Chapter 164: You can only understand it, but not in words
The roar of cannons on the Loess Ridge was heard, and gunpowder smoke filled the entire Loess Ridge without a moment's lull. Even the gentle mountain wind could not dissipate it.
Shanxi Commander-in-Chief Li Fuming stood on the top of Mamatou Mountain. He put down the telescope in his hand, sighed first, and then said: "It's breathtaking, it's really breathtaking!"
He looked back at the generals around him. Except for his personal guerrilla general Li Xianjin, the remaining Xingshan guerrilla general Wang Jiaqi, Xuanfu guerrilla Kuang Yongzhong, Dusi Tang Xiancheng and others were all generals of other towns, but they were assigned to him during the war.
Just moderation.
Li Fuming couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart: They are all general soldiers, how could he get so mixed up?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of Zuo Guangxian, the general soldier of the Jizhen Chinese Association who had a similar problem. Both of them had resigned from their posts due to circumstances and were temporarily retained in front of the army in order to redeem themselves through meritorious service.
However, Zuo Guangxian did not participate in the early Shimenshan battle because he was sent to stay at Wudaoling. Not only did he not see any loss in military strength, but he actually strengthened due to the heavy responsibility of staying behind.
In addition, as far as Li Fuming knew, although Zuo Guangxian looked a bit rougher in appearance, he was also a rough and tactful master. In these days, he frequently moved around with Chen Zheng, the Xuanfu guerrilla who stayed in Changling Mountain.
According to the news from there, Zuo Guangxian often deigned to go to Changling Mountain as the commander-in-chief of a group of soldiers in the name of asking for advice on camp defense.
At first, no one under his command knew what he meant. Seeing that he frequently went to Changling Mountain to visit a Xuanfu guerrilla in person, with the dignity of the commander-in-chief, the generals also had many complaints.
But as time passed, everyone slowly realized that Zuo Shuai was planning for the future of the Chinese Association and the soldiers in the town!
Everything on Changling Mountain was novel to Zuo Guangxian and his generals. They had already mastered the defensive methods of trenches and earthen walls, but the orderly ranks and strict military orders in Chen Zheng's camp also amazed them.
They were even more envious of the sophisticated cannons and cannons of the Xuanfu Army officers and soldiers. Not to mention the large and small artillery pieces, they looked extremely heavy and did not look like crudely made items.
In particular, the fire blunderbuss in the hands of the Xuanfu Army soldiers could be used without using a match rope to light a fire, which really surprised them.
On the other hand, Chen Zheng also secretly received instructions from Zhang Cheng. If given the opportunity, he should try his best to make friends with the generals in Liaodong for future plans!
Therefore, he generously gave Zuo Guangxian thirty Yunzhou Type 2 self-fire muskets to equip his escort troops, and he did not have enough short-handed muskets in his camp. It can be seen that Zuo Guangxian couldn't put it down.
He could only take apart his two short-handed guns and give him one as a personal gift.
Through the exchanges in these days, Changling Mountain and Wudaoling became intertwined. Zuo Guangxian even called him brother and asked Chen Zheng to call him eldest brother.
The two generals were like this, and the generals below were also in harmony, and there was a sound of joy from top to bottom on both sides.
There is another reason, which is also a major factor why Zuo Guangxian's generals are willing to form a good alliance with Chen Zheng and the Xuanfu army, and that is the contribution of the meat and fish porcelain jars in the Xuanfu army.
Like other towns in Liaodong, Zuo Guangxian's army had a very simple food ration for the sergeants.
Just imagine, even Bai Guangen of Ji Town, Ma Ke of Shanhaiguan City, and other big town commanders can't guarantee the diversity of meals for the soldiers at this moment, let alone him, a commander-in-chief of the Central Association's training who has redeemed himself for his crime?
Even Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan, who was extremely favored by Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, could only try his best to ensure that the food of his servants could be supplied normally, while the remaining soldiers could not take care of it and could only barely eat half full.
.
But Zuo Guangxian and the others never thought that Chen Zheng actually had meat here. Although the daily supply could not be guaranteed, having something was always better than nothing. Even if it was dried meat mixed with porcelain meat jars, it would still be better.
The clear soup of the day is not watery.
What's more, since dried fish and porcelain fish jars were invented by Zhang Cheng, almost all camps of the Xuanfu Army have priority in supplying them, and fish porcelain jars are only available to Xuanfu Army, Shenji Camp, Ningyuan Town, Dubiao Camp, etc.
Only a strong army can have a stable supply.
The remaining towns can only share the remaining small portion.
Many times they followed General Zuo Guang first to Changling Mountain in groups, mostly to improve their food. The only regret was that they had drank up all the rice wine in Chen Zheng's camp early.
As for the spirits stored in the camp, Zhang Cheng had clearly stated that they were strategic materials and not for drinking. Without the order of the Chinese Army Commander, Chen Zheng did not dare to take them out privately and share them with Zuo Guangxian and others.
Rather than adding icing on the cake, it’s better to provide help in times of need!
Zhang Cheng would naturally not be unaware of such a simple truth.
Therefore, he is not interested in those high-ranking commanders-in-chief. Of course, this does not include Chen Jiugao, Wu Sangui and others. They each have their own advantages and have a strong backing.
As for Zuo Guangxian, Li Fuming and others, the current situation was unsatisfactory. Zhang Cheng ignored them at first because he didn't know their details and thoughts, and he didn't dare to contact them rashly.
Another point is that although Zhang Cheng at that time also had strong soldiers and horses, his strength was extraordinary.
But in name, he was just a deputy commander of the branch in Xuanfu Town. At that time, there was also Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu. Therefore, although Zhang Cheng was extraordinary in strength, he had little chance to rise to the top.
At most, he only moved around in private, so in addition to having some contact with Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, and Chen Jiugao, only Ningyuan Commander-in-Chief Wu Sangui had some private contacts.
However, today is different from the past. Zhang Cheng is now the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town, and Zuo Guangxian, Li Fuming and others are at their weakest and least powerful.
If you can lower your stance and show your kindness at this time, why wouldn't they feel it? If you can help them regain their footing or make progress, wouldn't this be a timely help?
Therefore, Zhang Chengcai showed his strength first. If they know something about themselves and are willing to make friends with him, they will naturally not be turned away. Besides, he is planning such a piece of cake, and he cannot eat it all by himself!
Zuo Guangxian was the first among the Ji Liao generals to take the initiative to approach Zhang Cheng. As a benchmark and example, Zhang Cheng would naturally not treat him wrong.
In fact, during the military meeting, Zhang Cheng proposed to leave an army to garrison Changling Mountain. Zuo Guangxian had already seen the signs, but he was not sure yet.
But when he saw Zhang Cheng's arrangements on Changling Mountain, he made up his mind to move closer to Zhang Cheng.
There is another difference between Zuo Guangxian and Wu Sangui. Wu Sangui is not getting closer, but simply cooperating. It is a fair cooperation based on his own personal strength in Liaodong and the good technology in Zhang Cheng's hands.
But Zuo Guangxian is really getting closer, and there is a sense of surrender in it, but we are all face-to-face people, and some things cannot be said openly.
As the saying goes, it can only be understood, not expressed!
But now, Li Fuming, the commander-in-chief of Shanxi Province, looked from his own general Li Xianjin to Wang Jiaqi, Kuang Yongzhong, Tang Xiancheng and others, and he was filled with emotion.
His subordinates seem to be full of powerful generals, with over 10,000 soldiers and horses, but in reality, only the main barracks with less than 3,000 soldiers and horses are completely obedient to his own troops.
The rest, like the three battalions of soldiers and horses such as the general Wang Jiaqi, the guerrilla Kuang Yongzhong, and the general commander Tang Xiancheng, are just here to support themselves. Rather than being under their temporary command, they are more likely to assist them in guarding the Xiaolinghe ration station.
As he was thinking, his eyes stopped at Kuang Yongzhong and Tang Xiancheng, and asked softly: "General Kuang, General Tang, do you regret in your heart that such a big battle in Huangtu Ridge happened to be the occasion, but you couldn't be there?"
What a state!"
Kuang Yongzhong glanced at Tang Xiancheng, clasped his fists and said: "No matter where you are, as long as you haven't left Liaodong, you are serving the Ming Dynasty, so there is no regret.
It is a great advantage for me to be able to stay with Marshal Li and learn from Marshal Li how to lead an army and use troops."
"Hahaha!"
Li Fuming laughed a few times without being polite, and then said: "Although Zhang Shuai is young, he is indeed an extraordinary figure. Only in the Loess Ridge has such a prestige, even when Yang Shuai and I combined the strength of the two towns, we have never seen such a prestige."
After all, the distance is too far. Standing on Mamatou Mountain, you cannot hear the rumble of cannons on the Loess Ridge. However, the salvo of so many cannons will definitely resonate with the earth.
We are all veterans, and most of us can put our ears to the ground to hear the sound of galloping horses several miles away, not to mention the vibration of hundreds of artillery on the Loess Ridge.
Moreover, looking through the telescope, Li Fuming also saw the lingering smoke on the Loess Ridge. While he was amazed, he also felt heartache in his heart.
How many shots were fired?
How much money does this cost?
Although he didn't understand this, from a distance it seemed that he was extremely angry. He cursed secretly in his heart: "Boom, blast these filthy Tartars to death!"
At this time, a flag commander of the Chinese Army rushed over. He arrived not far in front of Li Fuming, waved the flag of the Chinese Army in his hand, and shouted loudly: "The Commander-in-Chief has an order to prevent the slave soldiers from taking the opportunity to attack our army's food road."
, I hope General Li can fulfill his duties,”
"Please report to the Commander-in-Chief that as long as I, Li Fuming, are here, the Tatars will not want to sneak attack me at the mouth of the river to hoard food."
After Li Fuming watched the flag commander of the Central Army leave, he said to the generals beside him: "Looking at the situation in Huangtuling, it won't take long before Zhang Shuai's Xuanfu soldiers and horses will capture it.
We also go to the flood areas to patrol, and don’t let the Tatars take the opportunity to steal the army’s grain, but we can’t afford it!”
"Here!"
…………
Just as Li Fuming expected, Zhang Cheng's Xuanfu army had already attacked the mountainside at the western foot of Huangtu Ridge without much effort.
In the south and north directions, they did not encounter strong resistance. They just didn't want to attack so fast. After all, they had to give the Tatars guarding the mountain some hope so that they would not fight to the death like trapped animals.
.
Fu Yingchong, the deputy general of the Shenji Battalion, was most satisfied with the arrangement at Huangtuling. He just directed the gunners to fire a round in front of the artillery array. Only when the barrels became slightly hot did he order the firing to stop.
Since then, he has been accompanying Zhang Cheng, Zhang Ruoqi, Zhang Dou and others, chatting and laughing happily.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that since Zhang Cheng dared to propose attacking Huangtu Ridge at the military meeting and looked at his determination to win, he must be sure to conquer it.
Therefore, Fu Yingchong's Shenji Battalion has completed its mission, and now he is waiting to be rewarded for his merits after the war.
Before Zhang Cheng left Beijing, he had greeted Uncle Xiangcheng, not to mention that he had the care of his elder brother Chen Jiugao, so there was no problem.
Therefore, his main purpose now is to coax Zhang Ruoqi, the commander-in-chief, and Zhang Dou, the military commander. Although Zhang Cheng has nothing to say about his performance on the Eastern Front, the opinions of Zhang Ruoqi and Zhang Dou are also crucial.
Zhang Cheng looked at Fu Yingchong and said with a smile: "The battle of attacking the mountain at Huangtuling was so successful because Vice General Fu's Shenji Battalion was indispensable!"
Fu Yingchong responded carelessly: "It's not like our cannon can't help but use it. Otherwise, I will blast it all the way to the top of Huangtu Ridge. No matter how hard it is, there won't be a living Tatar left."
"Hahaha……"
Even Bing Xian Zhang Dou, who had always been strict, was amused by his slightly funny words and burst into laughter.
Zhang Cheng originally intended to make friends with him and Chen Jiugao, so he also smiled and joked: "Okay, I think this is good. If you really ask you to blast all the way to the top of the mountain, won't all the officers and men of our Xuanfu army become pickers?"
Corpse team.
At that time, all the credit belongs to you, and my Xuanfu soldiers have to do the hard work. How can this be unreasonable!"
Fu Yingchong looked unashamed and said carelessly: "Don't worry, our Shenji Battalion will never take more military credit. If that is the case, at least half of the credit will go to Zhang Shuai's soldiers."
"Hahaha……"
Everyone burst out laughing again, feeling that Fu Yingchong was somewhat interesting. Even Bing Xian Zhang Dou, who was usually serious about his words, burst into hearty laughter.
He may also be secretly glad in his heart that he is supervising the battle on the Eastern Front today, which brings him a little more fun and a little less worry.
In fact, among the officials in Liaodong, Zhang Dou, who was in charge of Ning Qian Dao's military preparation, was a rare person who knew the military. Every time he made suggestions, he could hit the point. Unfortunately, he suffered from the common problem of all talented people.
There are two common problems among talented people. One is that they are arrogant about their talents, do not know how to be gregarious, and cannot adapt; the other is that they are not good at specializing and do not know how to form cliques.
Zhang Dou was not an arrogant person, but he was indeed not good at observing people's actions and always put forward correct opinions at inappropriate times. After Zhang Cheng arrived in Liaodong, Zhang Dou had been reprimanded more than twice by Governor Hong Chengchou.
But as a person who knows military affairs well, his impression of Zhang Cheng is indeed getting better and better. This is not because Zhang Cheng often contradicts Hong Chengchou in military discussions.
Rather, most of Zhang Cheng's military strategies were in the right direction and almost consistent with what he had in mind, which gave him the feeling of meeting a confidant.
But due to the worthless dignity of a civil servant, he never took the initiative to find Zhang Cheng and have a frank and honest conversation.
At the same time, it was also because Zhang Dou always had an expression that said everyone owed him 80,000 yuan. Whenever he saw him, he always had that look on his face, which also made Zhang Cheng put off and did not take the initiative to contact him.
Of course, in Zhang Cheng's eyes, although he, Zhang Dou, could be considered a figure, he was not to the point where Zhang Cheng had to shamelessly sneak up on him.
At this time, Zhang Dou said: "General Fu is not greedy for merit!"
He continued: "I never thought that the war on the Eastern Front would go so smoothly, which shows that the Xuanfu soldiers and horses under General Zhang's command are elite."
Zhang Dou turned his face to the northwest again as he spoke, and said leisurely: "It's just that I don't know if Governor Hong's war on the northern front will be as smooth as this!"