On the land of Taiping Prefecture, South Zhili, the rice in the cultivated land has been harvested. The paddy fields are exposed to the white water, and rice piles are dotted in it. From a distance, it looks like plates of sweet white porridge sprinkled with sesame seeds.
; And some fields were drained of water and turned into dry fields. The rice piles were cut down and piled in the fields to be burned. Smoke was everywhere. The burned ash fell into the fields and could be composted. In the dry fields,
Then you can plant beans and harvest one more crop.
But at this time, the village between the fields was not peaceful. Several dogs were kicking their legs and barking "Wow, wow" at the entrance of the village. They turned around and ran away when someone scared them. They ran and barked, and chased the chickens in the village with their wings flapping everywhere.
Flying around. Those chickens would not give up easily when frightened, and kept clucking.
The people in the village didn't stop either. Some children were crying and some men were scolding. There were a few people standing in the village wearing high blue and red hats and soap boots. They were official servants. There were wide scabbards hanging on their waists, and they were holding hands.
On the handle of the knife, he was gesticulating and shouting; what was even more frightening was the sergeant wearing a piece of iron and carrying a sharp iron-tipped weapon. Li Zheng, the security chief and others also came, and there were many villagers who were watching. There were many people at once
They all gathered together.
"Master, haven't we sent out conscripts this year? We built the river embankment at the beginning of the year and then built the county wall. Why do we need to conscript them again?" an older villager reasoned.
A sergeant with a foreign accent shouted at the top of his lungs: "The imperial army is going to quell the rebellion, to the west! The current is not smooth, and the boat often needs people to pull it! If the young people in the area don't pull it, it's hard to ask the soldiers to pull it.
The boat pushed the cart, and then went into battle to work hard? Do you think we are animals?"
The sergeant was a burly man, covered in steel and holding a weapon in his hand. People were a little scared when they heard him roar.
But the elders in the village seemed determined to come forward, and recounted the hardship: "I had just dried the rice and handed over the autumn grain, and the government came to forcefully buy military rations, and all they gave were treasure notes (paper money)..."
"We are going to fight the rebels!" the sergeant was furious. "Most of you are disobedient and obstructive. Are you colluding with the rebels?"
The villagers complained endlessly, "How dare the ordinary people rebel..."
At this time, a young man led a mule and walked from under the crooked neck tree at the entrance of the village. Seeing many people gathering there, he asked a woman, "Aunt Li, what's going on? The government is here to buy food again?"
As soon as he said this, a big man in armor shouted: "Come here, kid, and bring the mule over."
The young man had no choice but to walk over slowly, not daring to ask what he was called for. The man in armor asked, "Which family does he belong to, and what is his name?" Then he said to Li Zheng, "Check, is this guy here?
In name."
After saying that, the armored man's eyes kept looking at the mule, and he muttered, "Yes, the legs are strong and can pull a cart."
Li Zheng raised his head and said, "Yes, there are two brothers in this family, and one of them must take on the labor service for their family."
The big man was overjoyed and said: "The mule has been requisitioned first. Within three days, you can go to the county with the others." After that, he called his companions to go up and take the mule.
As soon as the young man saw that he was willing to obey, he asked for his mule in a few words. The young man grabbed the reins with one hand and hugged the mule's neck with both hands. He blushed and said, "What are you going to do? You want to bankrupt me.
This mule is the life of our family!"
The big man came forward and grabbed the hair on the young man's head. He raised a piece of paper with the seal in his other hand and said, "Read the notice clearly. Dare to disobey the order and you are rebelling!"
"I'm illiterate, and I'm not rebellious. I just want my own snails..." The young man almost cried. The big man in armor grabbed his arm and lifted him up lightly, but the young man was holding on to the reins.
The big man suddenly pulled out a shining knife from his waist. The villagers were in an uproar, and those in front of them took two steps back. However, the big man didn't mean to kill anyone. He cut off the reins with one blow, turned his head and winked, asking his accomplices to hold him back.
Gone is the snail.
The young man was put down on the ground, struggling and crying: "I will go to do corvee service with you now, and I will pull the cart with the snails."
The big man finally agreed and shouted: "Everyone who has received the letter will send someone to come and line up. I will nod!"
…
Under the iron helmet worn by British Duke Zhang Fu, a few gray hairs were blown straight by the wind on the river. The dark skin and wrinkles on his face were full of traces of wind and frost, but his body was straight and straight. There were three eyebrows.
The vertical lines made him look serious and majestic. He was lecturing a strong man bent in front of the horse: "The emperor has reduced your title because you failed to live up to your expectations. Now I recommend you again, so I won't bring you with me."
The army is here, but the errand given to you cannot be taken lightly. The army has not moved yet, and the food and grass have gone first, so you must not make any mistakes."
This strong man is the former Wuyang Marquis Xue Lu, but now he is no longer a noble. But sometimes I think about it, as long as the colleagues in the Jingnan Campaign are still in the court and their connections are still there, the title of Duke and Marquis is actually
Don't take it too seriously.
Xue Lu respectfully replied: "As long as I can still follow the Duke, I am willing to be a small pawn. I dare not die in front of the saddle and behind the horse! You can rest assured that the general will make arrangements for the needs of the army along the way."
Zhang Fu also warned: "The imperial court has used troops for many years, and the burden on the people has been heavy. You must always remember to be considerate of the people and strictly restrain your subordinates. Those who violate the law will be severely punished!"
"Yes!" Xue Lu responded sonorously.
Zhang Fu kicked his horse and said angrily: "Let's go together."
Xue Lu took the reins of the horse, got on his horse, and rode quickly to catch up with Zhang Fu's team. The group crossed a small hillside, and the scene in front of them suddenly became clear, and a spectacular scene appeared in front of them.
Lines of infantry, long weapons moving slowly like a forest, horsemen, and vehicles in an endless stream, dust and mist rising in the air, flags covering the sky, the head and tail of the man and horse group, like a huge black dragon. On the river.
, Thousands of sails raced by, countless boats floated on the water, and the wheels went back and forth, with waterwheels mounted on them, moving very fast like ships.
Xue Lu looked at it for a long time and then said: "One part of our army stationed in Huizhou a few months ago, with great commotion, and now it has entered Raozhou. Generally speaking, the rebel army should have crossed Poyang Lake to resist our army. I don't want the traitor to do it."
Don't be moved, it seems that our strategy has been calculated. The leader of the thief should not be underestimated, or there may be an expert among them."
Zhang Fuleng snorted, "To go to Jiangxi from Zhili in the south, it should be convenient to take the Yangtze River; our army is advancing into Huizhou, but anyone who knows a little bit will guard against the Yangtze River water and land route, what's so clever about it?
This time, our army is divided into three groups to attack the enemy. How can our majestic divisions "make a sound in the east and attack in the west" or "move the tiger away from the mountain"? If the rebel army dares to use its main force to attack and resist the Huizhou soldiers on the south route, Jiujiang Prefecture will be lost. But they did not move.
Vowing to protect Jiujiang, the army of the South Route captured all the land in Raozhou and controlled the east of the lake (Poyang Lake). The mouth of Hukou became an isolated city with no food roads and a desperate place. The bandit army did not dare to defend the lake.
Therefore, our military control of Hukou is also a matter of course, sooner or later. So the rebel army returns to Jiujiang, and they only have Jiujiang. When the main force of the rebel army is restrained from the east, our North Road Beijing Camp can move from the north of the river.
Go south, cross the river and cut into the west of Jiujiang. Jiujiang has also become an isolated city. Attack from three directions, even if the thieves have wings, they will fly south!"
After hearing this, Xue Lu couldn't help but said: "Our army has a good chance of winning this battle. The Duke first conquered Nanjing, and then destroyed the Huguang rebellion. My unparalleled achievements must be ours, the first in the Ming Dynasty."
Zhang Fu said calmly: "The troops raised to pacify the Han Dynasty were the result of the emperor's own personal expedition, and the emperor subjugated the enemy without a fight. The current attack on the Huguang rebels was also the emperor's wise decision. How can I dare to take credit?"
Zhang Fu was indeed full of confidence at this time. He really couldn't think of any other way for the rebels. After a long period of preparation, the imperial court had completed the multi-faceted deployment of the Huguang regime. At this time, the imperial court was determined to attack at the expense of heavy troops.
The total number of military deployments to Huguang has reached about 400,000... The troops transferred from Sichuan, plus the local armies of Henan and Jingxiang, cooperate with the First Department of the Beijing Camp to deter the important places in the upper reaches of Huguang and central Yuezhou, and their main function is to threaten and contain;
The Beijing Camp North Route Army on the north bank of the Yangtze River, the Middle Route Army along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the South Route Army attacking from Huizhou launched a three-pronged campaign. They directly launched the Battle of Jiangxi, captured the important town of Jiujiang, and wiped out the elite rebels.
The total number of troops deployed is about 400,000, but it is difficult for the imperial court to gather all 400,000 troops in one place. Not only due to the restrictions of the mountains and rivers, they have to gather in one place with high mountains and long roads; but also with so many people
Concentrating military supplies in one place is a big problem, and just transporting grain and grass is unbearable for the finances. If deployed separately, most of the supplies can be obtained directly from the local area, which greatly reduces the burden on the court. The British have a public strategy, and the attacking troops are divided into
The three-way approach, in addition to considering combat strategies, can also better divide the army's consumption.
Of course, it is difficult to mobilize all 400,000 people for the attack. Even so, the total strength of the three mobile troops deployed to Jiangxi alone is no less than 100,000, which obviously forms an absolute strength advantage over the "rebels".
The British Duke Zhang Fu rode his horse, looking at the thousands of troops on the Yangtze River and the land, and his mood was surging. He thought to himself: The Huguang rebellion can be solved before the end of this year.
The King of Han has been destroyed, and Emperor Xuande's prestige and status have increased. Once Huguang is pacified, the world will be at peace. There has been discussion in the court for a long time that if Western affairs are to be stopped, the naval fleet anchored in the port will not be able to deal with it for long;
We need to withdraw our troops; in the northern Xinjiang and Mongolia, Emperor Xuande will probably not learn from his grandfather's Northern Expedition. It is an established national policy to turn to defense. The four parties will converge, live with the people, and the world will be peaceful.
Zhang Fu felt that after this battle, he had achieved enough, and he could then be discharged and return to his fields. With a high position and a good salary, he should also enjoy the blessings of a peaceful and prosperous age. For a while, he was in a good mood, and the wrinkles on his face gradually relaxed.
It is particularly pleasant to face the wind while the horses are running.