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Chapter 622 Opening up territories 2
"Sigh... I really made a wrong step. If I had joined the navy, now I am probably charging into battle with His Majesty. Wouldn't it be great!"

In the backyard of the Chief Envoy's Office in Guangzhou City, Li Rumei, wearing a navy uniform, was sitting under the bayberry tree, drinking and sighing. In addition to the food and wine on the table, there was also a letter written on whale skin paper with the seal of the Naval Staff stamped on the wax paper.

Most people and ordinary officials believed what the newspapers said was true, but as royalist feudal officials, they certainly couldn't believe it all. No, what is going on in the emperor's personal expedition? What is written in the navy's official document is the standard answer.

As a result, Li Rumei began to feel unbalanced after seeing it. The Guangdong Commander-in-Chief, a second-rank official, was responsible for eleven guards and thirteen stations, and commanded the military in Guangdong. He dare not say that he was a local emperor, but he was also a feudal official.

But Li Rumei wondered why she was not as good as her brother's army governor, and the gap would become wider in the future. Taking advantage of the opportunity to deliver the official document, I simply went to the Chief Envoy's Yamen to talk to Li Guangdou. Although it didn't work, it could alleviate some of the depression.

"Zuo Mou feels that guarding one side for His Majesty is more accomplished. Both the navy and the army are built on money. Without our careful management, how could Your Majesty raise so much silver?"

Zuo Guangdou was wearing a green shirt and sitting barefoot across the stone table. He didn't pay attention to Li Rumei's complaints. Instead of comforting him, he pretended to be giving a lecture and refuted it.

"That's the truth. But all day long, we are either fighting in the village or with bandits in the mountains. There is no joy in fighting in battle. Every time I see Huang Nanping strolling ashore, I want to kick him down and make up for it. Give me some punches!”

Li Rumei rolled her eyes, reached out and took out a cigar from the wooden box on the table, then took out the lighter from her pocket and lit it, took a deep breath, and deliberately sprayed the smoke to the opposite side.

"Scoundrel! If it weren't for Commander Huang's generosity, how could you have gotten this outfit?"

Zuo Guangdou does not smoke, but as the highest official position in Guangdong, courtesy is inevitable, and sending cigars has become a high-end product. Because the emperor loved it, the people followed suit and became popular.

He has become accustomed to Li Rumei's style. After being in power in Guangdong for many years, his original ideas have been completely polished. He does not think that it is a character to be in a relationship without a white man, nor does he think that associating with businessmen and warriors is detrimental to his moral character. His temperament is even worse. A little more docile and less violent.

"Yi Zhi, you are knowledgeable. Please help my brother read the details. If His Majesty Shangshu please transfer the army envoy at this time, will you?" Li Rumei didn't care after being scolded. She looked at the people around her and lowered her voice to express her inner plan. .

"...That's inappropriate! Your brother is the governor of the army. What should you do if you go? Even if your Majesty is right, you should think about it for your brother." After hearing this, Zuo Guangdou immediately put away his smile and rubbed his hands. Huzi thought about it carefully and began to shake his head.

"I heard that Sun Chengzong was sent by His Majesty to train in Shaanxi. I don't want to cause any trouble to my brother, so I can go to Shaanxi, right?" Li Rumei had obviously thought of this and felt that it was not unavoidable.

"...It's even more inappropriate. As a commander of the second-level capital, how should you be placed under Sun Chengzong? Hundred households or thousands of households? It's not clear how to arrange it in the army. However, in the navy, a hundred households can lead a single ship. Compared to a battleship, it’s probably not that easy to become an army commander!”

Zuo Guangdou continued stroking his beard and thinking, and soon began to shake his head again, and for a very good reason.

"This... this... makes me angry!" Li Rumei understood and believed it. Her whole body suddenly became depressed, and she picked up the wine glass and started drinking.

"Actually, there is still a way to go..." Looking at Li Rumei's unlucky character, Zuo Guangdou smiled again, let go of his beard, picked up the wine flask, and filled it up himself.

"Tell me about it..." Li Rumei wasn't too concerned. He just wanted to go to the Army or the Marine Corps, and the latter was more difficult than the former.

"How about little Luzon?"

"Where?" This place was indeed beyond Li Rumei's expectation. She held the wine glass in the air, opened her mouth, and blinked fiercely. She probably had smoke coming out of her brain.

"You heard me right, it's Little Luzon, which was just captured by the navy. His Majesty intended to let Zuo serve as governor, but Zuo was a scholar who promoted the New Deal to appease the people, but he was unable to command the army to quell the rebellion and defend one side.

You and I have cooperated in the civil and military fields in Guangdong for many years, and we are very helpful to each other. If Brother Li helps us, Zuo will dare to try this job. "In fact, even if Li Rumei doesn't come to visit, Zuo Guangdou will have to find an opportunity to visit. Otherwise, he needs help. The emperor drove the Spanish away not only for revenge, but also had a deeper meaning. At present, it seems that the inclusion in the Ming Dynasty is a certainty, but the effect is not Can't evaluate yet.

The task of fulfilling the emperor's deepest intentions fell on his own shoulders. Although it was just a wild island, and the Folangji people had set an example, it was not too difficult to rule.

But the emperor's requirements were higher. He had to rule effectively and speak the same language, so that the natives of Little Luzon could identify themselves as Ming people from the bottom of their hearts, instead of just treating them as wild beasts or livestock.

This is a bit difficult, and it cannot be done overnight. Administrative means alone are obviously not enough to achieve this; they must and can only be supplemented by hegemony. First, let the natives understand that thunder, rain, and dew are all gifts from heaven, and then talk about enlightenment.

"Then the navy..." At this point, Li Rumei listened carefully and considered it seriously. She was the first to ask the question, who will command the navy. If it belongs to you, then go back and pack your luggage immediately, and take a merchant ship to take up your post tomorrow.

If it doesn't come back, we'll have to discuss it again. Taking the Guangdong Guard Army to Little Luzon is tantamount to giving practice targets to the local indigenous people. In less than two months, the natives will be equipped with armor and weapons from the guard army.

"The navy will naturally be under the command of the navy. After the rebellion on the island is initially suppressed, the navy will gradually withdraw, leaving only one fleet in the end. According to His Majesty's wishes, as the commander-in-chief of Little Luzon, you only have a few staff officers and a team of officers. To form a guard force, soldiers would then be recruited from local Chinese businessmen and indigenous people and trained by themselves.

The standards will be compared with those of the Army, and some modifications will be made as appropriate. The quantity is tentatively set at two guards, and the cost will be paid by the court first. After the Manila port is restored, it will be collected from the lottery and customs. "

Zuo Guangdou already knew what he was going to do in Little Luzon from the emperor's secret letter, and he basically understood it after studying it for several days. Now I need to explain these concepts to Li Rumei again and see if he has anything to add. After all, I really don’t know much about military issues.

"With one guard against hundreds of thousands of people, it is a little weak." Li Rumei really had an idea. He felt that the army guarding Little Luzon was a bit small.

"The local indigenous people are also divided into many tribes, and they neither belong to each other nor fight against each other. And before leaving, the navy will clean up the gathering places of each tribe to get rid of the unruly ones and support those who are determined to join the Ming Dynasty.

According to His Majesty's instructions, Little Luzon has complex terrain, heavy winds and rains, and is full of jungles. It cannot be fully controlled in a short period of time. It is only necessary to guard several key settlements and ports including Manila City to try to influence the local indigenous people to learn Chinese. , just use Chinese characters. He also gave four words specifically to induce him. "

Zuo Guangdou also gave a corresponding explanation for this concern, but he was also unsure. After all, I’ve never even been there, and I don’t understand the local culture or language. It’s useless to say whether it makes sense or not. You won’t know until you go there.

"...It's a shame to say that although Li was born as a general, he doesn't understand the training methods of the new army. He wants to make up for what he has accomplished in a day!"

Since the navy agreed to clean it up first, Li Rumei felt at ease. The navy's methods have always been straightforward. Anyone who dares to shout loudly will be classified as unruly and unruly. It is estimated that there are not many people left in the tribe who can be discovered by them.

But there is one thing that must be explained in advance. I spent some time in the Marine Corps, but it was not enough to build an army from scratch. It is too late to learn now.

"It doesn't matter. Your Majesty has already thought of it, so he sent some staff officers to accompany you. You can leave the training to them. Although the staff officers are familiar with military matters, they have never been on the battlefield. They just learn from each other's strengths. The most important thing is that Brother Li is here, and your Majesty can Don’t worry!”

Zuo Guangdou smiled and signaled Li Rumei not to have too high demands on him, and at the same time revealed the emperor's true intention. In addition to leading troops in combat, you also have the role of supervising the place.

It doesn't matter if you say this. Emperors of all dynasties were very afraid of the feudal officials. Military and political affairs cannot be left to one person. They must cooperate with each other, supervise each other, and guard against each other before they can reluctantly feel at ease.

"So it's clear to me that Li is willing to help Governor Zuo and look after Little Luzon for His Majesty!" At this point, Li Rumei basically understood all the questions and she immediately expressed her stance that she was willing to follow Zuo Guangdou. Take a break.

(End of this chapter)