Chapter 2367
Although the preparations for war are complicated and require coordination among the military, local governments and the people, fortunately, various departments and tens of thousands of residents in Jinzhou have long been accustomed to such sudden wars, so after Chen Yixin's order was issued, various departments Then they began to organize and prepare for the war in an orderly manner.
Chen Yixin took the time to draft telegrams and sent them to Datongjiang Base and Sanya Victory Fort to explain the situation Jinzhou was currently facing.
If the Qing army really fails to seek peace and turns its back and takes action, then military support from the Datong River base will be necessary. Although the troops currently stationed in Jinzhou are enough to defend the isthmus defense line, if the elite troops of the special operations group can be transferred to Jinzhou to participate in the defense, the damage to the Qing army will definitely be greater during the war, and the Qing army will be able to defeat the enemy more quickly. Disrupt the opponent's offensive.
What's more important is that under the current situation, it is also Chen Yixin's responsibility to inform the Datongjiang base. Although Wang Tom and Qian Tiandun are currently stationed in North Korea for a long time, the strategy formulation and troop dispatch of the entire northern battlefield are still based on their opinions in principle.
However, when Chen Yixin wrote the message, he was basically sure that the two brothers at the Datongjiang base would not agree to start peace talks with the Manchus.
When Haihan decided to send troops to Liaodong, the opinions of these two people played a key role in it. Then they formed an alliance with North Korea, which they also manipulated. When it comes to the main war faction against the Manchu and Qing Dynasty among the senior officials of Haihan, these two people are undoubtedly the representatives of the military.
In almost all military operations launched against the Manchus in recent years, these two men were personally on the front line to command. It can be said that using military means to attack the Manchus was one of the main reasons why they were stationed in the north all year round. For people like them, in the Liaodong battlefield where they clearly take the initiative, peace negotiation will definitely not be an option that needs to be seriously considered at the moment.
One day later, the Datongjiang base sent a call back. As expected by Chen Yixin, Wang Tom and Qian Tiandun had a tough attitude and made it clear that under the current conditional framework provided by the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there was no need to consider negotiating peace with them. They also instructed Chen Yixin in the message to consider disclosing relevant information to Ming's envoy in Jinzhou, using this situation to put pressure on Ming and seek more benefits for Haihan.
"You're still smarter when you're old!" After reading the telegram, Chen Yixin couldn't help feeling that the plans of these two people were indeed smarter than his own.
The Manchu and Qing Dynasties did not want the Ming Dynasty to intervene in the peace talks because they did not want to cause Ming Dynasty to obstruct the peace talks. However, this fact that the Manchu Qing Dynasty was afraid of could be exploited by Haihan.
Chen Yixin put away the message, called his secretary Zeng Xiaowen over and said: "Prepare a banquet tonight and invite Mr. Yue to come over and have a chat."
The "Master Yue" Chen Yixin wants to entertain is Yue Yongshou, the Ming Dynasty's envoy to Liaodong.
Although the winter that just passed was very cold, it was still a good time for Yue Yongshou. The Haihan people launched a military operation against the Manchus at the beginning of winter, and Chen Yixin also invited him to the isthmus defense line to observe the Haihan army's offensive in the area north of the defense line.
The scene of the Haihan army setting up an ambush with artillery positions to kill the Qing cavalry left a very deep impression on Yue Yongshou, and he also included it in the memorial sent back to the capital. Although the offensive launched from the direction of Jinzhou did not last for many days, Yue Yongshou witnessed the arrival of ship after ship of Han people from Liaodong from the sea in the later period. These were another Hai-Han troops raiding behind enemy lines from Manchu and Qing control. The spoils snatched back from the Liaodong coast.
Not all the trophies transported to Jinzhou were Han people. Yue Yongshou also saw many Manchus when he went to watch the fun. However, these Manchu prisoners were not detained locally, but were quickly released again after identification. Shipped and transferred elsewhere. According to insiders, these Manchus will be transported to the area controlled by Haihan in Dengzhou, Shandong, where they will work as hard labor miners.
Based on these circumstances, Yue Yongshou judged that the scale of Haihan's actions this winter was far greater than he had previously expected. This meant that the Ming Dynasty was worried that the tacit truce between Haihan and the Manchus had not actually happened. Haihan The Manchus were still listed as the main military target, and they would seize the opportunity to hit the opponent hard when their defenses were lax.
Of course, Yue Yongshou did not forget to express his merits in the memorial, emphasizing that the action of the Haihan army was only possible after he relied on his personal relationship with General Haihan and insisted on repeated consultations with him, and the impact this action had on the Manchus A heavy blow will effectively curb its military actions against the Ming Dynasty.
There are two important points in this. One is that Yue Yongshou facilitated this matter, which was of great significance to the Ming Dynasty. The other is that Yue Yongshou had a personal relationship with General Haihan. The purpose of emphasizing these two points is to secure the credit while also consolidating his own status as special envoy, lest someone in the court see that the credit is easy to take and arrange for someone else to replace him.
Yue Yongshou knew very well that just by motivating Haihan to launch the winter offensive, he would most likely be promoted and rewarded by the imperial court. Benefits like this would come to his doorstep, and he estimated that they would appear every year in the future, so at the end of the memorial he He also expressed his determination to defend the country's borders, take root in Jinzhou, and urge the Haihan people to continue using troops against the Manchus, in order to reduce the external military pressure faced by the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, the environment in Jinzhou is actually not as difficult and dangerous as Yue Yongshou described in his memorial. From a certain perspective, his living standard in Jinzhou may be better than in the capital.
Yue Yongshou's residence in Jinzhou is a three-entry courtyard twenty miles away from the isthmus defense line. Living with him are two old servants who have been with him for many years, a young book boy, and two primary school guards who serve as guards and honor guards. Judging from the status of a special envoy, this staffing does seem a bit shabby, but Jinzhou is a battlefield, and Haihan will not allow the Ming envoy to enter with a large number of troops, so in the end Yue Yongshou brought only these few people with him when he came. .
After arriving here, Haihan helped arrange the grooms, cooks, and maids, and Haihan paid for the additional personnel, without Yue Yongshou having to pay for them. In addition, Haihan officials will also pay Yue Yongshou a so-called "office expense" on a monthly basis. This amount of money is much more than the salary paid to him by the court, and now it has become the largest part of his income. .
Although his residence is very close to the front line, in fact, most of the year, he can hardly feel the chaotic atmosphere of war. Although every time a war breaks out on the front line, the entire Jinzhou area must enter a state of military control, but it usually lasts only two or three days and only ten days and a half. There has never been a shortage of supplies or a front-line war. Tight situation. Therefore, the local social order has been maintained very well. In Yue Yongshou's opinion, it is no different from most areas in the Ming Dynasty, and it is far better than the important towns of Jiubian, which are also on the border.
Yue Yongshou also quietly went to visit the people of the former Dongjiang Town who were resettled in Jinzhou. Most of these people who had gradually separated from the Ming Dynasty had now become Haihan citizens, and as long as they were naturalized, they could get land allocated by the government. Those who farm will also have other livelihoods arranged by the government. Although they are not yet able to have enough food and clothing, they can at least guarantee their basic living needs, which is far better than the harsh days they had on Phi Island. In just one or two years, no one here no longer misses the identity of the people of the Ming Dynasty. The people always refer to themselves as "our country of Haihan", as if they have regarded themselves as a member of Haihan.
As for social fundamentals such as culture, education, laws, coins, and even household registration, they are all implemented according to Haihan standards. Yue Yongshou has no doubt that in just one or two generations, the people of Jinzhou will be very sure of their identity, and by then there will be nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty. Of course, Yue Yongshou would not elaborate on these not-so-good situations in the report submitted to the court. After all, the Haihan people had already made it clear to him when providing office funds that he hoped that the situation that might damage the diplomatic relations between the two countries would He can "report as appropriate." As for the discretionary method, Yue Yongshou also knew it well - the Haihan people wanted to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty, but did not want to strain the relationship between the two countries, so they had no choice but to hide the truth from the Ming Dynasty court as much as possible.
These methods used by Haihan in Jinzhou are gradually separating Jinzhou from the Ming Dynasty. Although Yue Yongshou was dissatisfied, there was really no way he could change this trend based on his personal ability. Even if he wanted to do something for the Ming Dynasty, he was unable to do anything. What's more, the Haihan people gave too much, and they were soft-spoken and short-handed. He could only turn a blind eye to the current situation in Jinzhou and comfort himself that this was all necessary to maintain the status quo between the two countries. compromise.
As long as you can get promoted and make a fortune, it doesn't matter how many years you play with the Haihan people. What's more, the Haihan people are also very good. Before starting a fight with the Qing army, they will specifically inform him and give him the credit for free. , where else can such a good job be found.
That day, Yue Yongshou was sitting at home. A servant came to report that someone from the local government had come to visit. Yue Yongshou read the name card handed over by the visitor and quickly asked his servant to invite the visitor into the study to receive him.
The person who came was none other than Chen Yixin’s secretary Zeng Xiaowen. He first presented a gift list. It was not an expensive gift at all. It was just tea, rice, fruits and vegetables, etc. But these supplies were all good things shipped from the south. Ordinary people It's simply not available on the market.
Although it was a secretary who came, Yue Yongshou did not dare to neglect him at all. He knew that this person was a close confidant of Chen Yixin and also served as an aide. His influence on Chen Yixin could not be ignored, so he treated him as a distinguished guest at the moment. After accepting the gift order, he quickly expressed his gratitude.
After learning about Zeng Xiaowen's purpose, Yue Yongshou was still a little surprised. Although he boasted in the memorial that he had a good personal relationship with Chen Yixin, in fact, the relationship between the two was basically maintained at the level of official business, and there was no personal relationship at all. , private banquets like this are even rarer. Chen Yixin took the initiative to send out the invitation. In his opinion, this was definitely not because the other party had nothing to do, but because he wanted to take this opportunity to discuss something with him.
Yue Yongshou decided to ask Zeng Xiaowen first to see if he could get some useful information: "Mr. Zeng, I wonder what other guests the general entertained today?"
Zeng Xiaowen said: "I don't know if the general entertained other guests, but the order I received was to make a special trip to invite Mr. Yue."
Yue Yongshou thought to himself that as long as no one from Dongjiang Town was invited, everything would be easy. After he arrived in Jinzhou, he met Shen Shikui and others from Dongjiang Town, and both parties felt a little embarrassed. Strictly speaking, coming to Dongjiang Town to take refuge with Haihan is treason, but now the Ming Dynasty needs Haihan to contain the Manchus in Liaodong, and the soldiers and civilians of Dongjiang Town are still fighting against the Manchus after taking refuge with Haihan, so the Ming Dynasty has not publicly pursued Dongjiang Town. of guilt.
As for the reason for the banquet for Yue Yongshou, although he tried several times, Zeng Xiaowen did not provide any more information. Yue Yongshou stopped when he saw this, so as not to make the other party worry too much.
After sending Zeng Xiaowen away, Yue Yongshou called his servants and asked them to prepare hot water, take a shower and change clothes, and put on clean clothes for the appointment.
In the evening, Yue Yongshou came to Chen Yixin's residence and found that he was the only one being invited to the banquet today, and Zeng Xiaowen was the only one at the table. He immediately realized that today's conversation might not be simple. However, Chen Yixin didn't take the initiative to mention it, and he also knew enough not to ask rashly. The two parties exchanged cups and drank three rounds before talking.
After drinking for three rounds, Chen Yixin put down his chopsticks and said, "Master Yue, I'll tell you the truth. I invited Master Yue to come to the banquet today because we actually have important matters to discuss."
Upon seeing this, Yue Yongshou quickly put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then responded: "It doesn't matter if you ask General."
Chen Yixin said: "As for the military strikes carried out by our army against the Manchu Qing Dynasty this winter, Lord Yue also witnessed part of them. I believe Lord Yue will not have any doubts about the effect and significance of this strike, right?"
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Yue Yongshou said: "This is natural. Your army spared no effort to defeat the Qing army. I have seen it with my own eyes, and it has been reported to the court. I believe that after the spring begins, the court will express its response to your country's actions. .”
Chen Yixin said: "Master Yue is interested. But now there is a new situation, and I must inform you."
Yue Yongshou saw that Chen Yixin's tone and expression suddenly became serious, and he couldn't help but have a bad feeling in his heart.
"Our operation this time can be said to have carried out a relatively thorough cleanup of the several hundred miles of coast from Jinzhou to the mouth of the Yalu River. The villages and towns that are twenty or thirty miles away from the coastline or even closer to the inland have basically been wiped out by us. After a drag-net operation, these hundreds of miles became almost no man's land. The thousands of prisoners who had been sent to Jinzhou before were all from this operation."
"Although this operation has achieved fruitful results, it seems that the Manchu Qing Dynasty can no longer afford to lose. So they sent envoys over to negotiate a truce with our country." Chen Yixin said while paying attention to Yue Yongshou's reaction.
(End of chapter)