Han Shuliang wore leather boots and stepped on the hard ground.
The relatively loose dirt road has been paved by soldiers.
He looked at the soldiers under his command, who were wearing cotton coats, fur hats, and woolen gloves on their hands.
The soldiers carried marching backpacks and rifles and walked forward quickly.
Han Shuliang saw a young-looking soldier, took off his leather hat and held it in his hand.
There was a layer of heat rising from the soldier's hair, and there was a layer of white frost on his eyebrows.
"Little guy, why do you take off your hat? You are so prone to typhoid and cold. Take it back quickly."
When the soldier heard the commander's order, he immediately took his hat back.
Zhang Chujiu said from the side: "The thermal equipment is so good now. At that time, even a cotton coat was a rarity, and only the meritorious troops could wear it."
Han Shuliang looked at the current soldiers' equipment and said with emotion: "Yes!
The boys today are much better than we used to be.
When we attacked Sichuan, we were still wearing cloth shoes.
When I went to the mountains of Sichuan, I didn't know it was extremely cold there, and some soldiers had their toes frozen off.
Nowadays, there are cotton leather boots with cashmere inside in winter. These shoes are extremely warm.
If the soles of your feet are not cold and you wear less clothes, you can survive."
Chief of Staff Gou Maosheng, who has a somewhat childish expression, is a third-term student of the military academy and has relatively junior qualifications.
He wiped the sweat from his head and walked over with the map.
He saw that Han Shuliang and Zhang Chujiu looked extremely relaxed. They were chatting about household matters and did not talk about the situation of the Ming army on the opposite side.
"Commander Han and Master Zhang Zhu. Our army assumes the vanguard mission.
We are about to fight the first battle our army will fight when it enters Henan.
This battle must be fought with flying colours, and the reputation of the Qin army must not be ruined.
According to the king's request, we will conduct a blitzkrieg.
Before the Ming army could react, they arrived at Mengjin County, the frontline.
If you encounter a city that is too difficult to conquer, just besiege it instead of attacking it and leave it to the friendly forces behind you.
When we arrived in Lingbao County, the invading troops in the city surrendered directly.
Our target ahead is Shaanzhou City and Hongnongwei within the city.
Shaanzhou has been reoccupied by the Ming army, and we have received the latest information that there are 5,000 Ming troops in the city."
Han Shuliang saw Gou Maosheng's serious look.
He smiled and said: "It's not that I'm arrogant and underestimate the enemy, it's that you take the Ming army too seriously.
The main force of the Ming army was in Mengjin County, and the Ming army in Shaanzhou was not even considered a partial division.
After they captured Shaanzhou, they didn't have the energy to attack Lingbao County, which was just around the corner.
We know that the Ming army in Shaanzhou is only at the end of its war effort."
Han Shuliang was extremely confident. Their Fourth Army artillery regiment was the weakest and had the fewest large-caliber artillery.
Its attack capability is only stronger than that of the armies of the Southeast Dudu Prefecture that have not been equipped with new artillery.
Han Shuliang's confidence in conquering Shaanzhou was extremely strong.
He spent most of his life fighting in the Ming army, and his family inherited the position of commander of the Lanzhou Guard Post hereditary.
He knew the Ming army very well, especially the most basic guard generals of the Ming army.
Hong Nongwei was a general who lost his city and finally regained it.
Their loss of land was a serious crime. Even if they regained the lost city and made some achievements, they could not cover up their crime.
The Qin army approached the city, giving Commander Hongnongwei a chance to make a new choice.
As long as he is a smart person, he will definitely make the right choice.
The guardsmen of Hongnongwei did not dare to go out to fight when they saw the army surrounding the city.
As long as the Ming army in Shaanzhou does not leave the city, it will not affect the movement of the army.
The First Division marched very quickly and surrounded Shaanzhou City before the Ming army could react.
Han Shuliang was confident that he could capture Shaanzhou within five days, but he would not affect the overall strategy of the army for the sake of this small town.
"Guo Dalei, I'll give Shaanzhou to your brigade. If we can't take it in two days, we'll leave a regiment to surround the city.
Make sure that the Ming army in the city does not come out and wait for the reinforcements from the rear to cooperate with the attack on the city. The other armies will immediately march quickly to keep up with the main force."
After Han Shuliang gave his instructions, he directly crossed Shaanzhou and sent troops to repair the official road leading to Mengjin County.
The engineers of the 1st Division were the busiest, needing to repair bumpy roads, encounter broken bridges, and cut down trees to build bridges.
Guo Dalei led his troops to set up artillery positions, cut down trees, assemble ladders, and dig trenches, preparing to storm Shaanzhou.
It took him nearly a day to prepare all the work and was preparing to attack Shaanzhou.
Guo Dalei discovered that the city gate of Shaanzhou had been opened by the Ming army.
The Ming army in Shaanzhou City surrendered directly to them.
Guo Dalei didn't even enter Shaanzhou City, so he sent a regiment to control the situation in Shaanzhou.
He immediately led his troops to chase the main force.
Their Fourth Army moved so quickly that the garrison failed to keep up. After occupying the city, only a part of the force was left to manage the city.
The First Division quickly received news that Guo Dalei had captured Shaanzhou.
Gou Maosheng looked at Han Shuliang with admiration and said: "Commander, how could you predict that the Ming army in Shaanzhou wanted to surrender.
As soon as we arranged our formation, the Ming army in Shaanzhou surrendered.
If the army attacks by force, the Shaanzhou Ming army will surrender faster."
Han Shuliang briefly introduced the thoughts of the Ming army generals.
He smiled and said: "We will fight several tough battles in the future. After these tough battles, you will find that most generals will surrender directly.
Among the Ming army, those who are not civil servants but have strong bones are rare."
The generals of the Ming army had to bow to the civil servants in order to survive.
Military generals with personality have long been suppressed by civilian officials and have no chance to lead troops.
Han Shuliang has seen many capable generals, but they were all suppressed because they did not bow to civilian officials.
There are also many people who are directly imprisoned for any reason.
The civil servants of the Ming Dynasty only needed slaves who obeyed their orders, they did not want generals with backbones.
The officers of the Qin Army here are treated very well, and a strict separation of civil and military personnel is enforced.
No matter how high-ranking the civil servants are, they do not have the power to manage a small soldier.
Han Shuliang knew that with this alone and the ability of a general to be fully utilized, the King of Qin would be able to defeat the Ming Dynasty.
He saw this and asked his son to join the Qin army.
His son Han Mingtong caught up with the good times, and it only took a few years for him to catch up with his father because of his unique abilities and status.
The marching speed of the First Division of the Fourth Army was not too fast.
What affected their marching speed was not the Ming army's passes, but the conditions of the roads in Henan.
They are the vanguard army and are responsible for building roads for the main force.
The Ming army in this area experienced the devastation of the Chuang army.
The Ming troops guarding the place were not the elite Tianxiong Army and Guan Ning Army of the Ming Army.
They were mainly military households from the local guard station. When they saw the Qin army's massive attack, these people immediately surrendered.
The marching speed of the First Division basically only depends on the speed of road construction.
…………………………
In the Chinese army's tent, Su He asked Wang Shiyuan.
"Where is the vanguard of the Fourth Army now?"
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Army has captured Shaanzhou soon and should be near Mianchi Nan Village now."
Su He stared at the map carefully and ordered:
"The Fourth Army was ordered to attack Hangu New Pass. They captured Hangu New Pass and captured Xin'an County and Luoyang City.
Go north from Luoyang and block the road east of Mengjin County.
He wanted to surround hundreds of thousands of Ming army elites and trap them in Mengjin County.
Their retreat must be blocked. Our army attacked directly from the west. The Ming army wanted to escape.
We may not be able to stop the Ming army from escaping.
The probability of this happening is low, but we must prepare in advance.”
Su He personally understood the situation in Henan, especially the situation of the Yellow River and Guandao.
He decided to adjust the battle plan to make it foolproof and better trap the Ming army.
The previous battle plan was still not very safe.
In the first large-scale battle, victory must be achieved, preferably an unquestionable victory, in order to greatly boost the morale of the army.
Now is the time for the Fourth Army to change lanes. If all goes well, the main force and the Fourth Army should arrive at Mengjin County at the same time.
The Fourth Army climbed over mountains and ridges along the way and occupied the city for some time.
They can also block the road east of Mengjin.
Su He could not predict the reactions of Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting.
They saw the Qin army coming out in full force and wanted to avoid its edge.
It was believed that Mengjin County was a small town and the Ming army was unable to defend it.
They abandoned Mengjin County and led the Ming army to garrison Kaifeng.
The Qin army pursued the Ming army. Even if they won, the Ming army would scatter and flee.
This situation is likely to happen.
Su He adjusted the battle plan in time to avoid this situation from happening and to block Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting in Mengjin County, leaving them no place to escape even if they wanted to.
When Wang Shiyuan heard Su He's order, he led the staff of the General Staff Department to promptly adjust the army's combat plan according to Su He's order.
Don't look at it, it just changed the direction of the Fourth Army.
Almost all combat plans need to be readjusted.
The transportation troops of the Logistics Department also need to be rearranged to ensure the logistics supply of the Fourth Army.
It was already afternoon, and they had to have the orderlies deliver the military orders before dark.
Wang Shiyuan wrote all the military orders before dark.
He walked into Su He's camp and asked Su He to sign and seal these military orders.
Time is very urgent, but the relevant procedures cannot go wrong.
Su He signed these military orders, and Wang Shiyuan hurried out.
After Su He signed the military order, he also walked out of the camp and looked at the frozen Yellow River.
In recent years, the weather has been changing. The northern region has become colder every year, and the phenomenon of small glaciers has become more serious every year.
A severe drought occurred in Henan in spring and autumn. Except for the main stream of the Yellow River, other rivers only had a shallow layer of water.
It can barely provide the people with domestic water, and there is not enough water for irrigation.
The rivers that used to be plyable by boats are now unavailable, and logistics must be transported by land.
Su He took out his steel kettle and found that the water in the kettle had also frozen.
Henan, a region not too far north, is already so cold.
Su He received information that the Hetao area was so cold that water could turn into ice.
Su He knew that in the next few decades, the whole world would be affected by the Little Glacier for a long time.
Now that the Yellow River is frozen, it is not entirely bad for logistics and transportation.
Logistics personnel can walk directly on the ice and transport supplies to various places through the Yellow River.
…………………………
Wu Jie was marching along the Yellow River when he received military orders from behind.
"The task of capturing Luoyang and blocking Mengjin County from the east is quite challenging."
Chief of Staff Fu Xiucheng asked: "Who should be sent for this mission? We also need to capture Hangu Pass.
This pass is not difficult to conquer, but you still need to send someone with strong attack ability."
Wu Jie thought for a moment and suggested: "Then send Yu Tianyou. Han Shuliang ran too fast, turning Yu Tianyou's rear army into the front army, and immediately marched to capture Hangu New Pass.
Send someone to notify Han Shuliang and adjust the direction in time."
The Fourth Army headquarters unanimously agreed with Wu Jie's opinion, and orders began to be transmitted everywhere.
Han Shuliang was happily leading his troops and marching quickly towards Mengjin County.
Suddenly he received an order from a messenger.
He said in disbelief: "The battle plan can be changed at any time. We will be able to reach Mengjin County in another ten days of urgent marching.
By temporarily adjusting the battle plan, we are not afraid of the Ming army escaping and arousing the vigilance of the Ming army in Mengjin County."
Han Shuliang knew he could only complain a few words.
If a higher level changes the combat plan, it must be supported by a higher level of intelligence.
They saw the military merit they had obtained and said it was gone.
Han Shuliang could only obey the order, let the rear team become the front team, and change the marching direction.
…………………………
A Qin army wearing yellow clothes trotted forward with neat steps.
Military boots stepped on the hard ground, making a constant popping sound.
Li Dazhuang rode on a war horse and followed the troops.
He suddenly received an order from Su He, asking their Seventh Army to take over the tasks of the Fourth Army.
Li Dazhuang could only adopt a forced march to let the troops catch up with the Fourth Army as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the roads and passes ahead have been cleared by the Fourth Army.
Their Seventh Army did not need to occupy the city or build roads, they only needed to rush towards the goal as quickly as possible.
Li Dazhuang saw that they had been jogging for an hour and the soldiers were still very energetic.
This is due to the results of their long-term training, and even more due to the food of the Qin army.
Qin Jun ate three meals a day, each with two dishes and one soup, and meat and vegetables from time to time.
The Qin army had free food and unlimited supplies of staple food, so they could eat as much as they could.
The soldiers of the Seventh Army trotted on their way when they were full of energy.
When the soldiers were physically tired, they walked to regain their strength.
The Seventh Army was marching so fast that Li Dazhuang's horse could no longer run.
The soldiers of the Seventh Army were still rushing along the road opened by the Fourth Army at an extremely fast speed.
Li Dazhuang knew that the Mongolian horse he sat on was already a breed with better endurance among horses.
But the endurance of horses is still not comparable to that of humans.
During a long and rapid march, a man can cover a longer distance on two legs than a horse can cover on four legs.
He did not have the luxury to march with two horses so that the horses could get sufficient rest.
Han Shuliang followed the team at the end, changing direction and preparing to leave.
He suddenly saw smoke and dust billowing from the west, and an army came trotting here.
"The Seventh Army came so quickly, they really tried their best.
The Seventh Army handed over here has no problem at all.
Let's hurry up and keep up with the Fourth Army headquarters, otherwise we won't even be able to drink soup."
Li Dazhuang met Han Shuliang, and he asked Han Shuliang about the situation of the Ming army ahead.
Lead the Seventh Army, take over the tasks of the Fourth Army, and continue to attack Mengjin County.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Thanks to Ling Feng Chui Xue and husband Tianhong for the reward.