Chapter 364: What to do if you don't have enough manpower? Capturing slaves in the Three Han regions

What should I do if the stall is too big and there is not enough labor?
Rear Admiral Zhou Tai gave a good suggestion.

"Your Highness, there are many barbarians in the East and Three Korea regions, hundreds of thousands of them!"

Jin Mao thought about it for a while and felt that it would be too difficult to transport people by sea, so he said, "The Japanese are short, so forget about Japan, but the Three Kingdoms of Korea is feasible."

Zhao Yun had led his army to annihilate the Gongsun clan, and Youzhou and the Liaodong Peninsula were all under his control. However, the population was sparse, and not enough to build the three cities on the Liaodong Peninsula.

"However, the terrain of the Three Kingdoms of Korea is difficult to reach, and now winter is approaching. The mountain soldiers of the Southern Military Region will have difficulty adapting to such cold weather. What can we do?"

Zhou Tai said: "We can send troops from the sea to attack Baekje or Silla. Although Goguryeo is the strongest country among the Three Kingdoms of Korea, it has many mountainous and dangerous places. If our army attacks from both sides, it will be impossible for them to take care of both ends."

Jin Mao's eyes gleamed as he heard this. He slowly walked to the map, and his finger gently traced across the Liaodong Peninsula to the far southeast. He murmured, "Youping's words make sense, but naval warfare is not my forte. We must make careful preparations to ensure that there will be no mistakes. You can order General Gan Ning to lead the elite navy, bring enough cold-resistant clothing and supplies, explore the waterway first, and test the defenses of Baekje and Silla. At the same time, the land forces need to intensify their training to adapt to the cold environment, and wait until the time is right to launch a pincer attack."

He turned around, looked at the generals with a firm gaze, and continued, "In addition, we also need to consider diplomatic means. We can first send envoys to Baekje and Silla, so that we can have a legitimate reason to attack and reduce the resistance when we advance. If we can divide the Three Han at the lowest cost and prevent them from uniting to fight against our army, then the population and resource problems of the Liaodong Peninsula may be solved."

"Oh, yes, Pang Shiyuan mentioned this matter before. Come on, write to him and ask if he has any candidates for the envoy."

Jin Mao looked at the people in the hall and continued, "The barbarians of the Three Kingdoms, if they do not obey the might of the Great Han, they will be killed without mercy!"

"But if they surrender voluntarily, you should not oppress them too much. Everything should be done according to the procedures."

He paused, and swept his eyes deeply over every general and counselor present. His tone became gentle but firm: "What we want to show is not only the iron blood and strength of the Han Dynasty, but also its tolerance and civilization. Although the people in the Three Kingdoms of Korea are rough, they also yearn for peace and stability. We should convince them with virtue and use force to make them understand that submitting to the Han Dynasty is in line with the trend of the times and is the only way to prosperity."

"Therefore, the envoys we send must not only be eloquent, but also have profound knowledge and noble character, and be able to convey the benevolent rule and peace intentions of our Han Dynasty, while also demonstrating our respect and understanding for different cultures. Only in this way can we take the initiative at the negotiation table and achieve our strategic goals at the lowest cost."

In other words, there must be not only people who stir up trouble, but also people who instigate rebellion.

"In addition, we should also make preparations. Once diplomatic efforts are successful or encounter obstacles and need to be resolved by force, logistics, troop deployment, strategic deployment and other tasks must be in order to ensure rapid and effective action. We must let the people of the Three Kingdoms of Korea see that choosing confrontation will only bring destruction; choosing cooperation will allow them to share the prosperity and prosperity of the Han Dynasty."

At this point, Jin Mao's eyes sparkled with infinite longing and firm belief for the future. He stood up and waved his hand to signal everyone: "Everyone, this battle is not only about the expansion of the Han Dynasty's territory, but also a test of our wisdom and courage. Let us work together to create brilliance!"

Zhou Tai and other generals immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Then, Jin Mao turned to face the huge map hanging on the wall, and gently traced the outline of the Three Kingdoms with his fingers. Every time he passed a place, he seemed to be thinking about how to exchange the greatest victory for the smallest cost. He said in a deep voice: "We must not only win this war, but also win the hearts of the people of the Three Kingdoms. Post-war reconstruction, cultural integration, and commercial exchanges, each one needs to be carefully planned so that the fruits of peace can benefit both places and truly realize the people's wishes and long-term peace."

"I propose that a special group be set up immediately to be responsible for post-war planning. Led by Mr. Zhang Zhao, we will gather together elites from various fields such as civil administration, economy, and military to discuss countermeasures. We want the people of the Three Kingdoms of Korea to feel that joining the Han Dynasty is not just a change of rulers, but the beginning of a new and hopeful era."

After saying this, Jin Mao's eyes swept over every general and counselor present, and his trust and expectation were self-evident. Zhang Zhao heard this, bowed and said, "Your Highness is thoughtful and far-sighted. Zhang Zhao will live up to your trust and swear to do this properly and make the Three Kingdoms of Korea the most dazzling pearl in the Han territory."

"Okay!" Jin Mao nodded with satisfaction, then changed the subject and his tone became more serious, "But before that, we must go all out to fight the battle in front of us. The intelligence department needs to continue to go deeper, find out the enemy's movements, and know ourselves and the enemy; at the same time, strengthen border patrols to prevent enemy sneak attacks. In every battle, we must strive for precision and efficiency to reduce unnecessary sacrifices."

"Yes!" All the generals answered in unison, their voices echoing throughout the tent, full of fighting spirit and determination. Seeing this, Jin Mao smiled, knowing that with such a united and courageous team, victory would be in sight no matter how difficult the road ahead was.

As the order was issued, the camp quickly became busy and various preparations were carried out in an orderly manner. Jin Mao stood on a high place, looking at all this, his heart was full of infinite expectations for the future. He knew that this war was not only the only way for the Han Dynasty to expand its territory, but also the stage for him as a general to realize his personal ideals and ambitions. And he was ready to meet every challenge that was coming.

...

Zhou Tai encountered almost no resistance when he attacked Baekje, and even its nobles surrendered voluntarily.

The eight major aristocratic families, namely Sha, Yan, Xie, Jie, Zhen, Guo, Mu and Xu, acted as guides and sold all the Korean people in the country to the Han Dynasty as slaves.

As a result, after Zhou Tai counted them, he found that there were only more than 50,000 young and strong men, which was not enough.

He immediately destroyed the Silla Kingdom and obtained more than 30,000 young and strong slaves.

Next comes the biggest trouble, the Kingdom of Goguryeo.

Unlike Baekje and Silla, Goguryeo had a population of over one million, a strategic depth greater than Youzhou, and many mountains and forests in its territory, making it very inconvenient to attack.

With the arrival of cold winter, the entire country of Goguryeo was covered in snow, which was very unfavorable for marching.

In this way, the conquest will come to an end.

...

Spring, the eleventh year of Jian'an (206).

Jin Mao dispatched 20,000 elite mountain troops from the Southern Army, plus Zhao Yun's 20,000 cavalry and Zhou Tai's 20,000 naval forces, a total of 60,000 troops, to launch a war of annihilation against Goguryeo.

The outcome of the war was no surprise. The capital of Goguryeo, Maru City, was captured, and all the royal family and nobles were captured, with a total of more than 500,000 prisoners, including 150,000 young and strong men.

Zhao Yun, Zhou Tai and Gong Lei met in Maru City.

Among the three, Zhao Yun has the least experience and is also the most respectful.

"Youzhou Tuqi General Zhao Yun greets the two generals."

Gong Lei has always reminded himself not to be arrogant. Compared with a brave general like Zhao Yun, he is more experienced but has average talent. He has only relied on his loyalty to get to where he is today.

"General Zhao, you are so polite." Gong Lei quickly returned the greeting.

Zhou Tai followed closely behind. Both of them held higher positions than Zhao Yun, but they were not stupid. They knew that Zhao Yun's future was still far away and was far from the end.

"Rear Admiral Zhou Tai, greetings to General Zhao. In this battle, General Zhao defeated a larger force with a smaller one, and he was both wise and brave. It is truly a blessing for our army, and we all need to encourage each other." Zhou Tai's voice was steady, and his eyes revealed his recognition of Zhao Yun's abilities and his expectations for the future.

"General Zhou, you're too polite. If it weren't for the two generals' good command and the safe supply of food and weapons, and the unity of the entire army fighting bravely, how could Zhao Yun dare to take credit for it? This victory is the result of everyone's joint efforts." Zhao Yun responded humbly. His tone showed respect for his comrades and a deep understanding of the power of a team.

The three of them walked into Maru City side by side. Looking at the gradually restored order in the city and the grateful eyes of the people, they all felt an indescribable sense of pride. Gong Lei sighed and said, "Although the war is over, we cannot abandon this place. The road to reconstruction is long and difficult. We need to appease the people as soon as possible, resume production, and strengthen defense to prevent the remnants from making a comeback."

Although most of Goguryeo's top leaders were captured, many people still fled into the mountains, which will become a hidden danger in the future.

Zhao Yun nodded in agreement. "General Gong is right. I plan to organize troops immediately. On the one hand, we will patrol the border to ensure safety. On the other hand, we will help the people rebuild their homes and resume farming so that this land can regain its vitality."

Zhou Tai added: "We also need to strengthen our armaments and improve the training of our soldiers in case of emergency. At the same time, we can send an envoy to Jingzhou to inform you of our victory and seek your guidance."

"General Zhou is right. We must not slacken our military preparations and training. This is the foundation for strengthening our country and maintaining national security." Zhao Yun pondered for a moment and continued, "As for sending envoys to Jingzhou, it is not only to deliver the victory news, but also to strengthen contact with Jingzhou and discuss how to further consolidate the border and prevent foreign enemies from taking advantage of the situation. At the same time, we can take this opportunity to learn from Jingzhou's advanced experience in governance and people's livelihood, and bring more benefits to our people."

"In addition," Zhao Yun's eyes flashed with deep thought, "we also need to set up an intelligence network, not just limited to the border, but also deep in the mountains and old forests where those fleeing people may be hiding, to grasp their movements, and at the same time spread the court's benevolent policies and the intention of recruiting them, and strive to bring these displaced people back into the embrace of the country as soon as possible, to reduce unnecessary conflicts and bloodshed."

"General Gong, please coordinate with local officials to ensure that the reconstruction work proceeds in an orderly manner. At the same time, you must also pay attention to appeasing the people and let them feel the care and determination of the court. General Zhou, you will focus on military preparations. Not only must you strengthen border patrols, but you must also hold joint exercises regularly to improve the soldiers' ability to work together."

"We must also remember that the ultimate goal of war is peace and tranquility. While rebuilding and defending, we must also strive to create a harmonious social environment so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment. This is our ultimate goal." Zhao Yun's words are full of expectations and determination for the future. He believes that with the joint efforts of everyone, this land will surely usher in a more prosperous tomorrow.

"You're too kind." Gong Lei said, "We are here only for these prisoners. If we didn't want to keep the prisoners to rebuild the city, we would have driven everyone to repair the city!"

"Haha!" Zhou Tai laughed, "General Gong must have been feeling depressed these years. The southern mountain folks are docile and there is nowhere for them to make military achievements. You are a veteran, but now we have caught up with you."

"It doesn't matter whether I have seniority or not!" Gong Lei waved his hand and said, "It's all thanks to the trust of the lord that I have been able to reach this point."

Zhao Yun and Zhou Tai stood in awe as they heard this: "General Gong is right. It is because of your great ambition and trust that we are able to gather together to work together for a great cause." Zhao Yun said in a deep voice, his eyes flashing with a firm belief in the future. "Your Majesty has a broad mind, governs the army with benevolence, and governs the country with wisdom. It is because of such a leader that we, the generals, have a place to use our talents, and the people of this land see the light of hope."

"Yes, the lord is not only the beacon in our hearts, but also the soul of this land." Zhou Tai added. He patted Gong Lei on the shoulder. The two smiled at each other. There was no need to say more. The respect and loyalty to the lord were self-evident. "Although we have different responsibilities, we have the same goal, which is to achieve prosperity and peace for this land. Today's efforts are for tomorrow's glory."

After that, the three of them looked into the distance at the same time. There was a land that was about to usher in a new life and was also the home they were protecting together. As the sun set, the golden afterglow sprinkled on their resolute faces, reflecting their infinite longing and expectation for the future. At this moment, they all understood in their hearts that no matter how bumpy the road ahead was, as long as they were united, there would be no difficulties that could not be overcome and no distance that could not be reached.

"Let's go, our brothers are waiting for us." Gong Lei turned around first, his steps firm and powerful, "Let's keep moving forward, for a more prosperous tomorrow, and for our lord's ideals, we must work tirelessly!"

Zhao Yun and Zhou Tai followed closely behind, and the figures of the three gradually disappeared in the afterglow of the setting sun, leaving only a series of firm footsteps that echoed in the empty land, as if announcing their determination and faith to the world. All of this will become an indelible legendary chapter in the long history of this land.

...

Pang Tong was overjoyed when he learned that Goguryeo had won a great victory.

When he heard that there were nearly 200,000 young and strong captured slaves, he smiled even more and many plans could be implemented.

Originally, Jinmao planned to continue mobilizing one million people to go north this year, but the American seeds had to be promoted nationwide. As a result, there were not enough people to farm the land, so this plan was abandoned.

Although large-scale infrastructure is important, without the support of food, everything is just a castle in the air.

There was no other choice but to let Pang Tong build Anbei City first. As for the three cities on the Liaodong Peninsula, they would build them later depending on the situation.

Now that the manpower problem has been solved, Pang Tong can also start working with full concentration.

You have to know that among the one million people mobilized last year, there were actually only more than 200,000 young and strong people, which is similar to the captives and slaves captured in the Three Korea regions this time.

(End of this chapter)