Chinese War
Since ancient times, it has been easy to conquer from north to south, but difficult to conquer from south to north.
Why? Potential!
The North is colder than the South. In order to resist the cold, the body will grow taller. Therefore, northerners generally have higher status than southerners.
In the age of cold weapons, being tall and burly would take advantage. Horses are produced in the north, which is more conducive to battlefield maneuvers and raids. Therefore, the war situation in China before the Song Dynasty was all based on the north determining the south.
However, that was only before Song Dynasty.
Since Zhu Ming, the use of firearms has gradually reduced the advantages of the north, which also laid the foundation for the success of the subsequent Northern Expedition.
"Firearms are important, but if soldiers don't have the courage to fight hand-to-hand on the battlefield, no matter how sophisticated the muskets are, they will still be defeated." At the school grounds outside Wuchang, Zhang Rui answered Zhu Zhangzhang's question about why. The musketeers want to practice bayonets.
"Uncle, have you ever heard of Qi Jiajun?" Zhang Rui asked.
"Of course Qi Jiajun, who is famous all over the world, has heard of it." Zhu Zhangzhang said without concealing his admiration.
"Then do you know that they fought in the Hunhe River in Liaodong?" Zhang Rui asked again.
"This... this is not recorded in the books, and I haven't heard anyone talk about it. So I don't know very well." Zhu Zhangzhang replied with some embarrassment.
In fact, this is no wonder Zhu Zhangzhang. The Qing court could not allow such books to become popular in the market. After all, the Qing army's victory in the Battle of Hunhe was not very impressive.
"Their battle back then could be described as tragic. They used 3,000 infantrymen to fight against nearly 30,000 Banners soldiers. After the ammunition was exhausted, the hand-to-hand combat was such that the Eight Banners soldiers did not dare to step forward. If the Liaodong soldiers had not done nothing, they probably would not have been defeated. Disappeared." Zhang Rui sighed and said: "I have a record about them in my study, you can take it and read it when you have time."
"Okay. Thanks, Liu Zi." Zhu Yiyi bowed and said.
Although Zhang Rui is his nephew, after all, there is still a distinction between monarch and minister, and this etiquette is always indispensable. Zhu Zhangyi felt that his father forced him to swear such a poisonous oath just to make him understand this. Lest he arouse criticism and bring disaster every day.
"My family, why are you being so polite?" Zhang Rui said with some annoyance. But Zhang Rui had no choice but to let Zhu Yiyi's ceremonial actions go. Taking history as a guide, this is actually a way for him to protect himself.
"Is uncle still used to being in the staff department?" Zhang Rui asked, changing the subject.
"Very good. There are a lot of things to learn here. If you don't travel, you don't know how big the outside world is." Zhu Zhangzhang replied with satisfaction.
"That's good. I just received news that the Qing army has gathered a large number of Qing troops in Nanchang. We must get rid of them first. Otherwise, when our troops enter Anhui in the future, we will be afraid of danger in the rear." Zhang Rui's words His tone was very calm, as if he didn't care at all about the assembled Qing troops.
"Indeed. If they control Jiujiang, they will affect our Yangtze River grain route." Zhu Zhangyi nodded in agreement.
"Well, the current situation in Wuchang is not stable yet, so I need you to sit in Wuchang for me and stabilize the people. This way I can lead my troops to attack Jiujiangkou with peace of mind, and then clear out the Qing troops gathered in Nanchang." Zhang Rui said.
"Are you going to lead the troops? Can't we just let Commander Li De lead the troops there?" Zhu Zhangzhang said worriedly.
"There is no way. The formation of the Sharp Sword Army was too short. Many soldiers have not gotten used to the current situation. I have to follow the past to pick up the omissions to prevent big mistakes." Zhang Rui said helplessly:
"Although the sharp knife army has strong morale now and is unstoppable along the way. But that is all based on our army's consistent victory. Once it suffers a major defeat, the morale of the army will easily be disturbed."
"That's why you shouldn't follow him. As the saying goes, a gentleman should not stand behind a dangerous wall, but a monarch should sit in the back hall." Zhu Zhangzhang persuaded with worry.
"Who would want to have dysentery if they have hair? Even though our army is so powerful now, the short time it takes to form an army is our biggest fatal flaw. All parties still need enough time to make adjustments. In this case, what should I do? Stay at home with peace of mind?" Even though Zhang Rui could understand what Zhu Zhangyi said, he also had his own difficulties. With all the conditions in the world, how can we be at peace with everything?
"Don't worry, uncle, I have my own way." Zhang Rui comforted Zhu Zhangyi and said.
Listening to what Zhang Rui said, Zhu Zhangyi said with an apologetic face: "Liu Zi, it's my fault that I don't have much ability to solve your problems."
"Uncle, don't belittle yourself. I still have a lot of things that I need uncle to help me deal with." Zhang Rui said with a smile on Zhu Zhang's face.
"By the way, has Min Rui's body been buried?" Zhang Rui suddenly remembered and asked.
"Yes, I have added a thick coffin and buried it as you asked." Zhu Zhangyi replied. He didn't understand why Zhang Rui suddenly asked this. So he opened his mouth and said:
"However, many people in the staff don't understand why you would do this."
"Because we are weak, we have to recognize our weakness. Burying him does not show how respectable he is, it is just to show others." Zhang Rui replied:
"Okay, let's take a walk! We have to go back to the city to deal with things later."
"yes…"
With the end of the school review, Zhang Rui and others left the school grounds and returned to Wuchang City.
Wuchang City has a history of more than a thousand years, and the houses in the city have long been overcrowded.
Outskirts of the city, residential area.
At a glance, they are all low thatched houses.
The people who live here are all without permanent property and can only survive in the world by working hard. If there are still officials in the city to maintain order, outside the city life is based on the rules of the three religions and nine streams. If the ordinary people living here cannot join the forces, they will have no choice but to accept endless exploitation by all forces.
Zhang Rui and his men passed by slowly, and the people they encountered were all in ragged clothes, squatting aside with pale faces and numb expressions.
There were several children playing without any clothes on the roadside. When Zhang Rui and others passed by, their adults also asked their adults to press on the roadside to prevent them from moving.
Some timid people even knelt on the ground nearby, fearing that they would offend the nobles passing by and cause trouble for themselves.
Looking at the appearance of the people on both sides, Zhang Rui felt very emotional.
"How can the integrity of our Han people be suppressed to such a low level? You must know that in the past, even when the emperor traveled, the common people only had to stop and watch." Zhang Rui asked secretly in his heart.
Recalling that in the late Qing Dynasty, people had to grovel and call beggars from the West, "foreign masters", Zhang Rui was particularly angry. If in the Ming Dynasty, even if their bishop came, he would be nothing more than a red fan in the eyes of the people.
"Perhaps the greatest achievement of a great man is to change the fourth-class Han people and enhance the pride and backbone of the nation. It's a pity..."
Note ①: Please refer to Baidu for the source of information. Friends who are interested in knowing more, please search Baidu: In ancient times, did common people have to kneel down when they met the emperor?
