Zhu Pingan sent off the magistrate Shang and his party, and after properly arranging the entire battalion of soldiers, he took Liu Mu and others out of the camp to observe the topography and landforms around Suzhou Mansion, especially the mountains and rivers outside Changmen.
Zhuge Wuhou once said: A general who does not understand astronomy, geography, strange gates, yin and yang, does not understand the formation map, and does not understand the strength of the army is a mediocre person. How can he not know the geography of Suzhou when he is stationed in Suzhou?
Only with a clear understanding of the geographical situation inside and outside Suzhou can we deploy our troops and generals and make strategic plans.
Suzhou City has a radius of twelve miles, bordering Songjiang in the east, Jiaxing in the south, Taihu Lake in the west, and the Yangtze River in the north. It has old streets, ancient houses, alleys, rivers, stone bridges, and a typical double chessboard pattern of parallel water and land, and adjacent rivers and streets.
Beauty is beautiful, but it is a pity that there is no danger to defend, especially in the Changmen area, except for rivers and canals, there is no danger to defend.
While observing the mountains and terrain of Suzhou, Zhu Ping'an also saw the prosperity of Suzhou that surpassed the two capitals.
The scenery is beautiful, the products are rich, the industries are prosperous, and the people are gathered together; the houses are piled high with goods, the pedestrians are flowing, the shop signs are as bright as clouds, the water and land are frequent, the silver horses lead the horses, and the flower boats carry the beauties. It is worthy of being one of the first and second-class rich and romantic people in the world.
place.
Especially the Changmen area is the most prosperous and wealthy place in Suzhou, accounting for at least 70% to 80% of Suzhou's wealth.
There is no danger to defend here, and the wealth and prosperity of the two capitals can't be beat. For the Japanese pirates, this is a paradise.
After seeing the mountains and rivers of Suzhou, Zhu Ping'an was convinced that the Japanese pirates such as Xu Hai and others who were entrenched in Tuolin and other places in Songjiang Prefecture must have long been salivating over the nearby city of Suzhou, the most prosperous place in the Ming Dynasty.
The area outside Changmen, which had no danger to defend and occupied 70 to 80% of the wealth of Suzhou City, was definitely the first and most important target of the Japanese pirates.
If Japanese pirates attack Suzhou, the Lumen area will definitely bear the brunt. This is a proposition without a doubt.
Magistrate Shang said that Japanese pirates often spied on and investigated during this period, so it is clear that the Japanese pirates have already targeted this place.
After the investigation, it was time for the Japanese pirates to take action, leaving little time for the Zhejiang Army.
After observing the mountains and geography of Suzhou with a strong sense of crisis, Zhu Ping'an returned to Fengqiao again.
Maple Bridge is the most important bridge in the northwest of Suzhou City. Ships are transported below, and goods are transported on the bridge. People going south to north and east to west all pass through this bridge. It is the transportation and trading hub for the east, west, and south of Suzhou City. It is also a hub for local people.
The proud saying "If you want to know the price of beans and rice, ask about the price of Maple Bridge" is proof.
In order to facilitate transportation, the canal under the Maple Bridge was dug deep and wide to facilitate the passage of large and small ships. Two lanes were specially cut on the steps of the six-meter-wide Maple Bridge to facilitate the passage of horse-drawn carriages.
It can be said that Fengqiao is the throat of Suzhou and Changmen.
When Japanese pirates plunder and attack Suzhou from Songjiang Prefecture, it is most convenient to take the water route, which is also the best way for Japanese pirates who come across the sea. Japanese pirates can go up the Yangtze River from Songjiang Prefecture to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, they can reach the northwest of surrounding cities.
By crossing the Fengqiao along the canal, you can go directly to Suzhou Changmen.
If you take the land route, you have to pass through multiple states, counties, towns, and villages, and it is not as fast or confidential as taking the water route.
Therefore, if the Japanese pirates plundered and attacked the Changmen area and Suzhou City in Suzhou, the possibility of taking the water route was more than 90%.
Fengqiao is the waterway transportation hub and throat of Suzhou. Whether passing through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal or Fengjiang River and other rivers, it must pass through Fengqiao. Therefore, when Japanese pirates take the waterway to rob Changmen, if they go to Suzhou, they must pass through Fengqiao.
Maple Bridge is the focus of Suzhou's defense.
Zhu Pingan walked along the maple bridge several times, stood on the maple bridge and looked around, closed his eyes and thought for a moment, and a plan formed in his mind.
Since there is no danger to defend in the Maple Bridge area, let's create a defendable danger.
Without further ado.
Zhu Ping'an returned to the camp and quickly drew a sketch of Fengqiao's defense. The sketch was very simple. He built a three-story sentry fort on the east slope of Fengqiao Bridge, in front of Fengqiao Camp, the new headquarters of the Zhejiang Army, with more shooting holes.
, can fire blunderbuss and small artillery.
The outpost does not need to be big, it only needs to be able to garrison 200 people, and it suffices to cover an area of about 400 square meters, with a terrace with brick stacks on the top.
Zhu Ping'an planned the sentry fort to use bricks and stones as the main materials, and use lime mixed with glutinous rice and mud to speed up the construction progress and toughness of the fort. Although there was no concrete at this time in the Ming Dynasty, there was lime. The craftsmen mixed lime, fine sand, glutinous rice
The effect of native concrete mixed with juice and other objects is not much worse than modern concrete. When applied on masonry, it is extremely strong. Although native concrete is more expensive, who can make Suzhou government not short of money?
The Zhejiang army could usually board the fort to look out, patrol and be on guard. Once Japanese pirates were discovered, they would raise beacon fire to warn Changmen Shili Street and Suzhou City. At the same time, they could block the fort, hold on, and attack the Japanese pirates.
In addition to the sentry fort, Zhu Ping'an also built a brick wall more than 100 meters high and one person high along the river on the east bank of the canal under Fengqiao, on the Fengqiao Camp side, as a cannon position for the Zhejiang Army.
In this way, the Zhejiang army could form a military defense line along the sentry forts, maple bridges, river walls, and river channels to guard the western gateway of Suzhou.
Once this line of defense is built, Zhu Pingan is confident that the Japanese pirates will be defeated in the future, but he is afraid that there will not be enough Japanese pirates.
After the Maple Bridge Defense Line plan was formed, Zhu Ping'an took Liu Dadao and others into Suzhou City without stopping, regardless of the fact that it was getting late, visited Suzhou Magistrate Shang, and showed the Maple Bridge Defense Line plan to Mr. Shang.
"Excellent, Mr. Zhu deserves to be Mr. Zhu. A sentry fort and a 100-meter river wall have given the undefendable Suzhou City a pass. This plan alone is far better than our Suzhou Prefecture Armed Forces Department."
A few streets away.”
Magistrate Shang saw the Fengqiao defense line plan, and after listening to Zhu Ping'an's explanation, he was surprised and admired the Fengqiao defense line.
"Master Shang is more familiar with the geography of Suzhou. What other opinions do you have on this?" Zhu Ping'an asked.
"Master Zhu's plan is very good. I have no objection. However, I wonder if the outpost can be built larger to accommodate more soldiers. The river wall can be built longer and higher. After all, I am not bad in Suzhou.
Every money spent, whether manpower or material resources, will be borne by our Suzhou government. After all, this is all to protect our city of Suzhou."
The prefect Shang spoke of old Versailles as soon as he opened his mouth, embodying the words "wealth and wealth" vividly.
"Master Shang's opinion is very good, but in view of the fact that Japanese pirates may launch an attack on Suzhou at any time, the scale of the fort and the city wall should not be too large so that they can be completed and put into use quickly. After this fort is completed, another one can be built nearby.
If it forms a corner, this fort can be built larger." Zhu Pingan replied.
"Well, Master Zhu is right. Japanese pirates may attack our Suzhou City at any time. The sooner the pass is built, the better."
Magistrate Shang nodded repeatedly after hearing this.
"Without further delay, I will have people start preparations. They will hold lamps all night to lay the foundation and build a Japanese-proof outpost."
As he spoke, Magistrate Shang summoned his subordinate officials and assigned matters regarding the construction of forts and river walls.