Chapter 2823
Zhu Youli was still a little confused about Chen Yixin's judgment: "What do you mean, the two adults, that the imperial court is ready to abandon Shandong?"
Chen Yixin looked at him and said: "What can you do if you don't give up? Are you going to fight us again with real swords and guns? Not to mention whether we can beat our Haihan Army, how can Mingting still raise enough money now?" To start the war with military pay and food? ”
Zhu Youli was speechless for a moment. Although what Chen Yixin said was harsh, it was indeed the truth.
After Haihan occupied the two prefectures of Denglai, he did not take action against other state capitals in Shandong for several years. However, this does not mean that Haihan gave up his plan to advance westward. He was just making preparations silently and waiting for the time to come.
These preparations were both military and political. Chen Yixin did not want too many repetitions in the process of seizing various parts of Shandong, so he kept raising the alarm. But as the time gradually matured, Ming Dynasty should also have noticed some signs that Haihan was going to attack Shandong, so it took countermeasures in advance.
However, there is a huge gap in military strength between the two sides. It is almost impossible for the Ming Dynasty to resist the attack of the Haihan army on the frontal battlefield. What's more, with the current economic situation of the Ming Dynasty, there is simply no money or food to start a war. What Ming Dynasty can do now is not to prevent Haihan from seizing Shandong, but to minimize its own losses.
Although the combat effectiveness of this guard army is relatively poor, for Ming Dynasty, it is better to gather them into his own control area than to be absorbed by Haihan, causing the strength to wax and wane.
Bai Kesi said: "The prince said just now that even the Ming army in Jinan City has been mobilized. It seems that they are planning to give up even Jinan City?"
Chen Yixin smiled and said: "It's not that they give up, it's that they know the situation in Jinan City...My lord, can you tell me about it?"
Zhu Youli came back to his senses and nodded, explaining the situation in Jinan City to Bai Kesi.
The city defenses of Jinan City were severely damaged during the Qing invasion in 1639. Especially on the north side of the city facing the Yellow River, many city walls collapsed, the city towers were burned clean, and even the city gates were demolished.
After the war, the Chief Envoy of Shandong applied to the court for funding to repair the city, but was ultimately unable to receive approval. The reason is also very simple. The imperial court's finances are tight and its military budget is even more limited, so it can only give priority to the needs of the northern border.
As for inland areas like Jinan, the probability of being attacked by the Qing army is much smaller after all, so repairing city defenses will not be listed as a priority, and the relevant expenses must be raised by the local government.
At that time, Jinan was robbed by the Qing army and was almost reduced to an empty city. It could not even provide relief to the refugees, and could only watch thousands of people flee to areas controlled by Haihan. Most of the officials were transferred from other places after the war and had no understanding of the local situation. How could they find the funds to repair the city's defenses.
Since the court doesn't care, there's nothing to say about the place being in a bad state. So the dilapidated city defenses were left unattended. Although Shandong had two new chief envoys and commanders during this period, no one was willing to use the few remaining savings in the official treasury to repair city defenses.
When the imperial court sent imperial envoys to inspect the local area, this dilapidated city defense became a prop for Shandong officials to cry out for poverty. They used it as proof of local financial crisis to apply for tax reductions and exemptions from the imperial court.
Within a few years, Haihan used large-scale troops in Liaodong and defeated the Manchu Qing Dynasty, which was unable to organize a large-scale southward invasion. Jinan has returned to the stable state of an inland city. It no longer has to worry about the invasion of the Qing army. Now it has no motivation to repair the city's fortifications and simply left them in ruins. As for whether Haihan should be regarded as an opponent to be wary of, Shandong officialdom has already reached a consensus. Go to war with the Haihan Army? A decisive battle in Jinan City? What a joke, the wolf-like Qing army has no resistance in front of the Haihan army. If the Haihan army wants to take Jinan City, how can it hold it?
If that day does come, all that should be withdrawn will be withdrawn, and those that should be surrendered will be lowered. All that is required is for everyone to complete the handover in an honorable manner. Didn’t you see that Dengzhou and Laizhou also passed the test like this?
Officials in Jinan are well aware of the local future, and while they still have the power, they will make whatever money they can. Wouldn't it be a complete waste to spend money on city defense and military affairs?
If not, Prince De's Mansion would not have been so successful in cooperating with Haihan in recent years, gradually turning from underground to semi-public. After all, everyone is just trying to make money. Prince De's Mansion has marked the places where incense should be burned, so no one will cause trouble.
After listening to his explanation, Bai Kesi suddenly said: "I see... Since all the yamen have taken advantage of Prince De's Palace, then if the Ming Dynasty wants to reduce the vassal, the local authorities may not be willing to cooperate."
Zhu Youli said: "It is true. Many officials are worried that the court's move will anger your country and lose a stable supply of supplies. But no one dares to publicly express support for the king or speak out against the court's decision."< br>
Chen Yixin said: "The emperor is not knocking on their heads. Of course he will keep waiting and watching. When their interests are harmed, you will see if these people will jump in a hurry."
Zhu Youli said: "In that case, when will your country start taking action?"
Chen Yixin smiled and said: "This is a military secret and cannot be disclosed."
Chen Yixin seemed to say nothing, but in fact he admitted in disguise that Haihan would indeed take action against Shandong. Zhu Youli was not stupid, and he immediately understood the implication.
Zhu Youli said: "Before your country takes action, can you inform me so that everyone in the palace can be prepared in advance?"
Chen Yixin said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will arrange manpower to take the entire palace out of Jinan City in advance to ensure that Your Majesty will not be involved in the conflict."
The relevant preparatory work for the Northern Region has been completed to a great extent, but in order to take action, the approval of the Executive Committee must be obtained. Baikes, who inspects the Northern Region on behalf of the Executive Committee, has such authority. Therefore, regarding the current situation in Shandong, Chen Yixin wished he could break it down and give a detailed explanation to Bai Kesi, showing the many advantages of the northern region, so that the executive committee could issue a pass for subsequent actions.
But in front of outsiders, Bai Kesi would not make a clear statement on this. The Executive Committee has to consider not only the preparedness of the Northern Region, but also many other factors. Such as the military expansion plan implemented by the Northern Region for this purpose, the possible response of the Ming court, and the governance issues after Shandong was incorporated into the Haihan territory, etc.
If possible, Bai Kesi actually hopes that Chen Yixin will take time to go south and make a detailed report to the Executive Committee on the plan to take over Shandong, and answer the various issues that the Executive Committee is concerned about in person.
(End of chapter)