Chapter 12 He Xi’s Thoughts
Mongolia and the Ming Dynasty have been fighting for years. Let alone the victory or defeat, even if they win the battle, people will die. Mongolia's population is only that large, if it can bear the consumption. If the population is like this, let alone other aspects. Until now, Mongolians can hardly even use iron pots.
Iron is the most important raw material for making weapons. It's been so scarce. The equipment of the Mongolian army was so poor. All the weapons they brought to the grasslands from the Central Plains were no longer usable. It is not that there are no iron mines on the grasslands, the Mongols can also smelt iron, but it is impossible for the Mongols to supply so much equipment to the army.
If we say that four years after Hongwu, due to Zhu Yuanzhang's recuperation, the Ming Dynasty regained its vitality, and more resources were invested in the frontier army. The combat effectiveness of the frontier army increased step by step, and after the arrival of He Xi, there was an even greater leap. The Mongols have been in continuous decline.
Perhaps the Ming Dynasty’s intelligence agency, Jin Yiwei and Feng Sheng’s private intelligence network. It is difficult to understand the secrets among many Mongolian dignitaries. But he knew the situation of the Mongolian army very well. After all, these things simply cannot be hidden.
Since there are 30,000 troops, it is impossible to annihilate them all if thrown out. Why doesn't Feng Sheng take a risk?
For the first time, Feng Sheng replaced Xu Da in controlling the northern army. There was a challenge from Fu Youde below, and there was also a threat from Tang He in the south. He didn't sit firmly in this position. A glorious big win is needed. Sit tight in this position.
If this battle fails to do its best, let Naha escape. It's a failure. The 30,000-strong army was trapped and suffered heavy losses. It was also a failure. In fact, it was no different to him.
After all, he is a founding hero. Some small problems cannot defeat him. It's just that the chair under my butt is no longer there.
Therefore, Feng Sheng needed He Xi to support his decision and Liaodong to go all out. One aspect is logistics. On the other hand, the Liaodong Army will also enter the battlefield as the second echelon army. What's more, He Xi needs a holy family member on his head to increase his persuasiveness.
And He Xi came here because he had his own reasons.
First of all, He Xi cares more about his relationship with Feng Sheng.
Xu Da recuperated and stopped leading troops. Li Wenzhong died of illness. The Ming army entered the post-Xuda era. There are actually only a few candidates to rule the northern army. Fu Youde, Feng Sheng, Tang He. In fact, Tang He is the least likely.
Without him, Tang He's resume has some minor flaws compared to the others.
As mentioned earlier, Wang Baobao had a duel with Xu Da. Wang Baobao led his troops to attack Peiping, and was about to take away the Ming army's most important logistics base in the north. However, Xu Da was not fooled and counterattacked Taiyuan, forcing Wang Baobao to return reinforcements. At the foot of Taiyuan City, he first defeated Wang Baobao and then Taiyuan City, leaving Wang Baobao with only his own life.
With Xu Da's temperament, at the beginning of the war, he should have thought that Wang Baobao might go to Peking. It is impossible not to be prepared and let yourself fall into a passive situation. In the end, we can only survive in danger and gamble on a life and death situation. So, who was the person Xu Da sent to resist Wang Baobao?
That's right, it's Tanghe.
It was because Tang He was beaten up by Wang Baobao for a while that he could only defend himself and lost the ability to contain Wang Baobao. Wang Baobao's subordinates had room to move freely, so they became so passive.
Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang's praise of Wang Baobao as a strange man in the world was not in vain. Tang He's defeat at the hands of Wang Baobao was understandable. Even Tang He was not eaten by Wang Baobao, but just gathered together to defend himself. It also illustrates Tanghe's ability.
However, compared to Fu Youde, Feng Sheng did not suffer any major defeats. It doesn't look very pretty. It is not that Feng Sheng and Fu Youde did not make mistakes. For example, when Feng Sheng attacked Gaoyou today, the Gaoyou defender pretended to surrender and killed all the soldiers Feng Sheng sent into Gaoyou City. Feng Sheng was severely punished by Zhu Yuanzhang, which made him lose face. There are no mistakes or failures that affect the entire battle.
Historically, the reason why Feng Sheng was captured was not because there was any big problem with Feng Sheng, but because Zhu Yuanzhang was jealous and couldn't stand Feng Sheng's prestige.
But things are different now.
He Xi clearly felt that Zhu Yuanzhang was not too worried about the army in the north. Of course, it was Zhu Yuanzhang who had the power to check and balance, and sent the prince to lead the army and other means to join the sand here. To a certain extent, He Xi was also the sand that Zhu Yuanzhang joined in the north.
Even if Feng Sheng had different intentions, it was absolutely impossible for He Xi to leave with Feng Sheng.
He Xi himself didn't quite know what level the Nanjing Camp's combat effectiveness had reached now. After all, it was difficult for him to detect. He could only understand it from the hundreds of cannons at the top of Nanjing City and the firearms updated from generation to generation in the Taiping Iron Works. That is, the degree of weaponization of Nanjing Jingying is getting deeper and deeper. The combat effectiveness is estimated to be stronger than that of the fist troops of the Northern Liberation Army.
Historically, Zhu Yuanzhang's worries were actually a chronic problem of the Ming Dynasty, which was the separation of the political center and the military center. Previously, Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Daneng had reached mutual trust and could place a million-strong army in the north in Xu Da's hands. And as time goes by, no matter how Zhu Yuanzhang trains and maintains, the combat effectiveness of the Nanjing Camp's army will show a declining trend. In the battle with the Tatars in the north, the frontier army's combat effectiveness was better maintained. It can even go to the next level.
So the problem arose that the Ming Dynasty's most elite army was not in the hands of the emperor.
This may not be one of the reasons for Zhu Yuanzhang's insecurity in his later years.
Now that everything has changed, He Xi estimates that Feng Sheng's situation is very different. He Xi's long-term cooperation with Feng Sheng will bring many benefits.
Secondly, He Xi also needs qualifications.
Although He Xi has stepped up several steps in the past few years, becoming the governor of Liaodong and a senior official. But really speaking, his qualifications are still the least. You know, if the generals of the Ming Dynasty are divided into different levels by age, Feng Sheng, Xu Da, and Tang He are all in the same group. He is similar in age to Zhu Yuanzhang. Mu Ying, Lan Yu, et al. He is said to be of the younger generation, but he is also more than ten years older than He Xi.
He Xi's qualifications are the most superficial.
But many times, seniority does not mean how old you are, but how many things you have participated in. If He Xi can participate in this Northern Expedition to a high degree, it may offset the impression that his qualifications are weak. This war is his qualifications.
Not to mention, He Xi understands history.
Although now, because of He Xi's reasons, history may have changed drastically. But people's hearts have not changed. At least Naha's fighting will is not strong. There was even hesitation in my heart. Before a battle, the commander hesitates, which is a taboo for military strategists.
Therefore, the probability of victory in this battle is very high.
Even more glorious than in history.
Of course He Xi has to take part. It's basically a business that makes sure you make money without losing money.
He Xi had already thought about these things repeatedly on the way here. Naturally, I made up my mind.
It's just that He Xi is ready to go. Others still don't understand why Feng Sheng suddenly summoned everyone.
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"Father," Fu Zhong said to Fu Youde; "Song Guogong suddenly returned from Liaodong, and I heard that the governor of Liaodong was also brought with him. This seems to be a big move. How should we deal with it."
Fu Zhong's outstanding performance in Yunnan. It also made Fu Youde very satisfied with Fu Zhong. Keep it with you during this period of time. Teach them face to face, and teach them the art of war, or other things.
Fu Youde sighed softly when he heard what Fu Zhong said. He said: "My son, Song Guogong is my old boss. He can make arrangements freely. You don't need to worry about it. This meeting will naturally explain it."
Fu Zhong said: "Father, you will grant me the title of Duke ------"
Fu Youde said, "I don't care what rumors you hear, they are just rumors. It is His Majesty's decision whether I can be granted the title of Duke. Thunder, rain, and dew are all your grace. From now on, there is no need to mention or mention such things again." Don't even think about it. His Majesty is wise and sees things thousands of miles away. There are very few things in the world that can be hidden from him. What should be yours must be yours. It shouldn't be yours. You don't even think about it. Use it. Besides, Your Majesty has already rewarded you for your military exploits in Yunnan. Otherwise, how could you rise so high?"
"My Fu family does not lack a duke, but what they need is your talent?"
When Fu Zhong heard Fu Youde's reprimand, he immediately lowered his head and said, "I understand, kid." Fu Zhong said this, but he was still unconvinced in his heart.
Fu Zhong only felt that the name He Xi was particularly dazzling. Furthermore, Fu Zhong was young after all and could not understand the subtle meanings of Fu Youde's words, and regarded Feng Sheng as a political enemy of the Fu family.
