Shenglong City, Zhang Mao's temporary marching camp.
"What did Wu Shilian say just now?"
Liu Jin studied the map of Annan and thought about how to develop this place in the future.
It is easy to conquer a country, but difficult to defend it.
The situation in Annan is even more urgent and special. It is far away from the ruling center of the Ming Dynasty. The number of Han people here is very small, and most of them are Jing, Zhuang and Dai. People from these three ethnic groups account for most of the population of Annan.
The rule of the Ming Dynasty in Guangxi and the Yunnan-Guizhou region was not very strong. In the past, the chieftains often rebelled. In recent years, with the implementation of land reform and return to local rule, these places have gradually stabilized.
Here in Annan, if the Ming Dynasty wanted to establish a long-term rule, on the one hand, it had to change the population structure here and increase the proportion of Ming people on a large scale. On the other hand, it would have to be like the Yunnan-Guizhou region, where the people should be reformed and returned to their hometowns.
At this time, Zhang Mao walked in with a smile on his face. He had just received Wu Shilian, the ambassador sent by the King of Annan Kingdom. Without asking, Liu Jin could actually guess that he was probably here to beg for mercy and apologize.
.
"You've already guessed it, why bother asking?"
Zhang Mao looked at Liu Jin and said: "He said that Annan had no intention of offending and provoking the Ming Dynasty. Those who attacked Longzhou were rebels. They have now executed all the rebels."
"They also presented their credentials, requested to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, and were willing to pay tribute to our Ming Dynasty. They said that as long as our Ming Dynasty is willing to withdraw its troops, everything will be easy."
"They even bribed me, gave me more than 100,000 taels of silver, and gave me some gold, silver, and jewelry."
"You really think we are all fools. We are obviously stalling for time, waiting for their troops from the north to come back."
Zhang Mao couldn't help but smile after saying this.
"If they want to delay, we will drag them down. If these troops in Annan are not dealt with at once, they will become a disaster in the future. Once they are completely wiped out, Annan will be easier to manage in the future."
Liu Jin smiled and said nonchalantly.
"That's what I mean. After all, Annan is far away from my Ming Dynasty. Although there are a small number of Ming people here, the number is too small. It will not be easy for my Ming Dynasty to rule here in the future."
Zhang Mao nodded and expressed support.
Zhang Mao is not a fool. On the contrary, Zhang Mao is actually a very wise man who has a very clear understanding of the situation in Annan.
I also clearly know why the Ming Dynasty abandoned Annan in the first place. In the final analysis, it was not easy to rule. It was too far away, there were too few Han people, and the chieftains in various places in Annan were too powerful. They could overthrow the Ming Dynasty here at any time.
rule.
"Especially these chieftains will definitely rebel again and again in the future, and some large troops will inevitably be stationed here."
Speaking of this, Zhang Mao couldn't help but frown.
To be honest, it is not difficult to destroy Annan. The key is how to rule and manage this place in the future, which Zhang Maodu finds very difficult.
Now the Ming army has also occupied some cities in the Red River Delta area, and has begun to establish government offices in these cities to manage these places.
However, they encountered great obstacles. The local people were unwilling to accept the rule and management of the Ming Dynasty, and even rebelled repeatedly.
"Remember the five thousand Japanese warriors and five thousand Korean warriors we brought here?"
"Bringing them here is just to let them do some dirty and tiring work."
Liu Jin thought for a while and said, since you can make excuses and say that the people in Longzhou are rebels, don't we, the Ming Dynasty, not do the same?
Five thousand Japanese warriors and five thousand Korean warriors, they just come here to make some shameful swear words and do tiring work. If anyone is dissatisfied with the rule of the Ming Dynasty, let these people talk to you.
"Haha, you are still so cruel."
When Zhang Mao heard this, he couldn't help laughing happily.
In this era, there is only one simple and hassle-free way to deal with those who disobey one's rule, and that is to kill until your heads are rolling, and until you kowtow in submission.
This is true at all times and in all countries.
…
Time passed slowly during the quarrel with Wu Shilian, and a few days flew by.
The 90,000 Ming army plus 5,000 Japanese warriors and 5,000 Korean warriors, a total of 100,000 troops, had already opened up the route to Tokyo within a few days, and the troops were divided into two groups.
One group was led by Zhang Mao and Liu Jin and marched towards Tokyo from Thang Long City. The other group was led by Wang Shouren and Poluhou Yang Yun, heading north from Thanh Hoa. The two groups of armies finally gathered at the foot of Tokyo City.
Annan's Tokyo was set up and constructed based on the capital of the Ming Dynasty. It can be divided into two parts, the outer city and the inner city. The outer city is where ordinary people live, and the inner city is where the dignitaries live.
Of course, Tokyo's city wall is far from being compared with the city walls of Nanjing and Beijing in the Ming Dynasty. Its city wall is relatively low, only less than two feet high. The city wall is full of defenders from Annan Kingdom.
"Your Majesty, relying on the tall walls of Tokyo City and the food and grass we have hoarded, we can easily defend it for a year and a half."
On the city wall, Li Hui brought the civil and military officers of the Manchu Dynasty to personally inspect. Wu Qiong, the right minister who had just been dispatched from the north, said very confidently.
Annan's 50,000 elite troops have all been mobilized back, plus the 50,000 temporarily organized troops, a total of 100,000 people, known as a million-strong army, vowing to fight to the death against the Ming army.
However, Wu Shilian next to him had a solemn look on his face. In the past few days, at first, he was very happy to see that the Ming army did not attack Tokyo directly. He thought that his strategy was successful and delayed the Ming army for several days.
Time bought our side time to deploy troops and generals.
But now it seems that maybe the people of Ming Dynasty were not fooled, but they did it intentionally.
Now, in the entire Annan, except for Tokyo and some cities in the northwest and north, all the important towns in the core areas in the east and south have fallen into the hands of the Ming army.
The Ming army had completely isolated Tokyo, which seemed to make him think of a possibility.
This time, the Ming Dynasty would not just come over and teach Annan a lesson. It might very well be possible that he would destroy Annan and resume his rule here.
"Woo~woo~"
Outside the city of Tokyo, flags were flying and murderous. The Ming army was divided into squares, and the military formations were tight, surrounding the city of Tokyo.
Thousands of Miyun artillery pieces have been aimed at Tokyo City, waiting for Zhang Mao's order to launch a terrifying attack.
It didn't take long for the horn to sound.
Soon, the flag soldiers began to wave the flags in their hands, and with the waving of the flags, thousands of Miyun cannons began to fire at the artillery position.
"Dong~dong~"
Along with the rumbling sound of artillery fire, billowing smoke rose from the artillery position. The thick smoke was blown by the strong wind and soon filled the entire city of Tokyo.
"Boom~"
Cannonballs fell like raindrops towards the city of Tokyo. The roaring cannonballs carried terrifying kinetic energy and fell on the entire city of Tokyo at once.
Suddenly, like rain, the entire city of Tokyo was shrouded in artillery fire.
A large number of buildings were destroyed by artillery fire. The Annan army on the city wall was frightened and turned pale. These artillery shells seemed to have eyes, specifically drilling into their crowd.
Every time a cannonball fell, it would inevitably bring with it a billowing mist of blood among the crowd. Some people were directly blown to pieces, and the rolling cannonballs even left long paths of blood.
There were too many Annan troops gathered in the city of Tokyo. One hundred thousand troops were all gathered in this small city of Tokyo, and the city walls were full of people.
As soon as the artillery opened fire, there were heavy casualties immediately.
The power of Miyun Artillery is really too great, and its rate of fire is very fast.
Thousands of Miyun artillery pieces attacked at the same time, and the shells poured into the small city of Tokyo like rain. Houses in various parts of the city were reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye, and raging fires began to burn at the same time.
"The Ming Dynasty's artillery is too powerful, isn't it?"
Li Hui, who was inspecting the city wall, was pinned to the ground by his men. He listened to the roaring artillery and the constant wailing from the city wall, and his whole head was buzzing.
The Ming Dynasty's artillery is too terrifying.
Such a dense artillery attack, such a terrifying rate of fire, and such a long attack distance, the artillery on Annan's side could not even touch the opponent's side. Before a shell was fired, the artillery on the city wall was
All have been completely destroyed.
"Dong~dong~"
Intense artillery attacks came one after another, and the Ming people's artillery shells continued to pour in as if they were free.
The section of the city wall where Li Hui was located received special attention, and artillery fire concentrated on attacking here.
Obviously, the Ming army with telescopes had discovered Li Hui and others, and naturally had no intention of letting Li Hui go. As the king of Annan, he could never let go.
"Boom~"
With a loud noise, a gate in Tokyo City was shattered by artillery fire, and the gate opened wide.
"Kill out~Kill out~"
Li Hui, who was on the city wall, couldn't help roaring. If this continued, the Ming army would not need to attack, but would directly use artillery fire to kill him.
He was afraid, he was really afraid.
Just as soon as a cannonball landed next to him, the guards, ministers, etc. around him were suddenly covered in blood. Blood spattered all over him, and severed limbs fell on him.
If this cannonball fell on him, even if there were guards holding thick shields around him, it would probably have no effect at all.
While roaring, he quickly evacuated under the city wall. The Ming army's artillery was too terrifying.
As he issued the order, a large number of Annan troops rushed out to kill the Ming army at the city gate that was smashed open. However, what waited for them were muskets that were already hungry and unbearable.
The Ming army, which was marching in neat steps, carrying muskets, wearing armor and swords at their waists, also pressed forward.