Back to your Majesty, I once sailed with my father and visited the Luzon Kingdom (today's Luzon Island in the Philippines)."
Li Zengbo also said: "Your Majesty, I have been to Ryukyu. As for the farthest I can go, I have never thought about it. Does your Majesty want to attack Mongolia by sea?"
"Haha, not exactly, it's not far enough there. I would like to visit Venice overseas."
"Venice, where is it?"
"Let's not talk about this for now." I changed the topic and said, "Let me ask you, what is the biggest weakness of our navy?"
Li Beiyang said without thinking: "Your Majesty, the biggest shortcoming of our navy is that there are too many systems, they are independent, and the organization is chaotic, which is not conducive to large-scale operations."
"That's true." I suddenly stood up and said, "Li Beiyang, Li Zengbo, I order you two to make a plan to merge the three naval forces within a month. I plan to merge the various naval forces at the end of Xianchun Yuan.
"
Li Beiyang was stunned for a moment and said: "I obey the order."
Li Zengbo glanced at Jia Sidao and saw that he had no reaction, so he had to respond: "I obey the order."
Jia Sidao had no expression on his face, but he was shocked inside. Did Zhao Yu start to reach out to the army?
I looked at Jia Sidao and said with a smile: "In the second half of the year, I, the Privy Council, and the Ministry of War will discuss it carefully and strive to merge all the various naval forces before the end of the year and hand them over to the direct command of the Privy Council."
Jia Sidao breathed a sigh of relief after hearing what I said: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Fan Wenhuan saw Jia Sidao expressing his position and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War will definitely cooperate."
Although Jia Sidao did not value the navy, this was the first time that I had directly interfered in military affairs. Fortunately, I was able to relax after hearing that the merged navy would be handed over to the Privy Council.
I have a panoramic view of all this. As a sales engineer, I still have the simplest observation ability. What's more, after half a year of training, I have gradually matured. I am now more and more able to grasp Jia Sidao's mentality, and Jia Sidao's mentality is better and better.
But Si Dao is increasingly unable to understand me, Zhao Yu.
The merged navy will be handed over to the Privy Council. I did not deceive Jia Sidao about this, but the Privy Council will be in my hands.