Throughout the entire Battle of Daling River, Huang Taiji's calculations and control of people's hearts are definitely textbook level.
Why didn't he lead his army to attack Dalinghe City until two months after it was built?
First, as mentioned above, he wanted to use the tasteless and abandoned Daling River City to lure the Ming Dynasty's active forces into field battles and further weaken the Ming Dynasty's military strength.
As for whether Daling River City is strong or not, it actually doesn't matter.
Regardless, the city is there.
Since ancient times, there have been very few winners in wars relying solely on defending the city without external support.
Huang Taiji has obviously understood the principle of saving people and losing land, and saving people and losing land; saving land and losing people, and losing people and land.
Another reason for his delay in sending troops was naturally the calculation of people's hearts.
Just because the person responsible for building Daling River City was Zu Dashou, Huang Taiji understood that there were many articles that could be used.
Zu Dashou's performance during the Jisi Incident made him very embarrassed in the Ming court.
He never dared to leave the military camp alone, which showed that he did not trust the court.
In the same way, Qiu Hejia and Gao Qiqian, who were sent to Liaodong by Chongzhen, were also eyeing him, with the intention of punishing him.
Therefore, asking Zu Dashou to build Dalinghe City became a test and forgiveness opportunity given to him by the Ming court.
Zu Dashou also understood this.
Unfortunately, people's hearts are complicated, and the consequences are also very serious.
Huang Taiji understands this deeply.
He knew that if he attacked Zu Dashou as soon as he started building the city, the Ming court would definitely not send troops to rescue him. On the contrary, Qiu Hejia, Gao Qiqian and others might even suspect that Zu Dashou had lied about military information and had actually surrendered to Hou Jin.
In that case, his strategic intention of besieging the city and calling for reinforcements would not be realized.
Just winning Daling River City and Zu Dashou is not a rich enough result.
So, he waited patiently.
By the time Daling River City was about to be completed but was still unfinished, after the Ming Dynasty had already invested a huge amount of money, it would have to follow his wishes and engage in a victorious field battle with him.
Studying the strategies and arrangements of the Ming and Jin sides, Zuo Menggeng consciously learned a lot.
At least he understood something.
The human heart is the most unbearable thing in this world.
"What happens in Liaodong has nothing to do with us. Next, our focus is still on Yimeng Mountain. However, the strength of the two divisions of our army is slightly insufficient at present, which is not conducive to follow-up plans. Therefore, I suggest that we start from now on to prepare for the formation of The framework of the Third and Fourth Divisions. Every time our army advances further into the Yimeng Mountains, it must train a group of new soldiers."
In view of the future situation, military expansion is imperative.
Even if he doesn't mention it, someone else will.
There are currently two divisions of the New Army, with about 30,000 people. Including the reserves, there are fifty thousand.
But reserves are always reserves, and Zuo Mengeng does not intend to use them unless necessary.
An army of 30,000 is already very risky. If we expand the army further, we may not be able to hide it. But considering that they are about to enter the Yimeng Mountains to fight, the basis of the imperial court's rule there has been destroyed.
In the vast mountains, no matter how many people are hidden, they are not afraid of being exposed.
Zhou You is the head of the training department, and military training is within his scope of responsibility.
"Currently, the manpower in Linqing, Dongchang, Anshan Lake and other places has been used to the limit. Although we have begun to recruit workers from all around, relief will not be achieved in a moment. This time, I suggest that we take down Lingshan Guard and Fushan Institute. , new recruits are recruited from there.”
Zuo Mengeng's eyes lit up.
"This is a good idea. Lingshan Guard and Fushan Guard are all the original guard posts. The court ignored them, and the military households were in dire straits, and many people could not survive. And as military households, no matter how bad they were, they would not be able to survive. If you have a certain foundation in military training, at least you don’t have to worry about organization. If you are recruited into the army, you should be able to take shape very quickly."
Seeing that Zuo Mengeng agreed to his plan, Zhou You said: "Then this time I will personally take the newly formed First Brigade with you and train troops directly there."
The new army that uses the word "newly organized" is the new army. It has not yet been included in the official establishment, so it is called "new establishment".
Ten days later, Zuo Mengeng and Zhou You rushed back to Lingshan Guard with the newly formed First Brigade, and the situation here also changed significantly.
Corrupt officials, local tyrants and evil gentry have been eliminated, and military households are no longer oppressed. Although life is still difficult, the spirit is different.
Fu Yusun was so exhausted that he still reported the situation diligently.
"Come on, I have visited the entire coast of Jiaozhou Bay in the past few days. In addition to Lingshanwei and Fushansuo, there are eight villages in this area. They are all poor people who make a living by farming and working."
He then pointed to the depths of Jiaozhou Bay and said: "There are large salt fields at the mouth of the Dagu River over there. According to ancient legend, our ancestors started making salt here."
It is said that in ancient times, there was a primitive tribe in the Jiaozhou Bay area, and there was a man named Susha who was smart and capable.
Once when he was cooking fish by the river, he saw a wild boar running past, so he went to hunt the pig.
When he came back carrying the dead pig, he found that the water in the pot had dried up, leaving a layer of white fines at the bottom.
Susha dipped some of it with her fingers and put it in her mouth. She found that the fine powder tasted salty and fresh. Eat this fine powder with roasted wild boar and it tastes great.
And that fine powder is salt.
Therefore, Susha was also called the Yan Zong.
The history of salt production in Jiaozhou Bay goes back thousands of years.
In order to manage the salt administration in the Ming Dynasty, there were six salt envoy departments in the capital, with branch offices below. There are two branches under the jurisdiction of Shandong, one is Jiaolai Branch and the other is Binle Branch.
The salt field on the Jiaozhou Bay side is under the jurisdiction of the Jiaolai Branch.
However, first the White Lotus Sect rebelled, and then the military households rebelled. All the officials in the salt field here have long since fled.
"Salt is an important matter and cannot be neglected. Since the imperial court has abandoned the salt farm here, we are welcome to take it over."
Zuo Mengeng thought for a while and said to Fu Yusun: "You are doing well here. I plan to keep you here. Do you have the confidence to do well?"
Fu Yusun didn't answer, but his heart plummeted.
"I...I stay here, what should I do with Shenzao?"
Zuo Mengeng called someone over and said, "I'll let Fu Yijian take over your job."
Fu Yusun lowered his head and tried not to show it, but the veins on his clenched fists were like dragons.
Zuo Mengeng didn't notice anything unusual about him and was still giving Fu Yijian instructions.
"From now on, you will be my secretary and also be in charge of the secretariat. If you don't understand anything, please ask your seniors for advice. I can tell you that if something goes wrong, I won't let you go just because you are a novice. Low standards.”
Fu Yijian hurriedly agreed and walked to Fu Yusun's side.
"Brother Sixun, we are from the same family. If you have any tricks or special skills, you can't hide them."
Fu Yijian never expected that he would suddenly become Zuo Mengeng's secretary.
This is the position of the Emperor's closest ministers, a position that many people are jealous of.
In Linqing, when Zuo Menggeng proposed to change his secretary, many people proposed themselves, and every family also tried their best.
In the end, no one expected that such a huge good thing would happen to a poor boy like him.
Fu Yusun forced a smile.
"Haha, you're welcome."
He didn't know how he left the camp, but his steps were staggering and confused.
Thousands of thoughts were constantly conflicting in my mind, but I just couldn't figure out why I had lost Zuo Mengeng's trust after so long.
"Silly boy, he is also stupid."
Mao Yuanyi's voice sounded from behind.
As early as in the camp, he noticed something was wrong with Fu Yusun's state. After thinking about it for a moment, you'll understand what's going on.
Afraid that the young man would not be able to turn the corner, he quickly came over to wipe Zuo Mengeng's butt.
"Political commissar, I..."
Fu Yusun couldn't bear it any longer, and the big man's eyes suddenly turned red.
Mao Yuanyi couldn't hold back her laughter and asked, "Do you think Zhongheng has abandoned you?"
Fu Yusun raised his head in shock, not knowing why.
Mao Yuanyi pointed to the Jiaozhou Bay in front of her and said: "Before this, our army only had three territories. Think about it, who are the people in charge of these three places? Qu Shichun, Huang Daozhou, Chen Zhi, who is not a member of the Standing Committee? ? This is the fourth territory."
A thunder flashed in Fu Yusun's mind, splitting the fog of chaos for him.
"Sit down with him...he..."
Mao Yuanyi patted him on the shoulder and spoke seriously.
"You are a secretary of Zhongheng, and this status determines your future. When we are booming, do you, a talented person like you, have to stay with Zhongheng and just be a little secretary? You, you Yeah, a leaf is blinding you."
Fu Yusun was not stupid to begin with, but he had never experienced officialdom and could not understand many things thoroughly.
Now that Mao Yuanyi had laid out the matter, he immediately turned from worry to joy and became excited.
Mao Yuanyi still pointed at Jiaozhou Bay and said solemnly: "You have seen with your own eyes the poverty here. If you want to improve this place, it will take more than a moment. The hard work involved cannot be calculated. But God will give great responsibilities to this people. Yes, this is the only way to go. Especially if you are a secretary in Zhongheng, if you want to be useful, you need to have real achievements to convince the public."
Fu Yusun has understood everything. He is no longer depressed, but full of motivation.
"Political Commissar, don't worry, I will work hard and build this place as well as Linqing and Anshan Lake."
Mao Yuanyi patted his shoulder and brushed off his clothes.
"Do your best, young man, and don't let Zhongheng down."
