The four hundred and fifty-ninth chapter advantages of benefits in kind
Now, except for Guo Dajing, no one regards a group of starving people who are crazy with hunger and pick up hoes and sticks as a threat, even though there are dozens of families, claiming to be hundreds of thousands.
Indeed, if one has poor organizational discipline and no professional military skills, how much development can be achieved if he just attacks some places, seizes food and money and eats at the expense of large households?
Arrogance has always been a bad habit of civil servants and emperors in the Ming Dynasty.
That is to say, under their arrogant attitude, the Mudlegs who rose up overthrew the Dragon Throne, and the Jianlu who ruled in a corner conquered the world.
But Guo Dajing would not make such a mistake. Even though Jianlu had shown signs of decline, he still went all out to make more thorough preparations.
This period was also the best period for Dongjiang Town.
The imperial court's rations and Shandong's extra supplies were constantly transported by sea. Raw materials such as iron, nitrate and sulfur, which were mobilized by the imperial court and purchased by themselves, were also shipped in boatloads.
The arsenal was operating at full capacity, producing batches of weapons and ammunition, which were continuously transported to the front line. The artillery and shells built under the supervision of Governor Sun Yuanhua accelerated the process of the decisive battle.
The Three Years of Peace and Liaoning were not just slogans, but actual actions that were witnessed. Even ordinary people often saw vehicles transporting weapons and ammunition on the road, and they could feel that a decisive battle was coming.
Guo Dajing sent another letter to the Liao Town troops in Ningyuan, asking them to provide 6,000 war horses and to control the supply of grain and grass.
To defend the city, why do you need so many war horses, as if you really dare to go out to fight in the city?
This was the last two-way transport before the coast froze. Ningyuan received grain and grass supplies for the winter, and Dongjiang Town received 6,000 war horses.
This is also a form of blackmail. If you want to avoid hunger in these winter months, just obey and don't make Guo Dajing angry.
You have to endure the pain when you cut the flesh with a small knife, and in the end only a skeleton is left.
The stubborn Zu Dashou had no choice but to give in and obey again. He had no choice but to break away completely and join the Jianlu army; or he was constantly weakened and could still survive for a while.
It's a pity that he still can't see the situation clearly and is reluctant to let go of his ancestor's management and influence in Liao Town. If he doesn't take a bright road and doesn't know the choice, he can only end up in destruction in the end.
It was another night of wind and snow, and the land in Liaodong was covered with snow. Whether it was the mountains or the woods, there was a same color everywhere.
"Haicheng River is going to be frozen this time." When I saw Liu Qishi in the morning, I saw his very excited expression.
Guo Dajing smiled and nodded, and said: "Wait a few more days to clear the road or trample the snow firmly before setting off."
The Haicheng River is frozen, leading to the Haizhou Acropolis and even to Anshan Fort. It is a smooth journey. The cavalry can train or harass, and then they can face the Jianlu.
A sufficient number of sleds have been built, not only for the cavalry, but also for various associations, and they will become the main means of transportation in the winter and snow season.
"The Chinese New Year is coming soon, this may be the last large-scale launch." Liu Qishi wore a thick hand mask and kept moving while speaking, which looked a bit funny.
Guo Dajing also thought that it would be enough to do it once a year ago. You must know that every time it is launched, it means doubling the consumption of food and grass supplies. It is better to save as much as possible!
"Six thousand war horses have arrived soon. I wonder if they can be used immediately." Guo Dajing said uncertainly: "Maybe it will take some getting used to?"
Liu Qishi waved his hand and said: "Let the newly arrived war horses slow down. Even if they are not used this time, it is enough."
Fifteen thousand flying cavalry, plus more than six thousand lancers, is indeed a force that can shock the enemy.
And what Guo Dajing wanted was this effect, to make Jianlu feel wary and not dare to attack at will. If he couldn't move, didn't dare to move, just sit back and wait for death, that would be a good Jianlu.
Additional troops were added to the Xiuyan area, with 5,000 officers and soldiers transferred from Liao Town. This not only provided training and integration, but also increased pressure on Jianlu's defense line.
At the same time, the increase in troops in the Xiuyan area also indirectly took care of the Liaodong area. If Jianlu dared to launch an attack on the special operations camp in Liaodong, they would have to guard against flank security and not go too deep.
When spring comes next year, the Dongjiang Army will advance as a whole. Liaonan will occupy Haizhou Acropolis, and Liaodong will reoccupy Fengcheng, forming a stronger pressure on the Liaoshen area.
There were no detours, interruptions, or clever military strategies. The decisive battle planned by Guo Dajing was to force the Jianlu and the Dongjiang Army to fight in strength and firepower.
Only those who have no strength can engage in intrigues, but those who have strength can fight. The simplest and most reliable way to win is also the one with the fewest variables.
"I will buy another cow and horse from the Mongols. I have ordered the personnel at Panjin Horse Market to increase the purchase price." Guo Dajing held up his leather hat and said: "There are also large livestock from Shandong and Beizhili.
Procurement is also being stepped up.”
In order to ensure victory in the decisive battle, Guo Dajing had sent someone to notify Fujino Hide and handed over 500,000 taels of silver to Chen Jisheng, all of which was used to purchase cattle, horses, mules and donkeys.
When the decisive battle begins, the artillery of the Dongjiang Army will not only include mortars and rockets, but also a large number of Hongyi artillery, which requires a considerable number of oxen and horses to haul and transport.
According to the current production speed of Denglai, which is about ten doors per month, by next autumn, there will be more than a hundred doors. It will become an indestructible offensive force. No matter how strong the city is, it will be blasted open by concentrated fire.
Perhaps, this is also the last time Guo Dajing uses his own money to subsidize Dongjiang Town. But as long as he wins the decisive battle, he will do it at any cost.
"I know you are rich, but Pingliao is not your business alone." Liu Qishi shook his head and said, "Even if it lasts for a year, it won't have a big impact, right?"
In response to Liu Qishi's emotion or advice, Guo Dajing laughed and said: "The nights are long and there are many dreams. If Jianlu is not destroyed in a day, I can't even sleep well."
After a pause, he added with a smile: "Don't worry, there is still enough money to build a house for my eldest brother. As long as you look at the place and marry a woman, the construction can start immediately."
Liu Qishi was alone and earned a lot, but he didn't save much money. He spent all his time eating and drinking with the Paoze brothers.
Guo Dajing urged him to start a family. He did not say it once or twice, but he turned a deaf ear and did not know what kind of family he wanted. Or he said, "If the Huns are not destroyed, why should we have a family?"
"The kind of housing allocated to officers and soldiers is pretty good." Liu Qishi didn't care about the mansion. He waved his hands and said with a smile, "If you build a big mansion, you have to hire maids and servants. It's troublesome."
Guo Dajing shrugged his shoulders and had nothing to say about Liu Qishi's reckless eating and drinking. If he still spends so much money after having a family, he would really be drinking from the northwest.
Liu Qishi was completely indifferent to Guo Dajing's helplessness. He chuckled and joked: "As for you, don't worry about me. You can marry as many children as you want. If I get old, I will go to the Salesian Home to adopt a child. If I die, I will have a child."
Just someone who breaks a basin."
This idea was a bit strange, and Guo Dajing was quite speechless when he looked at Liu Qishi, who was in his thirties.
Arriving at the gate of the headquarters, Guo Dajing saw He Kegang coming up to him and saluted him solemnly, "General, I have met Guo Shuai."
Guo Dajing raised his hands to support each other and said with a smile: "Vice-General He doesn't have to be like this. We already belong to Dongjiang Town. We are both colleagues and leaders. Is it possible that Vice-General He still has trouble letting go of Liao Town?"
He Kegang hurriedly explained: "I will be proud to join Dongjiang Town. I have no other intentions. It's just that the etiquette must not be broken to avoid misunderstanding by others."
Guo Dajing was just polite, smiled and nodded, stretched out his hand to make a gesture, and walked into the courtyard with He Kegang one after another and arrived at the command hall.
There is a sand table placed in the middle of the hall. Combined with Guo Dajing's historical memory, the spies, and the continuous improvement of the Liao people, it is quite detailed and can be used as a tool for commanding operations.
Liu Qishi did not come in, but went to the courtyard next to it, which was considered the officers' club.
Officers on rotation, especially bachelors like him, often chatted there, drank tea, and had some entertainment facilities designed by Guo Dajing, such as billiards, chess, poker, etc.
The two sat down in the hall, and the officer on duty had already delivered the newly received documents and information.
It didn't happen every day, but Guo Dajing came on time every day. Especially urgent military information had to be notified directly to him in the middle of the night.
Guo Dajing glanced at it, then took the document sent by Xiuyan Garrison and looked through it, indicating that He Kegang could also read it at will.
The commander of the Xiuyan garrison was Kong Youde. He mainly reported on the training situation of the troops in Liao Town.
Nearly a month has passed, and he thinks that these people can be dispersed to other associations to complete the remaining training projects.
According to the co-editor's plan, after a month of musketry training, it is indeed necessary to disperse to various associations, give full play to the role of the old leading the new, and raise the combat effectiveness to a similar level as soon as possible.
Guo Dajing pursed his lips and guessed Kong Youde's anxious urge. He was still worried about the officers and soldiers of Liao Town and wanted to dilute them into the Dongjiang Army as soon as possible.
After thinking for a long time, Guo Dajing decided to continue as planned, that is, he agreed with Kong Youde's suggestion and divided the officers and soldiers of Liao Town into various associations.
After this redistribution, Xiuyan's reserve army is still 5,000 people, but the original Dongjiang Army should account for about 4,000 people, leaving only 1,000 new soldiers in Liao Town.
A month or two later, men and horses were drawn from each association to form the Sixth Association. The former officers and soldiers of Liao Town were like sand mixed into the rice, their original imprints had been eliminated, and it was difficult to sort them out.
"The government issued a notice to distribute New Year's benefits to military families." He Kegang looked at something that looked like a newspaper and said with a smile: "There is still one month before the Chinese New Year. Are they distributed so early every year?"
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "It should be earlier this year. Anyway, the weather is freezing, and the meat and fish distributed can be stored for a long time. If distributed in advance, the government staff will be able to be more relaxed at the end of the year."
He Kegang nodded and looked carefully at the benefits distributed:
Ordinary soldiers are required to pay ten pounds of noodles, three pounds of meat, two fish, and one bottle of wine, while officers are higher. There are three levels in total, with the highest being twenty pounds of noodles, ten pounds of meat, five fish, and three bottles of wine.
Regardless of whether they are high or low, the Chinese New Year allows all military families to eat dumplings and taste meat. For the soldiers, the food in the army is still good, and they are not very greedy for these meats and fishes.
It turns out that the soldiers can rest assured that their loved ones at home will have a good New Year!
He Kegang had another thought and secretly admired him. No wonder the Dongjiang Army had high morale and thought so thoughtfully.
Speaking of which, accompanied by officers of the Dongjiang Army, he inspected various defense lines, except for the special operations camp in Liaodong. What he saw and heard deeply touched him, and his psychology also changed greatly.
The astonishing number of various types of artillery, sharp muskets, solid fortifications, complete logistical support, strict military training, etc. all shocked him and left a deep impression on him.
This is real, so real that even He Kegang can hardly believe it.
When Guo Dajing led his troops to take over the Juehua Island Navy, the generals of Liao Town, including He Kegang, thought that what he brought was elites and was used to prop up appearances.
However, after on-site inspections and actual contact in the military camp, He Kegang realized that this was not the case. If they were elite, then the Dongjiang Army was all elite, and there was no need to select them specially.
Not only was he full, but he also ate quite well. I dare not mention other meaty foods, but fish and other seafood were included in the food in the military camp every now and then.
He Kegang didn't know that Dongjiang Town had a professional fishing fleet, and that the seafood that was usually caught was pickled and smoked and basically supplied to the army.
It was this cheapest and large amount of seafood that ensured the supply of protein to the soldiers of the Dongjiang Army and maintained more physical strength than other Ming armies.
And physical fitness is the basis of an army's combat effectiveness. If you are so hungry that you don't even have the physical strength to march long distances, how can you fight with the enemy in a bloody battle?
Generous remuneration and thoughtful protection are the continuous motivation to keep the soldiers full of spirit and will. He Kegang has also figured this out.
The sharp weapons and equipment and the record of repeated victories are the support for the soldiers of the Dongjiang Army to have the confidence to win.
If the food is sufficient, the soldiers are strong, the armor is strong, and the soldiers are powerful, if they are condensed, He Kegang thinks it can only be these eight words. But if he wants to achieve it, he doesn't know which one of the Ming Dynasty's armies can do it.
"May I ask Commander Guo, why don't you just issue military coupons directly, and let the military families buy new year's goods directly?" He Kegang had his own doubts about issuing physical benefits, so he asked: "This should save more manpower, right?"
Guo Dajing laughed and said: "Well, I can explain this to you. There are several advantages to distributing physical benefits: first, there is a stronger sense of gain. There are only a few military tickets, but the physical benefits seem to be a lot..."
There are other benefits to distributing physical benefits. For example, different holidays have different benefits, which can better reflect your feelings. For example, giving out rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival, moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, etc.
Therefore, judging from the mood and feeling of the soldiers, as well as the excitement and pride of the military families in receiving the benefits, the method of distributing physical goods is better than distributing money.