Daming talker

Chapter 682: Finally, a Sensible Person Arrives

Li Rusong sat there in a daze, his mind a mess and he didn't know what he was thinking.

General Li had done things like killing people before, but killing an envoy from a friendly country over a disagreement was still a bit too shocking.

"Brother Li? Admiral Li? Li Rusong!" Lin Jinglie shouted several times before he "woken up" Li Rusong.

Li Rusong raised his head and said subconsciously: "What's the matter?"

Before Lin Tailai could figure out where to start, he asked casually, "The troops in Jizhen, Liaodong, are under your command. How many troops can you deploy now?"

Li Rusong replied: "We have more than 30,000 troops and can send them out at any time."

Lin Jinglüe felt that this war was much more prosperous than any other war in history.

Historically, the wave of troops led by Li Rusong into the DPRK actually numbered around 34,000 people.

Now, Li Rusong alone has more than 30,000 people, and there are also Ma Gui's Xuanda Army and Dong Yiyuan's Yansui Border Army, which add up to 60,000 people.

Of course, the problem that comes with this is that the logistical pressure has also doubled.

The Ming army had no problem with its combat effectiveness, but it was fighting in Korea with useless teammates, and logistics was always a big problem that held it back.

However, the logistics problem that had always worried Lin Jinglie the most could not be discussed with Li Rusong, and Li Rusong could not solve it either.

So Lin Jinglue thought of another question: "I asked you to go to Liaodong first, how is the work going?"

Li Rusong asked back, "Which one do you mean?"

It’s not that General Li was confused, but Lin Tailai had told him a lot of things before, and he didn’t know which one he was mentioning this time.

So Lin Tailai casually said, "I have ordered you to build shield carts. How many have you built?"

The shield cart is a siege weapon used by the Jurchen people in the original historical time and space.

Its structure is not complicated. It is a huge wooden sign erected on a two-wheeled cart, shaped like a movable giant shield. The thickness of the wooden sign can be two to five inches, and it is also covered with iron sheets and cowhide.

Each shield cart can shelter twenty to thirty people and has excellent defense capabilities against large and small bricks, matches, and light firearms, making it very useful in siege warfare.

Lin Tailai remembered that the Later Jin Dynasty used shield carts to attack cities with great effect in history, so he thought of learning from it.

Li Rusong thought for a moment and replied, "So far, thirty or forty shield carts have been built."

Lin Tailai's tone was a little harsh, and he said unhappily, "Why is it just this little? Or is this the limit of your Li family's power in Liaodong?"

Li Rusong immediately complained, "It's not that I didn't supervise the production! It's that the shield cart you mentioned requires a lot of huge wood and cowhide, which are not easy to collect!"

Lin Tailai then instructed: "First, now all the cities of Joseon are occupied by Japanese soldiers. After entering Joseon territory, the first thing we have to face is to attack the city. At least we have to capture Pyongyang first.

Second, the Japanese soldiers were very fond of building fortifications and defending them. They built fortifications anytime and anywhere, and then used muskets to defend themselves.

Therefore, whether attacking a city or fighting against Japanese soldiers, the shield cart is extremely useful and can restrain the Japanese soldiers' tactics. At least it can reduce our casualties!"

Li Rusong replied: "We will do our best to supervise the construction."

Lin Jinglue was still afraid that Li Rusong would not take it seriously, so he emphasized: "You Liaodong Jizhen are used to conflicts with the Northern Tartars, but from now on, you have to temporarily put aside your tactics against the Northern Tartars!
The Japanese soldiers and the northern barbarians are completely different enemy forces. If you still habitually rely on the bravery of your cavalry and despise your equipment, you will suffer a great loss! "

Li Rusong didn't want to be lectured, so he changed the subject and asked, "Where did you get the shield carriage pattern from?"

Lin Tailai suddenly smiled strangely and said: "You may not believe it, but I learned it from the Jurchens in Jianzhou.

It is said that as early as the 12th year of Wanli, the Jianzhou Jurchens began to use the immature shield carts, and have been continuously improving them.

I heard that in the current formation of the Jianzhou Nuzhi troops, each Niulu has four shield carts, and about one-third of the troops can fight in conjunction with the shield carts."

In the previous few years, Li Chengliang had been guarding Liaodong, and Li Rusong had to stay in the capital most of the time, so Li Rusong was not very familiar with the situation of the Jianzhou Jurchens.

Hearing this, Li Rusong could only sigh that Lin Tailai had a "deeply rooted memory" for the Jianzhou Jurchens and knew every aspect of them like the back of his hand.

At this time, Lin Tailai took the opportunity to write a "small essay", saying half-truthfully: "Have you never thought about why Nurhaci, the Jurchen leader of Jianzhou, promoted the shield cart so vigorously?
The various tribes of the Jurchen people attacked each other and at most attacked the camps. Was it necessary to use shield carts on a large scale?
Besides, most of the Jianzhou Jurchens live in the mountains and forests, so it would be difficult for them to move around using the huge shield carts, right?"

Li Rusong: "."

Do you mean that the Jianzhou Jurchens have already thought about attacking the border forts of the Daming city? At least they have begun to make technical preparations?

It’s not that Lin Tailai is a talkative person by nature and always wants to say bad things about Nurhaci in front of Li Rusong.

It was because the relationship between Nurhaci and the Li family was too deep. Lin Tailai wanted to deal with the Jianzhou Jurchens, but he didn't want the Li family to intervene or cause a backlash. As the saying goes, when you beat a dog, look at its owner.

Li Rusong could now deeply understand that dealing with the Jianzhou Jurchens was Lin Jinglüe's "core demand", and the level of importance he attached to it was even comparable to the counterattack against the Japanese pirates, and no opposition would be tolerated.

"I am indeed not familiar with the Jianzhou Jurchens!" Li Rusong finally expressed his opinion again.

Lin Tailai sighed deeply. There were too many things to worry about.

He had to worry about the emotions of his subordinates, the collection of food and fodder, the strategic and campaign preparations and deployments, the diplomacy with Korea, and he had to distract himself by dealing with the Jianzhou Jurchens.

Is this how Zhuge Liang died of exhaustion?
The next day, Lin Jinglüe met with another general who was recruited, Ma Gui.

General Ma was very polite. He first put on his armor and greeted the emperor before changing into his regular clothes. However, he did not look very happy.

Lin Jinglue asked, "How many soldiers are there in your army who can fight?"

Ma Gui replied: "More than 17,000 men, all of them are the best soldiers from Xuanda."

Lin Jinglue encouraged him, "That's great."

Then Ma Gui complained, "General Lin, I have no problem serving my country and working for you, but you said that Li Rusong and I are the same master and servant, and we are both the main generals.

As a result, he has now been promoted to the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expedition Army. Doesn't that mean I have become his follower?"

Ma Gui's emotion was also expected by many people.

First, the military officer industry is known as the East Li and West Ma, and the Li and Ma families are mentioned together, so they must have intentions to stand out.

Second, Ma Gui is of higher generation and more seniority than Li Rusong, so he definitely does not want to be inferior to Li Rusong.

As for the last attack on Ningxia, it was because Ma Gui had just been reinstated and only held the rank of deputy general. He was poor and had little ambition, so he could not compete with Li Rusong.

Hearing Ma Gui's complaint, Lin Tailai responded helplessly: "The court suddenly gave him a promotion, what can this department do? It wasn't recommended by this department."

Ma Gui said, "I am not happy about that. I also want to be promoted to the commander-in-chief of military affairs. The general should recommend me to the court.

He is the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expedition, so I can be the commander-in-chief of the defense against Japan, how about that? "

Lin Tailai: "."

You are making things difficult for me, Fat Tiger! Just at this moment, Cui Wukui came in and reported, "The new envoy from North Korea has arrived!"

Lin Tailai was quite surprised when he heard this, "You came so quickly?"

Cui Wukui said: "After all, the king and his ministers of Korea are on the other side of the river, so it's just a matter of sending someone across the river."

"Bring him in!" Lin Jinglie, who was busy with his work, ordered impatiently.

Then he said to Ma Gui: "Old Ma! Please sit down for a while. I will talk to the Korean envoy first!"

Not long after, a Korean official in a red robe walked in with his head held high and handed over the "Ritual Notes for Welcoming the Imperial Edict".

Lin Tailai opened it and found that line. It still had the four big words "Perform a Bow" on it, and it had not been changed to "Perform Five Bows and Three Knocks".

The envoy from afar was still speaking: "I am in front of Liugen, and I have been sent here to meet you."

Lin Tailai raised his head and said succinctly: "Executioner! Behead!"

Zhang Wu came in with his men from outside and dragged the man named Liu Genqian out the door.

In fact, Lin Tailai really didn't expect that the second time the envoy from the other side of the river came to receive him, he would still insist on the "bowing ceremony".

But if you think about it more carefully, this seems to be in line with the unrealistic, blind and paranoid mental characteristics of the people on the peninsula, just like the Koreans in later generations had to go to the Taliban to spread Christianity.

In an instant, the head of the new envoy from Korea was placed in front of Cui Wukui, an official of the shogunate.

Lin Jinglue ordered, "Mr. Cui, send him across the river again and ask the Kingdom of Korea to send another person!"

Sending another head? Cui Wukui was confused, wondering if he would be chopped off by the Kingdom of Korea.

As an old diplomat, Cui Xingren began to suspect whether Lin Jinglie wanted to wipe out the king and his ministers of Korea, so he needed an excuse.

And if I were to be killed by North Korea, would that become an "excuse"?
Lin Tailai sent Cui Wukui away, and then cursed at Ma Gui:

"Rubbish! What a waste of time! I'm busy with a lot of things right now, and I hate this kind of rubbish that wastes my time with nonsense!"

Ma Gui quickly stood up and said, "I will not bother you any more. I will go back and train the troops and follow you to the battle at any time!"

General Ma thought as he walked, when we were in Ningxia last year, I didn't realize that General Lin was so crazy and critical?

This time they actually killed the envoys of friendly countries without authorization. Was the pressure of the Eastern Expedition too great?

The next day, Lin Tailai met with the third general, Dong Yiyuan. To show respect, he met with the first-level generals individually.

Dong Yiyuan also greeted the enemy with military salute obediently and did not cause any trouble.

Just as Lin Jinglue was asking questions carefully, Cui Wukui came in and reported numbly: "Another envoy from Korea has arrived."

Lin Jinglue said with little interest: "Bring it in!"

Cui Wukui could not help but remind him, "The envoy this time is Lee Deok-shin, the Minister of Personnel of Joseon, who can be compared to the Prime Minister of Heaven of Joseon."

If the "Minister of Personnel" of the Kingdom of Korea was also killed, that would be a bit too much.

Lin Tailai said impatiently: "I don't care what position he holds, I only care whether he is sensible or not!"

Not long after, the distant envoy named Li Dexin entered the lobby. He was about thirty years old.

Lin Tailai flipped through the newly presented "Notes on the Rituals for Welcoming the Imperial Edict" and this time finally changed it to "Perform Five Bows and Three Kowtows".

He couldn't help but burst out laughing and said mockingly, "It seems that there are not enough people who can serve as envoys to kill."

Li Dexin said sternly: "You are a noble man from a higher state, how can you..."

Bang! Lin Tailai slapped the case and asked calmly, "Are you sure you want to be polite to me?"

Among the ministers of the Kingdom of North Korea, Li Dexin was considered to have a relatively high emotional intelligence, and he shut his mouth at this moment.

If facing someone else, he might be able to argue with reason, but facing this Lin Jinglie, if he seeks death, he will really die.

Lin Tailai said with emotion: "Finally someone sensible has come. Please enjoy your seat!"

After Li Dexin sat down, Lin Tailai said, "The emperor has ordered to choose an auspicious day to send him across the river at the Dragon Pavilion. Your king can welcome him according to the etiquette. Remember to kowtow five times and bow three times.

But I won't go there for now, after all, there are too many things to do here and I don't have time to spare."

Then Lin Jinglue said: "The Ming Emperor has allowed your king to cross the river to Liaodong to escape the disaster.

So after receiving the imperial edict, please ask your king to move to Kuandian Fort and wait for the Japanese rebellion to be quelled. "

After hesitating for a moment, Li Dexin replied, "Our king has decided not to cross the river to avoid disaster."

Lin Tailai said angrily: "In the beginning, you were forced by the situation and begged desperately to cross the river to escape the disaster!
I, the Ming Emperor, have compassion on you, so I allowed you to stay in Kuandian Fort temporarily, but now your king doesn't want to cross the river anymore?"

Li Dexin smiled bitterly. At that time, Yizhou was also in danger. The king and his ministers certainly did not feel safe in Yizhou, so they wanted to cross the river and enter Liaodong to avoid disaster.

Now that the Ming Dynasty's soldiers have gathered on the other side of the Yalu River, Yizhou is basically safe, so why should we go to Liaodong to live under someone else's roof?
Lin Tailai sneered and said: "If your king is unwilling to cross the river to Liaodong to escape disaster, then my Ming army will definitely not cross the river to Korea to kill the Japanese!"

Li Dexin: “.”

Judging from the forced tone you, Lin Jinglie, said, if the king crossed the river and entered Liaodong, would he be avoiding disaster or walking into the tiger's mouth?
He had a vague feeling that this time he might really have let a wolf into the house, and Lin Jinglie didn't look like a good person at all.

Could it be that he wanted to trick the king and imitate the story of King Huai of Chu?
Lin Tailai continued to exert pressure rudely, saying, "As long as your king does not cross the river, our army will not go out either! Let's see who will give up first!"

Li Dexin could no longer bear it and said, "Don't you think that Lin Jinglie's angry words are child's play?"

Lin Tailai replied: "Is this a joke? Try it and see."

If someone else had said this, Li Dexin would have just regarded it as a false threat. But since Lin Jinglie said this, he didn't dare to gamble!

Given this minister's abnormal personality, he might really do it!

After thinking it over again, Li Dexin could only say: "I can't make the decision on this. I can only report to the king after I go back."

Lin Tailai chuckled and said, "No hurry! As long as you are not in a hurry, I am even less anxious."

Li Dexin felt that he had nothing more to say to Lin Jinglie, so he stood up and said goodbye.

Lin Tailai stopped him and said, "Wait! Don't leave yet, let's discuss the issue of food and grass.

As the saying goes, food and fodder must be sent before troops move. I need to calculate in advance how much effort your country can contribute."

Li Dexin would rather face the Japanese soldiers head-on than talk to Lin Jinglie, but he had no choice.

(End of this chapter)