Chen Xi returned to the army, and the food and ships were ready. After two days of rest, the soldiers of the three armies had a fresh look and were able to set off.

It was noon after receiving the ship. The entire army set off on the camp and boarded the ship. It only marched for one afternoon that day. Before sunset, it was disembarked at Longtan Port in the northeast of Nanjing City.

After the troops were stationed, Chenxi held the first military meeting after the expedition to Jiangnan.

Because this place belongs to Nanjing, there are many guards around the country, so there are no fear of rebel attacks. At this time, almost no middle and senior generals in the meeting were left. Only Wang Lingzhi led the troops to inspect the camp. After the meeting, Chen Xi would send someone to convey the specific content to Wang Lingzhi. At this time, everyone in the central army tent had an expression of expectation but a little worried.

Although everyone knows that Chen Xi can achieve military achievements and the generals are full of expectations for the next battle to combat Japan, the problem is that the whole army is seriously unaccommodating the climate and soil and water in the south of the Yangtze River and is also afraid of naval warfare.

Although Chen Xi was the host of this military meeting, Yun Liu was talking most of the time.

As the leader of the military intelligence system, Yunliu explained the terrain, climate, customs and conditions she knew about Jiangnan and the group of big men who had no idea about geography one by one. At this time, a giant map drawn by Chen Xi was placed in the middle of the desk, with mountains, lakes, rivers, official roads, wards, etc. clearly marked on it.

"...There are traces of Japanese pirates' activities on the water east of Jiangyin, especially the front line of Chuansha Castle from Baoshan to which a large number of Japanese pirates are entrenched. However, the Japanese pirate stronghold is mainly on the sea. The two islands of Yangshan are the main advance bases for storing weapons and men in this area nearby. This is also a transit station for transporting population and livestock to the south..."

Every time Yun Liu said something, he would poke the map with a baton to let the generals know where she was talking.

Yunliu explained for about an hour, from the area where Japanese pirates were occupied along the coast of Southern Zhili, and then to the coastal islands of Fujian and Zhejiang, the map was changed to three. She had carefully prepared it before, and the explanation process was basically easy to understand and very smooth. Chen Xi had not interrupted and no one asked questions in the middle. Yunliu would focus on explaining those vague places.

After the explanation was completed, Yunliu saluted Chen Xi respectfully: "Sir, the situation you should talk about has been explained. Please tell me."

"Um."

Chen Xi nodded and signaled Yunliu to stand aside. At this time, Chen Xi changed from a bystander to the master of the camp, and all the generals' eyes fell back to him.

Chen Xidao: "What should be said, Yun Weiwei said it very clearly. From the lower reaches of the river to the sea estuary, and then to the Fujian and Guangdong, Japanese pirates rampant. Wherever they pass, men and women plundered them, gold, silver and wealth were robbed, town houses were burned, and graves were even excavated to seek redemption of corpses."

"It is reported that three months ago, the county of Kunshan was besieged by Japanese pirates for fifteen days. During this period, the Japanese pirates launched more than ten attacks. More than 1,000 men and women were killed in surrounding villages and towns, more than 20,000 houses were burned, and forty coffins were sent to the mouth. A total of 350 miles were all over the territory. There were eight or nine out of ten houses, and five or six out of ten men and women were lost. Although the local government repeatedly sent official troops to fight, the Japanese pirates adopted harassment tactics, taking advantage of them, and running away if they could not win. There was basically no effect!"

Hu Songyue shouted, "Since we know where the Japanese pirates are hiding, let's go and do it... Isn't it just a war? How difficult is it to kill hundreds or thousands of people?"

"right!"

A group of people in the tent echoed loudly, but in fact they couldn't figure out where the rebels were. They didn't know the actual distance or the geographical environment. They just kept shouting slogans. Anyway, Chen Xi would do the hard work first, and they just had to obey orders.

Chenxidao: "To completely quell the rebellion, you can't do it just by saying a few words here... The rivers in the south of the Yangtze River are crisscrossing, swamps and lakes, and to suppress rebellion more requires boats rather than war horses... The court allocated millions of taels of silver to build large ships to ease the sea and border, and each large ship can transport hundreds or even thousands of troops..."

"Wow!"

The generals present couldn't help but be amazed. In their opinion, the building ships borrowed from Nanjing were already large. This kind of ship was a smaller version of Zheng He's treasure ship voyage to the West. Each ship could transport about 200 people. Now Shen Xi actually said that there was a large ship that could transport thousands of people, so he would naturally weigh the size of the ship in his heart, which was seriously beyond their understanding.

Chen Xidao: "Don't think that I am bragging. The flagship treasure ship of the three treasure eunuchs who voyage to the West for seven times was 44 feet long and 18 feet wide. The ship was divided into four layers. The nine masts on the ship could hang twelve sails, and the anchor weighed several thousand kilograms. It took two hundred people to set sail. One ship could accommodate thousands of people. At that time, there were sixty-three treasure ships like this in the Ming Dynasty."

"The newly built ships of the imperial court are completely built in the style of Western ships, with more flexible and convenient operation and larger load capacity. The Longjiang Shipyard, which has resumed work for a short time, is currently under construction, but the progress is very slow, and it may take several months or even years to build four ships, which is not enough to support a powerful navy."

"In view of this, we must find new places to build shipyards and have more ship platforms and docks, so that we can speed up the construction progress. After the fleet is formed, the entire army will immediately board the ship for daily training, be familiar with the hydrological environment of the Yangtze River and offshore, as well as the methods of maritime combat..."

Tang Yin interrupted Chen Xi: "Shangshu Chen wants to build new ships and board the ship for drills, but the Longjiang Shipyard in the court cannot meet the requirements of quickly building ships, and the new shipyard is not yet established. Doesn't it mean that the fleet will be formed? Do you mean that you have to build ships while going to war with the Japanese pirates?"

Chen Xidao: "Realistically speaking, it should be a battle with the Japanese pirates while building ships. However, the current situation is very special. The most advanced lucky ship we equipped is not larger than the Japanese pirates' ships. It is very likely that they will sink first when they hit our warships head-on. Even if they fight on the sidelines, it will be very disadvantageous. Not to mention that the Japanese pirates are also equipped with new firearms such as the Folang machine gun. Even if our firearms are more advanced than them, we do not have the right time, place, and people at a disadvantage at sea. It is difficult to achieve decisive victory alone with the subtle advantages of the weapons, and may even be defeated!"

The generals present looked embarrassed. They thought they would win the battle with Chen Xi, but they never expected to face such a dilemma. However, they did not know that the series of victories that Chen Xi had achieved before were based on sufficient preparations. They only saw the results, but did not see the hardships of the process.

Now Shen Xi explained the difficulties to them, and they naturally felt that it was not worth spending so much time and energy to do something that seemed thankless.

Zhang Lun interrupted and asked, "Mr. Shen, do we have to wait until the ship is built before starting? We are in the south... won't we have to stay for at least half a year? If we add to the war, will it take one or two years to completely wipe out the Japanese pirates?"

"Yes, Lord Shen, we will take our family with us, and it will be fine if we go to the battle for half a year. If we go to the battle for one or two years or even several years, will it be too painful..."

Liu Xu also expressed his difficulties.

It sounds like he was complaining alone, but in fact, it hit everyone's mind. Even Chen Xi could not wait in the Jiangnan area for a year or two before quelling the Japanese pirates. The Ming soldiers were basically military households, that is, professional soldiers, or northerners. They did not want to stay in strange places that were not suitable for the country for a long time, and stayed for several years.

Chenxidao: "I know your difficulties, so I will recommend to the court later that a new city will be built from scratch near the estuary of the Yangtze River will be built, including military camps, shipyards, commercial ports, workshops and residential communities. We will train while building ships, and your families will also move here one after another..."

"ah!?"

The people present were even more surprised.

Even though Chen Xi said it was very humane, considering the problem of people in a foreign land, they still felt that they were exiled. After all, in the eyes of the Ming people, the seaside is like the inland border, and it is a deserted place, with no villages in front and no shops behind. They are not from southerners, so they are reopening a garage near the estuary of the Yangtze River.

After all, the coastal garrisons are protected by the city, and the soldiers live there, and their families are all together.

What they wanted was military merit, rather than living here for a long time, and what Chen Xi said was obviously beyond their acceptable range.

There was a lot of discussion in the central army's tent, and many people whispered and chatted endlessly, seriously dissatisfied with Chen Xi's proposal. At this time, Song Shu stood up and scolded: "What's there to complain? Following the adults to fight, how can you sacrifice at all? You didn't say that you would stay in Jiangnan for the rest of your life!"

Under the lesson of Song Shu, the generals present stopped saying anything, but their faces were gloomy, and obviously they still had ideas in their hearts.

Chen Xidao: "I consider that you may not be able to adapt to life in Jiangnan for a long time, so I called your family over to take care of you at close range. However, I can guarantee that if you pacify the seashore in the future, you will send you back to your hometown as soon as possible and return to your hometown!"

Liu Xu said with a bitter face: "Sir, we were going to join the army and wanted to guard the border. It doesn't matter where we are. It's just that there is no deadline for this war, which makes people feel unsure."

Song Shu looked at Liu Xu with a slightly disdainful look: "Why, after you have been a border army for a long time, I feel that life in Jiangnan is more difficult than that in Jiubian? This Jiangnan is also a rich place. Even if the coastal areas are banned for a long time due to the sea-banning desolation, they are not far from the prosperous place."

Liu Xu didn't say anything, but the border army lost the enemy but did not lose the formation. Hu Songyue jumped out and shouted: "I'm afraid of this when I came out to fight? I haven't been there any place in the world? I just want to ask the situation clearly."

Chen Xi raised his hand and interrupted the argument of several people, saying, "This matter has not yet been concluded. If someone really does not want to stay in Jiangnan, or is seriously unacceptable to the local conditions, he can apply to be transferred back to the original garrison area. This official will submit a memorial to the court on this matter, and everything depends on your wishes. Now the war has not begun, everything can be discussed, but if the matter is settled, then everything cannot be changed."

...

...

Chenxi conveyed his plan to open a new city along the coast, which was only his preliminary idea.

This place will be a completely different place from the inland city he built. Not only will there be residents here, but it will mainly build ships, weapons, machinery and equipment, spinning and weaving, etc., and complete military training and maritime trade at the same time. It is like an independent kingdom, which is similar to the Zhenhai Acropolis built by the Ming Dynasty on the coast.

However, the troops led by Chen Xi were not interested in this.

The Chinese nation has formed the concept since ancient times to live a constant life, and Chen Xi's transformation of their lives will be greatly rejected by them. Even if they know that this may lead to more military merits and their future life will not be too hard, they are unwilling to receive Chen Xi's kindness.

After the military meeting, the generals went back to prepare for the next day's boat trip, and Tang Yinze stayed to wait for Chen Xi's new order.

The detailed information of Chen Xi's general training and garrisoning was explained to Tang Yin, which roughly meant to make Tang Yin worry more about military affairs. Tang Yin had already clarified the idea of ​​Chen Xi's leadership of the army, and basically no problems would occur. All they needed were some instructions on details.

Originally, after Chen Xi finished speaking, Tang Yin could say goodbye and leave, but he seemed to be full of doubts: "Shangshu Chen, if the soldiers from the north stay in the south for a long time, it would be better to recruit people from the south, which would be more convenient."

Chen Xidao: "Although this idea has existed from the beginning, the order given to me by the court was to let me take this group of people to pacify the Central Plains first and then the sea border. They now do not agree with me to keep them in the south of the Yangtze River. But you can ask, who would be willing to give up the merits that are within reach and return to the north?"

Tang Yin suddenly had nothing to say.

Even though they knew that it would be more appropriate for Chen Xi to draw troops from Jiangnan Vilar to reorganize them into an army, they also knew that the people below had opinions on Chen Xi's long-term plan to garrison, but the problem was that these people would not give up their future easily. While protesting against Chen Xi's plan to garrison, they did not want to leave. They even rejected Chen Xi's current recruitment of soldiers who were more familiar with the geographical environment from the Southern Vilar to participate in the war against Japanese pirates.

Chen Xi stood up, holding a memorial in his hand and said, "To put it bluntly, it's just that everyone needs it. Since they choose to stay under my command, they should abide by the rules I set, otherwise they will go back to the north to live the life they want. This is the rule in the army, or the rule in fighting with me, whoever doesn't want to get out."

Chen Xi's clean and neat words also made Tang Yin feel a little ashamed. However, after listening to Chen Xi's truth, he seemed to have untied his heart. He originally wanted to express his personal opinion on Chen Xi's plan to build a city in the south, but now he has saved it. After all, Chen Xi has absolute dominance in the army. He wants to achieve military merits through Chen Xi's wisdom and ability, and also talk about the strategies formulated by Chen Xi, which is no different from the ungrateful wolf who is ungrateful.

Chen Xi suddenly looked at Tang Yin: "Brother Bo Hu is not thinking about his family in the capital, or is he trying to go back to the north to become an official as soon as possible, right?"

There was a hint of indifference in these words. Tang Yin looked embarrassed and said, "How could it be? I am a southerner. The environment here is more familiar. What kind of things are not suitable for the local environment and seasickness will never happen to me. Jiangnan is a rich land of fish and rice. How could I be ungrateful?"

Chen Xi smiled and nodded: "Since Brother Bohu is used to living in Jiangnan, why not wait for me to ask the court to take your family to the south. Maybe after the new city is built, you don't want to leave."

"Yeah?"

Tang Yin didn't really believe in the big cakes Chen Xi painted for him.

It is because he has been to the Acropolis and knows how difficult the conditions of the Acropolis in the Ming Dynasty were, especially those coastal acropolis, where the living facilities are incomplete. In addition, the desolation and desolation caused by the sea ban on the coast made the Acropolis be regarded as a place for exile. Many officials who were guilty were sent to the Acropolis, and soldiers would be treated like this. Being exiled to the Acropolis would be similar to being exiled to the Acropolis.

This is why the generals who usually admire Chen Xi had such a big opinion after hearing this news, because they did not quite understand the concept proposed by Chen Xi. They just thought that Chen Xi wanted to build another acropolis and would use the acropolis environment to imagine future life.

Chen Xi nodded and said, "I will propose to the court to lift the sea ban so that ocean trade can be guaranteed, but we still need to ensure a good port and a soil suitable for the lives of soldiers and the people. In this way, we can create a paradise near the estuary of the Yangtze River that can make ships and be suitable for the lives of soldiers and the people. At that time, many people will spontaneously enter this city instead of forced immigration."

"I hope so."

Tang Yin said perfunctorily, he said this, but he had great doubts in his heart. Obviously, he didn't want to continue discussing this issue with Chen Xi.

Tang Yin looked at the memorial in Chen Xi's hand. Although he didn't know what it was, he still asked: "Is Shangshu Chen preparing to make a comment to the court? Without... thinking about it again?"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Although I only expressed this idea today, this idea has been brewing in my mind for a long time. It has not been formed day and night, nor has it been a temporary enthusiasm. If the court does not approve it, then pretend that nothing has happened and quell the chaos step by step, so as to save a lot of trouble."

Tang Yin looked at Chen Xi with confusion and asked, "Is Shangshu Chen willing?"

"It's just that if you are willing to give up."

Chen Xi was very free and easy, "I went to Jiangnan to Pingkou, stay away from my relatives, and felt very lonely. Let me work in a lonely city for a long time. That is not the life I pursue. Do not do to others what I do not want others to do to others. I am the same as you and the soldiers of the three armies. How could I do that kind of thing that harms others and does not benefit myself?"

Tang Yin seemed to understand something, thinking: "When it comes to enjoying life, Shen Zhihou has a high taste, how could he impart himself to a deserted coastal land?"

Thinking of this, Tang Yin felt relieved, but another thought quickly emerged in his mind: "Shen Zhihou acted strangely. He had planned to send troops to the grassland in advance. He took such a big risk and was thankless. It seemed that he liked to do such things. He wouldn't want to endure hardships by himself and let the soldiers of the three armies suffer with him, right?"

Although Tang Yin still trusted Chen Xi, Tang Yin has always been very cautious about Chen Xi. He is the only person who has seen Chen Xi's methods, and even Chen Xi admitted to him that he had used various methods.
Chapter completed!