Chapter seven hundred and sixteen no secrets in the army
Shopkeeper Chang didn't show any pretense, he immediately stood up and sat on a chair nearby, smiling and said: "Excuse me, Commander! I know everything I know."
"Mr. Chang's surname?"
"A name that is despicable is insulting to the ear, and a single word means nothing."
"There is spring and autumn is a good slogan!" Wu Shigong joked immediately after hearing the name of shopkeeper Chang.
Shopkeeper Chang was stunned by this joke, and then immediately understood what Wu Shigong meant. Wu Shigong was talking about Chang Qiu's family, and where was Chang Yuchun, the famous general who founded the Ming Dynasty.
So Chang Qiu quickly said: "I don't dare to compare with King Kaiping. It's just that the surname is the same. I feel ashamed to come from the same clan."
"Oh? Are you really from the same clan as King Kaiping?"
"It is an insult to our ancestors and I am ashamed to have such a lowly career. However, the commander-in-chief defeated the Tatars in the river. I have heard about the commander-in-chief's reputation. In the future, I will definitely have the same name and title as King Kaiping." Then Chang Qiu met.
After Wu Shigong, he has always said good things.
"Hahaha——! Let me lend you some good words!" Wu Shigong laughed heartily again and said, "But I have just arrived in Liaodong and I don't know many things in Liaodong. I am just looking for a local. I hope that shopkeeper Chang will not hide his secrets. I hope
Don’t hesitate to teach me?”
"Where! Where! The commander is too polite. The young one must know everything."
"Okay! Sir, do you know how many Tatars are besieging Jinzhou?"
"..."
"Sir, do you know how many officers and soldiers there are? How many officers and soldiers are there in Shanhaiguan and other places in Liaodong? How many officers and soldiers are there in and around Guancheng?"
"..."
"Sir, do you know how many imperial forts and fortresses there are outside Guancheng? How many artillery pieces and muskets are there?"
"..."
After Wu Shigong's questioning, he also learned some things about both the enemy and ourselves. Although Chang Qiu didn't know much as a private shopkeeper, what he knew did help Wu Shigong a lot. Some things even
They all involve military secrets, and these will never be known to the outside world in Runing, so Chang Qiu's answers surprised even Wu Shigong.
After asking the questions he was concerned about, Wu Shigong pretended to be casual and asked: "Thank you sir for your help! What you said has been of great help to me. However, I have some questions. My accent is not from Liaodong, right? Mr.
How do you know so much about the local customs and customs of Liaodong?"
But Chang Qiu didn't pay attention to Wu Shigong's temptation at all, and he replied readily: "Xiao Xiao is indeed not from Liaodong, his hometown is Pingyao, Shanxi. Xiao Xiao failed in his studies when he was a child. When he becomes an adult, he can only make a living by doing business in the clan. Xiao Xiao
I have been in Liaodong for more than 20 years, and I have been lucky enough to preside here for seven or eight years. I have traveled with caravans dozens of times, so I am quite familiar with the inside and outside of the customs."
These words made Wu Shigong even more strange. From the Wanli Year to the present, the war between the Ming and Qing Dynasties has lasted for more than twenty years. Could it be that in Liaodong, the frontline of the battle, the two sides have never stopped doing business?
So Wu Shigong asked: "Mr. Chang has been doing business with the Tatars all these years. Aren't you afraid of the court investigating?"
Chang Qiu smiled disapprovingly, and then laughed softly: "Where do the leather goods, dongzhu and ginseng in the pass come from? What do the trading houses all over the city do? Of course, these small businessmen will never do anything with Jian
We have a relationship with each other, and we are all dealing with some tribes in Mongolia, so we will never violate the rules of the court." After finishing speaking, Chang Qiu showed Wu Shigong a mysterious smile that said "You understand!"
Wu Shigong smiled back tacitly. He understood what Chang Qiu meant. The caravan leaving the customs had no idea where it was going. Who knew whether they were going to the Manchus or Mongolia? Besides, the Mongolian tribes in Liaodong were all Manchus.
As a vassal of the Qing Dynasty, doing business with Mongolia was equivalent to doing business with the Qing Dynasty. There was no difference at all between the two.
But after understanding it, Wu Shigong was even more surprised. It was the first time that he and Chang Qiu met. They should have had a brief relationship, but Chang Qiu did not hide it like an old friend, and seemed not to be afraid at all that Wu Shigong was an "upright" and kind person.
Court officials who "adhered to principles" were not afraid that Wu Shigong would fall out on the spot.
While Wu Shigong was not paying attention, Chang Qiu secretly looked down at Wu Shigong's face. When he found that Wu Shigong looked calm, he was secretly relieved.
As a business owner who dominates the market in Liaodong, and as a local businessman who can extend his connections to high-level officials in Liaodong and lend his house to the commander-in-chief, every word Chang Qiu says must have a purpose.
He would never talk nonsense in the first conversation with Wu Shigong.
The reason for this is that Chang Qiu wanted to test Wu Shigong's attitude towards this kind of prohibited business inside and outside the customs, and wanted to further build a relationship with Wu Shigong.
Although he knew that Chang Qiu's enthusiasm was a bit excessive, Wu Shigong would not put any effort into guessing what Chang Qiu was up to? After all, the difference in status between the two was too great, and it was impossible for Wu Shigong to be swayed by Chang Qiu.
.
So Wu Shigong then asked: "I would like to thank Mr. Chang here in advance. Many of what Mr. Chang said are military matters that outsiders cannot know. But Mr. Chang can tell the truth frankly, which shows that Mr. Chang is a good military officer."
Liaodong is connected!
In fact, Wu Shigong was asking tactfully: How did Chang Qiu know so many military secrets?
Unexpectedly, Chang Qiu still waved his hands indifferently and said: "The commander-in-chief has oversold me. There is a wild land outside the pass, and merchant caravans always camp in military fortresses. It is not surprising to know this. And I told the commander-in-chief.
There is no secret in Guancheng, the commander-in-chief can know it completely as long as he sends people to inquire inside the city, and the little one just tells a few things in advance."
Wu Shigong was surprised too many times today, so he was a little numb after hearing this. If according to Chang Qiu, these military secrets have been widely circulated among the people, then what secrets can the Ming army have?
What? As long as the Manchu and Qing Dynasties sent a few spies, they could learn everything about the Ming army from the people without taking the risk to investigate in the army. Then the Ming army really became a sieve.
If this was the case, it would be difficult to fight if one side was transparent and the other kept secret. But seeing Chang Qiu's normal attitude, Wu Shigong knew that the Ming army was already accustomed to this kind of situation, so the secrecy on the battlefield
It seemed difficult to reverse the situation. After all, Wu Shigong was only a general in charge of troops, not the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Ming Army. His hands were not that long, and it was impossible to grasp the secrets in the army.
When Chang Qiu saw Wu Shigong lost in thought, he felt that it was time to strike while the iron was hot, so he continued with a smile: "Master! The servants in the house may not be what the commander wants. The younger one happens to have a daughter by his side, who has been virtuous and smart since he was a child.
, gentle and understanding, should we send her into the house now and let her serve the commander?"