Chapter 189

The next day, the beginning of the new year, everything was renewed.

Early in the morning, Sun Fugui and a bunch of people who had just woken up from a hangover came to pay New Year's greetings to Wang Yan and report on work.

"My lord, currently we have a total of... among which regular soldiers... military households... materials..."

Sun Fugui introduced the overall situation of the soldiers and all kinds of money, grain, and materials under his command. The soldiers belonging to the three companies totaled more than 3,000, the military households were more than 1,000 but less than 2,000, plus the 300-person team Wang Yan had in his hands that was already outside the establishment, the people under his command had expanded to more than 5,000.

And just in terms of combat effectiveness, even the combat effectiveness of those reserve military households who were usually negligent in battle and specifically served as slaves to the guards' officers was stronger than the 600 people he had at the very beginning.

In fact, to tell the truth, they didn't train much; it was just letting these military households eat their fill. The food might not be good, but the daily oil and water were also sufficient. After these months of recuperation, their physical conditions had caught up with the previous big-headed soldiers.

Plus, the good life was hard-won, and no one wanted to return to the past, so why not fight for it? So now the competition for the last company was quite fierce. After another period of time, it would definitely affect the middle company, and then to the upper company he was in now; this mechanism of competition and screening could be considered to have started.

People below climbed up step by step, and then according to some personal ideas, plus the judgment of their comprehensive strength, a part was promoted to his reinforced team outside the establishment, and a part sank to the grassroots to serve as military officers.

And it was not worry-free to be a military officer or under his command; there were internal martial arts competitions, and martial arts competitions for all officers of the same level, with the last place eliminated to be re-trained, and the top-ranked promoted.

Thus, it both expanded the combat effectiveness of the top soldiers and raised the bottom line under his command bit by bit.

Accordingly, he raised so many people; not to mention people eating and horses chewing, military armor and equipment, he also had to spend a lot of money to purchase medicinal materials to nourish the little soldiers' bodies. His so much silver was also a bit stretched and not enough. Of course, it was also because he was striving for perfection; if he followed the previous way of these big-headed soldiers, his so much silver could raise 10,000 or 20,000 people easily...

Sun Fugui's report also said these things. Now the money was just enough to raise the current 5,000-plus people; if there were more, the standard would have to be lowered.

After listening to the training situation of the other two companies reported by his subordinates, Wang Yan nodded: "Good, I know it all. Old Sun, the recruitment of craftsmen and physicians hasn't stopped, right?"

"We asked other generals for craftsmen, and according to your instructions, we sent a lot of silver to the Ministry of Works and the Directorate for Imperial Manufactories, and got a batch of great craftsmen over. As for physicians..."

"My lord, you also know this; they are all people with faces, we can't find barefoot doctors in the countryside, and some doctors in the city are decent people with families and businesses. When they hear about coming to our border army, they wish they could shake their heads off. And they also have some connections; if we use force... it's not easy to handle..."

Wang Yan naturally knew that as long as one got sick, one couldn't avoid doctors, let alone good doctors; it was the same four hundred years later. After thinking about it, Wang Yan said: "Just let it be for now, recruit as many as you can, and talk about it later."

"Yes, my lord. Then about the military households, we..."

"Military households increase normally, you and the subordinates of Regional Commander Man have contact, everything is as usual. As for materials, I will find a way."

"Do you have anything else?"

"No, my lord."

"Good. Go back and collect twenty taels of silver from logistics; it's my little heart, and it's also for good luck. Go down first."

"Thank you, my lord, for the reward."

A bunch of people went down happily, and no one refused. After all, those who could have meetings with Wang Yan had a net worth of at least a thousand taels. Twenty taels, it really didn't count for much.

After everyone left, Wang Yan went to the craftsman's workshop, followed the usual practice of scattering money, and after harvesting some smiles, let the great craftsman in charge of the craftsmen make perfume, glass mirrors, cups, etc.

It was said before that perfume, facial masks, etc., could all be done. And making perfume was because he had already made glass, plus some fragrance technology, which was also a hot item.

Now although there was glass, it was not easy to burn, and there were impurities, so it was relatively expensive. As long as he restrainedly put out a little, it could sell for a high price. No need for those noble ladies, just the ones used by the top courtesans in the brothels would be enough for him to earn a wave.

And courtesans were the small group at the forefront of fashion now; they were all men, who didn't know who? It was estimated that it wouldn't be long before it would be a new trend.

After explaining, Wang Yan let his subordinates press the carriage with heads and set off directly to the Regional Commander's mansion in Shanhai Pass.

New Year's gifts and such, Sun Fugui had already sent them for him before, including Man Gui, Chen Baoning, Zhang Xinggui, and a bunch of middle and high-level officials, basically all sent. The civil officials of Liaodong naturally had them too, but they didn't look down on military officers; after all, their status was there. They accepted the gifts while looking down on them, as if it were all deserved.

Listening to Sun Fugui's complaints, Wang Yan didn't care; those were mobile piggy banks. In the future, one by one, the clans definitely couldn't be destroyed—after all, they were all laborers—but the homes definitely had to be raided, and no one could run away...

Arriving at Shanhai Pass, the Regional Commander's mansion was also quite busy. They were all little brothers like assistant regional commanders and mobile corps commanders coming to pay respects to the big brother and listen to instructions. Wang Yan, a small garrison commander, couldn't even rank.

Of course, the silver was not taken for nothing; basically, they were all polite to him.

Wang Yan smiled and greeted people, and let his subordinates drive the carriage to the backyard. Having been busy all morning without eating a bite, he came over. Man Gui wouldn't have time until the afternoon, so he took a bunch of subordinates and found the kitchen familiarly to have them get something to eat.

Man Gui truly treated Wang Yan like a nephew, even closer than his own son. After all, Wang Mou had high ability, didn't cause trouble, and most importantly, could earn military merit. Just Wang Yan's thousand-plus heads last time, although Zhu Youjiao didn't express it practically, the imperial edict of consolation was enough.

In the afternoon, the sky was almost dark, and Wang Yan finally saw Man Gui.

"Waited a long time, right?"

Wang Yan sat under Man Gui, put down the tea cup upon hearing this: "My lord is busy with official business, and the safety of Liaodong is tied to your body; what does this little time of your subordinate count for?"

"You, you, flattering again." Reaching out and pointing twice, Man Gui said: "Alright, let's talk about business, when did you return?"

"It was a coincidence, returned yesterday afternoon." Wang Yan said: "The harvest of heads this time is about the same as last time, all more than a thousand."

"Oh?" Man Gui frowned and looked at Wang Yan: "You brought more people this time than last time, why is the harvest equivalent? Was there any change?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "Your subordinate divided into three teams this time and did not act together. So the other two teams without your subordinate's leadership had relatively worse combat effectiveness, but the results were also okay."

"Haha, before I was thinking of saying, don't always go into battle yourself. I didn't expect you to know it yourself. Give your subordinates more opportunities. And without your leadership, their results are also okay; it seems your soldiers are trained, good, very good..."

"My lord is over-praising, your subordinate's three hundred people are just usable, others are still worse in comparison."

Man Gui shook his head and didn't say anything. Could he not know what the strength of Wang Yan's subordinates was? Knowing that even ordinary mobile corps commanders didn't have as many people as Wang Yan, could he not pay attention? It was just that the silver was in place, the credit was in place, plus he really couldn't suppress it; after all, in the first battle, he entered the Emperor's eyes, so he would promote and push the waves.

"What are your plans for the next step?"

Wang Yan didn't even think: "Take five hundred people out, kill the slaves."

"You, don't always shout about killing all day long. You are already a garrison commander, how can you be more steady." Man Gui shook his head: "I'm afraid you can't go out this time."

"Please instruct, my lord."

"Before, Regional Inspector Yuan Chonghuan was negotiating peace with Hong Taiji." Yuan Chonghuan frowned: "And we received news that their troops and grain have been moving frequently recently, and Hong Taiji intends to attack Korea."

Wang Yan nodded: "Hong Taiji has just risen to power and needs to fight a battle to prove himself and consolidate his position. Attacking Korea is also a matter of course. However, the truth of 'lips gone, teeth cold' should be understood by my lord. Once the Jianzhou Jurchens pacify Korea and drive away General Mao, without other containment, they will attack our Great Ming with all their strength."

"I am very gratified that you can think of these..." Man Gui stroked his beard, nodded in approval like a child who can be taught: "This is why I don't let you go out, one is to guard against Hong Taiji attacking Korea as a fake, and attacking our Great Ming as true, and one is that if Hong Taiji really attacks Korea, he won't be able to take it down in a short time, so stable development, land reclamation, fortress building, and troop training are the top priorities."

"And you are going out to kill Jianzhou Jurchens now, although the Emperor remembers it, but you are so young and are already a garrison commander leading 3,000 troops, so it is impossible to have any more promotion and rewards in a short time. So it is better to develop with peace of mind for a period of time and accumulate strength."

Man Gui sighed: "It's just a grievance for you. If it were in the Han or Tang dynasties, you should also be a heroic teenager like Champion Marquis who sealed the wolf and lived in the Xu, what a pity..."

Wang Yan understood the meaning, nothing more than the fact that the Great Ming party struggle was fierce, internal crises were everywhere, and external wolves were surrounding, and the decline was exhausted. Even if the Jianzhou Jurchens were really killed, it would be difficult for him to die well if he wanted to.

Of course, these had nothing to do with him; after all, he never thought about working for others and being sent away by an imperial edict. He also never thought about anyone playing power schemes or political games with him. Do you really think the big-headed soldiers in his hands are eating dry rice?

As for what Man Gui said about not being able to go out, although he had already said so, Wang Yan still had to fight for it: "My lord, your subordinate feels that now the Jianzhou Jurchens want to attack Korea, the rear is empty, which is just the right time for your subordinate to harass the rear. In this way, it can also contain their energy, so that they have no time to take care of the Great Ming in a short time, and fight for time for our Great Ming's development."

"I have naturally considered what you said." Man Gui stroked his beard, holding the wisdom beads: "What I said is to develop with peace of mind for a period of time, and didn't say not to let you go out. Wait until Hong Taiji really fights with Korea, then it won't be too late for you to go. It just so happens that you can train more troops during this time, and take more people with you then."

Wang Yan chuckled and cupped his hands: "My lord's calculation is perfect, your subordinate admires."

"Less, flattering again." Man Gui laughed: "If there is nothing else, you go back and train troops steadily. As for those heads, I will hand them over to the Emperor. There will always be such a day, you just wait with peace of mind."

"Thank you, my lord." Wang Yan cupped his hands: "Your subordinate still has one thing to report to my lord."

"Speak."

"It's like this, my lord. Before we made soap, didn't your subordinate find a lot of craftsmen." Wang Yan said: "After such a long time of research, we have successfully developed perfume suitable for women, which can be sprayed on the body. I dare not say it can drift for ten *li*, but drifting for ten steps is no problem. And there are some other things, my lord will know at a glance."

"Hahahaha, good, good, good. When the time comes, you send someone to send it, no need to run a trip alone. Then this time..."

Wang Yan said tactfully: "Still the same as before."

"Good, that's settled."

"In that case, your subordinate takes my leave."

Man Gui smiled with satisfaction: "Go, go..."

Money reached this point, although it was already a number, no one thought money was too much. Wasn't it fragrant to enclose land and set up property? And his family was big, so he had to plan more for his descendants to be worthy of his ancestors.

Wang Yan returned to the station to rest for one night, and the next day he directly started the arrangement of the people who came back, and the compensation for the dead, all completed by Sun Fugui and others. The next day, he led people pressing the carriage team with heads to the Regional Commander's mansion in Shanhai Pass.

"Was this trip smooth? Didn't get injured again?"

After paying respects, Man Gui looked at Wang Yan with a smile.

"Everything is smooth, your subordinate harvested more than three thousand heads this time."

"Hmm?" Man Gui looked at Wang Yan in surprise: "Why are there so many this time?"

"It's like this, my lord, because Hong Taiji raised 40,000 troops..."

Wang Yan roughly told Man Gui about the situation in the Later Jin territory and the situation of his subordinates; after all, as long as he mixed under others, he couldn't hide it.

After finishing, Wang Yan looked at Man Gui, who was nodding repeatedly, and changed the subject: "It is precisely because of this that your subordinate estimates that they will not wait too long, and Hong Taiji will definitely send troops to attack our Great Ming in the near future. My lord, you should prepare early."

Man Gui frowned: "Is it really so?"

"Absolutely true, my lord."

"If so, then now they are enclosing villages and towns, building earth and wood, and also distributing weapons to adult men. With their foundation, they can't last for a long time, so Hong Taiji will definitely use force. There are only two targets, one is the Chahar tribe of the Mongols, and the other is our Great Ming. And the materials of our Great Ming far exceed those of the Mongols, plus the defeat of Korea this time, the morale is high. Looking at it this way, attacking our Great Ming is eight or nine out of ten."

Man Gui analyzed it to himself, looked up at Wang Yan, and said in surprise: "You kid is making me look at you with new eyes more and more. I didn't expect your brain to be able to think of so much..."

This damn talk was a bit ugly. Wang Yan secretly complained in his heart, and smiled and scratched his head on the surface: "It's all blind thinking, blind thinking. Still, your lord's logic is clear and right, much worse than you, how can I catch up in eight hundred years."

"I really want you to catch up in eight hundred years, but I can't live that long." Man Gui shook his head, made a small joke, and then his face became serious: "I know about this matter, don't worry about the rest. As for those heads, I will send someone to the Emperor later. There will always be such a day, you just wait with peace of mind."

"Thank you, my lord." Wang Yan cupped his hands: "Your subordinate still has one thing to report to my lord."

"Speak."

"It's like this, my lord. Before we made soap, didn't your subordinate find a lot of craftsmen." Wang Yan said: "After such a long time of research, we have successfully developed perfume suitable for women, which can be sprayed on the body. I dare not say it can drift for ten *li*, but drifting for ten steps is no problem. And there are some other things, my lord will know at a glance."

"Hahahaha, good, good, good. When the time comes, you send someone to send it, no need to run a trip alone. Then this time..."

Wang Yan said tactfully: "Still the same as before."

"Good, that's settled."

"In that case, your subordinate takes my leave."

Man Gui smiled with satisfaction: "Go, go..."

Wang Yan cupped his hands and saluted, turned around and left. Calling the little brothers who came with him, they rode fast horses back to the station.

He knew what Man Gui meant; after all, they were tacit. That was to say, this action was perfectly harvested under the wise command of the great Regional Commander Man. So accordingly, if Zhu Youjiao was not satisfied, he would scold Man Gui, and it had nothing to do with Wang Mou. If he was satisfied, then it was the Regional Commander Man receiving the Emperor's favor, and Wang Mou rising to power.

The reason he let him go was because he didn't know what Zhu Youjiao's idea was, and he couldn't act without authorization again; that would truly be losing his head.

As for him saying he would express it to Wei Zhongxian, it was just because little ghosts are difficult to deal with, not to mention Wei Zhongxian was a damn big ghost. Their business here was booming, no reason Wei Zhongxian and others in the court didn't know.

However, Man Gui had truly tied up the entire Liaodong civil and military, Regional Inspector Yuan Chonghuan, Grand Coordinator Wang Zhichen, another Regional Commander Zhao Zhendong, Vice Regional Commander Zu Dashou, etc., all had a share. Not to mention Wei Zhongxian, even Zhu Youjiao wouldn't be easy to deal with; no one had the guts to offend the entire Liaodong.

If the old Zhu Taizu was there, it might not be certain; after all, he really had troops in his hands, and he really dared to kill. Of course, if old Zhu Taizu was there, Wang Yan wouldn't follow and mix in.

Returning to the station, he didn't need to find anyone; Sun Fugui came to his door directly. He didn't ask any more questions; Wang Yan had been away for so long, and he could find out by asking others.

Wang Yan pointed to the chair in the room: "Sit."

The conditions were good now. Throwing aside extravagance, it was mainly comfortable. Anything in his room, at worst, would be worth hundreds of thousands in four hundred years...

After the little brothers served the brewed tea, Sun Fugui tactfully poured a cup for Wang Yan first, and then poured one for himself.

Wang Yan drank a sip of hot tea and said: "Tell me, how has the development been recently? How much money is there? How much grain and medicinal materials have been stored?"

"Reporting to my lord, in the month you were away, several more batches were released..."

After Wang Yan left, Man Gui let people watch the heads, then walked back to the room with light steps, humming a little tune, and without a word, picked up a pen and wrote a report document with dragon-flying and phoenix-dancing strokes. Although he had been mixing with Zhu Youjiao's subordinates for several years, he couldn't grasp the pulse of this Emperor, so he didn't dare to write a memorial for credit. Although he didn't care about being scolded, there were ways to be scolded heavily or lightly, so he just reported the facts.

The fact was that he was wise and martial, saw that the Jianzhou Jurchens were unstable during the power transfer, and sent Battalion Commander Wang, whose individual combat ability was the best in the nine borders, to lead a small team of elites to the enemy rear to cause destruction and contain part of the Jianzhou Jurchens' energy. Finally, under his invincible calculation, Battalion Commander Wang spent a month and harvested more than five hundred heads...

Then, after sealing it with a secret seal, he found his trusted subordinates to send it to the capital along with five large boxes of heads and three thousand taels of silver notes... galloping to the capital.

The silver notes were of course for Wei Zhongxian, not asking him to speak good words, just asking him to shut up and not talk nonsense, that was all...