There is a high mountain called Gaogai Mountain on the way from Fuzhou Prefecture to Quanzhou Prefecture. It is not a super mountain range that stretches across the land, but the terrain of the hilly area is just hills one after another.
The official road actually passes through these hills.
In such terrain, if the bandits hiding in the mountains deliberately ambush, it will still be a headache.
Speaking of which, in the sixth year of Hongzhi, the reason why the imperial court established a governor in southern Jiangxi was actually because of this. Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guangdong all have this problem to a greater or lesser extent.
For today's Fujian, the bandits hiding in the mountain dens may not be able to catch the people they want to catch. These desperadoes have no respect for the law as long as they collect a little money.
imperial power? This is not Beijing, and the emperor's words are not as effective as a golden bean.
Therefore, this bandit must be suppressed.
Otherwise, the government would have no deterrent effect here, and there would be no point in promoting policies.
Especially since the inspectors have been attacked. If you don't knock out these bandits, then all the yamen in Fuzhou City are just amusing themselves, and no one will take you seriously.
Because of Wang Shouren's outstanding performance, Governor Wang Hao naturally put the suppression of bandits on his shoulders. He also knew that the little chief he led actually had a heart to be a general.
Afterwards, the capital commander Yu Zichu invited Wang Shouren to his camp with suspicion.
Now, the guardsmen in his hands are in a state of war. After all, the bandits dare to attack the Fujian inspector. With such daring, who can guarantee that nothing will happen?
On the way back, Yu Zichu probably asked a few more questions.
Only then did I know that before Wang Shouren failed to win the Jinshi, he had followed the then Wang Xiangmin Gong and galloped at the foot of Helan Mountain, so he no longer dared to have a trace of contempt in his heart.
Those who have received Wang Yue's true message can be said to be experts in military use!
Furthermore, rough people like them always have some respect for Jinshi, thinking that they know more because they have read books.
"Using troops in the northwest grasslands is completely different from that in the southeast." Wang Shouren rode on his horse and told him one, two or three points: "First, the enemies are different. Even if the Tatars are not as prosperous as they were in the Yuan Dynasty, they are still a handful. With an army of ten thousand and fighting all the year round, even the Ming Dynasty's official army was inferior. Therefore, in the northwest, the imperial court had to form a large-scale official army to fight against it."
"But what about Fujian? A few hundred people hiding in a mountain col is just like a mountain stronghold. They are not an army, they are just a mob, and most of them are just begging for food."
"So?" Yu Zichu asked.
"So we don't need a large-scale army of tens of thousands. First of all, it's difficult to march, and secondly, it's inconvenient to command. It's better to give me 3,000 elite soldiers to lead an army of 30,000 here."
Yu Zichu said in his heart, even if I think highly of you, you can't openly brag in front of me.
You managed it with 3,000 people, but I brought 30,000 people with me and I didn’t get much credit. What’s this called?
So he immediately showed a suspicious look.
But Wang Shouren just laughed and said, "Commander Yu, please believe me. We can pick out three thousand elite soldiers. We can wipe out the bandits in Gaogai Mountain in an instant. It's just three thousand elite soldiers. It's best to let them go." The official personally selects and organizes them."
Yu Zichu was a little unhappy, but he thought of Wang Hao. The governor of Zhejiang and Fujian trusted this boy very much. It was useless if he didn't want to. The two started to argue. Wang Shouren said a word in front of Wang Hao and said he could do whatever he wanted.
In this case, there was no need for Yu Zichu to offend this person.
If you want three thousand, then three thousand. If anything happens, just don’t find yourself.
"Okay! Then we will select three thousand elite soldiers after we return! But...but what will the remaining people be used for?"
"Just order them to defend the city."
There is no danger in defending the city at this time. Do the bandits in the mountains still dare to attack Fuzhou City? Even if they really come to fight, such a bunch of mud-legged people can't even touch the city wall.
So this is no problem, and Yu Zichu also thinks it makes sense.
Wang Shouren is actually quite excited. He has been interested in military affairs since he was a child. After so many years, he can finally practice here. Back then, he once said to his father: Give me 50,000 soldiers and horses, and I can level the grassland!
What greeted him was a scolding from Wang Hua. He refused to take the imperial examination and had these sweet dreams all day long.
Now, although it is not an army of tens of thousands, three thousand... can still be enough.
In Wang Shouren's view, small groups of elite soldiers are necessary to suppress bandits.
Because the mountain road is inconvenient, there are only two people walking on such a narrow road. What is the difference between 30,000 and 50,000 people? On the contrary, the natural conditions are difficult, so we need strong soldiers with strong willpower. These talents can fight tenaciously over mountains and ridges.
Furthermore, this hilltop and that hilltop are related to each other. When using troops, it is basic common sense to cut off the interconnections between enemies. The bandits' combat effectiveness is weak, but once they cooperate with each other and are familiar with the terrain, it will be more troublesome. It is best to defeat them individually.
Therefore, three thousand officers and soldiers have to be divided again. It is dangerous to divide the troops when facing the Tatars, but here, five hundred elites can defeat a mountain bandit and flee.
But this requires very efficient command. So actually having fewer people is an advantage. The large number of people becomes a disadvantage.
Soldiers have no permanent power, and water has no permanent power. There are no so-called taboos in using troops. If there are, it means being rigid and following the script.
"Then what is the second one?" Yu Zichu heard Wang Shouren talk about the first one and knew that there was the second one.
"Second. Many people in this mountain do not really want to rebel. They are not in a life-and-death relationship between the Ming army and the Tatars. In short, if the government does not give the people a way to survive, then anti-people and anti-people will be everywhere. The mountains are full of bandits, and even if Daluo Jinxian comes, they still can’t wipe them all out.”
"Then the king's participation in politics means..."
"Suppression and appeasement should be used together." Wang Shouren seemed confident, "This involves us catching spies, so we can use them together."
"How to use it?!"
Wang Shouren got closer and spoke softly,
Yu Zichu was shocked after hearing this, "This plan is very good, this plan is very good!"
Then he changed his demeanor and saluted Wang Shouren in a serious manner, "Wang Shenzhi, I have not obeyed many people since Zichu, but from now on I will obey you."
"It's not too late to say this after this battle is over."
"good!"
It is said that after the two returned to the barracks, they were very loud and flamboyant. It's almost like beating gongs and drums.
After Yu Zichu gave an order, the commanders and commanders of the Fujian Capital Command Department and the guards commanders of the guard station, about 20 people, all gathered together.
At this time, it was a wartime rhythm, and the barracks were filled with soldiers.
The commanders of each soldier all entered the commanding officer's tent. This rhythm was easy to guess.
Is there going to be a war? !
Yu Zichu brought five people from the capital, all of whom he could use effectively. One was placed in the position of commander of the capital, and the other four became commanders of the guard post in charge of 5,600 people.
Of course, there are actually not 5,600 people.
Time waits for no one, and Yu Zichu did not hesitate. When everyone arrived, he announced three things.
First, the official army has decided to march into Gaogai Mountain to suppress the bandits!
Second, select 3,000 elite soldiers from the entire Fujian Dusi and reorganize them!
Third, the suppression of bandits focuses on security and supplements on killing. Those who are willing to surrender can be dealt with lightly.
Although Yu Zichu is not a famous general, he has learned a lot from military books after all. Military orders are the basic qualities of their group of students.
Regardless of whether it is used well or not, it is being used anyway.
So after his order was issued, the first selection activity began after lunch.
Wang Shouren personally presided over it and selected a group of men one by one according to their height, physique, age, whether they had a criminal record, etc.
Such a public event exposed the next move of the officers and soldiers, and the selection of personnel and order were chaotic. Some people hidden in the crowd took advantage of this pass to sneak out of the barracks and disappeared within a few steps between the mountain and village roads. not see.
Yu Zichu brought a young officer named Feng Weide from the capital. He is now helping Yu Zichu control the Zhendong Guard. He felt a little worried when he saw that the new guy named Wang Shouren was making the barracks noisy. So he went to inform Yu Zichu.
"... When marching and fighting, it is important to be surprised. Bandits in the mountains are hard to find. Wang Shouren is still making such a big fanfare. There may be spies here. In one night, those mountain bandits will know that the army is going to attack. ?"
Yu Zichu stood not far from the martial arts stage with his arms folded, where he watched Wang Shouren choose one by one.
Three thousand people are not a lot to say the least, but if you pick them one by one, you may not be able to finish them all in two days.
But this guy is patient.
"Can we find the way up the mountain without being known by the bandits?" Yu Zichu asked slowly.
Seeing the commander's reaction, Feng Weide immediately guessed: "Commander, you...have a plan?"
"It's not that the envoy has a plan, it's that person who has a plan. A scholar who doesn't study the Four Books and Five Classics carefully is always interested in the art of war... He is the son of the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing. Before he had the status of a Jinshi, he was a scholar through his father. I begged the emperor to seek a position beside Wang Xiangmin Gong. In the eleventh year of Hongzhi, the imperial court deployed troops in Helan Mountain. When you and I were not here, he was already there."
Feng Weide was slightly shocked. He took a closer look at the thin, busy figure not far away. He was in his thirties and not strong. How special could he be?
Yu Zichu looked at the sun and said, "After the sun sets, take your trusted people to guard the main entrance of the barracks. Remember, it is loose in the first half of the night and tight in the second half of the night; loose when you go out and tight when you come in. I will let them guard other entrances and exits."
"What does this mean?"
Yu Zichu looked around and saw that this was an open space and no one was close to them, so he said, "We are so serious about suppressing bandits. What will the bandit spies in the barracks do?"
Feng Weide's eyes lit up, "I will tell the news!"
"That's right. So whoever isn't here tonight, we'll arrest him. If we arrest him, let him lead the way. What's not so easy about mountain roads?"
"But...even if we go, the bandits will know that the army is coming, and the bandits are waiting for them. I'm afraid this battle will not be easy to fight."
"A bunch of bandits are afraid of us, why should we still call them officers and soldiers?!"
Even if you are upright, you can still defeat those mobs!
"Okay! Then I'll wait for them tonight. It's better to be in command!"
Yu Zichu sighed slightly and smiled. If only he had come up with this method, it would save him from fighting bandits in Fujian... Zhou Shangwen became the commander of the Ming Dynasty cavalry, and competed with the Tatars on the grassland. High and low.
However, Yu Zichu also thought that Wang Shouren had something in his belly, and the emperor seemed to be very fond of him. If he followed this person, he might have the opportunity to make meritorious deeds and be rewarded in the future!
==
This book is about a million words long.
(End of chapter)
