I Build an Aircraft Carrier in the Ming Dynasty

Shaoxing and Zhu Yihai are in a good mood recently.

Wu Changqing declared his allegiance, and Li Chengdong also withdrew from Hangzhou. Compared with the previous few months, the situation has greatly improved.

The only thing that made him unhappy was that Fang Guoan distributed the tax and silver without his consent.

Such a move, placed in a unified dynasty, would at least have to be reassured of a wicked, treasonous crime.

But now, Zhu Yihai can only hold his nose and acquiesce.

"Your Majesty, Fang Guoan is doing this to disband the rebel army on the spot. Without food and wages, the soldiers can't even eat, so how can they fight?"

Qian Sule, one of the leaders of the rebel army, complained about Fang Guoan's behavior, but Zhu Yihai was helpless even though he knew it well.

"Qian Yushi, don't be impatient. General Fang also has his own difficulties. Now the world is in chaos, the people are struggling to live, and there are only so many taxes. I really can't squeeze out the money and food to support the rebel army."

Zhu Yihai said.

"Then we can only watch the rebel army disband? The so-called main army of Fang Guoan is not as powerful as my rebel army."

Qian Sule was angry, and he spoke less in awe.

"Perhaps you can take your troops north to Suzhou and ask Wu Guogong to do some relief. Suzhou has always been rich, and recently I heard that Wu Guogong is still making a thing called soap, which is very profitable, and even has money to set up education."

Zhu Yihai didn't know that after Qian Sule's troops arrived in Suzhou, they would no longer obey him, but he really had no better way.

He is now thinking that he can take down Nanjing first, and then, in the name of orthodoxy, slowly consolidate military power.

"Education was set up in troubled times, and Duke Wu was so wealthy."

Qian Sule was shocked, it was unimaginable.

In troubled times, eating is a big problem. To be frugal and save some money is also a priority to expand the army. It is too out of date to set up education.

And this also just shows that Wu Changqing is rich and not bad for money.

He became more and more curious about the 16-year-old Wu Guogong. Wu Changqing's repeated victories had already surprised him. Originally thought that Wu Changqing was just a military genius, but he did not expect that he would also have a hand in making money.

This kind of ability, Qian Sule is ashamed.

"Although Wu Guogong's original intention to set up education is good, but at present, he should focus on recovering lost ground. You take my oral order to urge him to recover the old capital of Nanjing as soon as possible."

Zhu Yihai said.

"As ordered."

Qian Sule could only take orders, and if he didn't go to Wu Changqing, his 5,000-strong rebel army could only be declared disbanded because he couldn't support it.

As for whether going to Wu Changqing will be disliked and ostracized, he can't control that much. There is a glimmer of hope, and he has to fight for it.

This Zhedong Rebel Army has experienced several wars and is a rare heroic division. It is a pity to disband on the spot.

The next day, Qian Sule and Xiong Rulin went to Suzhou together.

After three days of marching, they finally arrived outside Suzhou City. The army of 8,000 people settled down, and Qian Sule and Xiong Rulin entered Suzhou City.

In Wu Guogong's mansion, they met the rumored Wu Changqing.

Sure enough, as in the rumors, young and talented.

Qian Sule sighed inwardly.

"I have seen Wu Guogong."

Qian Sule and Xiong Rulin saluted.

Xiong Rulin was the second-rank official of the Ministry of War, and Qian Sule was the third-rank censor of Zuodu. In terms of official position, he was not much lower than Wu Changqing, both of them were the core class in the imperial court.

However, Wu Changqing is much higher than them in terms of the title, and they need to salute Wu Changqing in terms of etiquette.

More importantly, it is the uncle who has soldiers now. Wu Changqing has more troops than them, and his strength is stronger than them.

"Xiong Shangshu Qian Yushi sees the outside, take a break, I have arranged for the servants to prepare wine and food for the two adults to catch the wind and dust."

Wu Changqing smiled and led the two home to entertain them. Qian Sule sent someone to inform him before they came, otherwise they would not be able to reach Suzhou.

For their arrival, Wu Changqing's heart is more complicated.

Their arrival can undoubtedly increase his strength, but it may also be a group of unfamiliar people. After spending military salaries to support them, they will still be loyal to King Lu and stab him in the back in the future, it will be funny.

However, although there is such a risk, he cannot refuse.

Everyone in the world is watching, they are both rebels, and it is really not good to refuse directly.

Moreover, Wu Changqing also has a way to slowly rectify the two rebel troops.

There are many ways to send them to the front, or to disrupt and reorganize them. Even a Fang Guoan could force them to disband. Wu Changqing thought that he would be no worse than Fang Guoan.

"Thank you Wu Guogong."

Xiong Rulin and Qian Sule sat down.

Wu Changqing gave them a very sophisticated feeling, and his temperament did not look like a teenager at all. However, they were not surprised. After all, Wu Changqing had experienced so many battles and had long since been reborn from the ashes, so he could not be evaluated by ordinary people's standards.

The wine and food were brought up, and Chen Yuyan also showed his face, probably because he wanted to meet other high-ranking officials in the court.

In fact, this is a bit unethical. Unless it is a relatively close personal friend, other guests and family members should avoid it.

However, Wu Changqing didn't care about such rules at all. And the Wu family has no elders at home now, no one teaches Chen Yuyan, and she doesn't understand some etiquette that is too detailed.

Both Xiong Rulin and Qian Sule felt strange that Wu Changqing introduced Chen Yuyan to them.

However, everyone is not a particularly pedantic person, and they do not take this to heart.

In troubled times, aspiring officials are more pragmatic.

They asked the most concerned question, which was how much money Wu Changqing could spend to support their army.

"I don't know what the monthly salary of the two subordinates was before?"

Wu Changqing asked.

"Most of our troops are loyal and righteous people, and they relied on their enthusiasm when they rebelled, even though they didn't get paid for their meals. Later, considering that the soldiers also had to support their families, we gave each person a monthly salary of four silver coins. It's just that Fang Guoan recently withheld all the tax and silver in the eastern Zhejiang area, and we didn't get a penny."

When Qian Sule said that, he became angry at the end, with a posture of tearing Fang Guoan into pieces.

Four coins is about 400 wen. This military salary is really too low. After all, what is sold in battle is life. To sacrifice one's life for four hundred pennies, it can only be said that human life in this era is too cheap.

The ordinary soldiers under Wu Changqing were paid one tael of silver a month. Artillery, cavalry, and archers are technical arms that are paid more. Artillerymen are paid 22 taels per month, cavalry 2 taels, and archers are paid one tael or five.

"My army's salary is slightly higher, but considering many factors, I can't give your troops the same salary. I don't know if you can pay four dollars a month according to your previous standard? I will also provide food."

Wu Changqing said.

If Qian Sule and others' troops were also given a monthly salary of one or two, then Wu Changqing's men might not be happy. These years also pay attention to seniority. They have been with Wu Changqing for so long, how can they be treated the same as the newcomers.

"Of course, I can barely make ends meet with four coins."

Qian Sule agrees very wisely, and in fact he is really satisfied.

Those who worked so hard in Shaoxing couldn’t get food and wages. When they came to Suzhou, they could get free food with just a word, and military wages of four cents of silver. What else could they complain about?

Even those soldiers would take it for granted when they heard the news.

Xiong Rulin was not as excited as Qian Sule. Before he came, he had inquired about Wu Changqing's military salaries and knew that Wu Changqing was very rich.

Now I only give four coins and one piece of silver, which is really less.

"As for the armament, I heard that the Duke's army has an invincible fire gun team."

Xiong Rulin asked, weapons in combat are still very important.

"The output of the new type of fire gun is too low, and the daily output is only about ten. There must be no surplus for the two. There are some knives and spears. I can send a batch to the two if they need it."

Wu Changqing felt that this Xiong Rulin was a little ignorant, and he had the idea of ​​a flintlock gun.

This thing, his subordinates are all drooling and waiting in line, Xiong Rulin also wants to get involved?

If the news spreads out, I am afraid that Liu Hansan and the others will not help but kill him and drive away Xiong Rusen and others.

Qian Sule winked at Xiong Rulin, signaling him not to be too greedy.

It didn't take long for Wu Changqing to do something, and there must be a shortage of money, food and weapons. It is very sincere to be able to take part of it now.