Chapter 2651
According to Jin Sangjiu, there are actually only more than a thousand military personnel stationed on Ganghwa Island. Based on the establishment of the North Korean New Army, it is about the size of a brigade. Even if local civilians who can be armed are included, the armed force will not exceed 3,000 people.
However, Ganghwa Island is not originally a battlefield suitable for large-scale operations. The purpose of coming to North Korea's Cao Yamen is just to set up a pass here to block invading enemies that may appear from the sea and win more for Seoul. reaction time.
But in the eyes of Shi Chengwu and others, this kind of deployment is only better than nothing. This is not entirely because they look down on the combat effectiveness of the North Korean army, but the boundary line between the north and the south is at the mouth of the Han River. In other words, if the north really wants to attack, it does not necessarily have to launch an offensive from the sea, it only needs to avoid For Ganghwa Island, crossing the river directly from the lower reaches of the Han River has the same effect.
Of course, this kind of doubt cannot be said casually, otherwise Jin Shangjiu will easily mistakenly think that this represents Haihan's official attitude. Although Haihan worked hard to implement the North-South partition plan to achieve control of North Korea, he did not want civil strife or even war to break out in North Korea, which would inevitably have a negative impact on many industries operated by Haihan in North Korea.
The essence of this partition plan is to allow the north and the south to continue fighting without breaking up. Both the large and small courts must rely on Haihan to continue their rule.
Ganghwa Island functions as a capital and is always ready to receive princes and nobles from Seoul. Therefore, all kinds of living facilities and supplies on the island are very complete, and the living environment is much better than Jeju Island where the mission went previously. During the two days of stay on Ganghwa Island, Jin Sangjiu did a very considerate job in reception, and the mission and fleet officers and soldiers all had a good rest.
Zhu Zian also took advantage of these two days to complete the task assigned to him by Shi Chengwu - more than 20 neatly written invitations were all handed over to Shi Chengwu.
Although Shi Chengwu gave him the list, he did not inform him of the identities of these invitees. However, since Shi Chengwu had started making preparations for this in a few days, it showed how much he valued these people. Zhu Zian is also looking forward to the banquet after arriving in Seoul, where he will know the true identities of these strange names.
Kim Sang-joo sent news from Seoul on the second night after the mission arrived at Ganghwa Island. King Li Zhi sent a decree, inviting the envoy and the Haehan Fleet to visit Seoul, and asked Kim Sang-jiu to accompany him on the journey from Ganghwa Island to Seoul.
In fact, Haihan had notified North Korea of this visit several months ago and negotiated with it the relevant schedule and details through the embassy in Seoul. After the mission arrived at Ganghwa Island, Kim Sang-joo immediately sent an urgent report to Seoul. The two days of staying on Ganghwa Island were waiting for the order from Li Xie in order to complete this courtesy diplomatic ceremony.
The voyage from Ganghwa Island to Seoul is just over a hundred miles. For this fleet, which maintains an average speed of eight to ten knots, it takes almost only one day. The fleet set off early in the morning, and by evening it had arrived at Jiangan Pier outside Seoul.
In order to welcome the arrival of this fleet, North Korean officials have also made a lot of preparations in advance. A large section of docks was cleared on the north bank of the Han River for this large naval fleet to dock. At the same time, a large number of temporary barracks were built near the dock for the Haihan Army to be temporarily stationed.
In fact, Haihan also has a military base near Seoul, but due to international relations considerations, the size of the garrison has only been maintained at the battalion level. Although there is a military dock, it is not enough to dock the combined fleet coming to Seoul this time. Therefore, North Korean officials can only coordinate and prepare a docking area along the Han River. Although there are no real high-ranking officials from Haihan in the mission to Seoul this time, it is obvious that North Korea also knows that the lineup of this visit is not simple, so King Li Zhen also personally went out of the city and led the civil and military ministers to the Han River to greet them. The arrival of the mission.
Li Zhi had obviously done his homework beforehand and knew the identities of everyone in the mission. He had basically dealt with their fathers more or less, and even met them when he was studying abroad in Sanya. Some of them can also exchange a few words of familiarity from the perspective of old acquaintances.
Soon Shi Chengwu introduced the last person at the end of the team: "This is Zhu Zian, Xieyuan who took the first provincial examination in the Donghai Region this year. He was recruited by us after the results were announced and served as a confidential document in the mission."
When Li Zhi heard Zhu Zian's name, the expression on his face became somewhat meaningful: "I heard that Mr. Zhu is a descendant of the former royal family? Abandoning the old and starting a new one, there is a bright future!"
Li Zhi revealed Zhu Zian's identity without concealment. Apparently, he had obtained information about his identity through certain channels before. However, this was the reason why Haihan arranged for Zhu Zian to join the mission, so he had no intention of covering it up.
Zhu Zian's face was very calm. He had already figured out the cause and effect on the way here. The biggest reason why he took refuge in Haihan was because of his special status and background. Haihan gave himself the honor of being the leader of the provincial examination, and immediately entrusted himself with important tasks after the results were announced. The main reason was of course that he wanted to take advantage of it. His identity will have an impact on the two countries, North Korea and Japan, which are envoys.
Things should be put to their best use and people should be put to their best use. Since Zhu Zian wants to play a role, he cannot avoid this issue. Hearing Li Xie take the initiative to mention his identity, Zhu Zian smiled and responded: "Haihan is the general trend of the world and the people's will. Now he is willing to appoint me regardless of his past background. Zhu has nothing else but gratitude." Only by doing your best to serve the country can you live up to this trust.”
Li Zhi was silent for a moment, then grinned and said: "When I was studying abroad in Sanya, I had the same thoughts as you. The general trend is the general trend!"
Before Li Zhen ascended the throne, his title was Prince Zhaoxian, and according to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty royal family, Zhu Zian was also a prince in the lineage of Prince De's Palace. The two people's backgrounds were similar. But Li Zhi was obviously luckier than Zhu Zian. After he studied abroad for three years and one year, a coup occurred in Seoul, and then he returned to North Korea and became the king. However, Zhu Zian has now publicly surrendered to Haihan and wants to inherit the Ming Dynasty. The throne is unlikely.
Of course, having said that, Li Zhi was still deeply shocked by Haihan's appointment of Zhu Zian. After all, in the two hundred years of North Korea's history, the Ming Dynasty's status as the supreme court was unshakable. It is hard to imagine that there are really descendants of the royal family today. "Condescend" to serve Haihan. Even though Zhu Zian was already standing in front of him, Li Zhi still couldn't help but wonder whether this person's identity was true or false.
(End of chapter)