As Governor Hong Chengchou and Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi both stopped talking, they each took a step back, and the atmosphere in the lobby was once again peaceful, as if the conflict just now did not exist at all.
At this moment, the topic returned to how to arrange sentries for reconnaissance.
After discussion, since Liao Town was open at night and we were more familiar with the terrain and mountains and rivers here, it was decided that Liaodong Commander-in-Chief Liu Zhaoji, Ningyuan Commander-in-Chief Wu Sangui, Liaodong Deputy General Zu Dale would be responsible for the inspection, and the remaining outstanding officers from each town would be responsible for the inspection.
You can also participate in sentinel inspections even if you don't collect them at night, but it is not required.
Now that the matter of sentinels and scouts had been agreed upon, the officers and generals also discussed matters such as the garrisoning of various armies and the distribution of food and fodder.
Suddenly, Zhang Cheng clasped his fists and saluted: "Supervisors, military supervisors, and generals in chief, there is one more thing that I think is a little inappropriate, but I don't know whether I should mention it or not?"
The generals were surprised and wondered what happened to Zhang Cheng.
Hong Chengchou also had a look of confusion on his face, but he was experienced after all. He looked at the supervisor Zhang Ruoqi with an unchanging smile. When he saw that he nodded slightly to him, he said: "General Zhang knows the military affairs well, but if you have anything to do, I won't tell you."
It doesn’t matter!”
Zhang Cheng sat on the chair and said seriously: "Master Governor, although our division has nearly 200,000 troops, they are not only powerful troops, but also elite men from the border towns, who are well versed in fighting on the battlefield.
But they came from Xuan, Da, Shanxi, Ji Town, and Shanhai Town. They usually stayed in one place and fought independently. Now they gathered their troops in Ningyuan in a hurry, and there was a lack of joint training between the towns.
When it comes to marching into Songjin, I am afraid that it will be difficult for the various towns and battalions to cooperate and fight. Although we have the will to work together, we will not be able to exert the maximum combat power of our division due to the incompetent orders and tactics of each town."
As soon as Zhang Cheng finished speaking, the commander-in-chief of the towns started talking again.
Zuo Guangxian, the general soldier of the Chinese Association of Trade Unions, slapped his own thick leg and said angrily: "Look, this matter really comes to the root, why didn't we think of it!"
Chen Jiugao's face was full of pride, as if he had raised this question that resonated with the generals. His expression was like: Look, he is worthy of being my brother, Boss Chen!
Although Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of the Ningyuan regiment, also nodded in approval, the look he looked at Zhang Cheng was quite intriguing. There seemed to be too many things mixed in, including some expectations and jealousy.
"Train together?"
A strange smile appeared at the corner of Hong Chengchou's mouth, and he continued to understand: "General Zhang, can you talk in detail to help us understand why joint training is so important?"
Seeing that Zhang Chengchou and Hong Chengchou had already matched the signals, it would be perfect to sing in harmony like this, so he immediately said: "Earlier, Duke Wen Ding of Xu once said that our Ming Dynasty never lacked elite soldiers when fighting against slaves and traitors.
They just kept selecting elite soldiers from each town, but they usually failed to train together. The orders among the armies were different, and the military formations and tactics were different. For example, Xuanda was good at riding, and the southern army was good at shooting muskets, but the armies neglected to train together.
When facing a battle, if you are short of cooperation, how can you defeat a thief?"
When he said this, he was quite excited, and he continued: "Just like the Battle of Saarhu, although there were many troops, they were divided into four groups, but there was no contact between the armies.
If you fight on your own, you will eventually be defeated by each one.
According to Zhang Cheng's opinion, although our army has gathered outside Yongning City, we still don't know whether the slaves and bandits are real or not, so we can't decide on the strategy of advancing the army for the time being. We can take this opportunity to work together in various towns so that the armies can coordinate with each other in war.
For example, in Jiliao, the Xuan cavalry is good at charging in the field, while the infantry is good at defense. However, the Shenji battalion is good at using firearms and cannons. Each battalion in each town should strengthen joint training. When facing a battle, each should deploy according to their strengths.
The enemies all act according to the orders of the Chinese army and help each other instead of hindering each other. Only in this way can we fight against the slaves!"
Hong Chengchou naturally knew the meaning of Zhang Cheng's words, and immediately continued: "General Zhang has indeed thought carefully. He found that although there are hundreds of thousands of our division's elite troops under Ningyuan City, they have not trained together for a while. It is really like during a war, the military orders are not given.
1, then our teacher will suffer the consequences."
Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi had been observing the reactions of the commanders of the towns. At this time, he said: "In short, we still need to march into Jinzhou quickly, so as not to make the Holy Heart worry even more."
At this time, Hong Chengchou smiled and continued: "Please be at ease with the supervisor. Once the sentry understands the arrangement of the slave thieves among the pines and brocades, they will attack immediately. This will definitely not worry the emperor."
He immediately looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "From today onwards, the troops and horses in each town should be trained together in accordance with the orders and camps to prepare for the war. All generals should act in accordance with the orders and not be perfunctory..."
The matter of joint training between the towns was thus decided.
The generals discussed some more details about the joint training and then dispersed. Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan, wanted to take Zhang Cheng to have a drink and discuss the topic of last night in detail, but Governor Hong Chengchou left Zhang Cheng alone.
…………
In the side hall, Hong Chengchou invited Zhang Cheng to sit across from him with a smile, but Zhang Cheng politely declined and just sat down on the next chair. After the servant made tea, he poured it for them separately and then stepped aside.
.
"Zhang Cheng, I remember you have a cousin?"
Zhang Cheng replied with a very respectful look on his face: "Returning to the governor, when he came to Beijing to serve as king in the eleventh year, Governor Lu gave Zhang Cheng the epithet 'loyalty'."
Hong Chengchou stroked his beard and nodded, and then said: "I think the number of troops you are bringing this time is 20,000?"
Zhang Cheng smiled and replied: "Returning to the governor, Zhang Cheng came to Liaodong this time and brought four battalions of infantry with 10,000 men, five battalions of chariots with 6,000 men, and two battalions of cavalry with 2,300 men.
There are more than 18,000 horse and infantry officers and soldiers."
The more he spoke, the more serious his face became, and finally he stood up and clasped his fists and said, "I am willing to obey the orders of the governor. Zhang Cheng will move forward bravely and never flinch."
The smile on Hong Chengchou's face did not diminish. He said "Okay, okay, okay" three times in a row, and then continued: "Zhongchen, although we don't have a close relationship with each other, I admire your loyalty and diligence in the king's affairs. Sit down quickly."
Let’s talk, it’s just you and me today, there’s no need to stick to common etiquette.”
There was a trace of doubt between his brows, and when he saw that Zhang Cheng had sat down again, he asked again: "Zhongchen, I don't understand something. How can you command an army of 20,000 men as the deputy commander-in-chief?"
Xuanbei is the 'throat of the upper valley and the right arm of the capital'. It has always been an important place in the capital, but is there still an army to defend it?"
Zhang Cheng had known that he would ask this question. After all, Yang Guozhu, as the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, only led 12,000 troops to aid Liaodong, and there were only less than 10,000 people under his direct jurisdiction.
Jingqi, plus 5,000 Xin Cao's troops, the remaining 3,500 soldiers and horses are the other two subordinates who joined the guerrillas in Xuanzhen.
However, Zhang Cheng, a deputy commander, brought nearly 20,000 troops. How could he not surprise everyone?
It's just that everyone is not afraid of more troops now, but only of fewer troops. That's why no one asks how he has so many troops. But not asking does not mean that he has no ideas in his heart.
The same goes for Hong Chengchou. He has always had this question in his mind. He always felt that he could not understand Zhang Cheng. He should be loyal to the Ming Dynasty and the emperor, but he always felt that something was wrong!