Late Yuan Dynasty: I am the true emperor

Chapter 449 is about to break out (please vote for me)
"Your Highness is looking for me?" Yang Jing came to the backyard of the government office and asked immediately when he saw that only Lu Jin was there.

He had just heard that Lu Jin wanted to talk to the generals, and Zhu Liangzu was called over. He didn't know what the two of them talked about, and now he heard what Lu Jin said.

"Yes, we haven't seen each other for more than half a year. Sit down and chat with me about personal matters."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for giving me a seat." Yang Jing sat down and then hesitated, "Personal matters, I have been training soldiers and building cities in Hangzhou for the past six months, and I have not done anything else. I wonder what Your Highness wants to ask?"

Lu Jin thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about Hangzhou. How is the construction of the city going?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jing immediately said, "Your Highness, the earthen walls outside Hangzhou are almost complete. Your Highness said that he would provide relief through work. When the people heard that they would be paid for building the city, they all signed up enthusiastically. Now only the towers and gates are left to be completed, but that requires bricks and stones, which will take a while to complete.

"There are also houses in the city. There is no rush to rebuild them now. The government has no money to help the people rebuild. After the war, the people of Hangzhou don't have much money either. We can only wait for the houses to be restored and rebuilt slowly in the future.

"However, Prefect Bao has already posted a notice, calling on wealthy gentry in the countryside of Hangzhou to come to the city to build houses. As long as they can rebuild, the government will issue them land deeds. Merchants from other places will also be issued land deeds as long as they can rebuild houses in Hangzhou, whether they are shops or houses.

"After Your Highness implemented the step-by-step tax, many gentry donated, divided, or sold their land. They were worried about where they would live in the future, so many wealthy families in the countryside built houses in the city. Even if they lost their land, they could still make some money by renting out real estate and shops in the future. Therefore, although the reconstruction of houses was slow, it was also improving."

Lu Jin nodded. He had introduced a tiered tax to limit land annexation, so these landlords could only withdraw their hot money from the land. They could not find other investment projects for the time being, so they invested in urban real estate. In essence, building houses and collecting rent was still the behavior of landlords. What was the difference between this and collecting rent from tenants? However, since it could speed up the reconstruction of Hangzhou, Lu Jin would not argue with them.

Then he asked, "How are the new salt and iron coupons we issued in Zhejiang? Are the people willing to use them? What do the soldiers think of using salt and iron coupons to pay rewards?"

Yang Jing thought for a moment before saying, "People are still willing to use the Salt and Iron Coupons because the name is straightforward enough, and you can get salt and iron at once. In addition, the supply and marketing cooperatives in each town have a salt and iron monopoly, so people don't have to worry about not being able to exchange their new banknotes for things, so they are willing to use them.

"During my time in Hangzhou, and also when I came to Zhenjiang from Hangzhou, I saw that the people in eastern Zhejiang had begun to use salt and iron coupons in large quantities in their daily transactions. Even those who sold sesame cakes, vegetables, chickens, and cloth were now willing to use salt and iron coupons for transactions, and the people all recognized their value.

"I even heard that even in Taizhou and Wenzhou under Fang Guozhen's rule, salt and iron coupons have begun to circulate."

Lu Jin raised his eyebrows. "Have Taiwen and Wenzhou also started using salt and iron coupons? They probably don't have much demand for it. They are close to the sea and can make salt themselves."

Yang Jing immediately explained, "But there are always things they want to buy and sell. Although Taiwen and Wenzhou produce salt, they do not produce ironware or cotton cloth. Merchants there want to buy things in our jurisdiction, so they can only use gold, silver and copper coins, and we do not accept Yuan Ting Baochao from outside.

"So if they want to come to our jurisdiction to trade goods, they must have our salt and iron coupons. If they want salt and iron coupons, they have to sell us materials, or they can use gold, silver and copper. I heard that both Tai and Wen are opening mines on a large scale this year, including silver and copper mines. They may be trying to exchange them for our new banknotes."

Lu Jin thought to himself, that's good. The new banknotes he made have become foreign exchange for Taiwan and Wenzhou, the kind of foreign exchange that is indispensable. However, they cannot be allowed to mine indiscriminately. The silver and copper mines are fine, but there is also an important mineral in Wenzhou that he wants, and it cannot be destroyed by the people.

"It seems that we have to march north as soon as possible, so that we can recover the two routes of Taizhou and Wenzhou sooner. We can't let them dig the mines in Wenzhou at will, because there is a mine there that the court needs very much."

Yang Jing was stunned when he heard this, and immediately asked, "What kind of mine? More important than silver and copper?"

Lu Jin nodded. "There is a molybdenum mine in Wenzhou. It is a metal mineral used to make guns and cannons. There are also tungsten mines in Jiangxi and manganese mines in Huguang and Xiangtan. These are all very important minerals and cannot be allowed to be mined recklessly by the people."

Yang Jing seemed to understand what he said, as he had never heard of these minerals. He only knew about gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead and so on. But Lu Jin said that these things were used to make guns and cannons, so he thought they must be very important, so he comforted him.

"Your Highness, don't worry too much. Even I don't know what a molybdenum mine is. I don't think many people know it. Besides, as for the Northern Expedition, if we continue to fight like this, we will probably take back Yanyun soon. After we take Shandong this time, we can march into Liaodong next time and encircle and suppress Dadu."

Lu Jin nodded, waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this. I still have confidence in you for the war. It is not difficult to conquer Shandong. Let me tell you about yourself. You are twenty years old this year, just in the prime of your youth. I heard that Guo Zixing, the Marquis of Gui'an, is interested in marrying his daughter to you. Is this true?"

Yang Jing was stunned when he heard this, thinking that they were finally getting to the point. He probably thought that this was what Lu Jin wanted to say, so he nodded and said, "It should be the case, but Gui'an Marquis did not tell me directly, but I think that there should be that intention. What does your highness mean?"

Lu Jin immediately said, "I'm just asking casually. I'm not here to propose marriage to you on behalf of Gui'an Hou. It all depends on what you want. If you're willing, then settle it sooner rather than later, so that you don't have to drag it out and make Gui'an Hou feel uneasy. If you don't like it, you can tell me and I'll get rid of him for you and find another marriage for his daughter. I promise not to embarrass you. As for whether it succeeds or not, I have no opinion. What do you think?"

Yang Jing was a little surprised. He thought Lu Jin was here to help him find a marriage partner, so he thought for a moment before saying, "Gui'an Hou was my subordinate before. I didn't respond to this matter to avoid suspicion. I am not picky about women. Now that he has asked to resign, I don't need to avoid suspicion. If he still has this intention, then I will agree."

Lu Jin nodded and said, "Well, then you don't have to worry about this matter. I will go back and tell Gui Anhou and your father, and let them discuss your marriage on their own. As for when to get married, we can talk about it later. Anyway, you are still young now, and you have many battles to fight in the next two years. Maybe you can get married in your free time next year or the year after next. Is that okay with you?"

"I will follow your instructions, Your Highness." Yang Jing agreed immediately.

"Okay, then there's nothing else to do. It's already late July. You should start assembling the troops after you go back. Before August 15, the First Army must arrive at Liujiagang and be ready to board the ship to Shandong to join the war. Eastern Zhejiang will be temporarily handed over to Yu Tonghai's Second Army to guard. Tell him some precautions before you leave." Lu Jin reminded again.

"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured, I will complete the task on time."

"Okay, go ahead." "I'll take my leave."

After Yang Jing left, Lu Jin summoned Feng Sheng and Zhao Zhongzhong, Hu Hai and Mao Gui, Pu Ying and Xu Yong, and finally Liao Yongzhong and Bai Guangtai.

Feng Sheng is now the commander-in-chief of the Fifth Army of the Second Front Army, which is also directly under Zhu Liangzu. Zhao Zhongzhong is the deputy commander-in-chief of the Fifth Army. One of them is from Dingyuan and the other is from Chaohu. Feng Sheng's elder brother Feng Guoyong is also the Minister of War in the cabinet. Although both of them are under Zhu Liangzu, they are not on the same side as Zhu Liangzu. If Zhu Liangzu dares to rebel, neither Feng Sheng nor Zhao Zhongzhong will follow him, and he will not be able to mobilize the troops.

Gao Yao, the chief instructor of the Second Front Army, will also supervise Zhu Liangzu to ensure that he does not make mistakes. This time, he advised him not to interfere in the tiered tax. Lu Jin is still very confident about this organizational structure and personnel arrangements, which ensures that no single faction will dominate any unit.

Feng Sheng and Zhao Zhongzhong each had their own shortcomings. Feng Sheng was jealous. Historically, it was because of jealousy of Xu Da's position and talent that he was deceived by the enemy on the battlefield and lost the lives of two thousand soldiers in vain. Zhu Yuanzhang called him back to Nanjing and beat him with dozens of military sticks, and then asked him to go back and continue leading the troops.

This was the only flaw in his character; his military talent was beyond reproach. In a famous battle at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Feng Sheng was defending Xuzhou, and Wang Baobao sent cavalry to attack. Feng Sheng commanded the spear infantry and defeated Wang Baobao's cavalry in hand-to-hand combat. He was the only one who could control cavalry with infantry and annihilate the enemy cavalry. Of course, he also took advantage of the terrain, blocking the Yuan cavalry by the Yellow River with nowhere to escape, and then they were driven into the Yellow River by hand-to-hand combat with spearmen and drowned.

However, unlike the original history, Feng Sheng's current position is already very high. There are a total of ten army groups in the whole army, and he has become the general of one of them. The next promotion is only the commander of the front army. His elder brother is the military minister of the cabinet. Is there anything more glorious than this? So he has no need to be jealous of anyone.

Moreover, his elder brother Feng Guoyong is still alive and did not die as early as in history. As long as his brother is alive, there will be someone to discipline him. Therefore, Lu Jin is not too worried about him. He simply praised him and asked him to keep up the good work. He also asked him what reward he wanted and he would prepare it for him after the Shandong campaign.

Feng Sheng hesitated for a while before saying, "I don't lack anything. If Your Highness must give me a reward, then I want a good horse."

"Good horse?"

"Hehe, that's right. Zheng Yong seized a Ferghana horse before. I heard that Your Highness named it Chixiao. I want a horse like that?" Feng Sheng smiled embarrassedly.

Lu Jin said in embarrassment, "This is not easy. Which officer in the army doesn't want a BMW? I can't make one for you. How about this, when I get a good horse in the future, I promise to give you one."

Feng Sheng immediately clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for the reward, Your Highness. I will be waiting for it."

Lu Jin was at a loss for words, "Then just wait, it may take several years, then I will have people go overseas to buy some good horses, but who I give them to first and who I give them to later will depend on your performance.

“Fight the Shandong Campaign well this time. You must remain vigilant at all times, not be complacent, and certainly not underestimate the enemy. Moreover, your Fifth Army will attack Weihui Road this time, which is on the north bank of the Yellow River on the Bianliang Road.

"You must leave a heavy garrison at your location. You must not only be on guard against the enemy from Dadu, but also from Shanxi and Bianliang. Especially in winter, the Yellow River will freeze. Be careful that the Yuan army will cross the river from Henan behind you and get behind you. When the Central Plains Campaign is launched and Bianliang is sieged, you may be asked to participate in the battle. Be prepared."

"Yes, thank you for your reminder, Your Highness. I will be careful and alert." Feng Sheng agreed immediately.

"Go."

"My minister retire."

After sending Feng Sheng away, Lu Jin called Zhao Zhongzhong, who was a bit cowardly. In history, he failed to defend the city and was defeated by the enemy. He then ran back to Nanjing alone. Zhu Yuanzhang gave him a rope and hanged himself.
However, there is no sign of this happening in this time and space. The Shengwu Army has been winning battles all the time. If he is only allowed to participate in offensive campaigns and not allowed to defend the city, then he will have no problem.

So Lu Jin gave him some targeted encouragement, cheered him up, and then told him to be responsible and have a sense of honor, and to use his brain more when encountering things. According to the Quick-Study Military Strategy, he should prepare several emergency plans so that he can deal with any situation calmly. Otherwise, when the enemy comes, he will be unprepared and can only run away.

Zhao Zhongzhong also quickly agreed, saying that he had read carefully the military books that Lu Jin had given him before. Only then did Lu Jin let him go.

Then it was Hu Hai and Mao Gui. Hu Hai was a greedy man, so Lu Jin could only warn him and say something similar to what he said to Zhu Liangzu: if he wanted something, he should just ask him for it and not ask for it without permission, otherwise he would not let him off. Hu Hai was embarrassed and quickly agreed.

Mao Gui's case was relatively simple. He had just joined the Shengwu Army and was very cautious, fearing that he would say or do the wrong thing. Lu Jin comforted him and said that once they joined the Shengwu Army, they were all his own people, no matter whether they were new or old. He only looked at the battle record and would not withhold his military merits. He then praised the suggestions he had made at the meeting today and asked him to continue to work hard and achieve results as soon as possible so that everyone would look at him with admiration.

Mao Gui agreed very seriously, but he still seemed a little uncomfortable. But that was normal, as it would take some time for a newcomer to adapt to the new environment.

Lu Jin summoned every general who came to the meeting, talked with them to understand everyone's mental state, and stayed in Zhenjiang for three days before finally setting off back to Jiankang. The generals also rushed back to their respective garrisons and began to prepare for the war in September.

In August, just a few days after Lu Jin returned to Jiankang, scholars taking part in the autumn imperial examination also appeared in Jiankang one after another. At the same time, many people were also on their way to Jiankang. Seeing the 50,000 to 60,000 troops of the First Army in eastern Zhejiang marching towards Liujiagang, even the people of eastern Zhejiang and those scholars taking the exam felt the tense atmosphere.

In the 13th year of Zhizheng, this war that would engulf several provinces and sweep across half the world was about to begin. Hundreds of thousands of Shengwu Army soldiers were ready to go and began to gather towards the battle starting point. Granaries opened their doors one after another, and countless grain and grass were loaded onto trucks and ships and began to be transported to the front line in an orderly manner. The war was about to break out! -
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(End of this chapter)