After the generals exited, Zhu Youxiao asked Zhang Weixian:
"Old Duke, according to your observation, who can be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Shenji Battalion?"
Zhang Weixian thought deeply and said:
"Back to Your Majesty, I believe that Chen Guang, the former guerrilla general of the Zhejiang Army, can be appointed as the staff general of the Shenji Battalion. Wu Shizhong, the commander-in-chief of the Shenji Battalion, is quite brave and is very familiar with firearms. However, he has never experienced a battle. President Li Xing can also take on important responsibilities!"
"Then Chen Guang will be the staff general, Wu Shizhong and Li Xing will be the guerrilla generals, and we will implement it as soon as possible to make them familiar with the duties of general officers. The Shenji Battalion will strengthen training. All sergeants must be familiar with various formation arrangements and the requirements for firearms. Know it like the back of your hand!”
After speaking, he looked at Wang Tiqian and asked:
"How much rations and livestock do the Logistics Department have?"
"Back to the Emperor, I still have 50,000 shi of military rations, and about 9,000 chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep and other livestock of all kinds!"
It really costs money to support the army. In the past six months, the food expenses alone have cost hundreds of thousands of taels. Fortunately, I have a solid internal fund, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to support these 70,000 to 80,000 people.
Zhu Youxiao spread out the drawings he had drawn and told Zhang Weixian:
"Old Duke, slaughter all the pigs and sheep, marinate the meat and dry it, collect all the eggs and duck eggs, cook them the day before the expedition, six for each sergeant, and then prepare a thousand stones of chestnuts, rice, meat Prepare dried eggs according to the needs of 30,000 people. If there are not enough, buy them from the private sector!"
You don’t need to prepare too much rations. A few days of dry food, dried meat and eggs can basically guarantee the needs of the army for more than ten days. Although you don’t lack horses, having too many is a burden.
There are a lot of cattle, sheep and horses on the grassland. As long as you find some tribes, you can easily eat them.
"In addition, from the slaughtered pigs and sheep, keep the skins and bladders, and use ten pigs and sheep to make a water bag. In addition, the water bags of the sergeants must also be prepared, five water bags for each person!"
"Look for fifty doctors with superb medical skills and high moral standards from the people to come to the military camp and incorporate them into the logistics department. Tell them that as long as they are willing to come, their family will be well fed and clothed. Once they are found, they will be brought to the palace to see me!"
"The same goes for veterinarians. Find more people who are proficient in raising and treating horses, and join them in the Logistics Department. I will allocate five hundred thousand taels of silver to you, and everything must be done within a month!"
"I obey the decree!"
Doctors are the key. Zhu Youxiao must take into account all uncertain factors and ensure the combat effectiveness of the entire army as much as possible. There have been too many disastrous defeats due to diseases in history. Isn't this the case in the Battle of Chibi?
"Wang Tiqian, now start preparing 100,000 taels of military rations. Don't expose it to the public. You can buy it from all over Beizhili. I will also give you 500,000 taels of silver!"
Now the price of grain in the Ming Dynasty is not too high. At present, the price of grain is basically maintained between five and six taels. However, during the Chongzhen period in history, it soared to more than ten taels of silver and one stone. The reason why the price of grain gets higher is because There were rogue gangs inside, and the Ming army outside Guan failed to win a hundred battles against Jiannu.
Today, the Ming Dynasty is relatively stable. The more chaotic the situation, the higher the price of food. In the Zhengtong years, the price of food was only two qian and one stone. In the Tianshun and Chenghua years, it rose to four liang and one stone. The root cause of all this is due to the fiasco and protracted failure of Tumubao. The battle to defend Beijing.
After the explanation, Zhu Youxiao made a special inspection of the military camps. Each camp has its own site and does not interfere with each other. The housing has also been fully renovated. Compared with the previous dilapidated state, it is an earth-shaking change!
"Old Lord, you can build a factory in the military camp and let the logistics department raise livestock. This way you don't have to spend a lot of money to buy them from the private sector. You can buy more chickens, piglets, and ducks to raise!"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
…
Monan Mongolia
A group of more than a hundred cavalrymen were galloping across the vast grassland. Their attires were all different, and the leader was seen wearing a brocade robe.
The cavalry behind them was followed by Ye Bushou wearing side armor, guard cavalry in brocade robes, and many Mongolians.
When they reached the top of the mountain, Sun Yunhe stopped. A Mongolian next to him stepped forward and said:
"Master Qianhu, twenty miles ahead is Chahanhot City, where Lin Danhan is!"
"Tell me about Chahanhot City and the surrounding layout. Tell me everything you know!"
The Mongolian said:
"There are 50,000 households in Chahanhot City, all of whom are direct descendants of Lindan Khan's close relatives. It is the richest place in the Chahar tribe. Lindan Khan uses this city as his capital!"
"There are three thousand households on each side of the left and right wings, namely the Yongshebu tribe and the Uqiyat tribe. Both tribes have a special minister, who is Lin Dan Khan's confidant!"
"In addition to these, there are some tribes scattered in various places. With Chahanhot City as the center, these are the direct subordinates of Lin Dan Khan. Most of the tribes in other remote places belong to other tribes!"
Sun Yunhe quickly took out the map, which he brought from the capital, but there were so many wrong places that he got lost several times. If it hadn't been for the elites from Xuanda and Da towns who refused to collect him at night, he might not be alive now.
.
Sun Yunhe obeyed Zhu Youxiao's order and dispatched some night warriors from each of the four towns of Xuanfu, Datong, Jizhen, and Liaodong, and went deep into the grassland according to the map to explore the way for the emperor.
After several months of reconnaissance, he finally understood the terrain from Xuanda to the Chahar Grassland. The map he brought from the capital was all redacted, and now he finally arrived at Lin Danhan's hometown.
"I will help you to ask for merit from His Majesty. After this matter is over, you can follow me to the capital to meet the Holy Spirit!"
"Thank you, Senhu-sama!"
These people were all Mongolians that Sun Yunhe found on the road. They were promised huge profits and allowed them to lead the way, and then they found the hometown of Lin Dan Khan.
In this era, neither the Ming Dynasty nor the Mongols had the concept of a nation, let alone slavery. It was worse than the Mongols, as they were still thinking of semi-slavery.
The reason why these Mongols helped the Ming Dynasty to fight against their "Great Khan" was because they were dissatisfied with Lin Dan Khan from the bottom of their hearts. Lin Dan Khan actually wanted to change the religion that the Mongols had believed in for hundreds of years, which was really unacceptable to them.
And they were really too poor. This high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty said that as long as they lead the way, they can take whatever gold and silver they want. They definitely don't believe it, but they will definitely have no problem getting a few hundred taels of silver.
.
Sun Yunhe sent three teams for fifteen nights to confirm what the Mongols said. After confirming that it was accurate, he finally completed the task.
"It wasn't discovered!"
"Don't worry Qianhu, those Mongolians are very lazy. We were very cautious when we went there and didn't notice any movement from them!"
"Okay, now follow me back the way we came. Your Majesty is still waiting for our news. Return to the capital as quickly as possible!"
In order to ensure safety, Sun Yunhe left ten people behind and assigned the best horses to them, and then galloped away with the others.