The organization of the Chinese Army is still changing, and new units are constantly being formed. However, the main field forces are still composed of the Sixth Infantry Division, the three fleets and the attached Third Marine Corps, as well as special forces such as artillery and cavalry. The Chinese Army Officers from the special battalion directly under the old battalion of the headquarters, the foreign mercenaries and the Yin Feng Guards Battalion were also present.
Now, those gathered in Yin Feng's study were all the highest-ranking officers of the Chinese Army. In addition, people from the Chinese Army's Military Intelligence Department, Logistics Department and the Royal Palace Internal Affairs Department also attended the meeting.
When Yin Feng saw that most of the people who came to the meeting had arrived, he said bluntly: "The Ministry of War under the Government Affairs Council is planning the names of generals. Some of you will be lucky enough to become the first generals of our Chinese army." Everyone heard this , there was a commotion, and everyone whispered to each other that the rank of general was officially established, which means that the Chinese Army has established a complete honorary system of military ranks.
"However, today's meeting is not for this matter," Yin Feng paused and said with a smile, "but for the purpose of defeating the Ming Dynasty."
Everyone came back to their senses in the dream of becoming a general and looked at Yin Feng together.
Yin Feng understood the meaning contained in these glances: most of the Chinese Army officers were fanatical supporters of destroying the Ming Dynasty, hoping to destroy the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible and replace it, and establish a new dynasty under the control of the Chinese Army, in which everyone could become a founding hero.
There are also some officers who are conservative and believe that the Chinese army should continue to expand its strength and accumulate strength, and then take advantage of the internal chaos of the Ming Dynasty to destroy it in one fell swoop.
Yin Feng is no longer the "ship owner" of the Chinese Company and the Chinese Army in its early days. Relying on the support of the Chinese Army's officer class and the prestige accumulated over the years, he has become almost a prominent figure in the area under his jurisdiction. In his early years, he Whatever he wants to do, he still needs the support of the company's board members. In the military, he also has to win over the members of the pirate gang. Now, he can already speak the truth. Yin Feng, who was open-minded to listen to other people's opinions in the early years, has disappeared. This change, Yin Feng himself didn't feel anything, and the people around him didn't think anything was wrong either.
"...I think that the intelligence work on the Zhu Ming court must be strengthened. The Military Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of Internal Affairs should not come out to incite mutiny in the short term, and just secretly add fuel to the flames. Your top priority now is to figure out The situation of the defenders in various places in the Ming Dynasty, as well as the contact with heroes from all over the world who are willing to rebel against the Ming Dynasty, the Zhu family court has been hard to return. However, after all, there are still wise ministers like Xu Guangqi, centipede insects, dead and not dead. After all, the Zhu family court has been established for 200 years. Years have passed... We are pressing harder, and those officials who only know how to fight for power cannot deal with it. The Emperor of the Zhu family may use people like Xu Guangqi, so that they will gain power."
"So, how about we send people to deal with Xu Guangqi and others," Lin Xiao, the intelligence director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, suddenly said.
Everyone looked at each other, and they all looked sideways at Lin Xiao, a boss of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who had always been very ruthless in his internal purges. In the political tradition of the time, things like assassinations were always taboo.
Based on Yin Feng's original character, he didn't like assassinations or anything like that, but now he opposed Lin Xiao's suggestion for other reasons.
"Xu Guangqi is a capable man who is well versed in Chinese and Western knowledge. I still hope that he can contribute to my Chinese University. This person must not be moved. The rest of the ministers in the Zhu family's court are basically from the imperial examination. Except for the Four Books, Five Classics and Eight-legged Essays, the rest They all don’t understand. When it comes to internal party strife, everyone is a master; when it comes to practical work, there are not many capable people. The matter of handling the Zhu family’s court ministers will be put aside for later discussion. I have decided now: before next summer, form two more divisions. of infantry and a regiment of artillery; the Marine Corps will be expanded by ten battalions and the cavalry by one regiment; at the same time, a four-masted battleship will be added and a three-masted cruiser will be added. Next year, let’s tentatively set it for summer. The Chinese Army will be here We will begin to defeat the Ming Dynasty next summer." Yin Feng decided the important matter in one word and did not allow anyone to say more. Seeing everyone whispering to each other, he smiled slightly and said seriously: "Don't be impatient about the defeat of the Ming Dynasty, but after our army has accumulated enough strength, we must Like a thunderous strike, the problem will be solved in a short period of time. You all should take action in order to organize military training for July next year. Colonel Coutre of the Operations Department, Brother Mai, Lin Xiao, and Zeng Rui will stay for a while..."
All the generals stood up, performed a military salute, and went back.
Colonel Cutre is sixty years old. Now he is only in charge of the staff work of the War Department and no longer goes into battle to kill the enemy. The four people here are all Yin Feng's most trusted direct descendants, except for the veteran soldier Cutre who lives like an ascetic. In addition, the naval fleet commander Mai Dahai, Lin Xiao, Zeng Rui and others each had something on their minds and exchanged hesitant looks with their eyes.
At this time, Yin Feng regained some of his previous casual demeanor and made tea for Kutre himself while chatting about some past events.
The veteran soldier Colonel Cutre is writing his memoirs in the Portuguese language of his hometown. His Chinese level has long been able to converse with Yin Feng fluently. However, in order to maintain his Portuguese level, Yin Feng has been talking to him in Portuguese. Colonel Lei is still the head of the foreign mercenary corps, but he is no longer involved in actual management most of the time.
"In East Asia today, most of the Portuguese people have settled in Taiwan and Macau, and they all follow your lead. Colonel Coutre, why don't you bring your family here?"
"Family," Colonel Jacques van de Coutere's eyes dimmed slightly, he shook his head and drank tea, and said slowly: "European merchant ships have just brought news that all my brothers have died in Austria. "
Yin Feng was startled for a moment, and immediately remembered that this was the early stage of the Thirty Years' War in Europe. During the so-called Bohemian War, two brothers of Courtre were forced to flee to Austria and became mercenaries because they opposed the Spanish Empire's annexation of Portugal. The soldiers joined the Catholic army of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1618 to 1619, the Catholic army reinforced Bohemia. There were two reinforcements. One was an army funded by the Spanish and came from Flanders; the other During the approaching winter months, the Bohemian Protestant army, led by the Counts of Tulum and Skerik, held the Catholic army at Budejo during the approaching winter months. Wieze, and swept across the Austrian border areas. Both Coutre's brothers died in Austria this winter.
"... There is still a girl left in my brother's family. I have asked the Jewish merchants of the sixth batch of merchant ships to Europe to bring letters, hoping to bring this girl to China,"
Yin Feng nodded, patted Colonel Coutre on the shoulder and said: "Don't worry, Zheng Zhilong, who is on his way to France as envoy to France, has not left yet. I will ask him to pay attention to this matter and make sure that your grandniece can be reunited with you."
He turned back to look at the other three important ministers, and smiled and said: "You and I are like family members. You can speak out if you have anything to say. Brother Mai, you violated military regulations and inhumanely treated the children of the Yazhou people." The military academy studies and assessments are just stuffed into the officers, is there such a thing?"
Mai Dahai opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but stopped talking.
Yin Feng smiled faintly: "I know that this person is a fallen soldier and a civilian in Yazhou. It is understandable that he should be taken care of by fellow villagers and soldiers. The problem is that the Chinese military regulations have long stipulated: You are not allowed to be promoted to an officer without going through battle formations or studying in a military academy. Military regulations. Brother Mai, you should know what military regulations are."
Mai Dahai lowered his head and sighed: "Okay, I will let the War Department remove them from their positions in the old camp of the Navy."
Yin Feng shook his head: "Let them serve as trainee cadets for the time being. I will order them to enter the Navy Military Academy as a candidate for non-commissioned officers. After graduation, they will enter the Nanyang Fleet to train. The Chinese Military Academy will follow the preferential treatment regulations for military personnel and give priority to the descendants of military personnel. , I just hope that this kind of thing will not happen again in the future. The Chinese military regulations are the foundation of our army, and I myself have to abide by them,"
He turned to Lin Xiao and Zeng Rui, and seeing their uncertain expressions, he smiled and said: "Our Chinese Army has absolutely nothing to do with the Ming Army. I will never allow anyone to appoint private individuals, abuse power, or form cliques for personal gain. Mai The sea obeys,"
Mai Dahai jumped up and stood at attention like a conditioned reflex, saluting with his arms crossed and his chest, his leather boots clicking loudly.
"Mai Dahai, the commander-in-chief of the Navy, violated military discipline by appointing a private person. He is hereby removed from the position of president and notified the entire army..."
Zeng Rui and Lin Xiao were shocked and speechless: The punishment for Mai Dahai was so severe. They never expected that although Mai Dahai did not have much talent for pioneering and innovation, he could always implement Yin Feng's opinions completely and faithfully. In the past few years, there has been hard work without any merit.
"...Second Fleet-Taiwan Fleet Commander Ye Hua temporarily acts as the naval commander. His duties remain unchanged. Mai Dahai temporarily takes over as deputy commander of the Taiwan Fleet..."
Yin Feng looked around at his subordinates and saw that they all looked uncertain. He shook his head slightly and said: "There is nothing to say. Our Chinese Army puts military regulations and discipline first in everything. All bad governance and bad deeds of the Ming Dynasty must be traced to us." It’s extinct here,”
He looked at Lin Xiao and saw that his eyes were flashing and avoiding his gaze, so he decided to put aside the questions about Lin Xiao for the time being.
"Zeng Rui, Lin Xiao listen to the order," the two of them stood up with their chests raised and their stomachs drawn.
Yin Feng looked at the two of them slowly, causing them to lower their heads in confusion.
However, Yin Feng did not issue any orders, but spoke slowly, almost to himself: "I have always acted with fairness and justice as my purpose, but now it seems that it is still necessary to make this glorious Ming Dynasty fall. We need to push you secretly." He raised his head, his eyes bright: "Brother Rui, you stirred up the situation in Jiangnan and incited the New Army to rebel. I can understand your intention to achieve success and fame. The New Army rebelled. Things have become unstoppable now. I will not hold you responsible for your reckless and unauthorized rebellion. It is just because I am also responsible for this matter. I also failed to observe the dynamics of the New Army beforehand. I thought that after Yu Zigao lost power, the New Army would have nothing to make waves. However, as a result, the internal situation of the Ming Dynasty has become precarious, and the huge house is on the verge of collapse, so we have to take care of it."
He stretched out his hands and held Lin Xiao and Zeng Rui's shoulders firmly, reflecting the closeness he felt in his early years: "It's time for this Ming Dynasty's house to collapse. In order to let it collapse as soon as possible, I will let it collapse soon." Whatever you do is a shameful job,"
Lin Xiao smiled: "Your Majesty, ship owner, I have been doing this kind of work."
Yin Feng smiled faintly, turned around and said slowly: "Lin Xiao, you can temporarily entrust the affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Mr. Xu Hongji. Starting tomorrow, Zeng Rui, you will be in charge at the front. Lin Xiao will provide logistics resources and use all resources. Manage the situation within the Ming Dynasty and prepare for the situation. Once the time comes, you will let the entire Ming Dynasty start civil strife."
Zeng Rui and Lin Xiao looked at each other and accepted the order together. Zeng Rui said loudly: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty has become like firewood after a long drought. A spark can ignite it."