"When it comes to fighting, how can anyone not die?"
The rhetorical question of Zhang Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, made everyone around him speechless. In fact, this was also the case. Since ancient times, there has been no such thing as a war without death.
I heard Zhang Cheng say again as he walked: "You must know that although our officers and soldiers in the Xuanfu Army are armored and well-armed, with sharp guns and cannons and chariots, they are also drilled rigorously and never slacken off.
In this way, we are already stronger than the officers and soldiers in other towns in other parts of the Ming Dynasty. But is the strength of an army just a competition?"
While everyone was thinking, Zhang Cheng continued: "The strength of an army has a lot to do with the quality of its armor, cannons, chariots, and other equipment, as well as whether its training is serious.
However, it is not just based on these to judge the strength of an army!"
Zhang Cheng has always been like this, not speaking completely when something happens, just in the hope that through his own inspiration, the generals under his command can think independently.
Of course, there are exceptions in emergencies!
As they walked and chatted, they saw the camp on the top of the mountain not far ahead, less than a hundred steps away from the gate of the camp. They saw that the place was covered in blood and there were deep pits everywhere.
It is obvious that some places have been covered by new soil, but occasionally some stumps of limbs can be seen protruding from the new soil, which shows that the filling was too hasty.
There are still many Doshi Camp sergeants and civilians in the surrounding area. When cleaning up this battlefield full of traces of gunpowder smoke, they will even pull out the buried Tatar corpses from some mounds, cut off the heads and throw them into the deep nearby.
pit.
"The strength of an army, armor, vehicles, artillery and other equipment are important, and rigorous training is also indispensable. But the will and command of the general of an army, and the resolute fighting spirit of the soldiers are even more important!"
Zhang Cheng suddenly stopped, and under everyone's doubts, continued: "On the battlefield, you have to face life and death, which places extremely high demands on the psychological quality of the soldiers.
Therefore, being able to withstand heavy casualties without retreating under the enemy's fierce attack depends not on sophisticated equipment and training, but on the soldiers' fighting will to fight without fear of death."
He took a few steps forward and stood on a rock, facing the rays of the rising sun, and then said: "The will to fight is not something you are born with, nor can you get it through daily practice, but through experiencing blood and blood on the battlefield.
Only through the baptism and tempering of fire can we have it.
Just like our Xuanfu Army's Chicheng Battalion, if one battalion of soldiers and an equal number of elite Tatar infantry can fight bloody battles for more than an hour without retreating, this is the standard of a strong army."
As Zhang Cheng spoke, he looked down at Chen Zheng, who was looking up at him, and said loudly: "If an iron pestle is not ground into a needle, how can good iron become steel?"
"Even if our Xuanfu Army officers are well-equipped and well-trained, they must go through the training and beating of blood and fire, life and death on the battlefield before they can be called a strong army.
Akagi Camp is like this, and Dushi Camp is no less generous!"
Zhang Cheng's words not only made Chen Zheng's blood boil with excitement, but also generals such as Guo Yingxian, Zhang Guangda, and even the surrounding Dushi Camp soldiers were extremely excited.
At this time, Zhang Cheng raised his voice again and said loudly: "The soldiers of Dushi Camp, under the fierce siege of tens of thousands of Tatars, still held on for five days, and actually defended a small mountain ridge as if it were impregnable.
Our Xuanfu military camp stands as solid as a rock on the top of the mountain.
Our Xuanfu Army Monolith Battalion has created a great reputation for our Xuanfu Army and strengthened the military might of our Xuanfu Sons. You are all like a rock. Today I grant the Monolith Battalion the unique title of ‘Panshi Battalion’!”
He did not wait for everyone to react, and continued to shout: "I hope that you and other soldiers can live up to the name of 'rock' and continue to be as solid as a rock in the future wars, for this commander, for the emperor, and for your family."
, wipe out the bandits and pacify the Tartars!"
The excitement in Chen Zheng's heart was no less than that of Zhang Guodong yesterday. He fought tooth and nail with his soldiers, and his motive was not to gain the approval of his own general.
As for the idea of granting wives and wives, it is not that they don't want to, but it is still too far away from them, and now they only know one thing, that is, Marshal Zhang Cheng, who is loyal to their own general.
Why should we be loyal to Zhang Cheng?
This is actually very simple. It was precisely because of Zhang Cheng's arrival that they got rid of their previous life of slavery and hunger.
Nowadays, although they are just serving as soldiers and eating food, they are different from those who were stationed in the army in the past. Not only do they have full pay, but their families also have quota exemptions and a series of preferential welfare policies.
For example, in the Xuanbei area, the hot workshops all settle wages in cash and never withhold wages. There are regulations that give priority to military personnel in hiring, and so on. The list is endless.
Just imagine, everyone would support Zhang Cheng, and as the saying goes, "It is easy to move from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to move from luxury to frugality"!
They have already lived a good life now, so how can they willingly go back to the hungry past?
Therefore, when they protect Zhang Cheng now, they are protecting their current happy life. Even if they die on the battlefield, as long as Zhang Cheng is still alive, that is enough.
Because they know and believe that even if they die on the battlefield now, their family members will be better off, and they will be mourned and honored after death, and they will be able to enjoy offerings and sacrifices throughout the seasons.
All of them had witnessed with their own eyes that the soldiers who died in the battle to suppress Henan were like this. Not only did their families get a lot of money as pensions, but their families would also receive a "merit card."
This merit display card was only owned by the family members of those who died on the battlefield. They could use this card at the local government office to exchange for policies such as land tax exemption, free education for their children, and free support for the elderly. This was the first time in the Ming Dynasty.
In Xuanbei, it can be said that serving as a soldier has become the best way out for military households. The second is to work in the workshops of various castles. However, Zhang Cheng is extremely strict in selecting soldiers, so serving as a soldier has become a way out for North Xuanfu.
An honor for the military and civilians.
Moreover, these soldiers who accompanied the army to aid the Liao Dynasty even heard that after returning to the division with this victory, the commander-in-chief would build a "Praise and Loyalty Temple" to worship the souls of the fallen soldiers in previous battles.
For an ordinary soldier, this is a supreme honor!
Previously, if they died in battle, their entire family might be destroyed, so they would flee every battle, not for themselves, but for the entire family behind them.
But now it's different.
Even if they died on the battlefield, not only would their families receive pensions on time, but their children and the elderly would also be supported by military depots in various places, and their own heroes would also be invited to the "Praise and Loyalty Temple" to receive sacrifices at four o'clock and five o'clock.
In this way, they no longer have any worries. It is precisely because of the influence of this atmosphere that not only the Xuanbei military households flocked to it, but also the officers and soldiers of the Xuanfu army battalions also felt honored.
Therefore, in order to preserve today's glory and their family's hard-won happy life, they will never allow anyone to harm Zhang Cheng, and are willing to fight to the death for Zhang Cheng.
But today, Zhang Cheng suddenly announced in front of the generals and many soldiers of the Dushi Infantry Battalion that they would be awarded the title unique to the Dushi Infantry Battalion. This was a supreme honor for them.
Chen Zheng was the first to react. He hurriedly walked to Zhang Cheng and bowed on one knee: "Chen Zheng, on behalf of all the soldiers of Dushi Camp, thank the Marshal for giving the camp number!"
Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said: "Well. You must lead the troops well for me, and you must be worthy of the word 'rock'. No matter when, where, or what enemy you fight, you must be as solid as a rock!"
"Please don't worry, Commander."
After Chen Zheng finished speaking, he stood up immediately. He came to where the soldiers of the Dushi Camp gathered, raised his arms high and shouted loudly: "The Dushi Camp is as solid as a rock, and we will never retreat until we fight!"
"As strong as a rock, it will never retreat in a fight to the death...A rock...will never retreat..."
As the roars finally gathered together and became one voice, all the soldiers in front of the camp on the top of Dushiying in Changling Mountain raised their arms and joined the sea of sound.
…………
Standing on the northeast corner of the camp at the top of Changling Mountain, looking at the remains of the fighting on the battlefield in front of the mountain, I can still feel the intensity of the battle here. Looking at the big pits, I seem to be able to feel the tragedy after the gunpowder was detonated that day.
Chen Zheng stood next to Zhang Cheng. He raised his hand and pointed to the stream in the northeast, telling how the Tatar thieves had gone upstream three times in an attempt to sneak attack the defenders on the mountain, but they were all killed and retreated.
Especially the last sneak attack by the Tatars, due to the tenacious resistance of the soldiers in the central part of the Dushi Camp, they not only repelled the elite Tatars of the Zhenghuang Banner in Manchuria, but also killed Ezhen Ashan of the Zhenghuang Banner in one fell swoop.
Zhang Cheng was in a good mood after hearing the news. So far, the Xuanfu army had achieved brilliant results in Xingshan, killing nearly 5,000 Tatar heads.
This does not include the corpses snatched back by the Tatars on Changling Mountain, as well as those Tatars who were hit by cannons and artillery and are destined to die in the future. If they are also included, then I am afraid that six Tatars will be killed or injured.
As many as seven thousand.
According to this estimate, the Xuanfu army's performance in Xingshan alone almost destroyed the Tatars' strength of almost one banner!
However, Chen Zheng's side mainly killed Mongolian northern barbarians in the first two days, while the Manchu Tatars only joined the battle two days later, and it was only on the last day that they killed the most people.
Of course, killing the Tatar Zhenghuang Banner Gushan Ezhen Ashan was a great achievement. In addition, he also killed the puppet Prince Duduo of Henan, as well as the White Banner Baya Lahu Zhangjing Eshuo and others.
It would be difficult for Zhang Cheng and the Xuanfu Army to become famous!
"Is it the sergeant who killed Ah Shan?"
Chen Zheng hurriedly replied: "Come back to Commander, it was not our Dushi Camp soldiers who killed Ashan, but the Liao People's Army who bravely killed Ashan."
"Oh. Jun Yong?" Zhang Cheng couldn't help but be stunned.
Chen Zheng hurriedly stepped forward and explained cautiously: "Shuaiye, the battle in Changling Mountain is difficult, and the Tatars are attacking in a hurry. The general is good at making decisions, and has recruited some strong men from the people who stayed in the mountain to serve as military braves for the time being.
, to help defend the fortress.”
Since the matter involved the Liao people, it was destined to be inseparable from the generals and military leaders of Liaodong, and Chen Zheng admired the tenacity and bravery of the Liao people very much.
He was also determined to completely keep these Liao people in the army. Therefore, before Zhang Cheng could express his position, he carefully tried to say: "Master Handsome, the Liao people have a feud with the Tartar thieves and have lived in a war-torn place for a long time. But this person
He is a brave man who fights against Tatar thieves and is not afraid of death.
Moreover, their life in Liaodong is difficult, but the Liao people who have survived to this day are all strong and tough, and they are also very resilient even on the battlefield, fighting to the death without retreating."
Zhang Cheng turned to look at Chen Zheng and asked with a smile: "With this little thought of yours, you have fallen in love with someone and want to take it back to the Xuan Mansion. Is that right?"
"hey-hey……"
Chen Zheng laughed innocently, and Nuonuo said: "The handsome man has a sharp eye, but these Liao people are really good soldiers. We are attracted to him wholeheartedly."
He took a step forward, almost touching Zhang Cheng's ear, and said softly: "Master Handsome, why don't we fill the gap for our Dushi Camp."
"What?"
Zhang Cheng couldn't help but was stunned. He stared at Chen Zheng with round eyes and said, "I've taken a fancy to it, what else can I say?"
He pointed back at the main camp in Changling Mountain and asked Chen Zheng: "How many Liao people do you have here? How many young people are there among them? Anyone selected by you will join our Xuanfu army, and their family members can all be naturalized.
I am a military householder in Xuanfu.
I’ll leave this matter to you. After registering and registering, just hand it over to me!”
"Here!"
Chen Zheng never thought that Zhang Cheng would decide the matter so readily. He felt happy and responded to the order much louder.
Then, Zhang Cheng also reported to Song Shanquan, the commander-in-chief of Qian in the central part of Dushi Camp, and the four brave Liao soldiers who killed Ezhen Ashan in Gushan, Zhenghuang Banner.
Zhang Cheng was also very fond of Fang Sihu. He punched the strong man who was half a head taller than himself on the spot, but he didn't move at all.
At the end of the day, Zhang Cheng quietly handed Chen Zheng a message: "Keep this fool with me."
…………
It was just past noon when the Xuanfu army gathered in the Chinese army's tent at the foot of Changling Mountain.
At this moment, intelligence from all parties was gathered, and the movements of the Qing army were generally clear. All the generals gathered here to discuss the next military strategy and how to implement it.
Zhang Chengfang was the only one standing behind Zhang Cheng, while Zhang Mingyuan took Zhang Cheng's victory dew cloth and rode towards Songshan to report his victory under the escort of twenty elite cavalry.
Now, according to reports from spies, there are thousands of Tatars under Xingshan Fort. They are attacking small forts around Xingshan. Many places have been destroyed. Even the remnants of the Tatars under Changling Mountain may have gone there.
.
However, we can’t be sure yet!
Moreover, the spies also discovered that another Tatar army failed to attack Gaoqiao and has now crossed Gaoqiao and headed south. We have not yet discovered its whereabouts.
After Zhang Cheng heard the news, he suddenly remembered something and couldn't help being secretly shocked.
He vaguely remembered that during the Songjin War in history, the Tatars came out of Xingshan with surprise troops, dug trenches, and blocked the Ming army's return route. It also cut off the Ming army's food routes. Duduo also led an army to attack the Ming army.
The army stocked up on Beacon Mountain.
Finally, the hundreds of thousands of Ming troops under Songshan City were thrown into chaos due to lack of food, and they scrambled to flee, only to be defeated by the Tatar thieves.
Although there were officials such as Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, Qiu Minyang, the governor of Liaodong, Cao Bianjiao, the commander-in-chief, Wang Tingchen and other generals, they still stayed in Songshan and never fled back.
However, with few troops and no food, he could no longer do anything significant. He was eventually captured by the Tartar thieves and either surrendered or killed.
The Liao Dynasty also completely collapsed after this battle, and the Ming Dynasty retreated to the subsequent line of defense-Shanhaiguan City!