Chapter 591 One Hundred Thousand Mongolian Cavalry
"Because none of the scholars in the Shizi Camp are accustomed to naval warfare, I have never thought about sending Qinwang Shizi to the Navy. Instead, I just asked you, Zheng Qing, to train naval officers on your own through the Naval Academy."
"But now that you have brought it up, Zheng Qing, I will definitely consider it seriously."
Chongzhen's words gave Zheng Zhilong enough face. The emperor personally came forward to explain. What else do you want?
"Your Majesty, I'm scared." Zheng Zhilong bowed hurriedly, "I actually don't have any ill intentions. I just feel that the scholars in the Scholar Camp are all talented people, so I can't help but want to recruit some navy masters."
"I know, I know." Chongzhen nodded and said, "When the Northern Expedition is over, I will definitely select a group of scholars from the scholar camp to serve in the Navy. How about it?"
"In that case, I would like to thank you in advance, Your Majesty."
Zheng Zhilong was overjoyed when he heard this and finally got his wish.
Chongzhen struck while the railway was hot: "Zheng Qing still has Youzhen. We have just crossed Baishuiyang at this time and are still far away from Dengzhou. How about you accompany me into the cabin and have a few drinks?"
This is to resolve the bad blood between Zheng Zhilong and Xu Yingwei.
In fact, when he was in Xuzhou and Liaodong, Chongzhen did a lot of this.
Chongzhen disdained to provoke infighting among his subordinates. Only those in power with serious flaws in their own abilities would deliberately provoke infighting among his subordinates. This is the so-called way of checks and balances.
For example, Emperor Jiajing was well versed in the essence of checks and balances.
It's just that Jiajing provoked Yan Dang to fight with Qingliu not because he was not capable enough to control the officials in the court, but because he was obsessed with cultivating immortality and was too lazy to deal with government affairs.
But Chongzhen would not be obsessed with cultivating immortals, so there was no need to deliberately create conflicts.
Although the method of checks and balances can save leaders trouble and effort, it can also cause internal friction and greatly reduce efficiency, so Chongzhen would rather work harder on his own.
The emperor personally came forward to make peace, which was a big deal.
Zheng Zhilong and Xu Yingwei followed Chongzhen into the warship's official hall in fear.
After a few cans of Mingjiu, Zheng Zhilong and Xu Yingwei's grudges were gone, and they even began to call themselves brothers. Zheng Sen, who was accompanying them, was immediately furious. Enough is enough, they have changed their seniority.
…
The navy protected the merchant ship and headed north against the wind.
After crossing Weihai, the sea began to freeze.
At the beginning, there was only a thin layer of ice, but as it gradually penetrated deeper into the North Sea, the ice began to thicken, and when the ram installed on the bow of the ship collided with the ice, it made a crisp sound.
When we arrived at Dengzhoufu, the ice became thicker and the ship's navigation began to become difficult.
Because the power provided by the sail is no longer enough to break through the thick ice in the North Sea, and if it sails forward, the naval warship may be trapped in the ice and can only stop here.
Chongzhen immediately issued an order and the army disembarked.
…
At almost the same time, Zhu Cijiong also led 40,000 Korean troops to Gaizhou Guard.
At this time, Wang Fuzhi, who was on duty in Gaizhou, quickly led Guan Siqiu, Xia Rubi and other scholars to greet him outside the city. What surprised Zhu Cijiong was that the Qing army in Gaizhou actually withdrew.
"When did the king give the remonstrance?" Zhu Cijiong asked.
"About half a month ago." Wang Fuzhi said, "Not only the Jian slaves outside Gaizhou City withdrew, but the Horqin people who originally moved south to the lower reaches of the Liao River also withdrew to their pastures in the upper reaches of the Liao River."
"It seems that Jiannu wants to reduce his military strength." Zhu Cijiong said.
Jiannu was generally in a weaker position than the Ming Dynasty. Facing the Ming Dynasty's attack, Jiannu was forced to shrink its troops. Just like in the battle of Saerhu, Laonu could only concentrate its troops on one side.
】
"Ding Wang Mingjian." Wang Fuzhi said solemnly, "So I think it is enough to guard the east bank of the Liao River."
The task given by Chongzhen to the Liaodong Army was to block the Liaoxi Corridor and prevent the remaining Jiannu remnants from escaping back to Liaodong. Therefore, Wang Fuzhi's suggestion was sound. As long as the east bank of the Liao River was defended, the Liaoxi Corridor could be blocked.
Leading the army into the Liaoxi Corridor, or even outside Shanhaiguan, the blockade effect will be better, but it will also put more than 10,000 Liaodong troops in danger, in case the slave army takes advantage of the fact that the main force of the Ming army has not reached Beihai.
, suddenly turned around and entered the Liaoxi Corridor, then the Liaodong Army would most likely be eaten by the Jiannu.
After all, the Liaodong Army now only has two infantry brigades and two artillery battalions.
Even if 40,000 Korean troops were added, they would still be far from the opponent of the main force of the slave establishment.
Wang Fuzhi was worried that Zhu Cijiong was young and energetic and wanted to lead his army into the Western Liaoning Corridor.
At that moment, he persuaded: "King Ding, the terrain of the Western Liaoning Corridor is narrow, and there is Shanhaiguan in front, Yanshan Mountain on the left, and the vast North Sea on the right. Once our army penetrates deep into it, the Mongols from the Horqin tribe will take advantage of the situation to come out and block the Liao River. Then it will be
With Xiongguan in front and interception in the back, our army has only two ways to go up Yanshan or down to Beihai."
Zhu Cijiong was amused and said: "The king gave me too much advice. Gu is not that stupid. Before his father's army has reached Beihai and has not started a war with the main force of Jiannu, Gu will never underestimate the enemy with the Liaodong Army."
Take the plunge.”
Wang Fuzhi breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, thinking that he had really worried too much. Although King Ding was young, he had experienced hundreds of battles. Didn't he easily resolve a mutiny in Seoul before?
However, Zhu Cijiong changed his tone and said: "However, we can't just wait like this."
Wang Fuzhi's heart suddenly started to rise again, and he asked: "May I ask King Ding, what do you mean?"
"The king advises you to lead the Korean army to stay in Gaizhou, while Gu will lead two infantry brigades and the cavalry to go north." Zhu Cijiong patted the map on the table and said with a evil smile, "First deal with Horqin Mongolia.
.”
"Prince Ding, be careful." Wang Fuzhi hurriedly advised after hearing this, "Although the climate in Liaodong this year is warmer than in previous years, this is Liaodong after all. Once it starts to snow, it can freeze people to death."
"It doesn't matter." Zhu Cijiong had already made up his mind, "We'll just wait until the snow falls and find a place to camp."
Wang Fuzhi persuaded again: "But the Liaohe Plain is so big and it is the middle of winter. Most of the Horqin Mongolian tribes have already gone into hiding to prepare for the cat winter. I am afraid it will be difficult to find them."
"What the king said to you is contrary to what I said." Zhu Cijiong said, "It's really because it's the middle of winter, and all the tribes in Horqin Mongolia are hiding in the winter, so it's easier to find him!"
After a pause, he added: "Because there are not many pastures where cats can winter."
Wang Euzhi was immediately speechless, thinking that at a young age, Wang knew a lot, and he actually had a good understanding of the habits of Mongolian herdsmen. It seemed that he had done a lot of homework before.
Zhu Cijiong added: "The king gave me advice, and I did this to reduce the pressure on my father's army."
"All the Horqin Mongolian tribes are die-hard allies of the Jiannu. When the war breaks out in the pass, Dorgon will definitely recruit the Horqin Mongolian cavalry to enter Guan Qinwang. We will attack first and kill the Horqin Mongolians first, and then we can cut them off."
With Jian Nu’s arm, Ming Dynasty has a greater chance of winning the Northern Expedition, don’t you think so?”
However, Wang Fuzhi was still a little worried: "King Ding, are you afraid that the troops are not strong enough?"
Zhu Cijiong said: "With more than 2,000 cavalry, two infantry brigades and two artillery battalions, it is enough. After all, the tribes of Horqin Mongolia are in their own pastures in Maodong, and they have no chance to gather troops."
"Okay, King Ding must be careful." Wang Fuzhi could only agree.
"However, a North Korean army should still be brought."
"That's fine." Zhu Cijiong nodded happily.
…
In Xi'an, the Cunxin Hall of the Prince of Qin's Mansion.
"Your Majesty, Sanggar has issued the Golden Arrow Order in the name of the Mongolian leader." Song Xiance respectfully reported, "calling on all Mongolian tribes to join forces to resist the Ming Dynasty in order to protect the dignity of Lamaism."
Li Zicheng turned his gaze to Li Yan: "Commander Zuo, do you think Khalkha and Oirat will send troops?"
Li Yan said: "I think the possibility of the Khalkha tribes sending troops is very high, because although the Khalkha tribes are also facing attacks from the Rakshasa people, they are under less pressure and still dream of unifying the Mongolian tribes. So this
This is an excellent opportunity to enter Monan or even the Great Wall under the pretext of joining forces to resist the Ming Dynasty."
Li Zicheng asked again: "What about the Oirat tribes?"
"The situation among the Mongol tribes in Oirat is much more complicated."
"The National Preceptor Khan is still nominally the co-leader of Oirat Mongolia, but in fact he has long since lost power, and at this time he is busy suppressing the Karma sect in the snowy area and has no time to take care of him."
"The real Khan of Oirat Mongolia is Baturhun of the Junggar tribe."
"It's just that Baturhun is busy fighting for territory with the Kyrgyz, Kazakhs and Nogai people. He will not have time to take care of him for three to five years. At most, he will send a few thousand people symbolically, just like he did at the beginning.
Three thousand camel artillerymen were sent to Sanggar's tent to obey orders, nominally to obey orders, but in fact just to get a glimpse of reality."
"It is to spy on the details of the Central Plains and prepare for future involvement in the Central Plains."
Li Yan has obviously done a lot of research on various tribes in Outer Mongolia. Whether it is Khalkha Mongolia or Oirat Mongolia, he basically knows all the situations well.
"They are just a group of barbarians, and they still want to get involved in the Central Plains?"
Li Zicheng smiled and said: "If this is the case, how many Mongolian cavalry can Sanggar summon?"
Li Yan calculated with his fingers: "The national advisor Khan in the snowy area can be ignored. Junggar, that is, Oirat Mongolia, can send at most three thousand camel soldiers. The total number of cavalry in Khalkha Mongolia is about 200,000, but the interior is not monolithic."
, Shuolei and three other people are collectively known as the Great Khan, and the overt and covert fights between them have never stopped."
"So, the Khalkha tribes can send at most 30,000 to 50,000 cavalry."
"However, the Tumut and Chahar tribes are under the control of Jiannu. They will definitely come out in full force and send out at least 60,000 troops."
"It is still unknown whether Horqin Mongolia can send troops, because there is a Ming army in Liaodong. During this period, the Horqin Mongolian tribes were said to have been in trouble, so they may not be able to send troops."
After a pause, Li Yan finally said: "So the number of Mongolian cavalry that can finally be gathered under Sanggar's tent should be between 80,000 and 100,000, with a maximum of 110,000."
"Eighty thousand to one hundred thousand cavalry? That's quite a lot."
Li Zicheng looked awe-inspiring, as the Mongols actually had such strength.
