Chapter 312 Preparing for the Tianjin Landing
Zhao Xiaokun called Wanshan and Zhou Shuai to a meeting. Wanshan said, "The capital must be in our hands. Even if they don't withdraw from Shanhaiguan, we can still defend the capital."
"That's right! Boss, you can transport cement from modern society, and we will strengthen the height and thickness of the city walls, and build fortifications for street fighting in the city to ensure that once the Jianlu enter the city, they will never come back." Wanshan said.
"Gao Jie and Huang Degong can occupy other areas. Let Gao Jie capture the entire Shandong Province, and let Huang Degong capture Henan and northern Zhili. This will prevent those pseudo-kings and Wu Sangui from taking the opportunity to occupy territory." General Zhou said.
"Then who will take over the capital?" Zhao Xiaofei asked.
"Let Shi Lang lead the navy to land in Tianjin, and I will personally lead the Kenan Army to take over the defense of the capital." General Zhou said.
"Shi Lang still needs some time. We don't have enough cannon ammunition!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"We don't need too many cannons and ammunition. We are going to land in Tianjin. We can do so with a few ships and cannons. In this era, the Jianlu people don't attach much importance to coastal defense." said General Zhou.
"In that case, let Shi Lang lead the navy to Tianjin! Marshal Zhou organize the marines to take over the defense of the capital!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
After discussing military issues, they let everyone else go and left the two brothers together.
Zhao Xiaokun asked, "Why did it take so long this time?"
"Xiaomei is sick?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"What's wrong with Xiaomei?" Zhao Xiaokun asked.
"Depression! Very serious!" Zhao Xiaofei said. Then he told his elder brother what he knew.
Zhao Xiaokun thought for a while and said, "Xiaomei still loves you. You should tell her the truth. Maybe she will come to terms with it after knowing it."
"Why? Should I tell her that the jade pendant she gave me can travel through time and space?" Zhao Xiaofei asked.
"So what? Let her know why you changed, let her know what you have become. You can even bring her to the Ming Dynasty." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"Brother! Let's forget about this! I don't want her to know about us. I can spend money to treat her illness, or I can spend money to hire the best doctor for her. She will get better slowly!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"It's up to you. I think you should spend more time with her so that she has a better chance of getting better! It would be better to bring her over and let her change to a new environment, which would be good for her! If you don't want Xiaomei to die, then listen to me and bring Jiang Xiaomei over. If you think her life or death has nothing to do with you, then do as you wish!" Zhao Xiaokun said helplessly.
He wasn't afraid of Jiang Xiaomei finding out about their brother's situation. First, if Jiang Xiaomei came, her depression would improve after she knew the truth. Second, if she told others, no one would believe her. "Isn't it just depression? I've studied this. Whether life was peaceful or war-torn here during the Ming Dynasty, no one would suffer from depression." If Jiang Xiaomei came, she would surely feel better.
"I'll think about it!" Zhao Xiaofei said, but in his heart he had made up his mind not to bring Jiang Xiaomei to the Ming Dynasty. What was she doing there? To let her know that he was a consort and had cheated on her? Or to tell her that it was because of her that she had achieved her current wealth? Wouldn't that make her even more upset?
Shi Lang led his poorly trained navy down the river to the Songjiang Shipyard.
Songjiang Shipyard was built under the order of Zhao Xiaofei and is a factory specializing in manufacturing near-shore combat ships.
I originally wanted to have the factory manufacture sailboats according to the later drawings I had, but I found that even after giving them the drawings, they were unable to immediately replicate some parts. Mainly due to a lack of technical accumulation, they could only produce some low-tech offshore warships first.
Even during Zhao Xiaofei's disappearance, the imperial court knew the importance of the navy and did not stop providing supplies and financial support. Therefore, the new ships now being built are more than enough to land in Tianjin.
Many of the warships that were preparing to land in Tianjin before were civilian ships, but this time, Shi Lang was commanding all warships, which made him very excited.
The relocation of over 30,000 naval troops to Songjiang Prefecture startled officials in Nanjing and Empress Dowager Zhou. They thought Zhao Xiaofei was trying to purge the emperor's court.
In the Forbidden City in Beijing, Dorgon and Dayu'er were discussing how to leave the capital in Kunning Palace. Because Li Zicheng destroyed some palaces before leaving, the Forbidden City looked dilapidated and had a somewhat gloomy feeling.
Dorgon took a sip of tea and said, "Let's go! This place doesn't belong to us. It will only trap us! It will make the warriors of the Qing Dynasty lose their ambition and their bravery!"
Dayuer glanced at the man in front of her and said, "The Qing Dynasty is already doing well by having the Liao Kingdom, but I don't think the Ming Dynasty will give up easily. Especially the Prince Li in the south."
Upon hearing this, Dorgon said bitterly: "How come they didn't die! How could two people escape from this chaotic world!" If I meet them on the battlefield one day, I will grind them to ashes!
"Now is not the time for revenge. The Qing Dynasty must be patient. We must restore our strength and recuperate." Dayuer said.
"The Qing Dynasty can tolerate it temporarily, but it cannot leave like this. The capital cannot be given to them intact!" said Dorgon.
"What are you going to do?" Dayuer asked.
"I will turn this capital into a wasteland and make it lose the ability to resist us!" Dorgon said with a fierce look in his eyes.
"You want to burn the city?" Dayuer said.
"If we can't get the capital city in a short time, then no one else can get it. Those who can move away will move away, and those who can't move away will not be left to the Ming people!" said Dorgon.
"Aren't you afraid of angering the Ming people, and then they will go crazy and fight us to the death! Don't forget what those returning soldiers said? The Ming people have a magical weapon that can fly from the sky! By then, we may not even be able to defend Shanhaiguan." Dayuer said.
"So what if he has it? Zhao Xiaofei still failed to take Xi'an and Shaanxi! He is licking his wounds at home now! I have asked craftsmen to make a Kongming lantern that can carry people and can fly dozens of feet high. Although it can't drop weapons, at least it can detect the enemy first." Dorgon said this with some pride.
I don't know which traitor gave Dorgon the idea, but it was nothing more than a large Kongming lantern. We made the Kongming lantern large enough to carry a person, so that we could at least detect the enemy first.
Several oversized Kongming lanterns are being raised around the capital, and each lantern has a soldier with excellent eyesight observing the distance. This is to ensure their safe evacuation!
After several days of drifting at sea, Shi Lang finally saw land. He immediately used his telescope to observe the land and found several huge Kongming lanterns floating on the coast of Tianjin. Shi Lang was horrified!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
