At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the competition for the deer in the world

Chapter 181 Gentleman's Promise
Until August 12, 28.

The meeting hall of the General's Mansion in Sizhou City.

At this time, the conference hall had already gathered the chief books of various ministries in Sizhou City, as well as the left and right Shu Zuoling and Shu Zuo, making it extremely crowded.

Cheng Degao sat at the head of the meeting hall, his eyes calmly swept over the standing people.

"Today, I have summoned everyone here because I have a big matter to talk about."

Cheng De's first sentence aroused everyone's curiosity.

Everyone turned their attention to Cheng De.

Cheng De continued: "Everyone, now that all the conditions are ripe, it is the best time for our Sizhou Army to attack Jinling City. I want to lead an army of 31 to attack Jinling City on August 30. I am afraid that the army that participated in this attack on Jinling City has already started. The 30 troops will eventually converge in Liuhe City. All must be assembled by September [-]rd at the latest. They will also attack Jinling City on September [-]rd .”

After all, Cheng De paused and stopped the topic in time.

Li Shanchang, Lu Wuyong, Shi Naian, Fang Ming and other department chiefs all stared brightly.

They have known for a long time that when the general takes Jinling City, it is the time when the general can become king, and if the general becomes king, as they follow the general, their status will naturally rise with the tide.

Thinking of this, everyone became excited.

"Fang Ming, you will coordinate and dispatch the food for the attack on Jinling City this time. Do you have the confidence to do it well?"

Fang Ming, who stayed in the left column, heard Cheng De's name, and immediately replied: "Please rest assured, general, this subordinate will definitely be able to complete this matter."

Cheng De nodded: "After the matter is discussed later, you will lead a group of household officials to deal with this matter! Before August 31, the food needed for the 30 army must be prepared."

Fang Ming said seriously: "Follow the order!"

Cheng De's eyes fell on Wang Lu: "More than two months ago, Ni Zan and others from the Academy of Sciences have successfully improved the cannon according to my idea, and the technical process has also been replaced. Currently, the Academy of Sciences has produced How many cannons are there in total?"

Wang Lu did not hesitate at all: "Reporting to the general, the Academy of Sciences has produced a total of [-] cannons. This is the result of the concerted efforts of the Academy of Sciences over the past two months."

Hearing this, Cheng De looked at Wang Lu with satisfaction: "In the past two months, the Academy of Sciences has been busy every day until very late. I know that. However, a total of [-] cannons can be made within two months. It is also very satisfying to me. This time I attacked Jinling City, all of them were sent to the battlefield. As for the cannons made later, they were gradually sent to the hands of the defenders in various places. I hope that in the near future, in the places under my rule, there will be at least There can be ten cannons."

Wang Lu was silent when he heard the words.

Then, Wang Lu said: "Report to the general, I still have something to report."

"What's the matter?" Cheng De cast a puzzled look at Wang Lu.

Wang Lu replied: "At present, some materials used by the Academy of Sciences to make cannons are running low. There are not enough materials. For example, bronze and gunpowder are in short supply. The existing materials are no longer enough to support the rebuilding of new cannons." gone."

Cheng De stared in astonishment, and after quickly reacting, he said, "Lacking enough materials, we sent experienced miners and craftsmen to survey the geological features of the various places under my control. Presumably, as long as we carefully explore, the green There are still copper mines. As for the raw materials for making gunpowder, I will order the generals stationed in various places to collect them at their locations, and then I will send people to various places to transport these raw materials for making gunpowder back to Sizhou City. In this way, can you do what I just said? Say, there are at least ten cannons in every place under my rule?"

Wang Lu pondered for a while: "The general is wise!"

Then Wang Lu retreated into the crowd.

Then, Cheng De's gaze rested on Lu Wuji, and Lu Wuji's gaze also looked at Cheng De.

"No need, Lu. How many ladders and arrows have been produced by the Ministry of Industry for siege equipment?"

Lu Youyou hurriedly replied: "Reporting to the general, all the ladders and arrows made by the Ministry of Industry have been registered, and they have also been put into the Warehouse. If my subordinates remember correctly, the number of ladders in the Warehouse There should be 130 and three ladders. As for arrows, there are countless, and there are tens of thousands of shields, spears, crossbows, and knives, all of which are stored in the arsenal."

Cheng De looked at Lu Wuyu with a hint of gentleness in his eyes: "Yunti, I want half of the attack on Jinling this time. As for the arrows, I will take them all away, including shields and other weapons in the arsenal. I will take them away." After taking away these things, the Ministry of Industry must seize the time to replenish the weapons in the arsenal in time."

Lu Youyou nodded: "This subordinate obeys the order!"

After Cheng De finished speaking, he turned his eyes to Li Shanchang: "Among the officials, you take out some of the clerks as the military documents for this attack on Jinling City."

Li Shanchang did not hesitate at all: "Yes."

Then, Cheng De's eyes fell on Shi Naian: "Benefactor, "Sizhou Daily" must publicize the strength of our Sizhou Army, as well as benevolence and righteousness. In addition, "Sizhou Daily" must let me rule Every citizen in every place needs to know this. The Propaganda Department has a long way to go.”

Shi Naian nodded heavily.

After exhorting Shi Naian, Cheng De turned his attention to Zhang Yi: "Sizhou's opening of the port to attract investment, the original Sizhou City local businessman Wu's family, Shen's family, and some businessmen from Hongze City participated in the matter. After this incident, how much benefit has our Sizhou Army gained so far?"

Zhang Yi was taken aback, and then replied: "According to my subordinates' estimates, there are about 20 taels of silver."

Cheng De was shocked. The average monthly price was 10 taels, and it was 120 million taels a year.

It seems that the Sizhou military household department will not be short of money in the future.

Moreover, Cheng De also knew that this was just the opening of Sizhou to attract investment. If he remembered correctly, the opening of Hongze City should also have made a lot of profits.

Furthermore, participating in the port opening of Sizhou City is only the first batch of businessmen who have tasted the sweetness, and will definitely arouse the interest of other businessmen who did not participate in the future.In other words, in the future, the opening of Sizhou city to attract investment will make more and more money.

Thinking of this, Cheng De looked at Zhang Yi: "How much benefit will the Sizhou Army gain from Hongze City's opening of a port?"

Zhang Yi thought for a while before replying: "Reporting to the general, the Sizhou Army gained nearly 40 taels of profit from Hongze City's opening of a port to attract investment. Because there are so many merchants participating in Hongze City."

Cheng De was still shocked when he heard this number.

Afterwards, Cheng De said, "In the future, half of the proceeds from Hongze City's port opening will go to the household department, and half will go to the general's mansion. As for the income from Sizhou City's port opening and investment promotion, it will all go to the household department from now on."

Cheng De's words did not arouse everyone's objection.

At this moment, Zhu Sheng, the chief secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, stepped forward.

For a moment, everyone turned their attention to Zhu Sheng.

Zhu Sheng first bowed politely to Cheng De, and then said: "General Qi, I have a matter that needs to be decided by the general. This matter is deeply embarrassing."

Cheng De looked at Zhu Sheng in surprise: "What's the matter? Just tell me!"

Hearing Cheng De's words, Zhu Sheng's eyes suddenly brightened: "Reporting to General, Guo Tianxu's case in Haozhou, after repeated investigations by his subordinates, it is indeed confirmed that Guo Tianxu committed the crime of homicide. According to the "Sizhou Law", the murderer You should pay for your life. However, Guo Tianxu has a lot to do with his wife, so my subordinates dare not make arbitrary decisions."

Cheng De didn't hesitate too much: "Sister Xiuying, you don't need to think too much. Sister Xiuying is reasonable, and she won't get involved in this matter. The case of Guo Tianxu, according to the "Sizhou Law" , you can judge as you want, and you don’t have to worry about too many things. You can let it go, and I will take care of you if anything happens. Do you still have any worries now? "

Zhu Sheng nodded: "This subordinate obeys the order."

Not long after Zhu Sheng returned to the crowd, Song Zan came out again.

Cheng De looked at Song Zan suspiciously.

Song Zan said, "Reporting to the general, Liu Futong sent an envoy to join forces with the general in the northern expedition to the Yuan court. At present, the envoy is resting at the post station in Sizhou city."

Cheng De was silent.

a long time.

Cheng Decai said to Song Zan, "Have someone go to the station and invite the envoy."

As soon as the words fell, Guo Ying, who was stationed outside the door, saw the opportunity and immediately took people to the post station to bring the envoy.

Time passed not long.

Guo Ying brought the envoy sent by Liu Futong and appeared in the meeting hall.

As a result, everyone's eyes were focused on the envoy sent by Liu Futong.

Judging from the messenger's appearance, he should be a scholar.

"Xun Dao pays homage to General Zhenglu!" After finishing speaking, Xun Dao politely bowed to Cheng De.

Seeing this, Cheng De said, "There's no need to be too polite."

Xun Dao looked at Cheng De for a while, and was extremely shocked.

This person is actually General Sizhou Army Conqueror?

Although it was rumored that he was extremely young, what Ling Xun Dao did not expect was that he would be so young, which greatly exceeded Xun Dao's expectations.

"The envoy came to my city of Sizhou, why did he come?" Cheng De looked at Xun Dao calmly.

Xun said: "I'm here to rescue General Zhenglu!"

Cheng De frowned.

Li Shanchang and the others looked at Xun Dao with unfriendly expressions.

Fang Ming even stood up and pointed at Xun Dao and said, "Presumptuous! Where do you put our lord general?"

Xun Dao's face was calm, and he was not moved by Fang Ming's words at all.

Xun Dao: "I did come here to save General Zhenglu, but as for how to save him and why, there is naturally a set of opinions."

Everyone present frowned.

Although Cheng De looked calm, he slandered in his heart: I want to hear what fallacies you can come up with.Otherwise, I will make you look good.

snort!
He, Cheng De, is not a clay sculptor, so the first line of the Tao is to curse him to death, isn't saving him a similar meaning?Cheng De couldn't tolerate this.

Do you really think he is a benevolent person?

Cheng De looked at Xun Dao with a cold light in his eyes.

At this time, Lu Wuyong stared closely at Xun Dao: "Your Excellency's words are indeed alarmist. If you have something to say directly, there is no need to make a fool of yourself. If your Excellency insists on this, then I have nothing but Xiang Zheng General Lu begs for orders and invites Your Excellency out."

Li Shanchang also said in history: "The envoy must come with a mission when he goes to Sizhou City. The envoy can just say the mission directly."

As soon as Lv Youyou and Li Shanchang finished talking, Sizhou officials present all glared at Xun Dao.

Xun Dao narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the Sizhou officials present in the entire conference hall, his eyes flashed with disappointment.

This time he went to Sizhou City as an envoy, in addition to coming with a mission, he also had another purpose, which was to inquire about the situation of the Sizhou army headed by Cheng De.

Of course, in his vision, there should be partisan disputes and discord in the Sizhou Army's team, so that he can use this to make arrangements and prepare in advance for the future battle between Liu Futong and Cheng De.

Now, the lord's subordinates all believe that after the Yuan Dynasty is destroyed, there will be a war with Cheng De in the future.

However, what he saw so far disappointed and shocked Xun Dao. He did not expect that the entire Sizhou Army would be so united, which was far beyond his expectations.

However, through the way he spoke before, he has already obtained important information-the Sizhou army is united as one, and it is difficult to break through the interior.

Then, in the future, we can only see who is stronger.

In order to prevent the matter from becoming a big deal in the future, Xun Dao bowed to Cheng De and the officials of the Sizhou Army successively: "The foreign minister just said something abruptly, and I hope you don't blame it. Here, the foreign minister greeted General Zhenglu And everyone apologizes."

Xun Dao kept his posture very low, and this approach directly stunned all the officials of the Sizhou Army and stopped their anger abruptly.

Cheng De glanced at Xun Dao in surprise. It seemed that the other party's attitude was not here to provoke trouble, so he was relieved.

Before the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the unification of the whole south, Cheng De did not want to fight against the forces of the Red Scarf Army led by Liu Futong.

After Cheng De calmed down, he looked at Xun Dao calmly: "Why did General Liu send an envoy here?"

Xun Dao didn't hesitate at all: "If you want to return to General Lu, my lord asked me to go to Sizhou City for the purpose of making a gentleman's agreement."

Cheng De narrowed his eyes slightly and said to Xun: "A gentleman's agreement? This gentleman's agreement, what does General Liu say?"

Xun Dao immediately answered, "My lord heard that General Zhenglu took down Siyang City and Suqian City successively. Could it be that General Zhenglu has ideas about Xuzhou?"

Hearing that Xun Dao didn't respond directly to his question, Cheng De understood Xun Dao's meaning, must he be worried about plotting the north?

It's just that his current plan will not be placed in the north, obviously Liu Futong is thinking too much.

Thinking of this, Cheng De looked at Xun Dao with a smile on his face: "At that time, this general took Siyang and Suqian just to fight back against the Yuan Dynasty. You know, at that time, the Yuan Dynasty had 30 troops besieging Huai'an City, and the situation was critical. Use Siyang and Suqian as a breakthrough."

"All of my territory is in the south. As far as the north is out of reach, and there is General Liu in the north, this general will definitely not attack General Liu. Everyone is an insurgent. The purpose is to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. If you can attack the Yuan Dynasty, We are all brothers. I also hope that the envoy will bring this message to General Liu."

Xun Dao was surprised when he heard the words.

Could it be that General Cheng is a rebel general who is as selfless as the lord?
After burying this doubt in his heart, Xun Dao replied: "The gentleman's agreement made by the lord is related to this matter. The so-called gentleman's agreement means that the north of Huai'an City except Siyang, Suqian, and Andong Prefecture Outside the three cities, General Zhenglu cannot march to other places. The time limit is three years."

Cheng De was silent.

Li Shanchang and others also fell silent.

After Xun Dao finished speaking, he quietly looked at the expressions of everyone and remained silent.

(End of this chapter)