After a long time, Zhang Jiayu stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the last general thinks that with the morale and combat strength of the captives, even if there are sixty or seventy thousand people, it will not be difficult to deal with. ”

Indeed, Duoduo brought all the Manchu elites to Jiangnan, and Haoran's 150,000 army was defeated in less than half a month. Now there are only 60,000 or 70,000 Qing troops, and the generals of the Ming army present really don't look down on them.

Zhang Jiayu continued: "The key to this campaign is in the transportation of grain, grass and baggage. As long as we ensure that the grain and fodder on the Huaihe River are continuous, and the ammunition, clothing, and military tents are usable, we will definitely be able to break the enemy in one fell swoop!

At present, Yangzhou and other places have become scorched earth, and if you want to ensure that there is enough grain, grass and baggage, you can only set up temporary warehouses along the way and be guarded. Then a large number of people carry it on their shoulders between the warehouses and transport it day and night to ensure that they are safe. ”

Zhu Linmiao pondered that Zhang Jiayu's meaning was almost to line up a "human wall" between the Jiangnan and Huai rivers, and then build a large number of temporary rest and storage bases, and use a large amount of manpower to carry out logistics supplies.

But in this case, the cost must be extremely staggering.

He had been advocating the use of a small number of elite troops in order to avoid falling into the horror of logistical attrition. The number of dragon guards did not even exceed 10,000 for a long time, and with the flexible logistics strategy of commercialization, the Ming Dynasty's scarce finances would not be crushed.

He took a deep breath and said to Zhang Jiayu: "To ensure the grain and grass of the 30,000 soldiers on the front line, how many people do you need to transport?" ”

Zhang Jiayu is no stranger to this primitive logistics method, after all, before Zhu Linmiao took charge of the army, this method was still being used by the Ming army on a large scale.

Zhang Jiayu estimated it and arched his hand: "To return to the emperor, at least 250,000 people need to be requisitioned." ”

The 30,000 Ming army is the bottom line for Zhu Linmiao to ensure the defeat of Dolgon's nearly 70,000 horses, after all, there is still the Huai River and the sky is dangerous.

According to Zhang Jiayu, there were 280,000 soldiers and civilians combined. You must know that although the more than 200,000 people do not have to kill the enemy in front of the battle, their food and clothing consumption will not be much less than that of the army, at least the food, rice, winter clothing, etc. must be sufficient, otherwise these people will be in chaos faster than the army.

But this seems to be the only solution right now.

On the side, Yang Tinglin immediately shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, the previous battle between the army and more than 100,000 thieves from Duoduo was already very expensive. Today, there are only more than 200,000 taels left in the treasury...... I am afraid that it will be difficult to cope with the consumption of nearly 300,000 people. ”

Zhu Linmiao frowned, "Twenty-eight hundred thousand people, how much grain, rice, and silver will it cost in a month and a half?" ”

Yang Tinglin said: "Back to the emperor, it will cost almost 200,000 stones, and if you count the use of the follow-up Northern Expedition, you must prepare 300,000 stones." As for the money, if it is not counted as money, it is enough to buy clothes, utensils, etc., one hundred thousand taels. ”

Zhang Jiayu and others on the side also nodded, it seems that this number is basically not bad.

300,000 stone grain costs more than 600,000 taels of silver, which is still the market price, and if you buy a large amount in a short period of time, the price will definitely increase. Zhu Linmiao pondered for a moment and asked Yang Tinglin: "Elder Yang Ge, I have allocated you 600,000 taels of silver, plus the silver from the national treasury, how long will it take for you to complete the requisition and dispatch of the people, the purchase of grain and rice, and other matters?" ”

Yang Tinglin immediately said: "Within a month, the minister will definitely do it all!" ”

Zhu Linmiao shook his head and said, "It's too slow, give you half a month to complete the recruitment of the people first." Prepare 150,000 stone of grain and rice first, and gradually gather the rest later. ”

Yang Tinglin gritted his teeth and arched his hand: "Minister, obey the order!" After thinking about it, he said, "Your Majesty, it's just this silver...... Where did it come from? ”

"Depending on the time, the ocean-going caravan should be back soon. Six big ships with a surplus of 6,700,000 taels is by no means a problem. ”

Zhu Linmiao: This is still a small amount, those escort warships can actually carry a lot of goods, and this trip can even earn more than 800,000 taels.

He added, "Even if the ocean-going caravan misses its journey, I have another way to scrape together the silver." Elder Yang Ge didn't need to worry. For the sake of millions of people in Yangzhou and southern Shaanxi, he is ready to mortgage all the properties under his name. In addition, the two maidens in his harem also have some financial resources, and it should not be a big problem to borrow two or three hundred thousand taels together.

Yang Tinglin then nodded and stopped speaking, but Zhang Canghai, the newly promoted head of the household department, hesitated and said: "Your Majesty, the area around Nanzhili has been plagued by military disasters for a long time, and the place is full of devastation, and the people need to recuperate...... If such a large-scale requisition of the people is strong, I am afraid that the people will be hurt very much......"

Zhu Linmiao nodded secretly, this Zhang Canghai is sympathetic to Li Min, the 200,000 people requisitioned this time must be strong, and most of them are the pillars of a family, so the number of people whose lives are affected is more than one million?

In order to save the people, we must first hurt the people......

He sighed helplessly, "In this way, all the people will issue one tael of silver every month to talk to them to supplement their livelihood." ”

Zhang Canghai said movingly: "Your Majesty loves the people like a son, and the people of the world are lucky!" This is one tael of silver a month, enough for their family. ”

At present, one tael of silver is enough for three people to eat for a month. Moreover, these people were able to eat and live during the period of helping the Ming army transport grain, that is to say, most of them could still have some surplus after this trip.

It's just that in this way, it will cost nearly 400,000 taels more.

Now that the emperor has set the tone, everyone in the Wenhua Hall has discussed many implementation details together until the time comes.

"That's pretty much it." Zhu Linmiao finally concluded: "On February 15, the troops sent to Jiangbei, and without giving the thieves a chance to breathe, they smashed the Huai River!" ”

"Minister, obey!"

When the ministers retreated and left, Yang Tinglin still stayed in the hall with a solemn expression.

Zhu Linmiao looked at him and said, "Is there anything else Elder Yang Ge has to say?" ”

"Your Majesty," Yang Tinglin took a few steps forward and said, "This Northern Expedition, the imperial court has spent a lot of money, and the treasury is empty. However, after the army recovers the Huai River, it will also have to help the millions of victims who were harmed by the thieves, and the silver needed is not a few.

"Although the minister does not act as the household department, he still knows a little about the Ming Dynasty's taxation, and at that time, the household department will not be able to take out enough disaster relief money. The victims on the north bank of the Huai River still have no livelihood......"

Zhu Linmi's heart sank, yes, just laying down the Huai River still can't completely solve the problem. In the final analysis, to save these millions of people, it will take a lot of money.

Yang Tinglin glanced at his face and said carefully: "Your Majesty, according to the minister's opinion, at present, only by levying 'Jihuai Silver' can we solve the urgent need......"

Zhu Linmiao's eyes narrowed, "Tax? ”

"Yes, it is divided into ten provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, but each household can't pay much...... And it's just a temporary levy. ”

Zhu Linmiao stared at him and said, "Raise taxes, whose taxes will be levied?" ”

Yang Tinglin found that the atmosphere was wrong, and said: "This, since it is a levy for the people of the Ming Dynasty......"

Zhu Linmiao turned around with a gloomy face, leaving Scholar Yang standing alone in the hall, feeling quite worried in his heart.