It was still dark, and the people in Zunhua City were awakened by the sound of gongs. The administrator came to inform them that their houses should be tidied up quickly, and tens of thousands of rescued people were coming to stay temporarily.
Yesterday, the people spent the whole day in fear. The sound of guns, drums and horns, and the shouts of killing made them tremble with fear.
After experiencing a hardship, they were really afraid that the Dongjiang Army would not be able to resist the Jianlu and they would fall into the sea of hardship again.
Many people chanted "Amitabha" and "Blessed by Bodhisattva" all day long. It was not until the evening that the news came that the Dongjiang Army had defeated the Jianlu, and the sound of gunfire stopped, and the people finally settled down.
Only when my mind is calm can I eat well and rest well, and I also have more expectations, because the day to go home is coming soon.
"Everyone, please move quickly." Sister Wu is not very beautiful, but her temperament is better than that of a country girl from a small farm family. She can even write and do math, but she is a rare talent.
Because of this, she is now not only the steward of this house, but also the deputy steward of the entire street.
"These tens of thousands of ordinary people are in trouble. They were kidnapped by the Jianqi from near the capital. Let's squeeze in and let them have a good rest."
Sister Wu's words were echoed and approved by the women. But it doesn't matter if more sisters move in, they are all poor people in need.
Osmanthus fragrans and Xiaoqin were also busy, carrying a bundle of straw into the house and spreading it on the ground.
Occasionally, smiles would appear on their faces, showing their relief. Many women were also relaxed, and some were struggling.
Compared with the people who are rushing to Zunhua City, the people in the city know more and in more detail.
Guihua, Xiaoqin, and many others have made decisions about immigrating to Liaodong, but many others have not yet thought clearly about it.
No matter whether she was insulted or not, as long as she was still young, she would inevitably be hurt by gossip and poked in the back.
In the past few days, the information of the people in the city has been carefully collected, and people from the same village and town have organized meetings. However, there are limited houses and they cannot live in each household, but people from the same village have gradually been gathered together.
Guihua found her father and brother, but Xiaoqin was very sad. She saw her parents were killed by Jianlu with a knife when they were fighting for her. The other remaining relatives could not make her worry.
But regardless of whether they had father and brother or were alone, they both decided to go to Liaodong. They would be given a house to build, money to settle down, and more importantly, the Dongjiang Army would be able to attack the captives and protect them.
"Father is still worried. He has to see Jianlu being beaten away before he believes in the Dongjiang Army." Guihua said softly to Xiaoqin: "If you go to Liaodong, you can live with me. We will be a family."
Xiaoqin had other plans, but she still nodded perfunctorily. The bearded face who was bandaging and changing her dressing flashed in her mind.
That was her memory when she was half-conscious, and it was also her impression after she completely woke up. A beard should have given a fierce look, at least it would not make people feel close to him.
But Xiaoqin had the opposite feeling. Her rough hands flexibly applied medicine and carefully wrapped the bandage, with regret flashing in her eyes, as if she was afraid of hurting her.
It's a pity that the bearded soldier hasn't appeared again since we had Sister Wu in charge, or since her injury was no longer serious.
Yesterday's gunfire roared, and Xiaoqin was as frightened as the other women, but she was still worried about the bearded soldier. She secretly prayed that swords and guns have no eyes, to keep kind-hearted people safe.
This feeling was very strange, blended with pure gratitude and the throbbing of a girl. I'm afraid even she didn't know that the shadow of the bearded soldier had been imprinted in her heart.
"Sister Wu is also going to Liaodong." Xiaoqin whispered to Guihua: "Don't tell others, she doesn't want others to know early."
Osmanthus widened her eyes and looked very surprised. She knew that Sister Wu had found her family. Although her husband was dead, her father-in-law and uncle were still there, so why didn't she go home?
"The original home can no longer accommodate her." Xiaoqin said with pity and sadness: "The life of a widow is difficult. Sister Wu does not want to be dependent on others, nor does she want to live like a slave."
Osmanthus sighed, she felt the same way.
Because when she met with people from the same village, she also saw the strange eyes on her. It was because of this that she was determined to go to Liaodong. Her father and brother could not disobey her wishes, so they agreed.
But she didn't know that Sister Wu's background was better than hers. She came from a wealthy family and paid more attention to feudal ethics. Sister Wu had no income, was a widow, and had been kidnapped by the feudal lords, so she would be even more discriminated against.
"Sister Wu has inquired clearly. In the territory of Dongjiang Town, women can also do things without being afraid of publicity." Xiaoqin continued: "In this way, Sister Wu will not farm or marry, but will be a record-keeping document." , and I can support myself.”
Guihua was a little envious and said: "It's good to know how to read and write. I didn't expect that I could support myself."
Xiaoqin nodded and said: "In Jinzhou, everyone needs to read and write. There are night schools in the village, and students can learn for free."
"Then, wouldn't it be a joke to be illiterate?" Osmanthus suddenly hesitated, feeling as if she would be discriminated against if she returned to her original village.
Xiaoqin chuckled and said, "Then just study hard. No one is stupid. Is there anyone who can't learn?"
Osmanthus smiled to herself, feeling that no matter how much she belittled herself, she would be looked down upon.
Sister Wu's voice sounded again, and she seemed more confident than before. Perhaps it was because she had new hope and was about to embark on a new life journey.
Allowing the people to choose freely was a decision made by Guo Dajing after persuading Cao Huachun.
After all, his reasoning makes sense. It not only allows the people to be resettled, but also enhances the strength of Dongjiang Town and reduces the burden on the court.
At the same time, Guo Dajing also asked Cao Huachun to report to the court and allow Dongjiang Town to build special docks in Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, and Denglai to receive immigrants who voluntarily go to Liaodong.
Of course, the resettlement policy of Dongjiang Town will cause the court some embarrassment and some feelings of comparison. But this is not impossible to solve. It can be done under the banner of stabilizing and developing Liaodong, which is an additional preferential treatment given by the court.
As long as the court agrees and promulgates it to the outside world, it will be the court's policy and will be implemented by Dongjiang Town. With such a switch, the court can still gain a good reputation. Wouldn't Chongzhen understand?
The great disaster in the northwest, with refugees everywhere, is the cause of civil unrest.
And if the government could organize the refugees and move them to Liaodong with only some food and travel expenses, wouldn't it be a drain on the bottom of the pot, and the civil unrest would have no basis to expand and spread?
I believe that Chongzhen will also understand this truth and agree with this method that is beneficial to both internal and external parties.
For Dongjiang Town, the cost of resettling immigrants is only temporary, but the value created by immigrants is long-term and far exceeds the cost.
With a sufficient population, there will also be enough human and material resources to firmly occupy and control a larger territory.
This is a virtuous cycle, which has far-reaching significance for the development and growth of Dongjiang Town.
At this time, Cao Huachun and others had already seen the mighty team getting closer and closer, and hurriedly greeted them out of the city, with excitement and excitement on their faces.
Cao Huachun's memorial had been written overnight, but considering that the battle was not completely over yet, there were probably still scattered rebels around, and the messenger was not safe on the road, so he did not send it out immediately.
Of course, just sending a memorial was not enough. Cao Huachun needed to give the emperor real gifts. For example, the heads of Daishan and other slave chiefs, or captured flags, armor, etc.
Guo Dajing was not as arrogant as he was after his victory. When he saw the crowd coming out of the city, he got off his horse and walked dozens of meters to meet Cao Huachun and others.
"General Guo's hard work has made great achievements, he has defeated powerful enemies, magnified the Ming Emperor's kindness, and saved all the people. He deserves to be worshiped by the Zajia family." Cao Huachun was also a real person, so he paid him a deep tribute.
Guo Dajing hurriedly paid his respects and bowed humbly, saying: "My father-in-law has given me too much praise, and I cannot afford it. This victory was achieved only because of the majesty of my emperor and the bloody battles of our soldiers. It was not the result of just one person."
Cao Huachun had finished chatting. Seeing that Guo Dajing's words and deeds were appropriate, he couldn't help laughing. He walked hand in hand with Guo Dajing and said: "General Guo does not need to be humble. This is the greatest victory since the rise of the army. It is well deserved. When the news of victory comes to Beijing, the public mood will be uplifted. General Guo's name
, it will also be known to both the government and the public."
Guo Dajing couldn't shake off Cao Huachun's hand, but fortunately he was still wearing gloves, so he had to force a smile and said: "The general only wants to share his worries for Long Live and fulfill his duty as a soldier, but he doesn't care about being famous."
"A famous general, how can he do it if he is not famous?" Cao Huachun shook his head and said: "Like Grandpa Qi, he made the Japanese pirates and Xilu become famous and frightened."
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "As Eunuch Cao wishes, I will definitely continue to work hard and become the Qiancheng of the country like Grandpa Qi."
"It is not only the wish of the Zajia family, but also the wish of Long Live." Cao Huachun's voice became deeper, but to Guo Dajing's ears, it was still a bit sharp, "The war in Liaodong has gone through four dynasties. Long Live's greatest hope is to be able to win the war in this dynasty.
Finish."
Wanli, Taichang, Tianqi, Chongzhen, and Jianlu, with a population of less than one million, have indeed existed for too long. Even if they are added together, they only last twelve or thirteen years.
The wish was good, but Chongzhen was really too hasty, and the more urgent he was, the more he kept making mistakes.
If Yuan Chonghuan acted like a Jianlu spy, then Chongzhen's behavior was more harmful than Yuan Chonghuan and looked more like an undercover agent of Jianlu.
Guo Dajing didn't want to brag, nor did he want to tell the truth. After all, wars are full of surprises. He planned it very well, but who could guarantee that it would be implemented smoothly?
If he said that he could pacify Liao and destroy the captives in almost three years, wouldn't it prove that Yuan Chonghuan's five years of pacifying Liao was not a lie?
Therefore, although he is confident that Liao can be defeated within three or five years, he will not say it easily.
Especially now, Chongzhen, who had just felt that he was deceived by Yuan Chonghuan and became angry and angry, would inevitably touch his sore spot if he listened to other people's opinions for a few more years.
"Long live the wise and mighty warriors, the soldiers will serve, and the Liao Dynasty will be annihilated." Guo Dajing bowed and cupped his hands, letting go of Cao Huachun's hand, and said with emotion: "Please turn to Eunuch Cao and say long live the Dongjiang Army. The Dongjiang Army will serve wholeheartedly and bravely."
Kill the enemy and end the affairs of the king and the world."
Cao Huachun's eyes lit up and he said: "The king's affairs in the world have been settled, and he has gained fame both before and after him. Is General Guo also proficient in poetry?"
Guo Dajing scratched his head and said in disbelief: "The last general is a rough and bad man. He occasionally remembers a sentence, but he is not as knowledgeable as Eunuch Cao."
"You are humble, you are humble." Cao Huachun felt that it was quite remarkable for a young general like Guo Dajing to be able to read and digitize, and it was even more rare for him to remember a few lines of poetry.
Cao Huachun's cultural level was not low, and as a eunuch, he was considered one of the best. There are still poems left in later generations, the most famous one is "He has been slandered for six years at home, and he believes that the past history is untrue."
That was the sigh that the unscrupulous literati poured on Eunuch Cao, who was preparing to welcome King Chuang in Kaicheng, Beijing, but he had no way to explain and was helpless.
What a grievance, who made you a eunuch?
History is written by literati, and those sanctimonious Donglin Party wrote so well about their own people that they deceived many people in later generations, thinking that they were noble people who cared about the country and the people!
Guo Dajing, Cao Huachun and others returned to the governor's office and gave a detailed account of the current war situation.
The Dorgon brothers led thousands of men and horses, as well as more than 2,000 cavalry under Huang Taiji. They were intercepted by the Dongjiang Army in Qian'anhui, but they could not completely block their way out of the pass.
Guo Dajing concentrated his main force in Zunhua, with only Shimen's special operations battalion and two thousand musketeers from Qian'an as his partial divisions. With such strength, he did not ask these two troops to block the attack, but to intercept and kill them.
Mang Gurtai and Daishan's troops were blocked by the special operations battalion from escaping, and were eventually attacked and annihilated. This was largely due to chance.
Guo Dajing also did not expect that the concentrated bombardment of rockets would have a great psychological impact on Jianlu. In other words, he underestimated it.
In fact, anyone who has seen the rocket-covered bombing during the major counterattack, whether it is Jianlu or the Dongjiang Army, is shocked to the extreme.
Guo Dajing didn't know it yet, but Liu Xingzhi, Zhang Pan, Liu Xingzuo and other generals already worshiped him with awe and admiration.
In the view of Liu Xingzhi and other generals, the Dongjiang Army already had the strength to set up a battle array with Jianlu in the wild and fight openly.
Under the indiscriminate bombardment of thousands of rockets, they did not think that Jianlu would not cause chaos. If one round was not enough, they would use two rounds. The rockets alone could knock Jianlu down.
This idea is correct. Rockets are light and flexible, can be fired in multiple tubes, and the amount of ammunition released per unit time is ten times higher than that of ordinary artillery. It is indeed difficult to withstand such ferocious firepower.
But Guo Dajing was not so optimistic. He was cautious and tried to avoid large-scale field battles with Jianlu.
Unless the cavalry can reach the number he hopes to have the mobility to resist the Jianlu cavalry's circuitous detours in the vast wilderness.
"Eunuch Cao, these are the heads of the slave chiefs Daishan, Manggurtai and Sahalian, as well as their golden helmets and flags." Guo Dajing ordered people to bring the trophies with enough symbolic meaning, "If you want to report the details to the court,
We still have to wait two days for the number of beheadings."
Cao Huachun's eyes lit up and he said: "Let me give you a rough number first. Long Live in the capital is eagerly looking forward to the news of victory!"
Guo Dajing nodded and understood Cao Huachun's thoughts. But there were some things that he hoped to explain clearly through this memorial, and let Chongzhen see the shameless faces of those scholars.