The news of the change of leadership in Korea had not yet spread, and the emperor knew about it, but he did not send a secret letter to order Xiong Tingbi to change the plan of the Ming army's advance in western Liaoning.

The first to be dispatched were Man Gui's naturalized cavalry and the dragoons led by Yang Guozhu, who drove out and killed the Later Jin scouts more than 20 miles east of Dalingh City to conceal intelligence.

Subsequently, nearly 10,000 Ming troops advanced by land and sea, reaching Dalinghe City and Jinzhou, where they began digging trenches and building fortifications. A large number of transport ships also accompanied the troops, transporting ammunition, food, and other supplies from Juehua Island to the two cities.

According to Wu Xue and Xiong Tingbi's estimates, rebuilding the city would take at least a month, and if trenches were dug and earthworks constructed, it would only take seven to ten days at the fastest.

Acting simultaneously with the Ming army in western Liaoning were artillery officers drawn from the military academy and on standby in Tianjin, as well as 3,000 flintlock muskets and nearly 100 large and small cannons that were hastily produced by the Gunpowder and Weapons Bureau in more than a month.

The artillery included 26 six-jin cannons, 20 ten-jin cannons, 36 heavy mortars, and 60 old-style falconets of 300 and 500 jin equipped with new gun carriages.

After a year, the Ordnance and Gunpowder Bureau had grown into a large factory with nearly 10,000 employees, and its management system was basically complete. Sun Yuanhua's production figures reported to the emperor were indeed somewhat reserved, so it was not surprising that they were exceeded.

Moreover, with the construction and development of the coal and steel complex, and the supply of copper materials purchased by merchants from Japan, the materials for making cannons were relatively sufficient, the craftsmen's skills were increasing, and the output of guns, cannons and ammunition continued to grow.

For this major operation, the emperor took out another one million from the treasury, 300,000 for military expenses, and 700,000 for logistical supplies, including 500,000 for the weapons and gunpowder bureau.

The emperor considered everything that could be solved with money to be a problem. As long as the goal could be achieved, one million was only the initial investment for this year.

Money is indeed a good thing. If you give it to the right people, everything will go smoothly. If the craftsmen are enthusiastic, the army is motivated, and the weapons, ammunition and food are guaranteed, how can we not win the war?

Ask the Jiannu to take out one million and see what happens. It's really just buying heads with money. Count the population of the Jiannu, and Zhu Youxiao feels that there is no need to sell everything he has.

The weather was warm but still cold, and the wind carried a slight salty smell of sea water. The ship was moving forward up and down, and the broken waves bloomed beside the ship's side.

Zhang Junneng stood at the bow, looking out. Although he couldn't walk as smoothly as a seasoned veteran, he was no longer the coward he had been on the ship before.

Although they were the sons of nobles, Zhu Youxiao was somewhat prejudiced and believed that their admission to the military academy was commendable. Moreover, these guys were at least not illiterate, and the artillery department was in urgent need of such students, so most of them were stuffed in.

On the battlefield, artillery seemed to be much less dangerous than cavalry and infantry, and the resistance and fear of the children of nobles were not as strong.

Zhao Huizu emerged from the cabin, chewing something in his mouth. He walked over to Zhang Junneng and jokingly asked, "What are you doing? Drinking the wind?"

Zhang Junneng glanced at him and said with a curled lip, "Drinking wind can make you gain weight? It seems that you have been gaining weight again recently, and you are still eating. Really."

Zhao Huizu shrugged his shoulders and said nonchalantly, "It's just my natural constitution. A carefree heart makes you fat. Anyway, we're just commanding the artillery fire from the back, and we don't have to fight in the battlefield."

"It's not like last year. I was so scared I couldn't sleep and lost weight all of a sudden." Zhang Junneng chuckled and said, "Look at me, haven't I changed a lot? I can sail on the sea as if it were flat ground."

Zhao Huizu rolled his eyes, speechless about this guy who felt uncomfortable if he didn't blow, and turned his head to look at the vast ocean.

Huh? Zhang Junneng suddenly pointed to a vaguely outlined area in the distance and exclaimed in surprise, "Is that the island we've been to?"

Zhao Huizu blinked, turned around and gave Zhang Junneng a look, teasing him, "Nengneng, do you think you are a captain? Can you sail to a place thousands of miles away?"

"Don't call me by my nickname." Zhang Junneng was afraid of this. He wanted to make a joke to tease his friend, but the word "Nengneng" suddenly ruined his mood.

Zhao Huizu laughed out loud. This weakness was really good. He could catch this guy for life.

However, when "Nengneng" mentioned this, a vague figure flashed through Fatty Zhao's mind, but the hearty laughter was still clear in his ears.

We are not on the same path! Although Fatty Zhao felt sorry, he also knew that it was impossible.

Even if he persuaded his parents to marry her off to a country girl, it would definitely not be a good outcome. For her own good, he should just forget about it!

The fuzzy outline gradually became clearer and larger. It was no longer an island, but a vast expanse of land.

This also means that the fleet has reached its destination and personnel and supplies will soon be landed.

"It should be not far from Jinzhou or Dalinghe City." Zhao Huizu's expression became serious. "I still remember the martial arts map. The closest coastal landing point to Jinzhou should be Bijia Mountain. Going up the Daling River, you can reach Dalinghe City directly."

There was no Jinzhou Port at the time, but there were still many places to land in Jinzhou Bay, such as Bijiashan Island and Niangniang Palace, which were less than 30 miles away from Jinzhou.

In Xiong Tingbi's advancement plan, Bijia Mountain will be used as a place to store grain.

Zhu Youxiao was a little hesitant about this, but then he thought that the Ming army at this time was very different from the Ming army in history, and he might be a little too worried.

Despite this, he still reminded Xiong Tingbi in his secret report to pay attention to protecting the food and grass in Bijia Mountain and be wary of the Jiannu army attacking when the tide receded.

There is no foolproof battle plan, but as long as you think as carefully as possible and prepare as thoroughly as possible, the balance of victory or defeat will still favor the Ming army.

This was not Zhu Youxiao's blind confidence, but the confidence given to him by the Ming army's battle record over the past year, as well as the huge investment and rigorous training.

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