Guangxi's wolf soldiers were not called wolf soldiers at first, but called 鍍兵. Because the Zhuang people were formerly called 鿍人, and wolf soldiers were mostly recruited from Zhuang chieftains, so they were called 鍍兵.
But when he shouted, he turned into a wolf soldier.
It is also said that the soldiers were called wolf soldiers because they were as fierce as wolves.
The wolf soldiers in Guangxi and the native soldiers in western Hunan and Hubei were collectively called the wolf native soldiers, and they made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty in recruiting rebellion.
There is no doubt that the combat effectiveness of the Guangxi wolf soldiers is comparable to that of the native soldiers in western Hunan and Hubei. However, their military discipline is worse than that of the native soldiers in western Hunan and Hubei. Burning, killing and looting are common occurrences.
Ding Kuichu, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, was having a headache at this time because of the military discipline of the wolf soldiers.
It is said that after receiving the secret edict from Chongzhen three months ago, Ding Kuichu withdrew 500,000 taels of silver from the Guangzhou branch of the Ming Dynasty Royal Silver Company, and then escorted part of the silver with his pacesetters and went straight to Nanning, Guangxi.
After arriving in Nanning, Ding Kuichu began to recruit wolf soldiers from left and right rivers.
It took more than two months to finally recruit the 100,000 wolf soldiers requested by Qi Chongzhen.
During the Chongzhen period, the number of adults in the Chief Envoy of Guangxi was approximately 1.8 million, and the number of adults in the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups in the Youjiang River area was almost 200,000. Therefore, almost 100,000 wolf soldiers were dispatched.
After recruiting all the wolf soldiers, Ding Kuichu led one hundred thousand wolf soldiers through Guishun Prefecture and entered Guangnan Mansion in eastern Yunnan.
Chongzhen made it very clear in his secret edict that he had to capture Lin'an Prefecture's old stronghold in Shadingzhou before mid-September, especially the old Jigelong stronghold in Mengzi that had to be burned down.
In early September, at the same time that Chongzhen arrived at Pingyi Guards, one hundred thousand wolf soldiers led by Ding Kuichu also entered Lin'an Mansion in eastern Yunnan.
When in Guangxi, the wolf soldiers were relatively restrained.
But as soon as they entered Yunnan, the wolf soldiers immediately stopped listening to Ding Kuichu's greetings and began to plunder.
After entering Lin'an Mansion, the wolf soldiers completely lost control and began to burn, kill and loot wildly. The scene was as if the Japanese invaders had entered the village.
At the beginning, Ding Kuichu tried to stop it.
But if he got too serious, the wolf soldiers threatened to launch a mutiny and help Sha Dingzhou attack the court.
When Ding Kuichu heard this, he immediately gave up. From then on, he never dared to say no again. Anyway, for him, Ding Kuichu and the court, as long as the Lin'an Mansion lair in Shadingzhou was captured, the task would be completed, and the rest would not matter.
It's under his control.
…
At the same time, the Ming army camp was pacifying Weidong.
Chongzhen ordered Wang Chengen and Gao Qiqian to pull out a map of Yunnan drawn on cloth.
"Look." Chongzhen pointed to the map of Yunnan and said, "The terrain of Yunnan is complex and mountainous. Except for a small amount of flat land in central Yunnan, most of it is mountainous. The two hometowns of Shadingzhou, Ami Prefecture and Mengzi County, are even more mountainous and densely forested.
, the road is extremely rugged and difficult to travel. If the Shadingzhou rebels cannot be annihilated in the plains of central Yunnan, once they are allowed to escape back to Lin'an Prefecture, it will be very difficult. At least it will be possible to quell the Shadingzhou rebellion in a short time.
There is no hope."
Zhu Cijiong said: "That's why my father personally led the army to seize the Pingyi Guard without attacking, in order to contain the main force of the rebels in Sha Dingzhou near the Pingyi Guard, so that the Guangxi wolf soldiers led by Ding Kuichu could take advantage of the opportunity to attack Lin'an Prefecture.
You can easily destroy the Lin'an Mansion lair in Shadingzhou without any effort."
Xu Yingwei said: "Your Majesty, just destroying the Lin'an Mansion lair in Sha Dingzhou may not be enough."
Yan Yingyuan also echoed: "Even if the Guangxi wolf soldiers capture Lin'an Prefecture, the Sha Dingzhou rebels can still retreat to Kunming. Kunming City is backed by Dianchi Lake, and the Mu family has been operating in Kunming for more than two hundred years. The city's high ditches are far deeper than ordinary cities.
, it is said that Mu Tianbo paid a lot of money to ask Western missionaries to cast more than a dozen Hongyi cannons in bronze."
After saying this, he added: "It will also be very difficult if the Sha Dingzhou rebels are allowed to escape back to Kunming."
"Kunming doesn't need to worry." Chongzhen said with a slight smile, "Of course a surprise army will take advantage of the opportunity to attack Kunming."
"In addition to the Guangxi wolf soldiers, my father actually arranged another strange army?" Zhu Cijiong said in surprise, "Father, what kind of soldiers are the other strange soldiers? Is it the soldiers of the Shuixi'an clan?"
Chongzhen said: "The Shuixi'an clan has been severely weakened since the She'an Rebellion. How can they still have the ability to send troops to Yunnan? Besides, if the Shuixi'an clan sends troops, won't they have to attack Yunnan from the Pingyi Guards?"
Zhu Cijiong scratched his head and said, "I really can't think of that."
However, Xu Yingwei's heart moved slightly and he asked: "Did your Majesty mean the Duke of Guizhou?"
"Mu Tianbo?" Chongzhen said with a smile, "I'm afraid I don't have this ability yet."
Xu Yingwei said: "That minister couldn't have guessed it. He couldn't have sent troops from southern Sichuan to attack Kunming, right?"
"Okay, don't guess. You will naturally know when the time comes." Chongzhen waved his hand. If he hadn't been a time traveler, he would also have never imagined that a small military deputy envoy could turn the tide.
…
At the same time, in Chuxiong City.
Hearing that the Sha Dingzhou rebels had withdrawn from the siege, Mu Tianbo took the two thousand chieftain soldiers he had managed to assemble and spent five days rushing from Yongchang Mansion to Chuxiong City.
"Deputy Envoy Yang, the rebels have really withdrawn?" Mu Tianbo couldn't believe it.
"My lord, the rebels really withdrew, directly to the east bank of the Jiudu River." Yang Weizhi nodded and continued, "And only a few thousand old and weak people were left to guard the east bank of the ferry."
Yang Weizhi is not yet forty years old this year and is in the prime of life.
Of course, Mu Tianbo is even younger. He is only twenty-eight years old this year. He is also strong and powerful, and he is good at using a bronze meteor hammer. His strength value is quite high, but his intelligence value is a bit worrying.
"There are only a few thousand old and weak people stationed on the east coast?" Mu Tianbo said in shock, "What does Sha Dingzhou want to do?"
"It's hard to say." Yang Weizhi shook his head and said, "I estimate that there are only two possibilities here. One is Sha Dingzhou's plan to lure the enemy."
Mu Tianbo said: "Deliberately showing weakness to lure us across the Jiudu River to pursue?"
"Yes." Yang Weizhi said, "The sand bandits have been unable to attack the Chuxiong Prefecture City for a long time, but they have lost countless troops. It is inevitable that they will be afraid of the siege battle and deliberately show weakness to lure our troops out of Chuxiong City and then annihilate them. This possibility
Sex exists because doing so can achieve maximum results at the minimum cost."
"Then we must not be fooled." Mu Tianbo said decisively, "Deputy Envoy Yang, you must not pursue, let alone lead your troops across the river to pursue, lest you miss a big event."
Yang Weizhi frowned and said, "But there is another possibility."
"Is there another possibility?" Mu Tianbo asked, "What?"
Yang Wei knew: "That is because something big happened in eastern or southern Yunnan, forcing the sand bandits to return to the army to save themselves, so they did not care about our Chuxiong Prefecture."
Mu Tianbo said: "You mean the imperial army has arrived?"
"This possibility exists." Yang Weizhi nodded and said, "After today's Holy Master enlightened the Tao from Meishan, his character has changed greatly and his ability has also been completely different. Last year, the Holy Master personally led hundreds of thousands of border troops and dozens of slaves.
Tens of thousands of troops faced off in Xuzhou. The lower official thought that the Holy Emperor would be defeated and the Huanghuai defense line would be lost, but the final result was a complete defeat for Jiannu!"
"Today's Holy Emperor is not even afraid of slaves, so how can he be afraid of a mere Shadingzhou?"
"So after the news reaches the capital, it is very likely that the Holy Emperor will personally lead troops to conquer it."
After saying this, Yang Weizhi added: "If nothing else happens, the Holy Emperor's counter-rebellion army will most likely have arrived at Pingyi Guards in eastern Yunnan, so Sha Dingzhou hastily resolved the siege of Chuxiong Prefecture and led his troops to rescue Pingyi.
Yiwei."
"This is really possible." Mu Tianbo nodded and asked, "What's going on in southern Yunnan?"
"Oh, this is also the official's guess." Yang Weizhi added, "With the Holy Master's ability to use troops, if he really decides to use troops against Yunnan, he will definitely mobilize enough troops to crush the sand thieves with a thunderous force.
Then in addition to personally leading the army through Guizhou to launch an attack from Pingyiwei, it would be best to send an important minister to go directly to Lin'an Prefecture in southern Yunnan via Guangxi, so that the Sand Bandits will not even have the chance to retreat to Lin'an Prefecture's lair!"
"Hmm!" Mu Tianbo's eyes lit up and he said, "This is a good plan."
Yang Weizhi added: "If the official's guess is true, then we can no longer hide in Chuxiong City. Instead, we must mobilize Chuxiong's troops and take advantage of the God-given opportunity of the main force of the Sand Bandits being restrained by the Holy Army on the front line of Pingyi Guards to use lightning speed.
They will take back Kunming in one fell swoop. In this way, the Sand Bandit will really become a lost dog and will never see the light of day!"
"Take back Kunming?" Mu Tianbo's eyes lit up, "Is there really a chance to take back Kunming?"
Yang Weizhi said: "If it is the second possibility, Kunming City can definitely be recaptured, but if it is the first possibility, then the prince and the official will probably die without a burial place, and the whole of Yunnan will also fall."
Speaking of this meal, Yang Weizhi added: "The lower official has informed the Duke of the interests here. Whether to continue to be trapped in Chuxiong City or to return to Kunming is decided by the Duke alone."
Mu Tianbo's thick eyebrows were twisted into knots.
After a long while, Mu Tianbo asked Yang Weizhi again: "Deputy Envoy Yang, what would you do if you were the prince of my country?"
"I don't know." Yang Weizhi shook his head and said, "Because I can't tell the difference either. Which of these two possibilities is higher? It's really difficult to judge here."
Mu Tianbo said: "Then first send a team of spies across the river to investigate."
"Already sent." Yang Weizhi said, "However, I think it's better not to have too high expectations. If this is really the sand bandit's plan to lure the snake out of the cave, there will definitely not be any obvious flaws."
Mu Tianbo pondered for a while and then said: "Then directly send spies to eastern and southern Yunnan!"
"The lower officials have also been sent." Yang Weizhi nodded and said, "But the road from Chuxiong Prefecture to the mountains in southeastern Yunnan is far away. It will take a month or two at least to go back and forth. When the spies get the exact information and then send it back, I'm afraid it will be a day lily.
It's already cold, and the sand thieves have already retreated to their base in Kunming or Lin'an Prefecture, so the imperial court has lost the God-given opportunity to easily encircle and annihilate the sand thieves."
"This won't work, that won't work either, it's really difficult." Mu Tianbo asked helplessly.
"Then ask your heart!" Yang Weizhi said, "My lord, ask me your true heart!"
"Ask me directly?" Mu Tianbo fell into deep thought after hearing this.
…
On September 10th, the Guangxi wolf soldiers led by Ding Kuichu had already reached Annan Division in Lin'an Prefecture.
Behind the wolf soldiers, the Bazhai Division, the Third Education Division, the Wangnongshan Division and other chieftain cities have been reduced to scorched earth. All cattle, sheep, livestock and property have been looted. Young women and children have also been robbed by the wolf soldiers.
The old men were all executed, and the wolf soldiers left nothing to chance.
This is what happens when an army loses control.
In the past, the military discipline of Guangxi's wolf soldiers was also poor, but at least there were Ming army generals to restrain them.
But Ding Kuichu, a coward, had only 3,000 model soldiers under his command, which was very different from the 100,000 Guangxi wolf soldiers, so he adopted a policy of connivance and appeasement towards the Guangxi wolf soldiers, which directly boosted the arrogance of the wolf soldiers.
The various chieftains in Lin'an Prefecture have really suffered huge losses this time.
Because all the strong men in the clan went to fight with the chieftain, and only the old, young, women and children were left at home. How could these old, young, women and children be able to defeat the ferocious Guangxi wolf soldiers?
The war soon reached Mengzi, one of Shadingzhou's old nests.
At this time, Mengzi was also an empty city, with less than 500 native soldiers stationed there.
Hearing that the Guangxi wolf soldiers had arrived in Mengzi, Tu Tongzhi, who was guarding the city, sent his horse to the Pingyi Guards to ask for help, and at the same time brought the local people outside the city into Mengzi County. At the same time, he temporarily organized the old people and children in the city into an army.
Even women were forced to pick up weapons and climb to the top of Mengzi City crying, preparing to fight to the death with the Guangxi wolf soldiers.
…
September 12, at Pingyi Acropolis.
Sha Dingzhou stood on the east gate tower with a few confidants, his brows furrowed.
"It's really strange." Tang Binbin said, "Except for one attack three days ago, the Ming army has never made any move. Even if they are waiting for the Hongyi cannon, they shouldn't be so quiet, right?"
General Tie Zhihu said solemnly: "General headquarters, the Ming army is probably afraid of being beaten by us. Since they dare not come out to fight, how about we attack them? Drive them back to Guizhou directly!"
Another general, Li Rifang, also echoed: "Commander, let's fight!"
"Why fight?" Sha Dingzhou's mind was very clear and he said angrily, "Do you really think that the imperial army is as useless as the Mu family's servants? What's more, the spy said that the imperial army has a hundred thousand people.
, we can still fight with the strong fortifications of the Acropolis, but taking the initiative to attack is self-destruction."
Tang Jingbin sighed: "It's a pity that Yongshun, Baojing and Shi Nan's chieftains don't know each other. Otherwise, if we have them as internal agents and attack us from east to west, we can wipe out the Ming army without any effort!"
Just three days ago, Sha Dingzhou sent Xizuo to contact Yongshun, Baojing and Shi Nan's chieftain, but the next day, Xizuo's head hung on the gate of the Ming army camp.
Just when Sha Dingzhou and several of his confidants were speechless, rapid footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.
Looking back, it was Du Qifei who was stationed at Jiudu River, and he was looking shabby and extremely embarrassed. Seeing this scene, Sha Dingzhou's heart sank for a moment, bad, bad!
