Chapter 314

Nanchang City.

"The three major viceroys appointed by the pseudo-dynasty are all reorganizing their armies in the two Guang regions; what do you think, my ministers?"

Wang Weijiarui asked with an expressionless face.

He thought that Prince Pingnan Fu Haoxuan's coronation would attract the Great Dayu's firepower, and he could hide behind and slowly accumulate strength.

But plans couldn't keep up with changes; the gathering of the three major viceroys of the Yu Dynasty in Guangzhou broke his fantasy.

From a geographical point of view, his territory happened to be between Pingnan Fu Haoxuan and the three major viceroys.

"Your Highness, this is a conspiracy of the pseudo-dynasty."

"They are attempting to create military pressure, influence our strategic decisions, and lead us astray."

"The more the enemy opposes, the more we must implement it."

"Having just experienced the great battle to save the capital, this is the weakest time for the enemy army."

"Instead of waiting for the enemy to attack, it is better to take the initiative to recover the two Guang regions and cut off the last hope of the pseudo-dynasty!"

Minister of War Fang Kecheng answered first.

The continuous victories on the battlefield allowed them to overcome their fear of Li Mu.

Judging from the information on the surface, the Liangguang army to save the capital suffered losses of more than half, which is the best time for a major counterattack.

If they don't seize the opportunity before them, once the enemy recovers their vitality, the subsequent battles will be even harder to fight.

"Minister Fang, that is wrong!"

"When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman catches them."

"When the various rebel armies were opposing the Yu, everyone was an ally."

"Once the Yu Dynasty is overthrown, the situation will change."

"That thief Li Mu is not easy to deal with."

"With our strength, even if we can capture the two Guang regions, we will have to pay a considerable price."

"The competition for the dragon in troubled times has already begun; if we consume too much strength, I'm afraid later..."

Prime Minister Chang Junyi opposed immediately.

If they could capture the two Guang regions, then no matter how high the price, it would be worth it.

He was afraid that before they could take the two Guang regions, the Great Dayu Dynasty would collapse first.

By then, allies would be worse than enemies, and with the main force out fighting, it would be troublesome to have their rear base raided.

The White Lotus Holy Kingdom itself is the biggest negative teaching material; if they hadn't put a large number of main forces on the front line, they wouldn't have lost their old nest.

If the old nest hadn't been lost, the commander of the rebel armies spread across the southeast would still be the White Lotus Holy Emperor.

Even if the three rebel kings had ideas, they could only hold them back.

"Prime Minister, I'm afraid it's not up to us."

"Now our controlled areas are mainly distributed in Jiangxi, Huguang, and Zhejiang."

"The imperial army launched a counterattack, and the first target was us."

"To the north is the Prince's territory, and to the west is the Eastern King's sphere of influence; if we want to expand our influence, we can only fight south."

"If we don't capture the two Guang regions, we can only go to Yunnan, Guizhou, or Fujian."

"We all know the situation in Yunnan and Guizhou; the place is too poor."

"Not only can it not provide financial taxes, but it will also increase the burden on the Holy Kingdom."

"Although the economic situation in Fujian is good, its strategic value is too low, and the territory is all mountainous."

"The most critical thing is that it doesn't produce food; even if we take Fujian, it won't enhance the Holy Kingdom's strength."

Fang Kecheng refuted immediately.

Competing for the world in troubled times is cruel, and many times it is involuntary.

Knowing that the two Guang regions are hard to fight, due to the needs of the situation, they still have to bite the bullet.

Unless they abandon the southern strategy and provoke a civil war among the rebel armies in advance.

But if they do this, the imperial court will be crazy with joy.

They were able to grow strong entirely because of the northern barbarian invasion, which contained the main force of the Great Dayu.

Before the northern barbarian invasion, the rebel armies were suppressed by the imperial army, and Huguang was almost lost.

Jiangxi also lost some prefectures, the Zhejiang battlefield didn't take advantage, and Nanjing and the two Huai regions were all in the hands of the imperial court.

The rebel armies were at the point of life and death, and a slight carelessness would lead to total annihilation.

It was hard to turn the tables and gain strategic initiative.

Once an internal struggle occurs, the current great situation will all disappear.

Those who can stand out from the troubled times are not fools, so naturally, they can't do things that benefit the imperial court.

Even privately, conflicts broke out more than once between the three rebel armies, but the high-level leadership tacitly chose to suppress the contradictions.

"Minister Fang, don't be so absolute."

"Besides capturing the two Guang regions, we can also continue north to capture Xiangyang and advance into the Central Plains."

"Since ancient times, whoever wins the Central Plains wins the world; occupying the Heluo land has a political influence no less than taking Nanjing."

"By then, the hearts of the people will be attached, and then turning back to deal with the Yu army in the two Guang regions will be much simpler!"

Minister of Personnel Huang Shanyan gave a new plan.

The war in Huguang is coming to an end, and they are just one step away from the Central Plains.

The White Lotus Holy Kingdom, occupying Jiangxi, Huguang, and Zhejiang, is just one of the rebel armies competing for the world.

But if they capture the Central Plains, they will immediately become the warlords most likely to settle the world.

"Minister Huang, gains and risks are always equal."

"The pseudo-dynasty is not a fool and won't watch us capture the Central Plains."

"Even if we luckily invade the Central Plains, it will make us the target of public criticism."

"The various rebel armies won't watch us compete for the Central Plains; maybe they will even unite with the Yu army to trip us up!"

"Alright, I have decided to lead the army south to capture the two Guang regions."

"Everyone, make preparations for the war; the army will set out after the autumn harvest!"

Seeing the dispute expanding, Wang Weijiarui made a decision immediately.

Life is impermanent, and fate likes to tease people the most.

The Eastern Expedition faction of that year didn't hold the two Guang regions and fought all the way into Nanjing City.

He, a firm Western Expedition faction member, ended up being dragged down by the terrible roads of Yunnan and Guizhou, which slowed his pace of marching.

Before he could fight into the Shu region, Guangxi was lost first, and he was forced to adjust his strategic direction to the Northern Expedition.

On the contrary, the Northern Expedition faction of that year successfully fought into the Shu region.

Everyone took someone else's script and performed different lives.

From a personal point of view, he naturally wanted to capture the Central Plains and settle the world.

But strength didn't allow it.

The Central Plains and the southern region are different; opening the Central Plains competition copy cannot be separated from a cavalry capable of fighting.

The biggest reason for the failure of the south to unify the north since ancient times is the lack of warhorses.

On the flat plains, using infantry to fight cavalry is purely a hellish copy.

Maybe the imperial court only needs to send a few thousand elite cavalry to kill seven in and seven out among hundreds of thousands of rebel troops.

Even if the rebel army can win, it is not something that can be done in a short time.

If you can't be fast, the Northern Expedition strategy is a joke.

The three major viceroys of the Yu Dynasty are eyeing him covetously; once they complete the reorganization of the army, they will be attacked from both sides.

After weighing the pros and cons, Wang Weijiarui felt it was better to take the south first.

As long as the two Guang regions are captured, Fujian and Yunnan-Guizhou regions will be in his pocket.

By then, the problem of lack of horses can also be alleviated.

The horses in the south are not as big as the Mongolian horses, but they are better than nothing.

Time flies, and another two months have passed.

Guangzhou Camp.

Tens of thousands of soldiers are training in the scorching sun, sweating like rain.

"The weather is so hot, I see some soldiers fainting; will there be problems with such training?"

Li Yuan asked with a frown.

Although he is in a high position, he is also from the military.

High-intensity training can indeed train elite soldiers faster.

But there is a limit; once the limit is exceeded, people will be tossed away.

For these big shots, the bottom-level soldiers are a set of numbers, but the attrition during the training process cannot be too large.

If they are tossed too hard, it will stimulate the soldiers' rebellious psychology, and they will be shot by cold arrows on the battlefield.

"Don't worry, Uncle."

"Training new recruits is not the first time; they have experience."

"Fainting is mainly due to malnutrition in normal times. After raising them in the army for a few months, the situation will improve."

"Look at those veterans; which one is not strong and healthy."

"The current training is just a beginning; the real high-intensity training is still to come."

"Our soldiers have never lacked resilience."

"With food and military pay, the morale of the army won't be a problem."

Li Mu answered calmly.

The poor combat effectiveness of the Yu army is largely due to the lack of money and grain.

Talking about loyalty to a group of hungry soldiers is a joke.

Compared to those ethereal big truths, everyone cares more about what to eat for the next meal and when to pay military wages.

Everyone's life is already bitter.

The resentment during the training process can be calmed down with a meal of meat.

The military pay paid in full is a sharp weapon to win the hearts of the army.

Li Mu likes to fight in conjunction with other Yu armies, not because he expects his teammates to play much of a role.

It is mainly to cultivate the soldiers' sense of belonging through comparison.

When colleagues are eating chaff and starving, they can eat their fill, which is a kind of happiness.

When colleagues are being deducted and owed military pay, being able to receive enough military pay is also a kind of happiness.

"Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime."

Daily training is bitter, that is because the master loves the soldiers like his own children, so remember the grace.

After each joint operation, the loyalty of the soldiers under his command will increase significantly.

Gathering the old subordinates who were sent out and filling the establishment, training with everyone.

It seems to be selling favors to his father-in-law and uncle, but in reality, it is also for the direct confidants to see.

Generals with resource backgrounds, after leaving the team, had such a miserable life.

Those generals without political resources, if they left the team, would have no way to live.

Knowing a little about the situation, one knows that the imperial court owing military pay is the norm.

Being able to get full military pay is an alternative in the Great Dayu army.

"It's hard!"

"According to the standards you set, the military expenditure is really too large."

"In recent days, I, the Viceroy of Huguang, have only raised 200,000 taels of military pay."

"For this money, I have put my old face on the line, and before recovering Huguang, it will be difficult to have any more gains."

Li Yuan said helplessly.

A penny can stump a hero.

Limited by financial resources, he didn't dare to accept the soldiers Li Mu sent over.

There is no other reason; after receiving them, he has to be responsible for the soldiers' military expenses.

The troops that retreated from Huguang are waiting to be fed and need him to pay for their support.

The arrears owed by the imperial court in the past can be pretended not to be seen, but the daily expenses of the current troops must be responsible.

200,000 taels of silver split into five months, with a budget of only 40,000 taels per month.

Besides the troops, there is a group of people in the Viceroy's yamen who need him to be responsible for supporting them.

With his own private army as the core, plus the troops that retreated from Huguang, a total of 8,000 troops were reorganized, and the expansion of the army was forced to stop.

"Being able to raise money is already not bad."

"You, the Viceroy of Huguang, are now an empty shell."

"The gentry and merchants who fled from Huguang are willing to pay money to support it, which is already giving face."

"I, the Viceroy of Minzhe, still have a province of territory in hand, and I only raised 1 million taels, many of which are verbal promises."

Jing Guoliang complained as well.

Without increasing taxes, being able to raise so much military pay in two months would have made a civil official viceroy crazy with joy.

When have you ever seen gentry and merchants take the initiative to pay money to sponsor the imperial court to suppress the rebellion?

Even if they give money, they just say it nicely.

When it really comes to paying money, one by one they turn into iron roosters, and then they complain bitterly.

These are all traditional skills, enough to handle local government offices.

If you want to get stronger support, then take out actual benefits for exchange.

Jing Guoliang was able to raise military pay, naturally by taking extraordinary measures.

To let them "voluntarily donate," the navy under Li Mu's command was borrowed.

In recent days, they have been strictly investigating smuggling trade in Fujian waters.

It's not to the point of confiscating homes and exterminating families, but if they catch smugglers, they still have to pay high fines.

If you want the fleet to go to sea smoothly, just donate a "rebel-suppressing pay" to the Viceroy's yamen in time.

According to the tonnage of the ship, each ship is charged between 300 and 3,000 taels.

Not only is Fujian engaged in "voluntary donations," but the Marquis of Wuyang's side is also not idle.

In the areas controlled by the imperial court, they are all collecting rebel-suppressing donations.

Those who go to sea without paying money, if caught, will be fined several times the donation amount.

Basically, it depends on the person; the more money, the higher the fine, at least ten times.

If the sea merchants can't afford it, then collect it from the shareholders behind the scenes.

The gameplay is somewhat similar to the Zheng family pirates in the late Ming Dynasty, the difference is that this is official.

For merchants who refuse to pay, the liquidation is not done at sea, but the army goes directly to block the door.

Even though each family has considerable power at sea, facing an opponent who solves the problem from the source, they can only temporarily suppress their anger.

The gold content of the "Shandong Gentry Case" is constantly rising.

If you can tinker with the Shandong Gentry Case, you can plan the Fujian Gentry Case and the Liangguang Gentry Case.

The bigger the family, the less they dare to take risks.

"Voluntary donation" is indeed painful, but compared to the bloody slaughter of the rebels, it is completely not worth mentioning.

The Viceroy's yamen just takes a piece of meat, but the rebels want to take everything.

The appeasement policy is the measure taken after robbing.

In essence, rebellion is the redistribution of wealth by violent means.

If you don't take the money out of their cellars, what is the point of rebellion?

Going to the imperial court to impeach has no meaning.

The imperial court is unable to pay the expenses for suppressing the rebellion, and if those below don't let go of their hands to get money, the world will change hands.

Even if they want to take revenge in the court, they have to wait until the White Lotus rebellion is suppressed.

"You two big viceroys are crying poor here, and you aren't afraid of being laughed at."

"Everyone's jurisdiction is a rare and prosperous place in the world."

"Now the cost of raising troops is high, that is because the price of grain remains high."

"Just recover a few prefectures and solve the military grain problem, and the pressure on military expenses will be greatly reduced."

"Don't look at me with such eyes; I, the Viceroy of four provinces, am not much richer than you."

"There is not a single copper of income in Jiangnan, and the military expenses in the two Guang regions are too high, and the finances are equally in serious deficit."

Sensing that the two people's eyes were wrong, the Marquis of Wuyang hurriedly refused.

Sending troops to help is fine, but paying money is not.

Being able to expand the army on a large scale was the selfless contribution of the Shandong gentry and the gift package sent by the northern barbarians.

These expenses were allocated to the army from the beginning and did not reach him, the Viceroy.

The financial income of the two Guang regions is to be used for recovering Jiangnan and post-war reconstruction, and there is not a single extra cent.

"It's not about money!"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard sent news that the two major rebel thieves in the southeast have contacted each other privately."

"It is highly likely that they are discussing the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, or they are going south to attack the two Guang regions."

"Now it is midsummer; after the autumn harvest, the enemy will send troops."

"By that time, the new recruit training will be almost over, and we can pull the troops to the battlefield to test the enemy."

"Where the main battlefield is placed cannot be decided by the enemy; we must control the strategic initiative!"

Li Yuan shook his head and said.

Organizing a tour of the camp is itself a prelude to war.

In wartime, strength is the right to speak.

Among the three major viceroys in the southeast, the Marquis of Wuyang has the strongest military strength, far exceeding the other two major viceroys.

When choosing the main battlefield and the timing of the battle, it is destined that the Marquis of Wuyang cannot be bypassed.

(End of chapter)