Eight hundred and fourteenth chapters straightened cabinet
The Ming army deployed hundreds of thousands of troops on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and there were also forts and naval forces to assist them, which made large-scale cross-river operations extremely difficult.
The small number of troops sent will not have much effect, and there may be a counterattack by the absolutely superior Ming army, and large-scale cross-river operations are also very difficult.
After all, the Yangtze River is not a small river. Most of the middle and lower reaches are more than several thousand meters wide. Crossing the river requires an absolutely superior navy to cover it.
And this cover not only refers to the troops crossing the river itself, but also represents the subsequent supply channel.
Otherwise, even if a hundred thousand troops crossed the river, the Ming Navy's navy directly blocked the Yangtze River channel near the landing point, which would be enough to cut off the supply channels across the river.
For the Tang Army, which relied heavily on logistical supplies, having its supply lines cut off was more serious than facing an enemy several times stronger.
This can also be seen from the operations of the Datang Army in the past few years. Unless it is fighting to defend the isolated city, the Datang Army has always avoided having its supply lines cut off. Once cut off, the frontline combat troops
It often leads to great crises.
And this is also an important reason why in the past six months, the Army of the Tang Dynasty clearly had the opportunity to take advantage of the Ming Army's unstable foothold to launch a large-scale Northern Expedition to cross the Yangtze River, but it stopped at the Yangtze River.
Without him, the logistics supply line cannot be guaranteed!
Of course, this is also related to the fact that the Tang Dynasty currently occupies a greater strategic advantage. The Tang Dynasty has changed many of its early adventurous strategies and adopted a steady and steady strategy.
For example, when attacking Jiangnan, after capturing Nanchang and Fuzhou, it was actually possible to launch a large-scale attack on Jiangnan. However, the Tang Army proactively stopped large-scale attacks and instead stabilized the front line in Jiangxi.
A big reason for this is that logistics cannot keep up, and the Army wants to proceed steadily.
The same is true today. The Northern Expedition across the Yangtze River is necessary, but before the Northern Expedition across the Yangtze River, the Tang Dynasty needs to make comprehensive preparations. However, once the Tang Dynasty is ready, the upcoming Battle of Crossing the Yangtze River will be comprehensive.
, and its strategic goal is definitely not limited to capturing Anqing and Yangzhou, but is preparing to capture the entire Jiangbei and even the Central Plains in one go.
This is to avoid a tug-of-war and completely destroy the northern provinces.
Although the north is still under the control of the Ming Dynasty, the monarchs and ministers of the Tang Dynasty have already regarded the entire land of China as their own, just like Jiangnan before.
The opinion at that time was that Jiangnan must be fought, but it must be fought quickly, to a quick victory, to decide the outcome in one battle, and to avoid repeated tug-of-wars from destroying the prosperous Jiangnan.
Nowadays, the emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty generally maintain a certain attitude towards the northern provinces.
The Northern Expedition is necessary, but it is best to decide the outcome as much as possible through one or several strategic decisive battles to avoid causing too much damage to the northern provinces.
Therefore, for the Northern Expedition across the Yangtze River, the Tang Dynasty was not in a hurry, but prepared at its own pace. The navy continued to strengthen the strength of the Yangtze River Fleet to ensure the safety of crossing the river.
And the Army has more preparations!
At a routine imperial meeting, Zeng Ziwen was reporting to Li Xuan on the recent army preparations: "At present, we have mobilized elite engineers from the First Army, the Second Army, and the Third Army to form the Zhouqiao Battalion.
We are studying and training the technology of quickly building pontoons and temporary docks. We have successfully tested and built a pontoon bridge with a height of 500 meters. The whole process only took two days. Its width and endurance can directly allow our army's nine-meter-long pontoon bridge.
The field artillery losses were so heavy that Su passed."
The Army is currently deploying a large number of elite engineering troops to find ways to quickly build pontoons and temporary docks on the Yangtze River. You have to know that the Army has a lot of heavy equipment and countless supplies. It is easy to say that supplies such as ammunition and food can be packed directly in bulk.
Just ferry, but it is not impossible to transport many extremely heavy field artillery, horse-drawn carriages and the like by ship, but the loading and unloading operation will definitely be very troublesome.
In order to allow a large number of troops to quickly cross the Yangtze River in a short period of time, and to carry heavy artillery and large amounts of ammunition across the river, whether it is a temporary dock or a pontoon, it is necessary.
At the same time, the Army continues to replenish and strengthen the strength of various units.
Zeng Ziwen continued: "Last month, the Third Infantry Division also completed its reorganization. Before July this year, all existing units will complete their reorganization tasks. At the same time, except for the Fourth Infantry Division, all other units will complete the reorganization."
The force will be restored to full strength."
The reason why the Fourth Infantry Division is listed separately is because the Fourth Infantry Division has always fought in Yunnan. It is extremely difficult to replenish supplies and soldiers, and the war in Yunnan is not very important, so the Tang Dynasty
The reinforcements to the Fourth Infantry Division there are also not strong.
Although the Fourth Infantry Division also took advantage of this reorganization, it only completed the reorganization. However, it was still difficult to replenish equipment and personnel. Therefore, although the reorganization was completed, there was still a large shortage of equipment and personnel.
In the past two years, the Fourth Infantry Division has had the title of an infantry division, but its actual strength has never exceeded 10,000, which is far inferior to the 14,000 to 5,000 of other infantry divisions.
Moreover, many of these 10,000 troops were scattered throughout Yunnan to suppress the chieftains. The actual troops used to fight the Ming army would not exceed 5,000.
This is also the reason why the Fourth Infantry Division has been unable to capture Dali and control the entire Yunnan.
However, the Tang Dynasty was not in a hurry about this. Yunnan was very remote and had never been the main strategic direction of the Tang Dynasty. Even Sichuan was not the main strategic direction of the Tang Dynasty at present.
The requirements of the Tang Dynasty for the war in the southwest were very simple, as long as the situation could be maintained.
After all, only one infantry division and one mixed regiment have been invested in the entire southwest direction, and these two units are not fully staffed. The total strength now is only about 13,000 people at most.
If it can maintain the situation in the huge southwest region, then the army will be very satisfied.
The army concentrated its main forces on the south bank of the Yangtze River, Jiangnan, northern Jiangxi, and northern Hunan.
Coincidentally, the Ming army did the same thing, with its main forces concentrated on the north bank of the Yangtze River.
"In addition to the reorganization and replenishment of existing units, we are also expanding the scale of howitzers on a large scale. In addition to the original howitzer battalions, we have also expanded four howitzer battalions. It is expected that by July, the equipment will be able to
When everything is in place, we will have eight howitzer battalions!"
Zeng Ziwen continued to speak, and Li Xuan did not interrupt him, but listened to him quietly. In fact, he himself had already known what Zeng Ziwen said, because of the plan to expand the howitzer battalion.
It was approved by him personally.
However, although Li Xuan was aware of many of the army's plans, they were all relatively fragmentary, and today Zeng Ziwen's report was more comprehensive.
"This year's key expansion plan for our army, the preparations for the Eighth Infantry Division have come to an end. Officers, non-commissioned officers and even recruits at all levels are already in place. They are currently undergoing intensive training in Songjiang and are waiting for the arrival of heavy equipment. The division's various types of
All equipment will be available before September!"
"If all goes well, by September, our army will have eight infantry divisions, ten mixed regiments, eight independent howitzer battalions and other front-line combat units. Among them, the number of units that can be used for the Northern Expedition across the Yangtze River will be no less than
One hundred thousand troops!"
Li Xuan listened to Zeng Ziwen's words and also considered the current wealth of the Tang Dynasty. Thanks to the occupation of Jiangnan, the financial situation of the Tang Dynasty has greatly improved this year, and military expenditures have also increased appropriately.
According to the plan at the beginning of the year, in the fiscal revenue budget for Xuanping's five-year period, the expected tax revenue is 25 million taels, and the total military expenditure for the five years of Xuanping will reach 18 million, of which the army will exclusively occupy one
Sixteen million, and two million for the navy.
However, it is worth noting that the above-mentioned regular tax budget revenue does not include the profit revenue turned over to the state treasury by the factories under the Ministry of Industry, nor does it include the profit revenue turned over by Datang Salt Company. It also does not include the revenue of the Mint Bureau of the Ministry of Taxation. As for
National debt income is even more excluded.
Because these incomes are not taxes and are unstable and may be more or less, these miscellaneous incomes are directly included in the national treasury just like income from house confiscation.
The income from this aspect is also quite large, with a conservative estimate of six million taels of silver, and Datang Salt Company alone can pay at least three million taels of tax in taxes.
As the only legal salt merchant in the Tang Dynasty, Datang Salt Company is so awesome!
And the income from minting can be hundreds of thousands a year, and many state-owned factories, some more, some less, can add up to millions. The income from confiscation is hard to say, because many real estates, curios and the like are difficult to realize.
, but even if it is cash and easily liquidated assets, the amount will be at least one million.
Calculated in one year, six million in miscellaneous income is the least!
These six million taels of silver are not included in the fiscal revenue budget and expenditure budget, but are used as temporary expenditures, such as temporary war expenses and disaster relief. Occasionally, Li Xuan will also give some to the navy as special shipbuilding funds.
, and the Ministry of Industry wants to build large-scale arsenals and the like, and they also spend money from it.
To put it simply, this 6 million is considered a flexible budget, and specific arrangements will depend on the situation.
However, even if the flexible income of 6 million is put aside, the Tang Dynasty's official tax revenue has reached 25 million. Of course, 18 million of which has not been received by the military.
I made a reservation, but I still have 7 million left!
With these seven million, all the cabinet officials straightened their backs!
Why? Because I finally have money to pay my salary this year!