Samurai of the Takeda Family

Chapter 374 Planning

Li Xiao looked at the map of Hokuriku and calculated it carefully.

Li Xiao turned his head to look at Honda Masanori, and asked: "In Uojin City, how is the defense of Tenjin Mountain City?"

Masanobu Hondo replied: "Due to the arrival of winter, the construction of these two cities has stalled, and according to the report of Mr. Kinoshita, the construction of Honmaru and Ninomaru of Uozu Castle has been completed, and the construction of both Sotomaru and Made has only been completed. It is expected to be completed before the summer of this year. As for Tenjin Mountain Castle, the construction progress will be slower and it is estimated that it will be delayed by one month."

After hearing this, Li Xiao nodded and said: "Xiu Chang has done a good job. It seems that the construction period will be earlier than before, so the defense will be more confident after the attack."

Bendo Zhengxin hesitated and said: "However, the Nanban people provided us with the big tube for defending the city, and there are still ten mén not in place. He declared that we have to pay the balance before he is willing to pay."

Li Xiao raised his brows and said, "What's going on? Didn't Chang'an give the Flange the money to it?"

This time, Li Xiao took a breath and ordered fifteen mén Franco cannons from the Portuguese to be used as defense guns.

Unlike Li Xiao’s other six-pounder and nine-pounder guns, the Franco’s machine gun adopts a rear-loaded gun, and has a mother cannon, that is, the concept of a cannonball is introduced, which avoids firing every time a gun is struck. yào residue, and the concept of clearing the chamber.

Compared with ordinary artillery, Franco machine guns are faster and more suitable for killing infantry.

ps: As early as in the Jiajing period, the Ming Dynasty had imitated this artillery and equipped the Ming army in large numbers. In the Wanli War of Aid Korea, a type of cannon called Baichu Folang was very unusual and defeated in the Battle of Pyongyang. West Governor.

Therefore, Li Xiao was extremely extravagant to use it as a cannon for defending the city, and this made the general preparation Rui Costa a long, long prison sentence.

However, Li Xiao was convinced that it was worthwhile. In the battle of Usuki Castle, Otomo Zonglin fired with the Frang machine gun erected at the head of the city, and defeated the Shimadzu family's army under the besieged city.

Just when Li Xiao questioned, after the Tibetan Chang'an Sutra reported to the warrior, he walked into the castle tower.

When Li Xiao saw Chang'an, he asked: "Chang'an, the Nanban people claim to have received the final payment for the purchase of the Franco machine gun. What is going on?"

When the Tibetan Changan saw Li Xiao questioning like this, he cried out to hit the sky.

Dazang Changan said: "The lord, in the past few years, in order to expand the direct subordinate standing, the surplus of the mine has been spent almost, and the return to Yunjinshan has been exhausted this year, and this money has been vacant. Besides, the lord has been fighting again and again. The situation of making ends meet, coupled with the rebuilding of the three cities of Matsakura, Uojin, and Tenshin Mountain last year, all savings have been reduced."

Li Xiao hummed, and said, "Really? I heard that Chang'an has had a good life recently. Two months ago, he took in two more concubines."

Listening to Li Xiao's words, the Tibetan Chief An immediately flushed and said: "The lord, the ministers and concubines are all his own salaries, and there is no other embezzlement. The ministers are planning for the lord, and the accounts are clear and available for inspection at any time. , If there is a slight margin, the minister is willing to cut his stomach and kill himself."

Li Xiao squinted his eyes and looked at Okubo Changan. He couldn't believe that Okubo, who has always been known as ‘clean and honest’, said that.

However, Dazang Chang'an does have unique talents in mining, financial management, internal affairs, and people's livelihood. This is what Shioya Qiuzhen and Masuda Changsheng cannot replace, let alone others.

So even though the Tibetan Changan had some braids and he held it under his hand, Li Xiao also decided to temporarily close one eye before he went too far. After all, the biggest hope of a retainer is only in terms of money. This is relatively easy to control, but the necessary beating is still required.

After all, Da Zang Chang'an still had a guilty conscience, saying: "Master, I really can't get that money right now."

Li Xiaoyan said: "Li Xiao asked Qiuzhen Yanwu if he borrowed a loan from the Yanwu merchant temporarily?"

Dazang Changan said: "This can be done, but the salt house merchants have limited financial resources, and I am afraid they can only support part of it."

Li Xiao nodded and said: "There is no way. I have to ask the Portuguese to borrow first. Iwase Minato's medicament for the next two years will be used as collateral to lend to the Portuguese."

The Tibetan Changan asked in surprise: "Lord, Minato Iwase is my biggest income at the moment. If it is mortgaged to the Portuguese, if we can't get the money to repay it, I am afraid that the next two years will be in financial trouble. "

Li Xiao shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter. After we capture Sado, nothing will be a problem."

Seeing Li Xiao's confidence, Dazang Changan didn't understand why he could get money to offset the debt after he captured Sado, but he moved his mouth at this moment and did not speak.

Li Xiaoyan said: "These ten mén big tubes must be delivered this year, and equipped on the top of the castle, so with the strength of the two people of Kinoshita Hidenaga and Takenaka Re-rule, plus Kenjo and the big tube, even if Uesugi Kenshin personally leads a large army to attack. It’s enough to resist for more than three months."

After speaking, Li Xiao said to the Tibetan Chang'an: "For the loan, you should hurry up and communicate with the Nanban people."

Da Zang Changan cried out and withdrew from the room.

Speaking of this, Li Xiao looked at Usami Nami and said, "What was the situation of Echigo last year?"

Usami Nami said respectfully and respectfully: "Returning to the lord, since the battle of Kawa Nakajima, our family has suffered more losses than the Uesugi army, but it is estimated that the Uesugi army has also lost nearly 10%, not to mention the Uesugi general Naoe. Yamato Mamoru, Kawada Toyomae Mamoru, and the entire army of five thousand generals were destroyed, and the foundation of Viet-Central was lost. The Uesugi family's power is already much weaker than before, and its vitality cannot be restored in a few years."

"And now my family owns more than half of Echigo. Under the circumstances, we only need to maintain the pressure on Echigo with the Kita Shinano Corps of Lord Takasaka. Kenshin Uesugi does not dare to make any rash actions. And now Uesugi also takes care of it. In my family’s presence in Viet Central, Katsuyama Castle was built in the vicinity where I did not know the children, as a border defense city, together with Fudoshan Castle, as a barrier against our army’s attack on Chunrishan Castle."

Li Xiao smiled upon hearing this: "Very good."

According to Uesugi Kenshin's power two to three years ago, it can be said that Li Xiao was wiped out at any time by turning his wrists.

But at the moment, he was afraid of Li Xiao's power, and Uesugi Kenshin had to conduct Echigo defense and consolidation. But now, as long as Li Xiao does a good job of defending Yujin City and Tianshen Mountain City, he can temporarily protect him without any worries.

Kenshin Uesugi would never dare to hang the army alone for a long time, otherwise the Sanada army could take the opportunity to attack Echigo, whether it was the Takasaka Masanobu Corps in Kita Shinano or Naito in Ueno.

Speaking of this, Shi pulls the mén outside, and reports to Li Xiao from the side: "The lord, the ship’s general Masatsuna Mukai, Chiga Sun Bingwei has arrived, waiting for the lord’s call."

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Call them in."

After Mukai Masazu and Chiga Sun Bingwei entered the mén, they bowed to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao asked first: "How is the navy crowd recently?"

Masatsu Mukai said: "Return to the lord, the subordinates have been dedicated to their responsibilities, the navy has been very proficient in training, and can go into battle at any time."

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Xiangjing, you don't understand what I mean. I'm asking you whether the heart of the Wajima naval forces has been completely subdued and can be used by us."

Masazu Mukai hurriedly said: "Master, my subordinates dare not be very sure about this. For the past year, the subordinates have only recruited three ships from the Wajima Marine Corps as their direct subordinates."

Chiga Sun Bingwei said: "Lord, for the past year, we have been soliciting the hearts of the Wajima water soldiers according to your wishes. However, the original shipowner and the ship general are wary of us. This year, our ministers His subordinates only solicited five ships."

Li Xiao nodded when he heard the words, and said: "This is already quite difficult, but it is still not enough. With these eight ships, you are not enough to get the position of the bow in our Vietnam Navy, and you must win over other ship owners, ships. General. But I will do it for others."

Masatsu Mukai, Chiga Sun Bingwei heard that Li Xiao decided to hand over this matter, and they all greeted him with a grievance.

At the same time, Li Xiaoyan said: "But you must also hurry up to practice Cào. In the near future, I will send the Sado Expeditionary Army. At that time, in addition to transporting soldiers and horses for me, your navy must also ensure the supply of troops, especially obtaining Domination of the Sado Strait."

"It is foreseeable that if I attack Sado, the Uesugi family will certainly not sit back and watch. There may be a battle at that time."

Masatsu Mukai and Chiga Sun Bingwei glanced at each other, and they didn't say anything. They didn't know how strong the Echigo navy was.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "But you don't have to be too cao-hearted. I will borrow troops from the Southern Barbarians for this battle, and let their naval forces be dispatched to help you."

Masatsu Mukai and Chiga Sunheibei are both people who have been walking on the sea for a long time. Naturally, they know how the Portuguese ships are strong and powerful. With their help, they can naturally defeat the enemy and the navy. .

After Mukai Masazu, Chiga Sunheibei retired full of hope, Honda Masanobu said, "Master, if you want the Nanbans to go to war, you must have an expense. Where do I get the money?"

Li Xiao smiled and said: "I have my own way. All the goals at the moment are based on the priority of capturing Sado~www.wuxiamtl.com~ Usami said: "Master, as far as I know, the land of Sado is barren, and Ishigaka has only It is more than 10,000, and it is an island. It is inconvenient. Although there are few silver mines produced, the number is not large. It is really not worth the Lord's effort to attack. Moreover, it is not necessary to encircle Echi from the sea. "

Li Xiao smiled. Indeed, at this time, Sado Island was still a barren land in the eyes of everyone. In the past, together with Hida, they were both the Japanese imperial court and the sacred place for exiles from reform through labor.

The only time was that in 1542, there were lù heads of silver mines discovered, but it was only a small part of it, and the output was considered to be small. This was also the initial excavation of Hezi Yinshan.

It was not until the sixth year of Qingchang, that is, in the year 1601, when Hezi Silver Mountain was discovered by the mountain master of Ishimi Silver Mountain, and Sado Gold Mountain surfaced soon after.

After that, Sado Kinzan was not only Japan at that time, but also the world's largest gold mountain at that time, and it supplied a large amount of gold and silver to the Tokugawa Shogunate Ginza Ginza.

But this news was a secret for the time. Even the local lord Honma's family didn't know it, and only Li Xiao knew about it. . ..