Just after the situation in Jiangbei and Jiangnan eased, the Qing army once again launched an attack on the bases established by the merchant army in Hubei.
Although the Hubei base of the merchant army has been established less than three months ago, it has developed very rapidly. Especially after the Li Yan and Li Mou brothers arrived in Macheng, they brought a group of administrative personnel and took over the civil affairs management in the base. Work also liberated the officers and soldiers of Li Dingguo and the 9th Division from the heavy civil affairs work, and could be devoted to training new recruits and preparing for the Qing army.
Li Yan and Li Mou all have enough experience. Once they arrived in Macheng, they immediately dispersed the administrative personnel they brought to Huang'an, Macheng and Luotian counties to carry out their work, and quickly established grassroots in each village. The administrative system sets the land rent and tax rates and allocates the land. The landlords and powerful forces, which are more angry with the villagers, are resolutely suppressed, and some oppressive behaviors are less likely to be dismissed, but most of their land property is confiscated. It hurts their lives. A few landlords and powerful people who have done some good things to the countryside were also granted management positions.
In addition, the propaganda efforts to fight against the Qing army, attack the powerful and defend their homes were increased among the farmers, fully mobilized the enthusiasm of the farmers, formed militias, and implemented joint security for every village. It also quickly stabilized the ruling foundation of the merchant army in the three counties.
At the same time, the captured Qing soldiers were also classified and processed. The Manchus and Han people outside the pass worked as hard laborers. The Han people in the pass implemented leniency policies by being Han people in the local area, and tried their best to persuade them to stay and join the merchant army. , fight against the Qing army together, defend the homeland, and after driving away the Qing army, we ensure that everyone has fields and can live a safe life, and we will not stop those who want to leave and will immediately let go.
Most of the Qing army captured at one time were locals, and most of them were farmers, tenants, and the lenient policies of the merchant army also touched many of them. Most of them were willing to stay and join the merchant army, and some were also Some said that after returning home, they led their families to join the business army. Only a small number of people did not make any statements. Li Dingguo and Li Yan did not make things difficult for them. Those who wanted to go back, let them leave freely regardless of whether there was a reason or not. At the same time, they were also given two taels of silver as travel expenses, just warning them not to be Qing soldiers and to be accomplices of the Manchus to beat the Han people.
Adding to the surrendered Qing soldiers, the Merchant Army has now recruited more than 4,000 new troops and formed more than 5,000 militias. The actual controlled area reaches the east from the Xishui River, the west from the Huashui River, and the south from the Jushui River to the water. , with an area of thousands of square kilometers and a population of about 200,000. At the same time, Li Dingguo also sent the 22nd Regiment to develop into the Dabie Mountains, occupying important passes in the north and south of the Dabie Mountains, such as Baisha Pass, Huangtu Pass, and Changling Pass. We are preparing to develop to the places north of the Dabie Mountains, and truly realize the areas with the Dabie Mountains as the core, spanning Huguang and Henan provinces.
At this moment, the Manchurian Melee Zhenzhu Mala sent by Ajige led the Qing army to Huangzhou, preparing to suppress the merchant army occupied here.
Zhenzhu Mala brought 15,000 Qing soldiers this time, including more than 3,000 people belonging to the Eight Banners and the Three Major Administrations, including 1,000 musket soldiers, and the people belonging to the Eight Banners and Green Camp of the Han Army were There were more than 4,000 people, as well as 1,000 musketeers, and fifty various cannons. There were more than 2,000 men in the guise of the guise, and the rest were all Ming troops who had surrendered since this southern expedition.
In the Nanjing Battle, Zhenzhu Mala suffered a lot of losses, so he did not dare to be careless at all. After arriving in Huangzhou, he immediately recruited officials and defeated troops who fled back in the first battle to ask about the details of the first battle. As for the virtual and realities of the merchant army, because until now, the Qing army still cannot understand how many soldiers there are in the merchant army living in the Dabie Mountains.
Later I heard that the merchant army had released many people, and Zhenzhu Mah also ordered the soldiers who were released to gather together to inquire. At the same time, some spies were sent to inquire about the reality of the merchant army. But how many troops did the merchant army have? No one can figure it out in Huangzhou because no one dares to go to the area controlled by the merchant army now. Most of the spies sent out were moved, and although a few escaped, they did not go deeper. , It is said that the merchant army is on high alert, and all villages organized militias to guard the guards, checking strangers very carefully. Moreover, most of the Han soldiers in the Qing army were northerners, and their accents vary greatly, so it is very difficult to get in. .
However, according to the accounts of officials, soldiers and prisoners released in Huangzhou, and the judgment of Zhenzhu Mala himself, it is estimated that there will not be many merchant troops in Hubei, which should be around 3,000 or 4,000 or no more than 5,000 people at most. .
Because according to Zhenzhumala's experience, if an army that is alone deep into the rear of the enemy wants to gain a foothold, it must occupy several big cities. Only by occupying big cities can one withstand the enemy's attack and obtain taxes and supplements. Ji. This merchant army obviously did not have the ability to occupy big cities. They had obviously captured Huangzhou, but they still gave up voluntarily and occupied only a few county towns outside the Dabie Mountains. They were ready to escape into the Dabie Mountains at any time. This fully demonstrates that this merchant army has not many troops.
Moreover, according to the Qing soldiers who were released, the Merchant Army mobilized the captured soldiers to surrender and formed militias in the occupied areas, which also proved from another aspect the Zhenzhumala conjecture. Doesn’t recruiting mean insufficient troops?
Of course, during this period, Zhenzhu Mala was not just busy inquiring about the news, but was also actively preparing for the issue of sending troops to fight. On the one hand, it was mobilizing troops, and on the other hand, it was also raising money, grain and materials.
Because it was money, grain and materials, because the Qing court's finances were very tense at this time. Not only did the money, grain and materials stationed in Nanjing not only had to be raised on the spot, but also sent part of them to Beijing. The residence said it was to celebrate the Regent. During a hunting trip, he hit a white deer, which was still auspicious. Therefore, Zhenzhu Mala was in Huangzhou, so of course he had to raise money and food by himself.
As for this, Zhenzhu Mala not only didn't think it was bad, but was also very happy, because this was a good opportunity and he could take the opportunity to make a fortune. Therefore, on the second day after he arrived in Huangzhou, he recruited Huangzhou Prefecture. Officials at all levels and wealthy families issued his first order - levy. They required everyone to pay a sum of money and grain as support for the Qing army, and of course they also expressed their loyalty to the Qing Dynasty. They also limited the order to be ten The turn of the sun is coming. Moreover, every county has to send troops to support, and every large household has to go out of the village to join the army.
At this moment, these officials and wealthy families were crying. When Li Yan occupied Huangzhou, he had an levy. Now that the Qing army is here, why did he start a levy again? And once, the merchants are here. The army was quite polite. It was discussed with everyone's share of the amount, and it was within everyone's tolerance for money and food. The Qing army's sword was much more cruel than the merchant army. Everyone had to bleed heavily, and they were also There is no need to discuss it, if you don’t follow it, it will be a crime of collusion with the enemy.
The merchant army came to fight Qiufeng, everyone could understand it, because in the famous proposition that Huangzhou Prefecture had already belonged to the Qing army, the merchant army was the enemy, and it was not too much to do it, but I didn't expect that my own people were even more cruel, so there was Many officials and wealthy people were thinking that if they had known this was the case, when the merchant army came to Huangzhou, they should have kept them. The merchant army would have occupied Huangzhou. Now, it's better, just now. After leaving the wolf, a tiger rushed in and ate himself to the point where he ate no bones left.
It’s easier to deal with money when you get rich, so at most you can grit your teeth and endure it and find a way to find a way to get it back. But what about the soldiers and the townspeople? Haven’t they both been out? Either die on the battlefield or give it to the merchant. The army became a prisoner, but not many were released. Where can we find people? Now the people are looking forward to the merchant army to fight and divide the land and property. Who is willing to work hard to fight the merchant army?
Of course, the most unlucky thing was Zheng Xinmin, the former magistrate of Qishui County. When the merchant army left Huangzhou, he had resigned from the province, but because Qishui County was too close to the controlled area of the merchant army, he did not I dared to go back to the county and waited in Huangzhou. Unexpectedly, when Zhenzhu Mala came, one counted the other, and Zheng Xinmin did not escape.
Moreover, when the merchant army came, he came out to organize it, so the task of urging the apportionment this time was naturally his. But Zheng Xinmin of course knew the difference. When the merchant army came, everyone was ruining money and eliminating disasters. He unanimously recommended himself, but this time it was Zhenzhu Mala who assigned him. Of course, it was different. If he didn't do it well, it would make people mistakenly think that he was the same as Zhenzhu Mala. But he didn't know that he wanted to give him a copy. He is really not a human inside and outside.
Poor Zheng Xinmin was not very greedy when he was an official in Qishui County, so he didn't save much savings. Zhenzhu Mala's stake also paid for his travel expenses to return home. , but where to say this wrongful accusation? Therefore, Zheng Xinmin also complained in his heart, but he didn't dare to refuse, so he could only do it with a tough bullet.
But of course Zhenzhu Mala would not worry about this. In ten days, he collected a total of 124,700 taels of silver, 63,300 stones of food, and 12,800 stones of grass, and 12,800 stones of grass, and Zhenzhu Mala came from At least 30% of them were embezzled, and there were more than 8,000 soldiers and township tycoons.
Zhenzhu Mala was also very happy because he thought he had estimated that he would be very accurate. The merchant army would never exceed 5,000. With his current strength, he would definitely be sure to defeat the merchant army. Even now the money and food have been in place. , I have made a lot of money, so I should start doing the business.
Therefore, Zhenzhu Mala also ordered to send troops to conquer the merchant army on April 4th.