Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Seven: Horses, the foundation of armor and soldiers, the great use of the country
On July 25, the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, in the main hall of the General's Office in Dushikoubao City, He Biao, Liu Zhi, Cao Jinwang, Wang Yuanjing, Wu Zhizhong, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng, Chen Zhong, Wang Tieren, Cui Shijie, Jin Yong
Everyone gathers here.
Even Ma Zhongli, Feng Yuanshan, Su Zhenxiang and others were sitting in the main hall, but Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong and others were away on business and were unable to participate in the military meeting this time.
Two people stood behind Zhang Cheng. They were Lin Fangping, deputy commander-in-chief of the Pro-Military Department, and Zhang Chengfang, his adopted son. They now took the place of Chen Zhong, and Chen Zhong was now the commander-in-chief of the Cavalry Department. He was sitting
In the first position behind Zhang Guangda and Chen Zheng.
Zhang Cheng looked at the generals in the hall and felt a bit proud in his heart. In just one year, he took charge of Xuanfu North Road and had nearly 7,000 troops and horses, as well as such a large number of generals.
He was the first to speak: "Everything on my road has gradually become regular, and both military and government affairs are in good order. It can be seen that all of you here have contributed a lot. It's just that the land on my north road has been deserted for a long time. You will have to work harder in the future."
become."
Zhang Cheng paused here, glanced around, and then continued: "I have been busy with my affairs recently, and I have never asked you about the affairs you are responsible for. Today is my free time, so everyone talked about what your affairs are.
Progress, what else needs to be coordinated by this admiral?"
His eyes stopped on He Biao and asked: "He Biao, you are responsible for the pacification of the entire army under my admiral's command. So far, what are your tasks such as assigning pacification officers to each battalion, selecting and training pacification sergeants, etc.
Condition?"
"Back to the Admiral, the governor of Qiying Town is Fang Zhihai, the governor of Dushi Buying Town is Liu Jingzhu, the governor of Chicheng Buying Town is Xia Shuncheng, the governor of Cheying Town is Qin Dazhong,
These four people are all old sergeants who accompanied the admiral to the capital to serve the king last year. They are now sent to each battalion as sergeants. Each of them leads twenty sergeants.
According to the order of the admiral, the Chinese army set up a hundred sergeants to suppress the troops. In addition to the 98 sergeants to suppress the troops in each battalion, the entire army had a total of 198 sergeants to suppress the troops. More than half of them were soldiers who had participated in King Qin's campaign.
Veterans of the war.
At present, the governors of each battalion have taken up their posts. The loyalty and combat effectiveness of the governors are excellent, but their literacy is poor. Half of the governors are still being taught literacy and reciting military regulations and rules until they are qualified.
Battalions can be stationed later."
Zhang Cheng was quite satisfied with He Biao's report. He said: "Yes, it is difficult to teach these sergeants to read in just two months, but military regulations and rules must be memorized. You must hurry up."
Urge him to wait."
He turned to look at Cao Jinwang, the manager of the Kaiping Guard Experience Department, and said, "Cao Jinwang, have all the secretarial offices of each battalion been dispatched?"
"Reporting to the Admiral, the two infantry camps, plus the cavalry camp and the car camp, each camp has four clerks. However, these clerks lack training on weekdays, and their bodies and bones are a little weak, so you still need them.
General, you have to practice strictly."
"It's not much different. The clerks in my Kaipingwei department are all from military families. They are much better than those scumbags who have no power to restrain a chicken. After being in the army for a long time, they will naturally learn these things. They can be taught to everyone."
However, there is no delay in literacy for officers above the battalion commander.
Look at the scholar Wang Yuanjing next to you. He has only been in our military camp for more than half a year. He has not only taught many sergeants how to read, but also taught children and healthy women. Now there are only three or five little ruffians in the market.
Can't touch his body."
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he looked at Wu Zhizhong and said with a smile: "Lao Wu has been working the hardest these days. Quanta, Chen Zheng, you guys have to think about it. When you have time, you have to treat Lao Wu to a big restaurant. It's delicious."
It's delicious, thank you.
Some of the sergeants under your command have not been transferred to you and others through the hands of Lao Wu. These days, the North Road, the East Road, the town, and the capital are tossing around, and they are not thinking of recruiting some for you and others.
Good sergeant."
Zhang Cheng's teasing made the atmosphere in the hall feel relaxed instantly. Zhang Guangda and Chen Zheng thanked Wu Zhizhong repeatedly and agreed to treat him to a drink, while the others cheered and cheered.
Zhang Cheng did not stop him. He picked up the tea cup and drank tea, watching everyone laughing in the hall. After a while, he waved to everyone to stop and continued: "Old Wu, there is a matter of recruiting troops on the East Road and the capital.
, but it went well?"
"Reporting back to the general, the recruitment of troops went smoothly. Since the handwriting of monitoring Eunuch Chen was obtained, although the various parties on the East Road were not very cooperative and supportive, they no longer obstructed or interfered. However, it seems that they are still playing tricks secretly.
On the entire East Road, only the security guards were relatively active. After a month, they only recruited more than a thousand qualified sergeants. Fortunately, Mr. Jin invited us to come to Beijing together, and we recruited more than 2,000 new soldiers around the capital.
Now we have selected 500 strong and strong warriors to form the central army. Two thousand of them will stay in Yunzhou and be organized into the chariot camp. Another 500 will be allocated to Guangda's cavalry camp to temporarily serve as transport troops and raise horses.
Horse herding and other chores.”
Zhang Cheng nodded and said: "That's right, if you calculate it this way, now there are more than 8,000 sergeants in each battalion. Zhizhong, please let the matter of recruiting brave men come to an end for now.
Your next step is to rigorously train the 500 sergeants who will be retained as the central army. First, organize the structure of the central military headquarters, and then transfer warriors from each battalion to slowly enrich the central army."
He turned his attention to Zhang Guangda again and said: "Guangda, among all the battalions, the cavalry battalion led by you is the most elite and the most powerful. Now we have added 500 newly recruited sergeants.
What’s the situation now?”
Zhang Guangda hurriedly took a sip of tea before replying: "General, among the three units of our cavalry camp, the rangers led by Chen Zhong are the most powerful, and the assault cavalry currently has 300 men and horses, and can also accompany the army to fight.
Although there are many veterans in the heavy cavalry army, and the sergeants are all strong and brave men, the heavy cavalry relies on the war horse first and the armor secondly to charge into battle. Today, the three hundred sets of war horse equipment are not yet complete, but they can bear heavy loads and
A good war horse with explosive impact is even more rare!"
Zhang Cheng also knew that what Zhang Guangda said was indeed true. The war horse equipment and sergeant's armor were fine, and the Yunzhou Artisan Camp Armor Bureau would just step up their efforts to make them. However, such a war horse suitable for charging into battle is rare.
Xuanzhen could have raised and herded its own horses, but over the years, the horse administration had long been corrupted and abandoned. After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, horses were mostly traded with Mongolia.
However, military horses are easy to obtain, but war horses are difficult to choose. The war horses ridden by heavy cavalry are even more rare. They must not only be able to bear heavy loads, but also have explosive power and dare to charge into battle. Even ten ordinary war horses may not be able to train them.
A war horse that meets the requirements for heavy cavalry.
Regarding the lack of qualified war horses in the heavy cavalry, Zhang Cheng also scratched his head. He pondered for a while and then said: "There is an old saying: 'Horses are the foundation of armored soldiers and the great use of the country.' There are one man and three horses in your camp, but there are now gaps.