The people and horses on the road are in good order, flags are flying, and they are rolling forward.
Wei Junzhong, currently the highest-ranking general with a military training background, rode along with the troops, scanning his troops with serious eyes from time to time.
Starting from the first model battalion equipped with flintlock muskets and bayonets, he commanded more and more troops. At the end of the Guangzhou Campaign, he was already the commander of a division with three regiments under his command. Although there were continuous expansions in the process
, his officers were constantly transferred to other musketry units, but under strict training, Wei Junzhong still dared to pat his chest and say that his unit was the most elite in the Ming army.
In fact, this is indeed the case. From the mixed equipment of spears and muskets to the full musketeer system, the troops under Wei Junzhong fought the most battles. They were also a model unit for improved tactics and weapons, and were the first choice for internship training for officers who graduated from the Martial Arts Hall.
Of course, this fist force has received priority in personnel and equipment replenishment. The new recruits are in relatively good physical condition, the number of artillery is fully equipped, and the mules and horses are also one step ahead of other troops.
Because of this, after the Battle of Guangzhou, the First Division led by Wei Junzhong followed the Jin Crown Prince Li Sixing to the north to attack and plunder. The reason is very simple. The number of Ming troops continuing the eastward expedition was twice that of the northern troops, so they naturally had to use elite troops.
To make up for the lack of numbers in the northern marching corps.
In fact, the movement northward went more smoothly than expected. After the capture of Guangzhou, Shang Ni appointed the leader, which greatly shocked the remaining Qing troops in Guangdong. With the persuasion of Miao Wenxiu, Wu Qizhen and other generals to surrender their troops,
The Northern Army Corps advanced all the way, but there was no large-scale battle, and they easily captured Shaoguan.
When the Ming army invaded Guangdong, Shang Kexi sent people everywhere to ask for help. There were few major generals in Jiangxi, so it was difficult to gather large troops in a hurry. So they only sent Liu Bolu, the guard of Nan'an Prefecture (Fu Zhi Dayu), and Jin Zhen led three thousand troops.
The remaining soldiers and more than 2,000 Ganzhou garrison came to reinforce. Liu Bolu and Jin Zhen knew that their troops were not large, so after entering Guangdong, they stationed themselves in Nanxiong to watch the changes in the battle situation.
When the news of the fall of Guangzhou and the death of Ping Fan came, Liu Bolu and Jin Zhen were inexplicably horrified and frightened. When the Ming Army's northern marching regiment quickly approached and surrendered Shaoguan without a fight, the two men immediately gave up Nanxiong.
He led his troops across Meiling and fled back to his hometown, Nan'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province.
In this way, the strategic purpose of the Northern March Corps has been achieved. With Nanxiong as the backing, it built fortifications in the Meiling and Xiaomeiling areas, built the northern barrier of Guangzhou, and put pressure on the Qing army in Jiangxi. So much so that the Nan'an Prefecture
Liu Bolu, Jin was shocked and still in shock, and went to Ganzhou "crying blood for help, and reported four times at a moment. He was in danger."
The Northern Expedition Corps and the Eastern Expedition Corps originally had similar strategic purposes. They both built a defense line to protect Guangzhou, suspended military operations, and hoarded ammunition and supplies for the next military operation. It was just the Eastern Expedition Corps that took a sneak peek and moved.
They launched another offensive and entered Fujian Province.
In order to ensure that the Eastern Front had the greatest chance of victory when facing the Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners and the Geng Ni vassal troops, Zhu Yongxing logically transferred elite troops from the relatively stable Northern Front and rushed to reinforce the Eastern Front battlefield. Wei Junzhong's division was ordered to mobilize two regiments
It was incorporated into the Eastern Expedition system, while the other regiment continued to stay on the northern front to serve as the backbone and main force.
Like Ruyang Wang Mabao, when Wei Junzhong learned that he would fight against the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia, his heart was not fearful, but full of pride and desire. This kind of mobilization showed that his troops were worthy of being the elite in the army. The Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia
Only they can handle such a powerful force. At the same time, the military merit, honor, and fame of defeating the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia are extremely attractive to Wei Junzhong.
"Your Highness is so thoughtful!" Wei Junzhong looked at the troops who were marching in an orderly manner. He felt quite proud and was not worried about having no place to use them after arriving at the Eastern Front.
The edict made it clear that the troops he led were both reinforcements and return troops. In other words, they would be troops affiliated with the Eastern Expedition Corps and would be under the command of Ma Bao. This eliminated Ma Bao's fear of the guest troops making meritorious deeds.
The Eastern Expedition Corps is worried about losing its reputation. Without this worry, in order to be more sure of victory over the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia, Wei Junzhong's troops will undoubtedly be the first choice for the battle.
Not only the supply of weapons and equipment, Zhu Yongxing at the rear was also striving to make the combat generals less fettered and have less opportunities to be careful, so that they could wholeheartedly win the victory.
Wei Junzhong did not have too many distracting thoughts at this time, but was concentrating on thinking about the tactics and formations that should be adopted against the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia. This battle was of great importance, and Wei Junzhong had already seen it quite clearly from Zhu Yongxing's series of adjustments.
The Ming army needed a buffer time to replenish weapons and ammunition, train new soldiers, stabilize the place, and gather strength again, and this buffer time could only be obtained after defeating the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia.
Fight steadily and carry out crushing attacks with absolute strength including troop strength, firepower and other factors to minimize the uncertain effects of the war. To this day, there are not a few generals who understand Zhu Yongxing's war ideas and implement them.
, Wei Junzhong is one of them, which is also an important reason why he is favored by Zhu Yongxing.
Six thousand versus five thousand? On one side were artillery, flintlock muskets and bayonets, on the other side were cavalry and archery galloping freely. Wei Jun weighed the balance of troops and weapons, knowing full well the significance of winning when the troops were of similar strength. This history
Ah, after all, it will be written by our generation, and the myth of invincibility in cavalry and archery will also be shattered in our hands.
An exciting emotion surged through his body. Wei Junzhong clamped his legs on the horse's belly and rushed forward. It seemed that in front of him was the arrogant and indulgent Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia.
……………
Zhangping in the northeast of Longyan has been recovered by the Eastern Expedition Ming Army, but the campaign into Fujian has been temporarily suspended. The Eastern Expedition Ming Army no longer goes deep, but uses Longyan as the defense center to sweep through surrounding counties and towns. Zhangping, Shanghang, Hua'an, Liancheng
The other places were either captured easily or surrendered voluntarily. This area in northwest Fujian was all owned by the Ming army.
"Your Highness has tried his best. Our generals at the front hope to accomplish extraordinary feats and defeat powerful enemies, but we must also use our troops with caution so as not to disappoint Your Highness!" Prince Ma Bao of Ruyang read a list of the latest supplies and stretched out his hand.
He handed it to Chief of Staff Wu Sansheng with a solemn look on his face.
Yes, defeating the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia is enough to become famous all over the world and to accomplish a great feat. But if it fails, the responsibility is not small. What's more, the current personnel and materials are tilted here, which shows the expectations of the rear for this battle.
Invisibly, the pressure on Ma Bao and others increased.
"Ten thousand muskets, three hundred thousand fixed-load ammunition, fifty Tianwei cannons, sixty Franchise machines, one hundred sky-blasting cannons..." Wu Sansheng was reading, clicking his tongue and sighing:
"This is where we brought everything we have on hand! As far as I know, this seems to be the planned equipment for the Yangtze River Navy and the Thirteenth Family. Your Highness is wise and understands the priorities. He has such a clear understanding——
It’s really our blessing.”
"Haha." Ma Bao laughed for a while and said: "Old Wu, our brother is still hesitant to speak. Ming Lord, Ming Jun, you can say whatever you want. What other charges can I put on you?"
Wu Sanxiao laughed awkwardly twice and said: "Your Highness doesn't want to hear outside discussions yet, so you should keep your words in check."
During the Southern Ming Dynasty, there was a time when the power of the imperial court was completely controlled by Sun Kewang, King of Qin. The so-called Yongli imperial court was just an empty show in name only. It was barely supported by a small group of civil and military officials, and all military and state affairs were decided by Sun Kewang.
Under the circumstances at that time, Sun Kewang was in great power, and it would be extremely easy to play the trick of "conceding". The problem is that the Yongli Emperor's throne can be replaced, but the calling role that the Yongli court can play is Sun Kewang's replacement.
No way. Because he is not Zhengsu or a descendant of the Zhu family, once he kicks out the Yongli court, various anti-Qing forces including Li Dingguo, Zheng Chenggong, Liu Wenxiu, the Thirteen Family, etc. will almost certainly not recognize him as a fool.
The first emperor.
But Zhu Yongxing is different. Although he is distantly related to the clan, he is still a descendant of the Zhu family. After the successful revival, he conquered the martial arts and went straight to the establishment of the industry. Who should compete with him for his merits? The one who enters the customs will be the king.
That is to say, following Zhu Yongxing is not the same as relying on Sun Kewang. If the country is safe, the direct descendants should be the first, and if the country is in danger, the first is meritorious. There are such precedents in history, and only then did Li Longji create the prosperous Kaiyuan era.
Yongli was cowardly and incompetent, and the prince died in Burma. Zhu Yongxing is prosperous, famous and increasingly powerful. Although Zhu Yongxing is still wearing the mask of a "Mingchen" in order to resist the Qing Dynasty, he is ascending to power step by step.
Peak, this is something that many people can see. Therefore, the reasons mentioned by Wu Sansheng are also valid. Do not pierce this layer of window paper and do not destroy Zhu Yongxing's plan to seize the throne.
Ma Bao nodded with deep understanding and said: "Your Highness is far-sighted and far-sighted. He is not comparable to the descendants of the Zhu family who enjoy the title of king and enjoy the title of emperor. Speaking of which, Lao Wu, what you said is exactly what I want.
We are really lucky that His Highness is supporting the government. We need food and guns, and we don't have those bullshit civil servants making noises and worries. We can just focus on fighting, how good it is."
Wu Sansheng agreed very much with Ma Bao's words and said with emotion: "His Royal Highness has a mind as broad as the sea and is honest and selfless in his treatment of others. His Highness King Zhao has been convinced, and His Highness the King of Jin has also given in. The soldiers will have a pension when they die, and they will have support during their lives, and the people's taxes will be reduced.
We are rich and have won the hearts and minds of the army and the people. Who can do this? Who can compete with us? Thirteen families will march for Your Highness, and the Zheng family, even a land battle is not enough to compete with our army."
"As for the naval battle, hey, in another year or two, I'm afraid I'll have to surrender." Ma Bao is quite confident about this. It really didn't take long for Nanming's navy to develop to this point, but how much money has been spent and how much money has been spent.
He didn't know how much effort he had put into it.