Mao Wenlong's territory continues to increase, the number of people continues to increase, and the limelight is becoming more and more popular.

The local generals in western Liaodong headed by Zu Dashou were naturally unhappy.

But that's just the appearance.

The main contradiction between the two sides still comes from the distribution of money.

The military expenditure of the Ming court to the northeastern frontier is about one million taels under normal circumstances.

Originally, most of this silver was used to supply the local border troops in Liaoxi and Liaodong.

The army establishment of the generals of the family is about 50,000, and a soldier is about one or two silver a month, and there are many shortages.

However, since Mao Wenlong opened the Dongjiang River, military spending has increased year by year, and the increase has been greater year by year, and in just three or four years, it has risen from the original target of 3 to 400 to 30,000 or 40,000!

In this way, the Dongjiang Army has the potential to divide the military expenses with the local generals of Liaoxi and Liaodong, and even surpass!

Because the total amount of military spending given by the imperial court to the border army will not increase, if it is to increase, it will involve all ministries and the overall budget of the Ming Dynasty, and the scope of the involvement is too wide, not to mention that the Ming Dynasty has been suffering from disasters and famines for many years, and it has long been impossible to balance the balance of payments, let alone increase military spending easily.

Sun Chengzong wanted to fight back against Jiannu, but even 240,000 taels of silver were refused to be taken out by the imperial court, which can be seen from this.

One thing Wei Bao has never been clear about is that Li Zicheng broke the capital, and found thirty or forty million taels of silver in the palace alone, and hundreds of millions of taels of silver from high-ranking officials and nobles!

These people, dealing with Jiannu and the peasant army, can be described as a dime, and in the end, all of them have become people's piggy banks.

This is the most ironic part of the feudal system, and it is also the funniest thing about history that Wei Bao thinks.

Just like Liaoxi and Liaodong, a bunch of landlords are obviously rich and bubbling, but no one is willing to take out a tael of silver to fight Jiannu, and they all regard wealth as their lives.

Although Wei Bao took the Xiucai test a while ago and fought with Wu Sangui in the ring, taking away a lot of silver from the local family, but for them, this is all a small turmoil.

Because Wei Bao has always been a little common man, even if he has some connections with the imperial court, after the Jiannu offensive, killing Wei Bao is like crushing a little ant to death, which is not a problem.

No matter how you say it, Wei Bao is also a native of western Liaoning, and it is still an 'internal contradiction'.

And Mao Wenlong's Dongjiang Army is different, it is a constraint, it is about to rip off their hearts, and it is everyone's foreign enemy!

At this time, in the Wu Mansion of Shanhaiguan, everyone gathered, several major families in Liaodong and Liaodong, as well as a group of local generals in Liaodong and Liaodong who had a certain amount of real power, and thirty or forty people sat upright and listened to Zu Dashou's speech.

"Today, Sun Ge Lao's words, everyone heard the taste, right?" Tall and thin, with small eyes, but there is a god, Zu Dashou looked at everyone with blazing eyes: "This is to further weaken our defenders outside the pass and shift the defense focus of the imperial court to the Dongjiang side!" Everyone knows that Elder Sun Ge and Lord Yuan, the governor of Denglai, are friends, and they are too fat to wear a pair of pants, and Mao Wenlong is the person supported by Lord Yuan Keli. Everyone can figure out the subtle relationship between this, right? ”

A group of people nodded silently, naturally they could all figure it out.

Yuan Keli was ordered to praise the military affairs of the Eastern Expedition, prepare troops to defend the sea, and "control the two towns, and all the soldiers and horses, money and food, collection and dispatch, and prevention and suppression will be returned to the manager." At that time, "all the heroes of one party were under the curtain of their husbands' ancestors". "The division of the two roads must meet Wenlong". He strategized, restrained the fierce general Mao Wenlong, commanded the generals Shen Yourong and Zhang Pan to attack back and forth between the islands of the Liaohai Sea, the battle line stretched for thousands of kilometers, repeatedly thwarted the invasion of the coastal area of the Ming Dynasty by the Later Jin, and won the victory of the battles of plotting against Liu Aita, attacking Jinzhou at night, recovering Lushun, and outwitting Niumaozhai, which fully demonstrated his wisdom and strategy as a generation of military strategists.

When an earthquake occurred in the northern region, Yuan Keli used the "warning" effect of the earthquake to report to the imperial court, asking for sufficient expenses to "repair the battleship, prepare equipment, and pre-prepare Mao Shuai's help." ”

In March of the third year of the Apocalypse, Yuan Keli reported to the imperial court: "The water master of Denglai is the horn of Yuguan, and the ministers and the painters of the town road are several months. All the officers and soldiers were trained, the ships were repaired, the battalions were merged, and the officers and soldiers were eliminated slightly. He personally selected "3,600 elite soldiers, led by Shen Yourong, the chief soldier", and "went to sea on Lushun, Huangcheng, Guanglu, Pingshan and other islands, and advanced with his camera."

The deputy general Li Xingzhong led thousands of Liaozuo Jianshi, and Yuan Keli "sent them on March 12, and asked the camera to enter and stop at the Yuguan Pass to connect Mao Shuai." "Wherever the soldiers go," the slave chiefs were terrified. ”

At this time, Yuan Keli's layout also had another important purpose, that is, the army pressed the border in an attempt to rebel against Liu Aita, the general soldier of Houjin Fuzhou.

On the fourth day of the sixth month of the third year of the Apocalypse, Yuan Keli ordered his subordinate soldiers to attack the soldiers of the two towns, Shen Yourong raised troops to "cover the four guards in the south of Lushun from Huangcheng Island" in response to the south, and Mao Wenlong "attacked Zhenjiang Jiuliancheng from Phi Island" copied in the north, and the Houjin army suffered heavy losses.

Zhu Jialong attacked from Qianjiazhuang, and Wang Fu marched from Phoenix. Under the guidance of Shen Yourong on the south bank, Mao Wenlong ordered the general Zhang Pan to lead his troops to land on Mayang Island and capture Jinzhou and Lushun occupied by Houjin.

The general soldier Mao Wenlong commanded the elite of 8,000 horse steps, attacking and killing all the way from Zhenjiang and Tang Station.

In the spring and summer of the third year of the Apocalypse (1623), Nurhachi ordered a large-scale massacre of the people in Lushun and Jinzhou, and Yuan Keli ordered the Denglai Navy Division to "contact the islands and recover Lushun" in order to rescue the displaced people in the occupied area.

At this time, Houjin "haunted Changshan and Lushun, and most of the ships were stalked." ”

Yuan Keli spread the sailors in the waters of "400 miles to the island of Yuji", "crossed the iron mountain and connected the island with Guangludao", and "set up a general and a garrison on Huangcheng Island, and trained 3,000 troops, thinking that he was a foreign serval of Denglai." There are also two battalions of guerrillas, and the flying trees come and go to and from the Guanglu Islands. Piers are set up for artillery, and flags are facing each other. "If the slave is small, he will avoid the continent, and if he is large, he will escape the sea, use the method of three tired enemies, and then use Deng, Laibing to map the south of the four guards." "If there is nothing to do, we will be more defensive, and if there is something to do, we will combine and respond. There are also two battalions of the south tour and the north tour, each of which is divided into different places, and the reconnaissance is between the Guanglu Islands, when the east is the west, and the distance is close and near, so that the enemy does not know what to attack, nor does he know what to defend. ”

Hou Jin was daunted. On the second day of the seventh month of that year, Zhang Pan led the army and the mixed team of the Liao people appeased by Denglai to conquer Jinzhou in one fell swoop, and took advantage of the victory to recover the strategic places such as the fortress Lushun, Wanghai Fort and Hongzui Fort, so that hundreds of miles of land in southern Liaoning were regained to the Ming Dynasty.

After the autumn harvest, the Houjin army once again wantonly invaded Lushun and other places, plundering grain and other strategic materials, and the Houjin army stationed in Fuzhou was even more unscrupulous, plundering the people everywhere.

When the autumn is ripe, (the captive) still leads the crowd to Nanwei to harvest. Yuan Keli moved the book to Shen Shuai, taking advantage of the time of his harvest Yunchong, attacking (captive) with fire, and the generals used their lives, so in September of the same year, they set fire to the wind, (burned) their accumulation, and the bundle of two months was empty. Gong said: 'Grievances are deep! Anger can be prevented. ’

Enraged, the Houjin mobilized more troops to counterattack the Ming army. Yuan Keli said, "If you are perfect, you must judge the situation, know your opponent and know yourself, and you can win." ”

Yuan Keli synthesized the intelligence of all parties, "gathered troops in advance to respond to the divergence, and fought fiercely at night, capturing and beheading countless people."

Yuan Keli took advantage of the Liao people's hatred of Houjin, and ordered the Ming army to attack the city with torches at night, transparent all night, shouting and killing to shake the sky, and Houjin was defeated. On the fifth day of October of that year, the general Zhang Pan led the Ming army to set up an ambush in the city, defeated the Houjin army again, and took advantage of the situation to recover Fuzhou and Yongning.

Houjin" equipment, guns and guns were thrown away and ran. "The Ming Dynasty and the opposition celebrated, thinking that "the town was set up to come from this victory." ”

Under the careful planning of Yuan Keli, most of the important places along the coast of the Ming Dynasty were lost and recovered, and the Houjin "four guards have been emptied, and the land of more than 400 miles along the coast has been abandoned and dare not take it, and the rest are only a thousand captives." ”

The recovery of Jinzhou and Lushun and other places is tantamount to opening up a new situation in the Liaodong battlefield in the Liaohai Sea, connecting Denglai, Lushun, Phidao, Kuanju and other places, forming a new barrier, removing the military threat of the Later Jin to the Shandong Peninsula, re-consolidating the 2,000-mile sea frontier of the Ming Dynasty, and completing the naval military blockade of the Later Jin, which aggravates the tension of grain and other strategic materials in the occupied areas of the Later Jin.

The Ming army's actions have greatly setback the morale of the Jin army, and have received the predetermined military containment and strike effect.

Yuan Keli wanted to expand the results of the battle by "taking advantage of the unprecedented combat strength of the people stationed in front of Ningqian and the beginning of the Korean army", and ordered "the troops to go out of the east of the Guandong and attack Lushun at the corner" in an attempt to achieve "the work of recovery".

On the third day of the first month of the fourth year of the Apocalypse (1624), Houjin took advantage of the freezing of the sea to attack Lushun with more than 10,000 cavalry, wanting to avenge the last defeat.

Yuan Keli had fully estimated this, and he made a new layout for the naval divisions of Denglai and Dongjiang towns, ordered the Ming army to set up an ambush outside Lushun City, and ordered "Yan Zhengzhong to guard between Lushun and Shuangdao, and make mutual control with Zhangpan." Yuan Jin and other soldiers lived between Xixun Middle Island and Juehua Jiaojiao. ”

Shen Yourong led the sailors to attack Mao Shuai in response to the surprise attack between the islands, and the Ming army held the city under the leadership of Zhang Pan until the gunpowder was exhausted, and still held on.

Houjin had nothing to do, sent an envoy to negotiate peace, was beheaded by Zhang Panli in front of the army, was defeated, and Houjin fled in the wilderness.

"Riding the wind and setting fire to the cunning slaves to gather in the air, setting up ambushes and fighting at night and setting up the camp of angry soldiers."

In the end, Yuan Keli took office, and the Houjin and Ming army sailors were defeated repeatedly, exhausted, and no longer had the courage to fight again.

Yuan Keli governed the army strictly, "If the chickens and dogs that pass by are not disturbed, then Li Xiping's three generations of teachers will also."

Yuan Keli was a rare and outstanding general in the history of the Ming-Jin war, who was able to advance the defensive line and regain lost territory.

In the hands of Sun Chengzong, the situation in the battlefield of Liaodong in western Liaoning is very good, and Yuan Keli's contribution is inseparable, Sun Chengzong presided over the overall situation, Yuan Keli opened up the sea frontier and the defense of southern Liaoning, and supported Mao Wenlong's development in the Dongjiang area.

Seeing that everyone agreed with his point of view, Zu Dashou continued: "A casual decision by the people above them can make a big difference in the situation under us!" Sun Ge Lao did not borrow silver from the imperial court this time, and the biggest loss was us! Because if it is the main defense, Jiannu is attacking the Dongjiang River, all the tactics are around the Dongjiang River, and the grain and grass army will naturally give priority to supplying the Dongjiang River! This is absolutely not possible! We must surround Jinzhou and reopen the coercion of Guangning, Xipingbao, and even Shenyang City! ”

"If that's the case, aren't we helping Mao Wenlong out of the siege? We're not doing any good, are we? Instead of this, it is better to weaken Mao Wenlong by the hand of Jiannu! Someone suggested.

Zu Dashou shook his hand: "Wrong! Jiannu can't weaken Mao Wenlong, because Mao Wenlong's men and horses are hiding on the island, Jiannu is gone, they fight, Jiannu is coming, they are leaving, Jiannu can never weaken Mao Wenlong! On the contrary, we will be gradually weakened by Mao Wenlong's false reports of war exploits and military salaries! ”

When everyone heard this, they nodded their heads one after another, praising General Zu Dashou for seeing things strictly and thoughtfully.

"But, General, where does the money come from? We can't afford to pay for the war ourselves, can we? "Wu Xiang is Zu Dashou's 'sworn friend', and he is also an in-law relationship, and he is Zu Dashou's brother-in-law, he is worried that Zu Dashou wants to kill himself, and he originally owed Zu Dashou 180,000 taels of gold.

Wu Xiang is very weak here in Zu Dashou, last time Wei Bao and Wu Sangui fought in the ring, so that Zu Dashou gave 180,000 taels of gold, and his own 120,000 taels of gold, and gambled with Wei Bao together. Although this was proposed by Wu Xiang, if he wins, Zu Dashou's gold will return to Zu Dashou, and it has nothing to do with him.

If he loses, Zu Dashou's gold will be compensated by Wu Xiang.

Therefore, Wu Xiang promised afterwards that if he could not get back the gold from Wei Bao, he would pay Zu Dashou 180,000 taels of gold himself.

Zu Dashou glanced at Wu Xiang, and naturally understood what Wu Xiang meant by asking, and secretly laughed at Wu Xiang's stinginess, for fear of asking him for silver.

Zu Dashou said to everyone: "Didn't Elder Sun Ge want to raise 240,000 taels of silver for military expenses? If there's really no way, let's share it! ”

When everyone heard this, there was an uproar, never thought that Zu Dashou would come to the real character this time, let's pay the money ourselves? It's unheard of!

Liaoxi and Liaodong generals all relied on the control of military households, the border troops of various guards, and made a fortune by fighting, and they always reached out to ask for silver, grain and grass, when did it become their own money to fight? How's that going to work?

Zu Dashou glanced at the silent crowd and took out a stack of paper from his arms: "I have already calculated how much each family should give here, but in fact, there is not much silver, so you don't have to be so depressed." Each family can contribute a maximum of 10,000 taels of silver, and for which of you can not take it out easily? Think about it, how much money have you earned over the years? Where did the money come from? We can only continue if Liaoxi and Liaodong continue to twist into a rope and continue to control the local military and government, so we must not be defeated by Mao Wenlong, this is a long-term view, don't look at the mouse, understand? Let's just win! Even if it is to seize a city and recover a piece of lost territory, it can persuade Sun Ge Lao to change his strategy and focus on our Liaoxi and Liaodong, rather than the Dongjiang Army! Everyone earns at least 30,000 taels of silver every year, why can't they lose once? My ancestor Dashou hereby promises that your loss this time, within three months, will definitely be earned, and it will be doubled! ”

A general of Liaodong Jiangmen said: "General Zu, what you say, we naturally have to obey, but Jiannu is not an idle person, how powerful their iron cavalry is, you don't know, it is not easy to defend the city, take the initiative to attack, but also hit the stone with eggs, where can it be so easy to win?" Besides, if this trip opens a precedent for us to raise our own military expenses, in the future, the imperial court will only be afraid that we will always have to raise our own military funds to fight. ”

When everyone heard this, they all nodded in agreement with the general's opinion, and they all said that it was not that they were reluctant to give up two stripes of silver, but that they could not set this precedent, and they all persuaded Zu Dashou to dispel this thought, and they all advised Zu Dashou to dispel this thought, don't think about anything about touching Jiannu, and regain the lost territory, it would be good to be able to hold the current location.

When Zu Dashou saw everyone's appearance, he couldn't help frowning, "It seems that what my Zu Dashou said is not good?" ”

The crowd confronted each other with silence.

When there are interests to be desired, everyone is very one-minded and very in the same boat, but if you want to lose benefits from yourself, it is different, a penny of silver is also a piece of meat, not to mention, tens of thousands of taels of silver! Your ancestor Dashou wants to fight so much, why don't you pay this money yourself? 240,000 taels of silver, for your ancestral family, it's a drop in the bucket, right?

Wu Xiang saw that everyone and Zu Dashou's faces were very ugly, so he hurriedly said, "Let's discuss it again?" ”

When it comes to plucking the hair from the body, it is useless to discuss.

There was silence for a while, and at this time, the housekeeper of the Wu Mansion came to Wu Xiang and whispered in his ear, saying that the second son, the eldest lady is back, and she also brought Wei Baolai.

Wu Xiang was a little surprised, Wei Bao actually dared to come to Shanhaiguan, wasn't he afraid of death? "Just Wei Bo alone?"

"I also brought a companion boy and a few companions." The butler replied softly.

"Okay, go down and tell them, I'll see them later!" Wu Xiang said.

"Yes, sir." The housekeeper of the Wu Mansion first bowed to Wu Xiang, and then gave a full salute to the group of masters present, and then bowed and retreated.

"What's the matter?" Zu Dashou asked.

Wu Xiang got up and went to Zu Dashou's side and whispered that Wei Bao was here.

Wu Xiang had sent someone to inform Wu Sanfu and Wu Xuexia to come back, and tried to find a craftsman who could make the 'rocket' rush up hundreds of meters in the air, but he didn't expect that Wu Sanfu and Wu Xuexia would bring back a Wei Bao.

Wu Xiang was quick-witted and saw things very quickly, and immediately thought of it, it is estimated that the relationship between Wei Bao and his daughter has changed, otherwise he would not dare to follow. I also immediately thought of it, it is estimated that Wei Bao is going to bow to himself?

Will you return the 300,000 taels of gold!?

Wu Xiang didn't dare to think about it, let alone a teenager, it was him, not to mention getting 300,000 taels of gold, that is, 300,000 taels of silver, 30,000 taels of silver, and if he entered his pocket, he would never retreat, and he didn't dare to imagine that a young man would have such great courage.

"What?" Zu Dashou asked.

"I don't know yet, I think it's like this today, it's not good to rush this kind of thing too quickly." Wu Xiang said to Zu Dashou: "Did you let everyone disperse first?" ”

Zu Dashou scratched his hair impatiently, snorted, and walked away.

Everyone asked Wu Xiang, was General Zu angry?

Wu Xiang smiled: "It's nothing, you don't have to worry about it." ”