Nothing is difficult in this world as long as you have the money.
The Suzhou Prefecture of this era was the capital with the most cash power in the world, without a doubt. In terms of the global economic size occupied by the same era, modern New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris were all bundled together. Oh, and Tokyo and Singapore had to be included in the package to barely compete with the Suzhou Prefecture of this era.
After Suzhou Prefecture exerted its capabilities, the Fengqiao Fort defense line dug the foundation trench and laid an extremely solid foundation overnight. The necessary materials such as blue bricks, bluestone, lime, glutinous rice, sand, and wood were also brought to the construction site and piled up like a small mountain.
Early in the morning, before daybreak, nearly a thousand laborers were already busy building on site.
Zhu Ping'an got up early in the morning and saw this scene.
The more than 100-meter-long Dong'an defense line has been built with five layers of blue bricks, and the sentry fort has also been built with two layers of bricks and stones.
Military architecture does not emphasize magnificence but solidity, and is simpler than building palaces or houses.
Moreover, the overall scale of the Fengqiao Defense Line is not large.
It seems that the river bank defense wall can be completed in one morning, but the sentry fort will be slower because it is three stories high.
According to the person in charge of the Suzhou Mansion construction, when the building reaches a certain height, it needs to be air-dried for half a day to wait for the lime and refined rice concrete to become solid before continuing to build upwards. In addition, processes such as putting up beams, putting on the top, installing column cap stones, and installing columns also require a certain amount of time.
"Master Zhu, it will take at least six days to build a three-story anti-Japanese sentry fort, but I will keep an eye on the progress and try my best to speed up the construction and complete it earlier..."
The head of the Household Department of Suzhou Prefecture spoke to Zhu Ping'an somewhat nervously, worried that Zhu Ping'an would dislike the slow progress.
When Prefect Shang sent him to preside over the construction of the Fengqiao Defense Line, he specifically emphasized two points. The first was that the Fengqiao Defense Line was built by Zhu Ping'an, and Zhu Ping'an's opinions must be listened to unconditionally during the construction process; the second was that the construction progress and quality must satisfy Zhu Ping'an.
Zhu Pingan waved his hands and said, "It doesn't take six days, as long as it is completed within ten days. We must ensure the quality. The stronger the sentry fort is, the better. Use more lime and glutinous rice to coat it."
This was ancient times, not the era of infrastructure mania hundreds of years later. Zhu Ping'an was already very satisfied that it could be completed within ten days.
What I want is a solid military defense line, not a quickly built tofu dregs...
Moreover, things were done purely by hand in that era. There were no machines for delivering Gaozong, sending ash Zong, or using forks, shovels, or vomiting sauces. Over-rushing the work would inevitably lead to the emperor's abuse of power and even exploitation of the people. The people were already suffering enough and could not be exploited any further.
In addition, after the river bank defense wall is completed today, Fengqiao is no longer without defenses. With the help of the end wall, Fengqiao can also be controlled.
"Don't worry, sir. We will ensure the quality and quantity of the project."
When Manager Zhang heard Zhu Ping'an say that it could be completed within ten days, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and made repeated assurances.
Zhu Ping'an observed for a while and found that Zhang was capable. Under his scheduling and arrangement, the entire construction site was busy but orderly. So he handed over the construction site to Zhang with confidence and returned to Fengqiao Camp.
Zhu Ping'an replanned the Fengqiao Camp, including the accommodation area, training area, shooting range, breeding area, kitchen, bathhouse, toilet area, etc., which were almost identical to the Taohuaji Camp except for the size.
After completing the planning, Zhu Ping'an ordered the Zhejiang Army soldiers to go out of the camp in battalions and march around Suzhou City.
Zhu Ping'an emphasized military discipline to the soldiers, prohibiting them from disturbing the people, trampling on crops, or interfering with people's production and life.
Zhu Ping'an ordered the Zhejiang Army to go out for training in order to show the image of the Zhejiang Army, integrate the Zhejiang Army into Suzhou, and be recognized by the people of Suzhou. To defend Suzhou, we must rely on the Fengqiao defense line fortifications and the local people. The experience of the great man tells us that only with the support of the people can the army be invincible.
The second is to familiarize themselves with the geographical topography of Suzhou. By marching around the city of Suzhou, the Zhejiang Army soldiers can become familiar with the city's geographical topography, including water, land, forests, and trees. Only then can they take advantage of the home field and enjoy the geographical advantages when war breaks out in the future.
Soon, people going to the morning market outside Changmen discovered the Zhejiang Army going out of the camp for training.
"I am a soldier, I come from the common people, I am blessed by the emperor's grace... I am a soldier, I love the emperor and the common people..."
"All soldiers of the Zhejiang Army must remember the four iron laws and eighteen executions: first, obey orders in all actions; second, do not take a single needle or thread from the masses..."
A battalion of soldiers lined up in neat rows, singing loud military songs, and ran through the street.
At first people were a little nervous and worried, but when they saw that this group of soldiers was different from the garrison troops, they had strict discipline, did not harm anyone, respected the elderly and loved the young, and the military songs they sang were all about loving the army and the people, so people gradually relaxed.
"Oh, so this is the Zhejiang Army. Look, they are all wearing armor and are all young and strong."
"I heard that their general was the top scholar of that year..."
People looked at the Zhejiang Army soldiers who were marching in full armor and started talking about it. They gradually got used to the Zhejiang Army soldiers who were marching.
"Report, Lord Zhu, there is an urgent document from the imperial envoy Zhao Wenhua." A flag-raising cavalryman arrived outside the Fengqiao camp of the Zhejiang Army and interrupted Zhu Ping'an's work.
Zhu Ping'an opened the official document, which required him to immediately select 800 elite soldiers from the Zhejiang army and rush to the Shazhou Sea Sacrifice Site to await orders without any mistakes.
The sea sacrifice is about to begin!
Shazhou is a natural harbor at the junction of Jiangyin and Changshu, connected to Changshu in the east and Jiangyin in the west. Changshu County is under the jurisdiction of Suzhou Prefecture. Zhao Wenhua's own Zhejiang Army is stationed in Suzhou Prefecture. It is also within the regulations that they were transferred there to assist in the sea sacrifice.
Sea sacrifice was a major event that was taken seriously by the immortal-cultivating Emperor Jiajing. Zhao Wenhua was the imperial envoy for sea sacrifice and even chicken feathers could serve as his order. He had no choice but to obey.
Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to put down his work, called battalion commanders Liu Mu, Liu Dadao and others, and showed them Zhao Wenhua's official document.
Zhu Ping'an ordered Liu Dadao and Ruofeng to select 800 elite soldiers from the camp to follow him to Shazhou to receive orders. He required all men to be fully armed. In addition to a musket for each person, they were also to bring 200 spare muskets to avoid losses such as musket explosions. In addition, 12 of the 23 cannons in the camp were also to be taken away.
"This is my sword. You hold it and take my place at Fengqiao Camp. If anyone disobeys your command, you can kill him first and ask for your permission later."
Zhu Pingan handed his saber to Liu Mu in public, ordered him to take charge of Fengqiao Camp on his behalf, granted him the power to execute first and report later, and repeatedly told Liu Mu:
"This sea sacrifice is of a huge scale, and many local officers and soldiers have been mobilized to assist. The Japanese pirates will definitely not sit idly by and watch, or randomly sacrifice to the sea, or cause chaos in the local area. You must be extremely careful and send soldiers to take turns to guard the river bank and defense wall. There must be 300 soldiers on duty at all times.
"Behind the wall, we will be on high alert. In addition, we will send soldiers to patrol the area from Changmen to Fengqiao to be on the alert for Japanese pirates to infiltrate and cause chaos."
"During this period, soldiers were sent to check all merchants and civilians passing through Fengqiao, whether they were passing on the bridge or sailing under the bridge, and to tell them that they were not allowed to bring weapons into Suzhou. Anyone suspected of hiding weapons would be handed over to the Suzhou government for identification.
"I strictly warn all soldiers not to take advantage of the opportunity to extort, harass or harass the people. If found, they will be severely punished."