Dominate the Country

In April of the sixth year of Chengtian, Nanjing has entered the plum rain season. There is no bright sunshine here, but the misty and rainy tower scenery of Jiangnan has reappeared. In the vast Jiangnan, yellow warblers are singing happily, and clusters of green trees are reflecting clusters of red flowers; villages beside the water, cities on the mountains, green and soft rice seedlings, and lush and green banana leaves are swaying in the wind, presenting a business scene.

The wind blows with a slight warmth, and the cuckoo's call is sent from time to time, telling us that "spring has gone." It is now the season of April in early summer.

At the same time, the warm wind of early summer also sent to Chen Ming the war reports from distant Europe and North America.

On the east coast of America, in the key West Indies, the battles in the Caribbean are still fierce. The British are in a slump as a whole. In terms of the strongest naval force of the British, they are firmly suppressed by the Franco-Spanish joint fleet.

Although the British navy, which had been stagnant for a long time, was recovering rapidly, the French and Spanish did not stop their pace. Moreover, the relationship between the British and the Netherlands, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and other countries became worse.

"If the Spanish fleet was not unwilling to enter the east coast of North America to fight, and followed the strategy formulated by the French to attack the British control of the waters on the east coast of North America, London's situation would be more difficult."

In the Qianqing Palace, Chen Cong slapped his hands on the armrest of the armchair, his face full of uncontrollable regret.

Although the Spanish got involved in the Anglo-French War as soon as it started, the intention of Carlos III [King of Spain] has been clearly shown by now. The Spanish do not care about the independence of the United States. What he wants more is to take the opportunity to defeat the British and regain the position lost by the Kingdom of Spain in the last war in the West Indies.

Completely different from the strategic goals of the French, Spain's performance is clearly pointing to the West Indies.

This difference in strategic goals has a direct impact on the war, as the naval battle on the east coast of North America has been deadlocked so far, and the control of the ocean is still in the hands of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Without the cooperation of the Spanish fleet, the French warships in the Americas cannot achieve a complete strategic advantage.

Moreover, after the Spanish have regained certain interests in the West Indies, they have resisted the counterattack launched by the British in the second half of last year. According to the intelligence from Europe and the secret letter sent back by Gao Yanming, the Spanish really intend to have a fight with China's North American expeditionary force in order to maintain their interests in the Americas.

This is an "event evolution" that makes Chen Ming feel very disgusted.

This is very unfavorable to China.

Carlos III and London fight to the death, which is in the best interest of China, but now the Spanish are pointing their spearheads at China.

"The population of Mexico is conservatively estimated to be more than six million, and the population of Colombia, Peru, etc. is also one million. The Spanish have carried out emergency mobilization in their own territory. Although the newly recruited American colonial army is of poor quality and not worth mentioning in terms of combat effectiveness, the latter has reached 50,000 people. Together with the Spanish regular army, it is really a large army."

The news sent back by Gao Yanming shows that the Spanish will gather an army of 100,000 to attack the west coast of America. This is a very large number. Look at the current North American battlefield. The Continental Army and the British have been fighting for so many years, and the scale of the so-called "battles" on both sides is also in the tens of thousands.

There is no way.

The British and the natives of the Thirteen States have encountered the same problems as the Chinese Expeditionary Force. The material attack of the army and the replenishment of military supplies and ammunition have limited the growth of each other's army. John Bull's army before the war was really small, but after the war, the navy and the army expanded rapidly, and the army has increased from more than 20,000 people at the beginning to more than 100,000, but more lobster soldiers are tied down in Europe, India, and the West Indies, rather than the North American continent.

However, Spain still has a certain degree of dominance and continuity in Mexico. Although it is difficult to provide long-term logistics for an army of 100,000 people, it should not be a problem to maintain it in the short term.

And now the total strength of the Chinese North American Expeditionary Force is only more than 20,000 people.

The latter needs reinforcements.

Because Chen Han's North American control area is about to expand rapidly. If the North American Expeditionary Force can defeat the Spanish colonial army, the army will definitely take the opportunity to go south and attack Mexico City. Otherwise, it will be a waste of a great opportunity.

In this case, the North American Expeditionary Force with a total strength of 20,000 people is obviously not enough, because they still have to occupy territory.

Don't say that Chen Ming is big-hearted, Chen Ming is arrogant, and the 100,000 Spanish colonial troops don't seem to give him a little pressure. This is entirely out of contempt for the colonial army and trust in his own army.

If this 100,000-man army is composed of pure peninsula people and is a pure Spanish regular army, Chen Ming will immediately do his best to transport troops to North America. But they are not. They are a colonial army, a mixed, ragtag group.

Chen Ming has not forgotten the sharp conflict of interests between the Mexican locals and the Spanish. He finds it hard to believe what kind of combat effectiveness the local army will have under such circumstances. Maybe they will turn against the enemy and revolt on the battlefield.

But in this battle, Chen Ming must bite off a piece of meat from Spain. Those territories must be garrisoned by troops, so should he also divide troops from the expeditionary force?

Faced with Chen Ming's question, Chen Cong remained silent. He stroked his goatee and could not guess his nephew's plan for a moment.

If the court did not send troops to garrison the meat bitten off by the expeditionary army, who else could it send to garrison?

The first time Chen Cong heard Chen Ming's words, he thought the speaker was a fool.

"Your Majesty thought..." The voice was long, and Chen Cong looked at Chen Ming with a 'doubtful' and 'hesitant' look.

The military expenditure of the expeditionary army is a considerable pressure. Chen Ming hopes to transfer part of this pressure from the shoulders of the court to the shoulders of the nobles and important officials.

"Uncle Wang, the nobles and important officials of Nanjing, since we will divide the territory in America in the future, why don't we adapt to it now?"

How to transfer the pressure on the shoulders of the court to a support point that is capable and willing? Chen Ming decisively chose the nobles.

These people have already established roots in North America, so don't hide it anymore. Just raise another team. As long as you control their troop numbers and logistical supplies, you won't have a situation where the tail is too big to be removed.

And these noble ministers will definitely be willing, even if they will retreat on the surface.

Just like Chen Cong now, he immediately stood up from the throne and knelt at Chen Ming's feet: "I dare not have such unreasonable thoughts. This is absolutely not allowed, Your Majesty..."

In the centralized environment of China, in front of a wise and powerful founding emperor, that person felt that the burden on his neck was too heavy, and wanted to relieve the pressure by the "beheading" thing?

In front of an emperor like Chen Ming, setting up your own private small army is to seek death.

Haven't you seen that even the Black Ice Ocean Security Company has become a member of the Jiuzhou Chamber of Commerce to a certain extent?

It was officially acquired by the Jiuzhou Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of this year, and the latter soon intervened in the security work of various companies under the Jiuzhou Chamber of Commerce. Before that, the Black Ice Ocean was controlled by the Empress, the eldest prince, and the uncle of the emperor. This was not acceptable. The ownership was changed to the Jiuzhou Chamber of Commerce, but no one was innocent. The headquarters of the Jiuzhou Chamber of Commerce was not open to the public. It was reported that it was not far from the General Staff of the Grand Commandant's Office, as well as the National Security Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau.

There were also rumors that someone swore that he saw Chen Guang and Chen Liang in and out of the door of the Jiuzhou Chamber of Commerce.

Even the Black Ice Ocean was not immune to this, so how could Chen Cong want to set up a private army?

But Chen Ming was sincere and sincere. Although all this was a bit unreasonable, it was not so abrupt under the premise of the closure of the American country. After the closure of the marquis in the future, wouldn't they have to organize their own army?

Chen Cong had a layer of sweat on his forehead, and returned to the cabinet office nervously and excitedly. From the moment he entered the gate to the moment he walked to the office, all the guards, officials, and office staff along the way knew that he had something on his mind. It was too obvious.

"Notify everyone to go to the Tianzi No. conference room for a meeting."

Chen Cong sat down on the big chair in the office and immediately said to the secretary beside him.

The Tianzi No. conference room, as the name suggests, is the first conference room of the cabinet. This not only refers to its importance, but also to its confidentiality.

Liu Zhixie, who served as Chen Cong's secretary, looked stern, knowing that something really big had happened.

But as the secretary of the cabinet's chief minister, he was definitely well-informed in the current cabinet office, and he didn't hear any rumors at all. Some things may be serious, but compared to the definition of the Tianzi No. conference room, it's nothing. Those things are not worth Chen Cong opening the Tianzi No. conference room. Immediately, Liu Zhixie thought of the palace. King Song just came out of the palace.

Liu Dezhao took a carriage and rushed to the cabinet as quickly as possible. The news from the yamen was too shocking, the Tianzi No. conference room. He arrived at the fastest speed.

Wang Huizu, Pang Zhenkun, Xiong Bingzhang, Shen Guozhen, Peng Zhongrui, Xie Hu, Yan Xishen and others did the same. The entire cabinet was present except for Pan Zhencheng, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, who left Beijing for the north.

The latter had a very significant "proposition" to go north, to revitalize the trade development of the northern coastal ports. Pan Zhencheng would start from Lianyungang and visit Busan Port in Andong Province along the long coastline, and then visit Japan to make final consultations on the bilateral currency peg.

The Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan must adjust the value of its currency.

One person after another arrived, and before four o'clock in the afternoon, when the meeting started, everyone was present. Pan Zhencheng's first deputy Han Teng represented Pan Zhencheng at the meeting.

Chen Cong was like an old monk sitting in meditation, quietly waiting for everyone to arrive.

Opening his eyes, two sharp rays of light swept across everyone. Chen Cong cleared his throat, picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip of tea. "The reason why I asked everyone to come here today is because I just received a hint from His Majesty. This hint is of great importance and must not be leaked. It's best for everyone to have a plan in mind."

The whole room was full of old hands. Chen Cong did not play any tricks. After putting down the teacup, he directly stated the emperor's "hint".

Chen Ming intended to let all the civil and military ministers in the court organize their own army in North America, so as to lay the foundation for the defense force of the vassal state in the future.

The entire Tianzihao conference room was about to explode.

Chen Cong just chatted a few words to make things clear, but the power generated by these few words made Minister Chen Han dizzy.

For everyone here, this is jaw-dropping. Even the clerk who was present stopped writing unconsciously.

"Although the main focus of this matter lies with many distinguished ministers, my cabinet also has a big responsibility." It is conceivable that once this matter spreads throughout Nanjing, there will definitely be countless people waving their hands at the many retired officers and soldiers. hands, and domestic military supplies will become tense instantly.

The significance of this incident is greater than that of the past when the emperor relaxed his words and allowed nobles to 'enter' North America. One was about people's livelihood and the other was about military affairs. The latter was much more important than the former. It can be said that by now, no family has any doubts about the future division of the Americas.

Everyone here knows with their little fingers that after the news broke out, it would definitely be an important stimulus for the noble ministers who had already entered a state of stable export to North America.

Everyone is afraid that they will return to the original state of fierce competition, but don't get too excited.

"We are all important ministers of the imperial court. It can be said that everyone here has a wide range of friends and is also a member of the things involved. Although this matter is His Majesty's intention, we are still in the heaven and the dynasty, and the establishment of private armed forces by individual families After all, it is arrogant and has certain dangers.

I hold a different opinion. You must remember to exercise caution!

You can tell your trusted relatives and friends about this, but be sure to ask them to show restraint. If this causes a bad impact in the country, I will never sit idly by and ignore it. "

Chen Cong's words actually meant that everyone here should tell the people in their network after they go back. Although the emperor allowed the use of private force, it was too taboo. Don't get carried away, and don't do anything bad for Chen Cong.

As for the manpower, material resources, and financial resources required to organize a private armed force, Chen Cong did not mention it. Even if those people borrow money, they won't let this opportunity pass, right?

As early as when the wave of military retirements started, some people were already trying to win over retired officers and soldiers, especially those at the mid-level and junior levels.

At the same time, the Xungui family has been stricter about their next generation of children in recent years. People like Chen Zifeng are considered a minority, and those who are incompetent have to go to universities or colleges, even private business colleges.

Chen Zifeng's father was not knighted, so he indulged his children a little. Those families with titles, after learning about the news of the American feudal kingdom, few people neglected the discipline of their children, because when the country is truly established in the future, every direct descendant of the family will be a precious force, at least they Is someone trustworthy.

Once again, the first-class families also take a long-term view and make big plans for the future. With so many feudal states established, imagine how many vacancies there will be. The level of his descendants in China seems to be average, but will they be able to develop overseas in the future? This will also help the entire family to flourish.

From a certain perspective, this is not putting all your eggs in one basket.

The matter of overseas feudal countries is no longer just the interest relationship between the nobles and their families. There are also many businessmen who are dependent on them or come together with them. The latter provide the former with a lot of money.

Whether it is the construction of people's livelihood for immigrants thousands of miles away or the great cause of nation-building in the future, it requires massive financial support. Businessmen are the most suitable group to make up for the shortcomings of nobles...

But it turns out that it is very difficult to stop the competitors. Chen Ming received the discount just ten days after the news was revealed by Chen Cong.