After leaving the capital, board the boat in Tongzhou and go south along the canal to return to Linqing.
During the journey south, people from the reconnaissance brigade came back one after another, and they also brought back pieces of precious information.
In the cabin, the maps from various departments were combined into a huge and detailed military map.
Looking at this picture, you can have a clear view of the topography surrounding the capital and all the way to Shanhaiguan.
Facing this map, Zuo Mengeng's confidence finally improved a lot.
The first time he returned to Linqing, he once again held a meeting of all military squads and above.
The accurate map amazed everyone and gave them a clear understanding of the battle.
Zuo Mengeng asked Zhang Yan first.
"How are the preparations for food, grass and supplies going?"
Zhang Yan lived up to his trust.
"Currently, our General Logistics Brigade is raising 200,000 jins of grain and 150,000 jins of fodder. The gunpowder factory has submitted 200,000 rounds of bullets, 3,500 artillery shells, and 170,000 jins of gunpowder, which is enough to meet the needs of a war."
This result made Zuo Mengeng extremely satisfied.
Next, it is Ryu Il-won who will explain the key points to everyone.
"After a month of reconnaissance and surveying, our reconnaissance brigade currently has the following information. Near the Weicheng Valley in Jiuquan Mountain, east of Zunhua, there are few people and dangerous roads. It can be used as a storage location for our army's supplies. In addition, An'an near Dong'an Once, there is a secret foothold of our army, which can be used as a second material storage location. If our army joins the war, it will be best to stay near Baodi, so a third material storage location needs to be established here."
Liu Yiyuan's report confused everyone.
Zuo Rong asked: "If our army receives an order to go north, shouldn't the local government allocate supplies after arriving in the flood areas?"
Zuo Mengeng looked serious.
"Everyone knows the virtues of today's government. If we rely on them, we will probably starve."
Even so, this solution is still unacceptable to many people.
Zhang Yan, the head of the General Logistics Brigade, is one of them.
"We can also follow the movement of the army and replenish it at any time, so as to avoid being foolproof."
His statement was recognized by everyone.
Looking at the commotion in front of him, Zuo Mengeng tapped on the blackboard to get everyone's attention.
His expression was unprecedentedly serious.
"Everyone, I solemnly remind you. Don't think that because the battlefield is in the Jifu area, we have home field advantage. In fact, once we are in a war, our situation is far more dangerous than fighting behind enemy lines. Remember, we have no friendly forces, and we have no friendly forces. There are no reinforcements. Don’t expect unrealistic things, and our enemies will definitely be much more numerous than us.”
The whole process of Jisi's change was full of weirdness.
Zuo Mengeng had every reason to believe that Houjin must have opened the entire map.
In other words, Hou Jin's understanding of the capital area has reached the most subtle level.
As for the other Ming armies...
Historical performance has proven that it is simply unreliable.
Zuo Mengeng is not a person who entrusts his destiny to others, so he must take everything into account.
"With a small number of people in our army, it is impossible to confront Donglu head-on. The only way to fight is to look for the enemy's weaknesses like a poisonous snake in the dark. At the same time, we must avoid being discovered and surrounded by the enemy, and try to preserve ourselves. This way Under such circumstances, it is impossible for logistical supplies to be safely delivered to us from the rear."
Most of the Hou Jin army were cavalry, coming and going like the wind.
If you do not plan the logistics supply location in advance and prepare the materials, you will have to wait for the war to be transported from the rear. Zuo Mengeng was not sure whether these supplies were for himself or the enemy.
Seeing that he described the situation as so serious, everyone became cautious and no longer opposed the plan.
Zuo Mengeng told Zhang Yan: "Currently, the Intelligence Department and the Investigation Brigade have left manpower everywhere. You can use the cover of various merchants to secretly deliver materials to these places in batches and on a small scale. Be sure to do so. We must do a good job of keeping it confidential and we must not be discovered.”
The prerequisite for supporting Zuo Menggeng in completing the deployment of material reserves is the big bosses behind him.
The families of these big guys have business dealings with various places, so they naturally need caravans to transport them north and south.
The supplies of the rear camp were covered by these caravans, thus minimizing the possibility of exposure.
As long as these materials are stored at various storage points, when the rear battalion comes to Jifu to fight, they can be replenished anytime and anywhere.
Zhang Yan accepted the order and would have his own way to implement it after returning.
Zuo Mengeng then told everyone: "From now on, all officers and soldiers will stop taking vacations and enter the combat readiness training stage. Every soldier must shoot a hundred rounds of ammunition and be proficient in the operation of muskets. Assassination training must be close to actual combat. , don’t be afraid of getting hurt, don’t be afraid of bleeding, it’s better than losing your life on the battlefield.”
He looked at Li Xiangzhu again.
"Your artillery brigade's equipment is the last to arrive, but it is also the most important. So in the next time, you must spend more time and energy to firmly master the artillery operation essentials. Kuri Xiangzhu, I am warning you. If someone in your artillery brigade delays things on the battlefield, I will chop off your head."
Kuri Xiangzhu was frightened by Lin Lin's murderous aura, and hurriedly promised: "If our artillery brigade is embarrassed by then, I won't be punished by a thousand seats, I will stuff myself into the barrel and be shot out."
The officers laughed endlessly, but they also knew that the upcoming battle would be a difficult test.
But there was one person who couldn't laugh and stood up indignantly.
"Qianzao, I have something to say."
Zuo Mengeng took a look and saw that it was Zuo Shi.
"what do you want to say?"
Zuo Shi scratched his neck, as if he had been wronged a lot.
"Now the equipment of each brigade is complete, but what about our cavalry brigade? What is cavalry without horses? Now the people below are complaining to me, saying that Qianzuo is partial."
When he said this, all the officers under the cavalry brigade began to complain.
Zuo Mengeng had a cold face and frowned.
"I didn't know your cavalry brigade didn't have horses?"
When Zuo Shi heard this, he hurriedly asked hopefully: "Will we be equipped with all the horses this time?"
Zuo Mengeng seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
"Are you paying? If you are, I will give you all the horses."
When Zuo Shi heard this, he immediately shrank his neck, knowing that his hope was lost.
A horse costs fifty taels of silver, and a cavalry group of 320 people requires at least 400 horses, which means it costs 20,000 taels of silver.
This does not include the maintenance of the war horses. The daily expenses added up are astronomical figures.
At least with Zuo Mengeng's current capital, he simply couldn't afford it or maintain it.
Rejecting Zuo Shi's fantasy, Zuo Mengeng said: "Now that your cavalry brigade is also equipped with muskets, the training has not fallen behind, right? For this expedition, your cavalry brigade will be used as an infantry brigade for the time being. I can tell you, in my Here, you are no different from an ordinary infantry brigade. If you step out of line, you will be punished as you should."
Speaking of this, Zuo Shi became proud again.
"Qianzao, don't you know this? In this month, our cavalry brigade has competed with other brigade four times, with a record of three wins and one loss. Even if our cavalry has no horses, it's not like their mud legs can compete. of."
Four infantry brigades were shouting curses.
"Lao Wu, don't you know who is older and who is younger? Come on, come on, pull out your cavalry brigade, let's compare notes."
"Last time I gave in to you, but you kicked your nose in the face. This time I will let you know how many eyes Lord Ma has."
Seeing how these guys refused to admit defeat and fought bravely for the first place, Zuo Mengeng didn't say it on the surface, but he was still very happy in his heart.
This is what an army looks like.
In order to settle Deng Yuhan, Zuo Mengeng specially invited Qu Shichen.
"Mr. Deng, this is Qu Zhizhou of Linqing. You need his permission for your missionary matters."
Deng Yuhan was quite nervous.
Following Zuo Menggeng to Linqing, Deng Yuhan fell in love with it after seeing the hugeness of the city.
He has been to many places in his life, including Jiangnan, which is the most prosperous place in the world.
If he had to choose, the capital would be his least favorite place.
The atmosphere there was so solemn.
The man who was oppressed by the majesty and power of the emperor could not breathe, and the wind and sand blowing from outside the Great Wall also made his breathing difficult.
Deng Yuhan always felt as if his throat was blocked, and this feeling became worse day by day.
But after traveling south and avoiding the dust, the fresh air brought by the canal made him very comfortable.
And now, the official who decides whether he can stay in Linqing appears.
Zuo Menggeng originally thought that it would take a lot of effort to convince Qu Shichen.
Unexpectedly, Qu Shichun took the initiative to speak and was actually quite kind.
"Mr. Deng, is Padre Ajulius okay?"
Deng Yuhan was inexplicably surprised.
"Qu Mingfu knows President Ai Julius? He went to Fujian."
Qu Shishu laughed loudly.
"That must be at the invitation of Mr. Ye Ge. Mr. Ajulius must have everything going well there."
After Qu Shishu's own account, Zuo Mengeng found out that this man had already interacted with Western missionaries.
In the third year of the Apocalypse, when Qu Shi and Ding You returned home, they met the missionary Ai Julius. Not only that, Qu Shichun himself was a believer.
He also has a very coquettish Western name, Thomas. In fact, according to later translations, he should be called Thomas.
Do you think such a person would oppose Deng Yuhan's missionary work in Linqing?
