Chapter 391 Return to Yangzhou
"Your Majesty, the Xicheng puppet army Li Shihan led his troops to request surrender. According to Li Shihan, the Qiang people defending Beicheng were Yang Lianmaha, with more than 40,000 troops. At the same time as Li Shihan asked for surrender, Yang Lianmaha broke out in Beicheng. , opened the north city gate, and were fighting with our soldiers who were besieging the city."
Chen Cao patted his son on the shoulder, and then said with a smile: "Gentlemen, the psychological warfare has been effective. After all, Li Shihan is the surrender of the Han people. Now that I have seen that the Ming Dynasty has become stronger again, I know how to deal with current affairs. How do you think we should deal with it?" Li Shihan?"
"This is the vanguard force, raiding Shao Bo Town."
Someone replied that Chen Cao couldn't see anyone, but he still shook his head: "It's just Yangzhou, it's not enough to make these people work for their lives. Besides, doing so will make other Han people who want to surrender in the future doubtful."
"What your Majesty said is true," Huang Chunyao said: "Our army is all firearms troops. The only 50,000 people are cavalry troops. They are used when fighting Jiannu in the plains. The surrendered troops are all from Liaodong. These people belong to Veteran Youzi, if you don't keep strict supervision, you may damage our army's interests after the war begins."
Xu Fuyuan answered: "I think we can make these surrendered troops the same as before, disarm and train them all on the spot, and use them as local construction corps in the future."
Chen Cao nodded: "It makes sense. No matter what level the surrendered people are, as long as they are of Han descent, they will all be put into prisoner-of-war camps. Let the Imperial University send more students to be instructors. After being put into the local construction corps, there will be a large number of immigrants in the future. I won’t kill if I can’t help it.”
"According to the decree..."
The breakout battle in Beicheng was very fierce. The 35th Division responsible for the defense was still opened by Yang Lianmaha, who took advantage of the chaos to open a gap. With the loss of nearly 20,000 people, he broke out in the direction of Shaobo Town and left the area of Yangzhou City.
The commander of the 35th Division, Kuang Wei, stood in front of Chen Cao and almost knelt down. Seeing his funny look, Chen Cao snorted and said, "Don't worry, Commander Kuang. I won't punish you. Isn't it Yang Lian?" Han Chinese, his behavior is understandable, and you have tried your best to fight, even though you failed to retain Yang Lianmaha, it can be considered a meritorious service."
"Your Majesty..." Converse almost shed tears.
"Okay, let's go down and rest..."
After standing at attention and saluting, Kuangwei exited the tent, and Chen Cao looked at the dozen or so people in the tent: "Looking at the days, Tang Kainian's troops should have arrived in Sizhou, and Daishan should be anxious in Huai'an."
"It is reported that Yue Tuo has placed the command camp in Gaoyou. Li Yongfang should also be in Gaoyou at this time."
"Regardless of Yue Tuo's situation, once the Longwu Army arrives in Huai'an, Daishan will definitely shrink the defense line. In this way, Gaoyou will become useless, and our army can take advantage of the situation to advance."
"Materials and logistics are on their way to Yangzhou to stock up. Your Majesty, please rest assured."
"I thought we should send cavalry troops to Gaoyou first and mobilize canal boats along the way. After all, Gaoyou is surrounded by water on three sides. Once they cut off the land connection, this battle will be very troublesome."
More than a dozen people were making suggestions, and Chen Cao listened to them one by one, and then said: "What you all said makes sense. I think we can choose the right one and order the Longwu Army to attack Huai'an. Once the offensive is stabilized, Gaoyou's enemies will definitely come back." Even if we don’t return reinforcements, we won’t have many troops, and we can concentrate our firepower on bombing Gaoyou. Zhang Shicheng couldn’t defend the place back then, who do you think can defend it?”
There is no need to answer this at all. No one can be an opponent in the face of the absolute power of artillery.
"Your Majesty the Holy Ming..."
After finishing speaking, Chen Cao suddenly said: "You guys have been with me for so long, and you haven't received any rewards since the Ming Dynasty was re-established. Even if you don't say anything, I can tell that you feel uncomfortable in your heart."
"I don't dare..."
They say they don't dare, but privately everyone knows that there are definitely benefits to come.
"You can't just fight for meritorious service. If everyone only has this idea, war will always hang over the Ming Empire. You also know who you are fighting for and why you are fighting."
"For Your Majesty..."
"Nonsense..." Chen Cao scolded, and then criticized without naming him: "From today on, you must remember that soldiers are loyal to the country and fight for the sake of the common people, for your parents, wives and children. My dear friend, I am not here for one person. Although I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I am only an individual. While the emperor brings benefits to the people of the world, he also needs your protection, do you understand?"
"Your Majesty the Holy Ming..."
"Long live my emperor, long live long live..."
There must be proper ceremonies. After shouting "Long Live the Mountain", Chen Cao continued: "Everyone knows the military rank system. From today on, personnel at all levels in the army will be awarded titles. The large corps is also known as the Dingwu Army and other five major armies of the army." For group armies, the commanders and deputy commanders of these five group armies are awarded the rank of first-level general and second-level general of the army respectively; the commanders of ordinary group armies are awarded the rank of lieutenant general of the army, the commanders of divisions are awarded the rank of major general of the army, and the deputy division commanders are awarded the rank of brigadier general of the army. Military ranks are awarded to senior colonel by the brigade commander, colonel by the regiment commander, lieutenant colonel by the battalion commander, major by the company commander, and captain by the platoon commander. The other deputies at all levels follow this process. Like the official ranks, only soldiers with the rank of brigadier general and above are awarded. , can you be called a general, and can you call yourself a 'general', are you clear?"
"I will keep this in mind..."
"Huang Chunyao, in the name of the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army, sent a document to the Ministry of War to act accordingly. We will confer titles to the commanders of each army for the first time in front of the Yangzhou Formation and hold a ceremony to confer them."
"I will do it immediately..."
Military ranks are not awards, but they are the standards for establishing a new army.
All frontline troops cheered for joy after receiving the news of the awarding ceremony. Even ordinary soldiers at the squad leader level were excited.
On June 15th of the first year of Shengwu, a grand conferring ceremony began outside Yangzhou City. Except for the commanders and commanders of several other armies, all those participating in Yangzhou included Song Che and Tang Yannian of the Dingwu Army. Wang Xiaojie and Yuan Shizhong of the Shenwu Army were awarded the rank of first-level and second-level generals of the Army respectively. The commander of the 1st Group Army, Weng Linzhi, was awarded the rank of first-level lieutenant general of the Army. The remaining divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, companies, and platoons They were awarded titles according to their levels.
"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious..."
"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious..."
"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious..."
"Long live my emperor, long live long live..."
"Long live my emperor, long live long live..."
"Long live my emperor, long live long live..."
...
Gaoyou City
Yue Tuo had just received the news from Daishan and was currently discussing with Li Yongfang the defensive priorities of Gaoyou City.
"Consort, Gaoyou must guard..."
Li Yongfang sat next to Yue Tuo and frowned after hearing this: "There are currently 100,000 Han soldiers in Gaoyou City, and there are 30,000 Yang Lianmaha on the front line of Shaobo Town. Our army has complete supplies to defend the city and enough firearms and artillery. But Gaoyou City is surrounded by water on three sides and has only one land route. If the Ming army surrounded Gaoyou, let alone defending it, once the supplies were exhausted..."
Yue Tuo said expressionlessly: "Ming Gou made a sneak attack from Sizhou. Now its vanguard troops have arrived in Huai'an. The spies reported that hundreds of thousands of Ming Gou are in Sizhou. It's only two days' journey to Huai'an. Huai'an is an important water transportation town. The imperial court will definitely not Give up, and Gaoyou is in the middle, I can’t let it go..."
"I understand what Baylor means. I will make the arrangements for Gaoyou."
Yue Tuo said again: "Consort, Gaoyou is very important, so you need someone you can trust."
Li Yongfang hesitated and before he could speak, his eldest son Li Yangeng spoke: "Baylor, Ama, leave Gaoyou to me."
Before Li Yongfang could react, Yue Tuo clapped his hands and said, "Okay, Ben Beile has made the decision. If he is promoted to Li Shen, he will be our Manchurian Governor and guard Gaoyou. All military and political matters in Gaoyou will be decided by Li Dutong."
call...
Li Yongfang let out a long breath. Li Yangeng saw this and immediately stepped forward: "Thank you, Beile. Don't worry, Amma. Gaoyou City is high and the water is deep. My son will be able to hold it and wait for Huai'an reinforcements to arrive."
Yue Tuo patted Li Yongfang on the shoulder: "Don't worry, Prince Consort, Ben Beile will immediately order Yang Lianmaha to abandon Shaobo Town and retreat into Gaoyou City to assist Li Dutong in defending the city."
Yue Tuo left, but Li Yongfang had not yet set off. At this moment, he was standing with Li Yangeng, with several of his sons behind him.
"Your brother is here to guard you. All of you brothers are here to pay their respects..."
This was a situation of certain death. Li Yongfang knew it well, but he could not say these words. After all, he was the first Han Chinese to surrender to the slave establishment, and he also married Abatai's daughter. The Li family could only share the same fate with the Manchus. advance and retreat.
Several younger brothers came forward to salute, and Li Yangeng knelt down and said: "Father, my son knows the dangers of Gaoyou this time. In order to protect my Li family's status in the Qing Dynasty, my son is not afraid. Please forgive me..."
In Manchuria, they all call Ama, but in private they all call their father the Han custom, which is enough to show Li Yangeng's attitude.
Li Yongfang didn't speak, silently patted Li Yangeng's head, then turned and left.
.
"There are 17 rivers in Gaoyou alone, surrounding the city. The eastern section of Gaoyou Lake is close to the West City. The east and north sides are protected by rivers. There is only one land road in the southwest. The early reconnaissance company reported that the land road has been dug. It has become a trench, making it impossible to move forward whether on foot or on horseback.”
The 351st Regiment of the 117th Brigade was appointed as the vanguard regiment. It arrived in Gaoyou before the arrival of the large army. There was no fighting in Shaobo Town. When their regiment passed by, there were only Shaobo Town that had been burned to ashes and people fleeing along the way.
The leader of the regiment, Li Xuanjun, was from Xinhui, Guangdong. He studied Mandarin carefully in school after it became popular. However, many of his subordinates still couldn't understand the Cantonese spoken: "The entire regiment is looking for warriors who can swim. Come as many as you can." .”
The regimental staff officer frowned: "Does the regiment want to swim across the city to attack the city?"
Li Xuanjun was young and graduated from the first batch of Imperial Army University. After a brief training at Whampoa Military Academy, he became the commander of a regiment at the age of 19.
Once the regiment leader is young, his soldiers will have opinions, especially within the Shenwu Army. There are more than a dozen veterans from the Liaodong Ming Army in the 351 regiment, and they are not very appreciative of the new regiment leader. After all, this regiment leader does not seem to even The hair is not fully grown.
Li Xuanjun felt this feeling as soon as he arrived at the 351st Regiment. If you want to establish your authority among the new army, you can only do it in war, and the Gaoyou City in front of you is a good place to prove yourself.
Deputy leader Chen Daquan was originally from Sichuan. Every time he talked to Li Xuanjun, it was extremely difficult. However, this time Li Xuanjun's speech was very comprehensive, and Chen Daquan actually understood everything.
"Team leader, you want to lead the team yourself?"
