In the past few days, Lin Jue and everyone else have been busy preparing for the expedition. Food and grass are actually not a big problem. Although some of the military rations shipped from Luoyan Valley have been misappropriated, with the smooth shipping and the recovery of the market, food continues to flow from the south.
The arrival of goods is enough to ensure supply.
Although the number of soldiers and horses of the Luoyan Army has not been greatly supplemented, the number of soldiers and horses arriving from various places is very limited, and the local state capital does not have much troops, so in fact, the number of local soldiers and horses that came to the capital was less than 50,000. But this is actually a problem
It's not big either. The Luoyan Army has never relied on numbers to win, but relied on elite soldiers, strong generals, powerful means and resourcefulness to win. Back then, an army of 100,000 people dared to go out and roam the mountains, not to mention that the total force now exceeds 150,000.
The real problem lies in the replenishment of ammunition for the various firearms that the Luoyan Army relies on to win. The personnel and equipment of the Funiu Mountain Arsenal have been moved to the capital. After arriving, Lin Jue ordered them to start work quickly to replenish the consumed ammunition. However, by chance
It is difficult for a woman to make a living without rice. Liang Qi reported this matter to Lin Jue many times, and his scalp was scratched. It was because of the shortage of raw materials. Gunpowder, iron ingots, and various other auxiliary raw materials. These things are now all
Lin Jue had a lot of money in his hands for supplies that were in short supply, but he could not buy the things he needed. Liang Qi had sent people to buy them everywhere, and almost all the raw materials in the gunpowder workshops, fireworks shops, and blacksmith shops around the capital were searched.
Everything was turned upside down, but not much was achieved.
Therefore, the Luoyan Army's arsenal is actually in a state of half-operation. After getting a batch of materials and raw materials, they start manufacturing some. The work stops and stops, like a cow peeing. It is completely unable to operate at full capacity to complete the requirements of the Luoyan Army.
Lin Jue was aware of this problem a few days ago. This is actually an important reason why Lin Jue has been unable to send troops. Lin Jue does not fight unprepared battles, and firearms and ammunition are the lowest cost of the Luoyan Army's operations. If these supplies are not available
Are you ready to fight the Jurchens in cavalry or hand-to-hand combat? Wouldn't that be exactly what the Jurchens wanted? Lin Jue's requirements are actually not high. At least the ammunition and firearms are enough to support a battle, and it won't end in an anticlimactic manner.
Lin Boyong learned of Lin Jue's current predicament at a Lin family dinner. He did not say anything at the time and took a boat back to Hangzhou that day. A few days later, a carrier pigeon flew from Hangzhou, and the content of the letter made Lin Jue overjoyed.
It turned out that Lin Boyong quietly returned to Hangzhou to buy supplies such as gunpowder and iron ingots for Lin Jue. He did not make any announcement in front of Lin Jue, but inquired about a large number of materials that Lin Jue needed in Jiangning, Suzhou and other places.
These supplies were notified to Lin Jue until later. This is a mature and prudent style. Before the matter is resolved, he will never boast, but just think of a solution. Only when the matter is clear will he speak out.
Lin Boyong's letter said that these are the supplies that some merchants have privately hoarded. If you want to buy them now, you have to pay a high price. Unless Lin Jue forcibly requisitions them in the name of the court, Lin Boyong does not recommend that. In that case, what will happen?
The hoarding merchants can only hand over the supplies as ordered, but this is just a hammer sale and will completely cut off the supply. Lin Boyong's suggestion is to buy it at a high price in the name of the Lin family. This will not only relieve the urgent need, but also open up this supply chain.
Chain. Let these merchants take the initiative to find these materials for Lin Jue, and they can continuously supply these materials to the Luoyan Army in the future. It is obvious that the Luoyan Army will need the supply of these raw materials for a long time in the future, because these things are consumed extremely quickly.
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Lin Jue's heart was really waiting for everything to stabilize. The raw materials of strategic materials such as gunpowder and iron ore must be nationalized and banned from civilian circulation. Because he knew that as the Luoyan Army started to use hot weapons to fight, someone would soon
Follow suit. No matter how well the confidentiality work is done, it will inevitably spread out. Therefore, raw materials such as gunpowder and fine iron must be controlled in the hands of the court to prevent the spread to the greatest extent. At least people with ulterior motives will not be equipped with large-scale firearms.
The opportunity, the harm is unimaginable.
But at this moment, it was obvious that the conditions were not mature. Therefore, Lin Jue agreed to Lin Boyong's suggestion. He immediately asked Liang Qi to send people with a huge sum of five hundred thousand taels of silver to go south to purchase these supplies. For Lin Jue, this was considered a great success.
Solved the biggest problem at hand.
Although there will be some delays in time, this will not affect the march of the army. The existing firearms can be used to send troops to fight first, and then the ammunition and firearms manufactured by the arsenal will be transported to the army. Just rush to make a batch before the expedition.
Grenades and swarm rockets are cost-effective weapons. As for the shells of the Shenwei General Cannon and the shotshells of the Bastard Box, they are only equipped with some tokens.
As various preparations progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly tense. The people in the city also clearly felt that the army was about to go out, because the North City and East City campuses were full of soldiers practicing various battles every day.
The cry of killing resounded throughout the world, making people tremble with fear.
The people were very conflicted. They were worried about their expectations. They were also worried that the days had just returned to calm, and Marshal Lin would start a war again. If someone accidentally lost this battle, wouldn't it be like what Yang Jun did when he went to the north?
Dazhou will fall into an embarrassing situation again, and the world will be in chaos. Many people actually prefer that Marshal Lin will not provoke those Jurchens again. Since they are not attacking, why bother to provoke them. Of course, most people understand
It's reasonable. The Jurchens occupy the land of the Great Zhou Dynasty, so this battle has to be fought. The Jurchens take advantage of the fire to rob and behave badly. The Jurchens must be eliminated before they can live a peaceful life, otherwise they will always be waiting around like hungry wolves.
It makes it difficult for people to sleep and eat well, and sooner or later they will attack.
In the court, the debate about the expedition has subsided. Everyone is cheering for the Luoyan Army, and all officials are also racking their brains to raise food and supplies for the Luoyan Army. Emperor Guo Kun personally went to the East Campus to review the training one day.
soldiers and horses, and took out a box on the spot
Zi's donation of gold and silver jewelry to the military triggered a wave of people from all over the country to contribute to the Luoyan Army. Guo Kun told everyone in public that these jewelry were the Queen Mother's dowry and personal belongings accumulated over the years.
This time, he took it all out for the army to go on an expedition. He also conveyed the words of the Queen Mother. Even if these jewelry can be used to create a few sets of armor for the soldiers to protect their bodies, or even if they are used to buy some medicine to relieve the soldiers' pain, it will be nothing.
It was well used. These words made the soldiers feel warm in their hearts, and those who didn't know the inside story were deeply moved. Inspired by the Queen Mother's actions, everyone in the capital donated money and supplies to raise money and food for the army.
Lin Jue did not comment on the behavior of Guo Kun and the Queen Mother. They were willing to pay for their money, so Lin Jue naturally accepted it. However, Lin Jue ordered not to accept the money and food that the people spontaneously squeezed out from their teeth, because the Luoyan Army still refused to accept it.
It's not to the point where we need to plunder money and food from the people to fight a war. If it really comes to that point, it's okay not to fight this war.
After more than 20 days of preparation, the date of the expedition was finally officially set on the seventh day of June. After Lin Jue entered the palace and reported the date of the expedition to Guo Kun, Guo Kun was obviously relieved. During these more than 20 days, he asked
Lin Jue had asked Lin Jue no less than five or six times when to send troops, and now he finally got the exact date. Guo Kun told Lin Jue that although he could not go with the army in person this time, he would sit in the capital and provide Lin Jue with strong backing.
. He also apologized to Lin Jue. Regarding what he said in the water pavilion that night, he said that after thinking about it afterwards, he felt that he should not be suspicious of Lin Jue. He told Lin Jue that after defeating the Jurchens, he would wait for Lin Jue to
When he returns in triumph, he will have a heart-to-heart talk with Lin Jue, change himself, and become a good emperor. He will humbly ask Lin Jue for advice. He will pay attention to any opinions Lin Jue puts forward and will never let Lin Jue down.
. He also said that he would practice what he said before. He wanted to share the world with Lin Jue. He was only the emperor in name, and Lin Jue could be half the master. He said that he had thought clearly, and he and Lin Jue were both prosperous and prosperous.
The Guo family needs Lin Jue's full assistance. No one can replace Lin Jue's position. He said that as long as the Guo family is on the throne, Lin Jue will be the prime minister and privy councilor forever.
Marshal of the Army. In the future, Lin Jue's son will also take over this position, and will always form a fixed pair with the Guo family as kings and ministers of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He also said that he will give Lin Jue a gold medal, and anyone in the Lin family can use it in the future.
The card is exempt from crime, transcends the law, and enjoys the same extra-legal treatment as the royal family.
In short, he said many, many words and made many, many promises. His attitude could not be called insincere, and his words could not be said to be insincere. But Lin Jue smiled from beginning to end, looking at him as if he was an idiot, and did not refute.
He didn't agree either, and just looked at him with a smile, which made Guo Kun feel hairy in his heart. He was so angry that he wanted to punch Lin Jue's smiling face.
After Lin Jue came out of the palace, he looked up to the sky and laughed so much that tears almost came out of his eyes.
