Shamelessness and impudence are the hallmarks of people like Fan Wencheng.
But Fan Wencheng didn't think so. Enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens was his definition. Although he also knew that the Jurchens were unlikely to regain their glory and compete with the Ming Dynasty.
The sharp and fierce power of muskets and artillery was no longer something that cold weapons could withstand; bravery and martial skills were no longer the decisive factors in war. So what could the Jurchens rely on to compete with the Ming Dynasty again?
The population and resources of the Ming Dynasty were much larger than those of the Jiannu. Even if the Jiannu, who had retreated to a bitter cold land, wanted to manufacture guns and cannons, where would they get the iron and gunpowder?
At this point, we can only rely on the long distance to prevent the Ming army from going on a long expedition to wipe out the enemy.
Fan Wencheng sighed inwardly, feeling that he should have another half year to catch his breath.
The Ming army wanted to go on a long expedition, but they faced two problems: one was the problem of food and fodder, and the other was the difficulty of traveling on the roads. These two difficulties could not be solved until at least autumn and winter.
It’s Chinese New Year, but I can only drink two bowls of porridge.
Fan Wencheng shook his head slightly. He could not feel any celebratory atmosphere at all, and the number of people dying from starvation and freezing was still increasing.
………………
Jinzhou, Lushun, small village.
There was still a red wedding character pasted on the window, but one corner had been blown away, indicating that the wedding had happened several days ago.
Yingzi no longer had a girl's hairstyle. She stood in the yard wearing a red cotton jacket, holding a three-barreled gun in her hand. She fired three shots, "bang, bang, bang", and laughed happily.
Zhang Zhuzi was grinning beside him, his heart full of joy.
"How's it going?" Yingzi shook the still smoking three-barreled gun and smiled at her husband, "I can hold it steady without your help, right?"
Zhang Zhuzi smiled and nodded repeatedly, and quickly asked his wife to come into the house, "Don't get cold, come in and warm up."
Yingzi walked to the door, then paused beneath a hanging red lantern, turning to watch fireworks being set off from somewhere. They weren't particularly dazzling, but they were something new and different, something she hadn't seen in years.
"You don't allow me to buy it!" Zhang Zhuzi explained.
When the fireworks were gone, Yingzi turned around with her big eyes blinking and said, "Don't waste your money. It's the same if he lets us watch it."
The couple went into the house, added firewood to the fire, and started preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.
The Jiannu fled north, Liaodong was liberated, and the marriage of Zhang Zhuzi and Yingzi was finally arranged half a month ago at the urging of Yingzi's father.
Zhang Zhuzi was already alone, so whether he was getting married or marrying into the family was unnecessary. The two families merged into one, and the wedding, combined with the New Year celebrations, created an even more festive atmosphere.
Yingzi's father called out, and Yingzi asked her husband to go and accompany her while she worked in the kitchen alone.
The room was filled with the smell of tobacco. Zhuzi didn't smoke, but he was used to it. The father-in-law and son-in-law sat on the kang, eating two small dishes, drinking a little wine, and chatting about their future life.
"You can get 50 mu, and Yingzi and I can rent another 50 mu. We're tax-free for the first year, so it's a good time to build up our family fortune."
Yingzi's father filled another pack of cigarettes, and Zhang Zhuzi quickly lit it and listened carefully to his father-in-law's plan.
"The government said we can rent cattle, or we can get loans to buy them." Yingzi's father exhaled smoke and said slowly, "Loans are just credit, and there's no interest. I'm thinking it's better to buy them."
Zhang Zhuzi nodded and said, "I think so too. The money I paid for renting the cow is a waste, but as for the loan, once it's paid off, the cow will be my profit. A hundred acres of land is tax-free, and with a good harvest, I can pay it back in two or three years. Besides, there's also my retirement allowance!"
"That money has to be saved." Yingzi's father shook his head and said, "Moving and buying things will cost money everywhere. If you get the land, the subsidy will be gone."
Zhang Zhuzi nodded and said, "If you grow the land well, you'll get more than the subsidy!"
Yingzi's father stroked his beard and said, "It's a pity that the government has a law that 80% of the land must be used to grow grain, sweet potatoes, and other potatoes. Only 20% of the land is allowed to be grown freely. I originally thought of growing more tobacco, but it would make more money than growing grain."
"Liaodong is short of food!" Zhang Zhuzi said. "It's all shipped from the sea, which is very expensive. In a year or two, there will be enough food, and the government restrictions will be lifted."
Although Yingzi's father was still a little dissatisfied, he also knew that this was the truth, so he said, "Growing tobacco on 20% of the land is fine, right?"
Yingzi came in, lifted the door curtain, and brought a plate of steamed fish. She said, "We can't plant all tobacco. We have to leave most of it to plant alfalfa. It's for the cows and horses, and the army needs it too."
"Half of that 80% land is planted with sweet potatoes and the other half is planted with grain." Yingzi put down the steamed fish and continued, "Dad, there's one acre planted with tobacco. Isn't that enough for you?"
Yingzi's father chuckled twice and didn't argue with his daughter, knowing that she must know his plan. Growing tobacco is not just for smoking, it can also be sold for money!
"Let's sit down and eat together!" Zhang Zhuzi looked at his wife and said with a smile, "Don't worry about making dumplings. I'll help you chop the meat filling after dinner."
Yingzi smiled and said, "There are two more dishes, they will be ready soon." Then she lifted the curtain and went to the kitchen again.
"Are we going to fight again?" Yingzi's father knocked off his pipe, took a sip from his wine glass, and said, "Hasn't the Jianlu fled to the deep mountains and old forests far to the north? Can they attack us again?"
Zhang Zhuzi said, "We definitely can't defeat the Jiannu, but we can't let them get away like this. We've only pacified Liao and destroyed the slaves, but we haven't destroyed them yet!"
Yingzi's father paused for a moment with his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and said, "We must root out the evil at its roots. Only by destroying the Jianlu can we rest assured."
Zhang Zhuzi nodded and looked at the window paper illuminated by the red lanterns outside, and was distracted for a moment.
I am afraid that I can no longer contribute to the army because I have a family and can no longer run hundreds of miles to transport supplies for the army.
Life, a relatively ordinary life, the peaceful days I once longed for, has finally arrived. But why do I always feel a little regretful and unwilling?
……………………
Shenyang, inside the military camp.
The soldiers who were fighting in Liaodong were celebrating the Spring Festival with the aroma of wine and meat, as well as noise and laughter.
"Missing home? Nengneng." Zhao Huizu raised his eyebrows and said to Zhang Junneng, who seemed to be in a low mood, "I think this New Year has been lively."
Zhang Junneng rolled his eyes and complained, "Don't keep calling me by my nickname. It makes people laugh at me."
Zhang Zongbao laughed heartily and said, "Who's making fun of who? Who doesn't have a nickname?"
After a pause, Zhang Zongbao said with some emotion: "I didn't expect that the Liaodong pacification would be accomplished so quickly. We also contributed to this."
Zhao Huizu picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it hard. He said vaguely, "We succeeded in pacifying Liao, but we didn't achieve our goal of destroying the slaves."
"This battle still needs to be fought!" Zhang Junneng smiled bitterly, "I don't know when I can return to the capital."
……………………
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