Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 469: Tighten the ropes and force the Qing army to attack actively~
The Purchasing Office was a newly established "empty shell government office" that Li Yu had planned for a long time.

He also serves as the director of the office, and there are no permanent officials in the office.

When you need to be sent abroad,

They are selected from the roster of low-ranking civil servants in the Civil Service School and various departments and appointed temporarily.

After completing the outbound mission,

These people went back to their own homes and continued doing what they were supposed to do.

No need to spend extra money and no need to create more carrot holes.

As for,
The reason why we only look for these young newcomers in the workplace is because we value their youth.

When people are young,
He still has ideals, manners and bottom line.

As you get older,
I only believe in money.

……

The Purchasing Office isn't even a proper government office.

Even so,

It still emerged out of nowhere, became famous overnight, and was called the "Temple of the God of Wealth" by the outside world.

Many pilgrims come here to pay homage to the abbot.

however,
I walked around Suzhou City three times but couldn't find this government office.

rumors,

The Purchasing Department has a mobile office in Taihu Lake.

……

Li Yu stipulates:

When there is a procurement outbound mission,

Two temporary associates from related industries were hired as professional consultants and received salaries.

in case,

There were obvious problems with quality, price, etc., but the manager kept silent, and the deputy manager could expose them on the spot.

After verification, the manager was sent to prison and the deputy manager was rewarded with 100 taels of silver.

of course,

It is also wrong to only reduce risks without providing benefits.

After all, the guys don't eat government pay.
The reward is,

Set aside 1% of the purchase order quantity and purchase from the manager’s shop at the previous price.

As a result,
All are happy.

Both the owner and the employees are motivated to actively participate.

The deputy manager this time will be the manager next time and will be supervised by his successor.

……

Li Yu also stipulated:
In principle,
Different batches of the same goods must not be purchased from the same merchant.

This time I placed an order with A.
Next time it must be B's house~
If duplicate orders are placed, the purchasing department staff must make a detailed written explanation and submit it to the emperor.

Thus,
I guess a lot of trouble can be avoided.

The rain and dew are evenly distributed, and gold coins are scattered everywhere.

……

Grand Canal, Xujiang section.

The size of the fleet is endless.

A bright yellow flag with the words "Transport by imperial order" was hung on the top of the main mast, allowing smooth passage.

The captains stood at the bow.
I was happy because I made money again.

There were many onlookers on the shore.

A small businessman whose ancestors wove mats and shoes was particularly excited and cheered frequently.

This attracted the attention of the introverted people in the south of the Yangtze River.

"Old Liu, did you make money again?"

"22000 bamboo hats, a small business."

"How could your workshop possibly produce it in such a short time?"

"Spot goods!"

……

People around were dumbfounded.

"What? Old Liu, you're actually hoarding goods?"

"Yes, I started to stockpile goods last winter, and I stockpiled them for a full six months. You didn't see the man from the purchasing department come to my house. I opened the door of the warehouse and saw piles of bamboo hats and military caps. At that time, his eyes lit up, and he decided on the spot to take all of them."

"You've made a lot of money, haven't you?"

"It's okay, it's okay."

After deducting costs and shipping fees, the final net profit was more than 500 taels.

It's pretty good for ordinary small vendors.

Contentment!

Military hats need to be painted with several layers of tung oil to prevent rain! Naturally, they are more expensive than ordinary civilian hats.

……

Everyone was amazed.

A businessman named Xu who ran a textile factory in Songjiang heard this and became thoughtful.

He suddenly had a bold idea, lowered his head and walked quickly out of the crowd.

if,

They produced enough military uniforms, military boots, bedding and tents in advance and stored them in areas close to the front line.

Once the imperial court wants to use military force,

Direct on-site spot delivery.

Isn't it true that all the wealth and glory belong to me?

……

Once the mind is opened, ambition will expand rapidly.

He decided to go back and discuss it with some colleagues.

Everyone invests together, bears risks together, and shares profits together.

Looking at the current situation,

The imperial court's use of military force will only become more frequent and larger in scale.

When the cannon is fired, there is a thousand taels of gold.

War consumes a lot of materials.

Even Li Yu did not expect that his actions would unexpectedly give rise to a group of arms dealers with a keen sense of smell.

From clothes, shoes, firewood, rice, oil and salt to vehicles, ships, logistics and medical care, everything can be outsourced.

after many years,

These people who have tasted the sweetness are becoming more and more daring.

If there is no war, create war.

If there are no enemies, create them.

If there is no demand, create demand.

……

3000 miles away is the Han River.

The smoke from the river has just dissipated.

On the wall of Xiangyang,
Chahar Governor Zheyong felt very upset when he saw the bodies of the boatmen and broken wood boards floating on the water.

The Wu army fleet was ferocious and brutal. This was the third time they had blocked the grain fleet.

The emperor issued one decree after another, strictly ordering all parties to open up the Xiangyang-Nanyang transportation line.

but,

The Wu army fleet is like a maggot on the tarsal bone, and it is impossible to drive it away.
A large number of grain ships were piled up in the lower reaches of the Han River.

Large amounts of grain were piled up in the government warehouses of the coastal counties, creating a dilemma.

……

"Report, urgent news from Wuchang."

Zheyong opened the letter and after quickly reading it, he felt dizzy.

The Niangan Chu spies operating in Jiangnan sent intelligence to Wuchang via carrier pigeons.

Hubei Governor Wang Jie also ordered someone to transfer it to him immediately.

"The Wu bandits are buying up logistical supplies on a large scale, and are ready to march west to Huguang. The backlogged grain ships in the Han River section must be cleared as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the main force of the Wu bandits in the south of the Yangtze River arrives, they will attack from both sides, and the consequences will be disastrous."

Zheyong rubbed his big face in pain.

roared:

"Come here, deliver this letter to the Nanyang Prefecture for the emperor's review."

……

A small boat crossed the Han River.

The spying Wu army boat did not pay any attention.

Liu Wu, the fleet commander-in-chief, had already issued a clear military order:

"Only attack the warships and grain fleets, and ignore the rest."

That is correct.

If we send out warships to attack any broken ship, it would be a waste of gunpowder and the physical strength of our sailors.

The volcanic ash from Java Island did not affect Huguang.

Maybe there isn't enough ash, or maybe the stratospheric circulation hasn't arrived yet.

Anyway,

The Guangdong and Guangxi regions were the most affected. The hot summer turned into a cool autumn, with more cloudy days than sunny days, and people had to cover themselves with a thin quilt when sleeping at night.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang were also affected, with temperatures lower than usual, but not as extreme as in Guangdong and Guangxi.

Huguang and Sichuan were not affected at all and it was still hot.

……

There are Zhuge-style thatched huts everywhere in Longzhong Mountain, but there is no Zhuge.

Currently, only 2% of the Wu army's expeditionary fleet is on duty, ready to go at any time. The rest are all on vacation and enjoy the same treatment as Zhuge Liang.

This kind of weather,

The casualties caused by heat stroke and disease are far greater than those caused by fighting.

Liu Wu spent most of his energy on maintaining combat effectiveness and arranging sick patients.
He wore a conical hat, a towel around his neck, and straw sandals on his feet.

It doesn't look official at all, but it's the most appropriate attire for the season.

"The water you drink must be boiled. You are not allowed to drink a single sip of raw water even if you die of thirst."

"No one is allowed to urinate or defecate anywhere. They must use the toilet at designated places."

"The patients will be placed in centralized isolation and no chance of survival will be given."

"Do you understand everything?"

"Yes."

Dozens of officers saluted in unison.

Liu Wu also felt helpless.
As the supreme commander of the Wu navy, he has to take care of such trivial matters every day.

……

on land,
The Qing army did not launch a single attack, probably because they were afraid of the heat.

According to normal logic,

In summer, never use troops in the south.

In winter, never send troops to the north.

Armies that violate this logic generally do not have a good ending.

……

After a round of inspection,

Liu Wu was walking through a forest when he ran into Li Ergou and others who were squatting in the bamboo forest acting stealthily.

"Ergou, what are you doing here?"

"I, I'm enjoying the cool air."

Liu Wu looked suspiciously at the few people squatting on the ground in a circle, concentrating intently, with no space in between.

What do you think?
Why does it feel weird?

……

A clever ghost quickly explained:
"Brother Gou has a bit of heat stroke~"

"Go wash in the stream, but remember not to drink the raw water." "Oh."

Just took a few steps,
Blown by the mountain breeze, Liu Wu suddenly felt enlightened.

He turned around and stared at Li Ergou seriously again.

"Uncle Liu, you are busy with military affairs, don't worry about me. I, I'm fine. Uncle, go and do your work."

Li Ergou leaning against the bamboo,

The tone revealed 3 parts weakness, 3 parts anxiety, and 4 parts vigilance.

……

Liu Wu suddenly drew out his sword, scaring Li Ergou so much that he jumped up.

"Uncle Liu, what are you going to do?"

However, Liu Wu didn't want to pay attention to him.
The sword tip stabbed into the soil and turned it over.

A burst of hot air came out~
Poke again and turn it over again.

There is indeed good stuff underneath.

Liu Wu stabbed a beggar's chicken that had been roasted too long with his sword.

……

Li Ergou let out a miserable wail~
now,

He felt as if he had been pierced through the heart by a sword!
"Confiscated!"

"No, Uncle Liu, I'm already hungry for two meals."

"Ergou, this is the army, not the Beggars' Sect. Also, when we meet, I will call you by your position. I dare not be your uncle~"

Back to the house,

Liu Wu took off his hat and washed his hands and face with clean water.

I couldn't wait to break the soil and enjoy the beggar's chicken.

Fragrant!
When alive, it should have been a young pheasant running free.

It was baked perfectly.

Salty, slightly spicy, and melts in your mouth.

Drink a bowl of cool mint water after eating to feel relaxed.

While picking his teeth, Liu Wu sighed:

"The inventor is a beggar."

……

at this time,

In the bamboo forest a hundred feet away,

A group of subordinates are comforting Li Ergou:

"Brother Gou, forget it."

"A higher rank than you is enough to crush someone, not to mention he is five ranks higher than you."

"It's unacceptable for the dear uncle and nephew to fall out over a chicken."

Li Ergou still couldn't swallow this breath.
Sad and angry:
"Do you know how many seasonings I put in it? Thirteen in total. How can this be called beggar's chicken? It's no better than the imperial chicken."

The men were startled and quickly came up to cover their mouths.

You can't talk nonsense about the imperial meal.

……

Li Ergou was really not kidding. He spent 2 big coins to buy the spices in a high-end store in Suzhou Prefecture.

Have:
Pepper from Goa, cloves from Java, dried ginger and cinnamon from Yunnan, nutmeg from Luzon, tangerine peel from Guangdong, and a pinch of fine salt!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and his heart was filled with anxiety.

suddenly,

The lookout on the mountain lit up with black smoke,
"Enemy attack, enemy attack."

……

Inside and outside Wolong Town,
The Marines and the mixed battalion soldiers grabbed their weapons and went into their respective positions.

in the sun,
A large number of Qing army Green Camp soldiers in gray uniforms appeared in the field of vision.

Li Ergou was wearing a flying saucer helmet.

Climb onto the roof, open the telescope and look around.

Muttering:

"The visitor is evil!"

Then he shouted loudly:

"Brothers, let the Hubei Qing soldiers learn how powerful we are."

"Scattered soldiers out of town!"

……

Skirmishers are not ordinary people. They must be veterans and precision shooters to take on the role.

He holds a high position in the military.

Warriors~
A group of gunners left the fortifications with calm expressions, carrying their muskets on their shoulders.

It was like taking a walk on the lawn in his own backyard, heading towards the dark formation of the Qing army.

They are so arrogant because they know themselves and their enemies.

The accurate range of a rifled gun is 75 zhang, the effective range is 150 zhang, and the range can even reach 300 zhang when raised and fired.

The Qing army was the attacking party, and the cannons could not be put in place for the time being, so the only threat was the guns.

Just be careful.

……

opposite,

The formation of more than 3000 Qing troops began to become crowded, with everyone standing shoulder to shoulder, drawing courage from each other.

At a distance of 1 miles,

White smoke was seen coming out of the muzzles of the Wu bandits' guns.

The officers had no chance to laugh at Wu's random shooting.

Someone in our own camp was shot and fell down.

not much,

But it's full of weirdness.

The biggest problem with rifled guns is that they take a long time to load.

It is necessary to overcome the obstacles of rifling and extremely small clearance.

The gunner would carry a small wooden hammer with him and gently tap the cleaning rod to wedge the Minié bullet into the bottom of the gun chamber.

……

The sporadic shooting made the Qing army hesitate and hesitate to move forward.

The officers brandished their sabers:

"Go, go forward."

At this time,
Either charge or retreat, standing still is the stupidest thing to do.

opposite,

There was still sporadic white smoke rising.

The casualties were not heavy, but it was very devastating.

……

After the battle,

A Mongolian Eight Banners Cavalry Captain raised his scimitar fiercely:

"Supervisory team, shoot."

then,

Under greater fear of death, the Green Camp soldiers began to attack the fortifications outside Wolong Town.

Seeing the enemy coming like a tide, most of the scattered soldiers put away their muskets and retreated into the town.

A very small number of people are born adventurous.
He knelt on one knee on the spot, shot the officer and then left calmly.

This kind of heroic performance can often inspire military morale and gain the soldiers' heartfelt respect.

……

however,
No luck.

Just like the handsome guy who just stayed at the end and successfully killed the Qing army's captain.

They were met with a volley of fire from a team of Qing army's musketeers.

Brother Xiaosha fell to the ground without saying a word.

Blood flows from the mouth and nose.

After a few dozen breaths,

The attacking Qing army stepped over his body.
A musketeer stopped and chopped off Xiaosha's head with a knife, then turned over the body and took out a bronze badge from his pocket.

now,

The heads of Wu army are becoming more and more valuable, 20 taels!
But it must be accompanied by a piece of red and black military uniform cloth as proof.

It would be even better if you have a copper waist badge, and you can get an extra 5 taels.

……

The Wu army's defense line remained silent.

No guns were fired.

The attacking Qing troops became increasingly restless, and many of them, unable to contain their nervousness, raised their muskets and fired.

The sound of gunfire rang out continuously.

The formation was shrouded in white smoke.

The effect is minimal.

Wu's army huddled behind the fortifications, listening to the crackling noises outside.

The bullets are like the wind.

Hitting the masonry.

The few lonely towers are the most silent, almost making one doubt whether they are empty.

……

The Qing army's seven heavy artillery pieces finally began to be unloaded from the trucks and arranged into gun positions.

According to experience,

The distance is one and a half miles, and we can bombard now.

at the same time,

The crowded Qing infantry reloaded and fired again.

The Wu army, which had remained silent, finally fought back.

In the sound of the brass trumpet,
Everyone leaned out and aimed and shot.

The sound of gunfire was so dense that it was suffocating.

immediately,

Artillery roared.

A hail of shotgun shells swept through the crowd.

……

"Bayonets fixed, charge."

Li Ergou took the lead, holding a gun in his left hand and a sword in his right hand.

A quick and efficient counterattack by more than 200 men turned the 3000 Qing infantrymen in front of them into frightened rabbits, who ran back for their lives.

He was only driven out half a mile,

The troops in Wolong Town were called back to their base camp.

The defeated Qing army soldiers ran for three miles before they stopped.

Next to the artillery,
No one is empty.

The artillerymen were also swept up and ran away.

……

Liu Wu repeatedly and sternly warned,
The fleet is deep in enemy territory and every soldier is precious.

Can't waste time.

It is enough to firmly defend Wolong Town and make Xiangyang City, which is right next to our bed, sleep uneasy.

When the main force arrived,

That is the day of the all-out counterattack.

Therefore, Li Ergou absolutely did not dare to take the risk of pursuing, for fear of being killed by the hundreds of Mongolian cavalry supervising the battle from a distance.

(End of this chapter)