Su Changsheng looked anxious and came to Lingyun Hall to report.
"Commander Su, the agents I dispatched have received accurate information.
Yang He, the governor of the three sides of the Ming Dynasty, mobilized an army of 200,000 to prepare to attack us.
Now, officers and soldiers from all over Shaanxi Province are gathering at Fengxiang Mansion."
Su He received the information and examined it carefully. Yang He, the governor of the three sides, mobilized troops and collected food and wages.
The purpose of attacking them is already very clear.
Su He ordered to notify the officials of Wuying Palace and Wenhua Palace.
Lingyun Palace held an emergency meeting.
All officials sit in their respective positions.
In front of their desks, there is a copy of intelligence materials compiled by Su Changsheng.
According to the rules of the meeting, they must first read the materials and discuss their own opinions based on the materials.
Su He faced Wen Wu and said in a serious tone:
"Our detailed work has sent us information that Yang He, the governor of the three sides of the Ming Dynasty, is frequently deploying troops.
Counties in Shaanxi are also collecting corvee labor to raise money and grain.
There are various signs that the Ming army is about to attack us.
We are the only target. They are encircling and suppressing the rebels in northern Shaanxi and will not gather troops in Fengxiang Mansion."
After Su He finished speaking, he motioned to the officers of Wuyingdian to speak first.
After Su Xiong heard this, he slapped the table and said, "Just fight, whoever is afraid of whom.
At the beginning, we dared to fight against the Ming army.
Now our guns are sharp and our soldiers are basically well trained.
Just fight and that's it. Only after fighting will you know who is strong and who is weak."
Zhang Yuliang said in a relaxed tone: "Yang He claims to have 200,000 troops, but this is completely empty talk.
Shaanxi, a poor province, simply cannot support 200,000 soldiers.
I think there are only 50,000 officers and soldiers at most, and most of them are guard soldiers.
Our Weihe River defense line has been built and defended with artillery.
As long as we have enough ammunition, we are not afraid even if there are 200,000 soldiers.
When I was studying in Guangdong when I was a child, I heard Hong Mao Fan say that in their hometown, there was a kind of fortification called a bastion.
This kind of fortress is equipped with muskets and cannons, and its defense is extremely strong.
It's just that no one here knows how to build a fortress.
When I have the opportunity to come into contact with the Western Yi people, I will definitely learn this kind of fortress."
Su Zhuang, Su Shan and other officers spoke one after another. They all believed that the Ming army was not a cause for concern.
When Su He heard about these officers, he began to analyze them carefully.
The content of their subsequent discussion began to belittle the Ming army.
He immediately stopped him: "We must despise the enemy strategically and attach importance to the enemy tactically.
The Jiubian Military Town of the Ming Dynasty fought against the barbarians for a long time, and they were different from the military households in the guards.
The frontier troops have strong combat effectiveness and fighting will.
You must not despise the enemy, for an arrogant army will be defeated."
When the officers heard Su He's reprimand, they were speechless.
After Li Fengming looked through the information on the table, he reminded: "We only deal with the officers and soldiers of Shaanxi. With our current military strength, there is no big problem.
But we must not fight on two fronts. The current logistics and military strength cannot support the army fighting on two fronts.
We must guard Jinniuguan and Hanjiang River, and we must also pay attention to Baoxie Road, this important transportation channel."
Su He saw that the officer Wuyingdian had finished his speech, and he asked the civil officer Yang Wenhua to discuss logistics and other aspects of work.
Wang Zhongce spoke first:
"There is no problem with logistics and transportation. We have organized young people to build roads and build water conservancy projects many times.
Grassroots officials working in rural areas all play an important role.
There is absolutely no problem in leaving the logistics and transportation work to them and mobilizing villagers to transport logistics to the army.
The Hanzhong granary has enough pure grain to ensure that frontline soldiers will have no shortage of food for two years as long as the logistics transportation lines are smooth."
When Zhang Dezhi saw Wang Zhongce finish speaking, he immediately assured: "We at the Ministry of Industry can produce weapons and ammunition with quality and quantity, and they will never affect frontline operations."
After communicating with civil and military officials, Su He issued combat orders.
"This time I will lead the troops and personally supervise the battle.
One brigade of the first division, three brigades of the first division, one brigade of the second division, three brigades of the second division, Guards brigade, and artillery brigade.
A total of 26,000 people went to the front line of the Wei River to fight against the Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers.
Su Zhuang led the Second Division and Second Brigade to garrison Baoxian County and defend the flanks of Hanzhong City.
At the same time, troops were sent to guard Baoxie Road and other roads, and forts were set up to prevent the government troops from repairing these places.
Li Qingmu led the naval brigade to defend Hanshui and defend the enemy from attacking from Hanshui.
Su Shi led the first division and second brigade to garrison Jinniuguan.
If the Sichuan troops leave the province, they must be stopped."
Su He completed the deployment of troops and encouraged everyone: "This is the first big test we are facing.
Passing this test means that we can officially compete with the government and the army.
We can have a stable territory and develop and grow.
As long as we get through this hurdle, we all will have a bright future, and getting promoted will not be a problem.
I believe that with our strength, even if we encounter difficulties, we can overcome them."
…
The commander-in-chief issued combat orders, and all departments began to get busy.
The cement road on Chencang Road has been repaired.
Now on the road, there are neatly arranged troops from time to time, trotting towards Dashan Pass.
They wore yellow linen clothes, carried long muskets on their backs, and carried several grenades on their waists.
There was a thumping sound behind them.
A mule pulls three 75 light artillery carriages strung together.
The guns and carriages clashed with each other, and the ship was far away.
Shortly after this army left, another army in the same uniform was ushered in.
It's just that they all rode in donkey carts and didn't carry muskets.
There was also a rumble from behind the army.
These are two mules, pulling a 110 medium-sized artillery piece, walking on the cement road.
The iron wheels of the artillery cart pressed against the concrete road, making a huge noise.
…
In Linhe Village, Lueyang County, the village chief Xu Dazhi was greeting loudly.
“Has anyone signed up to carry grain, walk on cement roads, and push wheelbarrows?
Two hundred cents a day and three meals a day.
Don't listen to rumors, we are not going to fight, we are just transporting food.
You see, when recruiting soldiers in the village, they are looking for good young men, and they don’t look down on your old arms and legs at all.”
The villagers trust the words of village chief Xu Dazhi very much.
They were building roads a few days ago, and many farmers earned their first wages in their lives.
A few days ago, the doctor at the township health center gave them a smallpox vaccine, saying it could protect them against smallpox.
First, the daughter-in-law gave birth in the village and went to the township health center.
Maternal and infant mortality rates caused by difficult labor have been greatly reduced.
The prices for medical treatment at the township health center are very low, and they also allow credit.
The villagers have received benefits and know that the government really cares about them, and they have a high level of trust in the government.
Xu Dazhi quickly recruited enough people and led the villagers to gather in the countryside. They transported grain from the township's grain depot.
Each bag of grain has a seal, and as long as the seal is broken or there is a hole in the sack.
If the convoy transporting grain cannot explain the reason, it will have to compensate.
Their convoy consists of two villages.
Xu Dazhi constantly patrolled the convoy, keeping an eye on people in other villages to prevent them from stealing food.
Next to the cement road, there is a special post station.
Free meals are provided here and you can rest at night.
There is no need to eat the food on the wheelbarrow.
…
Su He said goodbye to Wang Zhongce and other officials in the Wenhua Hall.
"Wang Shangshu, I will leave the government affairs of Hanzhong to you. You must ensure the stability of Hanzhong.
Now that the Chencang Road Station has been established, messages can be delivered quickly.
We can directly announce frontline success stories to citizens to boost their morale."
"Commander Su, please rest assured, I will definitely be able to manage Hanzhong Mansion well." Wang Zhongce replied confidently.
Su He, Li Fengming, Su Ying and the Guards Brigade went north together.
Li Fengming was riding a donkey on the cement road, and he kept praising him.
This cement road is great and perfectly solves the problem of cannon transportation.
Even if it rains, it will not affect logistics and transportation.
"Commander Su, Zhang Wansi also asked me for help, and their cavalry battalion also wants to go to the battlefield."
Su He also rode a tall donkey and responded to Li Fengming:
"The cavalry haven't been trained yet, they are just seeds.
If you go to the battlefield now, you're just cannon fodder.
They were preparing to fight against the Jiannu cavalry in the future.
Tell Zhang Wansi to calm down and study cavalry tactics.
When we conquer northern Shaanxi, the grassland will be so big.
What can we do without cavalry? That’s when they make great achievements.”
