Bright Spring

Mao Kaishan, who was born as a craftsman, immediately echoed regardless of Sanqi 21.

Qi Tai just nodded slightly, he didn't rashly make a clear statement, he hasn't had time to think it over.

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu seemed to be encouraged, "After I convene the ministers to discuss, I will arrange a specific implementation strategy."

Qi Tai finally opened his mouth and said, "My sage has learned that this method may be useful, but it must not be a one-day achievement, but a long-term strategy. For the current imperial court's southern expedition, this matter may not have the slightest effect."

Zhu Gaoxu immediately responded, "What Qi Butang said is very true. But if you don't do these things now, you won't be able to develop technology in the future."

Qi Tai said again, "I don't know how many soldiers and horses can be mobilized for combat in Zhenla, Siam, Manchuka, Java and other countries."

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while and said, "Referring to the number of people mobilized in Annan Kingdom when it was conquered for the first time, I think that Chenla, which has a larger territory, may not be able to mobilize more than 10 troops. Because Annan Kingdom has been learning from the Central Plains The ruling | system, the mobilization ability is likely to be stronger than the southern countries..."

Having said this, Zhu Gaoxu exchanged glances with Qi Tai, and stopped talking.Even if a country mobilizes troops, it cannot exceed 2 troops, and the enemy's troops far exceed the limit of more than [-] troops for the Ming army's expedition.

"However, I think that those foreign countries may not gather their main force and fight head-on. They will find a way to rely on terrain and climate to deal with the official army." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Qi Tai said, "If this is the case, the imperial court need not worry too much. Our strategy is not to occupy the countries, but to gain a foothold in the port."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said, "Qi Butang makes sense."

He walked back to the chair above and sat down, saying, "Qi Bu Tang can collect more suggestions so that he can persuade his officials during court discussions."

Qi Tai bowed to each other and said, "I accept the decree."

Qian Xun put away the dossier of the iron factory, and the three of them saluted together, thanking them for their leave.

The next day Qi Tai went to the palace to attend the early court ceremony and other ceremonies, and then did not return to the government office to work.With some entourage, he went to Longjiang Port to inspect the navy.The officers and men of the Ming navy, as well as most of the ships, are now stationed in Liujiagang on the Taicang side, east of the capital.Qi Tai didn't go to Liujiagang just because it was too far away.

The Longjiang Port Dockyard was very noisy, the air was filled with the sound of "Ding Ding Bang Bang", and there was a faint fishy smell coming from the river.

The officials here know

When Qi Tai came, he led the crowd to greet him, and then a group of people led Qi Tai around the dock.Almost all the people here are craftsmen, busy repairing the boats, replacing some old sails and sliding ropes, etc.

Qi Tai listened with great interest, and the little officer in the dock explained everything.Although Qi Tai doesn't know much about sea-going ships and navigation, as Minister of the Ministry of War, it is necessary for him to know some specific matters about sea-going ships under the situation that the navy's status is getting higher and higher.

After inspecting the dock, Qi Tai just walked onto the main road when he met Tang Jing, military attache of the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion and commander of the navy.

Tang Jing was wearing a red robe, if it weren't for the beast patch on his belly, from a distance, the difference between this person and the civil servant's attire was very small.Qi Tai didn't get into the carriage, so he stood beside the carriage and exchanged greetings with Tang Jing.

The ranks of military officers in the Ming Dynasty were generally very high, and there were too many military officers of the third rank in the capital.Qi Tai was able to know Tang Jing only because Tang Jing was a general in the navy and had participated in the Dongnuang Pavilion twice.

Tang Jing claimed that he was doing business in Longjiang Port just now, and he came here to receive him when he heard that the Minister of War was here.

After a few words of politeness between the two, Tang Jing took the initiative to invite him, claiming that there was a winery in the south of Lion Mountain, the dishes and wine were top-quality, and he wanted to invite Qi Tai to eat meat and drink.

Qi Tai had no choice but to decline, "Today is the time to be on duty. If we go to drink and have fun, I'm afraid that the colleagues in the Metropolitan Procuratorate will hear the news and have something to say."

Tang Jing said resentfully, "Qi Butang doesn't want to show his face, and the last general doesn't force it either."

Qi Tai still had a smile on his face, "I am an acquaintance of Longjiang Temple above Longjiang Port. It will be noon in a while, and we will have some vegetarian food together. No one will say anything."

Tang Jing clasped his fists and said, "Very good, it's better to be respectful than to follow orders. It's still early, where does Qi Butang want to go?"

Qi Tai looked at the bustling pier in front of him, and said, "How about we take a walk by the river?"

Tang Jing nodded, and after a while he asked directly, "So, the imperial court decided to march south by sea?"

Qi Tai felt that this sounded a bit strange, but he obviously didn't say anything.But there is no need to hide this matter from the generals, Qi Tai said, "As far as I am concerned, this matter is probably close to ten, and we have to wait for the court to decide."

The two talked for a while, and Tang Jing suddenly asked, "The final general has met with Liu Ming twice recently, should Qi Butang know about Liu Tiju?"

Qi Tai was stunned and said, "Liu Tiju works in the Ministry of Punishment, and I am an officer in the Ministry of War. Why should I know about him?"

Tang Jing smiled, which seemed to have some meaningful meaning.

Qi Tai is not considered a "new party" in the court. Many colleagues think of him as being caught between the old officials and old ministers of the Han Dynasty, and is equivalent to a peacemaker.But this general seems to have included Qi Tai in the new party.

For a moment Qi Tai didn't know whether he should think Tang Jing was smart or reckless.

Tang Jing turned to look at the silent Qi Tai, "Qi Butang really doesn't know?"

Qi Tai shook his head and said, "Liu Ming really didn't tell me, what is General Tang referring to?"

Tang Jing seemed to be remembering.Qi Tai also looked back at him, just facing a strong wind blowing from the river, Qi Tai felt a little suffocated under the pressure of the wind, and suddenly felt that even the river is so vast and vast .

end of this chapter)

Chapter 867 Army Heart

The gust of wind blowing from the big river was strong, but it was very humid, and there was no discomfort on the face.After Qi Tai regained his breathing, he felt very comfortable.

"Ding Ding Dang Dang..." A bell rang, and he opened his narrowed eyes, and saw a fully loaded sand boat slowly approaching the nearby pier.And farther away, a huge treasure ship floating on the river suddenly appeared in sight, and the scene was indeed a bit shocking.

"General Tang just said, what happened to Liu Ming?" Qi Tai put away his gaze, and then he recalled the topic of the conversation they had just had.

Tang Jing said, "An old cousin of Liu Tiju died. He was killed by the people of Chenla. He died a miserable death."

"Oh." Qi Tai responded, with a somewhat bored expression inevitably showing on his face.

Tang Jing went on to say, "At the beginning, the general didn't care much about it. Liu Tiju also said, don't spend money on public affairs for personal gain, it doesn't seem to be a big deal. But the second time we met, he talked about that old cousin again. Something feels wrong."

Qi Tai also asked slightly curiously, "What's wrong?"

Tang Jingdao: "Liu Tiju talked about the past in very detail. Liu Tiju talked about his old cousin Chen Zhang. When he was still young, he was sent to Liu Tiju's house; Chen Zhang saw his father gone, At first he kept crying, but later he played with a loquat branch and forgot about the sadness. When the two of them went to a private school together, Liu Ming once got into trouble and was left in the school. After dark, he found , Chen Zhang has been waiting for him outside, wanting to go home together.

There are other trivial matters, which will not be described in detail at the end.Liu Tiju mentioned and said repeatedly that Chen Zhang didn't have a good life for a few days.At the end of the day, the general realized that his old cousin might be closer than Liu Tiju's brother. "

Qi Tai nodded.

Tang Jing said again, "Liu Tiju is really tolerant. At first, the general didn't realize that he was so sad. He was a person who didn't show any emotions."

Until now, Qi Tai felt a little strange.He thought to himself, if Liu Ming is a person with a deep family background, how could he be the leader of the new party?The treacherous and cunning people in the officialdom understand the truth; even if someone is favored for a while, if he offends too many people, he will not end well.

Qi Tai didn't express what was in his heart, what could he have to say with a general?

At this time, he changed the subject and asked, "Has General Tang been to Liujiagang recently?"

Tang Jing nodded and said, "I only went there at the beginning of the month."

Qi Tai directly asked, "How is the morale of the soldiers?"

Tang Jing pondered for a while, then frowned and said, "The last general has led the army to sea twice, and he understands the soldiers' thoughts very well. If they know that they will go ashore in Chenla, Mancijia and other countries, I am afraid their morale will not improve."

Qi Tai asked, "Why?"

Tang Jing glanced at Qi Tai, "Miasma, plague, people in those barbaric lands, they don't know how to die!"