On the fifth day of November, the army set off and continued to deploy in a marching array, heading south towards Shunde Prefecture. After all, it was an internal march, and no banditry was detected in the surrounding area.
Wei Zhice, Chen Zhong, Lin Fangping, Liu Jinhai and others gathered around Zhang Cheng. The central army maintained a march distance of about three miles from the forward and rear armies. There were nearly 10,000 soldiers, including more than 6,000 horses, mules, and camels. , and there were more than 300 vehicles, bringing billowing smoke and dust along the way.
Calculated based on the food intake of people in the Ming Dynasty, an average young man eats almost one liter a day, while a horse eats three liters a day.
In this way, more than 9,000 sergeants need about 90 shi of food a day, and war horses and mules require about 160 shi. The combined men and horses consume almost 250 shi of food and grass in a day, and seven dan in a month. Thousands and five hundred stones of grain and grass.
Wei Zhice's baggage trains had a total of 200 trains in total. A single load could carry about 2,400 shi of grain and grass, which could feed the army for nearly ten days.
In addition, both the cavalry camp and the infantry camp also prepared dozens of carts, loaded with military tents, antlers, caltrops and other supplies for camping. They also carried three days' rations for their own troops in case of emergency.
Even so, coupled with the dry food carried by each sergeant, the army's rations can only last for twenty days, not to mention that the consumption of horses and camels is only estimated at the minimum, and there are various hidden consumptions. The number of days that the army's food and grass can last is even less.
Therefore, Zhang Cheng's principle is to first come up with the Ministry of War's instructions and ask the prefectures and counties along the way to provide a few days of food and grass. If they really don't have it, use the money they bring to buy it locally, and finally eat the food and grass that accompany the army.
Fortunately, in the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Zhang Cheng led his army and fought hard in the capital. His battle footprints were left in many places, from Baoding Prefecture to Zhending Prefecture and then to Shunde Prefecture.
For example, in Dingzhou and other places in Zhending Prefecture, Zhang Cheng once saved the lives of local gentry and common people. When the army passed by, he received a warm welcome from the local people. Many people dared not say that there would be no problem with the supply of food and grass for two or three days.
Now they have just finished replenishing supplies in Zhending Mansion, and all the baggage trucks are fully loaded. They are heading south past Yuanshi and Zanhuang, and they can see that beyond Lincheng in front is the boundary of Shunde Mansion.
In Neiqiu County, we have seen refugees fleeing to the north scatteredly. They looked at the rolling army here and stayed away, not daring to get close. Their eyes were full of timidity.
Seeing this situation, and thinking of the current drought in Zhongzhou, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but worry about how to replenish the army's food and grass after entering Zhongzhou, and whether it could be guaranteed...
"Liu Jinhai, I asked you to wait in Shunde Mansion and look for land to store food in Zhongzhou. How did you go?" Zhang Chengce said slowly on his horse.
Liu Jinhai hurriedly replied: "Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, starting from February this year, in addition to training the boys in Langwopo, the general will come to Zhongzhou to inspect the foundation of the exhibition, spy on bandits and bandits everywhere, and purchase grain and grass in large quantities. Hoarding for military needs.
According to the commander's instructions, currently only two to three thousand shi of grain and grass are stored in these six counties: Wu'an and Anyang in Zhangde Prefecture, Qixian and Jixian in Weihui Prefecture, and Fengqiu and Chenliu in Kaifeng Prefecture. , which adds up to enough to meet the needs of the army for two to three months. "
"but……"
Liu Jinhai added: "Nowadays, there is a drought everywhere in the Ming Dynasty, especially in Zhongzhou. It costs a thousand or even ten thousand dollars to buy rice. There is nowhere to buy it. Many rich families' grain shops are closed. The purchase of grain and grass is really expensive." It’s getting harder and harder.
In the past few months, there have been floods in Huguang, Su, Song, and Chang prefectures, and rice has cost seven to eight hundred dollars per pound. Neighbors have gone on strike, and rural households have been closed. Although it takes a lot of effort and means, you can still buy some food and grass. However, this cost many times more, and it was not safe to store too much grain in each county. "
Zhang Cheng shook his head and said calmly: "Money is not a problem. When a large army goes to war, food and grass are the most important. As long as you can buy food and grass, it doesn't matter if you spend more money."
Although he said this, he sighed in his heart, thinking that in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, one tael of silver could buy two stones of rice, but now in the land of Zhongzhou, ten taels or twenty taels of silver were enough. How can the people survive without being able to buy a stone of grain?
After hearing Zhang Cheng's words just now, everyone around him was whispering. If the commander hadn't planned ahead, the battle in Henan this time would have been disastrous again.
Zhang Guodong saw Zhang Cheng riding his horse and turned to look east. He knew that more than a hundred miles to the east was Julu. In the eleventh year of Chongzhen, they all fought bloody battles with the Tartars there. Thinking about it now, it feels like yesterday. .
Many people died in the battle there, including Zhang Cheng's uncle Zhang Yan and Lu Xiangsheng, in addition to Liang Song, Hu Dake and many others.
Zhang Cheng suddenly asked: "Liu Jinhai, can you go to Julu to visit everyone during the first lunar month?"
"Reporting back to the commander-in-chief, after the last general saw the commander-in-chief that day, he got up and came to Julu, burned paper money and offered sacrifices to General Zhang, Governor Lu, and the brothers.
Nowadays, many temples have been built along the Haoshui River, and the incense is very prosperous every year. The people around Julu are grateful for Lu Duchen's rescue power in those days, and pray to Lu Duchen's heroic spirit in heaven to bless their homes and homes. The locals Officials also make special trips to pay homage every year. "
"That's good!" Zhang Cheng muttered.
Seeing Zhang Cheng standing on horseback and looking out, Zhang Guodong asked softly: "Commander, can you divert to Julu and his party?"
Zhang Cheng shook his head and sighed softly: "No need, let's go when I'm waiting for the victorious class teacher."
…………
On the tenth day of November, the army set up camp in Xingtai County, Shunde Prefecture.
Under the protection of Lin Fangping and others, Zhang Cheng followed Liu Jinhai to Crouching Tiger Mountain, which is twenty miles west of Xingtai County. There is also a mountain village here called Huya Village.
The cottage here has also been occupied and managed by a group of old bandits for more than ten years. When Liu Jinhai came to this place, he was attracted by the favorable terrain of this cottage at a glance.
This village is a basin sandwiched by three mountains. Because there are mountain springs flowing from top to bottom, it also benefits from irrigation. Previously, the bandits had carefully managed the village. The hungry people who had been brought here became slaves in the village and were responsible for cultivating the village. fields within.
Because the land in the village is vast and there are many fields, it can basically survive and does not rely exclusively on robbery. However, the original owner of the village was also a violent person, which aroused resentment from several surrounding counties.
After Liu Jinhai chose this place, he went through a lot of trouble. With the full assistance of Zhou Heihu, he first attacked and killed the owner of the stronghold, Fantianhu, and then captured the stronghold. Three elite knights.
After Zhang Cheng made an inspection tour, he was most satisfied with Huya Village. There are now more than 500 soldiers training here, and there are more than 1,300 people from Dingkou who are responsible for cultivating the fields in the village.
After Liu Jinhai occupied this place, he also made some arrangements in Xingtai County. Now some wasteland outside the village has been reclaimed. According to his estimation, Huya Village can feed at least a thousand soldiers, and Dingkou has no problem with three thousand soldiers.
