Fu Shanhe

Chapter 375 Riding a Tiger and Being Difficult to Dismount
"Scholar, put away your little tricks.

Such a simple method of provoking is useless in front of me.

If you feel the conditions are not good, you don't have to participate.

After this mission is completed, we can go our separate ways. No one is forcing you to accept the amnesty anyway!"

Zhu Zhongxuan said unhappily.

Leading a group of pirates to negotiate terms does provide a chance to get better treatment.

But for him as the leader, the consequences were disastrous.

The court needs them now, and most of them will agree to the conditions even if they are a bit excessive, but this will leave hidden dangers.

Even though pirates always talk about loyalty, acts of betrayal happen every day on the sea.

Everyone talks about morality, but that's only because there are not enough chips for betrayal.

When the time comes to settle the score in the future, I will keep these pirates and sell them out directly.

None of the pirate leaders who attended the meeting that day took the lead in speaking out, in order to avoid being held accountable later.

For people like them, official position has never been the most important thing, and the right way is to complete the recruitment first.

Even if you haven't experienced it personally, you've heard about what the officialdom of Dayu is like.

Once they enter the imperial court system, with the wealth they have accumulated, they can make a successful career by spending money.

Of course, compared with officials who come from legitimate channels, they are definitely treated like stepmothers.

The official position can be used, but it is almost impossible to gain real power.

The biggest advantage is being able to stand in the sun and send your descendants into the ruling group.

"Boss Zhu, calm down!"

"I am not speaking up for my brothers!

You are all first-class heroes, and you should be given a good position instead of being sent away as just a soldier.

Since Boss Zhu doesn't mind, I won't say much! "

The Fatal Scholar explained hurriedly.

He was very satisfied with the results of the test.

If the court had given Zhu Zhongxuan more promises, it should now be trying to find ways to encourage everyone to accept the amnesty instead of letting things take their course.

The seemingly harsh conditions for surrendering the pirates actually proved that the Marquis of Hanshui was really trying to surrender the pirates.

There is no other reason. The Marquis of Hanshui, who came from a noble family, must be arrogant.

If you go there earlier, there is still hope that you will be taken seriously.

At this moment, there are too many people willing to risk their lives for them, and these pirates do not deserve to be treated with respect.

Just look at this action.

In addition to these pirates, there are also a group of maritime merchants along the coast.

In order to hide their identities, the merchants put on pirate vests.

In a sense, this action against the Annan people was also a screening.

The major forces participating in the action may not necessarily gain any benefits, but those who do not participate will definitely not have an easy time in the future.

From Guangdong and Guangxi to Southern Zhili, all were in the hands of the nobles.

A feudal dynasty that wanted to make money in a lucrative industry like maritime trade was not a wise move if it did not actively approach those in power.

Once you stand on the wrong side, it will be useless no matter how strong your background is.

Dayu implements a maritime ban policy. It is allowed to engage in maritime trade, but it cannot be discussed openly.

If you violate the ban and are executed, your death will be in vain.

"Okay, scholar.

I know you have a lot of tricks, but you have to use them in the right way.

There is no rush to recruit people for the time being. The most important thing now is to make money.

The emptiness of Annan is a godsend opportunity.

After successfully landing, everyone can move freely and it depends on their ability how much they can grab.

I have only one request, no killing between us before the operation is over!"

Zhu Zhongxuan's words made the small and medium-sized pirate leaders very satisfied.

Although this kind of constraint may not be 100% effective, it is definitely better than nothing.

Private conflicts are inevitable, but at least on the surface, everyone has to give Zhu Zhongxuan face.

For weaker pirates, this is the greatest guarantee.

……

The looting was initiated not only by the pirate alliance led by Zhu Zhongxuan, but also by other pirate groups who also selected their targets.

For a time, the coast of Annan was filled with smoke.

As time went by, letters for rescue flew to Thang Long City like snowflakes.

“The massive pirate attack is definitely not as simple as it seems.

Lord Lin, have you investigated the origins of these pirates?"

Looking at the letter for help in his hand, Cui Ziyan asked with a frown.

The combat effectiveness of pirates lies mainly at sea.

Once on land, they were no match for the regular army.

Under normal circumstances, when pirates land and plunder, they just do their bit and then leave.

The situation this time was special. The pirates came in groups and after looting the port, they were still advancing inland.

The long and narrow border of the Dai Viet Empire could easily be cut off by the enemy.

“Prime Minister, according to the intelligence we have gathered, most of these pirates are from the Yu Dynasty.

The area where they operate is very wide, and these people can be seen from the Sea of ​​​​Japan to the South Pacific.

It is also filled with a large number of maritime merchants from the Yu Dynasty.

After these people took the lead in invading, the pirates active in our outer waters also took advantage of the situation to rob.

Judging from the information collected, the number of pirates who plundered our country is probably no less than 200,000.

And this number shows signs of continuing to increase.

If we fail to take timely measures, I am afraid that pirates active in the Indian Ocean will also be attracted here."

Lin Zeliang said tremblingly.

The previous Minister of Public Security was imprisoned and questioned because of problems with the intelligence he collected.

Although he made some changes after taking office, the ability to collect intelligence was still lacking.

The information I just mentioned can actually be analyzed without any investigation.

Such a large-scale pirate group cannot be supported anywhere else except Dayu.

"You mean, these pirates are a conspiracy of the Yu Dynasty?"

Cui Ziyan asked uncertainly.

Pirates are also unwelcome in Dayu.

Logically speaking, these people have always been on the opposite side of the Dayu court, so there is no reason for them to help the emperor of the Dayu Dynasty.

"Prime Minister, if it weren't for the Great Yu court behind the scenes, who would have the ability to organize so many people to come here!
If pirates act on their own initiative, they can only rob some coastal areas at most, but will never go deep inland.

The current situation only occurred because the Yu Dynasty government made a promise to them.

The aristocratic families of the Yu Dynasty had the habit of keeping bandits and robbers, so it is not impossible that they would keep a group of pirates at sea.

Ordinary pirates have a grudge against the Great Yu court and will not obey the orders of the Yu emperor, but the pirates kept by the Yu aristocratic families are different. "

Lin Zeliang gave an explanation that he thought was reasonable.

He may not care what the truth is, but he has to get through this hurdle first.

Restructuring the intelligence system cannot be accomplished overnight, but those at the top only look at the results.

If he fails to complete the task, he will be the scapegoat.

“Since this is a conspiracy by the Yu Dynasty, the navy cannot be moved lightly.

Send orders to all provinces to step up vigilance and guard against pirate attacks.

The Hanlin Academy immediately drafted an official document and sent the information we knew to the front line at an express speed of 600 miles for Your Majesty to review.

Cui Ziyan made a decision immediately.

Compared to pirates, in his mind, the biggest threat has always been the Yu Dynasty navy.

If the Dai Viet navy went south to suppress the pirates, the Yu army might attack the Hanoi area from the sea.

The core area of ​​the Dai Viet Dynasty has always been the delta plain, and its status is equivalent to the Jiangnan + capital of the Dayu Dynasty.

Losing the core hinterland would be a minor blow to the country, but it could even be a catastrophic disaster.

"Prime Minister, reporting this to His Majesty now may be like distant water that cannot quench immediate thirst.

Pirates are wreaking havoc in the central and southern provinces. If we don’t take effective measures in time, half of the Dai Viet Empire will be gone!”

Ruan Xinjie's words immediately broke down the ministers' defenses.

Half of the Kingdom of Yue was robbed by pirates, and when the news got out, they became a laughing stock in history books.

Especially the officials from the central and southern regions, their facial expressions were even more vivid at this moment.

Without their hometown, they have become rootless. "Prime Minister, Minister Ruan is right.

At a time like this, we cannot sit idly by.

We must send reinforcements as soon as possible to show those pirates how powerful we are!"

Seeing the ministers forcing the emperor to abdicate, Cui Ziyan's anger instantly soared.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to send troops, it’s mainly because he has no troops to send.

The nominal military organization does not mean that there are actually that many troops.

The registered population of the current Dai Viet Dynasty is only over three million.

The actual population, even if it is higher, is only about five or six million.

In order to support the 250,000 troops fighting on the front line, they have conscripted hundreds of thousands of civilian laborers.

Most of the young and strong people in the country were serving in the war, and the troops left behind were mostly old and weak.

The Dai Viet Dynasty's military mobilization capabilities had been stretched to their limits at this time.

In essence, this Northern Expedition was a gamble on the country's destiny.

Unfortunately, their luck is not very good. Dayu, which has entered a recession, is still not a country they can mess with.

"enough!"

"You keep talking about recruiting soldiers, but where are they coming from?"

"Anyway, I can't summon any troops!"

"Don't you know what kind of troops are left behind in various places?

It's okay to let them stabilize the place, but if they are sent to the battlefield, they will be contributing to the enemy's achievements.

If you feel that the domestic situation is out of control, then you should immediately report to His Majesty and ask him to lead the troops back to provide assistance."

Cui Ziyan immediately got furious.

Everyone knew how to put pressure on him, but the problem was that he was only the prime minister, not the emperor of Dai Viet.

He has a say in the court, but not the final decision-making power.

When the border conflict broke out, everyone saw it as an opportunity and advocated a northern expedition against Dayu.

After the war broke out, it was discovered that the enemy was not easy to deal with, and political positions began to change again.

It seemed that they were urging him to send troops to rescue the central and southern regions, but in fact they were trying to force him and his ministers to put pressure on the emperor to withdraw his troops.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he ended in failure in the first battle. Just imagine how serious the consequences were.

If you take the lead in forcing the emperor to abdicate at this time, you will be hated by the emperor for the rest of your life.

From Cui Ziyan's personal point of view, the best option is to state the facts and let the emperor give up the Northern Expedition on his own.

……

At Zhen'an Pass, the Vietnamese army camp.

Looking at the official documents sent from China, Hu Xinbo's face instantly turned pale.

The Dai Viet Dynasty was forced into a desperate situation by a group of pirates, which was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation for the emperor.

"Despicable Yu people!"

After cursing angrily, Hu Xinbo had to face the problem.

The country was empty and pirates took advantage of it and invaded.

If measures are not taken quickly, the Dai Viet Dynasty will be over.

"My dear ministers, the Yu people are manipulating pirates to invade Dai Viet. Do you have any good ideas for me?"

Hu Xinbo asked expectantly.

"Your Majesty, these pirates are nothing to worry about. Let the navy attack and destroy them!"

Chen Jingfu was the first to respond.

However, his positive performance did not win Hu Xinbo's recognition.

If the navy could attack, it would have done so long ago, and there would be no need to report the matter to him, the emperor.

"My dear Chen, I'm afraid you haven't figured out the situation.

What I mean is that the pirates are invading on a large scale, and the navy is being held back by the navy of the Yu Dynasty, and is completely unable to suppress the pirates."

Hu Xinbo explained coldly.

This is the sad thing for small countries.

They can win countless times, but a single problem could lead to disaster.

In the current Dai Viet Dynasty, not only was the navy held back by the enemy, but even the main force of the army was also held back by the Yu army.

The civil servants in the country did not understand the situation clearly and thought that all problems could be solved by withdrawing his troops.

But the reality is cruel.

The enemy's reinforcements have arrived at the front line, and the troops from Guangdong and Guangxi combined number more than 100,000.

Once the Vietnamese army withdraws, the enemy will pounce.

If we are not careful, the retreat will turn into a major rout.

"Your Majesty, if the navy cannot attack, then General Xiao will be dispatched to provide assistance.

Anyway, the purpose of attacking Yunnan was to catch them by surprise. Now that the surprise attack has failed, there is no point in continuing to waste time there."

Chen Jingfu immediately made amends.

The failure of the Vietnamese army's raid on Yunnan was not due to Xiao Yunfan's command error, but was simply delayed by the road.

Poor transportation slowed down the march, and by the time they rushed over, the enemy was already prepared.

When it came to the siege, it was tragically discovered that the gunpowder had been accidentally stored and had become damp, and all the army's firearms had become fire sticks.

Although the Yunnan defenders were not strong, they were still not afraid when facing a Vietnamese army from the cold weapon era.

Failure to capture the city wall in the first place turned the battle into a war of attrition.

“Well, that’s a good idea.

However, there are too many pirates invading the country, and Xiao Yunfan's 40,000-strong army alone may not be enough."

Minister of War Chen Chuyang reminded gently.

Under normal circumstances, it would not be a big problem for more than 40,000 regular troops to deal with a group of pirates.

The current situation is special. Xiao Yunfan's troops have just suffered a defeat and the morale of the troops has been severely hit.

Even if we return to China, it will take some time to restore our combat effectiveness.

If this troop is sent to the front line in a hurry, there will be big chaos.

"Ok!"

"If the troops are not enough, then we can draw another 20,000 troops from our side and go back to the country to suppress the pirates.

Send someone to tell Xiao Yunfan that if he can't even handle a group of pirates, he should just kill himself!"

Hu Xinbo said murderously.

It was obvious that he was really pissed off, otherwise he wouldn't have lost his composure like that.

"Your Majesty, you must not do this!"

“Although we have the advantage in military strength, the Yu army on the other side is not to be trifled with.

If we continue to divide our forces, it will be easy for the enemy to find our weaknesses.

The war has been going on for so long that it would do us no good to continue to carry on.

It would be better to send an envoy to the capital of Dayu to make temporary peace with the emperor of the Yu Dynasty.

After we deal with the pirates, we will look for an opportunity to attack Yu!"

Shi Yufeng immediately gave his advice.

Finding another opportunity to attack Yu would be quite tactful.

The cruel reality clearly told everyone that they did not have the strength to defeat Dayu.

Just some garrison troops and a group of low-level pirates were enough to make them run for their lives.

If one day Dayu takes it seriously and mobilizes the country's elite troops to attack us, it will be even more fatal.

"General, you worry too much.

The war has just begun, there is no need to negotiate peace.

Even if we ask for peace, it should be the Emperor of the Yu Dynasty who asks for peace with us.

The situation they are facing is much more serious than ours, how can they have the courage to counterattack! "

Seeing that the emperor looked unhappy, Chen Chuyang hurriedly reprimanded him.

The emperor paid too high a price for this expedition against Yu.

If you don't have a record to show for yourself, there's no way you can end it.

For the new emperor, such an outcome would be a political disaster.

Originally, the power of the aristocratic families within the Dai Viet Dynasty was extremely huge.

Once the imperial power is damaged, even if Hu Xinbo is not undermined by those below him, his control over the court will decline.

The situation has developed to this point, and Hu Xinbo is already in a difficult situation.

We can't win the war, and the domestic situation doesn't allow us to make peace, so we can only choose to hold on.

(End of this chapter)