Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 354 Disappointment!

It can be seen that the administration of civil servants is a concern for Emperor Chenghui, and he will not feel at ease until it is resolved.

The reality is very cruel.

When it comes to the administration of officials, we can only treat the symptoms, and we must continue to treat the symptoms and try our best to make the numbers look better.

In the era of monarchical centralization, the root of the problem is rotten. The problem of official administration cannot be solved temporarily, and it is difficult to even alleviate it slightly.

When it comes to harsh laws and severe punishments, wasn't Zhu Yuanzhang cruel enough?

The complacent Emperor Chenghui took out another memorial and handed it to Jia Lian: "Take a look at this! Give me some advice!"

This is Emperor Chenghui's style, he likes to seek opinions.

Jia Lian took the report from Niu Jizong and read it carefully. Since Niu Jizong established the position of general commander, the troops were divided into three routes tactically, with the central breakthrough dividing the big and small Jinchuan and coordinating with the north and south advances.

Strategically, the priority was to blockade and prevent the entry of supplies, prohibiting grain, cloth, salt, iron and other materials from entering Jinchuan.

At present, the three teams are in place, waiting for the weather to warm up and officially start.

According to Niu Jizong's plan, local armies of all ethnic groups were mobilized, with Shaanxi troops as the main force in the north, the Shenjiying Camp cooperating with local troops in the south, and local troops as the main force to break through the division in the center.

There was a rough map attached to the memorial, and Jia Lian could barely understand the terrain.

Dajinchuan is in the north, Xiaojinchuan is in the south, and the north-south and east-west advance in opposite directions. The four routes of troops will first divide the Big and Small Jinchuan, and then concentrate their forces to attack one of them.

This strategy may not seem to have any major problems, but in fact, there are still some major problems, mainly because of the two opposing armies from the east and west, with their targets being Dimu Da and Garya respectively. The key to the problem is these two armies. Niu Jizong had a good idea, but he ignored the fact that it was difficult for the northern and southern armies to put too much pressure on the defenders when facing dangerous terrain. The eastern and western armies also had difficulty marching due to the terrain, and were easily blocked and restrained by small groups of troops. If things went wrong, one of the armies would be surrounded and annihilated by concentrated forces.

After reading the memorial, Jia Lian remained silent, not knowing whether he should express his thoughts.

Emperor Chenghui had been paying attention to him. Seeing him put down the memorial and look thoughtful, he couldn't help but say, "Jia Lian, if you have something to say, just say it. There's no need to look back."

Jia Lian thought for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, I have read the previous two battle reports and have come to a conclusion that the reason for the previous two defeats was haste. In my opinion, Niu Jizong's plan this time is still a bit hasty. Why can't we calm down, fight bit by bit, and grind bit by bit? In addition to the geographical advantage, the royal army has an overall advantage, why should we think of winning the battle in one battle? Why can't we build a strong camp and fight a stupid battle? Under siege on all sides, eroding the rebels' living space bit by bit, although the cost is huge, it is better than another defeat, right?"

After these words, Emperor Chenghui was silent. He realized that Niu Jizong's plan was influenced by himself. The decree to Sichuan West did have a hint of anxiety. Think carefully about the mentality at the time. Isn't it just two states? Isn't it just a piece of stubbornness? With the efforts of Sichuan and Shaanxi, why can't we expect a quick victory?
"Jia Lian, why can't we ask for a quick victory?" Emperor Chenghui felt that this request was not excessive. Jia Lian sang a different tune, and he was a little unhappy.

"Your Majesty, I have never been to Sichuan, but I have read that the road to Shu is difficult. The narrow road can only accommodate one or two people, and only a few people are needed to guard the dangerous places in front. No matter how many troops you have, you can't use them to attack one side. I have read the battle report that the local rebels have built many watchtowers, which are high above and defend the dangerous places. Only heavy artillery can destroy them. In this case, instead of seeking a quick victory, it is better to surround them from all sides, concentrate troops to attack one point, and then defend it after taking it down, and push forward bit by bit. Although it is said that kindness does not lead to good military power, why can't unnecessary sacrifices be avoided?"

Jia Lian explained patiently, and Emperor Chenghui heard the defiance in his tone, and seemed to be on the verge of getting angry. Why was he angry? Wasn't it because he felt that he didn't take the lives of the soldiers below too seriously?
"Well, you go back first. Let me think about it carefully." Emperor Chenghui also felt that he needed to think about it carefully. With Jia Lian's personality, it was rare for him to contradict him with emotion.

Jia Lian said goodbye and went straight to the R&D Department. At this time, he had realized a problem. The plan for this campaign might be difficult to change. It had even begun to be implemented.

Don't blame Niu Jizon for being anxious. If the emperor shows any sign of anxiety, the situation will become more and more complicated.

The more complex the terrain, the more disadvantageous it is for the enemy troops. This is the most basic military common sense. Just look at the names of the places around Jialian to know how difficult the roads were in this era, such as Wenchuan and Dajianlu (Kangding).

Even if it was the Shenji Battalion, they were fighting in such a mountainous and densely forested environment, with a humid climate, a dangerous environment, and numerous blockhouses. In such a terrain, they were still thinking of rushing? What a fuss!

I know very well that the lives of low-level soldiers in this era are worthless. Now it seems that the price of soldiers has been overestimated.

When Jia Lian arrived at the R&D Department, he first went to the warehouse and took a look at the new bronze cannons in stock. There were five-jin cannons (the weight of the projectile) that were enough for attacking the blockhouse. Even the weight of the five-jin cannon, not counting the frame, was eight hundred jin.

When there is a road, 800 kilograms is considered a light field gun, but what if there is no road? What if you need someone to carry it and there is not a wide road?

Li Daoxing rushed over after hearing the news. He had finally managed to rest for a few days during the New Year and was just coming out of the atmosphere of the first month of the lunar year.

"It's too heavy, reduce it a little more!" Jia Lian said with a sad face, "Sir, if you reduce the weight any more, the barrel will explode after just a few shots."

Jia Lian is not an engineering student, but he also knows about chamber pressure. Forget about the current metallurgical technology. The result of messing around is backlash, and the price is the lives of soldiers.

"What do you have for?" Jia Lian asked casually, but he actually knew this guy's character. He was a wild chemist who liked doing scientific research and didn't like to hang around his superiors.

"Didn't the adults ask us to develop a percussion cap rifle? The sample gun is out!" Li Daoxing explained. Jia Lian was immediately delighted, thinking that his trip was not in vain.

"Let's go and take a look!" Jia Lian ran towards the workshop like a gust of wind, and Li Daoxing quickly followed him and shouted, "We are at the shooting range, everyone is waiting there."

Jia Lian quickly turned around and headed for the shooting range. When he got there, everything was ready, waiting for Jia Lian to inspect the goods.

The principle of the percussion cap gun is the same as that of the flintlock gun, and it can be said to be an advanced version. The gun is still a front-loading rifle, and it does not need to be loaded with gunpowder for firing, and a percussion cap is buckled on the raised part.

Don't underestimate this progress. While the firing rate has been greatly increased, it will not affect the normal use of the gun even if there is not much rain.

If we really want to argue, even metal ammunition will misfire if left in a humid environment for a long time. Even newly produced ammunition has a misfire rate.

Rang A Rang smiled very servilely. He was now a proper official of the Great Zhou Dynasty. If he did not look different, he would be no different from an official of the Celestial Empire. In his situation, if he put on his official uniform and went to a brothel to play, at least the Hu Ji would be willing to receive him, unlike before when they thought he was ugly and smelly. There was a contempt chain when visiting a brothel. The southern beauties looked down on the northern beauties, the northern beauties looked down on the Hu Ji, and the Hu Ji looked down on the Western barbarians, and would not receive the kind even if they had money. Jia Lian treated him well, with a house, a high salary, and maids from the Western Regions. He felt so much more comfortable than when he was in France. He wanted to buy a local maid, but the pawnbroker would not accept the order. The Celestial Empire these days is just like this. Don’t even mention brotherly relations. You are a bunch of wild beasts whose fur has not even been shed cleanly. Are you worthy?

Speaking of the Fragrant Concubine in the novel, I think it was made up by bored literati. If there was any smell, it was probably mutton smell. I'm afraid Qianlong had rhinitis.

Really, before soap was invented, it was so difficult to wash away the body odor. (In the 1980s, I met two German women on a train. It was okay at first, but after being crowded with people for several hours, the smell was simply unbearable. I also have rhinitis and can still smell it, but the mixed smell in the green carriage was even stronger, so it was neutralized.)
Along with the smell of letting it rise, Jia Lian rubbed his nose and asked, "How many days have you not washed it?"

He was not embarrassed and said in a clumsy official language: "I was too busy to take care of it!"

Jia Lian tried hard to hold back his discomfort, not letting it show: "No need for formalities, let's not be pretentious, let's test the gun first." To be honest, ordinary people in the north don't take a bath every day in winter, the conditions don't allow it.

A total of ten sample guns were produced, and ten apprentices were operating them!

Raise the flag, lower it, start loading, cock the hammer, put on the primer, raise the gun, and shoot!

They are all very skilled gun testers. Jia Lian looked at it calmly. With fixed charge + primer, it can fire six rounds per minute. This rate of fire has increased a lot.

This gun has a problem that may not seem serious now but will become very serious in the future, and that is smoke!
After two rounds of shooting, the smoke made it difficult to see the target. Forget about aiming and shooting, it's just about firing the most bullets in the fastest time.

This operation is in line with the tactic of lining up and shooting!

After Jia Lian added the idea of ​​skirmishers advancing, the basic tactical concept based on muzzle-loading rifles was formed in his mind.

Skirmish tactics were not born with the Minié rifle, but were widely used during the Napoleonic Wars, along with light cavalry equipped with carbines (short rifles).

Combined with western movies, the tactic of light cavalry equipped with two or more carbines, using their speed advantage to fight and run, reloading after running far away, and then using speed to pursue the enemy also emerged.

Of course, this is a tactic for flat terrain. If you really go to western Sichuan, the cavalry will have little room to display their skills. The short horses in the southwest are not as tall as donkeys, so they play with endurance.

In fact, the Mongolian horses in the north are not that tall, but they are durable and easy to feed. Otherwise, there would not be so much soybeans to feed horses in the grasslands of the south and north of the desert.

Jia Lian ordered that the gun testing could be stopped. The durability test had been done before, and there was no need to waste it before new materials were developed.

After leaving the R&D department, Jia Lian went to the palace to ask for an audience. Emperor Chenghui did not expect him to come again, so he met him straightforwardly.

After Jia Lian reported the good news about the percussion cap rifle, Emperor Chenghui was not too happy. Instead, he was more concerned about the cost. When he learned that the cost was similar to that of the flintlock rifle, he was finally a little happy.

"Mr. Jia, the Ministry of Revenue has been complaining all the time. The new rifles are good, but replacing all the hundreds of thousands of muskets previously equipped is a huge expense. I think that after the Shenjiying is equipped, it will be the Imperial Stables, and there is no need for the other armies to be equipped with new rifles. Matchlock rifles are also very good!" Emperor Chenghui explained a little embarrassedly.

It's just that we have so many troops, so we have to make do with them. It would be too expensive to replace them completely.

What could Jia Lian say when the emperor said this? He couldn't just curse the emperor!

This is the reality. In the absence of powerful enemies around, there is no impetus for large-scale deployment of percussion cap rifles, let alone flintlock rifles.

It would be good enough to equip the Shenjiying and the Imperial Horse Guard, and then add Wang Ziteng's Annan Army. The scale is not large, only about 3,000 people, and that's it.

If the imperial court doesn't change its clothes, the huge R&D department will really fall apart. It's because Jia Lian was able to make transparent glass and now he can grow vegetables, otherwise it really can't be sustained.

"This is the only way for now!" Jia Lian naturally had nothing to say. If it were someone else, Emperor Chenghui would not have been able to give any explanation.

"The palace examination is coming up, Jia Qing will have to work hard for a few more days. It's the last minute, and the capital must not be in chaos!" Emperor Chenghui hurriedly found something for Jia Lian to do, so that he wouldn't start to mess around again. How can you be so lazy at such a young age? Apart from developing new weapons, is there nothing else that interests you?

Disappointed, Jia Lian could only accept the order and withdraw. As for the new tactical issues brought about by the new rifles, Jia Lian planned to volunteer to train the Shenjiying and the Yumajian after the examination was over, and strive to build these two forces into a simple combination of artillery + muskets + cavalry, abandoning shields and cold weapons, and using a combination of light and heavy cavalry.

The palace examination lasted only one day, and Jia Lian was not qualified to invigilate, let alone mark the papers. He simply sat in charge of the Five Cities Military Department, supervising all departments and absolutely not allowing any chaos in the capital.

Jia Lian issued the strictest order. During the palace examination, anyone who caused trouble would be arrested first, and the resisters could be shot directly. Jia Lian would take responsibility for any incidents.

On the day of the palace examination, people from the Five Cities Military Department posted notices everywhere, making sure that everyone in the capital knew what day it was. This was a day where there must be no chaos, and anyone who caused chaos would be killed without mercy.

In fact, the murderous Five Cities Army had set up guards everywhere, and the local tyrants in the capital were very obedient. No matter they were nobles or civil officials, they all consciously restrained their children.

No matter what, you can't go out for the day. If you don't obey, I'll break your legs! This is a real deal. After all, how can the head of the family not know what the situation of his own children is?
The palace examination ended successfully, but Emperor Chenghui was not in a good mood. Five cabinet members headed by Kong Zhao brought ten papers to the emperor to select rankings. After reading them carefully, Emperor Chenghui was in a bad mood.

How should I put it? The top ten papers are naturally good in writing. That's all.

It is difficult to explain the point of view in a few words. What it means is that all officials are scholars who have read moral articles. They have received your Majesty's teachings for many years, and their character and morals are guaranteed. In addition, with the supervision of the officials, we have the situation of so many upright people in the court today.

I asked you to talk about how to improve the administration of officials and persist in it for a long time, not to flatter me!
If moral articles can restrain officials, what is the use of the Supervisory Commission? If moral articles can restrain officials, what is the use of national laws?

The top ten were all general talks without any specific measures. Emperor Chenghui was very disappointed. Did these scholars become stupid? Or did they do it on purpose?

(End of this chapter)