Chapter 216

The changing situation frightened many people.

After learning that Changsha had fallen, Li Mu immediately launched an attack on Gaozhou Prefecture and Leizhou Prefecture.

Choosing such a way of fighting had no other reason than the fact that the two places were far enough away from the main force of the rebel army.

No matter what kind of tactical strategy, the first thing to consider is self-preservation.

The rebel army first defeated the Yunnan-Guizhou coalition army and then took Changsha; it was precisely when its momentum was at its peak.

Ten points of combat effectiveness could produce twelve points of battle results.

Smart people would choose to avoid the edge for a while, and after consuming the enemy's momentum, then launch a full-scale offensive.

"Commander Li, Grand Secretary Zhu sent a new order, asking us to send troops to Huguang immediately,

and at the same time requiring local areas to raise militia to assist the main army in fighting."

Zhang Sihan said helplessly.

Encountering a general like Li Mu who executes military orders flexibly, he was also very helpless.

The order from above was to send troops from Guilin Prefecture and directly attack Yongzhou Prefecture.

When it came to specific execution, Li Mu insisted on sending troops from the farthest Leizhou Prefecture.

Theoretically, as long as they fought all the way, they would eventually be able to kill to Yongzhou Prefecture.

But how long it would take to fight there, no one knew.

After all, the enemy defenders in the Guangdong region were not fools, and they were also organizing resistance.

Advancing step by step, it was stable enough, but the time cycle was a bit long.

"Provincial Governor, you just reply to the Viceroy that we have already sent troops.

The enemy army in Yongzhou is powerful, and we are not their match; turning to attack from Leizhou, where the enemy's strength is weak, is also a last resort.

As for launching the gentry to raise militia, I think it's better to forget it!

The gentry in Guangxi have been destroyed by the rebel army, so where is the spare strength to support the imperial court in organizing militia!"

Li Mu said angrily.

No matter what form of militia, they are all unstable factors.

As the Guangxi Regional Military Commissioner, he didn't want anyone to erode his power.

Fortunately, the rebel army had plowed through the local area, and even if the remaining gentry wanted to engage in militia, their own financial resources didn't allow it.

If the problem of money and grain couldn't be solved, even if Grand Secretary Zhu came to supervise it himself, he couldn't conjure up a militia.

The Provincial Governor's office wanting to shake him off and control its own armed forces was purely a dream.

"Commander Li, stop joking.

Such a reply will make Grand Secretary Zhu explode with anger.

Continuous defeats at the front have already made Grand Secretary Zhu's position precarious, and this is also the most dangerous time.

If we go against him, I'm afraid that before the imperial court holds him accountable, he will drag us to be cushions together.

How great is the power of an Imperial Envoy who is a cabinet minister, Minister of War, and Viceroy; I think you understand!"

Zhang Sihan said with dissatisfaction.

He only used Grand Secretary Zhu's order to test it, and Li Mu dug a huge pit for him.

If he hadn't been cautious enough and had really foolishly chosen to slack off, he would definitely have finished before Grand Secretary Zhu fell.

Grand Secretary Zhu, who is about to be held accountable, is the one who cannot be provoked the most.

The rules of the officialdom in the past are not applicable at all at this time.

In order to reduce his own guilt, no one knows what Zhu Jingyi can do.

The only thing that can be determined is that whoever makes trouble at this moment will become the target of his first strike.

"The power is boundless; as long as Grand Secretary Zhu wants to do it, he can even directly behead you and me.

However, these are theoretical rights. If he really does this, the imperial court will not let him go.

Great defeat on the front battlefield is a problem of command ability.

If he uses power unscrupulously, that is ambitious, wanting to be the Sima Yi of the current era.

Grand Secretary Zhu is not alone, he still has a family behind him, he will not go to extremes."

Li Mu answered calmly.

How Grand Secretary Zhu will do it, he doesn't know.

In any case, in recent days, it was the Provincial Governor and Provincial Administration Commissioner who welcomed the special envoy, and he has been hiding in the camp.

Even if he really went crazy, it's impossible to strike at him in the military camp.

Since his own safety is guaranteed, then other problems can be analyzed rationally.

Now it's not just him who is disobeying military orders; the troops in Fujian and Jiangxi have all shrunk back, and no one has taken Grand Secretary Zhu's order seriously.

Zhang Sihan fears Grand Secretary Zhu because his situation in the court is not good.

If Zhu Jingyi drags people to be cushions to share responsibility before falling, he is very likely to be implicated.

Official struggle has never been black and white; even if everyone knows they were wronged, they will still go down.

"How about we attack Guangzhou!

Continuous failures, the imperial court side cannot be explained.

The presence of Leizhou Prefecture and Gaozhou Prefecture is too low, and there is almost no presence in the court and the public.

Guangzhou is different; as one of the few big cities in the world, it is also the seat of Guangdong Province.

Recovering Guangzhou is enough to affect the situation of the world.

With this great credit in hand, even if someone attacks, it won't become a climate."

Seeing that the two had different opinions, Jia Bo proposed a compromise plan.

Sending troops to recover Guangzhou was originally a plan, but it was canceled because of the change in the situation.

"Can!

After recovering the two prefectures of Gao and Lei, we will borrow the way from Guanghai Guard and fight all the way to Guangzhou to meet with Regional Commander Jing."

Li Mu's answer made Provincial Governor Zhang Sihan very helpless.

It seems that a concession was made, but in reality, the slacking tactics were continued.

However, fighting all the way to Guangzhou is more reliable than killing all the way to Yongzhou.

Now there is only one Guanghai Guard in between, and for the Guangxi side, there is no great pressure.

As for the militia matter, everyone tacitly chose not to mention it.

Without money in the pocket, everything is difficult.

Capital.

Looking at the battle report in his hand, Emperor Yongning was so angry he exploded.

A moment ago he was praising Zhu Jingyi for being capable, and in the blink of an eye, he poked a big hole.

The Yunnan-Guizhou coalition army suffered heavy losses, and Changsha fell; the bad news was sent one after another, not even leaving him a buffer time.

Now the people are circulating "Yongning, Yongning, the world is not peaceful..."

Thinking of this, he hated Yin and Zuo to the point of gnashing his teeth.

Unfortunately, they were the people he chose, so he could only swallow his teeth and swallow them into his stomach.

"Continuous great defeats at the front, what countermeasures do you ministers have?"

Emperor Yongning asked, suppressing his anger.

"Your Majesty, I impeach Zhu Jingyi for abusing power and losing the army and humiliating the country..."

Before the censor could finish, Emperor Yongning interrupted.

"Enough!"

"Talk about impeachment slowly later.

Now discuss the aftermath countermeasures first; I don't want to hear content unrelated to the theme."

Having been an Emperor for more than a year, he also learned a lot of knowledge.

For creatures like censors, he had long since lost his initial patience.

This group of guys, besides being good at picking bones in eggs, didn't do a single concrete thing.

Zhu Jingyi, who lost the battle, must be held accountable.

But before punishing, someone must be arranged to take over the military command of the southeastern provinces.

If these problems are not handled well, and Zhu Jingyi is taken down first, there will be a big mess.

"We ministers obey the decree!"

The ministers answered in unison.

They promised well, but the censors who were reprimanded did not give up.

It can be seen from their eyes that these people are holding back big moves.

The Censorate has to work; supervising colleagues in normal times is too offensive.

In comparison, falling into the well is more cost-effective to operate.

"Your Majesty, the situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and it is difficult for us to make accurate judgments from thousands of miles away.

Might as well let Grand Secretary Zhu submit a memorial, detailing the process of the defeat, and then decide whether to hold him accountable.

The urgent matter is to send reinforcements as soon as possible.

Changsha has been lost, and the rebel army's next target is likely Wuchang; no matter what, we must ensure Wuchang is not lost!"

Chief Grand Secretary Lu Shou proposed.

Zhu Jingyi just entered the cabinet, and immediately holding him accountable, the cabinet would become a joke.

The hundred officials struggled for their whole lives to enter the cabinet, not to act as a joke.

Whether for the stability of the court or for the face of the cabinet, he must pull Zhu Jingyi at this time.

Even if he wants to hold him accountable, he must drag it out for a few months and wait until the limelight passes.

During this period, if Zhu Jingyi can save himself, he still has a chance to turn over.

This is the treatment a cabinet minister should have.

"Duke of Cheng, what troops can be mobilized now?"

Emperor Yongning asked.

The Great Dayu dynasty adopted a multiple management system, avoiding one side dominating, but also inevitably sacrificing efficiency.

Compared to the frequent mobilization of civil officials in the Ministry of War, the personnel structure of the Metropolitan Command is much more stable, and basically one can work until retirement.

When it comes to understanding the armies of the whole country, the nobles know better.

"Your Majesty, if you want to reinforce Huguang, I suggest mobilizing troops from Sichuan, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, and other places.

Nanzhili and Zhejiang are too close to the rebel army and are not suitable for easy mobilization; they should even be ordered to strengthen military equipment to prevent accidents.

If the imperial court's finance allows, the Beijing Camp can expand by another six towns to deal with various accidents next."

Jing Guoliang answered immediately.

Great Dayu's problem is not that there are no troops, but that the imperial court has no money.

If the empire could have enough money and grain, 1 million troops could be easily pulled up.

"Don't look at me; money is needed everywhere now, and the total income of the imperial court is just that much.

Expenditure is higher than income, and the fiscal deficit is serious; I can't conjure up money and grain."

Pang Chengjie said angrily.

The Minister of Revenue is not easy to be; in the past two years, the imperial court has continuously replaced three Ministers of Revenue.

From Wan Henian to Shangguan Yu, to the current Pang Chengjie, no matter who goes up, they haven't been able to solve the predicament of the imperial court's income not meeting expenditure.

Unlike other officials, as long as one sits in the position of Minister of Revenue, one doesn't want to change posts.

Holding high power is true, but the accompanying troublesome things are also many.

Every time the imperial court lacks money, the hundred officials cast their eyes on the Ministry of Revenue.

But the Minister of Revenue is also human and cannot conjure money and grain out of thin air.

The sequelae of abolishing the factory and guard have gradually begun to be exposed.

Without those eunuchs making money in local areas, the imperial court's fiscal revenue has further declined.

Not only can the mining tax not be collected, but even the salt tax that was reformed with difficulty during the Tianyuan Emperor period has now dropped sharply.

The excuses are all ready-made—war influence.

The real reason is very simple; after lacking supervision, the dragon-slayer who once promoted reform became a new evil dragon.

The salt fields have changed owners, the salt industry has changed people, and the new interest group cannot help but expand its own income.

However, this is currently in the testing stage; if the Emperor doesn't take mandatory measures, the salt tax may fall back again.

These problems, the hundred officials all know, but no one dares to remind Emperor Yongning.

"The cabinet finds a way, no matter what, the military expenditure must be raised.

I don't care how difficult it is for you, in any case, Wuchang must be preserved!"

Emperor Yongning decisively chose to transfer pressure.

(End of chapter)