The five divisions all marched out together, and they were defeated as quickly as they advanced.
Within ten days, the Ming court's war situation in the northwest took a turn for the worse, and news of the defeat of all four armies spread throughout Lanzhou.
When He Huchen and others were fighting to the death with Liu Chengzong in the Hehuang Valley, Wang Xingshan, the commander-in-chief of the North Route Army who led the Gansu Army, had not even climbed from Yongshan Mountain to Liancheng.
His army was so plagued by smallpox that it marched like an old hen laying eggs, leaving behind dozens of pox-ridden soldiers every two hours.
Suddenly hearing that all roads were defeated, Wang Xingshan did not hesitate at all. He ordered the chieftain Lu Yunchang, who was holding on in Liancheng, to retreat. He turned around, picked up all the eggs he had laid, and led his troops to Yongdeng City, where Zhuanglangwei was governed.
He cannot lead troops to Lanzhou. The Gansu Army is different from the other four towns. The others are on the other side of the Yellow River. Only Gansu Town and Xining are on the north bank of the Yellow River. Now all four directions are defeated. If he is not careful, the war will burn his defense area.
Wherever there is retreat, there is advancement.
Liu Chengzu had no siege equipment, and he was besieging a mountain fortress. It was difficult for a strong attack to be effective, so he had to spend time repairing equipment. Before the equipment was completed, the enemy abandoned the city and fled.
Although they had gathered all their strength, they did not start a siege. The Xining army under Liu Chengzu was very angry. Fortunately, there were still grains, property, livestock and horses left by Chieftain Lu, which made the sergeants who invaded the city greatly. Invigorate.
The huge harvest directly caused the army led by Liu Chengzu to lose the ability to continue advancing.
Liu Chengzong sent an order, suggesting that more troops should be sent to Liancheng to further suppress Wang Xingshan's Gansu army in Yongdeng City. Over there, Liu Chengzong left Li Wanqing to guard the city. He first sent a messenger and then personally escorted the convoy with money and supplies back to the Hehuang Valley.
Liu Chengzong saw a convoy of convoys from a distance. Knowing that his brother was coming, he rode forward and heard Liu Chengzong say: "Lion, have the carriers come here?"
"I asked the carrier to transport the raft, and it's still in the west. Are these things from Tusi Lu's house?"
Liu Chengzong rode his horse and looked into the distance. He could not see the convoy beyond. The faces of the Xining flag guards were filled with indescribable joy, which made him laugh unconsciously: "Huh, so many?"
He never expected that the Tusi Yamen, which he didn't look up to, would have so much wealth.
But he didn't expect that Liu Chengzu shook his head and said: "If this was all, I would go east. I don't know how much wealth there is, let alone what the wealth is. I only know that I can only find eight hundred and ninety-nine over there." Ten cars, I even used the horses to pull things."
As he spoke, Liu Chengzu tilted his head slightly toward the convoy: "It's 540,000 kilograms. If we unload the things and then go back to pull them, we will need at least 1,500 cars."
Who thinks there are too many trophies?
Liu Chengzong was immediately overjoyed and asked, "Is there a lot of food?"
The eldest brother was confused by the question. Liu Chengzu turned his head and looked at the motorcade behind him, then looked at Liu Chengzong and wondered, didn't we come from northern Shaanxi?
He said: "Yes, but they are all in the chieftain's warehouse. What they brought here are all kiln wares, gold, silver and precious stones, copper and iron rare objects, mirrors, bottles, chairs and beds, armored soldiers' silk and satin... Are you short of military rations again?"
The prices in the minds of the people in the Marshal's Mansion are abnormal, changing back and forth between famine years and peace years at any time.
Before the expedition, everyone was living in a time of famine. After taking Hehuang, the grain warehouses of chieftains, landlords, and wealthy households were smashed open by the rear. The worries about the food problem at the front were easily resolved, and people gradually returned to the prices of peacetime.
Even if we go to Hehuang this time, the food and grass obtained still cannot completely make up for the shortage of military food. We can still get it together, and the rest will not be a big problem.
But Liu Shizi's comment about whether there was enough food brought Liu Chengzu back to the famine-filled prices.
Liu Chengzong nodded heavily and said: "Fifteen thousand surrender troops."
When Liu Chengzu heard this, he frowned and shook his head.
Because the Marshal's Mansion was constantly fighting, Liu Chengzu had always wanted to have a good chat with Liu Shizi about their army issues, but there was never a suitable opportunity.
They have too many armies, especially ineffective ones.
In fact, since the beginning of this battle, Liu Chengzu wanted to finish the battle, and persuaded Liu Chengzong to cancel the establishment of Xining Guards and eliminate the Weisuo Banner Army. At the same time, Xie Erhu, Ahai Daiqing, and Ba were also eliminated. There are three Fanmeng camps in Sanna.
There are more than 20,000 people in these four armies alone, and they will destroy the harvest of nearly 3,000 hectares of land in a year.
The two battalions of Yang Yao and Wang Wenxiu only had half of their food for a year. If there were not more than 20,000 people, the Marshal's Mansion could support four more training camps.
Now they need a population, a territory, and they need to be reorganized and trained. They have two legions of infantry, cavalry and artillery with ten thousand people as their main force. What do they want to do in the northwest?
But this was obviously not the time to make this suggestion. Even Liu Chengzu, who had never fought alongside Mongolian soldiers or Fan soldiers, knew very well in his heart that he could not just use others to fight the battle and then turn around and say they were useless.
He just said: "Those who can't afford to support them like this should find a way to let some sergeants graze and farm when the rewards are given."
"Brother, I want to be together."
Liu Chengzong smiled and asked Basang to lead the team to pack up the vehicles and go to Liancheng to transport all the grain, grass and goods back. Then he waved to his eldest brother and said, "Let's go to the account and talk about the next plan."
The wisdom of future generations stands on the shoulders of their predecessors. The greatness of their predecessors lies in spreading their thoughts and wisdom.
Just like the difference between a famous general and a military strategist, there is only one Xiang Yu, but after Sun Wu, everyone can be Sun Wu.
After Liu Chengzong succeeded Emperor Taizu, he naturally cherished the guard posts established by Emperor Taizu. He also thought of farming, but he thought this matter could be left alone.
The war was still going on, and he wanted to get everything he could in the war before thinking about what happened after the war.
Along the way, Liu Chengzong chatted with his brother about his plan to invade Lanzhou, but he did not expect to approach the Chinese army commander's tent. Instead, his brother fetched him two things from horseback, entered the military tent and placed them on the commander's desk.
One is a wooden box and the other is a long scroll.
When I opened it, I found a bunch of seals in the wooden box, including the gold seal of camel button of King An Ding of the Yuan Dynasty, the silver seal of turtle button of the general, etc. The long scroll is the mountains and mountains of Nianbo, Liancheng and other places drawn by Liu Chengzu along the way. Pictures of rivers, markets, villages, roads, and forts.
This topographic map of Hehuang was to be handed over to Liu Chengzong, who suggested that he return to Xining to reorganize the map; and the golden seal of King Anding was the trophy obtained by Liu Chengzu from breaking into the Lu Chieftain's Yamen.
On Liu Chengzong's side, he took out a thick list for his brother to read. It was a list of wealthy families from the surrender report. It covered more than 700 households in Lintao Prefecture, with general property, livestock, location, and defensive strength. etc.
Liu Chengzong said that the list has not yet been compiled, but after estimation, these people have the strength to solve the food and grass gap in the Marshal's Mansion. There is only one problem. The financial unit on the list is two, not stone.
There are 17 households with a net worth of over 10,000 taels, and 180 households with a net worth of over 5,000 taels. The minimum standard for being on the list is 1,000 taels.
Therefore, they may plunder endless amounts of precious metals, but not enough food to eat. Therefore, Lintao Fucheng, Didao County, Hezhou City, and the warehouses outside Lanzhou City are still their targets.
Liu Chengzong said: "I will lead the infantry camp and the shooting camp to surround Lanzhou. Yang Yao will go to Jinxian and his brother will go to Didao. There are still soldiers and horses of Lintao Guard over there. If you can grab them, grab them. If you can't grab them, wait for Yang Yao to finish and go south to help. , then raid Hezhou, and then return from Lanzhou, how about?"
Liu Chengzu looked at the list. To be honest, no one without the experience of Shaanxi bandits would be able to make such a list.
The person who wrote the list listed all the expected belongings of the looted targets, and there were comments added by Liu Chengzong next to them, which were reference strength for raiding various targets.
For example, large grain merchants are among the top targets with low risk and high returns. It is recommended to have 200 troops. Gu Shen
Wangzhuang, the Supervisory Office, and Guancang are the second targets with high risks and high returns. It is recommended that the number of troops be no less than 1,000.
Then there are the big families from officials and gentry, whose income is generally not high and who live among the common people. It is recommended to use a well-disciplined team of 400 to perform tasks.
Finally, there is the military attaché of the Guard. In fact, many of the big families who submitted reports of surrender were from the military attache of the Guard. There were even soldiers who reported that their senior officials had money and food in their families, but it turned out that their own senior officials were also among the surrender.
To rob this group of people, at least 2,000 troops need to be mobilized. Because the places where the military attachés live are clustered together, and there are military remnants of the guards at home, it is more difficult to rob them.
very professional.
Liu Chengzu can't find any fault.
The only concern in his mind is that many people on this list can actually be won over, but unfortunately, the Marshal's Mansion does not need to win over anyone at the moment, they only lack food.
Liu Chengzu only focused on the present, and he was not even interested in what Liu Chengzong said about entering the pass.
Just think about those things. It doesn't matter when they make a decision anyway. All they need is a drought this summer, and any long-term goals will be useless. Maybe they will lose even Hehuang and can only enter Shu through Dajianlu. .
Do your best and obey destiny.
However, Liu Chengzu had no objection to the general direction, but made four suggestions on details.
"The captured officers on the list can be redeemed and taken back to get food and released. Otherwise, it will be a disaster for them to stay here."
"As for the native soldiers of the Banner Army, those who are ready to be released can work and transport food first, and those who are not ready to be released can be picked out and taken away. Like Yang Qi, they brought their family members into Hehuang to calm people's hearts."
"Besides that, there is Yongdeng, who is also going to march troops. The Zhuanglang River area has been a grain-producing area since the Han Dynasty. The name means there will always be a good harvest."
"The last thing is the map. Soldiers and horses who raid various counties must bring along army painters. Since we are planning to enter the customs in a few years, this is a good time to draw the map."
Liu Shishi took this very seriously.
While waiting for the transport to deliver the raft prisoners for several days, while stabilizing the newly-recruited troops, Dai Daozi was sent east to explore the military situation. Soon, intelligence came from the east. Lanzhou was now in chaos, and it was a good time to send troops. .
On March 28, Dai Daozi sent someone to capture a spy from along the Yellow River, an old acquaintance named He Yong.
Liu Chengzong couldn't remember how many times this guy had been his prisoner. He just felt that He Yong was still the same sneaky person. He was kicked all over his buttocks by soldiers outside his robe, and was quietly brought into the handsome tent by the guards. As soon as he came in, it would be fine. After receiving the great gift, he said: "General Lion, no, He Yong kowtows to Commander Lion."
Liu Chengzong wanted to laugh when he saw his old friend. He pointed to the blanket aside and asked him to sit down, and asked: "I have let you go, why are you here?"
He Yong was quite nervous at first. Times have changed, and no one knows what will happen if he comes here. But now that he can see Liu Chengzong, he feels relaxed, rubs his hands and says with a smile: "I'll see if Marshal Lion still wants to report. "
"Oh, are you keeping all the newspapers for me?"
Liu Chengzong laughed, knowing that this guy was joking. After all, he had no shortage of reports, so he didn't answer. He just smiled and said: "I heard that General He was promoted. Why, didn't I get an official position for you?"
"Master Bai, the servant." He Yong smiled: "The Lion Commander is a man who does great things, and Mr. Bai is not worth mentioning."
"It's a good thing. In the future, General He will be the chief military officer, and you will be indispensable as the commander of the standard battalion." Liu Chengzong played with the golden seal of King Anding in his hand and asked He Yong: "General He asked you to come? What's the matter? Tell me. "
Hearing Liu Chengzong talk about the official position of Biying Lieutenant General, He Yong raised his eyebrows hard. It was an official position that he could not even imagine.
Even if everything goes well for the Ming army in this war, He Renlong will only be awarded the title of guerrilla general. If he is lucky to a certain extent, he will be just a general. Where will He Yong become a general?
But was this the time for daydreaming? He Yong was afraid of offending Liu Chengzong and being kicked out, so he quickly entered the group and said, "The commander-in-chief wants to attack Lanzhou?"
Where did you ask that?
Liu Chengzong smiled and said: "General He wants to help me break the city?"
"Huh?" He Yong was stunned and quickly shook his head: "General He wants to ask the commander, can you not attack the city wall we are guarding?"
Liu Chengzong rubbed his chin and asked, "What are the benefits?"
"The general wants the marshal not to kill all the Yansui army for the sake of old friendship."
After He Yong said that, he looked around. This action made Liu Shishi very confused. There was no one else in the handsome tent.
"I have some information."
He Yong leaned forward on the blanket and whispered: "Commander, don't grab the ferry. There is gunpowder in the cabin. Lian Guoshi also planted mines at the ferry. Steel wheels will explode if stepped on; Zhang Quanchang is still in Lama Ridge." I’ll set up an ambush with gunners to kill you.”
Liu Chengzong remained calm on his face, but his heart skipped a beat. There were ambushes on boats, ferries, and mountains. He was determined not to give up until he was killed.
He asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
"I'm afraid your brother will massacre the city."
He Yong was very sincere. He felt that if he didn't say this, Liu Chengzong would be dead. Liu Chengzong would be able to do anything in anger.
He spoke eloquently and said: "A few years ago, I saved some money thanks to the Marshal. The younger one got married the year before last. He married the Chang family's former cook and had a baby last year."
After saying that, He Yong raised his head and looked at Liu Chengzong with an ugly smile: "I want to live, I don't want to die here."
Liu Chengzong had an impression of the cook of the Chang family. When he was still studying martial arts in Mizhi, the little cook was a famous beauty. But in his impression... that girl seemed to have been seduced when his father was promoted to be a tax collector in Yan'an Prefecture. Married away as a concubine.
Liu Chengzong: "You killed someone and took your wife?"
He Yong thought that you didn't want to congratulate me, so he waved his hand quickly and said: "No, no, no, I didn't. Zhang Yichuan, the King of Sweepers, killed Mr. Qi and took away his wife and concubines. I happened to know Zhang Yichuan, so I wanted him back." ”
What could Liu Chengzong say? He Yong's behavior was quite wild. He cupped his fists and said, "Congratulations, good thing...a gift for the baby."
He Yong was stunned when he saw Liu Chengzong throwing a piece of gold. When he got it, he found that it was the third-class royal seal of the Yuan Dynasty. He was so frightened that he hurriedly sent it back.
"Take it, that mine won't kill me, but none of my soldiers are more valuable than these few taels of gold."
This is a seal from the previous dynasty, and now it is an antique. It is said to be worth much more than its weight, but in Liu Chengzong's hands, it has no meaning. He can carve it casually, and its value is only its weight.
In He Yong's hands, this thing cannot be sold. If it is not used as a head heirloom, it can only be melted or cut into pieces, so it is only a few taels of gold.
As Liu Chengzong spoke, he pointed at He Yong and said: "Climb the city and put up seven flags on the wall. I will know that General He is there. If the mine ambush is true, I will have a gift for you after the battle." "
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