Chapter 657: Fleet Inspected
Chapter 657: Fleet Inspected
In autumn, the northwest is invaded by Hu people, Hebei and the Central Plains are in constant war and rampant banditry, the imperial court is in turmoil, tax revenues are low, and people's lives are difficult.
But autumn in the south is a season of harvest. Two days ago, dozens of warships transported more than one million kilograms of yam, with an output of 3,000 kilograms per mu, which shocked everyone. The key is that it can be ground into powder and dried for long-term preservation.
This is simply disaster relief food sent by God. I don’t know how many lives it can save.
They started planting last year and stored a large amount of reed heads and buds for sowing. This year they began to promote it on a large scale. More than 100,000 acres of land in Donglai County were used to plant yam. In the end, the yield was astonishing, with the lowest yield being 2,000 kilograms per mu and the highest reaching 4,000 kilograms per mu.
Jiangnan has had bumper harvests for seven consecutive years since Xiao Xia took office. The Jiangdu warehouse has stored more than three million shi of grain, as well as various materials, from coal to ore. Jiangdu and Jingkou have been building warehouses every year.
Build high walls, dig deep holes, store up food, and slowly claim the throne. Xiao Xia fully implemented the twelve-character policy. More importantly, he was patient and did not act. No matter how fierce the fighting in the Central Plains was, Xiao Xia would keep his troops in place. This is called strategic determination. Throughout the dynasties, they all enjoyed themselves in the front and only came out to reap the rewards in the end.
The most typical example is World War II. When everyone was almost done fighting, the United States came out to reap the benefits.
Li Yuan was also well versed in this. No matter how empty his surroundings were or how many opportunities there were, Li Yuan would resolutely keep his troops in place. After introducing Li Mi, the Wagang Army gradually understood this principle and began to bide their time and accumulate strength for a new beginning.
The shipbuilding industry has also made great progress this year. On this morning, at the Jingkou Shipyard, drums and music sounded, colorful flags fluttered, and a giant warship with a capacity of 30,000 stones was launched. This is the largest warship in the Sui Dynasty so far. It took three years to build and is even larger than the emperor's dragon boat before.
Xiao Xia, officials from the Ministry of War and military generals attended the launching ceremony. The warship was named Longwei and became the royal ship of the Sui Dynasty navy.
This warship also became a watershed in the shipbuilding industry. It was the last warship, and all subsequent constructions were large ocean-going cargo ships.
There was indeed no need to build more warships. The navy of the Sui Dynasty was already the most powerful in the world, and it could be said that it swept across all dynasties around the world in that era.
Although the navy is powerful, there is still unpleasant news.
When Xiao Xia returned to the King's Office in Jiangdu from the Jingkou Shipyard, Liu Wenjing hurried over, bowed and said, "Your Highness, there is bad news from Bashu!"
"What happened?"
"Our saltpeter fleet was seized by the puppet regime."
This was what Xiao Xia was most worried about. In the past, they had the protection of Cui Hongjun, the governor of Shu County, and nothing would happen to their fleet when they sailed into Sichuan. Now that the pseudo-regime of the Western Sui Dynasty occupied Bashu, Cui Hongjun resigned from his post and returned north. He no longer had the power to take care of the fleet. Especially with Yang Qing monopolizing military and political power, like a big housekeeper, he would inquire about and intervene in all matters, no matter how big or small. It was only a matter of time before the saltpeter transport fleet was discovered by him.
"Is the ship empty or full?"
"It was an empty ship. It was spotted by Yang Qing right after it arrived in Chengdu. Upon learning that the fleet was coming from Jiangnan, he immediately ordered it to be detained."
Fortunately, the ship was empty. Xiao Xia asked again, "Has Song Changen been arrested?"
Song Chang'en was the saltpeter purchasing agent and was stationed in Chengdu. He opened a freight company. Xiao Xia was very worried that Song Chang'en would be arrested and the company would be closed, and the saltpeter mine in Laojun Mountain would be completely finished.
Liu Wenjing shook her head. "We just received the pigeon letter that Song Changen forwarded to us. He should still be trying to find a solution."
"Is there anyone we know in Bashu?" Liu Wenjing said with a wry smile, "Bashu is in chaos right now. We have no solution for now, unless we negotiate directly with Yang Qing and redeem the fleet by exchanging benefits."
Xiao Xia shook his head. "What I want is saltpeter, not the ship. I don't want the other party to know that our cargo is saltpeter."
"Then be patient and wait. Our saltpeter stock is still sufficient and can last for a few years. Or we can find saltpeter mines somewhere else."
In Xiao Xia's memory, apart from Laojun Mountain, there was the saltpeter mine in Turpan, and he didn't know where else saltpeter was produced.
Fortunately, the warehouse has a large inventory, so there is no need to rush for the time being. It just depends on how long the Western Sui pseudo-regime can exist.
The ending of Hexi was similar to that of Shuofang. A 100,000-strong Turkic army approached the city, and Li Gui, the governor of Wuwei County, surrendered the city. The Turkish army then attacked Zhangye County, and Cao Taiyue, the military commander of Zhangye County, could not defend the city, so he had to lead his troops to retreat to Dadouba Valley. Except for Dunhuang County, the entire Hexi Corridor fell.
The military commander of Dunhuang County was Xu Min, also an old subordinate of Xiao Xia. He led an army of 10,000 and was stationed in Dunhuang. However, after capturing Wuwei County and Zhangye County, the Turkic army did not continue northward, but prepared to attack the counties in Longyou.
However, the Turkic army was still a step too late. Qu Tutong's 30,000 troops arrived in Jincheng County, built powerful fortifications, and cut off the passage to Longyou.
The Turkic army was unable to reach Hehuang from the passage on the north bank of the Yellow River and had to retreat to Hexi. They attempted to attack Hehuang from the Dadouba Valley, but were strongly blocked by the Sui army. In addition, it was already early September and late autumn, and the Turkic army could not stay in Hexi for too long. Shibi Khan began to consider retreating.
Shibi Khan immediately ordered the left general Meili to lead an army of 10,000 to garrison in the Hexi Corridor, and sent the former general Kang Shaoli to lead an army of 10,000 to garrison in Lingwu County. After arranging the follow-up matters, Shibi Khan led the army to withdraw from the north of the Juyan Sea. Ten days later, the entire army withdrew to the grassland.
Half a month later, Qu Tutong sent an army of 10,000 to launch a tentative attack on Hexi. They were ambushed by 5,000 Turkic cavalry east of Wushaoling. The Sui army was defeated and only a thousand of the 10,000 Sui soldiers escaped.
Qu Tutong was helpless and dared not send more troops north. By mid-September, Emperor Yang Guang finally lost his patience. He sent 30,000 troops to Qu Tutong and Yang Gongren respectively to continue confronting the Turkic army. He led his army back to Luoyang.
The Sui army at this time was no longer the Sui army during the Kaihuang period. The Sui Dynasty was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and Emperor Yang Guang was no longer able to fight against the Turkic army. He only hoped to keep Guanlong and Guannei. As for Hexi and Shuofang, he had no courage to recover them.
In Chengdu, an army of 500 people quickly surrounded the Jiangnan Trading Company, which was a trading company specially opened for purchasing saltpeter.
After the fleet was seized, Yang Qing discovered that the fleet had traveled back and forth between Jiangnan and Bashu many times and was protected by Cui Hongjun, the governor of Qianshu County. He became suspicious and began to investigate the fleet strictly, but he did not find any clues on the fleet. When they detained the fleet, the deputy steward ran away.
The captain only knew that the goods were unloaded in Jiangdu, and he also knew that there was a trading company in Chengdu, but he didn't know where the company was.
Yang Qing eventually learned from the dock officials that the fleet was related to Jiangnan Trading Company, and he immediately ordered the arrest.
"Bang!" The soldiers broke open the door of the store and hundreds of soldiers rushed in.
But the courtyard was empty, with no one in sight. Song Chang'en and his men had already left the house.
(End of this chapter)