“But Ganshaan is so barren that it’s of no great use to take it!”
Li Guo had some psychological shadow about going north to Gansu and Shaanxi. Although Dashun and Daxi originated from Gansu and Shaanxi, they both suffered big losses in Gansu and Shaanxi! Especially Zhang Xianzhong, long live Mr. Zhang. He went out vertically and came back sideways, losing everything. Even his four godsons no longer have the surname Zhang.
"Father," Li Laiheng said, "the situation in Gansu and Shaanxi is much better now. Although they are not rich, they have not had a famine for many years, and they also produce good horses, mules, muskets, small cannons and gunpowder. If we can get With Gansu and Shaanxi, the national and military strength will be greatly increased."
Of course Ganshan and Shaanxi were bitter, but it was much better than during the Tianqi and Chongzhen years.
On the one hand, there have been so many years of back and forth, plus several Shaanxi people emigrated (in the Dashun and Daxi dynasties, Shaanxi attracted a large number of people, and the Pingxi and Anbei vassals of the Ming Dynasty each drew away from Shaanxi) killed many people), causing the population of Gansu and Shaanxi to decrease significantly. Now the total number of soldiers and civilians under the rule of Shaanxi Province, Hexi Fan and Pingxi Fan is only more than 6 million. The per capita land occupation rate exceeds five acres. Although the average yield per mu of land in Shaanxi and Gansu is still very low. After deducting the grain, it is only 112 kilograms of wheat. However, five acres of land can still produce more than 600 kilograms, converted into flour. It also weighs more than four hundred kilograms.
On the other hand, Zhu Cihong knows where there is money in China and where there is no money, so he will not let the provinces share taxes evenly.
Under his rule, Gansu and Shaanxi not only did not need to pay money to the court, but also received large subsidies from the court. Moreover, the Ming court also supported the livestock industry in Gansu and Shaanxi through the purchase of mules and horses. Now almost all the horses and mules used by the Ming army were produced in Gansu and Shaanxi.
In addition, the military industry in northern Shaanxi founded by Zhu Cijiong was also preserved under the support of the Ming Dynasty, and became the most important gun supplier for the Anxi, Hexi, and Beiting (Zhungar) armies, and Mongolia's Chahar and Tumo Half of the guns and artillery used by the two special forces came from Shaanxi.
Li Guo also knew that life in his hometown was better than in the past, and he sighed softly: "I didn't expect that there would be a wise king in the Ming Dynasty... The people of Shaanxi are living better. I'm afraid they won't ask us to incite them anymore." Are you up?"
Li Laiheng said: "Father, the people of Shaanxi are our hometown after all, and they are closer than the people of Huguang and Guangdong.
Moreover, in recent years, the Ming Dynasty has continuously mobilized the brave and brave people from Shaanxi to Hexi, Anxi, Shuofang, Anbei and other towns. Those who stayed in Shaanxi were all farmers who could not fight. "
Zhu Cixiang was still afraid of the rebellious spirit of the Shaanxi people, so he tried his best to trick the Shaanxi warriors into going to Hexi, Anxi, Shuofang, Anbei and other military towns... In this way, Shaanxi became a lot more stable, but the combat power also weakened.
"In addition," Li Laiheng added, "the Ming Dynasty is now based on Pukou, an old mountain in the north of the Yingtian River. From here to Shaanxi, it is a long journey of two thousand and hundreds of miles, and it is all by land. And our army From Hanzhong, we can reach Guanzhong within three hundred miles... With a three hundred-mile retreat versus a two-thousand-hundred-mile retreat, I have all the advantages!"
Li Guo nodded: "That's right...Although Zhu Cixiang is a wise king, it is a fool's errand to live in the southeast and control the world. Since ancient times, the world's military force has not come out of the northwest and northeast, and it is difficult to control it if it lives in the central state, let alone southeast?"
"What my father said is absolutely true," Li Laiheng nodded vigorously, "With the foundation of the northwest king, if you retreat with great success, you can compete with the Ming Dynasty, and if you advance, you can sweep the world!"
Li Guo looked at his son: "Lai Heng, as my father, I will make you a commander, how about leading a hundred thousand troops out of Qishan to capture Gansu and Shaanxi?"
"Father," Li Laiheng shook his head, "My son's military skills are far inferior to those of the King of Jin... The King of Jin should be allowed to station in Hanzhong and preside over the Northern Expedition with full authority."
Li Guo was stunned for a moment and thought: I've been talking for a long time, but you won't go!
"Then you will go back to Chongqing to assist your father?"
"My son is still going to Awa..." Li Laiheng said, "Awa and Sha Lian still have something to do, so we can't give up easily. Besides, it's time for my father to go south to Kunming!"
"Going south to Kunming?"
"Yes!" Li Laiheng said, "My father has been unhappy in Nandu for a long time...and if he wants to win the hearts of Ava and Salian, my father must sit in Nandu so that he can summon Ava and Salian nearby. Chieftain, and presided over the immigration to Awa and Shalian."
What's the meaning?
Li Guo was a little confused.
Li Laiheng smiled: "Ada, you must think carefully about everything. Don't just seek victory without thinking about defeat...Although Myanmar is a wild land, it is also extremely vast. Sichuan and Yunnan may not even be there together. Myanmar is big.
Moreover, Burma’s Shalian has a seaport that leads directly to what Westerners call the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean was blocked by the Strait of Malacca and was beyond the reach of the Ming Dynasty navy. If things go wrong, you can still travel across the sea... Thirty-six Strategies to travel is the best! "
Li Guo was noncommittal and remained silent for a while, then asked: "When can the King of Jin send troops to the northern expedition to Guanzhong?"
Li Laiheng said: "Wait a little longer... Ada went south to Kunming first, and then secretly transferred the king of Jin to Hanzhong to rectify the army. When Zhu Ming launches a large-scale crusade against Manchuria outside the pass, he can launch his northern expedition and catch him off guard!"
Li Guo finally felt relieved: "Hit! This is a great plan!"
...
"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
Zhu Cixiang is parading again!
He must have known that the second generation of Dashun's soldiers were really growing up day and night, and they were holding back their efforts to seize his country, so he paid more and more attention to his young guards and young officers during this period.
The so-called Young Guards is the so-called "Kiubian Youth Army". Although it is said to be "Kiubian", in fact, not all its members are from Jiubian.
Because under the Ming Dynasty, there were only nine border towns that could send out strong troops. There were only Anxi, Hexi, Shuofang, Anbei, Beiping, Daning, and Anchuan (in Guizhou and eastern Sichuan), a total of seven. Since the sixth year of Hongxing's reign, the Ming Dynasty has recruited 800-1,500 poor young people aged 10-12 from each of these seven towns (including their predecessors) every year.
In addition, 1,500 poor teenagers aged 10 to 12 were recruited from each of Hunan, Shandong and Huaixi.
In this way, the total number of young people from poor families who are called into the Young Guards Camp every year is more than 10,000.
Now the first batch of Young Guards enlisted has nearly completed six years of rigorous training and is ready to go to the battlefield!
According to statistics from the Ministry of War, there are more than 11,000 Young Guards who enlisted in Hongxing in the sixth year. After nearly six years of hard training and elimination, there are about 8,000 people left, who now form 16 battalions. Under review by Emperor Zhu Da.
"Your Majesty, the 8,000 people here can officially form an army next year! Coupled with officers, artillerymen, captains (non-commissioned officers), and heavy troops, it will be exactly one division! And in the future, a division can be formed every year... With such elite soldiers, Duduo outside the pass can rest easy and close his eyes!"
The person talking to Zhu Cixiang was Feng Sizhong, the first admiral of the Young Guards.
"Okay! The army is finally formed!" Zhu Cixiang looked at the neat sixteen battalion square formations in front of him, which were as neat as knives and axes. He nodded with satisfaction, "But don't form a division yet. I want 6 flintlock muskets." Group, can I have one?"
Six regiments can be assigned to six divisions as sharp knives!
In addition, there are many "second-generation knights" here in Pukou-Laoshan who can serve as shock cavalry. It is not difficult to recruit and train 6 armored cavalry battalions. Moreover, the number of "black cavalry" (black gun and mule soldiers) is also very sufficient, and one battalion can be assigned to each of these six divisions.
In this way, Emperor Zhu will have 6 very elite divisions at his disposal next year!
With these 6 elite divisions, the battle outside the pass is certain!
Although the battlefields outside the Pass are vast, except for the coastal areas of Liaodong and West Liaoning, they are all far away and supply is inconvenient, making it impossible to support the army for a long-term operation. So using elite troops to attack Dhoni outside the pass is the only option!
The reason why Zhu Cixiang did not let Duduo "die" was, on the one hand, to stabilize the Southeast Sea and Pacific battlefields first, and on the other hand, he was waiting for his Young Guards to form an army!
"Your Majesty, are we going to deal with Dorney next year?" Wu Sanfu, who was accompanying Emperor Zhu during the military parade, also became excited.
He has been looking forward to this day for a long time!
"Yes!" Zhu Cixi nodded, "Send troops next year... to strive for peace in Liaoning in three years!"
