In the Battle of Daling River, many gains were made in terms of Houjin, but there were only two things that could directly increase the strength of the Eight Banners' elite troops.
One is Zu Dashou’s Guan Ning cavalry.
Although the siege lasted for about three months, most of the horses of Guan Ning's cavalry had entered people's stomachs. However, this was still a well-organized cavalry, and it was the strongest cavalry in the Ming Dynasty.
There is no one.
The unique fighting method of Guan Ning's cavalry is also an excellent complement to the Eight Banners cavalry who are accustomed to long swords and hard bows.
And the other one is the many firearms in Dalinghe City.
Since the Battle of Ningyuan, many cities outside the pass have begun to pay attention to firearms, and it is impossible for a city like Dalinghe not to place a large number of firearms. But after Zu Dashou surrendered to the enemy, these firearms became cheaper.
Already.
Prior to this, Hou Jin, who was also affected by the Battle of Ningyuan, actually began to pay attention to firearms. When they fought against 40,000 Ming reinforcements under Dalinghe City, Hou Jin's cavalry brigade used artillery to suppress it before they began to charge.
After defeating the Ming army and disrupting the Ming army's formation, they began to charge into the formation.
The actual battle conditions have also proven that firearms, as long as they are used properly on such a large-scale battlefield, can greatly reduce the number of elite Eight Banners soldiers who are not large in number.
All these seized firearms were brought back to Shengjing by the Houjin people. However, how to use them is also a problem for the Houjin side. Among the Houjin generals
, people who can skillfully use and maintain firearms are much harder to find than in Daming.
Of course, the replenishment and maintenance of firearms is also a problem. Although the Ming Dynasty's cannon-casting technology is slightly inferior to that of the Folangji people, it is already strong compared to the Houjin people who have basically no talent reserves.
Gone to heaven.
Since you plan to use these firearms, you naturally cannot use them less and less. You must replenish and maintain them at any time.
Zu Dashou is in charge of these things now, but Hou Jin directly broke up his Guan Ning cavalry and divided them into pieces, and then incorporated them into the Han army flags of each banner. After such a torment, these descended soldiers have basically become
It won't pose any threat.
In Shengjing, although he was greeted with endless banquets and socialized with a group of princes and nobles every day, Zu Dashou knew that in their hearts, these people did not look down on him at all, even if their faces were smiling like flowers.
Likewise, there is no doubt that I despise myself.
It doesn't matter, he also looks down on these barbarians with pig tails.
Recently, at a certain Beizi's banquet, he faintly heard them making fun of someone. Although they still used their own language, they seemed to have forgotten that his ancestor Dashou had been outside the customs for almost all his life and could roughly understand these Tatars.
There is still no problem with the children's speech.
It's just that, on weekdays, he just pretends that he doesn't understand.
A few days after the banquet, he took the opportunity to go to the Wenguan. In Shengjing today, Huang Taiji meant that he could go to places that others could go. Although there were not many places that could be believed in what he said,
The Wenguan, where almost all of the people gathered were literati from the Ming Dynasty who had lowered their royalties, was the only place he could go to with confidence.
If the guys who surrendered together gather together, what else can they discuss? Even if it is not good for Hou Jin, naturally some of these guys will reveal the news.
In order to show their trust in the literati in the library, Hou Jin not only gave these literati extremely high treatment, but also did not even monitor them. If there were ignorant Hou Jin dudes who bullied these literati, as long as something happened
When you sue Huang Taiji, you will definitely get it right. No matter whether it is right or wrong, the unlucky one will definitely be the Dandy Houjin.
As time went by, this literary museum in Shengjing began to feel a bit forbearing and detached.
Today, Zu Dashou does not wear the robes of a military commander, but wears Confucian clothes. This outfit would have been normal in a literary library, but when worn on Zu Dashou's tall and thick figure, it looked a bit out of place.
"Who are you looking for?"
When an official from the library came up to ask, Zu Dashou smiled and shook his head: "I'm just taking a look around, you don't have to worry about me!"
"Is this a place where you can walk around and take a look?" The official was a little unhappy. Although the other party seemed to be a wise man, this gave him more confidence to reprimand the other party.
"I am Zu Dashou!" Zu Dashou raised his eyelids and glanced at the other party, then walked straight in.
The official was stunned when he heard the name, but he no longer dared to stop the other party. He just rushed in, not knowing who to report the message to.
Zu Dashou was like a country boy who saw everything new, touching here and there, but the news quickly spread in the library, and more and more eyes gathered around him.
Finally, someone walked towards Zu Dashou with a smile: "Why does General Zu have time to visit the library today? Is there anything I can do for General Zu?"
"Can't I just come and chat with you guys when I have nothing to do?" Zu Dashou chuckled: "Even the Great Khan asked me to come to the library more often when I have nothing to do. You don't want to welcome me, right?"
"How could it be? General Zu is here to invite you. Everyone has admired the general for a long time, but we just haven't had the chance to see him all the time!"
In the open room, several literati chatted with Zu Dashou. The two sides seemed to be in harmony, but no one on either side mentioned some sensitive topics. Instead, they talked more about the affairs of Shengjing, and after this
Having spent some time in the high-end social circles of Shengjing, Zu Dashou was able to cope with this kind of situation very well.
It's not like someone comes over, introduces himself to Zu Dashou, or someone else introduces him, and then adds a few words to the topic.
With Zu Dashou's qualifications and Huang Taiji's attention, it is meaningless. As long as Zu Dashou truly serves Houjin, his future will be far better than that of these literati.
The Later Jin Dynasty is not the Ming Dynasty. Here, martial arts and bravery are much more valued than dancing and writing.
After staying for almost an hour, Zu Dashou finally saw the person he wanted to see, but he was among a group of civil servants. This person seemed to be a little excluded.
"Ning Wanme, Mr. Ning's name means that he is knowledgeable and dares to fight!" He rubbed his chin with his palm as big as a leaf fan: "Don't mind if you call me sir by name, I just want to go to the literary library recently.
I'm looking for a few people to help me, and the Great Khan also agreed. Mr. Ning has been to the Daling River, let alone that. I must ask Mr. Ning to come to our army to help me!"
"Ah!" Ning Wan and I were in a daze: "I don't mind General Zu calling my name, but I've been to the Daling River. General Zu, don't you mind?"
"At that time, everyone was their master, so there was nothing to mind!" Zu Dashou waved his hand: "Now we all serve the same master, there is nothing to mind!"
All the literati laughed and looked for reasons to leave. They still had high eyebrows and low eyesight. Soon, Ning Wan and I were the only ones left beside Zu Dashou.
"I heard that you just came back from Dongjiang Town?"
"Well, I just came back not long ago!"
"Everyone who went with you died, and you are the only one who came back alive?" Zu Dashou asked with a smile: "It seems that Mr. Ning is not only talented and knowledgeable, but also courageous and lucky. This is exactly the talent I am looking for.
ah!"
"General Zu, do you want to ask me about the situation in Dongjiang Town?" Ning Wanwo replied with a smile without changing his expression.
"This year's crusade against Dongjiang Town, I have already asked the Great Khan to fight!" Zu Dashou said proudly: "If nothing else, Dongjiang Town is a surrender gift to the Great Khan. Since you have been to Dongjiang Town, you have only
Come back and I'll come to you to ask about the situation in this place. Isn't this normal?"
"It's normal!" Ning Wanwo nodded: "It's just that I don't know whether I should tell General Zu about these things. I can understand General Zu's eagerness to perform meritorious services, but I finally escaped from Dongjiang Town, and I don't want to do it because of
For this matter, the Great Khan gave me death for no apparent reason!"
"That's why I want you to work in our army. What is your current official position?"
Ning Wanwo seemed to understand the logic of this, and a smile appeared on his face: "After becoming General Zu's subordinate, nothing can be said to be wrong, is that right?"
"You are a smart person!" Zu Dashou said with a smile: "There is no scholar who has insufficient brains. Moreover, you came back alone. I see that you are being squeezed out by your colleagues. I am afraid that your life will not be easy. At this time, you
Help me, let me help you, and everyone will feel better!"
After Zu Dashou finished speaking, he stopped talking and waited for the other party's answer.
If it were a surrendered general with no foundation, Ning Wan and I would definitely not trust him, but Zu Dashou came with 6,000 iron cavalry. Even if there are no horses, they are still cavalry, and there is no shortage of gold.
Horse's.
After weighing it in my mind, Ning Wanwo slowly said, "What does General Zu want to know?"
…
More than an hour later, Zu Dashou left with satisfaction. After Ning Wan and I were silent for a while, I returned to my room.
He knew that there would definitely be colleagues in the literary library who would report the time Zu Dashou chatted with him alone. However, he was not worried about this matter at all. It did not matter whether what Zu Dashou said to him was true or false.
Important thing, because of this matter, he can legitimately join Zu Dashou's command, which will have obvious benefits for what he will do in the future.
When Zu Dashou returned to his residence, his behavior was normal. It was only late at night that his son Zu Zehong and adopted son Zu Kefa, who had surrendered with him, gathered in his study according to his instructions.
"Dad, let's discuss things in the study at night. There won't be any problems, right?"
Zu Zehong was the first to speak: "There are always people watching us!"
"It's strange that no one is watching!" Zu Dashou snorted: "Now that I have no soldiers and no power, I can't even chat with my son, so why don't we just lock up our family to avoid so much trouble? Huang Taiji wants to
Damn it, don’t worry!”
"Is this a big deal for my adopted father?" his adopted son Zu Kefa asked cautiously.
"Today I went to the civil service and met an official who had just returned from Dongjiang Town. He went to persuade Jiang Wan, the commander-in-chief of Dongjiang Town, to surrender!"
Zu Dashou smiled and said: "Jiang Wan is not well-known, but he is a ruthless person. He killed all his followers and escaped alone!"
"Escape back?" Zu Zehong sneered: "He's a liar, let him come back!"
"Of course, do you think this civil servant is so powerful that he can beat a hundred of them?" Zu Dashou glanced at his son: "Of course there is something fishy in this, but this is not what we care about!"
"Then what are we concerned about?" Zukfa asked.
"Zhenjiang Fort!" Zu Dashou said fiercely: "Jiang Wan seems to have some tricks. The method he used to take down Zhenjiang Fort is the same as how to deal with our Dalinghe. After taking Zhenjiang Fort, he recruited people in Zhenjiang Fort.
The refugees have carried out extensive construction work and built four auxiliary forts. It is said that there are tens of thousands of refugees attached to Zhenjiang Fort now!"
"Dad, do you want to lead troops to attack Zhenjiang Fort?" Zu Zehong whispered: "It doesn't sound like it's easier to fight than Jinzhou. Besides, does Huang Taiji dare to let dad lead troops?"
"I am sure you dare to take the soldiers, but I can't decide how many and what kind of soldiers to take!" Zu Dashou nodded slowly: "I want to take Zhenjiang Fort, but not for this.
Tartars, but for our own sake, if possible, it is okay to communicate with Jiang Wan!"
"For ourselves?" The faces of the two sons became serious. No wonder they had to discuss this matter in the study at night. This was overheard by others, and they had two minds.
"Our ancestral family has been a big family in Liaodong for generations. Now you and I and our families are here. Most of our relatives are still in Jinzhou. Could it be said that you plan to stay here and then be scolded by your relatives and even die?
You can’t even enter the ancestral graves?”
The two sons shook their heads slowly.
"Then, it is very important for us to find a foothold for ourselves. We will not listen to the Ming Dynasty or the Houjin Tartars. We must rely on ourselves!" Zu Dashou said with a gloomy face: "Zhenjiang Fort is a good place.
If the place is short of food, you can go to North Korea to plunder it, or you can recruit refugees to plant it. With the reputation of our ancestral family, a Jiang Wan of unknown origin can gather tens of thousands of people, and the ancestral family can only gather more people!"
"As long as there are people, there will be food and soldiers!" Zu Dashou said: "We have the confidence to speak, and we don't have to be controlled by others. I also guessed a little bit of Huang Taiji's thoughts. As long as I don't openly rebel against him.
, even if I was perfunctory about his orders after taking Zhenjiang Fort, he wouldn’t break his face directly, at least, not right away!”
He said in a low voice: "I have thought about this matter carefully. As long as we do it carefully and move quickly, we have a great chance of success. Once we stand firm, no one can order us to take it."
Let’s be treated like dogs!”
The two sons began to think deeply, and the more they thought about it, the more obvious the brilliance in their eyes became, and the more excited they became.
"Dad, where should we start with this matter?"
"Only the three of us, father and son, know about this matter. Only the three of us know my intentions. As long as we don't say it, the news will not leak out!" Zu Dashou said: "The first step is, of course, I will go to see Huang Taiji and ask him for a fight.
Conquer Dongjiang Town!"
"As for you two, you want to have a good relationship with the new civil servant I hired. If our guess is correct, he may be Jiang Wan's pawn. Huang Taiji must also know this, but he actually
If we don't pursue this matter, he must have some plans. Anyway, let's just pretend we don't know. The more things we take out from this official's mouth, the more confident we will be!"
"Don't you need to contact our former subordinates?"
"No, never!" Zu Dashou shook his head decisively: "If I contact them, I'm afraid I won't be able to lead the troops to go on an expedition. Remember, remember..."