After breakfast, Guo Dajing took the time to go outside the village. In a deserted forest somewhere, he took out a lot of meat for tomorrow's wedding, carried it on a war horse, and sent it back home.
It was already the beginning of summer, and the people on the island had also grown a lot of vegetables. In addition, there were fish and other seafood, so the dishes at the banquet were relatively rich.
"Brother Guo." Sister Li Xiu and Sister-in-law Wang came out of the house and asked, "The new clothes you are going to wear tomorrow haven't been made yet! We have all the fabrics. If you hurry up today, they can be made."
Guo Dajing didn't want to pay attention to this. He just had clean regular clothes and wore a big red silk flower on his chest, which made him look like a groom.
But Sister Li Xiu didn't want to listen to Guo Dajing. Without decent festive clothes, it seemed that she didn't know how to run a house and was not virtuous.
Sister-in-law Wang also smiled and persuaded: "A person depends on his clothes and makeup. General Guo will definitely look good and show his talents when he puts on new clothes."
"Go into the room and measure it. It will be ready in a moment." Sister Li Xiu smiled and pulled Guo Dajing into the room. "You can go to the military camp to inform your colleagues in time."
Guo Dajing entered the room with a little helplessness, and asked Mrs. Wang to take the measurements while Sister Li Xiu took notes.
When they walked out of the house again, Sun Liuyan and his wife were already busy in the kitchen, packing up the meat and preparing for tomorrow's wedding banquet.
Guo Dajing led the war horse, walked out of the yard, got on his horse, and went straight to the military camp.
Arriving at the military camp, Guo Dajing went straight to Liu Xingzuo's office. The soldiers at the door bowed and saluted. Guo Dajing smiled and waved, feeling very good.
"Old Liu, have you prepared the gift money?" Guo Dajing laughed loudly as he entered the room: "I won't treat you to a wedding banquet if I don't have money!"
There were several people sitting in the room. Guo Dajing's laughter stopped abruptly. He was stunned and then saluted immediately, "The general has met Vice Marshal Chen and Lord Zheng."
Chen Jisheng laughed, reached out and pressed down, and joked: "I came in a hurry, but I didn't prepare the gift money. It seems that I don't have a share of this wedding wine."
Zheng Fengshou also joked: "Zheng has some scattered silver coins, but he is afraid that General Guo will find them too little!"
Guo Dajing chuckled twice and said, "Just a joke. I wonder when Deputy Marshal Chen and Mr. Zheng arrived?"
With that said, he turned to Liu Xingzuo, "Why don't you send someone to notify me and make someone look embarrassed?"
Liu Xingzuo spread his hands and said: "Deputy Marshal Chen and Mr. Zheng have just arrived, and I haven't sent anyone to notify them yet."
Chen Jisheng motioned for Guo Dajing to sit down and said: "I came from Changshan Island while inspecting the islands. I heard General Liu said that you were busy with your wedding, so I didn't bother you for the time being."
Guo Dajing sat down and asked: "Vice Admiral Chen is inspecting the islands, but there is war again?"
"Jinzhou is under siege, and maybe Ningyuan will also be attacked." Chen Jisheng said slowly: "Shuai Mao wanted to contain the rescue, but he was afraid that the ministries would not recover, so he sent Chen to find out more."
Sure enough, it was for Ning Jin. Guo Dajing and Liu Xingzuo exchanged glances and both understood.
Chen Jisheng continued: "If we want to contain the enemy effectively and force the Jianlu to return, the target of the attack must be the important city. Marshal Mao believes that Liaoyang can be the target."
Guo Dajing knew the direction of history. Even if the Dongjiang Army did not mobilize to contain the enemy, Jianlu would not be fully prepared for this attack. He would have no choice but to withdraw his troops before the intense heat came.
But this reason is not easy to determine, so it’s okay not to mention it.
As for Mao Wenlong's plan to attack Liaoyang directly, there is actually an advantage, that is, to let the court see the Dongjiang Army's majesty and its ability to contain Dongjiang Army.
Liaoyang is an important city second only to Shenyang. If it can be attacked, it will have a great impact. To put it bluntly, it is just a gimmick and does not achieve many demands.
Do you understand the word game? If you can attack Liaoyang, or make some noise near Liaoyang, you will win.
There is a lot of room for improvement in the Tang newspaper, letting the court know that the Dongjiang Army took risks and made great efforts, not just perfunctory, not just troops on paper.
But Guo Dajing's idea of attacking Liaoyang was different from Mao Wenlong's. As for the attack, it was not necessary to use a large army. A small force of 1,800 people could also be used!
Based on the advance prediction of historical events, Guo Dajing believed that the attack on Liaoyang was not the main reason for the Jianlu troops to withdraw, and naturally there was no need to mobilize troops.
If you want to take advantage of the situation and make a profit, you might as well attack Changcheng and Manpu on the Yalu River. If the Jiulian City guards are empty, it is also very convenient to attack them.
"How are the troops in Guanglu Island recovering?" Chen Jisheng asked: "What do you think of the attack on Liaoyang?"
Guo Dajing and Liu Xingzuo looked at each other again. Liu Xingzuo raised his eyebrows and asked Guo Dajing to speak. He continued to keep a low profile.
"The troops on the island have been fully replenished, but the training time has not been long, and the combat strength has not been restored to the level before the war to aid Korea."
Guo Dajing considered his words and said: "As for the attack on Liaoyang, I think it is very good. But since it is an attack, it may not require a lot of troops, right?"
Oh? Chen Jisheng looked interested and said with a smile: "General Guo please explain in more detail."
Guo Dajing turned to Liu Xingzuo. Liu Xingzuo understood it and had already indicated it with his eyes. He reached out and took out a hastily drawn up battle plan and handed it to Guo Dajing.
Although it was still rough, Guo Dajing took it and glanced at it twice. He was still quite satisfied and did not forget to express his gratitude to Liu Xingzuo.
"This is the battle plan drafted by General Liu to attack Liaoyang." Guo Dajing handed it to Chen Jisheng and said: "There is no need to attack Liaoyang City, which is more risky. Even attacking the post forts near Liaoyang, such as Anshan Post, can be considered Attack Liaoyang directly?"
Chen Jisheng took it and read it, while Guo Dajing continued to talk about his ideas.
"Our Dongjiang Town's supplies, food and wages will cost a lot once the army is launched. I'm afraid it won't last a few times. The general believes that if we can gain something with each attack, it will be more conducive to a long-term war."
"Sneak in with a small number of troops and carry out raids around Liaoyang; the headquarters may mobilize troops from nearby islands to attack the weak points of Jianlu, such as Changcheng and Manpu, which can be conquered with great certainty. Moreover, even if Jianlu has mobile cavalry, The advantage is that if it is too far away and cannot be rescued, our army can calmly besiege it."
Chen Jisheng nodded slightly, which was actually very similar to his idea. When Mao Wenlong proposed attacking Liaoyang, he had made suggestions.
Since Guo Dajing and Liu Xingzuo have such a battle plan, they will definitely be prepared. If they can undertake the task of directly attacking Liaoyang, all problems will be solved.
It can not only attack Liaoyang, which will increase the Dongjiang Army's reputation in the court and increase its achievements; it can also criticize the arrogant and suppress the weak, and attack the rebels to gain victory. This is really the best of both worlds.
"I didn't expect you already had a combat plan." Chen Jisheng put down the document and said with emotion and appreciation: "Although it is only a draft, it has already revealed the enemy's plans and solved a major problem for the headquarters."
He paid attention to Guo Dajing and Liu Xingzuo and asked: "If the task of attacking Liaoyang is entrusted to you, how long will it take to prepare, and what difficulties will we need to help solve?"
Guo Dajing and Liu Xingzuo looked at each other again and exchanged glances, but neither of them understood what they meant. They were unsure and dared not say anything nonsense.
Chen Jisheng laughed and said: "I will go back to Pidao after lunch. Of course, I need you to give me some accurate information."
"It's not too late to leave after the wedding banquet tomorrow." Guo Dajing persuaded him, "It's a great honor for a distinguished guest like Deputy Marshal Chen to attend Mr. and Mrs.'s wedding."
Chen Jisheng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said: "The military situation is very strong. Since we have a comprehensive plan, it is best to step up preparations and implement them as soon as possible."
As he said this, he took out a small gold ingot from his body, handed it to Guo Dajing, and said with a smile: "I left in a hurry and didn't bring any belongings. Let me take this as a gift!"
Guo Dajing took it with a smile, bowed and said, "Thank you Chen Shuai."
After a pause, he invited again: "Since I am in a hurry to return to the island, I will have a light meal under the house at noon and let my wife thank me in person."
Chen Jisheng pondered for a moment, nodded with a smile, and said, "That's fine. It would be rude not to meet the bride and congratulate her in person."
"General, I will send someone back right now and let my wife prepare the food." Guo Dajing turned around to leave and winked at Liu Xingzuo.
Liu Xingzuo made an excuse and followed him out. Chen Jisheng knew that the two wanted to discuss, so he just smiled and chatted casually with Zheng Fengshou.
"Really going to attack Liaoyang?" Liu Xingzuo asked immediately after coming out, "The plan is very rough and the risk is not small."
Guo Dajing said: "Isn't there still time to perfect it? Besides, I am good at sneaking in a small group of troops to attack! It doesn't need 1,800 people. Isn't it easy to make some movement with only 2,300 people?"
Liu Xingzuo frowned slightly and said, "Why don't I take people there? I'm more familiar with the mountains, rivers, geography, and terrain than you are."
"It's the same with Liu Qishi leading the way." Guo Dajing said, "You lead people to meet us at Hongzui Fort."
Liu Xingzuo rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, just follow your plan. Report to Deputy Commander Chen later, I won't say anything."
Guo Dajing laughed, patted Liu Xingzuo's arm, and said: "Don't worry, this is another great achievement, I have thought about it. Well, I don't need the gift money, I will go have a wedding banquet tomorrow."
"Think of me as a pauper, going to eat and drink for free!" Liu Xingzuo's eyes almost rolled to the back of his head, "But there is nothing more, and there is nothing you can do if you think it is too little. I will not come home until I am drunk tomorrow."
"I'll accompany you to see who gets drunk first." Guo Dajing curled his lips quite confidently and invited Liu Xingzuo to come into the house with him.
The time of the attack on Liaoyang was critical. It would not be effective if it was too early or too late. Guo Dajing had to calculate when Jianlu was about to withdraw his troops, so that this could prove to be a diversionary effect.
With fewer people and smaller targets, it is more concealed and convenient to sneak in over mountains and ridges.
It is not necessary to fight any big battles. It is enough to attack small forts such as Anshan Station and Tianshui Station, kill twenty or thirty heads, and capture a few live prisoners.
If Mao Wenlong could get another 200 heads when he attacked Manpuchang City, the combined results would have exceeded the Ningjin victory boasted by Governor Yuan.
That's right, less than 300 heads were killed. This was the record of the "Ningjin Victory". Although during the defense of Jinzhou and Ningyuan, an estimated two to three thousand prisoners were killed, the gains were pitiful.
Yuan Chonghuan reported: There were three field battles between the Guan Ning Cavalry and the Hou Jin Army, and 72 small battles, and they were all victorious! In addition, Jinzhou bombarded the Jianlu for nearly a month, and the Jianlu suffered thousands of casualties every day...
However, because Jiannu was proud of snatching the corpses of his companions from the battlefield, the Ming army did not capture many heads.
Forget it, if you look at Governor Yuan's boast, Jianlu, including men, women, old and young, would not be enough to die.
In Guo Dajing's view, there was no such thing as going out to fight in the city and engaging in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Guan Ning's army just huddled in the city and fired arrows and cannons to defend the city.
But as for the losses, the three cities of Jinzhou and the farmland in Ningyuan were all scrapped, people and livestock were taken away in countless numbers, and millions of taels of silver were spent to build the city, but it was wasted.
For Western Liaoning, the imperial court was "not short of money"; but for Dongjiang Town, it was as stingy as an iron rooster.
"It can take as little as ten days, as long as half a month. At the end of the day, the general will personally lead the elite troops to attack Liaoyang." After Guo Dajing and Liu Xingzuo entered the room, they gave Chen Jisheng a clear guarantee.
Chen Jisheng pondered for a moment and said: "Don't take risks. If there is no chance, stop taking action for the time being."
"Don't worry, Marshal Chen." Guo Dajing said, "The general will wait for the opportunity and will never advance rashly."
"I believe in you and General Liu." A smile spread across Chen Jisheng's face. The plan was finally confirmed, and he could relax and feel relieved.
Inspecting the islands made Chen Jisheng feel a little heavy. After the war, the speed at which the various ministries recovered their strength was not satisfactory.
In the final analysis, there is still not enough money, food and materials.
Although the imperial court paid a lot to the Dongjiang Army in the war to aid Korea, the Dongjiang Army continued to fight and suffered not only heavy losses in personnel, but also material consumption and serious equipment damage.
Of course, this is much better than the history of "from the first month to the sixth month, there was fighting every day; bows, arrows, armor and equipment were all damaged, the gunpowder was used up, the soldiers were naked and barefoot...".
Armor and weapons need to be repaired, and there is not enough iron material; soldiers need military uniforms and shoes, and there is not much cloth. The family's financial resources are already thin, and it is not a problem that can be solved in a short period of time with just one or two batches of supplies from the court.
According to Chen Jisheng's statistics and estimates, the Dongjiang Army can dispatch around 10,000 combat-ready soldiers. If there are more, it will only be an increase in quantity, not an improvement in combat power.
The suggestions put forward by Guo Dajing solved the problem well. If Liaoyang is to be attacked, it does not need to mobilize too many troops and consume too much food and supplies. If Changcheng is to be attacked, the safety factor is high and the navy can play its role.
Seeing that it was not yet noon, a few people were sitting down to chat. Guo Dajing asked Zheng Fengshou again, how could he be traveling with Chen Jisheng?
Zheng Fengshou smiled bitterly and told the whole story.
After Jianlu signed an alliance with North Korea, the Dongjiang Army and the Korean volunteers did not cease fighting. They continued to attack Jianlu, causing the invaders to suffer considerable losses during their return.
Amin was eager to return to Liaodong and did not send any more troops to Longgushan City to find trouble with the Korean volunteers, although Zheng Fengshou was also ready to abandon the city.
After the war ended, Korean martyrs such as Zheng Fengshou and Cui Xiaoyi who fought bravely should have been rewarded by the court, but the fact was shocking.
"Zheng Fengshou knew that there was Mao Zhen, but he didn't know that there was a court. His crime is not trivial." This is the conclusion made by King Li Zhu of Joseon.