The ship equipment and recruitment of soldiers for naval warfare are only one aspect. More importantly, it is the command system of the naval army, that is, a large number of professional officers.
Compared with traditional land warfare, surface warfare is a completely different thinking mode.
Except for people like Li Jiangyao who are talented and intelligent and possess modern knowledge reserves, the vast majority of Zhenjiang Army generals, including Xu Youchang, know nothing about water warfare.
If one insists on using cavalry and infantry thinking to command warships across the battlefield, the final result can only be that Bao Yuchun tortures him to the point of doubting his life.
In view of this, Li Jiangyao paid special attention to the introduction of naval officers. Lao Dong is not very helpful in this matter. After all, the establishment of the Martial Arts Hall is under the control of the Governor's Mansion, and the Ministry of War has nothing to do with it.
Li Jiangyao thought about it and wrote a letter to Murong Xue, asking Murong Xue and Princess Fenyang to help. And his eyes were aimed at the former navy martial arts students of the imperial capital's martial arts hall.
The Naval Martial Arts Department is a relatively marginal existence within the Martial Arts Hall. It was established late and not many people are trained every year. In addition to the previous chaos in the world, many navy soldiers were unable to be enlisted in the army after graduating from martial arts and had to live among the people.
Murong Xue and Princess Fenyang used their personal connections to inquire around, and successively contacted 351 naval martial arts students who had become ordinary people and lived an ordinary life.
On behalf of Li Jiangyao, the commander of the Zhenjiang Army, they sent a sincere invitation to the slightly surprised martial arts students:
Come on, navy brothers! Thousands of miles of rivers are at your disposal!
In the end, a total of 217 naval martial officers happily applied for the call. With the secret support of the Intelligence Department, they gathered at the secret base of the Zhenjiang Tenth Army in Hongze Lake.
Hongze Lake is actually not in the defense zone of the Zhenjiang Army, but the strategic location this time is so unique that Li Jiangyao chose it over and over again, but was unwilling to give it up. In the end, he "bribed" Chang Tao with 200,000 arrows. , seized this treasure land.
Hongze Lake is located to the north of Yangzhou and Taizhou. It covers an extremely large area and has a deep draft. It is very suitable for hiding well-built warships and is also convenient for water warfare training.
What's more, the waterways around Hongze Lake extend in all directions.
To the northeast, there is a waterway leading to Kuohai; to the west, you can enter the hinterland of the Central Plains via the Huai River; to the south, there is another large lake, Gaoyou Lake, which is connected to the Grand Canal, allowing warships to sail directly. Enter the river.
Even if Bao Yuchun's scouts or navy fleets go north from the river through the canal, they can only reach Gaoyou Lake first, and will not easily discover the Hongze Lake base further north.
It is both good for hiding troops and convenient for fighting. In such a good place, 200,000 arrows are still very cheap.
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"Jiang Yao, don't tell me, these naval martial arts departments are all very good." Xu Youchang drank a cup of herbal tea, wiped his lips and said with a smile: "When we were practicing martial arts in the imperial capital, the cavalry department looked down on the infantry. Department, the Infantry Department looked down upon the Sailor Department, so I never thought there was anything special about those fishermen. However, during this time, I was really convinced, they are indeed capable!"
He took off his helmet and continued to talk excitedly: "Let's talk about the first batch of new warships delivered. My men have been tinkering with them for three days, and the big ships are still spinning in circles, like a drunk man. . But as soon as the people from the naval martial arts department got on board, the battleship seemed to suddenly come to life, swooping out and running rampant on the lake, as fast as a galloping horse!"
Li Jiangyao heard what he said was interesting and couldn't help but chuckle and said: "So, there are specialties in the art industry, and you have to rely on experts at critical times. You can't be fooled at all. By the way, have you found any good ideas?"
Xu Youchang nodded: "Yes! Three people left a deep impression on me. One is Nie Xianzang from Bianzhou, the other is Luo Yuan from Donghai County, and the third one is Wang Wenlie, from Jiaozhou. They are all It was the martial arts in the 821st year. When the Turks invaded, the three of them were still practicing martial arts in the hall, but the court did not take them to Yizhou, but each issued an official notice asking them to return to their hometowns to join the army."
Li Jiangyao smiled and said: "Their hometowns were either at war or occupied by rebels at that time, and what they learned was not put to use. It would be a bit embarrassing."
"Yes, so after these three people returned to their hometowns, they all stayed at home and lived the lives of ordinary people. Their skills were buried among the people." Xu Youchang said with emotion.
Li Jiangyao asked: "What are their characteristics? Tell me a little bit about them, including how you plan to use them in the future?"
Xu Youchang sat up straight and replied seriously: "Nie Xianzeng is a little older, relatively calm, calm, and good at strategy; Luo Yuan is a fierce general, his personality and temperament are very similar to Du Jian, and he is also very courageous; Wang Wenlie's family itself is The shipbuilder has a lot of research on water warfare equipment, has a bookish style, and is the style of a Confucian general."
He paused briefly: "After these days of observation, I feel that the three of them are very upright in character, brave and loyal, love the soldiers like sons, and are very popular among the soldiers, so I plan to focus on training them. At present, the Tenth Army is temporarily divided into four Three flags are the main fleet, and the other is the land and light troops. I am considering promoting each of the three to command a flag, and at the same time, let Nie Xianzang serve as the Army Sima to assist me in commanding the Tenth Army."
"Okay, when you are away, let Nie Xianzeng take command temporarily." Li Jiangyao nodded and said: "War is not a child's play, and amateurs must not command experts. Therefore, the sooner they mature, the better it will be for the entire war. It's time to let go. When the time comes, we must boldly let go and let those two hundred navy martial arts officers shoulder the heavy burden!"
Xu Youchang solemnly agreed, and then asked: "Jiang Yao, how is the progress of building warships? Now more than 20,000 naval forces are gathered in Hongze Lake, and only 28 warships are available. This is not enough. .”
Li Jiangyao smiled calmly: "This is exactly why I called you back this time. Some time ago, I was delayed in purchasing high-quality wood. At present, Mamu has solved 70% to 80% of the supply problem, and Yangzhou and Taizhou have Nineteen large shipyards are operating at full capacity, with an average of two warships launched every day. A new batch of fifty warships are moored in the Si River waterway, waiting for you to pick up the goods."
"Great!" Xu Youchang jumped up immediately and said happily: "Fifty big ships, the soldiers will be extremely happy now!"
Li Jiangyao smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Compared to Bao Yuchun's navy, this number is still too insignificant. In a fierce confrontation, it is possible to wipe them all out. Even if we are given another month, we can only create at most Sixty warships. The entire Xinjiang Zhenjiang Tenth Army is fully prepared, but the combat strength of only 130 to 150 ships is not even a fraction of the rebels."
Xu Youchang agreed: "If this ratio is converted to the army, its severity is comparable to the situation when the troops were raised in Metasequoia City."
"That's why I asked you to come back," Li Jiangyao said: "We have to unify our thinking and formulate a strategy of using less to hit more, just like we did back then."
Xu Youchang sat down again and asked seriously: "Do you have any ideas?"
Li Jiangyao nodded: "Eight words, avoid the truth, attack the fictitious, and seize the warship."
"Building ships requires a lot of money, materials and time. Every time we seize an enemy's ship, our own combat power increases by one point, while the enemy's combat power will weaken by one point. This will eventually reverse the disadvantage. situation!"
Xu Youchang nodded repeatedly: "You are right. Two days ago, Nie Xianzang and others told me about naval warfare, and they mentioned that fire attack is the main method. But now it seems that just burning and consuming the enemy's fleet is not actually enough. Basically, it forms the advantage of our army. Bao Yuchun is huge and can afford more energy than us. Even if the Tenth Army trades one ship for ten of his ships, in the end we will collapse first."
Li Jiangyao nodded slightly: "So, at the beginning of your preparations for war, you should establish the idea of seizing the enemy's warships and using them for your own use. Based on this, you should study and formulate various strategies, including: attack goals and combat methods. , the means of seizing the ship, and the diversion route after success. We must strive to capture the enemy ship in every battle, and the more we fight, the stronger we will become!"
"I have written them all down and will discuss a solution with them immediately when I get back!" Xu Youchang responded solemnly.
"In addition, we must also try to consolidate the Hongze Lake base." Li Jiangyao ordered: "Although the location there is very advantageous, it is not foolproof. If Bao Yuchun assembles the main fleet and forcibly advances northward, the Tenth Army will have no choice but to escape. There is no way.”
He paused briefly and continued: "Therefore, after you go back, you must organize manpower to build multiple military castles and archery towers near the mouth of Hongze Lake, and set up a large number of trebuchets and giant crossbows. If conditions permit, We should also add sluices and underwater hidden piles, and prepare complex waterways for entry and exit, so that foreign ships will have difficulty moving without pilots."
Xu Youchang responded loudly: "I obey the order of the Imperial Guard! I will deploy immediately after returning from humble duty. Not only Hongze Lake, I will also build a shooting fortress on Gaoyou Lake and the canal!"
Li Jiangyao nodded with satisfaction and continued: "I still have an idea, but it's not mature yet. I need you to discuss it with Nie Xianzang, Luo Yuan, and Wang Wenlie. Can you send one or two warships from Kuohai to the east? Go out and go around to the Mingzhou and Quanzhou areas further south to have a look?"
Xu Youchang reacted and said in surprise: "Are you planning to outflank the rebels?"
"I have this intention." Li Jiangyao smiled faintly: "Lao Jianhua piled most of his troops on the river defense line, which will inevitably lead to a lack of troops in various places in the south. If we can figure out the deployment of the rebel navy in Kuohai , there is an opportunity to use a large ship to transport a surprise force to land behind the enemy. In a decisive battle, such an action can often play a key role."
Xu Youchang nodded sincerely and suddenly smiled: "Jiang Yao, I wonder if you went behind Murong Xue and me's back to eavesdrop on the Navy Department's class when you were in the martial arts hall?"
