After all, Zuo Guangxian and Li Fuming each have seven or eight thousand officers and soldiers. No matter whether one or both of them stay, the Ming army around Xingshan is destined to exceed 40,000. If the slaves really come to attack
, it can be sustained for a while.
In the end, Hong Chengchou made the decision, and Zuo Guang led his troops to stay on Wudaoling, take charge of the troops and horses around Xingshan, and be responsible for the safety of the army on the grain road.
At the same time, Meng Dao, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Assistance Guard, was ordered to lead his headquarters of 6,000 troops to stay in Xingshan Fort. In this way, there would be nearly 20,000 more troops around Xingshan than the original deployment. In addition to the original 30,000 defenders, even if
With more than ten thousand slaves and thieves coming to attack, it would be difficult to capture Songshan Fort for a while, and the army of elite cavalry would have enough time to return for reinforcements.
Zuo Guangxian will be the chief general of Xingshan, and Meng Dao will be the deputy general. The battalion of soldiers and horses left by Zhang Cheng will also be temporarily under the command of Zuo Guangxian.
The two of them looked at each other, both of them looking confident. After all, 50,000 troops are here. As long as the slaves and thieves don't come in full force, there is still great hope for defending Xingshan!
The matter of the rear grain road was finalized, and the atmosphere in the lobby returned to harmony.
Under the auspices of Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, various military affairs continued to be discussed. After careful deliberation and deliberation, various officials discussed various matters, large and small, for a whole day before leaving.
On the same day, the candidates for the vanguard officers to march into Songjin were also decided.
The vanguard officer is the vanguard of the entire army. As the saying goes, paving the way through mountains and building bridges when encountering water refers to the vanguard officer.
The real vanguard officer mainly explores the way forward for the army and conducts strategic and tactical activities. Specifically, it includes investigating the terrain ahead, the enemy's military situation, the people's situation, and surveying the army's camp locations, etc.
Because it is the basis for ensuring the smooth advancement of the large army, it is best to have outstanding combat capabilities and be familiar with the local situation. This candidate is extremely important for the large army.
Liu Zhaoji, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, took the initiative to ask for battle. When Hong Chengchou saw him volunteering, he also knew that he was a native of Liaodong and was familiar with the terrain and mountains of the road ahead. It was indeed more suitable for him, so Hong Chengchou readily agreed.
However, for the sake of safety, Hong Chengchou also ordered Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, to support Liu Zhaoji from the side, keeping a distance of less than forty miles from Liu Zhaoji's troops, and marching behind him as a response.
Then Hong Chengchou's large Chinese army followed, and Shanxi Commander-in-Chief Li Fuming cut off the rear.
Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan, wanted to arrange some logistics and defense matters in Ningyuan and would set off two days later than the main army. However, most of his officers and troops still followed the Chinese army, and only the cavalry remained to protect him.
Then, Qiu Minyang, the governor of Liaodong, transferred grain and grain to the army, and Zhang Ruoqi, the commander-in-chief of the army, supervised the operation.
Everything about the invasion of Songjin was decided. Three days later, on July 26, the 14th year of Chongzhen, hundreds of thousands of Ming army elite generals swore an oath in Ningyuan and marched to the gates of Jinzhou City!
July is coming to an end, and the grass and trees in the wilderness outside Ningyuan City and on the rolling hills have gradually begun to turn a little yellow. Autumn here comes earlier than in Guan, and this year's land is dry and there is insufficient rain.
It has seriously affected farming, and the countryside is a little more desolate than in previous years.
Now, coupled with the gathering of hundreds of thousands of troops to aid the Liao Dynasty, the mules, horses, and camels have eaten up all the green grass along the river and near the official road, making autumn come earlier than in previous years.
In the afternoon of this day, at the end of the twelfth lunar month and the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, the sky was a dazzling golden color, and there was a cool breeze blowing by the seaside, giving it a bit of the late autumn flavor in Guan Nei.
Although the wind on the land is not strong yet, the waves on the sea are already strong.
Looking around, the autumn wind whipped up layers of waves, bringing up the white wave tops, rushing towards the coast, hitting the beaches and rocks here, and also rushing towards Juehua Island, constantly beating against it.
Looking at the rocks on the shore of Juehua Island, bursts of silver flowers splashed.
Looking from a distance, there are Ming Dynasty grain transport ships docked in the bay next to Juehua Island, as well as some fishing boats to avoid wind and waves. However, there are also some large ships loaded with grain and grass, with white sails bulging out, continuing to the north.
Sailed away.
- A large number of large ships formed a group and bypassed Juehua Island, heading towards Tashan and Gaoqiao. Some of them had already docked on the shore of Bijia Mountain and were unloading bags of grain and grass.
From the coast to the foot of Ningyuan City, at a short distance apart, there are temporary warehouses for storing military supplies. They are surrounded by earthen walls, archery towers, and watchtowers. Everywhere is guarded by Ming troops, with red poles.
flags fluttering in the wind.
-
Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, was taking several staff and generals, accompanied by his own soldiers, and stood on a large rock on the seaside, looking towards the sea in the direction of Juehua Island.
Hong Chengchou and his party went to Juehua Island this morning. They had just returned by boat, met with the soldiers waiting on the shore, and were about to ride back to the city.
Seeing wind and waves suddenly blowing on the sea, he was worried that the grain ship would be lost, so he looked back in the direction of Juehua Island. He stopped and watched for a while, and said with emotion: "The national affairs are difficult, it is difficult to raise food, and it is difficult to travel by sea.
It is not easy to transport them.
Now when I wait on the shore, I still feel that the wind is normal, but now I look at the sea surface and the wind and waves are rising sharply and the waves are strong. It can be seen that grain ships are often sunk in the vast sea, but it is not surprising!"
Zhang Ruoqi, the commander-in-chief of the army and a doctor in the Ministry of War, rode his horse next to the big stone. After listening to Hong Chengchou's words, he continued: "What the governor said is absolutely true. It is precisely because the treasury is empty, it is difficult to raise pay, and it is not easy to transfer money, so today
Your Majesty and my soldiers are eager to quickly relieve the siege of Jinzhou, so as not to spend months and months wasting troops and spending money, and the national strength will be difficult to support!"
Several staff who were following Hong Chengchou had displeasure on their faces after hearing Zhang Ruoqi's words. However, when they saw the governor's wink, they held back and no one answered him. They all looked at each other with bursts of sneers.
Hong Chengchou also ignored Zhang Ruoqi, but shouted to a general not far away: "General Wu!"
"The humble position is here!"
A young general with a fair face and a handsome face rode his horse and answered. It was Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of the Ningyuan regiment. After answering, he hurriedly rode forward.
When Hong Chengchou waited for Wu Sangui to come near, he said to him in a gentle manner: "Juehua Island is an important place for our king's army to store food. It is the lifeline of the army, so we dare not neglect it in the slightest.
Since grain is stored in various villages outside Ningyuan City, people and horses must be arranged to guard it. When the army goes into battle, the slightest mistake in the relationship between grain and grass will cause the morale of the army to collapse.
The day after tomorrow, I will lead the army to march into Songshan. The general affairs must be fully deployed within two days to defend Juehua Island and store grain outside Ningyuan City to prepare for any danger.
Build forts and archery towers in various places to increase the strength of the troops. We must strictly follow the military strategy of the governor and be careful to prevent small groups of slave thieves and spies from reaching around Ningyuan and destroying the grain stored by our army.
As long as Ningyuan and Juehua Island are impregnable, and our army's food reserves are safe, Master Wang will have no worries and can bravely deal with the slaves and thieves among the Songjin, or give it a try!"
Wu Sangui rode his horse and clasped his fists and replied: "In your humble duties, you must follow the instructions of the governor. You will never be negligent in the slightest. Please rest assured, governor.
Hong Chengchou looked at him and nodded with a smile, and said: "General Changbo, if the generals in every town perform their duties like the general, the court will not worry!"
"The governors and ministers have been praised too much, and Sangui is too ashamed to deserve them."