Father can be an enemy to the country

"Listen, I heard it..." Yu Tongyuan, a man in his forties and eight feet tall, cried like a child weighing one hundred and sixty pounds in front of His Highness the King of Chu.

"Then take your sword back!" Zhu Zhen handed Yu Tongyuan's sword to him. "Lead your brothers to reload and set off! Wash away the shame of defeat! Create the glory of the city fleet!"

"Yes!" Yu Tongyuan suppressed his excited heart and trembling hands, and took the sword with both hands, but did not put it back in the sheath. Instead, he clenched hard with his right hand. The sharp sword blade immediately cut open the palm of his hand, and blood flowed out gurglingly.

Then he ordered his soldiers to bring a white sheet and write a big word "shame" on it with his own blood. "Hang it on the bow of my boat. When will I avenge my shame? When will I take it off?"

"Yes!" The soldier held the sheet in his hands and went away.

Zhu Zhen had been watching this scene calmly. How should I put it, although it's a little bit second-rate, the effect is very good.

Turn the shame of leaving behind your comrades and retreating into the motivation to take revenge. The low morale of the soldiers has risen visibly...

~~

Seeing that the atmosphere had reached this point, Zhu Zhen asked Marquis Nan'an to immediately gather the main officers and hold an on-site review meeting.

The purpose is to learn lessons and study how to turn defeat into victory in the future.

The Chaohu Navy had never lost a battle, but Yi Zhi was defeated in the first battle, which was really embarrassing for the old man. The officers had been holding back their words for a long time. After His Highness allowed them to speak freely, they immediately started talking.

"Your Highness, after reviewing several generals, the Marquis's command was faultless from beginning to end." A Qianhu said: "The ships did not relax their alerts. They discovered the enemy ships as soon as possible, and the preparations for the battle were also maintained at a high level."

"If I were to find fault, it would be that after we left the Srivijaya Kingdom, we did not conduct a deceptive voyage, but sailed directly to the country. Only then were we blocked by pirates off the Fuyao Islands."

"Yes, we must have been targeted at Srivijaya." Everyone nodded.

"Yeah." In fact, Zhu Zhen had the same view. This defeat indeed had little to do with Yu Tongyuan and the soldiers.

In fact, thanks to Yu Tongyuan's prompt decision and proper command, as well as the well-trained officers and soldiers who followed orders and prohibitions, most of the fleet was saved.

This is why Zhu Zhen did not punish Yu Tongyuan. If Yu Tongyuan is withdrawn, the soldiers will feel aggrieved on his behalf. Coupled with the broken bones and tendons between them, the newly formed city fleet may even fall apart.

Therefore, Yu Tongyuan must be retained. Since he was retained, of course he had to do things beautifully.

~~

"Then let's talk about why we lost?" After they finished summing up, Lao Liu announced the next question.

"We are outnumbered and outnumbered."

"Their ship is big and our ship is small, so the disadvantage in boarding battle is too big."

"Moreover, they are very well prepared because they calculate with intention but not with care. On the other hand, we are restricted in everything and very passive. How can we be invincible?" Liao Dingguo sighed and explained to His Highness:

"Naval battles are different from land battles. It takes more than just courage. If one side is completely defeated by the enemy, they may try their best and still not be able to even touch the enemy's hair."

"Yes." Zhu Zhen nodded, expressing understanding, and then asked: "Then what do you think is the most urgent need for improvement now?"

"Build a ship!" the officers said in unison: "If we want to build a large ship with more than 2,000 materials, as long as the sides of both sides are the same height, we will have the confidence to kill them in a broadside battle!"

Of course they are not bragging. In the Poyang Lake water battle, the Chaohu Navy won the battle by relying on the side battle.

"Yes, Your Highness." Marquis Nan'an said with embarrassment, "We can overcome everything else. We can also install return artillery, we can also attack with fire... Even in terms of military strength, we are no less than them!"

After being dismantled several times, the Chaohu Navy still has more than 20,000 troops. Only one-tenth of the troops participated in the first voyage, and 90% of the troops in Huai'an have not yet been transferred.

"Indeed, military strength and weapons are not a problem, only shipbuilding... a ship with two thousand materials is no longer something that ordinary shipyards can produce. And even if it can be built, the construction time will be measured in years. Once it is built, Daylily It’s all cold.” Liao Dingguo also said with a grimace.

"Don't worry, I will solve this matter!" Zhu Zhen waved his hand as if he was very confident: "I will return to Beijing tomorrow. You guys should quickly regroup and wait for my good news!"

"Yes!" Seeing His Highness King Chu's confidence, Yu Tongyuan and others were also very excited. They firmly believe that as long as the ship does not suffer losses, they will definitely win!

~~

Returning to Shibosi Yamen, Zhu Zhen washed away his dust, and then summoned Han Yike to come and have a meal with him.

"How are you, senior brother? It's been half a year since you took office. Are you still used to it?" His Highness King Chu asked with a smile.

"There are so many things to worry about and I'm so busy." Han Yike smiled bitterly and said, "But compared to being in Fengyang, it's not worth mentioning."

"Hahaha, that's right." Zhu Zhen laughed loudly: "But the Shibo Company is almost idle now. When it becomes bigger and stronger in the future, all the big players in Jiangnan will demand you, and you will have a headache sometimes."

"Your Highness is still confident?" Han Yike picked up a small whitebait with chopsticks, put it into his mouth and tasted it carefully: "That's right, His Highness is a powerful influencer in Suzhou City, and his reputation has spread from Zhenjiang to Zhejiang. How can he be so small? Intimidated by a small setback?”

"Just make fun of me." Zhu Zhen laughed and scolded: "Why, are you sympathetic to a wealthy family in Suzhou? Oh, by the way, your family is originally a wealthy family in Zhejiang."

"My family is just an ordinary family!" Han Yike emphasized loudly first, and then whispered: "It's not that I have any objections to His Highness and the King of Jin. I made all the big dogs in Fengyang lose half their lives. How can I sympathize with Suzhou's people?" Big dog owner? I just have to remind His Highness that your arrogant torment against the big family in Suzhou has caused many people to feel uneasy. However, His Highness the Crown Prince suppressed all the accusations against you two."

As he said this, he couldn't help but smile: "Oh, by the way, your Highness, you don't know yet, right?? The Emperor has newly established the General Affairs Department. All memorials, including bullets, must be sent to the General Affairs Department first, and then submitted to the Emperor by this Department. Check it out. And the emperor also emphasized that Bai Zhongshu Province must not be shut down."

"I heard about it." Zhu Zhenxin said, how fresh it is. The emperor is my father and the prince is my eldest brother. How can I know what they are doing as well as an outsider?

"As a result, it is convenient for the emperor. All the memorials in Liuzhong, Zhongshu Sheng and Yushitai can only stare at the memorials that he does not want the ministers to read." Han Yike couldn't help but laugh, then put away his smile and asked:

"Okay, let's get down to business. His Highness wants to build a ship, and it will be a large ship worth two thousand materials. There will be at least twenty ships... Where will the money for shipbuilding come from?"

"Good question." Zhu Zhen said calmly: "For fundraising, there are many enthusiastic people in Suzhou who are willing to donate generously."