On July 25, the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, in the main hall of the General's Office in Dushikou Fort City, He Biao, Liu Zhi, Cao Jinwang, Wang Yuanjing, Wu Zhizhong, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng, Chen Zhong, Wang Tieren, Cui Shijie, Jin Yong Everyone is gathered here.
Even Ma Zhongli, Feng Yuanshan, Su Zhenxiang and others were sitting in the main hall, but Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong and others were away on business and were unable to participate in the military meeting this time.
Two people stood behind Zhang Cheng. They were Lin Fangping, deputy commander-in-chief of the Pro-military Department, and Zhang Chengfang, his adopted son. They now took the place of Chen Zhong, who was now the commander-in-chief of the Cavalry Department. He sat In the first place behind Zhang Guangda and Chen Zheng.
Zhang Cheng looked at the generals in the hall and felt a little proud in his heart. In just one year, he took charge of Xuanfu North Road and had nearly 7,000 troops and horses, as well as such a large number of generals.
He was the first to speak: "Everything on my road has gradually become regular, and both military and government affairs are in good order. It can be seen that all of you here have contributed a lot. It's just that the land on my north road has been deserted for a long time. You will have to work harder in the future." become."
Zhang Cheng stopped here, glanced around, and then continued: "I have been busy with my affairs recently, and I have never asked you about the affairs you are responsible for. Today is free, so everyone talked about what your affairs are. Progress, what else needs to be coordinated by this admiral?"
His eyes stopped on He Biao and asked: "He Biao, you are responsible for the pacification of the entire army under my admiral. What are you doing now, assigning pacification officers to each battalion, selecting and training pacification sergeants, etc. Condition?"
"Back to the admiral, the governor of Qiying Town, Fang Zhihai, the governor of Dushibuying Town, Liu Jingzhu, the governor of Chicheng Buying Town, Xia Shuncheng, the governor of Cheying Town, Qin Dazhong,
These four people are all old sergeants who accompanied the admiral to the capital to serve the king last year. They are now sent to each battalion as sergeants. Each of them leads twenty sergeants.
According to the order of the admiral, the Chinese army set up a hundred sergeants to suppress the army. In addition to the 98 sergeants in the cavalry battalions, the whole army had a total of 198 sergeants to suppress the army. More than half of them were soldiers who had participated in King Qin's campaign. veterans of the war.
At present, the governors of each battalion have taken up their posts. The loyalty and combat effectiveness of the governors are excellent, but their literacy is poor. Half of the governors are still being taught literacy and reciting military rules and regulations until they are qualified. Battalions can be stationed in the rear. "
Zhang Cheng was quite satisfied with He Biao's report. He said: "Yes, it is difficult to teach these sergeants to read in just two months, but military regulations and rules must be memorized. You must hurry up." Urge him to wait.”
He turned to look at Cao Jinwang, the general manager of the Kaiping Guard Experience Department, and said, "Cao Jinwang, have all the secretaries of each battalion been dispatched?"
"Reporting to the Admiral, the two infantry camps, plus the cavalry camp and the car camp, each camp has four clerks. However, these clerks lack training on weekdays, and their bodies and bones are a little weak. You still need to General, you have to practice strictly."
"It's not much different. The clerks in my Kaipingwei department are all from military families. They are much better than those scumbags who have no power to restrain a chicken. After being in the army for a long time, they will naturally learn these things. They can be taught to everyone." However, there is no delay in literacy for officers above the battalion commander.
Look at the scholar Wang Yuanjing next to you. He has only been in our military camp for more than half a year. He has not only taught many sergeants how to read, but also taught children and healthy women. Now there are only three or five little naughties in the market. Not his body. "
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he looked at Wu Zhizhong and said with a smile: "Lao Wu has been working the hardest these days. Quanda, Chen Zheng, you guys have to think about it. When you have time, you have to treat Lao Wu to a big restaurant. It's delicious." It's delicious, thank you.
Some of the sergeants under your command have not been transferred to you and others through the hands of Lao Wu. These days, the North Road, the East Road, the town, and the capital are tossing around, and they are not thinking of recruiting some for you and others. Good sergeant. "
Zhang Cheng's teasing made the atmosphere in the hall feel relaxed instantly. Zhang Guangda and Chen Zheng thanked Wu Zhizhong repeatedly and agreed to treat him to a drink, while the others cheered and cheered.
Zhang Cheng didn't stop him. He picked up the tea cup and drank tea, watching everyone in the hall laughing. After a while, he waved to everyone to stop and continued: "Old Wu, there is something about recruiting troops on the East Road and the capital. , but is everything going well?"
"Reporting back to the general, the recruitment of troops went smoothly. Since the handwriting of monitoring Eunuch Chen was obtained, although the various places on the East Road were not very cooperative and supportive, they no longer obstructed or interfered. However, it seems that they are still playing tricks secretly.
On the entire East Road, only the security guards were relatively active. After a month, they only recruited more than a thousand qualified sergeants. Fortunately, Mr. Jin invited us to come to Beijing together, and we recruited more than 2,000 new soldiers around the capital.
Now we have selected 500 strong warriors and organized them into the central army. Two thousand of them will stay in Yunzhou and be organized into the carriage camp. Another 500 troops will be allocated to Guangda's cavalry camp to temporarily serve as transport troops and raise horses. Horse herding and other chores. "
Zhang Cheng nodded and said: "That's right, if you calculate it this way, now there are more than 8,000 sergeants in each battalion. Zhizhong, let's put an end to the recruitment of bravery for now.
Your next step is to rigorously train the 500 sergeants who will be retained as the central army. First, assemble the framework of the central military headquarters, and then transfer warriors from each battalion to slowly enrich the central army. "
He turned his attention to Zhang Guangda again and said: "Guangda, among all the battalions, the cavalry battalion led by you is the most elite and the most powerful. Now we have added 500 newly recruited sergeants. What's the situation now?"
Zhang Guangda hurriedly took a sip of tea before replying: "General, among the three units of our cavalry camp, the rangers led by Chen Zhong are the most powerful, and the assault cavalry currently has 300 men and horses, and can also go into battle with the army.
Although there are many veterans in the heavy cavalry army, and the sergeants are all strong and brave men, the heavy cavalry relies on the war horses first and the armor secondly to charge into the battle. Today, the three hundred sets of war horse equipment are not yet complete, but they can bear the load and A good war horse with explosive impact is even more rare! "
Zhang Cheng also knew that what Zhang Guangda said was indeed true. The war horse equipment and sergeant armor were fine. The Yunzhou Artisan Camp Armor Bureau would just step up the production of them, but such a war horse suitable for charging into the battle is rare.
Xuanzhen could have raised its own horses, but over the years, the horse administration has long been corrupted and abandoned. After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, most horses were traded with Mongolia.
However, military horses are easy to obtain, but war horses are difficult to choose. The war horses ridden by heavy cavalry are even more rare. Not only must they be able to bear heavy loads, but they must also be explosive and dare to charge into battle. Even ten ordinary war horses may not be able to train them. A war horse that meets the requirements of heavy cavalry.
Regarding the lack of qualified war horses in the heavy cavalry, Zhang Cheng also scratched his head. He pondered for a while and then said: "There is an old saying: 'Horses are the foundation of armored soldiers and the great use of the country.' There are one man and three horses in the heavy cavalry in your camp, and now there is a gap How big is it?"
