lovenovelstory Chapter 73 Following the right person is more important than hard work
Chapter 73 Following the right person is more important than hard work
Chapter 74 Following the right person is more important than hard work
Chapter 073 Chen Ying proposed building a wall for the Shuangchengwei border city, which immediately aroused the opposition of all the tribal chiefs, as this was a very large project.
Chen Ying raised his hand to quell the commotion and said with a smile, "Please don't be impatient, everyone."
He gestured for Xiang Hu to hang a map on the wall. The map had two thick lines drawn on it, one to the south and one to the north, with the names of the various tribes marked on them.
"From now on, this will be the trading market for the two cities!"
Chen Ying smiled and said, "To avoid trouble, the areas marked on the map will be your respective tribes' future trading areas. You can place the furs, ginseng, pearls, and horses that your tribes want to sell here, and our caravan will distribute them to each tribe. As for whether you need this city wall or not, that's entirely up to you. If you're not afraid of encountering bandits and robbers, then naturally I am not!"
The leaders began to think. The open space between the two cities was four li and one hundred and eighty-six steps. In the Ming Dynasty, one li was three hundred and sixty steps, and each step was five feet. Therefore, one li was 588 meters, or two thousand six hundred and forty-six meters.
At this distance, Chen Ying only needs to set up cannons on the east and west city walls, and the range of the Chain Thunder Cannon can completely cover the entire area.
These leaders weren't stupid; they could still do basic math. Forty-six tribes, each with its own territory, wasn't actually that big, about seventy steps in size. They also had to leave room for a trading area. In reality, it was just like building a landlord's mansion.
"We're willing to do it!"
"We'd love to!"
Many tribal leaders thought that while they might not know how to build city walls, they could certainly build a sheep pen.
Chen Ying continued, "That's excellent. Everyone, take a look. This is the trade route from Shuangchengwei to Vladivostok. In the future, the tribes can use this route to transport their goods to Shuangchengwei, trade with the imperial caravans there, and bring back the salt, iron, and cloth they obtain through the trade via the same route."
"If any tribe along the route can ensure the smooth flow of trade and protect the safety of passing merchants, I will offer additional rewards. Specific details can be discussed gradually."
The leaders' eyes lit up even more.
This is hardly a trade market.
This is about building a continuous source of wealth right in front of their house!
Meng Gun's beard trembled with excitement: "Lord Chen, rest assured! The Gualecha tribe has lived in this forest for generations. Anyone who dares to harm a hair on the caravan's head will face the wrath of the Gualecha's arrows!"
"The same goes for the Xibe tribe!"
"The Warka tribe wishes to swear a blood oath with all other tribes to jointly protect trade routes!"
The atmosphere in the council hall became lively. Chen Ying smiled and nodded, gesturing for everyone to take their seats, and ordered more canned mutton and wine to be served. Amidst the clinking of glasses, the tribal chiefs and the officers of the Shahe Guard addressed each other as brothers, as if they were old friends.
As night deepened, the leaders dispersed, drunk.
Xiang Hu stood beside Chen Ying, watching the staggering figures, and whispered, "Sir, is it worth it to exchange a thousand catties of salt for ten soldiers?"
Chen Ying smiled faintly, "That's not how you calculate it. These ten soldiers are nominally a guard, but in reality, they're my spies planted in various tribes. They eat my food, wear my clothes, and take my salt. Do you think I wouldn't know if there's any trouble in the tribes? More importantly—"
"These soldiers, trained by me and armed with my weapons, may very well become the new leaders of their respective tribes in the future. Ten or twenty years from now, it's uncertain who will be in charge on this chessboard outside the Liaodong border wall."
Xiang Hu gasped, remaining silent for a long time.
He gained a new understanding of Chen Ying. Chen Ying was too good at leveraging external forces. In this battle, the force that contributed the most was not the First Division of Shawei River, but the Dengzhou Navy.
The Dengzhou navy, however, thought they had gained a great advantage. In fact, they had indeed gained a great advantage. They had not only beheaded four hundred people, but even though the Dengzhou navy could not directly face the Jurchens, these heads were definitely hard currency in the Liaodong army.
The fifty taels of silver bestowed by the imperial court were practically a cheat code for military merit for the sons of generals in the Liaodong or Liaoxi armies. They would be willing to buy it even if it cost five hundred taels of silver.
They had business opportunities with the Liaodong Army and the Liaoxi Army, which would later become the Guan Ning Army.
When it comes to doing business, you really have to look to Chen Ying. He gained 460 elite cavalrymen with almost nothing extra.
Three days later, warriors from various tribes arrived at Shuangchengwei one after another, totaling 467 people. Why were there seven more? These seven were all young tribal chiefs, each one strong and fierce with sharp eyes.
Chen ordered people to register and make a list, distribute uniforms and weapons, and send veterans from Shahewei to serve as instructors to carry out training on the spot.
Their training mainly focuses on learning Chinese. Now, Chen Ying needs translators to communicate with the leaders of various departments. In the future, when commanding battles, he cannot rely on translators.
With the opening of the trade market between the two cities, tribes from even further afield came to trade, and Chen Ying faced a huge problem: the food problem.
The various tribes of the Haixi Jurchen were too poor; they had very little food. Chen Ying was reluctant to slaughter their precious cattle and sheep for meat; he even hoped to make money by canning them.
Chen Ying then thought of Gan Yanshou of Tianjin, and wanted to purchase cheap military rations from Dengzhou through the Dengzhou navy.
Chen Yingxiang, however, laughed and said to Zhang Guoxun, the adjutant of the Dengzhou naval vanguard, "Commander Chen, if you want grain, why don't you go to Jiangnan to buy it? Right now, a shi of new rice in Jiangnan costs only six or seven qian of silver."
"No matter how cheap the grain is in Dengzhou, it can't be cheaper than the aged rice from Jiangnan!"
Zhang Guoxun explained, "Grain merchants in the south have long wanted to sell their grain to the north, but each of them has powerful backers and their own territory, which is why grain prices in the north have remained high for years!"
"Oh?"
Chen Ying became interested: "Brother Zhang, do you have any connections to influential businesses in Jiangnan?"
"Well, there really is!"
Zhang Guoxun laughed and said, "I do know a merchant from Huizhou who is a relative of the Commander!"
"Would you be so kind as to make an introduction?"
"nature!"
Chen Ying did not return to Dalu Island with the fleet while in Shuangchengwei. Instead, he ordered his caravan crew to return to Dalu Island on ships laden with cattle, sheep, and horses. This time, they acquired more than 2,200 warhorses, which Chen Ying planned to sell to the Liaodong army.
As the first batch of merchant ships departed, laden with goods for trade, a second group of more than a dozen ships arrived in Shuangcheng, carrying large quantities of salt, iron, and various other commodities.
These goods did not all come from Dalu Island, but from Shahewei, and were shipped directly from Tianjin. Qin Siming also arrived at the same time.
Qin Siming was originally preparing to serve as a commander on Dalu Island. When he stopped on Dalu Island, he learned that Chen Ying had come to Shuangcheng, so he hurriedly led a thousand soldiers and goods to Shuangchengwei.
Qin Siming was an old acquaintance of Chen Ying, his former superior. However, Qin Siming, the former squad leader, had been promoted three ranks in just one year after following Chen Ying.
He was very worried that something might happen to Chen Ying. In just one year of following Chen Ying, he had achieved more than he had in the past ten years. More importantly, Chen Ying paid him a high salary, providing him with an additional allowance on top of the salary issued by the imperial court.
Qin Siming finally understood what it meant to follow the right person—it was more important than anything else.
When Qin Siming led his caravan to Shuangchengwei, he found that the area between the east and west cities was like a giant sheepfold, with thousands of sheep bleating wildly, hundreds or even thousands of warhorses, and thousands of Haixi Jurchen people, which made him very nervous.
Most of the thousand soldiers under his command were recruited from the right garrison of Guide Guard. They were physically strong, having followed Chen Ying and eaten well for more than half a year. However, it was a great pity that they had no combat experience, and many of them had never even seen blood.
"Greetings, Commander!"
Xiang Hu led his cavalry escort to Qin Siming's front lines, and thankfully, the two sides avoided a direct clash.
"Who are you----
"This humble officer is Xiang Hu, the First Battalion Commander of the Da Lu Island Garrison!"
Qin Siming checked Xiang Hu's token before following Chen Ying to the East City. Chen Ying had already renamed Fuldan City to the East City and Jürgen City to the West City.
"Greetings, Commander!"
Chen Ying patted Qin Siming on the shoulder and said, "You've worked hard, come over and warm up!"
"It's not hard work!"
Chen Ying pointed to the map on the table and said, "I won't stand on ceremony, let's get straight to the point!"
"Please give your orders, sir!"
Chen Ying pointed to the map and said, "I plan to establish the Twin Cities Garrison Command—"
Chen Ying is currently the commander of Shahe Guard. His greatest power is to establish a new thousand-household garrison. Whether the court recognizes it or not is not important; he will still establish it as he sees fit.
However, the Ming Dynasty's Garrison Thousand-Household Units were independent organizations. Not all Garrison Thousand-Household Units only commanded ten Hundred-Household Units; there were many more. The Garrison Thousand-Household Units were similar to independent regiments. They could command ten Companies (Hundred-Household Units), or even twenty or thirty Companies.
However, the problem is that Shahewei is not like other wei, in that it first added a division-level organization, just like Daludao had four divisions under its jurisdiction.
"I hereby recommend you as the commander of the Shuangcheng Garrison. The Shuangcheng Garrison administers five forts: Thirty Stone Fort, Pine Forest Fort, Clear Water Fort, Black Stone Fort, and River Bend Fort!"
Chen Ying continued, "Besides these five forts, there are three infantry divisions, one artillery division, and one cavalry division. The cavalry division has already been established, and the three infantry divisions will be staffed by you, the commander of a thousand, plus the first infantry division from Dalu Island. Your next task is to establish Thirty Stone Fort, Pine Forest Fort, Clear Water Fort, Black Stone Fort, and River Bend Fort. Each fort must be garrisoned by at least one commander of a hundred!"
Chen Ying had a big heart. Since the Jurchens looked down on Shuangchengwei, this desolate land, Chen Ying would not be polite.
Qin Siming frowned slightly: "Sir, do you mean to expand by another artillery division and five more centurion posts?"
'
"That's right!"
"Where can I recruit over a thousand people?"
"Don't worry about the personnel issue, I'll transfer them to you from Dalu Island!"
Chen Ying smiled faintly and said, "At the latest, five thousand military households will be transferred here within half a month. However, I need you to be like a nail, nailed to Shuangcheng. After you stabilize the situation, you can slowly nibble away at the surrounding areas."
Qin Siming fell silent: "This—"
"If you don't have the confidence to do a good job, I'll replace you!"
Chen Ying also knew that the position of garrison commander of Shuangcheng was not easy, but the problem was that if it were easy, it wouldn't be Qin Siming's turn, much less his turn.
Qin Siming was aware of the risks involved and was even more aware of how arduous the task was.
"I guarantee I will complete the mission!"
"Towards the Tiger!"
"Your humble servant is here!"
"This commander hereby appoints you as the Deputy Commander of the Shuangcheng Garrison, a fifth-rank official!"
"Thank you for your promotion, sir!"
Xiang Hu's eyes gleamed with a green light. For someone of his humble origins and without any connections, it was virtually impossible to rise through the ranks in the Ming Dynasty's officialdom.
Xiang Hu's father spent his whole life trying to get by, but he never even became a squad leader. This was actually a common phenomenon in the Ming Dynasty. Before Mao Wenlong was promoted by Wang Huazhen, he spent half his life trying to get by, serving as a centurion for more than 20 years before he barely managed to reach the rank of commander. This commander was different from the commanders of the provinces. He was a fourth-rank military officer, ranking below the guerrilla general.
If Wang Huazhen hadn't promoted Mao Wenlong to a guerrilla commander, he would have remained a general for over twenty years in the military.
Xiang Hu was overjoyed: "Following the right person is more important than hard work!"
PS: Many thanks to Guo Zixian, who is also my Zijing, for donating 10,000 Qidian coins and becoming the first Helmsman of this book. An extra chapter will be added, and there will be more when it gets light.