Watching Zhu Jinsong's mouth open and close, listing so many demands, Liu Huaiwen suddenly felt his life was like a coffee table, filled with tragedy.
Damn it, he shouldn't have known some blacksmithing and carpentry skills, nor should he have been tricked by the boss into becoming the logistics pillar of the Menglianggu rebel group.
And how many flintlock guns were produced? How many were produced, doesn't the boss of Menglianggu have a clue?
And striving to allocate a hundred hand grenades to each farmers' association, what, do you still plan to let the farmers' association members stew potatoes with hand grenades?
Secretly scolding Zhu Jinsong, the boss, and all the big and small leaders in his heart, Liu Huaiwen then said with a face that was neither nose nor nose: "We have been saving for almost a year, and we have only accumulated a thousand rifled flintlock guns."
"If we count the non-rifled flintlock guns, and intercept the batch delivered to Chen Tai, we currently have about ten thousand, and the reserve of bullets is sufficient, so we can shoot them to our heart's content."
"The reserve of hand grenades and landmines is currently the most abundant weapon in Menglianggu. Besides ensuring the needs of Menglianggu itself, each farmers' association can also be allocated twenty hand grenades and five landmines."
"There are also cannons. In addition to the forty cannons already equipped with the artillery battalion, there are currently twenty cannons that can be deployed, and there are still more than a thousand cannonballs."
Speaking of this, Liu Huaiwen looked at Zhu Jinsong, the first chairman of the Menglianggu rebel group, again: "Boss, this is almost the entire year's assets of our Menglianggu."
As Liu Huaiwen's voice fell, the leaders big and small in the room cast their eyes on Zhu Jinsong.
Excluding hand grenades and landmines, about a thousand rifled flintlock guns, about ten thousand non-rifled flintlock guns, sixty cannons plus more than a thousand cannonballs, such a solid foundation…
However, Zhu Jinsong tapped the table with his fingers, looked at the excited leaders, and said, "What, do you all think our foundation is quite solid, and you are all confident in defeating the Tartars?"
After all the leaders, big and small, calmed down, Zhu Jinsong then turned his gaze to Ke Zhiming: "Explain the specific situation of the Tartars, so that we, the regimental and battalion commanders, have a clear idea."
Ke Zhiming cupped his hands and replied, "According to reliable intelligence, the Qingzhou Eight Banners and Shandong Green Standard Army that we are familiar with have been transferred to the jurisdiction of Fu Cha Mingxing, the Governor of Shandong. It is obvious that the Tartars also do not trust the Qingzhou Eight Banners and the Shandong Green Standard Army."
"The army that the Tartars are sending to suppress Menglianggu this time is mainly composed of the Zhili armored Eight Banners, with an approximate strength of 30,000. This unit is mainly equipped with cannons and flintlock guns, and fire-lance guns. Secondly, there are the Zhili Green Standard Army, with an approximate strength of 100,000. This unit is mainly equipped with fire-lance guns, spears, and sabers."
"Next, let's talk about the specific arrangements for the Tartar officers and soldiers."
"For this suppression, the Tartar vanguard is personally led by Fuk'anggan, the Commander of the Nine Gates, with 10,000 Zhili armored Eight Banners and 20,000 Zhili Green Standard Army, a total of 30,000 troops, equipped with 120 cannons, 10,000 flintlock guns, and 5,000 fire-lance guns. The rest are spears and sabers."
"The central army is personally led by Agui, the Tartar Imperial Commissioner, with a total strength of 50,000, including 10,000 Zhili Eight Banners cavalry, 10,000 Zhili Eight Banners infantry, and 50,000 Zhili Green Standard Army. This unit is equipped with 500 cannons, 10,000 flintlock guns, and 10,000 fire-lance guns. The rest are spears and sabers."
"The rear army is led by Fu H'an, the Tartar Grand Scholar and father of Fuk'anggan, the Commander of the Nine Gates, with a total strength of 30,000, all composed of the Zhili Green Standard Army. This unit is equipped similarly to Fuk'anggan's troops, with 120 cannons, plus 3,000 fire-lance guns, spears, and sabers."
"During this suppression, the distance between the vanguard, central army, and rear army of the Tartars will not exceed thirty li, and Agui's 10,000 Zhili Eight Banners cavalry will provide support from both sides."
"As for the specific combat strategy, it adheres to the requirement of 'eradicating thoroughly' demanded by the Tartar Emperor Qianlong, the old dog. Once the local populace is found to be involved with Menglianggu, the people of that area will be subjected to genocidal slaughter as retaliation."
"What needs to be noted by everyone is that many of the Zhili Eight Banners and Zhili Green Standard Army have fought in Burma and the Sino-Tibetan conflicts, and are considered elites among the Tartar armies. These people are completely different from the Qingzhou Eight Banners and Shandong Green Standard Army that we are familiar with."
As Ke Zhiming's words fell, the leaders big and small in the room took a collective gasp of cold air.
In terms of equipment, the Tartar officers and soldiers were equipped with more cannons and flintlocks than Menglianggu. However, the Tartars' flintlock guns were far inferior to those equipped by Menglianggu in terms of shooting accuracy and range. The remaining fire-lance guns, sabers, and spears were not worth mentioning.
In terms of numbers, although the Tartars had an army of 130,000, Menglianggu had more than 20,000 troops, as well as countless farmers' association militia who could help fight, so their numbers were not necessarily fewer than the Tartars.
What truly worried these leaders was Ke Zhiming's mention of "eradicating thoroughly."
To put it bluntly, the foundation of Menglianggu was the common people in more than half of Shandong. Once these people were massacred by the Tartars, it would surely shake the foundation of Menglianggu.
Conversely, even if all of Shandong were slaughtered, it would be a trivial matter for the Tartars. After all, the ancestors of the Tartars had once slaughtered Sichuan, and later had to migrate people from Huguang to fill Sichuan. Even if all of Shandong were slaughtered, it would only be another migration from Huguang to Shandong.
After exchanging glances, Zeng Cheng, the former prefect of Tai'an, who was now a significant figure in Menglianggu, then asked in a deep voice, "Leader Ke, is this news accurate?"
Ke Zhiming nodded and replied, "I can guarantee with my head that this news is absolutely accurate. If this news is not accurate, then there is no accurate news in the world. If you don't believe me, then I don't mind telling you the source of this news."
Seeing that the leaders big and small were looking at him curiously, Ke Zhiming slowly uttered five words: "Imperial Guard, Eastern Depot."
Zeng Cheng was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Impossible. Ma Jixiang, the last commander of the Imperial Guard, died a martyr in Burma. After that, the Imperial Guard completely disappeared, and only some remnants in the capital were incorporated into the Imperial Carriage Guard by Shunzhi. The situation of the Eastern Depot was similar to that of the Imperial Guard. Leader Ke, aren't you being fooled?"
Ke Zhiming chuckled and said, "Does Prefect Zeng know that I originally came from the Tiandihui? I can tell you clearly that the Imperial Guard has never disappeared, and the Eastern Depot has never disappeared. Whether it is the successive leaders of the Tiandihui, or the successive commanders of the Imperial Guard and directors of the Eastern Depot, they are all always ready to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming."
Zeng Cheng and the other leaders were stunned again.
For other leaders who led troops, it was better. These people followed Zhu Jinsong to rebel against the officials, which meant they came from farming households, and they were not particularly concerned about the Imperial Guard and the Eastern Depot.
But for scholars like Zeng Cheng, there were many things that came to mind.
After all, the Imperial Guard was the emperor's personal army, and the Eastern Depot was the emperor's dogs. Both the Imperial Guard and the Eastern Depot were infamous existences in the previous Ming Dynasty.
Now, Ke Zhiming suddenly said that the Imperial Guard still existed and the Eastern Depot also still existed. What did this imply?
Ke Zhiming's previous origin from the Tiandihui was well-known in Menglianggu. Although he could always obtain various intelligence, it was not an exaggeration to say that he was resourceful, but he never revealed the source of his intelligence. Everyone assumed that he obtained the intelligence from the Tiandihui in various places.
Why did he suddenly say that the intelligence was sent by the Imperial Guard and the Eastern Depot?
Especially with Ke Zhiming's implication, these surviving Imperial Guard and Eastern Depot were related to Menglianggu? Or even implicitly led by Menglianggu?
Also, was there any hint from the boss? What did the boss want to express with this?
After thinking for a long time without getting any results, Zeng Cheng could only bury these doubts in his heart.
However, Zeng Cheng did not express his opinion, but Zhu Jinsong did not let Zeng Cheng go at all: "In response to the Tartars' encirclement and suppression this time, the 20,000 troops must all go out. Besides the arsenal under Uncle Huaiwen, there are only local officials like Prefect Zeng. Your burden is not light."
Zeng Cheng's heart trembled, and he cupped his hands and said, "Boss, please rest assured. Since we have joined Menglianggu, we will not have any other messy thoughts."
Zhu Jinsong then hummed, tapped the table in front of him with his fingers, and said in a deep voice, "This time the Tartars are coming to suppress, we cannot put them off until after Yizhou like before. We must stop them within the territory of Jinan Prefecture, otherwise, the people of all the farmers' associations will suffer."
Speaking of this, Zhu Jinsong took a deep breath and ordered the leaders big and small: "Order! Liu Ergou to lead the Third Division of Menglianggu to march rapidly to Qingshi Pass, and Geng Er to lead the Fourth Division and the Second Army Headquarters to march rapidly to Mount Tai."
"Pass orders to Erdan and Geng Rui to lead the Second Division back from Dengzhou to Yidu, capture Yidu, and take full control of Qingzhou!"
"The First Division and the First Army Headquarters will follow me on a rapid march to Zichuan, and attack Jinan Prefecture from Zichuan!"
"For this response to the Tartars' encirclement and suppression, there is no specific combat plan. Each unit will decide its own combat plan according to the situation in its jurisdiction. Division-level officers are allowed to mobilize local farmers' association guards to assist in combat. If the casualties are too heavy, local farmers' association guards can be absorbed into the army."
"In short, no Tartar is allowed to leave Jinan Prefecture!"
After all the leaders agreed, Zhu Jinsong then looked at Zeng Cheng and Liu Huaiwen and said, "Uncle Huaiwen, Prefect Zeng, this operation to deal with the Tartars' encirclement and suppression will definitely not be easy. Both logistics and civilian affairs in the rear depend on you two."
Liu Huaiwen immediately agreed, and Zeng Cheng's heart trembled, and he vaguely guessed the intention behind Ke Zhiming mentioning the Imperial Guard and the Eastern Depot.
Zeng Cheng stood up and solemnly cupped his hands in a bow to Zhu Jinsong: "Boss, please rest assured, as long as I have one breath left, I will not let the rear be in disorder!"
Zhu Jinsong nodded, acknowledging it, and then laughed heartily and said to the leaders big and small in the room: "Everyone, relax. Even if the Tartars who come this time are more powerful, they still have one nose and two hands. If we defeat them, we will have two more years of stable life."
Zeng Cheng nodded and was the first to respond, "The boss is right. I used to be an official in the Tartar government, and I know what the Tartar government is like. Don't look at Agui and Fu H'an and Fuk'anggan leading the troops personally, but a dog cannot change its eating habits. The Tartars will inevitably harm the people, and the people of Jinan Prefecture will also help us."
Ke Zhiming suddenly interjected: "Prefect Zeng's words are indeed accurate. According to reliable intelligence, Mingxing, the Governor of Shandong, has ordered that the people in Jinan city are not allowed to leave the city. Even if they want to buy food and vegetables, they must purchase from the merchants designated by him, otherwise they will be charged with colluding with bandits."
"The household designated by Mingxing sells ordinary vegetables and grains, which are called better-sounding names. For a family of three, their three-day supply costs three hundred and forty-eight wen. You know, the previous prices of grain and vegetables in Jinan Prefecture were similar to ours in Yizhou. A fat chicken only cost thirty wen."
As soon as Ke Zhiming said this, even Zeng Cheng, the former prefect of Tai'an, was stunned.
Brilliant, truly brilliant, why didn't I think of this before?
Zeng Cheng, while secretly lamenting, said, "Since Leader Ke has brought up money, I also have good news to share with the boss and everyone."
Seeing Zhu Jinsong and others looking at him curiously, Zeng Cheng took a deep breath and said, "The autumn tax collected by our Yizhou Prefecture this year totals one million taels, which is more than one hundred thousand taels more than the autumn tax collected by all of Shandong last year!"
Zhu Jinsong was stunned, and his expression slowly turned grim: "What happened? Why is there so much more money?"
Zeng Cheng cupped his hands and said, "Boss, please don't be angry. There are no problems with this money, and not a single wen is from agricultural taxes."
"This money is all commercial tax!"