During the Northern Expedition, the Chu army successively accepted the surrender of tens of thousands of Ming army cavalry, and these more than 10,000 cavalry were organized into ten cavalry brigades.
It is worth noting that most of the most elite cavalry of the Ming army, that is, the elite cavalry under Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui, were taken by them to surrender to the Eastern captives. Finally, they were recruited by the Eastern captives and incorporated into the Han army. Among the Eight Banners.
The Ming army's cavalry troops that the Chu army took over could only be regarded as second-rate or even third-rate in the Ming army system. Although these cavalry received better treatment in the Chu army, their morale became higher and their equipment was better.
But the cavalry thing, and the improvement of the combat effectiveness of the traditional oriental classical cavalry, does not happen overnight.
In many actual battles, especially the battles with Dongdu's cavalry, the Chu army's cavalry basically did not gain any advantage, especially when they were playing cavalry shooting...
Nowadays, the cavalry generals of the Chu army are trying all kinds of methods to improve the combat effectiveness of the cavalry. They are basically trying various methods such as pistol cavalry, wall-mounted charge, and musketeer cavalry and charge cavalry fighting together.
But again, it is difficult to improve the combat effectiveness of the cavalry in a short period of time. Even the simplest charge, which is praised by many time travel predecessors as the cavalry's killer weapon... you have to train hard for many years, otherwise you can charge. They couldn't even maintain their formation. Without the formation, it was nothing more than charging on the wall!
So now the Army is conducting solid training for the cavalry troops and trying to explore more practical new tactics. Equipment is also given priority, including armor, sabers, cavalry spears and so on.
Even for new weapons such as flintlock muskets, even if production was given priority, the cavalry units also received priority in supply.
All this is to improve the combat effectiveness of the cavalry as much as possible and provide a solid foundation for the subsequent conquest of Liaodong and even the grasslands or the Western Regions.
Limited by the strength of the enemy's cavalry in the northeast and grasslands, and its overall military strength, the strategic plan of the upper echelons of the Da Chu Empire was to first rely on the Great Wall for strategic defense, and at the same time, through a tight blockade, prevent the Eastern capture of bronzes and irons. , tea, grain and other strategic materials.
It is worth mentioning that when the Chu army captured the Xuanda area during the Northern Expedition, a large number of so-called merchants, especially Shanxi merchants, who were active in Zhangjiakou and other passages were exterminated one by one during the subsequent campaign.
This process not only uprooted the intra-Guan trade channels that Dongji had worked so hard to manage, but also blocked the transportation channels for Dongji to obtain supplies from the interior. It also made the Chu Empire's treasury gain tens of millions of various kinds of floating wealth.
In addition, after the Chu Empire captured the above-mentioned areas, it forcefully declared the Xuanda, Jiliao and other border areas as military restricted areas and implemented a comprehensive blockade policy. Except for the army and personnel with special approval, no one was allowed to enter.
Last year, a group of officials wrote in a newspaper about allowing private merchants to go to the border to exchange their goods. Basically, they were labeled as collaborators and ordered to be killed or put in labor camps.
The Da Chu Empire and the Dong Diao are at war. In order to restrict each other's sources of strategic materials, the Da Chu Empire wishes that not even a fly can fly on the grassland under the control of the Dong Diao. You also support the merchants to run over to trade and properly cooperate with the enemy. undoubtedly.
The senior officials of the Da Chu Empire, mainly Luo Zhixue, believed that the Dongdu side would first rely on the Great Wall to carry out defensive operations that save time and effort, then train the cavalry hard, continue to expand the size of the cavalry, and then reorganize the main force in the north into new troops. , equipped with flintlock guns in large quantities, and stocked up on hundreds of new howitzers such as 18-pound, 24-pound, and 48-pound guns.
At that time, we will almost be able to launch a war of annihilation against the Donglu and completely solve the problems in the Northeast and even the grasslands. Well, by the way, the problems on the Korean Peninsula will also be solved.
Before that, it was mainly about hoarding strength and quelling internal wars.
Sun Chuanting's troops have been killed, and now only Zuo Liangyu's troops are left on the northwest front.
After Zuo Liangyu is killed, it is almost time to launch the invasion of Sichuan. After Sichuan is also settled, the army can be mobilized to climb the mountainous jungles of Yunnan and Guizhou and completely regain the Yunnan-Guizhou area.
This strategic plan was finalized last winter, and the Chu Empire has always implemented it step by step, even if the remnants of the Ximing Dynasty started to struggle again, and even if the Dongluo side once launched an attack on the Great Wall , but they failed to change the established strategy of the Chu Empire.
Because none of them have enough strength to reverse the established strategy of the Chu Empire!
Based on the above strategic plan, after April, the Logistics Department of the Dachu Empire increased the delivery of materials to Shanxi.
The various units participating in the Shanxi offensive operations, especially Li Dongshao's troops who launched the offensive from the direction of Guguan, received sufficient supplies for the first time.
Li Dongshao looked at the endless carriages on the road and couldn't help but sigh: "I finally got through these hard days!"
Major General Jia Heyun, the chief of staff beside him, also said: "Such a sufficient supply of supplies is what we enjoyed when we participated in the Jiangbei battle. Later, whether it is to attack Shandong or to attack Guguan, it is all counted. We can live without ammunition, and if we want to attack a city, we have to stock up on ammunition for several months.”
"It's better now. With so much ammunition, it will be much easier to attack Taiyuan later!"
Li Dongshao said: "By the way, how is the situation over in Taiyuan? Have you found out the strength of the defenders?"
"And what's the situation with Wang Yongxing's 8th Division in the north?"
Jia Heyun said: "According to the news from the north, General Wang's Eighth Division has captured Daizhou and has divided its forces. Some of them will march westward to besiege Shanxi Town to coordinate with the 109th Division's passage through Ningwuguan. Its main force We have already moved south to the Ape State and will launch an attack on the Ape State soon."
"My humble suggestion is to send a brigade of troops behind Xingzhou. This can not only block reinforcements that may be sent from the direction of Taiyuan, but also prevent the Xingzhou defenders from retreating to Taiyuan City, thus reducing the difficulty of the subsequent storming of Taiyuan City."
Li Dongshao cast his eyes on the simple hand-drawn map in his hand, looked at it repeatedly and said: "
Let Luo Yang take the 7th Brigade on a trip! "
Jia Heyun said: "Brigadier General Luo Yang led the seventh brigade, artillery and part of the cavalry to conquer Shouyang City. He is now resting in Shouyang. It is just time for them to go north to Lingzhou."
Li Dongshao said: "Let the main force of the Fourth Division speed up its march. It has been two days and we haven't reached the predetermined position yet!"
——
Just as Li Dongshao led his army towards Taiyuan, in Shanxi Town in the north, a brigade of troops sent by the Eighth Division also reached Shanxi Town.
Zuo Liangyu's several thousand men, who originally relied on Ningwuguan to resist the 109th Division, were attacked from behind and were defeated that day.
The next day, the 15th Brigade of the 8th Division captured Shanxi Town and successfully supported the 109th Division going south.
In this way, the northern defense line established by Zuo Liangyu's troops relying on Yanmen Pass, Ningwuguan and Shanxi Town, Daizhou and other places behind them was completely defeated by the Chu army.
In this battle, Zuo Liangyu's army of about 8,000 people and more than 20,000 local and county brave men were destroyed. Except for more than 3,000 people who fled to Lingzhou, the rest were destroyed. About 2,000 of them were killed and seriously injured. Nearly 20,000 people were captured.
Immediately afterwards, the 15th Brigade quickly turned south and went all the way to Xingzhou along the plains to catch up with the main force of the 8th Division.
As for the 109th Division, it was responsible for guarding and reorganizing the local surrendered troops, and more importantly, it was responsible for the task of garrisoning Ningwuguan, Yanmenguan and surrounding cities. It also sent troops to various fortresses and cities in the west to recruit surrenders or attack them. The remnants of the local Ming army, such as Zhenxiwei, Baodezhou and other places.
And it is precisely because second-class divisions like the 109th Division are responsible for many trivial tasks in the rear and combat tasks on the secondary front that the first-class main divisions like the Eighth Division can be freed up for frontline operations. .
However, by the time the 15th Brigade arrived at Xingzhou, the main force of the Eighth Division had already captured Xingzhou with the cooperation of the 7th Brigade of the 4th Division coming from the south.
As a result, after the 15th Brigade arrived in Lingzhou, there was no time to rest and recuperate. After spending the night there, one battalion was left to garrison, and the main force immediately continued south to catch up with the main force.
This pursuit led directly to the foot of Yangqu City in Taiyuan Prefecture.
Prior to this, Army General Li Dongshao had commanded various troops to successively remove the cities and strongholds around Taiyuan City. Even Qingyuan City to the south of Taiyuan City had been sent to capture the First Guards Division in advance to avoid Taiyuan City. Join Zuo Liangyu's troops in Pingyang Mansion.
On April 23, the three main divisions of the Chu Army, the Fourth Division, the Eighth Division, and the 23rd Division, had surrounded Taiyuan City and launched a comprehensive attack on the city.
Although Zuo Liangyu had evacuated from Taiyuan in advance, Taiyuan City was the most important strategic stronghold of Zuo Liangyu's troops in Shanxi. Zuo Liangyu never planned to give up easily. For this reason, he worked hard in Taiyuan City and built A large number of fortifications also attracted many surrounding troops to Taiyuan City.
Today, in Taiyuan City, there are about 20,000 formal troops under Zuo Liangyu's command, and more than 30,000 temporarily recruited county brave young men, totaling more than 50,000 people.
"The Ronin Begins with Douluo"
They also stocked up enough food for the army for half a year and a large amount of ordnance supplies.
According to Zuo Liangyu's idea, with tens of thousands of troops defending, how can they hold off the Chu thieves for several months? With better luck, they might be able to hold off until winter.
Once winter arrives, that can delay it for a few more months.
The longer it takes, the more time Zuo Liangyu will have to recruit troops, build weapons and armor, and build a new plateau and mountain defense line.
However, Zuo Liangyu overestimated his prestige and charm, and even more underestimated the loyalty of his generals and soldiers.
He thought that he could defend Taiyuan City for a few months by sending 20,000 elite soldiers and 30,000 civilians. But in fact, after the Chu army surrounded Taiyuan City, several leading senior civil and military officials in the city's defenders had already begun secret negotiations with the Chu army. .
The third day after the Chu army besieged the city!
The defenders of Taiyuan City officially announced their surrender anyway, and senior civil and military officials also led the surrender anyway.
The Chu army captured the important town of Taiyuan without spending a single soldier.
The price is just to grant the leading general the rank of brigadier general, and the leading chief envoy the rank of fourth grade.
They are all empty titles...
Of course, they also saved their lives and those of their subordinates by surrendering!
Surrender, that is their life money!
The news that the Taiyuan garrison surrendered without a fight reached the plateau. Zuo Liangyu was furious at first, and then remained silent for a long time...
