Yang Guozhu was standing in front of the emperor wearing a first-class military attaché robe, but there was a slight trace of sweat on his forehead.
It wasn't that the stove in the Qianqing Palace was too hot, but the emperor's plan to seize chestnuts from the fire made Yang Guozhu a little nervous.
Now Qi King Li Zhi's 100,000-strong army is stationed in Tongzhou sixty miles away. These soldiers are the most elite Huben troops and may invade the capital at any time. However, at this juncture, the emperor actually said that the capital camp would start training new soldiers again. military.
Zhu Youjian paced back and forth in front of the throne and asked Zhang Guanghang, who was standing aside: "How much surplus does Taicang have in a year now?"
Zhang Guanghang cupped his hands and replied: "Your Majesty, because the land tax has been equalized across the whole of Jiangnan and the north, the tax burden on the common people has been greatly reduced. Therefore, we have increased the total tax revenue by 20%. Today, Taicang has 16.3 million people every year." A surplus of two.”
Zhu Youjian nodded and asked: "If all this money is used for military training, how many soldiers can be trained?"
Zhang Guanghang cupped his hands and said: "The first monthly salary for new soldiers in the Beijing camp is three taels and five taels per month. Based on this monthly salary, each soldier needs forty-two taels of salary per year. Based on this calculation, the tax money in Taicang can support more than 30 taels." Wan Xinjun."
Zhu Youjian looked at Zhang Guanghang, waiting for him to continue.
Zhang Guanghang continued: "However, the newly recruited army not only needs pay, but also needs the support of food and fodder. The newly recruited army also needs to make firecrackers, equip artillery, and make armor. The training stage of new recruits consumes gunpowder and bullets, and there are a lot of shells. This It’s also a big expense.”
Zhu Youjian frowned and asked: "After calculating this, how many new troops can be trained?"
Zhang Guanghang calculated in his mind, looked at Yang Guozhu, and said: "According to Chen's calculation, I am afraid that we can train 200,000 new troops."
Zhu Youjian also followed Zhang Guanghang's gaze and looked at Yang Guozhu.
The calculations made by civil servants are, after all, rough calculations like those of an accountant. Whether it is really possible to train so many soldiers and horses still needs to be confirmed by military attaches who have led soldiers.
A thin line of sweat ran down Yang Guozhu's head, but he did not pick a fight with Zhang Guanghang. Instead, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty..."
He stopped mid-sentence, as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare.
Zhu Youjian looked at Yang Guozhu and asked slowly: "The admiral is worried about King Qi?"
Yang Guozhu swallowed his saliva and did not dare to answer this question.
Now that Li Zhi's troops were approaching and he could invade the capital at a snap, Yang Guozhu really couldn't figure out what Li Zhi was planning.
According to the rumors in the capital these days, idle people in the city, especially those who have read books, say that King Qi is now full-fledged and has begun to oppress the court. Now the new army of the court has almost been wiped out, and the Jiangbei army has been defeated in another battle. The Huben army was completely wiped out, and the only elite army in the world was the Jiangbei army. Li Zhi could be said to hold the world's military power alone.
Therefore, it is widely said that the reason why Li Zhi forced the capital was because he had a disobedient heart.
Yang Guozhu really didn't know whether he should believe these rumors. Judging from Yang Guozhu's experience of fighting side by side with Li Zhi in Gyeonggi and Jinzhou, Yang Guozhu didn't believe that Li Zhi would rebel. Thinking of the battle in Jinzhou, Li Zhi was on the front line against the Qing cavalry attack. In this situation, Yang Guozhu felt that Li Zhi would not take the path of a rebellious minister and traitor.
However, people's hearts are far apart, and Yang Guozhu is not sure about this matter.
What if Li Zhi just wants to be a powerful minister?
If Li Zhi is really disloyal, or to say the least, if Li Zhi wants to be a powerful minister, then he must be hoping to control the situation with his military power. From this perspective, since Li Zhi has military strength With an advantage, the emperor will never be allowed to suddenly stand up and train his troops.
The emperor was training his troops at this time. Logically speaking, Li Zhi, who was forcing the imperial court with his troops, would definitely take action. But with the current power of Li Zhi's fierce and powerful army, it would be easy for Li Zhi to force the emperor to give up this military training plan.
In Yang Guozhu's view, if the emperor announces the training of a new army, Li Zhi will further attack the capital, and by then Li Zhi will no longer have a high-sounding reason. The relationship between him and the emperor will be completely broken, and the last trace of the relationship between monarch and ministers will be broken.
The etiquette between the emperor and his ministers will be torn to pieces. And the etiquette between the monarch and his ministers will be torn to pieces, which is definitely not a good thing for the emperor's current situation.
Therefore, Yang Guozhu felt that announcing military training at this time was definitely not a good thing.
After all, Yang Guozhu was a martial artist, and almost everything he was thinking was reflected on his face. His hesitation made Zhu Youjian shake his head slightly and sneer.
"Yang Guozhu, you are worried that Li Zhi will break his face!"
Yang Guozhu was so frightened by these words that he trembled, bent down, cupped his hands and said, "I don't dare!"
Zhu Youjian sneered and said: "In today's situation, what else can you dare to do? I'm afraid all the people in the capital think the same as you."
Zhu Youjian flicked his sleeves and said, "However, I know that Li Zhi will not stop me from training my troops!"
Yang Guozhu was stunned and looked at Zhu Youjian with his mouth wide open.
Even Zhang Guanghang was a little surprised. The emperor was so sure? Is he so sure?
Zhu Youjian sneered and said: "Li Zhi was promoted step by step from an official of one hundred households by me. I understand this person's temperament."
"Yang Guozhu, you dare to recruit good men to make armor and train troops! Don't worry, Li Zhi will not rebel!"
Yang Guozhu looked at the emperor and then at Zhang Guanghang.
Zhang Guanghang also looked puzzled.
Yang Guozhu then looked at Wang Chengen again.
Wang Chengen seemed a little convinced by the emperor's words. He kept his eyes open and didn't know what he was thinking.
Yang Guozhu took a breath, cupped his hands and said, "After the general receives the order, I will go back and make preparations. As soon as the money from the warehouse arrives at the capital camp, the general will start recruiting people!"
Zhu Youjian nodded, turned around and looked at a newly hung map of the Ming Dynasty on the wall, looking at the vast sea on the map, and said nothing.
####
Han Jinxin stood in the third hall of Prince Qi's Mansion and reported the information about the Beijing camp to Li Zhi.
When Zhong Feng heard Han Jinxin's report, he frowned and said to Li Zhi: "Your Majesty, the emperor actually started training troops at this time. This is clearly aimed at us."
Li Zhi looked at Zhong Feng and said, "So what?"
Zhong Feng said: "Your Majesty, this time we stationed troops in Tongzhou to intimidate the Emperor, we have already pushed the Emperor into a corner. Since the Emperor is targeting us, if he waits for him to train 200,000 new troops, it may be detrimental to us.
"
Zhong Feng looked at Han Jinxin.
Han Jinxin was glanced at by Zhong Feng, and his face couldn't help but shudder.
Li Zhi curiously asked Han Jinxin: "Uncle An Ping, what do you think?"
"I am too ignorant to discuss important matters!"
"What do you think!"
Han Jinxin lowered his head, cupped his hands and said, "Since the prince has asked me to speak, I will be bold enough to show my shame."
"I think that no matter what the prince thinks now, since the Tiger Army has repeatedly used large forces to force the emperor, this powerful minister is determined. Since ancient times, a powerful minister has not let go of his power and allowed the emperor to regain control of the situation!"
Li Zhi smiled and said, "You also want to persecute the emperor alone!"
Han Jinxin plopped down on his knees and shouted loudly: "I don't dare!"
