Late Yuan Dynasty: I am the true emperor

Chapter 38 It’s time for the Marshal to start a family (Please read on)
"Brother Lu, go to the banquet."

Lu Jin and Bao Heng had not been discussing for long when Zhao Zhongzhong came to ask him to attend the celebration banquet.

"You go first, I'll be right there."

"Oh, hurry up, the brothers are still waiting for Brother Lu to start the meal."

"understood."

The two walked out of the back hall, and Lu Jin was still admonishing Bao Heng, "Hurry up, we have to go pick them up in three days, you have to get things done."

Bao Heng quickly assured in a low voice, "Don't worry, my lord. I will let my brother Bao Yu handle this matter. It will be foolproof."

Lu Jin nodded. Fearing that he might not be serious about his work, he made another promise, "We will soon have several counties in our territory. We cannot leave the governance of the people to the military. We must at least appoint several county magistrates. If you can accomplish this, I will definitely make important contributions to you."

Bao Heng was instantly overjoyed. County magistrate, this is a proper official! Not just a clerk. Under normal circumstances, except for rebellion and founding a country, there is no way to become an official without even taking the imperial examination.

"Don't worry, my lord. I will definitely get this done and will never let that Maitreya demon come back." Bao Heng said with fierceness in his eyes and firm confidence.

"Go."

"Yes."

Lu Jin then went to the celebration banquet. Yu Tingyu bought a lot of vegetables in the city and asked the soldiers to cook them themselves for a good meal. The generals also set up two tables for the banquet.

All the generals from Chaohu were present, as well as the three generals that Lu Jin had just recruited to surrender, as well as Hua Gao and Xu Yong who had just come to surrender. The banquet began as soon as the commander-in-chief arrived.

At the banquet, everyone was drunk and in high spirits. The generals from Chaohu took turns to describe in vivid detail how Lu Jin had led them to fight during this period, and boasted to the newcomers.

Hua Gao and Xu Yong, who didn't know the details of what happened, were very excited after listening to it. They admired the wisdom of Lu Jin even more. Zhang Huan, the former enemy, also figured out the whole story and had nothing but awe for Lu Jin.

When everyone was talking about the encirclement and annihilation of Zhu Liangzu, Lu Jin took the opportunity to speak.

"In order to prevent the same thing as Zhu Liangzu from happening to us, I suggest that everyone send their families to Luzhou City. First, it is safer, and we don't have to worry about someone kidnapping our families like we did. Second, the living standards in the city are better, and we don't have to let our families suffer."

Everyone nodded when they heard this. Even though they knew Lu Jin's true intention, rules are rules.

Isn't it just holding hostages? This is what Zhu Yuanzhang did in history. The generals were leading troops outside, and their families were all held in Nanjing. Zhu also sent a large number of adopted sons to serve as military supervisors, which led to very ugly relationships between some military supervisors and generals.

Although Lu Jin will not send a military supervisor for the time being, his family members will still be detained.

Yu Tingyu and Liao Yongan were the first to say that it was no problem, as they didn't have a good life in the countryside anyway, and they had to worry about their families being kidnapped all the time.

After the celebratory banquet, Huagao took a boat back to Chaohu in the afternoon and then turned to Hanshan.

Lu Jin readjusted the task of expanding the army.

The first temporary regiment was formed, with Zhang Wen as the commander, and Zhu Shou, Yu Tongyuan, and the newly arrived Xu Yong, each leading a combat battalion.

Zhang Wen's cousin, the former platoon leader Zhang Liang, temporarily took charge of the auxiliary barracks due to insufficient qualifications.

The backbone of the personnel was the Eighth Battalion led by Lu Jin, as well as the 4250 militiamen brought by Xu Yong, some captured officers and soldiers from Luzhou, and some more recruited from the city, making up a total of people.

One regiment served as Lu Jin's personal guard, under Lu Jin's direct command and stationed in Luzhou.

The Second Regiment was temporarily organized, with Yu Tingyu, Yu Tongyuan, Zhao Yong and Zhang Huan as the commanders. Each of them led a combat battalion. Yu Tingyu, the commander of the regiment, was in charge of two battalions, and the auxiliary battalion was also under his direct command.

The personnel of the Second Regiment were based on the two battalions previously under the Yu family. Zhao Yong was not a captain before, but he managed a battalion together with his brother Zhao Zhongzhong. This time he was promoted to battalion commander.

Zhang Huan took some of his old subordinates, recruited personnel from the prisoners captured by Zhu Liangzu, established a new battalion, and followed Yu Tingyu to garrison Lu'an.

The Yu family father and son plus Zhao Yong were in charge of four battalions, while Zhang Huan only had one battalion, which was not enough to cause any trouble. Besides, he had killed the Tartar prince and had no way to retreat. The Second Regiment had a full complement of 4250 people and was stationed in Lu'an. It recruited local troops and conducted training.

The Third Regiment was temporarily organized, with Liao Yongan, Yin Congdao, Zhang Desheng, and Liao Yongzhong as the commanders. Each of them led a combat battalion and recruited an auxiliary battalion. They were stationed in Luzhou with a full staff of 4250 people. They recruited and trained soldiers in preparation for the capture of the next city.

The first independent cavalry battalion, led by Ye Sheng, and the second battalion, led by Zheng Yong, totaled 1700 cavalrymen and were stationed in Luzhou. They recruited soldiers and conducted training and were directly under the command of Lu Jin.

The Chaohu Navy, led by regiment commander Liao Yongjian, deputy generals Yu Tonghai and Zhao Zhongzhong, used the original navy's main force as the backbone, recruited boat fishermen, supplemented the force to 6000 people, and conducted training.

The Chaohu navy is very important. It is the basis for Lu Jin to cross the river and capture the south of the Yangtze River before Zhu Yuanzhang. It must be led well.

Lu Jin wanted to directly control the Chaohu navy, but this navy was originally formed by fishermen mainly from the Liao family. Without the Liao family, it would be impossible to operate the navy, so he let Liao Yongjian lead it, and sent Yu Tonghai and Zhao Zhongzhong from the Yu family faction as deputy generals. Both of them have become Lu Jin's little fans.

With such an arrangement, Liao would not be allowed to leave alone. Although Liao Yongjian was also an honest man, one should still be on guard against others.

Liao Yongjian was an impatient person. Historically, it was because the Chaohu Navy was in such a miserable state and the Xu Song Red Army in the south was causing great trouble that he left Chaohu and joined Xu Song.

At this time and space, Lu Jin has emerged as a powerful force with the Chaohu navy, and even captured Luzhou City. He should not run away again.

The current total strength of the Shengwu Army includes three main regiments, each with 4250 people, totaling 12750 people, 6000 navy, 1700 cavalry, totaling 20450 people. However, it is still being formed and is not yet fully staffed. Their original eight battalions had less than people in total, and now they have directly expanded to .

Twenty thousand people, is that a lot? Not much. If all twenty thousand people were placed in one city, it would be a lot, but they also have to garrison the city and Chaohu Lake. If they were all spread out, there would not be much left. There are only a few thousand soldiers in one city.

It's still not enough, we have to continue to expand the army! It's not enough to just defend the city, Lu Jin also needs a mobile field battle force, otherwise what should we do if the imperial army attacks?
However, it would be unaffordable to expand the army too much at once, and diverting a large number of laborers to serve in the army would also affect agricultural production.

If there is really no other choice, we can only conscript soldiers, both volunteers and conscripts. Each village will be forced to send able-bodied men for training and form a militia. They will practice in their own village in peacetime and be temporarily recruited in time of war. They don't have to go out to fight, but can stay in their hometown to defend the city, freeing up the main force of field operations.

The next morning, Lu Jin got up early to see Yu Tingyu and others off.

"You don't need to rush. It will take two days to reach Lu'an. When you are almost there, the main force will hide first. Brother Yu, keep an eye on Zhu Liangzu's family and let Zhang Huan take him to the city. As long as the city gate is opened, you can rush in.

“If Zhu Liangzu dares to play tricks, I’ll kill his entire family!

"Once we capture Lu'an and stabilize the city's defenses, send someone to report to me immediately," Lu Jin instructed them.

"Yes, I remember it all. We have fought several battles with the Marshal, and we are all learning from him." Yu Tingyu immediately clasped his fists and accepted the order.

Lu Jin nodded and instructed, "Don't alienate Zhang Huan just because he is a surrendered general. He is from the imperial army and is better at defending the city than you. You should listen to Zhang Huan's opinions on city defense. Of course, it is Brother Yu who makes the final decision. You are the military commander and you must not hesitate when making a decision."

"Yes, I'm not that petty. I'm looking after Tongyuan and Zhao Yong, so you can rest assured, Marshal." Yu Tingyu agreed again.

Lu Jin clasped his fist towards him and said, "Take care."

"Take care of yourself!"

The Chaohu generals also bowed to them and said goodbye.

Watching Yu Tingyu lead the team westward, Liao Yongan, who was following Lu Jin, suddenly whispered, "Marshal, it's time to get married. How can you start a career without a family? We have so many brothers waiting for you to lead us to conquer the world. If you don't have an heir, people will be uneasy."

Lu Jin was stunned when he heard this, then nodded. He certainly understood this principle. Besides, his age was indeed not young in ancient times, so he should find a wife, but he must carefully consider the candidate.

The best way is to marry with the generals under his command. He will not consider the daughter of a civil official. At least he will definitely not take the daughter of a civil official as his queen. Otherwise, this group of civil officials at the end of the Yuan Dynasty would be able to turn the world upside down.

But I have never heard that Yu Tingyu's family or Liao Yongan's family have unmarried daughters. What should I do?
Lu Jin said worriedly, "I know, I will consider it."

Damn, I didn't expect that I would be urged to get married after traveling to ancient times
Then he called out to the guards around him, "Let's go, take the offerings, and go to Zhujiagang to see the father and brother of Zhu Shou."

There is one more chapter today

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(End of this chapter)