Chapter 43: Soldiers go out to Dali, the King of Jin retreats
Chen Zuocai was pedantic. Historically, he was a man who set a spiritual example of "loyalty" to his contemporaries with his unique actions. Although his words and deeds of strictly abiding by "the emperor, the emperor, the minister" were not liked by Zhu Yongxing, he wanted to make Menghua Mansion truly under his rule.
, to become a part of the great cause of resisting the Qing Dynasty, given Chen Zuocai's background and his relationship with Zuo Xinghai, I really can't find anyone more suitable than him.
Therefore, Zhu Yongxing did not show anything on the surface, but gave Chen Zuocai the title of official in Menghua Prefecture. Because Chen Zuocai was passionate and enthusiastic, he would definitely fulfill his duties, so that there would be people in Menghua Prefecture who could contribute, instead of like before.
As for Zuo Xinghai's request, Zhu Yongxing readily agreed. After losing the people and granting them land, there was plenty of land anyway. Dispersing the people and dividing their power was a long-term solution to breaking the chieftain system, but those chieftains were still
I thought I was taking advantage.
When Zhu Yongxing led his army out of Dali, everything had been basically arranged. If the Battle of Tengchong allowed people to see a flash of light in the darkness, the counterattack in western Yunnan lifted a dark cloud. After experiencing the violence of the Qing army, the Ming army was defeated
After being liberated again, the oppressive haze in the hearts of the people dissipated. After feeling the contrast, the people hoped that those oppressive days would never come again.
With the improvement of the pay of the Ming army, their fulfillment in Annan, and the encouragement of victory, more and more people in the New Guangfu District in western Yunnan joined the army. Among them, the more famous ones with larger numbers include Yongchang Zhang Qi and Dali Zhang
Tai, Mei Asi, Heqing Yin Shihung, Miao Shihong, etc.
After being selected and subdued, most of the captured Qing soldiers from the Gansu and Shaanxi Green Camps and the Huguang Green Camps were replenished into the troops selected by Jin Wang Li Dingguo and Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan. Because Zhu Yongxing had to lead his army back to aid Yuanjiang, it was not easy to bring too many Shang with him.
Troops who need to be educated and whose loyalty has not been proven.
If several additional supporting soldiers are added, from the counterattack to the present, the total strength of the Ming army has not been reduced, but has increased by more than 10,000. However, the combat strength is hard to say. Zhu Yongxing feels that it will take another period of digestion and digestion.
Only by training can we be ready for another battle. Therefore, although Jin King Li Dingguo led his troops to capture Erhaiwei (now Xiangyun County) with only a few defenders, he defeated the reinforcements that came to suppress Fuqian Town. He also made a plan to continue attacking Yao An and Chu Xiong.
posture. But the counteroffensive in western Yunnan has actually ended.
It has always been Zhu Yongxing's principle to bite off more than he can chew. The Qing army in Yunnan Province was caught by the Ming army because of the vast area it had to defend. In addition, it used effective breakthroughs
With the help of the city, the Qing army's defense turned into a defense to the death, and was defeated one by one by the Ming army.
As long as we gain a firm foothold in western Yunnan, recharge our batteries, and form a strategic threat to Chuxiong and Kunming in the west, we will achieve the purpose of this counterattack. If the Yuanjiang Battle can be won again, the strategic situation of Yunnan Province will change.
It must be more advantageous to the Ming army. The Qing army in Kunming has to face threats from the west and south. It must not only defend Kunming, a city of great political significance, with heavy troops, but also deploy mobile forces to attack. Obviously, in a short period of time
It's something very difficult to do.
The topography, climate, water and soil of Yunnan Province are obviously more conducive to the maneuvering operations between the Ming and Qing armies. Zhu Yongxing hopes to contain and eliminate more enemies in Yunnan Province so that he can reduce the risk when infiltrating and opening up the Sichuan and Guangxi battlefields.
resistance.
When Zhu Yongxing led his army to the Erhai Acropolis, Jin King Li Dingguo and Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan came to discuss the future military deployment and saw Zhu Yongxing off. In the Erhai Acropolis, Zhu Yongxing saw many people joining the army, most of whom were soldiers.
From the surrounding villages. This is exactly the effect of the order he issued. And the influence will become wider and wider.
After the Ming Dynasty initially settled in Yunnan, the Han-dominated army that followed Lan Yu and Mu Ying to pacify Yunnan stayed in Yunnan. In the seventeenth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered that all the military dependents who stayed in Xu be sent from the mainland within a time limit.
Yunnan. The troops who entered Yunnan became registered military households, especially in the Erhaiweiba area. Many villages still retain the names of camp, camp and camp, such as Housuo, Qiansuo, Zuosuo,
Liuguantun, Dongying, Kongwuying, Ruanjiaying, etc.
These descendants of the Ming army in Tunxu obviously have a deeper affection for the Ming Dynasty than the ethnic minorities. Moreover, the families of the soldiers are exempted from paying rent and taxes this year, and will only pay 20% of the harvest in the future. For those whose property was plundered by the Qing army entering Yunnan
For people who have suffered serious losses, this is still very attractive. After all, it means that they can breathe a sigh of relief this year and their families can eat a few more meals.
If the military families rent the land, those who are willing to go to Annan or other places will be granted new fields; those who are unwilling to leave will be replaced or redeemed by the government, and the original fields will be given to the military families according to the number of land coupons.
The main thing is to either accept other land or accept an IOU and get the money back with interest after five years.
After the war in Yunnan Province, there were many ownerless and abandoned fields, which would be measured and registered by the government, and resold or leased. Zhu Yongxing's approach was just to turn the land into money to use for military pay, but the soldiers and their families did gain from it.
As a result, the policy has been supported and welcomed by the people.
There are more poor people than rich people, so Zhu Yongxing must win over the majority. The interests of the minority can be properly taken care of, but he cannot give up the basics and focus on them. Moreover, Zhu Yongxing would rather slow down the pace of military operations and extend the time to accumulate money, food and supplies.
, but also to lay a solid foundation so that the people under its rule can live a better life.
If you want to attack the whole country from one corner, if this corner is not solid and stable enough, how can you still sustain it after several wars, the people were killed and wounded and the people fled, and the place was reduced to ruins?
"If policies are to be implemented, local officials must serve with sincerity." Zhu Yongxing called Wang Junzhi, the newly appointed magistrate of Erhaiwei County, and introduced him to the kings of Jin and Zhao. "Although Magistrate Wang is young, he has his own drive.
and energy, so that we can stabilize the place as soon as possible and serve our Ming army."
"Your Highness has a keen eye for talents. Magistrate Wang must have outstanding talents." Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan nodded politely. Since he was an official selected by Zhu Yongxing, he naturally had to give him some face.
"The current general of the Erhai Guard garrison is General Hu Shundu. If the Wang County Magistrate has anything to do, he can inform him." Jin King Li Dingguo also smiled and nodded, as a greeting.
"Yamen, if we want to recruit all the arrests, it will take this time. Please ask General Hu to send a small banner of soldiers to the king's county magistrate first." Zhu Yongxing smiled and said to Li Dingguo: "If the local powerful take advantage of the situation, the king will
The county magistrate can suppress it in time without delay. King Jin, what do you think?"
"This matter is easy to handle. I will give the order to General Hu." Li Dingguo nodded readily.
Zhu Yongxing paved the way for Wang Junzhi and ordered him to retreat. Then he began to discuss future action plans with the kings of Jin and Zhao. Although there were rough plans before, the situation was different, and there was a need to revise or improve it.
.
"It seems that the main force of our army can be stationed at Erhaiwei and Midu to protect Dali with the force of a horn." On the map spread out, King Li Dingguo of Jin began to express his thoughts. "Menghua Prefecture (now Weishan, Nanjian)
, Binchuan will also station troops to use this as a line of defense to protect western Yunnan."
Zhu Yongxing moved his finger on the map and said: "As for the outposts, I think we can approach Nanhua and Yao'an to gain more warning time. When the Battle of Yuanjiang is over, the containment feints here can be stopped. At that time, we will open the road
Destroy all of them and make it more difficult for the Qing army to attack."
"I think it's okay." Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan nodded in agreement and said, "With a few months of rest and training, our army will not be afraid of the Qing army's attack. We can even switch from defense to offense."
"Yes!" Jin King Li Dingguo agreed: "The new recruits are not ready for use at present, and we really need time to reorganize and train them."
"How about using combat as a substitute for training?" Zhu Yongxing said thoughtfully: "A master of military art once said: Defense is not a simple shield. It is a shield composed of clever strikes. It is just defense, fear
It is too passive. If there is also offense in the defense, that is, in terms of the overall strategy, the long-term defense on the inside, and in terms of tactics, it is better to conduct external campaigns or battles."
Jin Wang Li Dingguo and Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan already understood Zhu Yongxing's terms such as strategy, tactics, inside lines, and outside lines, so they were not surprised. They thought carefully about the concept of active defense mentioned by Zhu Yongxing. Both kings focused their attention on the map.
, looking for locations for external operations.
"How about Dayao?" Li Dingguo pointed at the map and said, "Yao An, Nanhua can also do it, which makes the Qing army always fearful and dare not move lightly."
"The two princes can use their troops flexibly according to the actual situation, and be cautious in big battles. Small battles often occur, which not only frightens the Qing army, but also tests its weaknesses." Zhu Yongxing did not want to make a judgment now. He turned to other military issues.
"To expand into Sichuan, we should focus on infiltration. First, send a small number of elite troops into Yongning Prefecture to establish a stable base, and then gradually transport food and increase troops and move people, either to the north or east, to expand the territory."
"Back then, Kublai Khan marched along Gansu, Shaanxi, Shu, and Yunnan provinces, hoping to destroy the Southern Song Dynasty in a roundabout way." Li Dingguo thought about it and said, "Your Highness, you want to do it instead?"
Zhu Yongxing smiled ambiguously and did not answer directly. When he expanded into Shu, he could also join forces with the Thirteen Kuidong families to break through the Qing Dynasty's Yangtze River defense line. However, the Daxi Army and the Dashun Army had always had a bad relationship, so he did not want to go too early.
This idea was put forward to prevent Li Dingguo or Bai Wenxuan from not actively expanding into Shu.
Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan had no objection to this and said: "Three thousand troops from the three provinces of Zhenshuo Bo and Wu are already in Lijiang. When the food and grass are ready, they can mobilize the local soldiers of the Mu family to assist in the battle and march north to Yongning Prefecture."
"The Qing government does not have many troops in Shu, and its rule is not yet stable. It is a good time to open a battlefield at this time." Jin Wang Li Dingguo also agreed and took the initiative to ask for help. "When the situation in Yunnan Province stabilizes, I am willing to lead a large army into Shu."
Fight."
Zhu Yongxing was stunned for a moment. He was a little surprised by Li Dingguo's decision. After leaving Dian Province, did he ignore Yongli and the small court in Myanmar?
"The improper handling of the westward retreat that day led to the loss of morale of the troops staying in southern Sichuan. Moreover, the generals were at odds with each other and attacked each other. Later, they surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, and southern Sichuan failed to defend. It is all my fault." Li Dingguo said with some sadness.
: "I have always been grudged in my heart, and given this opportunity, I am willing to make amends for my past mistakes."
"The King of Jin was too harsh." Zhu Yongxing comforted him, but he just went with the flow and handed over the task of entering Sichuan to Li Dingguo.
Due to successive years of war, the population of Sichuan has been greatly reduced. The most serious places are in northern and western Sichuan, where only 23 out of 10 residents survive. In central Sichuan, due to frequent wars, the fields are barren, there is no food accumulation, and famine is serious. This is
The reason why it was impossible for the Qing army to station troops on a large scale and occupy a large area was also the reason why the Ming army struggled to expand.
Logistics supply is the top priority, and the war after entering Sichuan comes second. Western Yunnan has newly recovered, and the autumn harvest has just passed. With the food aid from Siam, it can be sustained for a while, but it is obviously still very difficult for the army to enter Sichuan immediately. Li Dingguo and Bai
Wenxuan is also well aware of this, so he has no objections to Zhu Yongxing's plan to use a small force to infiltrate and establish a base first.
Next came the discussion of the Yuanjiang Campaign. The two plans made Zhu Yongxing and the two kings hesitate to make the final decision.
The safe and conservative plan is naturally to send the army south to Menghua (now Weishan, Nanjian), pass through Fufu, and then go down the Yuanjiang River to join forces with the Yuanjiang rebels to fight against Wu Sangui.
The active and bold plan was to send the army eastward in the middle section of Yuanjiang River. Passing through Xinping and Ashan along the way, and pointing at Shiping from the northwest, thereby forming an encirclement situation against the Qing army attacking Yuanjiang River.
"Don't be too greedy." Zhu Yongxing smiled bitterly and vetoed the aggressive and bold encirclement plan. Although it was tempting, there were too many variables and too many risks. Western Yunnan had already won a great victory. Yuanjiang only needed to repel the Qing army.
It's perfect.
Zhao Wang Bai Wenxuan breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "It's better to be safe, let Wu Ni and the three ghosts live a little longer!"
Jin King Li Dingguo gently nodded his head and said: "The Qing army led by Wu Ni is large and powerful and should not be underestimated. We only need to hold Yuanjiang firmly. When the food and grass are no longer available, we can retreat and pursue them. We may easily win."
.”
Winning the pursuit does not seem to be easy for an old army like Wu Sangui. Although Zhu Yongxing adopted a prudent plan, it does not mean that it cannot deal a heavy blow to the Qing army, or even destroy it. The topography of Yuanjiang City
It is a condition that can be exploited. What kind of results can be achieved depends on Wu Sangui's plan for attacking Yuanjiang City.
Zhu Yongxing doesn’t want to say anything yet. After all, it is just a possible idea. Next, there is the reallocation of troops. When he came to western Yunnan from Yuanjiang, Zhu Yongxing brought a total of 7,000 troops. Not many died in the battle, but some artillery and
Engineers were recruited as instructors under Li Dingguo and Bai Wenxuan, and the wounded were left for treatment and recuperation. Now there are less than 6,000 left.
Zhao Wang Bai Wen selected General Chen Sheng and three thousand elite soldiers to Zhu Yongxing. King Li Dingguo of Jin did not hide his secrets. General Wang Daoheng was an old soldier, and the three thousand soldiers had experienced many battles.
This is what it looks like to unite sincerely and face the enemy as one. Zhu Yongxing was pleased with this. Perhaps the two kings of Jin and Zhao were grateful for Zhu Yongxing's sincere treatment and reciprocated the favor; perhaps they knew that the resistance against the Qing Dynasty in Yunnan Province was a game of chess and defeat
Wu Sangui was good to everyone; perhaps there were other changes in their thoughts. Bai Wenxuan showed his kindness to Zhu Yongxing, and Li Dingguo asked Ying to leave Yunnan and join Sichuan. This can explain the problem to a certain extent.
After all the discussions were completed, the three leaders of the Southwest Ming Army seemed to be in a good mood. They set out to drink wine, talked happily, and left slightly drunk.
……………
The bright moonlight decorates the night sky, like an endless transparent sea, quiet, vast, and mysterious. The dense stars are twinkling and dancing with tiny light spots.
King Li Dingguo of Jin Dynasty was half-reclining in a chair, alone in the courtyard, his eyes seemed to be closed, and he was looking calmly at the night sky. He seemed to be asleep, and he seemed to be meditating for a long time.
The crown prince, Li Sixing, walked slowly over and covered his father with a large cloak. When he looked up, he found that his father had opened his eyes and was looking at him with a smile.
"Father—" Li Sixing called out, paused, and said, "Tomorrow my child will go east to Yuanjiang with His Highness Min. I wonder what else my father can teach me?"
Li Dingguo glanced at the night sky again, exhaled a long breath, and said meaningfully: "People have been discussing this celestial phenomenon for some time. Sometimes they say that the rain is not clear for a long time, the yin is strong and the yang is declining, and the water virtues should extinguish the fire; sometimes they say that the sky is empty.
When clouds and thunder appear, heroes will descend from the sky to save China; a moment later, it is said that the Taibai star is small and dim, and the main army will be defeated and the country will be destroyed. In short, there are different opinions and no consensus."
"Those who believe in the art of asking Heaven have it, but those who don't believe it don't." Li Sixing considered his words and said slowly: "There are many false words. If you believe them, you will have doubts and fears. It is better to do your best and obey the destiny."
Jin Wang Li Dingguo nodded slightly, glanced at his son with admiration, and said with a smile: "My son has grown up."
"His Royal Highness Min once said: The saying that the law of heaven is impermanent is not entirely true. There are still warning rules that can be followed. The collapse of the building is the punishment of heaven for our dynasty. Only by promoting the law of heaven can we turn the crisis into peace." Li Sixing said with some embarrassment.
Said: "There were many riots in our dynasty, which led to the Qing troops entering the country and sweeping the world. Rather than saying it was a natural disaster, it is more accurate to say it was a coup. The party was united against dissidents, internal strife continued, the people were treated harshly, and corruption was rampant... I don't know why.
If you fall, how can you know how to revive?"
"If you don't know why you failed, how can you know how to prosper?" Li Dingguo figured it out carefully, shook his head gently with emotion, and sighed: "My father knew why he failed in the past, so he just asked Ying to go to Sichuan. Firstly, he made up for his mistakes; secondly, he also said
I want to stay away from this place of wrongdoing in Yunnan Province.”
"The recovery of Yunnan Province is just around the corner, so what's the right and wrong?" Li Sixing asked strangely.
Li Dingguo smiled faintly, but did not explain that he was afraid that his son might have a grudge, so he would not follow Zhu Yongxing. After a pause, he said quietly: "If as a father I fight His Highness Min on the battlefield, well, it's just a metaphor.
Let’s see who is stronger?”
"Father--" Li Sixing was stunned for a moment, misunderstanding what his father meant, thinking that his father was worried that Zhu Yongxing was not Wu Sangui's opponent, so he said: "Father is rich in experience and full of wisdom when it comes to fighting in battle formations; His Highness Min is also a celestial being.
Although he is talented, he is still not as good as his father."
"I am not as good as His Highness Min!" Li Dingguo shook his head slightly and said: "The hearts and minds of the people and the army are gradually returning to Your Highness. Even if we are fighting in battle, it is difficult for us as a father to predict the outcome. Moreover, Your Highness has the ability to ask questions about the sky, so he is invincible.