The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 675: Fight for Every Inch of Land
At the end of September, Wanli returned to the capital.

At this time, the capital region was covered in golden hues, with ripe rice and wheat.

The soldiers of the Shenji Battalion were just in time for the autumn harvest.

However, Emperor Wanli was already considering sending more troops to the Americas.

On the third day of the tenth month, Jiaxu day, Wang Zheng, Peng Zungu, Dong Yikui, Dong Yiyuan and others had all come to the capital by imperial decree, and he immediately began to make arrangements.

Early that morning, around 7 a.m., a group of civil and military officials had already gathered in the golden hall.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Wanli solemnly said, "Yunqing has come to report that European colonial bandits are eyeing the Americas."

The Americas are very important to us, and we absolutely cannot afford to lose them. If we do, those colonial powers will be able to develop their resources there and become a major threat to us.

Therefore, we must fight for every inch of the Americas; we absolutely cannot allow colonial powers to gain a foothold there.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but look at the map on the table.

This map shows that the Americas and Europe are located at opposite ends of the world, one in the far east and the other in the northwest corner, seemingly very far apart.

However, they already knew that the Earth was round, and the map had to be rolled up into a cylinder and joined together to look at it. If viewed this way, Europe was actually only about 10,000 miles away from the Americas.

The Americas are indeed a place they cannot afford to lose, because the vast majority of the copper and rubber they use come from the Americas, and the Americas also have astonishing reserves of gold, silver, coal, and even timber.

Copper and rubber were the main materials for making steam engines, and wood was also the main material for shipbuilding. In addition, gold and silver were the main sources of income to support the army's food and supplies.

If these were taken by colonial bandits, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Wanli thought for a moment, then asked, "Yiming, have the soldiers of the Shenwu Camp finished harvesting their rice and wheat?"

Qin Yiming nodded repeatedly and said, "They came back early and have been working hard to harvest these past few days. They've already finished harvesting."

That's good.

Emperor Wanli slowly scanned the area, then solemnly said, "An army cannot move without supplies. Right now, the Eastern Commandery in North America doesn't lack grasslands, but the key is food."

The area hasn't been developed yet. The 300,000 troops of the Eastern Commandery in North America are still supported by grain transported from the Western Commandery in North America. We can't send too many troops there to garrison them right now.

In this situation, our only option is to first mobilize the elite troops of the Shenwu Battalion.

Kemai, I have ordered the Imperial Treasury to allocate you with gold and silver coins worth ten million taels. You will first lead 1,600 Weiyuan warships and 1,200 flying shuttles, along with the Shenwu Vanguard and Shenwu Rearguard, to Liaodong Commandery to purchase and load grain.

Remember to bring as much food as possible. Based on the carrying capacity of 1,600 Weiyuan warships and 1,200 flying shuttles, after deducting manpower and fodder, the food should be able to carry 3 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

After you have loaded up the supplies, lead your fleet to the East Commandery in North America. Tell Yunqing that the coastline of the East Commandery must be defended and the colonial bandits must not be allowed to land.

Also, the land there must be cleared for farming. Give the remaining gold and silver coins to Yun Qing and have him hire able-bodied men there to clear the land. At least ten million acres of wasteland must be cleared.

He needs to hire able-bodied men from the vassal states there to till the land and dig irrigation ditches, so that next spring, the Shenwu Battalion, Shenshu Battalion, Shenji Battalion, and Sichuan Army soldiers can go and sow the seeds, aiming for a harvest by September of next year.

Upon hearing this, Yu Zigao nodded repeatedly and said, "This subordinate understands."

Wanli then pointed to the map and explained in detail: "Danyang, I have allocated you two million taels of gold and silver coins. You are to mobilize five thousand naval centipede ships to purchase five million shi of grain from Dongfan, and then transport them to the port and dock near Dongwang City. Complete the transshipment before the end of the year. Is there any problem?"

That journey is four or five thousand miles, but we can go there by following the Black Tide and return empty-handed. It shouldn't be a big problem for the soldiers to have a hard time.

Peng Xingu thought about it carefully before slowly nodding and saying, "No problem, Your Majesty."

That's good.

Wanli nodded slightly, then instructed, "Kemai, you also need to work hard. After you finish sending the Shenwu Battalion soldiers off, lead the fleet back to the Eastern Ocean Commandery, transport five million shi of grain to the Eastern Ocean Commandery in North America, and then lead the fleet back."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zigao nodded repeatedly and said, "This subordinate understands."

Wanli then instructed in detail: "Yiming, first distribute all the rotary flintlock muskets to the Shenwu Front Battalion and the Shenwu Rear Battalion, and have them take them to the Americas. Have them depart by ship first thing tomorrow morning."

Furthermore, the Shenji Battalion and Shenshu Battalion will also be expanded to 400,000 men. I have already issued an edict to begin selection for the garrison, and I estimate that the selected elite troops will be sent over next month.”

Qin Yiming nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then carefully instructed, "Father-in-law, the grain carts and artillery carts of the Divine Machine Battalion and the armored war chariots of the Divine Pivot Battalion must be built as soon as possible. The newly recruited 400,000 soldiers must be fully equipped before March next year."

Upon hearing this, Yongnian Earl Wang Wei nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli thought for a moment, then asked, "Lord Meng, how is the development of the rifling for gun barrels and cannon barrels going?"

This one.

Bi Maokang said with some difficulty, "Your Majesty, rifling is too difficult to process. I have tried for a long time, but I simply cannot process qualified rifling into gun barrels and cannon barrels made of refined steel."

Your humble servant would like to try using bronze to forge gun barrels and cannon barrels, but I am worried that they will wear out too quickly and won't last long.

Your Majesty, do you think we could try using bronze?

The problem isn't that this thing wears out too quickly; the key is that we have to build it.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "You can try using bronze gun barrels and cannon barrels. It doesn't matter if they wear out too quickly. The key is that we need to have these things first."

Even if the bronze gun barrels and cannon barrels are ruined after a battle, it doesn't matter, because we can at least gain an absolute advantage in range.

Furthermore, we must quickly manufacture the wheel-fired flintlock muskets; we need to equip not only the soldiers of the Divine Martial Battalion, but also the soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion and the Divine Pivot Battalion.”

Upon hearing this, Bi Maokang nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Wanli glanced around again, then solemnly said, "Yi Kui, I plan to move Xuanfu Town to the Eastern Capital Commandery in North America. Go back and make good preparations. The relocation will take place next spring."

what?
"We just took over the defense zone of Datong Town, and now we have to move to the Dongdu Commandery in North America?" Upon hearing this, Dong Yikui was stunned for a moment before nodding repeatedly and saying, "This subordinate understands."

Wanli then instructed in detail: "General Du, you should also go back and make preparations."

"We must establish a strong defensive line in the Americas. Once we have enough gunboats, you will have to relocate to central America to garrison it."

We also need to move to the Americas.

Upon hearing this, Du Song nodded repeatedly and said, "This subordinate understands."

After thinking for a moment, Wanli instructed in detail: "Yiyuan, you are to take over the defense areas of Xuanfu Town and Pianguan Town."

After the expansion of the Shenji and Shenshu Battalions, the farmland in the capital region became insufficient. You will entrust the land west of the Beiping and Liaodong Regional Military Commands to the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison for garrisoning. From now on, you will be specifically responsible for guarding the southern and northern deserts.

I will order the garrison to build a railway from the current Xuanfu Town to the Hailar Grassland, thus creating a railway loop between the southern and northern parts of the Gobi Desert, which will facilitate the movement of troops.

The defense zone has changed so much?
Upon hearing this, Dong Yiyuan slowly nodded and said, "This subordinate understands."

Wanli thought about it carefully again, and then asked, "Do you think there are any other problems?"

I have a question, which doesn't seem to have much to do with the Americas, but it's a bit urgent.

Minister of War Liang Menglong hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, the military examination of the year Yi Si has been completed, and one thousand military candidates have been selected."

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, what do you think of the palace examination?"

Alas, with Yuan Jing gone, I have to worry about the military examinations now.

After thinking for a moment, Wanli simply said, "Order them to go to the Eastern Metropolitan Commandery in North America with the Shenwu Vanguard and Shenwu Rearguard tomorrow."

The naval forces also need to be expanded. Let them train with Yun Qing first, so they can take over the naval troops.

Upon hearing this, Liang Menglong nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

This guy's question reminded him of two other issues.

Wanli thought about it carefully again, and then asked, "Liangfu, how is the development of the 1,000-ton speedboat going?"

This isn't difficult, but it takes time to build.

Wang Zheng said cautiously, "Your Majesty, we have already started making the samples, but they won't be ready until the end of the year."

This is fast enough.

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then carefully instructed: "After you have built them, let the naval officers and soldiers test them. If there are no problems, then start mass production."

Also, 1,800 Weiyuan warships without armor and cannons should be enough. Once this last batch is completed this year, you should stop building more.

"Starting next year, we'll continue building the armored and cannon-equipped Weiyuan warships. The colonial powers are eyeing the Americas; we need to build more gunboats."

Are they going to build another Weiyuan warship with armor and cannons?

Upon hearing this, Wang Zheng slowly nodded, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, this Weiyuan warship with armor and cannons definitely cannot be built in four months. I estimate it will take at least five months to build one batch."

There's no way around it; it has to take its due time. We can't just produce something shoddy.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Five months' batch is fine. We'll consider expanding production after the defenses in the Americas are established."

Do we need to increase production?
Upon hearing this, Wang Zheng was taken aback for a moment before nodding repeatedly and saying, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Wanli then instructed: "Qianji, after selecting 400,000 soldiers from the garrison to supplement the Beijing garrison, the vacancies must also be filled."

"You order all the regional military commands and regional military commands to select able-bodied men to come to the Southern Garden of the capital for conscription. It should begin tomorrow and end at the end of the month. Also, make arrangements for provisions."

Upon hearing this, Liang Menglong nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

After thinking for a moment, Wanli instructed, "Yiming, you are to assign officers from the Shenwu Left and Shenwu Right Battalions to be in charge of the selection of the garrison soldiers."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yiming nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

There shouldn't be any problems from now on.

Wanli thought about it carefully for a while before waving his hand and saying, "Alright, everyone go about your business."

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly stood up and took their leave.

At this moment, Zhu Changxun, who had been sitting silently to the side, suddenly touched his stomach and said, "Father, I feel so hungry."

"Your subject finished breakfast less than an hour ago, what's going on?"

You're starting to grow taller, kid.

Wanli smiled slightly and said, "If you're hungry, then let's eat something. It just so happens that the Prince of Beihai has presented us with milk powder and beef jerky as tribute, and he wants us to try them. Father will have someone bring them over to try later."

Milk powder and beef jerky?

Why do I feel so hungry for this?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay, okay."

When this person is hungry, they feel like they want to eat everything.

(End of this chapter)