Chapter 406: The Sea That Belongs To Me (Final Chapter)

  You can quickly enter this site, providing free downloads of fine and txt formats! The annual festival has arrived, under the cold wind, the curfew in the capital is also cancelled as in previous years. This allows the prosperous capital to present some festive atmosphere.

  Zhou Huchen's old home is not in the capital, but for these people at home, family members are undoubtedly the most important thing for people of this era. Having just gone through a battle, Zhou Yujie thoroughly relaxed and spent a warm and harmonious New Year with his family.

  It hasn't snowed a single flake since winter began, it seems like next year will be another year of severe drought.

  Years of continuous disasters have exhausted the finances of the Ming Dynasty. In the past Chongzhen 14 years, there was a severe drought in the two capitals, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Suzhou, Zhejiang, and Huguang, with some areas experiencing locust plagues. The disaster in Jiangnan and Huguang has dealt a heavy blow to the already troubled Ming Dynasty. Local famines cannot be effectively relieved, and people without a way out can only choose between starvation and banditry, perpetuating a vicious cycle.

  Zhou Yuji's Beijing camp soldiers have been running around for years, whether it was against the Jurchen-led Northern Territory or against Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng. He has not stopped his military campaigns. Now, while resting in the capital, he faces many problems: soldiers need to be replenished, as do food supplies and various weapons and equipment. However, the imperial court is already at its wit's end, and apart from symbolically providing Zhou Yuji with some food and weapons, they have not issued a single tael of silver for his troops' pay.

  Before long, it was February of Chongzhen's 15th year. Zhou Yuji spent the whole day running to and from the Ministry of War, while Zhou Huachen had become familiar with all military matters. Of course, he never stopped his own footsteps.

  Zhou Yuji did not stop his son's reckless behavior, he took a permissive attitude, because Zhou Huchen's recklessness seemed to be effective. In just over three months, although the grain loss was considerable, Zhou Yuji didn't mind, as he still had stored grain. These soldiers have made significant progress in their mental outlook and seem to know better about following rules. The most important thing is that his son no longer goes out to cause trouble, which is already a blessing.

  The vernal equinox has passed, but the weather is somewhat abnormal, and there is no sign of warming up at all.

  On February 9th, Zhou Yuji received good news that his promotion documents had been submitted to the Ministry of War.

  With a good mood, Zhou Yuji left the Ministry of War and returned to his own military camp. Zhou Huchen was still carrying out his own endless stir-fry, he always had a variety of tricks, after stirring up the infantry, he would stir up the cavalry, after stirring up the cavalry, he would lead fifty fire gunners to practice firing with Lu Mi guns, when he got tired of firing, Zhou Huchen would enthusiastically lead a group of artillerymen to practice loading tiger squat cannons. The cannon can be loaded, but unfortunately, Zhou Huchen cannot come and fire a few shots, this is the capital, he can fight, as for opening fire, Zhou Huchen does not have that guts.

  After knowing Zhou Yuji arrived at the camp, Zhou Huchen hurriedly ran to Zhou Yuji's residence.

  As soon as he entered the house, before Zhou Huchen had a chance to greet him, he saw that Deputy General Mo Xiancheng was also in the room. He gave them a neat and tidy salute, and Zhou Huchen sat down steadily. The other book friends were watching: . Mo Xiancheng smiled slightly, and only in front of Zhou Yuji would this little tiger be so quiet.

  "Hu Zi, there hasn't been much fighting lately, so Uncle has taken leave and is heading back to his hometown of Baoding Prefecture. He'll bring your aunt and Little Hua over to stay for a while, and then you can take care of Little Hua!" Mo Xian Cheng spoke up first:

  As soon as Zhou Huichen heard Mo Xiancheng's words, he immediately took over: "I'll go to Baoding Prefecture too! Our soldiers should be replenished, and we can take the opportunity to recruit soldiers in Baoding Prefecture. The soldiers recruited there are said to be very good!" Zhou Huichen seemed to be speaking to Mo Xiancheng, but his eyes were directed at Zhou Yuji.

  The soldiers of Baoding Prefecture are not bad. In fact, there is no difference. Soldiers need regular training and combat experience. The fundamental reason is that the soldiers in Zhou Yuji's camp suffered heavy losses due to continuous battles, and Baoding Prefecture has been suffering from disasters for two years. Zhou Huchen was clearly seeking Zhou Yuji's opinion and suggested that he could go to Baoding Prefecture to recruit soldiers.

  Zhou Yuji naturally understood Zhou Huchen's meaning. This recruitment document is easy to say, but the imperial court urgently needs soldiers who can fight. However, this recruitment requires a lot of silver, and Zhou Yuji's pockets are empty. He has no silver to ask from the imperial court, which still owes him a lot of military pay. There is simply no possibility of getting silver.

  "Father can temporarily borrow some silver, and the court will make it up sooner or later!" Seeing Zhou Yuji frowning and not speaking, Zhou Huchen continued to suggest:

  "This isn't right, is it? The imperial court's rules must be followed!"

  Jingying is the strongest force defending the capital, and with the Ministry of Revenue having silver, Jingying will naturally be allocated first. However, borrowing silver to recruit soldiers does not conform to established rules, and besides, Zhou Yuji's face is too thin, how can he bear to borrow private silver?

  "Let the child go himself! Father, you just write a letter, Uncle will not refuse your face!" Zhou Huchen hurriedly took advantage of the situation and continued to persuade:

  Zhou Yuji fell into thought, Zhou Huchen's suggestion was good, but after all, it did not conform to the usual rules, he had to weigh the pros and cons.

  Zhou Huchen's uncle, Liu Qing, was a member of the Liaodong military aristocracy. In his youth, he had been wounded in battle against the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty and lost the use of one leg, leaving him with a disability. He still held the honorary position of Wei Zhihui. Due to his injury, Liu Qing had effectively retired from active duty, but as a member of a hereditary military family, he was well-connected in the border towns. Utilizing these connections and his personal network, Liu Qing began doing business in Xuanfu's border town, unwilling to simply grow old and die.

  Doing business at the border, with the convenience of being taken care of by the border army, and being relatively familiar with the grassland situation, Liu Qing's business flourished in just a few years, quickly becoming one of the wealthy merchants of Xuanfu Prefecture. Liu Qing only did large-scale business, mainly operating the most popular tea, salt, cloth, and other businesses. Moreover, Liu Qing had an important source of wealth: he could bring back large quantities of livestock from the grasslands, mainly horses. Therefore, Liu Qing was very welcome in the border towns, and the local leaders would always give him corresponding care. Liu Qing also adhered to a basic code of conduct as a Ming dynasty soldier, never selling military supplies.

  Seeing Zhou Yuji still hesitating, Zhou Huchen continued to persuade: "Uncle's silver we will return, it's just a temporary loan! The imperial court won't say anything, once there is war, the shortage of soldiers is too many, how can we fight? Father, you should consider carefully!"

  This ready silver will not be borrowed, and it is unknown who it belongs to in two years! Zhou Huchen knew the most clearly that he didn't have much time left, and if he didn't take his uncle's silver now, it would be equivalent to not taking it at all.

  After thinking for a long time, Zhou Yuji finally made up his mind: "Or... let Cheng Shu temporarily not return home, write a letter to Father, and Hu Zi go to Xuanfu..."

  "Still, Father, you're considering the bigger picture! Your vision is far-reaching! Now we need this, as Jian Nu becomes increasingly difficult to control, and Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are also getting restless. Time is not on our side! With one shot, the court has made arrangements for war, it's better to be prepared!"

  Zhou Huchen smiled, smiling very proudly, because he changed Zhou Yuji's stubborn personality. This time in Xuanfu, Zhou Huchen was well-prepared, not only did he want to ask his uncle Liu Qing for silver, but also wanted to strive for some better things with all his might; Zhou Huchen wanted to ask Liu Qing for the most important war weapon - war horses.

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