The amount of these grains and supplies does not represent the total loss. You have to know that they are not produced locally in western and eastern Liaoning. They were transported from the interior with great difficulty and the use of countless manpower and material resources.

Given the road conditions and transportation capacity of ancient times, losses and costs along the way were very high. If the journey was too long, or if it was entirely overland, the losses could reach 70% to 80%.

Therefore, it is said in military manuals: "If food is transported a thousand miles away, the soldiers will look hungry. If firewood and grass are cooked afterward, the army will not have enough food to eat at night." Transporting food a thousand miles will not provide enough food for a year; two thousand miles will not provide enough food for two years; three thousand miles will not provide enough food for three years. This is called a weakened state.

In other words, in ancient times, if a war was fought that required long-distance transportation of grain, it would be enough to bring down a country's finances.

Although food and supplies could be transported to Guangning by sea, transiting through Juehua or Youtun, and then landed and transported to various garrisons, the consumption and cost would reach 20% to 30%, which was not much.

If you calculate it this way, the shocking losses in the Guangning Battle alone are enough to convict Xiong Tingbi and behead him.

It is unfair. If you say it is unfair, it is unfair. If you say it is not unfair, there is a basis for it, and it is not fabricated out of thin air.

After reading the memorial, Zhu Youxiao felt relieved and liked his servant Wang Tigan even more.

This kind of reporting job was not his job, but he came to deliver it in person. It was right to flatter, but this servant knew what he wanted most.

"Get up, don't kneel there and get in the way." Zhu Youxiao didn't say anything nice, but sat back in his chair and read the memorial carefully again.

Wang Tigan got up from the ground, bowed with a smile on his face, and knew he had gotten lucky by looking at the emperor's expression and tone.

I'm not asking for any reward. For a eunuch to be the head of the Imperial Household Department is already the best he can do. Can he be made a king or a duke?

As long as the emperor is happy and he can hold the position of eunuch in charge of the seal firmly, that would be the greatest reward.

The eunuchs' struggle for power was no less intense than that of the officials, flattering the powerful and bullying the weak. Wang Tigan knew that if he lost power, Wei Zhongxian, whom he had offended, would be determined to kill him.

So, in short, in the final analysis, pleasing the emperor is the safest way to survive.

"The news from Liaodong has arrived. I believe Tianjin and Denglai will be here soon." Zhu Youxiao patted the armrest of the chair lightly, estimating the time and guessing.

Wang Tigan bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Traveling by sea is faster than traveling by land. Although it may take two days to receive the imperial edict, it's time to respond."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and suddenly asked, "Where is the thing I asked you to get? Did you forget it?"

"I will never forget the emperor's order." Wang Tigan hurriedly took out a small box from his arms and presented it with both hands with a charming smile.

Zhu Youxiao took it, smiled, and nodded, saying, "Well, you're doing your job diligently. Now, you may leave! If there are any reports from Tianjin or Denglai, report them immediately, no matter when, even in the middle of the night."

"Yes, I will obey your order." Wang Tigan bowed and retreated, and glanced at Zhang Yuer out of the corner of his eye with complicated meaning.

Zhu Youxiao opened the small brocade box and took a look. Inside was a red gold bracelet inlaid with jade. This was no ordinary item, but a symbol used in the selection of empresses and concubines.

During the final round of the beauty pageant, the Empress Dowager or Consort Dowager sat behind a curtain, and the maids entered in groups of three. If the Empress Dowager or Consort Dowager favored a beauty, she would be given a red gold bracelet inlaid with jade, which the maid would then wear. If the beauty was not chosen, the maid would slip a few silver coins into the sleeves of the maid.

Zhang Yan had one, given to her by Concubine Liu. Although the emperor would ultimately choose her, Zhang Yan would at least become a concubine.

"Yu'er, come here." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

Zhang Yu'er didn't understand what was going on, so she came forward and bowed to obey.

"You recited the nursery rhyme well. This is my reward to you." Zhu Youxiao smiled, took Zhang Yuer's hand and put the bracelet on her.

Zhang Yuer was delighted and bowed down to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward."

Zhang Yuer had seen Wang Tigan take the box and the emperor take it. She knew that this was not a reward for reciting nursery rhymes, but that the emperor had already had this intention and was just looking for an excuse.

The emperor has her in his heart. Zhang Yuer glanced at the bracelet on her wrist and felt happy and sweet in her heart.

Zhu Youxiao was also looking at the bracelet on Zhang Yuer's jade wrist, pursed his lips slightly, well, this bracelet is like handcuffs, now you are "handcuffed", where can you run?

How about getting another one, attaching a chain to it, and playing some exciting games with this girl tonight? Zhu Youxiao grinned with a malicious smile.

……………….

Pi Island is located at the mouth of the Yalu River, between Liaodong, Korea and Denglai.

According to the "History of Ming Dynasty", Pi Island, also known as Dongjiang, faces the Denglai Sea, is eighty miles long, and has no vegetation. The north bank is separated from the Later Jin border by eighty miles of sea, and the northeast sea is North Korea.

At this time, Pi Island had been quiet for a long time, but it ushered in its most lively day.

In the first year of the Tianqi reign, Commander Mao Wenlong, on the orders of Governor Wang Huazhen, led Captain Zhang Pan and four others, two hundred soldiers, four sea vessels, and five hundred dan of military rations to Liaodong to recruit soldiers.

Afterwards, taking advantage of the fact that the Later Jin army in Zhenjiang was unguarded, Mao Wenlong used the rebellious Ming army and Liao people in the city as internal support to launch a successful surprise attack and occupy Zhenjiang. This is known in history as the "Zhenjiang Victory."

Then, the Later Jin army counterattacked Zhenjiang City. Mao Wenlong was defeated and withdrew from Zhenjiang and retreated into Korea for a while.

At the suggestion of Captain Li Jingxian, Mao Wenlong led the remaining troops and tens of thousands of fleeing Liao people to Pi Island and Kuandian Island for a temporary rest and respite.

With just two islands, tens of thousands of refugees, and thousands of exhausted soldiers from a newly formed army, Mao Wenlong never dreamed that an imperial envoy would come, and that he would be accompanied by Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Your humble servant accepts the order and thanks you. Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long, long live the emperor!" Mao Wenlong kowtowed and raised his hands, excitedly taking the imperial edict.

Mao Wenlong was not given a promotion, but 100,000 taels of imperial treasury were used to reward the army, and the 2,000 naval forces in Dengzhen were temporarily placed under his command.

In addition, a batch of food and supplies were also provided, which could help the Liaodong refugees on the two islands temporarily overcome the difficulties and arm a force of four to five thousand people.

At the same time, Zhu Youxiao ordered Mao Wenlong to take action according to the situation and launch harassment attacks on the Later Jin from the coast to support the Guangning war.

It was not difficult for Mao Wenlong to gather tens of thousands of refugees, select the best and strongest among them, and recruit four or five thousand people. The difficulty lay in weapons and equipment.

With the armor, weapons, swords, shields, and spears provided by Dengzhen, Mao Wenlong felt more confident. As for harassment and attacks, we are good at it!

However, Mao Wenlong stood up after receiving the order and secretly glanced at Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Why would such a dreaded spy chief and second-rank official bother with such an imperial decree?

Luo Sigong did not stare at Mao Wenlong endlessly, but he kept observing his actions, behavior, and words.