Chapter 21

  Standing in the spacious military department conference room, I took a look at the entire large-scale map of China, which was brought from modern times. This kind of map is extremely valuable and hard to come by at this time. Several division commanders below wanted to take it away from me at any time, but unfortunately, they were rejected by me one after another.

  After a moment of contemplation, I turned my head to look at the several senior officials who were crawling beside the sandbox and said: "Come, take a look. The current situation is like this. A few days ago, Hong Chengchou was scolded by Shunzhi and then sent out by Shunzhi himself. He is the Minister of War, and his department has 18 million troops from the Han Eight Banners and the Mongolian Eight Banners, including artillery battalions, firearms battalions, cavalry battalions, etc., which can be said to be well-equipped."

  I pointed to the blue arrow and continued: "Here they divided into three routes, each with 60,000 people, respectively heading towards Huanggang in Hubei, Tongling in Anhui, and Jiangxi via Anhui. In addition, there were the Mingzhu department, Longkodo department, and Ajige department."

  I pointed to the other blue markers and said, "These three parts are also heading towards Hubei, Shaanxi, and down to Sichuan. As for Shang Kexi's troops, we don't need to worry about them now. They've probably already clashed with Fujian forces on their way to Fujian."

  I took a look at the map and said silently for a while: "The sixth division is under Li Dingguo's command, I used a yellow marker to indicate. This should be defended by the Sixth Division, send a telegram to Yi Tianxing immediately. Now let's arrange how to clean up the Qing army inside Jiangxi and wait for the attack from the north. Each division commander listens to orders, and the telegrapher remembers that it is related to the Second Army, and sends the telegram immediately."

  "Alright, I've looked at all of you standing upright. Seriously, I'm ordering the First Army's First Division, Li Lei, to have your troops depart within three days. For supply issues, go directly to Huang De for assistance. You must capture Jiujiang and form a complete encirclement around Nanchang within five days. Pay attention to defensive strongholds and resist enemy forces from the north.

  Second Division, Zeng Qing, I'm ordering your troops to depart from Jing'an, press down on Xia Guoxiang in Nanchang, and absolutely do not allow him to support Jiujiang. After capturing Nanchang, stabilize your base and immediately head west to capture Yingtan and other areas. Do not delay.

  Third Division, Zhang Lian Sheng, I'm ordering your troops to also depart from Jing'an within three days, heading south to capture Gao'an, then proceed downward and join forces with Lei Feng's division to launch a pincer attack on Xinyu. After capturing Xinyu, your troops will head down and directly occupy the Jinggangshan area, intimidating Ganzhou."

  The three of them stood up together with joyful expressions and said: "Yes."

  I nodded to them to sit down, and I understood their meaning very well. Soldiers achieve success through military merit. As long as there is a battle to be fought, relying on the strong firepower in hand, this is almost a trivial matter. Then, I turned to the radio operator and said: "Radio operator, Thunderbolt Department, I order the 4th Division of the 2nd Army to cooperate with the 3rd Division to capture Xinyu after taking over the supply line from Pingxiang to Nanchang, and ensure the safety of the supply line before advancing eastward, but do not enter Fujian. The troops under the 7th Division will advance westward to cooperate with the 6th Division to occupy the whole territory of Hunan and station at the junction with Yunnan. Wait for orders. Easy Tianxing's subordinate. After occupying the whole territory of Hunan, find an excuse to enter Guizhou area occupied by Li Dingguo. That's all. In addition, the artillery troops under the military will cooperate with Zeng Qing's troops to capture Nanchang.

  I looked at them and said: "Alright, now you all go back and prepare."

  After watching them all leave with a flourish, I sat down and said to Zhou Lun with concern: "Will we be able to hold the line?"

  Zhou Lun, who had been silent all along, stood up and looked at the map for half a day before smiling and saying: "Not bad, actually this arrangement is still very reasonable. In this way, we can occupy the whole of Jiangxi Province, and the advantage is that when we confront the Qing army again, there will be no worries within the territory."

  I nodded in agreement with him, and indeed I had the same idea, which is why I pulled the battle line so far. This is a risky move. The combat effectiveness of the Qing army cannot be underestimated. At this time, I made such a big move. I'm gambling. Betting that all my subordinates can complete their tasks.

  At this time, the guard captain Tang Kefeng came in to report: "Chief, there is a middle-aged man outside the door who insists on seeing you loudly. I don't think he's from Jing'an, and he has a bit of an accent from elsewhere."

  I was taken aback, as I didn't know anyone in this era who would be looking for me. But out of curiosity and following the principle of being close to the people, I immediately said: "It's okay, just bring him in anyway. One person can't do anything too out of line."

  A middle-aged scholar was brought in by the guard, I carefully sized him up and recognized that there was no such person in my memory. Immediately full of doubts, he asked: "Sir, what brings you to me?"

  "That scholar also looked at me and said: 'I am here on the orders of my father. I have come to pay respects to Your Excellency.'"

  I was even more astonished. Let alone him, I didn't know his father either, but I still held back my temper and asked: "Your respected father, who is he?"

  He looked around uncomfortably. It seemed he was afraid it wasn't safe here. I reassured him, "Please be at ease, these people around us are all trustworthy. You can speak freely."

  The scholar seemed still uncertain and thought for half a day before saying: "My father's name is Zhang Geng."

  "What's your honorable surname, sir?"

  Wen Shi Dao said: "My surname is Song."

  I suppressed the excitement in my heart, Song Yingxing was after all someone I had been looking for. But still not at ease, I asked to confirm: "Isn't your honorable father the author of 'The Exploitation of the Works of Nature', Mr. Changgeng?"

  "That's right, it was my father."

  I'm so excited I almost shouted out loud. This is the person I've been looking for all along! Song Yingxing, although also over 70 years old, still has his things here. I had planned to find him after taking Nanjing, but unexpectedly he came knocking on my door instead.

  I hastily replied to Song Yingxing's son: "At your service, I have long admired your esteemed father's great name. I've always wanted to visit your esteemed father in Nanchang, but as you know, it is still under the occupation of the Qing army, so I couldn't get there."

  That Wen Shi did not think I would be so serious and humbly said: "The general is a busy person, handling millions of things every day, still has to prioritize the overall situation of the Ming Dynasty, my father also sees that the general governs the army properly and deeply loves the people, which makes it difficult for him to calm down."

  Being able to be praised by Song Yingxing like this is something I didn't expect. Thinking of this, my face flushed with a red and bashful expression as I said: "Where is your respected father now? Otherwise, I'll dispatch troops to bring him over."

  Song Shi-yi said: "My father has now moved the whole family to Jing'an and is living in a hostel within the city."

  Having heard this, I hastily stood up and asked Song Shiyin in a questioning tone: "Brother Chengsheng, you're being too careless. What if something happens to your respected father? We won't be able to bear the consequences."

  As I spoke, I immediately turned to the guard beside me and said, "Let's go, follow me to personally pick up Mr. Changgeng. Mr. Changgeng is a rare talent for my great Ming dynasty to regain its prosperity."

  A group of people arrived at the inn where Song Shi Yi was staying, and the owner of the inn, seeing the usually rarely seen leader, hastily invited him to sit down. I politely said a few words to the owner: "Don't be polite, just focus on making money and doing good things for the ordinary people of Jing'an, and as for their room fees, I'll have the guards send them over later."

  The boss hurriedly said no need, I appeased him with a few words and followed Song Shi-yi in. They rented a yard, and it was inevitable to rent a bigger house for the whole family. Song Shi-yi led the way in front, and I finally saw this Minister of Science and Technology of the Ming Dynasty - Song Yingxing. At this time, Song Yingxing, who was already over 70 years old, looked very spirited and was playing chess with a young man in his 20s. Looking at Song Yingxing's frail body, I didn't wait for Song Shi-yi to introduce me, I walked up and gave him a deep bow: "I've long heard of your great name, Mr. Changgeng, it's truly an honor to meet you today."

  Song Yingxiong was completely absorbed in playing chess and didn't seem to be disturbed by me at all, I don't know if it was intentional or not. Song Shi wanted to come forward and tell him something, but I stopped his idea with my eyes. I watched them play chess while also glancing over from the side.

  Song Yingxing also came back to his senses and asked me: "Who is this?"

  "I smiled and replied: 'I am a general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. I heard that you, sir, have come all the way here to welcome me.'"

  Song Yingxing looked at me and laughed, saying: "Haha, I really didn't expect the one who defeated the Qing army to be such a young man. Alas, it's truly frightening for us older generations."

  Being said by Old Song, even I who thought my face was thicker than average knew to humbly say: "Sir is overpraising. This young one just got lucky, if he can get Sir's guidance that would be like adding wings to a tiger."

  Song Yingxing sidestepped this topic of mine, after all he's an old ginger, and immediately shifted the subject saying: "I see that you're governing quite well, Jing'an City is already quite prosperous. I heard a lot about your affairs on my way here. However, I strongly disapprove of your land reform. It's good to strike down those wicked landlords, but enlightened landlords should still be protected. Think about it, in the Ming dynasty, it was precisely because we got the support of the landlords that our Taizu Emperor was able to conquer the world."

  I smiled and shook my head, looking around at the people, saying: "Mr. Changgeng, this statement is incorrect. The ancients said: 'He who gains the hearts of the people will gain the world.' Landlords are only a small part of the people's hearts, the greatest heart of the people is still the tens of millions of ordinary people. That's why I'm willing to offend these landlords and consider the vast majority of ordinary people having land and food to eat. Moreover, enlightened landlords do not give up their land for nothing, but rather we as the government, as officials, buy land from them and distribute it to the people, while landlords can invest in other industries."

  Seeing Song Yingxing seemed to have some fluctuations in his mind, I continued: "Your wild opinions, the young man often reads them. As Mr. said in his book, extraordinary times require extraordinary measures."

  Song Yingxing looked at me, and the light in my eyes had already been released. However, he was after all a veteran of the official scene, and his expressionless tone said: "Then General's wish is to drive out the Tartars and recover our rivers and mountains?"

  I smiled and shook my head, "Sir, this statement is also inappropriate. Driving out the Tartars is only our first goal. I have also read Mr. Heaven's work on opening up objects. The knowledge inside is truly vast, and the Wan Ren Di we use now was manufactured according to your method, it can be said that its power is boundless."

  I took a look at his excited eyes, it seems I've bet on the right person. There's no one in this world who doesn't like to be flattered. I continued: "Beyond our great land of China, there is another vast territory. Our goal after driving out the Tartars is to attack outward and establish the most advanced army in the world, making all nations submit and come to pay homage year after year."

  Song Yingxing got up and knelt down in front of me, saying: "Old minister Song Yingxing, see General. I am willing to do my utmost for the general's great cause."

  Song Yingxing's family also knelt down, and I hastily followed suit. This little trick of the scene I still know how to do. In those years, Liu Bei could rely on crying to start a family, can't I also do this slightly? At the same time, he said emotionally: "Sir, you have killed me. My grandfather often told me that if we want to get the world, we must get sir, sir doesn't need to be polite, and our army is not used to this either, it's all a bowing ceremony."

  I helped Song Yingxing up and once again sincerely exhorted him: "Sir, you don't have to be so polite in the future, or it will be a waste of this young man."

  Song Yingxing laughed and looked very satisfied with my attitude: "Then I'll do as the general says."

  Then he turned his head and said to the young man in his twenties: "Mingfeng, you should learn from General Zhu more in the future."

  The young man looked at me with a blush and said respectfully: "I hope General will give us more guidance in the future."

  I bowed slightly and said: "Brother Mingfeng, don't say that, I'll still need your guidance in the future."

  Song Yingxing said to me: "Please, General, let's discuss this further inside."

  I followed Song Yingxing into his temporary study. That evening, I had a long conversation with Song Yingxing, covering politics, economy, culture, military weapons manufacturing and talent cultivation, in short, all aspects were involved. Song Yingxing kept praising my unique insights.

  I stood up, pushed open the window and looked at the already white sky, turned around and said to Song Yingxing who still looked very excited: "Sir, you can rest first, we'll discuss how to arrange your position in detail tomorrow during the day."

  General Song nodded and said, "General, don't be polite. I think Mingfeng can follow you for training, he has learned some martial arts before and can also serve as your bodyguard."

  I nodded and said: "Sir, you'd better take a good rest. The country still needs your support."

  Song Yingxing said with a happy tone: "Alright, then I won't see you off far. Tomorrow, I'll go to the general's place to report during the day."

  "I nodded and said: 'Then I'll have the guard come pick you up tomorrow.'"

  As he spoke, he walked out of the study. Looking at the soldiers outside with black eyes, he said: "Comrades are hardworking. Go wash and rest well when you get back."

  At this time, Song Mingfeng had already walked out and saluted me, saying: "General Zhu, should I follow you now?"

  After he finished speaking, his face somehow turned red. I didn't pay much attention to him and said: "Let's go, you'll go to the guard camp to register today, and from now on, you'll be my guard."

  I added another sentence: "That's what your grandfather meant."

  Song Mingfeng nodded and replied, "Alright, Commander."

  The sun in the afternoon has become a little yellow. At this time, Song Mingfeng had already walked in and gently called out beside me: "Chief, it's time to get up. Next week, Secretary Zheng wants to come and discuss things with you."

  In the military department's conference room, I looked at Zhou Lun and said: "I think Song Yingxing's talent is still affirmative, although he is a bit older. I think it's still possible to let him be the Premier of the Political Council of this base area. His two sons are also talented and not bad in terms of ability. It's worth considering letting them take on some responsibilities. Xu Jin can serve as Song Yingxing's deputy. This way, we can alleviate Song Yingxing's workload. However, with this arrangement, we still need to make the supervisory mechanism more robust. That way, even if the three members of the Song family are together, I don't think they will do anything too bad."

  Zhou Lun nodded and said, "Yes, I think Song Yingxing also wants to make contributions to the great Ming Dynasty. He used to be a clean official, your worries might be unnecessary."

  I smiled and said, "I hope so as you said."