Liaodong, in the camp of the Tenglong Advanced Guard.
Yu Tonghai and Xue Ping were sitting together, drinking tea while examining the account books.
"This year’s total revenue amounts to six hundred and thirty thousand taels of Silver Coin. We need to distribute profits of three hundred and sixty thousand taels to the other three guards. Right now, we still have eight hundred thousand taels in cash!" Xue Ping said after reviewing the accounts.
Yu Tonghai stroked his beard and nodded, "What should we do with this money?"
While other garrisons worry about having no Silver Coin, the Tenglong Advanced Guard instead frets over how to spend it.
Truly, the Tenglong Advanced Guard’s structure sowhat limited the developnt of the Tenglong Guard Navy. Over the years, Yu Tonghai first expanded the docks, then built shipyards, and eventually manufactured a large number of warships and rchant ships. Yet he still had eight hundred thousand taels he couldn’t spend.
Xue Ping thought for a mont and said, "How about we give the soldiers another round of reward silver?"
"Now? What about the year-end distribution?" Yu Tonghai asked.
"Er!" Xue Ping was sowhat at a loss.
Distributing reward silver to the soldiers would be the best way to spend money, but the problem was that this couldn’t be done often; once or twice a year was already plenty.
"Let’s organize another fleet, then!" Xue Ping suggested.
Yu Tonghai pondered and said, "Forming another fleet isn’t a problem, but we already have four fleets currently, and each of the other three guards has two, making a total of ten fleets. Including other sea rchants’ fleets, we already have over forty fleets of various sizes!"
"At present, trade with the Li Sheng Dynasty and Desheng Dynasty doesn’t require so many fleets. If we organize another one, then we’ll have to engage in business in the East South Sea Domain!"
When Yang Zhenshan left the Tenglong Guard, he divided the Tenglong Guard’s rchant ships into four fleets, one for each guard. It’s been six years since then, and the originally undermanned four fleets have now beco ten.
"Then let’s switch to larger ships and replace so for the Navy with Da Fu Ships!" Xue Ping wracked his brains thinking about how to spend the Silver.
Yu Tonghai, out of options, said, "Then let’s do it. If the Da Fu needs replacent and the fleets need organizing, let’s send soone to the East South Sea Domain first to give it a try."
Navigating the seas requires experience. While the Tenglong Guard Navy has ample experience, their main operations are around Da Rong’s Liao Sea and East Sea. If they intended to head to the East South Sea Domain, it would take so gathering of experience.
Anyway, with sufficient Silver Coin on hand, the Tenglong Advanced Guard didn’t mind making more attempts.
As for the thought of embezzling these funds, neither man had ever entertained the idea, nor was there any need to do so, as they themselves were not short of Silver.
The Tenglong Four Guards had earned a vast amount of Silver Coin through mariti trade, and the officials of the Tenglong Four Guards likewise had made a fortune through mariti trade.
Yang Zhenshan liked to blend public and private interests, and naturally, his subordinate officials followed suit. With the convenience of mariti trade and supporting sea rchants, they made substantial wealth without having to lift a finger.
It could be said that from the Commanders of the Tenglong Four Guards down to ordinary soldiers, everyone was rich beyond asure.
While they were conversing, a follower ca from outside, "Two sirs, there is an appointnt and transfer decree from the Ministry of War!"
Yu Tonghai and Xue Ping exchanged a glance, both feeling an uneasy premonition.
Appointnt and transfer!
This wasn’t good news for the Tenglong Guard!
Although it could an a promotion, after the promotion, they would have to leave the Tenglong Guard and the opportunity to make a fortune like before would be gone.
"Bring them here!" Yu Tonghai imdiately took the two docunts and began to read.
He first looked at the Ministry of War’s appointnt docunt.
Promoted to Capital Commander, conferred as Deputy Director of the Four Seas Navy!
There was sothing off about this appointnt docunt. First, it promoted him to Capital Commander but did not specify which Governor’s Office he was to command, which ant the title of Capital Commander was rely honorary without actual administrative duties. Second, conferred as Deputy Director of the Four Seas Navy; what was the Four Seas Navy? And what did the official post of Deputy Director an?
After reading, Yu Tonghai’s brow furrowed involuntarily.
Then he opened the transfer decree and read, assigning the Tenglong Advanced Guard to Zhao Wu Guard for deploynt at the discretion of the Pri Minister’s Office of the Four Seas Navy.
"Four Seas Navy?"
Yu Tonghai looked displeased. What was this Four Seas Navy all about, and why was the Tenglong Advanced Guard suddenly being reassigned there?
Xue Ping also read the two docunts and was puzzled, "What’s going on?"
The appointnt and transfer decrees naturally wouldn’t be very detailed and wouldn’t ntion Yang Zhenshan, leaving them bewildered.
If soone else saw the two decrees, they might wonder about what the Four Seas Navy was, but Yu Tonghai and Xue Ping suspected soone wanted to interfere with the Tenglong Guard.
"I don’t know. These two docunts are too strange! Could it be that soone is jealous of the Tenglong Guard’s benefits?" Yu Tonghai said.
Xue Ping frowned and thought, "It shouldn’t be. My father sent a letter a few days ago, and nothing has happened in the Capital City."
"Moreover, look, they only promoted sir to Capital Commander, but did not relieve you of your current position!"
Yu Tonghai looked at the appointnt docunt again, feeling slightly reassured.
Not being relieved of his official post ant he was still the Commander of the Tenglong Advanced Guard.
"But what is this Four Seas Navy?"
As they were in confusion, another person ran over, "Sir, a guard claiming to be from Marquis Jing’an Mansion asks to be seen!"
The two exchanged a look and Yu Tonghai said, "Bring him in quickly!"
Monts later, two guards from the Yang family arrived, bowed and said, "Your servants greet Mr. Yu, greet Mr. Xue!"
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