Fu Shanhe

Chapter 517 The Battle of Xuzhou
The commander's camp of the loyalist army.

"General, shouldn't we wait for reinforcements to arrive before engaging in the decisive battle?"

Shi Qi asked with a troubled expression.

As the liaison officer, he was stunned to receive the notification of the decisive battle as soon as he arrived.

The Marquis of Hanshui's troops were known for their fighting prowess, but the Liaodong Garrison was no pushover either.

Launching an offensive when outnumbered is clearly overly optimistic.

"Shi Ni's main force is rushing over from the capital."

Our reinforcements have arrived, and so have the enemy's reinforcements.

When hundreds of thousands of troops gather, it won't be so easy to achieve great things again.

Moreover, from a strategic perspective, if we defeat the enemy first, we can calmly build the Huai River defense line.

When the main force is facing off against the enemy here, we only need to send a detachment to land from the north to cut off the Liaodong rebels' connection with their stronghold.

Once the enemy forces split up to reinforce, it will give us the opportunity to defeat them one by one.

If the enemy ignores us, then we should seize the opportunity to recapture the capital and extinguish any remaining hope of the rebels.

Li Sanqi calmly explained.

Military talent is something some people are born with, while others, even after decades of training, remain merely theoretical.

Li Sanqi's ability to rise above his station demonstrates his military talent.

After more than a decade of military service, plus supplementary training courses, he is now one of the most formidable generals in the Annam Protectorate.

Having been active in the battlefields of the Indochina Peninsula and Southeast Asia for many years, the use of the navy was a basic operation, and naturally, the navy was taken into account when deploying troops.

"General, the sea is rough and full of uncertainties."

In suppressing the rebellion, a cautious and steady approach is essential; we must proceed with care!

Shi Qi offered his advice with a hint of trepidation.

There was no way around it; such a strategic deployment was beyond his comprehension.

Although there are precedents in history for using naval forces, those were all in battles in the south. It is unheard of to use naval forces to launch a northern expedition.

In particular, it is even more difficult to find theoretical support for large-scale transoceanic expeditions.

If we insist on finding a similar battle, Li Mu and the Marquis of Wuyang raised an army from Guangdong and Guangxi to defend the emperor, and they traveled by sea.

However, at that time, all the provinces along the route were under the control of the imperial court, and Shandong, where the land was located, was also under the control of the imperial court.

Although the loyalist army was marching at sea, it stayed close to the coastline the whole way, which allowed it to continuously obtain supplies.

Even if there are storms, they can reach the shore in time to take shelter.

Now, the northern lands have long fallen into the hands of the rebels, and all logistical supplies depend on supplies from the rear.

If any unforeseen circumstances occur during the journey, tens of thousands of troops could be completely wiped out.

This judgment itself is not problematic, but it is based on past navigation technology.

With technological advancements, the ability of modern ocean-going vessels to withstand wind and waves has been greatly improved.

With the exploration of the ocean, the monsoon climate change in coastal areas has long been under human control.

As long as you avoid going out during typhoon season, there shouldn't be any major problems.

People's views haven't changed; that's thanks to the maritime merchants.

To reduce competition, they deliberately portrayed sea voyages as extremely dangerous, influencing many people's perceptions.

"Don't worry, we have plenty of experience in this kind of big battle."

To prevent the Liaodong rebels from colluding with the northern barbarians, the Marquis specially dispatched a detachment to launch an expedition to Liaodong.

It is said that they have already captured tens of thousands of troops and occupied several islands as temporary strongholds for their army.

Those Tatars, those landlubbers, are completely worn out and have lost all their spirit!

Li Sanqi responded casually.

The seemingly pretentious answer was actually a deliberate attempt to show off one's abilities.

As the situation has developed to this point, the Annam Protectorate has long since passed the stage of biding its time.

To conquer the world, they need more than just their underlings; they need even more supporters.

Supporters don't fall from the sky.

Throughout history, those who have been able to seize power have either relied on their personal charisma to win people's hearts and minds, thereby gathering a powerful force.

Either possess overwhelming strength to directly seize the initiative and attract all sides to join.

Compared to the former, the latter is significantly simpler to operate.

After all, when dynasties change, everyone hopes to be on the side of the victors.

"Tens of thousands captured?"

Upon hearing this number, Shi Qi's head was buzzing.

The Tatar Kingdom's ability to dominate the north and become the sole overlord of the grasslands speaks volumes about its strength.

If anyone else had said that he had captured tens of thousands of people in Liaodong, he would have left long ago.

If the Tatars were so easy to defeat, the Great Yu Dynasty wouldn't have been bullied by them for decades.

However, it suddenly makes sense that it was Marquis of Hanshui who took action.

"My lord, you are truly a master strategist!"

Shi Qi couldn't help but sigh.

All the worries I had before have vanished in an instant.

While suppressing the Liaodong rebels, he was also able to send troops to attack the Tatars. This kind of domineering spirit can be found by no one else in the world but the Marquis of Hanshui.

The rebels in Liaodong were numerous, but the loyalist army was far more capable!

Since the Marquis of Hanshui can send Li Sanqi to lead the charge, he is guaranteed to win.

……

Nanjing City.

Reality has once again proven the importance of reputation.

Since Li Mu raised the banner of defending the emperor, troops have been coming from the north to join him in recent days.

Gradually, they managed to gather an army of over 100,000.

Of course, these are just figures on paper.

Many of the southward-bound troops only sent envoys; the actual troops did not reach Southern Zhili.

Even though he was on the road, Li Mu's schedule was delayed once again.

While the reason they were willing to join the loyalist army was certainly due to logistical problems, they were mostly there because of Li Mu.

Although the stronghold of the nobility was destroyed by the rebels, it still left behind a considerable political legacy in the military.

As the only powerful figure from the noble faction, Li Mu was naturally the backbone of this group.

After a series of incorporations, the total strength of the loyalist army on paper successfully exceeded 350,000.

In terms of numbers, they were on par with the Liaodong rebels.

"My lord, the roads are now blocked, and the grain cannot be transported to the northern frontier."

He simply ordered the troops along the Great Wall to march south and attack the Liaodong rebels from both sides!

Minister of War Shi Qingchen proposed with great interest.

After being suppressed for so long, we can finally fight a decisive battle.

He had previously worried that the loyalist army was not strong enough to be a match for the Liaodong rebels, but now he realized that he had been overthinking it.

Besides the loyalist army in the south, the Great Yu Dynasty also has troops in the north!

Even though the northern barbarians took advantage of the chaos to kill many border troops, the remaining troops were still able to play an important role.

The data we have compiled so far only includes the border troops that have made contact; many more troops have lost contact.

Given Li Mu's prestige in the army, the probability of the northern border troops responding to the call is very high if he takes the lead at this time.

With the addition of the Beijing garrison stationed in Shandong, the imperial court could launch a multi-pronged attack on the Liaodong rebels.

"My lords, you should think this through carefully."

Ordering the border troops south would be tantamount to handing over the Great Wall defense line to the northern barbarians. The northern provinces would fall under the iron heel of the foreign invaders.

Li Mu said in a heavy tone.

The Great Wall defense line certainly couldn't be held; without logistical supplies, the border troops simply couldn't hold out. The only reason they've been able to hold out until now is because the frontline commanders have exercised initiative and gone out to find food.

In addition, the Tatars were tied down by the detachment sent by Li Mu, preventing them from launching large-scale military campaigns in the northern frontier, which gave the border troops a chance to catch their breath.

"My lord, preserving the country and its people is of utmost importance; we can't worry about other things for now."

"I'll bring this up at tomorrow's court meeting; I doubt the officials will object."

Bai Jinwen, the Minister of Rites, replied with a serious expression.

He was well aware that Li Mu raised these questions not to oppose the southward transfer of border troops, but more to share political responsibility.

As the commander-in-chief of the three armies, Li Mu will issue the order for the border troops to march south, but the decision to abandon the north must be made by the imperial court.

Li Mu could get them to endorse him politically, and they could get all the civil and military officials in the court to endorse him politically as well.

Such collective decisions, no matter how serious the political consequences, will not affect individuals.

Even if future history books were to record criticisms, the Shi family would bear the brunt of the blame, followed by Emperor Yongning.

"Ok!"

"As long as it is approved at the court meeting, I will order the border troops to march south."

In addition, the Ministry of Revenue will prepare 200,000 shi of grain and 2 million taels of silver, which will be transported to Shandong two days later by the fleet to pay the salaries of the Beijing garrison troops there.

The Ministry of War is also preparing other strategic materials, which will be allocated later based on the actual situation.

After glancing at everyone, Li Mu took the opportunity to put forward a new requirement.

In order to seize the capital as soon as possible, the Liaodong rebels staged a feint, drawing out tens of thousands of Beijing garrison troops.

Upon learning of the fall of the capital, these troops did not engage in a fierce battle with the rebels, but instead went directly to Shandong to temporarily avoid their advance.

At first, Li Mu didn't take it seriously.

Although the Beijing Garrison was the direct armed force of the nobility, it was the base of the old nobility.

He was the leader of the aristocratic faction, mainly supported by the younger generation of aristocratic sons, and his core support base was mainly recruited from various regions.

Although everyone may seem to be in the same circle, they are actually not on the same path.

Since they weren't one of his own, he didn't bother to care.

It was their luck to escape with their lives from the Liaodong rebels, but their complete annihilation was simply their fate.

As the Li clan moved south, he learned that among the surviving troops of the Beijing Garrison, there was a regiment that the Li family had run for generations.

The government troops, who were originally insignificant, suddenly became their own people and naturally received different treatment.

Since it's all government money, there's no need to be so stingy.

"My lord, if the arrears of pay for the capital garrison are made up, then the arrears of pay for the border troops will also have to be made up, plus the arrears of pay for the troops that come to the aid of the emperor in various provinces. This is no small sum!"

Wan Huaijin hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

Without the burden of the north, the finances of the Great Yu Dynasty improved significantly, but that doesn't mean that money and grain could be squandered recklessly.

Once a feudal dynasty enters its final years, no matter how much money the court has, it will never be enough to spend.

The tens of thousands of Beijing garrison troops stationed in Shandong will need to pay two million taels of silver in wages, and the border troops will probably need to pay ten times that amount.

The armies that came from various provinces to support the emperor also faced the problem of unpaid wages and were waiting for the court to pay them.

Paying back the wages owed in the past doesn't mean the matter is over; the war is still going on.

When the cannons roar, gold flows in.

Leaving aside other troops, the cheapest of the new artillery shells equipped by Li Mu's troops cost three taels of silver, while the more expensive ones cost more than ten taels.

Regardless of whether there was any exaggeration involved, the imperial court had to reimburse them, and bargaining was not allowed.

Destroying tens of thousands of shells in a single battle is an easy task.

Whether the Ministry of Revenue's reserves of money and grain could last until the end of the war was an unknown.

"Now is the time when everyone needs to risk their lives. No matter how difficult the finances are, we cannot cut back on military pay."

Let's not dwell on old grievances.

As far as I know, in the past three years, the officers and soldiers of the Beijing Garrison have only received one year's worth of military pay.

The rapid fall of the capital was largely due to unpaid wages; otherwise, even if the Liaodong rebels had increased tenfold, they wouldn't have been able to take the capital so easily.

We must heed the lessons of the past.

Since the Ministry of Revenue is facing difficulties, let's offer a 50% discount and issue one million taels of military pay first.

The remaining bad debts can be dealt with gradually after the imperial treasury improves.

Li Mu sighed and said.

War, that money-devouring behemoth, devours vast amounts of wealth every time it unleashes its power.

The specific details are impossible to calculate.

One million taels seems like a lot, but when it's distributed among thirty to forty thousand officers and soldiers, not much ends up in the hands of the individual soldiers.

After all, the treatment of generals and soldiers is worlds apart.

"My Lord, wise!"

Wan Huaijin said with a slight hesitation.

Frankly speaking, he really didn't want to pay that million taels.

The Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing was different from the Ministry of Revenue in the capital. Li Mu, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, was far too powerful, and they simply couldn't afford to offend him.

Every penny of military expenditure must now be disbursed in full.

Not to mention regular drifting losses, even daily fire losses are not acknowledged by Commander Li Mu.

Soldiers had to come and collect the money and grain themselves; if even a tael was missing, they would draw their swords and kill someone.

The one million taels that didn't disappear would have been worth two million taels in the past.

The Ministry of Revenue, which used to be the most lucrative department, has now been turned into a meager, inefficient one.

Officials throughout the Ministry of Revenue were all seething with anger.

However, everyone was sensible and knew that the Marquis of Hanshui was not someone to be trifled with, so they could only suppress their anger.

Since they don't get any benefits themselves, they naturally become stingy when it comes to military spending.

Unfortunately, no matter how stingy they were, the Ministry of Revenue still didn't dare to embezzle the daily military expenditures.

However, the Ministry of Revenue was determined to ignore the old accounts.

The practice of new officials ignoring the debts of their predecessors was an old tradition in the Great Yu Dynasty, an unspoken rule.

However, when it came to actually implementing the plan, Wan Huaijin backed down.

If the price is already halved, then making excuses to refuse is simply disrespectful.

……

At dawn, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the booming sound of artillery fire pierced the sky.

"Artillery, give us a counterattack immediately!"

Seeing shells raining down on his own camp, Shi Jingming immediately gave the order.

"General, the situation is not good!"

"The enemy's artillery has a much longer range than ours."

At this distance, our artillery shells cannot reach the enemy camp.

Quickly move the artillery positions, otherwise…

Before Deputy General Liu could finish speaking, several cannons were overturned right before their eyes.

With a loud explosion, the soldiers nearby were blown to pieces.

The horrific scene startled Shi Jingming.

Zhou Qihai wasn't exaggerating; the enemy's firepower was indeed fierce.

The flying shrapnel everywhere showed that the enemy's artillery was far superior to theirs.

"They're all high-explosive shells. That bastard Li Mu is fucking rich!"

To cover up his panic, Shi Jingming immediately started cursing.

After capturing the capital, they also seized a small number of high-explosive shells, and he even personally tested the shells.

The explosive power was only slightly less than that of the artillery of the loyalist army; the overall difference was not significant.

According to information obtained from officials, these shells are made of special materials and cost more than ten times more than ordinary shells.

(End of this chapter)