Chapter 2187
Before Yuan Tao took a break, he still endured his fatigue and summoned several of his team leaders to have a meeting and once again emphasized the areas that needed attention.
Although Jindun was invited to Yangzhou this time and was theoretically a partner in the same camp as the Huizhou salt merchants, and they needed to work together to deal with common opponents, but whether the Huizhou salt merchants were really reliable or not, they had to be on guard against.
Although the Zhoushan authorities have decided to open the purchase of designated weapons to Huizhou salt merchants, there are still slight performance differences between the models of muskets sold for export and those equipped with golden shields. It is impossible to say that these salt merchants will also pursue the idea of gold shields.
Yuan Tao warned everyone not to relax their vigilance while stationed in Yangzhou, and to pay special attention to the safekeeping of weapons and equipment. Each team must count the weapons they hold every day. After all, these salt merchants are too rich. If strict control is not implemented, emergencies such as the loss of weapons may occur one after another.
"These salt merchants are all smart people. When dealing with them, you have to be careful. Don't be manipulated by them. If you are unsure about anything, don't make your own decisions. Come and ask me for advice first. " Yuan Tao was worried that his subordinates would not be able to control the situation, so he simply took all the responsibility on himself.
After giving the instructions, he dismissed his men and asked everyone to go back and rest.
Yuan Tao's status is extraordinary, so the accommodation conditions are not bad. The Dai family specially arranged a spacious bedroom for him. The pillows and quilts on the bed are all new. They also ordered a pot of calming sandalwood in advance and brewed it. Hot tea, reception work is still very thoughtful. If Yuan Tao hadn't refused, there would even have been two personal maids to attend to his daily life.
Of course, Yuan Tao is not an honest person who does not eat meat or fish, but in this special environment, he simply cannot think about pleasure. Moreover, he has always been wary of the benefits provided by the salt dealer, so he would not agree to the other party easily placing people around him.
After Yuan Tao washed up, he lay down on the bed. He originally wanted to think over the content of today's discussion with the salt merchants, but perhaps due to running around for days, he quickly fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Early on the first morning, while Yuan Tao was still having breakfast, someone came to report that Dai Yingda's youngest son, Dai Chengrong, came to visit.
Yuan Tao remembered that Dai Yingda had mentioned yesterday that his son would be in charge of the personnel selected to receive military training in Zhoushan, and he would be invited to come in to meet him.
Dai Chengrong entered the room and saw Yuan Tao still eating. He quickly apologized and asked Yuan Tao to have breakfast first, and he could come in later. Although Yuan Tao didn't care about such details, he did have a better impression of the young master of the Dai family.
Dai Yingda has thirteen children. Dai Chengrong is the youngest son. He is only eighteen years old, but he is far more calm than his peers. He voluntarily resigned and walked outside the house, standing in the courtyard waiting for Yuan Tao to finish breakfast first.
Yuan Tao couldn't put on airs and keep the other party waiting for a long time. After finishing his food, he invited Dai Chengrong into the house again. After the two exchanged a few words, Yuan Tao took the initiative to get to the point.
"Yesterday, I heard Master Dai say that the next people to be sent to Zhoushan for training will be led by the young master?"
"That's it. I hope Shopkeeper Yuan can give me some advice."
Yuan Tao said: "I can't give you any advice, but I do want to know first. Has the young master been exposed to military-related fields before?"
Yuan Tao was still a little worried about Dai Yingda's nepotism and chose his favorite youngest son, but did not consider whether Dai Chengrong's personal situation was suitable for receiving military training and becoming the commander of an armed squad. If Dai Chengrong does not have the talent and foundation in this area, it is likely to greatly affect the training effect.
When this musketeer team returns to Yangzhou, its combat effectiveness may not meet the expectations of the salt merchants. Dai Yingda will probably not think that the problem lies with his son, but will attribute the responsibility to Haihan's insufficient training level.
Yuan Tao didn't want Haihan to take the blame for the other party's incompetence, so he thought it was necessary to have a preliminary understanding of Dai Chengrong's situation. If this kid is just a rich second generation who only knows how to eat, drink and have fun, or a pedantic scholar who has been taught too many classics and histories, it would be better to discuss the replacement with Dai Yingda as soon as possible, so as not to develop into an uncontrollable situation in the end and everyone No benefit.
Dai Chengrong responded: "Before, I learned a little from the security instructor hired by my family. The instructor was also a military attache who led troops in the army in his early years. This can probably be regarded as having contact with the military field, right?"
"I wonder what exactly the young master has learned?" Yuan Tao asked relentlessly.
Dai Chengrong hesitated for a moment and then answered Yuan Tao's question. He learned to ride a horse at the age of seven, began to practice swordsmanship with his master at the age of eight, and learned how to draw a bow at the age of ten. When he was twelve or thirteen years old, he knew enough words, so he started reading military books again. I am training to become a military commander.
"Master Dai asked you to learn these things. Could it be that he wants you to take the martial arts exam?" Yuan Tao was greatly surprised after hearing this. He was convinced that this young man was more specialized in learning things than he was.
Dai Chengrong smiled and said: "Most of the people who take the martial arts examination are the children of generals and come from military families, but I am a salt merchant. Although I have studied martial arts for several years, my strength is only mediocre due to my own conditions. It is difficult to succeed in this path." A chance to get ahead.”
Yuan Tao was even more surprised now. It was hard to imagine that such a young man under twenty had such a clear and clear understanding of his situation. He then continued to ask: "But Master Dai asked you to practice martial arts and read military books. Is it just that?" To keep fit? It shouldn’t be that simple!”
Dai Chengrong knew that he could not get away with a discerning person like Yuan Tao, so he responded calmly: "Shopkeeper Yuan doesn't know something. We Hui salt merchants are considered foreigners in Yangzhou. In order to protect ourselves, we have always formed our own militia. Tradition. This military training instructor can be hired from outside with a lot of money, but for safety reasons, the command of these personnel must be in their own hands, so basically every household of the seven major surnames will select a few people from the younger generation to train them from an early age. What I want is to take over my own armed forces one day.”
After hearing his explanation, Yuan Tao suddenly realized that this made sense why Dai Yingda wanted his youngest son to practice martial arts and military skills from an early age. After all, private armed forces must of course be in the hands of one's own family in order to feel at ease, and commanding operations is not something that just anyone can do.
Yuan Tao continued to ask: "So, in your father's generation, there are people with the same role as you?"
Dai Chengrong nodded calmly and said: "That's right. My third uncle, Dai Yingfan, is currently in charge of the defense of Daijiazhuang."
Yuan Tao thought about it, and it seemed that he had never seen this person before or after the reception banquet yesterday. Dai Chengrong had already continued: "Uncle San has gone to Yangzhou City for business these days. He is expected to come back today and tomorrow. He will definitely come to meet with Shopkeeper Yuan then." Jindun's men are going to take over the entire Dai Family Village. Defense must be handed over to the person in charge of the Dai family, and Dai Yingfan is not in the village at the moment. It seems that this matter will have to wait until he comes back.
Yuan Tao calculated in his mind that Dai Yingfan, who was in charge of the command, actually did not hand over the command to his own children, but planned to hand it over to Dai Yingda's son. It seemed that there was something else going on.
Sure enough, Dai Chengrong immediately explained the reason: "According to the rules set by our ancestors, the current head of the family appoints the heir for this command power, but the head of the family himself cannot hold the position concurrently. After returning from Zhoushan this time, I will take over this command." It’s a big burden. When the time comes, the family will spend money to donate to the government for a hundred households, so that daily life will be easier.”
After hearing this explanation, Yuan Tao understood that since the head of the family, Dai Yingda, had designated the next commander, he must have given priority to arranging his children. However, in this way, Dai Chengrong automatically lost the possibility of inheriting the position of head of the family, which can be regarded as a gain and a loss. When the next head of the family appoints a new commander, Dai Chengrong's situation is actually the same as that of his third uncle.
As for the practice of donating money to officials, it is not unusual. If a wealthy family like them wants to maintain their social status and family property, it is of course necessary to find ways to send their own people into officialdom. Even if it's just a symbolic name, it might be useful at a critical moment.
Yuan Tao said: "Since the young master has experience in martial arts before, it must not be too difficult to receive training in the army. As long as military discipline is observed during training, it will be no big deal."
If the experience described by Dai Chengrong is not false, then there is really no need for Yuan Tao to be picky. With conditions like Dai Chengrong, even if he is placed in the Haihan Army, he must be a key training target.
Dai Chengrong said: "I have long heard that the Haihan Army has extraordinary combat power. It is truly a blessing for me to have the opportunity to train in the Haihan Army. Even though the training is hard, I will not complain at all. I only hope that When the time comes, the military instructors should not hide their secrets and pass on their true skills to us. If your country needs anything in Yangzhou in the future, everyone in the Dai family will do their best to help!"
Yuan Tao understood. Not only was Dai Chengrong not afraid of hardship, but he was also worried that Haihan was hiding his secrets and had paid tuition but not learned his true skills.
I am worried that the salt dealer is not strict enough when selecting people, but the salt dealer is worried that the personnel training provided by Zhoushan is inadequate. Everyone talks beautifully, but each is still worried that the other party's cooperative attitude is not serious enough.
But in this way, Yuan Tao felt a little relieved about the seriousness of the salt merchants. Duan Tiancheng, who was responsible for training these people in Zhoushan, would probably be happier about this. After all, it is much easier than training people with no foundation. .
After Yuan Tao chatted with Dai Chengrong, he also wanted to find out how capable this young man was, so he asked him again: "Our army's tactics are all based on the equipment of muskets. I don't know what the young master has done before." Have you ever been exposed to muskets? ”
Dai Chengrong nodded without hesitation and said: "Actually, I learned how to use a matchlock gun very early. However, although that kind of gun is powerful, it fires too slowly. I think it is not easy to use. The flint made in your country I have also seen muskets below. They are indeed stronger than matchlock guns, but they are simply not available on the market.”
Yuan Tao said: "I heard that when you fought with Shanxi salt merchants in the past, you actually used muskets?"
Dai Chengrong said: "Our opponents use more muskets than us, and they have mastered the military's tactics, so we always suffer the most losses. If we do it a few times, we will not dare to fight them head-on. If we encounter an attack We can only avoid its edge and preserve our strength.”
Yuan Tao said: "Then how did you use muskets to fight in the past? Have you ever learned any special tactics?"
Dai Chengrong said: "I have learned a little bit, and it was all taught by the former instructor of the nursing school. According to him, it is the tactics of the firearms battalion in the military. However, after practicing it ourselves, it is always difficult to achieve the effect."
< br>
Yuan Tao nodded and said: "Can you take me to see the weapons and equipment you use?"
Yuan Tao had actually guessed some of the reasons, but he still had to see the real thing before he could determine the problem.
Dai Chengrong agreed immediately, and then took Yuan Tao to walk through Dai's village for a while, and stopped in front of a courtyard with a guarded gate.
"This is where we store our weapons and equipment." Dai Chengrong raised his hand to open the door, and the two people guarding the door immediately opened the door and let them in.
After Yuan Tao went in and looked at the weapons carefully hidden by the Dai family, he roughly understood their problem.
"These muskets of yours are not uniform in standard. It is difficult to achieve a uniform firing frequency during combat. And the firing speed of these muskets is inherently slow. If they cannot fire at the same time to form a fire coverage, the power will be even greater. Discount... If I'm not mistaken, the opponent's musketry team's shooting accuracy is much higher than yours when fighting against you." Yuan Tao expressed his judgment while checking the weapons.
"Shopkeeper Yuan is brilliant!" Dai Chengrong couldn't hide his admiration: "It is indeed as shopkeeper Yuan said, we suffered a loss in the battle with our opponent's musketeers."
Yuan Tao thought to himself that your opponent's muskets are all standard weapons purchased from Hirado, and they also hired special military instructors for training. They must be better than your Dai family's half-hearted guard instructor. Even if your instructor had spent time in the Ming Army's firearms camp, he could only teach tactics at most, and he couldn't purchase batches of standard muskets, so he couldn't change the passive situation of Huizhou salt merchants.
"When you complete your training in Zhoushan, this problem should be solved." Yuan Tao is confident about this. He knew that the superiors had approved the sale of standard weapons to Huizhou salt merchants, even if they were export models with discounted performance, but against Hirado's muskets, there was still a relatively high chance of winning.
What's more, Haihan's understanding and application of musket tactics were far ahead of this era. As long as Dai Chengrong and others learned 30 to 40% of the tactics, it would be enough to defeat their opponents.
(End of chapter)