Looking through documents from Shanxi, Shaanxi and other places, we can clearly confirm that the Ming Dynasty is not yet ready to go to war.
The supply line is too long. Even if there is a year's preparation time, it is impossible to ensure that all the required food and grass are in place. In addition, the winter is long, transportation is slow, and spring plowing is approaching, and people and craftsmen will leave in groups. These realities determine that the main force will pass. Entering the Western Regions early would be of no benefit to the Ming Dynasty.
But war is not a matter of care and consideration, and Timur could not wait for the people of the Ming Dynasty to clear away the crops in the fields. The soldiers had all arrived at the front line. When they were ready, they would say hello and shout "I'm coming to fight you."
It is unknown how strong Timur's army is and how long Yili can resist Timur. If the battle really starts, Song Sheng will send intelligence from Jiayuguan, and the Ming Dynasty will send troops again. By the time Zhu Di gets there, Song Sheng will probably have already fought Timur several times.
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Can't delay!
Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Di and said seriously: "In view of the current lack of preparations in the northwest and the insufficient mobilization of materials from all parties, if Uncle Yan wants to reach the Western Regions early, there is only a compromise."
Zhu Di's face was a little solemn. Although Zhu Yunwen didn't say it out loud, his meaning was already obvious. Now the logistics can't support too many people. If you want to go, you can only bring fewer people.
But the number of people is too small, and it will be too difficult to take back the Western Region.
Zhu Yunwen's original idea was that Zhu Di would lead 200,000 troops from the capital, and cooperate with hundreds of thousands of sergeants in the northwest to fight Timur and occupy the Western Regions, forming a pattern of firmly occupying and controlling the Western Regions. But now that the Ming Dynasty is fully prepared to directly lead 200,000 Beijing troops to the expedition, it is likely that the supplies will not be able to keep up, which will harm the combat power and military morale. The only way is to reduce the number of sergeants on the expedition.
"I am willing to lead 100,000 Beijing troops to the northwest front!"
Zhu Di made up his mind.
Xu Huizu, Tie Xuan and others were surprised, and Xu Huizu even objected: "One hundred thousand soldiers are not enough to plan the Western Regions. Timur's main army in this empty country's eastern expedition will be at least 200,000. If King Yan only brought One hundred thousand soldiers, even if we mobilize the garrison posts across Gansu, we can only gather 170,000 or 80,000 sergeants at most, which is not enough to form a combat advantage against Timur!"
There are hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the northwest, but it is impossible for some guard posts and city gates to devote all their time to the front line. Being able to spare 70,000 to 80,000 sergeants is already the limit of defense.
But with hundreds of thousands of people facing off against Timur's full combat power, a country's elite, and mainly elite cavalry, the Ming Dynasty had no advantage at all! Once it gets into a fierce battle, the number of people will determine the outcome of the war. Whoever still holds the fresh force and the reserve force will be able to take the initiative in the war!
Tie Xuan also expressed concern: "The King of Yan led an army of 100,000 troops to go out, but it is not enough to defend the enemy! I also think it is too few."
Zhu Yunwen did not say anything. Logistics shortcomings are an objective reality. If we are to support the 200,000 Beijing troops and the hundreds of thousands of troops in the northwest, we must recruit no less than 300,000 additional civilians in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan and other places to ensure logistics, and the entire northwest is invested. The number of logistics personnel is nearly one million! Such a huge logistics operation in the northwest every day is a huge pressure in itself. Ming Dynasty cannot bear such pressure for several months or half a year!
If there were only 100,000 Beijing troops and 100,000 sergeants from the northwest, the status quo could be maintained, logistics could be guaranteed, and there would be no need to recruit additional civilian power. However, are these troops too few for Zhu Di, who is good at fighting in large groups, for opponents like Timur, and for the entire Western Region?
Zhu Di knew Zhu Yunwen's dilemma. As an emperor, he could not ignore the people's livelihood and the people, and it was impossible not to consider the logistical pressure. If the people were exhausted, and another King Kongnu came out, it might trigger a civil uprising.
Things in the northwest are different from things in the north, things in the south, and things in the northeast.
Zhu Di lifted up the hem of his clothes, knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "One hundred thousand troops from the capital, combined with all the guard posts in the northwest, are enough for me to fend off the enemy and sweep across the Western Regions! If I can't do it, I will die to apologize, and I am willing to issue a military order!"
Xu Huizu and Tie Xuan looked at Zhu Di and then at Zhu Yunwen.
Zhu Yunwen stared at Zhu Di, walked over step by step, and said seriously: "Uncle King Yan, there is no room for change with the military order!"
Zhu Di raised his head slightly and said with pride: "There is no need to change the situation. We can only die in a coffin, or win and return in triumph! I am willing to go on an expedition for your majesty, to protect the Ming Dynasty, and to reproduce the great achievements of the Han and Tang Dynasties!"
Zhu Yunwen stretched out his hands, held Zhu Di's arms heavily, and helped Zhu Di up with force: "I will only allow you to win and triumph! Then I will hand over 100,000 Beijing troops to you, and we will go out in twenty days! We will kill all invading enemies. , annihilate the outside world! Take the homeland of the Western Region into my territory!"
"My lord! Accept the decree!"
Zhu Di strongly agreed.
finally.
finally!
After many years, he finally became the commander-in-chief of the army again, and was about to embark on a war-fighting journey!
I, Zhu Di, am tired of hearing the sound of Jinling's silk and bamboo!
What I want is the cry of the wind and sand desert, what I want is the boundless banner hunting in the grassland, what I want is the sergeant drawing his sword and setting an arrow, and the war horse vibrating his mane and roaring with an order!
Timur, the most powerful war madman in the world, let me see how capable you are. Who is more powerful with your light cavalry and heavy cavalry, or with my Ming Dynasty's firearms and sergeants?
The blood is burning!
Zhu Di saluted, took three steps back, turned and left.
From now on, I must select and recruit all available elites! Get ready to go!
When Xu Huizu saw Zhu Di leaving, he quickly looked at Zhu Yunwen: "The emperor once promised me that I would go with the army. Now is the time. Please give me your permission."
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and said to Xu Huizu: "You previously suggested that Mei Yin temporarily take charge of the Governor's Mansion of the Fifth Army. I agreed. Let Mei Yin come to see me while you prepare for the expedition."
"I obey the decree!"
Xu Huizu showed a happy smile. He had no military merit but was sitting at the top of the Ming Dynasty's martial arts. It was really stressful. This time to fight Timur and plan the Western Region, he had to get some military merit.
There is no need to doubt Mei Yin's loyalty. Although Mei Yin was accused by later generations because he was stationed in Huai'an and did not prevent Zhu Di from entering Nanjing, Zhu Di was not allowed to use the road and had to take a detour to cross the Huai River and enter Nanjing from Yangzhou. , which also shows that Mei Yin did not betray Zhu Yunwen.
As for why Mei Yin did not move, there are many reasons. For example, Zhu Di moved too fast, and Sheng Yong, Tie Xuan, and Pingan could not keep up, let alone Mei Yin who did not have rich combat experience? Besides, the order Mei Yin received was to station in Huai'an, not to fight guerrillas everywhere. If Zhu Di ran away, Tie Xuan and Sheng Yong could chase him everywhere, but Mei Yin couldn't chase him out without orders...
Zhu Yunwen believed that Mei Yin, the Tuogu minister, had the ability to handle military affairs, and he was also the Duke of Rongguo, so his status was worthy of him. If he was left to him for the time being, there would be no big trouble.
People like He Fu, Zhu Di and Xu Huizu all went to the northwest, and the emperor issued an order to recall him to the capital. He made it clear that he wanted to go to the northwest to perform meritorious services, so he had to take the initiative.
Sure enough, as soon as He Fu requested, Zhu Yunwen nodded.
Tie Xuan hesitated whether to follow him, but Zhu Yunwen refused first: "You are leading the military department, so you can't walk away. Let Liu Jun go."
Liu Jun agreed with a smile.
The National Day has not yet passed, and Zhu Yunwen is already planning for the Western Expedition.
Zhu Di was ordered to select troops and brought Qiu Fu, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui into the army. He also asked Zhu Yunwen to issue an order to recruit Qu Neng, Xu Kai, Tan Yuan, Hua Ju, Tang Yun, Zhu Rong, Chen Wen, Mao Zheng, etc. More than 20 people were transferred to the Beijing army and ordered to march directly to Shaanxi from their own territory, wait for the army, and go out with the army.
Faced with Zhu Di's blatant move to insert his own people, the Security Bureau immediately reported Zhu Yunwen, but Zhu Yunwen just smiled indifferently and ignored it.
As the head coach who is about to go on an expedition, he has the right to choose his vanguard, deputies and generals. If he is not even given this right, how can he fight with all his strength?
The allegiance of the Beijing army was to the Ming Dynasty, to Zhu Yunwen, and Zhu Di went to fight under Zhu Di's orders. There was no question of rebellion. The core Qianhu, Baihu, and General Banners were all Zhu Yunwen's people, and some were promoted by Zhu Yunwen himself. These People are the main force in the army and the core of the army's combat effectiveness. It is impossible for them to betray Zhu Yunwen.
In order to control Zhu Di, and to ensure Zhu Di's safety and victory in the Western Region campaign, Zhu Yunwen sent his security bureau commanders Xue Xia and Xiong Wucheng to accompany him. He spent a lot of money and took out 800 scouts, led by Qianhu Suojing and Baihu. Du Jian and Fang Chong led the team and accompanied them.
Zhu Di discussed with Xu Huizu, He Fu and others on the selection of the Beijing army, and finally decided on the sergeants for the expedition:
Three thousand battalions and ten thousand fine cavalry.
Five military camps, 50,000 infantry.
Shenji Camp, 40,000 firearms soldiers.
Because the time before the expedition was too short, and the number of bayonet-type muskets updated was less than 20,000, in order to maximize the combat effectiveness of the Shenji Battalion, Zhu Yunwen ordered the craftsmen of the Warfare Bureau, Science and Technology Bureau, and Second Artillery Bureau to suspend other work and make every effort to make bayonets. We will try our best to assemble another 10,000 bayonet-style fire blunderbuss before the army goes out for battle.
More than 6,000 craftsmen had a clear division of labor and worked day and night to make the products and then deliver them for testing. In order to save time, the bayonets were not sharpened. They only had to ensure that the quality of the gun matched the quality of the bayonet. Anyway, the sergeant traveled more than 5,000 miles to Gansu Province. There is plenty of time to polish it, and if you polish it a dozen times a day, it should be shining coldly wherever you go, and it won't be a big deal if it stings someone.
After more than a year of preparation, the number of new divine machine guns shipped to the northwest has reached 500, of which 400 have been placed on the front lines of Suzhou and Jiayuguan. The squatting tiger cannon is easy to carry and transport, and the number has already exceeded that during the Annan expedition. , reaching more than three thousand, which is a shocking number.
As for grenades and mine-type firearms, they were also included in the list, and they were transported to the northwest one by one, one by one, and one by one. The quantities were huge, and Zhu Yunwen gave them all permission.
In order to ensure the supply of gunpowder to the army, Zhu Yunwen also specifically asked the Second Artillery Bureau to select 500 gunpowder craftsmen to accompany the army on the expedition. They would be escorted by Security Bureau personnel throughout the entire process, and the craftsmen were not allowed to have contact with other sergeants.
The clouds of war are gathering in the northwest, while the clouds in the northeast are already thundering, and lightning is splitting the sky.
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