It is already the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the Spring Festival is just a few days away. Every household is making preparations to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, and the festive atmosphere can be seen everywhere.
The red lanterns had been hung up, and the inside and outside of the house were tidy, but Axiu didn't smile much and seemed upset.
It has been almost two months since Guo Dajing led his army on the expedition. Apart from the successful landing on Qinhuangdao, there has been no news. How can he not make A Xiu worried?
"Sister Xiu, is there anything else you need to prepare?" Sister-in-law Sun put the frozen steamed buns into the vat, walked over and asked, "How about I let Lao Sun drive and you go shopping in the market? This was last year.
It’s the last time.”
A Xiu forced out a smile and said: "Everything is ready, no need to work anymore. You should also clean up the house and buy whatever you need. If you don't have enough money, just take it from me."
Sister-in-law Sun said: "Don't worry, General Guo is a good person and has a good army and strong generals. He will definitely win. Count the days and I should have a reply."
Axiu nodded and said, "Sister-in-law Sun, go ahead and go, I'm fine here."
Sun's sister-in-law turned and left. Axiu looked at the sky, turned back to the house, took out a pair of unfinished shoes, and started sewing them stitch by stitch.
"Sister Xiu, sister Xiu..." Ronger shouted repeatedly, pushed open the door and ran in.
Axiu was startled and couldn't help but scolded: "Girl, you are so busy, can't you be steady?"
Rong'er didn't care about this, her face was full of joy and excitement, and she said loudly: "Brother Jing won the battle, wiped out more than 10,000 slaves, and captured the slave chief Taiji alive."
"Really? Really?" Axiu's eyes widened, she couldn't believe it, but she was looking forward to it.
"Really, really." Ronger nodded her head vigorously, her pigtails swaying, and smiled happily, "As soon as the news arrived at Dalian Port, Sister Ying asked me to come back and tell you."
Axiu's eyes curved into crescent moons, and her worried heart suddenly came to rest, and she burst into cheerful laughter.
"But Brother Jing is coming back late and won't be able to catch up with the Chinese New Year." Ronger pouted with some slight dissatisfaction.
Axiu slowly stopped laughing and said: "The first month is the New Year, so I will definitely come back." After saying that, he jumped off the kang and muttered, "I have to go and see if there is anything missing. The New Year."
There is no market, so it’s hard to buy anything if you want to.”
Ronger held Axiu's arm and said with a giggle: "I'll go with you. I know everything Brother Jing likes to eat. Lamb, chicken, pork, peppers, cabbage, mushrooms..."
The two women, one large and one small, went out chatting and laughing. When they looked at the red lanterns and couplets, they immediately felt that it was full of joy, but felt that it was not enough, so they discussed how to add something more.
News of the victory spread like the wind in Jinzhou and Fuzhou. It was an unprecedented victory. What was even more exciting was that Huang Taiji was captured alive.
Jiannu is the biggest enemy of the army and people in Dongjiang Town, and Huang Taiji is the biggest slave chieftain. Being captured alive and about to be cut into pieces by a thousand knives, how can it not be exciting and invigorating?
"Each house will be given another bottle of wine and two fish." The smile on Chen Jisheng's face had never been seen that day, and he would laugh heartily from time to time.
Chen Youshan smiled and nodded repeatedly. There were more wrinkles on his face, but you could see that he was in a happy mood.
"When Dajing returns triumphantly, we will distribute wine and meat again and have a good celebration." Chen Jisheng was a little restless and could not calm down his excitement. "Send people to Dengzhou to buy wine. Buy a lot of it."
Chen Jisheng has always been very careful when it comes to purchasing supplies. It's not that he doesn't have enough money, but because of the issuance of military stamps, the sale of silk brocades to Jianlu, and the smooth production and operation, Dongjiang Town's financial situation is already relatively loose.
But Chen Jisheng is still very frugal, especially when it comes to wine and meat. He is tight-lipped and doesn't want to spend money on this kind of enjoyment.
However, the unprecedented and unprecedented victory has boosted the morale of the people, and it seems that the only way to express their boiling emotions is through drinking.
"It's the Spring Festival. What do you think, Mr. Chen, of holding some folk activities to celebrate this double happiness?" Chen Youshan suggested with a smile: "When we were in Guanglu Island, General Guo held a torch parade, and the people also made a lot of them.
Snow sculptures and ice sculptures.”
"Okay, okay, it should be more festive and lively than in previous years." Chen Jisheng couldn't help laughing again, "Dajing always comes up with unique ideas, but the results are often excellent."
"By the way, where are the New Year's goods sent to the Dajing family?" Chen Jisheng thought of another thing and asked: "There are also other soldiers who went on the expedition. They should have been delivered, right?"
Chen Youshan smiled and said: "Everyone with a family has been delivered, so don't worry, sir."
"That's good." Chen Jisheng was finally able to sit down quietly and said thoughtfully: "The military recruitment will begin after the new year. At least 10,000 people will be recruited. The propaganda work must be arranged in advance!"
Looking up at Chen Youshan, Chen Jisheng said helplessly: "There are still few government officials. Mr. Chen will have to work harder."
Chen Youshan didn't take it seriously and said with a smile: "What's so hard about this? There will be more and more government officials. I'm afraid that when I get old, they will take my job!"
"Besides, there are a lot of people who want to join the army. Based on the current population, let alone 10,000, just 20,000 or 30,000, there will be no problem." Chen Youshan added confidently.
After Jianlu abandoned the Zhenjiang and Kuandian areas, they provided better conditions for the Shatou Liao people who escaped.
The establishment of base areas by the Dongjiang Army in the Zhenjiang and Kuandian areas also blocked the Jianlu and North Korea. This changed North Korea's attitude and Lin Qingye no longer had to secretly accept the Liao people.
Along the Yalu River, even the shaved Liao people who had not escaped from Yiju along the river were secretly sent to Yiju by North Korean local officials and then transferred to Pido.
This year alone, Dongjiang Town has received nearly 120,000 shaved Liao people. The impact of the Jianqi famine is still continuing, and the plundering of the customs has also been a disastrous failure. The situation will become worse, and more shaved Liao people will escape.
Of the 120,000 shaven Liao people, the majority were men, approximately 70,000 to 80,000. This is where Chen Jisheng and Chen Youshan's confidence lies. There is no shortage of soldiers.
Of course, there must be those who serve as soldiers, and there must also be those who produce. Of the 70,000 to 80,000 men, at most half can join the army, or even less.
In fact, Guo Dajing and Mao Wenlong have already discussed that this year they will expand an infantry association, and the flying cavalry will be based on the number of horses. The more the better.
From the current point of view, there is no problem in expanding the flying cavalry to 10,000. With the addition of a new organization, the total strength of the Dongjiang Army will reach more than 60,000.
If the total mobilization of troops is not included, the Dongjiang Army has surpassed Jianlu and has the basis for counterattack.
Of course, these are all tasks to be completed and goals to be achieved this year. A large-scale counterattack will have to wait until next year.
At this time, the Jinzhou Acropolis was also in a jubilant atmosphere. Mao Wenlong, who was sitting here, seemed to be more than ten years younger. He was drinking and singing with the generals, and he was extremely drunk.
Cong led hundreds of people to fight across the sea, opened the town of Dongjiang in a arduous and arduous battle, and fought against the Jianlu captives for more than ten years. Finally, victory was in sight, and the pacification of Liao and the destruction of the captives was no longer an unreachable hope.
"Commander, you——" Mao Chengzuo came forward, with a look of worry and concern on his face.
"It's okay." Mao Wenlong chuckled, gently brushed away Mao Chengzuo's support, and laughed at himself: "I'm old after all, but I got drunk after just two bowls of wine. I'm much better now, don't worry."
Mao Chengzuo smiled and said: "The Dongjiang Army has accomplished such a remarkable feat. If you don't drink to your heart's content, it's really hard to suppress the ecstasy and excitement in your heart."
Mao Wenlong gently chinned his head, took a deep breath of the cold air, and said slowly: "I originally thought that Dajing would use its troops cautiously and rebuild the captives for sure, but it would not have such extraordinary achievements. Unexpectedly-well, Huang Taiji was full of evil.
, He deserves this retribution."
To stop the attack with all their strength in Zunhua, this was the battle plan discussed by Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing.
It is safe to not divide the troops, but it can only achieve limited results. It will not cause an annihilating blow to the captives who are all cavalry.
Moreover, Mao Wenlong did not expect that Guo Dajing was carrying an astonishing number of rockets, and under the indiscriminate bombardment, Jianlu's losses would exceed expectations.
"The Jianlu have lost their master and will be dead forever!" Mao Wenlong said with great enthusiasm: "Yuan Chonghuan boasted that it would take five years to pacify the Liao Dynasty; but now I dare to say that it will only take three years."
"Who is Yuan Chonghuan? He can only brag. He will definitely die this time." Mao Chengzuo sneered and said: "Guan Ningjun has also revealed his true colors, and the court will definitely see it clearly."
Mao Wenlong nodded repeatedly. A series of chain reactions were inevitable, but on the whole, they were beneficial to the Dongjiang Army.
At this point, Guo Dajing had already analyzed this clearly in his letter to him. Moreover, Guo Dajing believed that the Dongjiang Army would be able to receive at least more than one million taels every year in the future.
For this money and food, Guo Dajing tactfully advised Mao Wenlong that if the imperial court sent civil servants to Dongjiang Town, he could compromise and accept it. Anyway, Dongjiang Town was separated from the imperial court by the sea, so the civil servants did not dare to be too arrogant.
In this regard, Mao Wenlong also felt that for the sake of money and food, he could hold his nose and accept it. Just like Fang Zhenghua, he just provided well but was not allowed to interfere in military operations.
In fact, what made Mao Wenlong even more excited and excited to the point of being drunk was the prospect of being promoted to a noble title.
If the Marquis of Dongping of Guangxi had not been there first, the emperor and the court would have pretended to be ignorant and used some false rewards to deal with it.
It is estimated that Wansui regretted the appointment of Man Gui as a marquis, so that the Dongjiang Army accomplished such a remarkable feat and it was no longer possible to reward him without being promoted to a noble title.
When Mao Wenlong thought of this, the corners of his mouth turned up, and a smile appeared on his face again.
Mao Wenlong did not tell others about these secret words in the letter. Although the generals also had speculations at the banquet, he perfunctoryly responded with words such as "Thunder and rain are all your kindness."
How many years have passed, except for Li Chengliang's Ning Yuanbo, no general has been promoted to a noble title. Even with Grandpa Qi's military exploits, he can only sigh helplessly, "I don't want to be granted the title of marquis".
"Vice Admiral Guo's cross-sea attack this time will enhance the power of our Dongjiang Army and the title of the most powerful army in the Ming Dynasty. I should not be able to escape." Mao Chengzuo said with a smile: "I wonder if Long Live will call him to Beijing?"
Mao Wenlong stroked his beard and smiled, and said: "Nine times out of ten, it won't happen. He said he was King Qin, but he went straight to Zunhua. Even though he won a big victory, Wan Sui always felt a little unhappy, right?"
Mao Chengzuo laughed and said: "After all, I won and saved the emperor's face. I feel unhappy, and I can't say it openly."
"This is exactly the reason." Mao Wenlong smiled helplessly and said: "So, it is better for Dajing to lead the army than for me to go personally. My commander-in-chief is stationed in Jinzhou, which also makes Dajing safer."
As long as Chongzhen has some sense, he will not do anything when the Dongjiang Army wins a great victory. Even if he has a grudge in his heart, he can only make superficial remarks to let the government and the public see that he is a good emperor with clear rewards and punishments.
"I wonder what the imperial court will do to Guan Ning's army?" Mao Chengzuo guessed: "I don't think he will be punished immediately, but the reduction of food and salary should be certain."
Mao Wenlong sneered and said with a sneer: "Guan Ningjun, then Guan Ningjun is better!"
Mao Chengzuo didn't understand what he meant. He glanced at Mao Wenlong and saw that Mao Shuai had no intention of explaining and didn't ask.
Guan Ning's army, that is, Shanhaiguan and Ningyuan, don't occupy other useless places, and openly ask for food and pay from the court.
The so-called Guanning-Jin defense line in Jinzhou is useless. It poses no threat to the Jianqiu and consumes food and wages. It is also a good target for the Jianqiu encirclement and reinforcements.
As for Yuan Chonghuan's boast of crossing the river next year, depending on the virtue of Guan Ning's army, he would have killed the Jianlu after crossing the Daling River. Or he might have occupied a few dilapidated castles and asked the court for money to build them.
Chongzhen should have understood that the Guan-Ning-Jin line of defense could not stop the Jianlu from entering the Pass, and building the city step by step right under the Jianlu's nose was nonsense, unless all the Jianlu were dead.
"To pacify Liao and destroy the captives, we have to rely on our Dongjiang Army." Mao Chengzuo said with a smile: "Commander, by then, your achievements will far surpass Ning Yuanbo Li Chengliang!"
Mao Wenlong waved his hand reservedly and said: "It's still far from enough. Don't be arrogant."
"Then you can't belittle yourself, right?" Mao Chengzuo said with a smile: "Didn't the commander-in-chief say that it will only take two or three years to pacify Liao and destroy the captives?"
Mao Wenlong smiled, patted Mao Chengzuo, and said, "That's when everything goes well. Who knows if other changes will happen. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's send someone to see the situation of Gaizhou Guards."
"Yes, I will obey your orders." Mao Chengzuo bowed and left quickly.
Guo Dajing crossed the sea to serve as king, and Mao Wenlong regained the lost territory in southern Liaoning and contained the Jianlu. This was a planned matter.
Advancing the defense line to Gaizhou is not only a military achievement, but also a large area of land for cultivation. It is a good thing to kill two birds with one stone.
Mao Wenlong believed that after the disastrous defeat of Jianlu, coupled with the battle of Nanguan, he must have developed a fear of attacking the enemy.
Although this does not mean that Jianlu will not take the initiative to attack in the future, the failure of the detour to enter the pass means that Jianlu does not have the material conditions to launch an attack in a short period of time.
Moreover, the two associations of Kong Youde and Li Weiluan were stationed in key places in Gaizhou and Fuzhou. They were already very stable and were not afraid of Jianlu coming to attack.
When the army expansion is completed after the year, the Dongjiang Army, which has many soldiers and generals, will not be afraid of recruiting captives. Of course, after the army expansion, it will have to undergo several months of training, that is, six or seven months later, before it will be ready to launch an offensive.