Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 867 Dodo Wants to Escape

In the cabinet consultation hall, after Wang Yan questioned You Youlun and Song Yingxing successively, several officials waiting in the outer hall were also called to the inner hall one by one to inquire about the many affairs they were in charge of. At noon, they stopped asking temporarily.

At this time, the cabinet officials brought a bowl of lotus seed porridge to each of the cabinet ministers and Wang Yan, and they ate it in the inner hall, filling their stomachs first, and there will be an important meeting later, and they are needed to discuss.

Wang Yan held the blue and white porcelain bowl from Jingdezhen's official kiln in the Chenghua period, took a few mouthfuls with a spoon, then drank it in one gulp, then scraped the porridge clean with the spoon, and then put the bowl aside. He waved his hand and refused.

Seeing this, several cabinet members quickly finished their drinks. Wang Yan waited for the little official to take away the porridge bowl, and then said: "After the refugees in Jiangbei are settled properly, after Zheng Chenggong enters the dynasty, the Yangzhou campaign must cooperate with North Korea to let the Manchus and the Qing Dynasty We can't care about each other, and the several cabinet ministries must complete preparations as soon as possible in terms of material allocation and army assembly."

Wang Yan said, looking at Chen Bangyan, "How is the recruitment of Zhongzhi Town soldiers?"

In the attack on Nanjing last year, Zhongzhizhen was ordered to stop Duoduo, and the conversion was more than half. Only 3 of the 1 people retreated to the south bank of the Yangtze River, which can be described as heavy losses.

"Three thousand chieftain soldiers were recruited from Guangxi, Guizhou, and Hunan each, and a total of 1 soldiers were selected from the left army of Houyong and Shence. After training for more than half a year, the combat power has recovered a little. The difference between Houyong and Shence is also the same. It has been filled by the government soldiers."

Wang Yan implemented the Fubing system, but it was also a case-by-case analysis. For example, the number of soldiers given by Southwest was obviously more, while the number of soldiers in Jiangnan was reduced by more than half, or even more.

This is because relatively speaking, the economy in the south of the Yangtze River is developed, the life is comfortable, the people are infected with the spirit of the market, and the desire to fight is relatively low. Some preferential treatment can not only get some soldiers who can form combat power with a little training, but also benefit the families of these soldiers, and it can also help the court stabilize the southwest.

Wang Yan nodded, and knocked on the seat twice, "It's good that the replenishment is completed. After the ordnance in Guangzhou comes out, give priority to Zhongzhizhen."

"I know!" Chen Bangyan responded, he hesitated for a while, and suddenly said: "Your Highness, the Ministry of War has received a report from the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, Master He, that the western thief Ai Nengqi led more than 3 people out of Yunnan and occupied Yongning Prefecture and Western Guizhou. The land on the west bank of the Panjiang River, and intended to attack Zhenning Prefecture on the east bank, was repelled by the Shence Front Army led by General Chen Youlong, and the western thieves retreated to the west bank of Xipanshui, and began to farm in Yongning Prefecture, posing a posture of not leaving. I'm afraid it will threaten me in the southwest of Ming Dynasty!"

What did the gentry and landlord class fear most?
What I’m afraid of is the low-level rebellion. If they rise up, regardless of your family property accumulated through generations of hard work, or whether you are a good person or an evil gentry, anyway, kill first and then divide it. The wealth of the entire society must be reshuffled. The rich and powerful stand up, and after a few hundred years, there will be another cycle.

As a representative of the gentry landlords, Wang Yan is still quite afraid of Sun Kewang. Besides, Wude, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Lianghu’s business houses, and gentry families have invested a lot of money in Guizhou and are developing Guizhou’s minerals. They have already invested a lot in the early stage. He was still throwing money into it, and he was about to make a profit, so he couldn't let Sun Kewang mess him up.

Now Wang Yan somewhat understood Dorgon's discomfort, and it was really hard for him to sleep or eat when someone pinched his waist and eyes with a knife behind his back.

"When did this incident happen? Why are you talking about it now?" Wang Yan heard that the West Thieves were farming on the west bank of Xipanshui, so it was obviously getting late.

Chen Bangyan's face was filled with embarrassment. Seeing this, Wang Yan knew that there must be something inside, and his face sank, "Say, there is nothing to be afraid of!"

"It's like this. It happened in April. Governor He judged that the western thief was just a test. In addition, General Chen had already repelled Ainengqi, and Guizhou has many minerals under development. Governor He was worried that it would scare away the companies, so It was not reported in time." Chen Bangyan could only tell the truth.

After Wang Yan heard this, his heart felt like being scratched by a cat's paw. He Tengjiao's actions may have his reasons. Once the court finds out, it will inevitably increase troops to Guizhou, causing tension and the firm will definitely run away, but he feels that He Tengjiao's actions are somewhat inappropriate. .

Wang Yan somewhat understood why Chen Bangyan didn't say it earlier, and he probably felt that He Tengjiao's handling was inappropriate, and he was concerned about He Tengjiao's identity, so he didn't want to bring it up in the presence of Gu Yuanjing and others, and wanted to report it alone.

Wang Yan tapped the chair a few more times, "Then why report it now?"

"In July, General Chen captured the envoys of the Qing Dynasty on the east bank of Xipanshui. According to the account, Dorgon was ordered to contact the western thieves to deal with us. Governor He was worried that not only the envoys along the way, but also Sun Kewang Intentional movement, so it was reported to the court."

Some time ago, Dorgon intended to contact the Netherlands, which strengthened Wang Yan's determination to attack Taiwan. Now that Dorgon actually thought of contacting Sun Kewang, did he contact Hauge?
Wang Yan immediately became vigilant. He just put North Korea behind Dorgon this year, and Dorgon immediately countered. Yan is happy too early.

He Tengjiao was able to report immediately after catching the Manchu envoy, indicating that he was not in a daze, otherwise Wang Yan would probably be tricked by him again.

Getting this information suddenly disrupted Wang Yan's thinking. Although the spies from the north had not sent anything recently, he had to be vigilant.

"How is the road repair in Guizhou?" Wang Yan asked suddenly.

Chen Bangyan didn't know about this problem. Wang Fuzhi said: "The governor of Guangdong and Guangxi came to Zhezi before and asked for 50 taels of silver from the Ministry of Households, plus [-] strong refugees to build roads. It is said that Liuzhou and Qingzhou in Guangxi have been repaired. After that, Guizhou is also cultivating Taoism in Duyun Mansion, south of Guiyang, and it should be possible to cultivate Taoism in Guiyang by the end of the year."

"Is Your Highness planning to use troops against the Western Thieves?" Chen Bangyan asked suddenly.

Wang Yan shook his head, "We must be prepared! If the Western Thieves and the Manchus join forces, it will be a huge trouble for us." Wang Yan paused, and then said in a deep voice: "There is also Hauge, Sichuan One must also make up his mind!"

Chen Bangyan nodded, but then raised his head and said: "His Royal Highness, you don't have to worry too much. It has been less than two years since the western thieves entered Yunnan. There are 3 soldiers in the garrison, and the two Shence armies are elites who have been fighting for a long time. There is no need to be afraid of him. Besides, if the situation is unfavorable, Jiangxi Jin Shenghuan, Sun Shoufa, and Wang Deren can all rush to help. As for the situation in Sichuan, we really need to be more cautious. There are only 3 troops in Duzhen, and the pressure to defend eastern and southern Sichuan is still too great even with the help of the rebel army and Taifu Qin."

Wang Yan was thinking about it when Zhang Huangyan, the left servant of the Ministry of War, suddenly rushed into the council hall, attracting everyone's attention.

Chen Bangyan was discussing matters here, and Zhang Huangyan was sitting in the military department. Seeing his anxious expression, Wang Yan hurriedly called him in.

Zhang Huangyan entered the inner hall, bowed slightly, and said to Wang Yan: "Your Highness, Jiangbei urgently reports that Duoduo is about to escape."

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(End of this chapter)