"Luopang Yao of Luoding was indeed the main force in the Yao rebellion in Guangdong, but they are no longer a problem." Huang Chao thought for a moment and came to this conclusion.
"Oh, tell me."
"Luopang Mountain in Luoding Prefecture, later Yunan County, was once the main battlefield of the Guangdong-Guangdong Yao Rebellion. There have been many peace and chaos in history. However, in the early years of Wanli, Luopang Yao had been defeated by the Ming army commanded by Yin Zhengmao and Ling Yunyi. It was completely defeated, and after decades of 'recruiting people to occupy the country' policy, the power of the local Yao people has been greatly reduced."
Luopang Mountain is located in today's Yunan County, connecting Dongshan, Xishan, and Longshui Back Mountains. It stretches for 700 miles, borders Xingxing in the east, Yangchun in the south, Yulin (Yulin in Guangxi), Cenxi (in Guangxi) in the west, and Yulin (Yulin in Guangxi) in the west. As far as the Yangtze River (north of the Xijiang River, including all parts of Lingbei and Hunan), thousands of mountains are connected, and Yao children live among them. Over the past hundreds of years, despite the many attacks by officers and soldiers, they were immediately attacked. Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty, a large number of people went bankrupt and fled into the mountains. , formed various settlements and combined with the local Yao people. It is said that "many people gather from all directions to flee and help them to do evil. They are called rogues and bandits come out from all directions to plunder."
"...After the end of Wanli's five-year siege, the Ming Dynasty absorbed a large number of refugees from other places and resettled them in Luoding Prefecture. In terms of the proportion of population and villages in mountainous areas, the Yao people no longer have an advantage. Although the defenses against Yao and Dongxi Shanshen will now be withdrawn, some Yao people The village will be tempted to rebel, but judging from the current situation, only a small number of Luoding's Yao people can really rise up and respond, and what is more worrying is that local bandits will take the opportunity to cause chaos."
"So there's no need to preemptively strike?"
"Yes." Huang Chao nodded, "First, the Yao people in Luoding are no longer a big threat. Their current population is small and their productivity is low. Even if they riot, the National Army can suppress it by cooperating with the local militia. If we Taking the initiative to attack will make them unite out of fear. Besides, after several encirclement and suppression campaigns by the Ming army, most of the Luopang Yao villages are now deep in the mountains, inaccessible places. With their usual practice, they will not fight with What the army is facing is the same as mountain guerrilla warfare. It will inevitably turn into a long-term and entangled security war, which will be laborious and laborious."
Bei Wei nodded noncommittally and asked, "What else?"
Huang Chao wondered if this was the civil service exam? Fortunately, he had spent a lot of time researching this issue and was quite confident.
"We must have a strategy when dealing with the Yao people. There are many Yao people scattered in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. Looking back at the historical records of the old time and space, the officials of all dynasties have suppressed and suppressed the Yao people again and again, and even resorted to massacres. Not only do both sides have The feud also includes various economic reasons - this is the root cause of the Yao people's repeated rebellions. Our policies towards the Yao people should still be the same as the Li people in Hainan Island, focusing on economic and political policies, supplemented by military. "
Bei Wei laughed: "It seems that everyone has the same attitude."
With this affirmation, Huang Chao became more confident. He continued:
"In fact, by the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Yao people in Guangdong had basically been pacified. If the Bapai Yao Rebellion at the end of the Ming Dynasty had not been combined with the refugee uprising in the late Ming Dynasty and the financial difficulties of the Ming Dynasty, it would not have been that big in scale. . Now our arrival has broken this balance. It is impossible for the Yao people in Luopang to say that they have no ideas, but they are now weak and can only wait and see. We only need to maintain close surveillance and appropriate military pressure. . However, if the Yao people's rebellion in Lianyang continues to expand, it will definitely arouse the idea of rebellion and revenge among the Yao people in Luoding Prefecture. If the Lianyang Yao people go south and connect to the north bank of the Xijiang River, the Yao people in the Luopang Mountain area will definitely rise up. Response. We cannot let the Yao people have too much confidence in causing rebellion, so I think the first priority is to quell the Yao people in the Lianyang area."
In fact, Huang Chao's views did not exceed the content of the discussion at the South China Army's North Guangdong Operation Conference not long ago. However, Huang Chao is the one who is going to Lianyang to take charge of the front line, and the "unification of thinking" with the military is
very important.
Huang Chao paused for a moment, and seeing that Bei Wei was still "listening to the lecture", he became more and more enthusiastic to talk: "For this Lianyang Yao rebellion, strategically, we need to fight first, then divide it, and finally appease it. But now I
I don’t know much about the situation in the Lianzhou area, so it’s hard to talk about the specific details.”
"Director Huang, currently only Yangshan County is under our control in the three cities of Lianyang. In fact, strictly speaking, Lianyangshan County is not controlled by us, but some of the local Ming troops and local people who were recruited by us are resisting. Yang
Shanxian City is currently occupied by the Yao people, and Lianzhou City is special: Cui Shizhao, the magistrate of Lianzhou appointed by the Ming Dynasty, is unwilling to surrender to us, but he is still struggling to support us. It is currently under siege by Ba Pai Yao."
"Cui Shizhao is a very capable person and has a reputation for being honest. He also has a good way of governing the local area. The people are willing to sacrifice themselves for him. If he can be used for us, he will definitely be a good help." Huang Chao said.
"It's up to you to consider this," Bei Wei smiled, "Now the main force of Ba Pai Yao is outside Lianzhou City. There are more than a thousand people with weapons mainly machetes and medicine crossbows, and a small number of matchlock guns.
The strength of the troops is unknown, but it should be mainly due to the strength of the people - the Yao people have no armor and lack firearms, so they may not be able to attack them in a short time. Once our Suijiang detachment arrives, there will be no suspense about the outcome of the battle, but the follow-up issues will depend on
You take care of it."
"Don't worry!" Huang Chao knew that it was extremely risky for him to go here, but the merits of making achievements were full of gold. "I will definitely appease Lianzhou!"
"Your cadre team and the Government Affairs Council have prepared it for you. They will set off with you this time. I consider that the situation will be complicated after you arrive in Lianzhou, so this time there will be more National Army under your command: Lianzhou is a brigade, and the company is a brigade.
There are two squadrons each in Shanshan and Yangshan."
Huang Chao saw this and said quickly: "I have a small request."
"What?"
"Can you give me a Li-Miao Mountain Company? The Lianyang area is mostly mountainous."
"Your request is not small." Bei Wei smiled, "The Li-Miao Mountain Company is now the most popular company. One of the current three companies has been sent to Shaoguan. I only have two companies on hand, the ones from western Guangdong.
The situation is also very complicated - let's put it this way, I will give you a company, but I may call them at any time."
"Okay, no problem."
He wanted to ask for something more, "If possible, I hope the navy will send me two small gunboats. The draft must be shallow enough..."
"No problem, the South China Military Headquarters will contact the Navy for you." Bei Wei said, "The Army will also equip you with six 12-pound mountain howitzers. In addition to the gunners, it will also equip you with twelve non-commissioned officer trainees from the artillery training class."
"Everyone checks weapons!" Li Dong shouted in front of the queue, ""
As a unit that has proven itself, the Wuzhou Integrated Squadron has all been equipped with Nanyang-style rifles this time. The soldiers are very happy - after all, the spear is not only unsatisfactory to use, but also feels too shabby in front of the brother troops who only use firearms.
.
Li Dong had some opinions on the matter of changing firearms. The brothers in the squadron had indeed been coveting Nanyang rifles, but the timing of the change was a bit poor. The veterans fought all the way with spears, and there was no front.
The veterans fought to the death, showing their combat power and courage. It was impossible for the Senate to issue Nanyang rifles to the integrated squadron. The newly arrived recruits got the rifles without fighting a single battle. This made the veterans feel a little unbalanced, so they
It is inevitable to "strictly teach" new recruits.
Li Dong was blind to this kind of thing, as long as it didn't go too far - it was inevitable in the company. However, he vaguely felt that the Senate's attitude towards the new National Army was obviously "tentative": that is,
I have no confidence in their combat effectiveness and no confidence in their loyalty.
He never mentioned this idea in front of the soldiers. Occasionally, when a soldier muttered it, he would scold him "Don't think nonsense" and explained: "The production capacity is not enough." However, in his heart, he did not believe in this official statement.
.In his experience, the supplies of the Senate have always been plentiful to the point of luxury, and the difficulty in supplying a few rifles is obviously a problem.
He wanted to go back and think about it, but on the surface he was still "without any doubt" as before, busy arranging the arrangements for the march every day.
The soldiers did not know the specific target of the march. Li Dong only knew a place name - he did not know where Lianzhou was. Are they Yao people? He had heard of them but never seen them. But had he seen Li people?
I've fought with them before, but I don't think they can fight. I don't think the Yao people are that powerful.
During the free time when the troops were getting ready, Li Dong ordered the entire squadron to step up training and prepare for battle.
People who have been in the military for a long time have a saying: If you are not afraid of going into battle, you are afraid of training. It doesn’t matter whether you live or die when you go into battle, it will be over in a while. But this training is endless every day from morning to night. Being exhausted does not count, and you are also beaten.
The soldiers scolded us so much that our ancestors could not live in peace for eighteen generations.
"Damn it, hurry up and go to the battlefield, this is going to cost people's lives..." Many people muttered.
However, there are some people who have been trained to death, but when they think about going to the front line, they feel extremely depressed, and they have no choice but to train here forever.
Ai Buyi is one of them. Before he was recruited, he was an ordinary soldier. He had never been on the battlefield and was taciturn by nature. Everyone was happy to use the rifle. Ai Buyi felt very confused but did not dare to express it because of the military stick.
It seems that he is the only one who doesn't understand what's so exciting about coming out. Aren't they going to go out to fight again soon? Aren't they afraid of death?
Theoretically, he was born as a "soldier", but in reality he had been holding a hoe all his life. Not to mention fighting, he had not even been to Dian Mao a few times. When the officer demoted the Song Dynasty, he followed suit. Originally, he thought that regardless of the Song Dynasty, he would still be a "soldier".
In the Ming Dynasty, there was always someone to farm the land. Unexpectedly, the official of the Song Dynasty saw that he was short and strong, with a simple expression and an innocent family background. He was very in line with Qi Shaobao and Zeng Taibao's recruiting philosophy, so he was recruited into the National Army.
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Next update: Volume 7 - Guangzhou Governance Chapter 377