readsfreenovel Chapter 274 Allies
Chapter 274 Allies
Beijing city.
Everyone may have their own strengths. Lu Ping once again felt that he had chosen the wrong career. He opened a pen shop. The business was indeed average in the first half month, but for some reason the business has been booming in recent days, which made Cheng Sanjin admire Lu Ping's business acumen.
Lu Ping pondered for a long time. Maybe, possibly, it was because the Qing court issued an edict to hold the imperial examination, or it could be because the Qing court also published a newspaper, or it could be because the paper and pen shop across the street closed down. In short, business is very good now. According to Lu Ping's estimation, if he continues to do this for another three months, he will earn back his capital, and then it will basically be pure profit.
While Lu Ping was carefully managing the shop, Duoduo went to the south for an expedition. The news soon spread throughout Beijing. Lu Ping felt that he could not go on like this. He had been in Beijing for so long, but had not reported any news. How could this be possible?
Although they contacted Wu Weiye, they did not find out any confidential information. Wu Weiye was better than Mao Xiang. He did not stay in the three inner courts, but was promoted by Dorgon to be the Director of the Ministry of Rites, a fifth-rank position. Although the official position was not high, at least he had infiltrated the Qing court.
Although Wu Weiye could not obtain any confidential information, he naturally knew the news that was known to the whole Qing court. After privately inquiring and obtaining evidence from many sources, Wu Weiye roughly understood the number of troops Duoduo sent. He then informed Chang Yuanding beside him and ordered him to pass the news to Lu Ping.
Chang Yuanding went out immediately and walked for nearly a quarter of an hour before arriving at an alley next to Ningmen Street. Lu Ping's shop was located here. As for why he didn't open his shop on the densely populated Ningmen Street, Lu Ping said that the target group for his pens, inkstones, and paper was relatively fixed. Of course, the main problem was that the rent was too expensive.
When Chang Yuanding walked into the pen shop, his forehead was sweating. Seeing this, Lu Ping asked Cheng Sanjin to entertain other customers, and he went to greet them and said, "Sir, what do you want to buy?"
“Come and buy some fine rice paper”
"Oh, my rice paper is on the shelf in the warehouse. It's troublesome to take it down. Why don't you take a look at it yourself and I will take it down if you are satisfied?" Lu Ping said with a smile.
"Row"
The two of them came to the warehouse one after the other. There was no one around, so Lu Ping asked in a low voice, "What's the matter?"
"Duoduo went to the south and followed the army..."
When Lu Ping saw that Chang Yuanding didn't take out paper, he knew that he had memorized it in his mind, so he immediately took out paper and pen from the side and started writing quickly.
Chang Yuanding saw that Lu Ping was ready, and continued, "The Mongolian Eight Banners have about 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers. The entire Bordered White Banner army is heading south, which should be 6,000. There are also more than 10,000 bondservants. The Han Green Camp has less than 10,000 soldiers. The number heading south should be no less than 35,000."
Chang Yuanding saw that he had finished writing, and added, "Mr. Wu said that although the news is not too accurate, it should be close. Mr. Wu got the news from the court, and also verified it from many sources."
Lu Ping understood what he said, and added at the end of the letter: "Not confirmed in detail, approximate number of people."
Seeing that a little time had passed, Lu Ping took a piece of rice paper from the shelf and said to Chang Yuanding, "Here, this piece of rice paper is free, it's for Mr. Wu."
Chang Yuanding was not polite and immediately took the rice paper, turned around and left. This was the first military intelligence Lu Ping obtained after arriving in Beijing.
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Meng Jun has deeply understood the saying "the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plan". In the past, he was forced by the circumstances to fight, attack cities and engage in battles. Now that he has finally made a name for himself, Meng Jun can finally appreciate the wisdom of "the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plan".
The best strategy is to attack the enemy's strategy. The highest level of war is not a direct confrontation between two armies, but to win by strategy and make the enemy lose its combat effectiveness before the battle.
It means to achieve the greatest victory at the lowest cost through well-thought-out strategic planning. To win by wisdom, to act after careful planning, to achieve the achievement of defeating the enemy without fighting by deeply understanding the opponent and making careful plans.
Meng Jun felt that he did not have the wisdom to defeat the enemy without fighting, but he tried his best to contact potential allies, strengthen his own side, and fight Duoduo with an open and aboveboard strategy.
Now that the army has gathered, although it has not officially marched yet, various supplies have been continuously transported to the front line. Meng Jun estimates that with 100,000 regular troops to fight in Huguang, the number of auxiliary troops required will be no less than 70,000, and a large number of civilian laborers will be needed to carry supplies, clean up the battlefield, or transport supplies. Although Meng Jun has the power of the navy, the navy cannot go ashore, and also needs civilian laborers to transport supplies to replenish military supplies.
In this battle, Meng Jun invested almost all the troops he could mobilize, and so did Dorgon. No matter who loses this battle, the consequences will be extremely serious. If Meng Jun loses, he will have to go on the defensive, and the Qing army, with the momentum of a great victory, will surely march straight to Nanjing. If the Qing army is defeated, not to mention Huguang, even Sichuan will be unable to defend itself.
Meng Jun hoped that Zheng Chenggong would agree to send out the navy to help him, and also hoped that Li Dingguo would fight alongside him. If the three parties worked together, their chances of victory would be greatly increased.
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Anping City, Taiwan.
Zheng Chenggong put down Meng Jun's handwritten letter and looked at the envoy in the audience, who was none other than Meng Jun's personal secretary Shen Congwen. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers.
Zheng Chenggong looked at Shen Congwen and said calmly, "Prince Zhou occupies the rich land of Jiangnan and has hundreds of thousands of soldiers. He has defeated powerful enemies many times. No matter the Eight Banners of Manchuria or the likes of Li Jinshenghuan, Prince Zhou kills them like killing a dog. Such a hero, why does he need help?"
Shen Congwen bowed and saluted, then said: "Guoxing, in the past, the Tartars were rampant, and my king raised his arms and called on the righteous men for the country. After a bloody battle, he wiped out the barbarian spirit in the south of the Yangtze River. Now he wants to use troops in Huguang, but the Qing army has gathered the best people in the country and wants to conquer the world in one battle. My king is a man of great talent and strategy, but he is alone and difficult to hold on. If he loses, I am afraid that the Qing army will follow suit and the world will be difficult to control!"
Seeing Zheng Chenggong remained silent, Shen Congwen continued, "This battle is like the Battle of Red Cliffs in the Han Dynasty and the Battle of Feishui in the Jin Dynasty. They all decided the fate of the country in one battle. How can my king not think about it? The national surname carries the heavy responsibility of the late emperor. In this critical moment, can't we work together to recover the country?"
Zheng Chenggong still said nothing. At this time, Chen Yonghua said, "Mr. Shen has come from afar. There is something you don't know. We have just defeated the barbarians. The soldiers are exhausted and the ships are damaged. It is time to rest. Huguang and Fujian are far apart. The navy has traveled a long distance. How can it be resolved in one day? Please go and rest for a few days. Please allow us to discuss it."
Before leaving, Meng Jun said to Shen Congwen: "The Zheng family has longed for Fujian. If they are unwilling to send troops, they can be rewarded with Fujian. Please help them!"
Shen Congwen was unwilling, but after hearing what Chen Yonghua said, he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "My king knows that Guoxing is determined to restore its former glory. If Guoxing helps us, gathers a large army by land and sea, and fights Huguang, my king wishes Guoxing to stay in Fujian forever!"