The convoy of Cui Chengxiu, Secretary of the Ministry of War, escorted by 800 cavalrymen guarding Xuzhou, has arrived in Teng County overnight. This is the storage area for grain and grass on the northern front. The grain and grass transported by the southern provinces via railways and waterways are piled up like mountains. Tens of thousands of people from Anhui and Henan are here.
The strong men and the local strongmen recruited were strengthening the city wall. If the Qing army raided Tengzhou and burned the hundreds of thousands of stones of military provisions, horses and grass, the battle would be lost.
In addition, there are 20,000 Zhejiang guest troops stationed in Tengzhou. The Zhejiang Bingdao leader is Cui Chengxiu's protégé Miao Kejian. The mission of this army is to protect the transportation of military personnel along the way and protect grain and grass. Because they are direct descendants of Cui Shangshu, so
The equipment is well-equipped and the soldiers are young and strong. They are a unique force to deal with Yuan Chonghuan. Therefore, Cui Chengxiu must stop in Tengzhou to make arrangements.
In the Tengxian County Yamenhoutang, the soldiers brought two cups of hot tea and were dismissed by Miao Kejian. Only Miao Kejian and Cui Chengxiu were left in the room.
"The house is simple and simple, and the food is simple. I really neglected you." Miao Kejian said apologetically. This house was originally the residence of the Tatar county magistrate.
The pot and the animal skin antlers hanging on the wall are very exotic.
The room is equipped with a complete set of nanmu furniture shipped thousands of miles away from Zhejiang. The Taishi chair where Cui Chengxiu sits is covered with a piece of colorful tiger skin. On the table is also Anji white tea, a specialty shipped from Zhejiang, which is emerald green in color and has a similar aroma.
Cui Shangshu picked up the tea bowl and smelled it. He praised it: "Good tea. Mr. Miao is still so good at tea ceremony. The decoration of this room is quite unique, with a blend of Chinese and Manchu. It's not bad."
"I don't dare to accept a humble position. Your Majesty, I appreciate it. You travel thousands of miles, all because of your hard work for the country and the country. Now that you have arrived at a humble position, you should do your best to entertain me." Miao Kejian said politely.
"How is everything going on?" Cui Chengxiu took a sip of tea and asked calmly.
Miao Kejian quickly put on a serious expression and said: "According to your secret order, the food shipped to Yanzhou is only old grain and old grains, and the portion is very limited, barely enough to feed the family; the military pay is not even a penny, listen.
It was said that the Xuzhou Army had begun to complain a long time ago. The humble position allowed people to speak out. They said that the money was embezzled by Yuan Chonghuan and others. There were several small-scale mutinies in Yanzhou. The man named Yuan killed a few of the troublemakers before suppressing them.
, but soldiers dare to be angry but dare not speak out, and there are many people who secretly hate him."
"You're doing a good job, but the money and food from the rear are still being transported up. How can they be piled up like mountains? Won't the soldiers at the front doubt you?" Cui Chengxiu asked.
"Your Majesty, we have plenty of rice in the south of the Ming Dynasty, but the Qing Dynasty suffered a severe drought last year, and their military rations could not be provided. Dorgon sent people to contact Beizhi, and was willing to purchase military rations and fodder at a price three times higher than the market price. Beizhi wanted to
Since these grains and grass cannot be used cheaply by Yuan, it is better to sell them to the Tatars to earn their money, which can be regarded as being loyal to the country." Miao Kejian said cautiously, fearing that Cui Shangshu would blame him.
Cui Chengxiu pondered for a moment, "Yes, this move won my heart." He praised. "The enemy of our enemy is our friend. Dorgon is now our ally. Support them with some food and let him help us deal with it.
Yuan Chonghuan, it won’t be too late to stop the supply after Yuan Chonghuan is overthrown. By the way, the money from selling grain and grass must be turned over to the national treasury. Jiuqiansui has already pressed a lot of frontline generals and officials to take advantage of your poor logistics. In order to help you
cover,
It will take a lot of human kindness and etiquette for me to smooth things over."
"Of course, a large amount of cash has been shipped with the ship. I'm afraid it will be at your residence by now." Miao Kejian's mustache was raised after receiving the praise. He made enough money on this trip. Qing Qing
The price the army paid for grain and grass was five times the market price, but he only quoted three times the price, and the rest became his own, making a fortune in silence.
"The loss of food is to help the victims of the Shandong disaster. I will smooth things over for you." Cui Chengxiu was very happy when he knew that a large amount of money had been received.
"Your Excellency is still thoughtful, but humble and stupid. He didn't even think of this hidden method. Your Excellency is indeed the first Confucian general of the Ming Dynasty who strategized and won thousands of miles away. If your Excellency had led the army, I am afraid that the Qing army would have been defeated and retreated to Beijing." Miao Ke
Jian Xianfa said.
This flattering Cui Chengxiu felt very comfortable. He proudly stood up and walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said: "I have this intention. I came here to take over the Xuzhou Army. When I kill Yuan Chonghuan, I will take over the army."
For the army, you can pay the army for a month and get some food. Then all the losses will be passed on to Yuan Chonghuan. He is already dead anyway, so you can say whatever you want. You can't say anything at that time.
We have sold it to the Qing army. They have no food and grass, so they are naturally defeated. I will lead the army to attack and recover thousands of miles of rivers and mountains in just a short time. You will naturally have a share of the credit when the time comes. I believe that the title of Governor of Zhejiang is indispensable."
"I'd like to thank you for my humble position, but I just want to kill Yuan Chonghuan in front of the battle..." Miao Kejian was overjoyed at first. When he thought about killing general Yuan Chonghuan, he couldn't help but feel a little timid. Although Yuan was not a fierce general like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei who could defeat ten thousand people,
However, his men such as Man Gui, Zu Dashou, Niu Yong, and He Kegang, these fierce generals and rough men, would not let others kill their generals, not even the Minister of War.
"There is no need to worry about it. I have my own arrangements. Your 20,000 Zhejiang soldiers will be of great use. In addition, I also have a battalion of Beijing troops and some martial arts masters to help me. As for Yuan Chonghuan's powerful generals, I don't believe in a Shandong general soldier."
A title cannot buy the defection of one of them." Cui Chengxiu is full of confidence. With the appointment of an official and a silver bullet attack, one of the generals of the Xuzhou Forbidden Army will defect to him, and then the Yuan family army will not be monolithic...
"Your Excellency's clever plan to bring peace to the world, I am so impressed by this humble post!" Miao Kejian raised both thumbs high in the air, praising Cui Chengxiu's perfect arrangement. "The 20,000 Zhejiang Army of this humble post can be considered a well-trained soldier, and they all obey your command.
.”
The soldier knocked on the door gently, "Mr. Miao, the banquet is ready."
"Sir, we have hastily arranged a table of Shandong cuisine, which is far less exquisite than the dishes in Beijing. I still hope Haihan." Miao Kejian made an inviting gesture.
"During the war, there are not many things to pay attention to. Sir Miao, please." Cui Chengxiu said politely.
Ebilong is a commander of Zhengbai Banner. He is in charge of 1,500 elite cavalry. The commander was originally called Jia La Ezhen. He is responsible for five Niu Lu, each with 300 people. The leader is called Niu Lu.
Lu Ezhen is now called Shen Ling. Since the late emperor led everyone into Shanhaiguan and occupied Beijing, these official Manchu names have also been changed to names with a Han flavor.
After so many years in the colorful world of the Han people, many of the bows and horses of the banner brothers have been abandoned, but the leader of their white banner, the Baylor banner, is the famous Prince Rui Dorgon. He is strict in running the army and never slacks off, even when the prince is captured.
During the days when the little emperor was under house arrest, the brothers did not neglect their martial arts, but instead practiced harder, because they believed that sooner or later Prince Rui would come out again, lead them to drink from the Yangtze River, and ravage the Han people's beautiful Jiangnan. Sure enough, the emperor
He rashly led his troops south and suffered a lot, and fell ill when he returned to the capital. The prince was released by the Queen Mother, and he immediately rectified the army and led the old brothers to block the Ming Dynasty army's northern expedition, and advanced from Tai'an to Yanzhou, step by step
Come on, Yanzhou is about to be captured.
There was a severe drought in the north last year, and the harvest was very bad. The military rations that were finally scraped together were burned under the Liguo City. Therefore, the food and grass that Prince Rui brought with him for this expedition was very insufficient. The food was already exhausted, and the brothers could only drink two rations a day.
The porridge can be seen in a flash, but Prince Rui is Prince Rui, and he quietly brought in a large amount of grain, and it is new rice with full grains. The taste is much better than the sorghum and corn rice in the north. Every meal of the brothers can be enjoyed
I picked up several bowls. The rice bag also had the characters of the Southern Dynasties printed on it. I heard from my brother who knew the alphabet that it said "Special supply from Wuhu, the Ming Dynasty will win." It's so damn funny. The Ming Dynasty actually ate the military rations of the Qing Dynasty.
In the soldier's belly.
When your own stomach is full, you start to think about other people's stomachs. The guys who are holding on in Yanzhou City opposite have shot and killed many Han and Eight Banners brothers who are attacking the city these days. We can't let them eat to deal with them.
Brothers who were attacking the city, so they sent these small troops deep behind enemy lines to intercept and kill the Ming Dynasty's grain transport teams and messengers.
After the grain of the Ming Dynasty was transported from Jiangnan and Anhui to Xuzhou, it was transported by land in batches to Teng County. Teng County was heavily guarded and could not move, and the grain team guarded by large troops and horses could not move either. They could only choose a small transport team to start. Ebilong
They took a lot of advantage in their previous attacks. They attacked three small grain teams and killed hundreds of cart drivers and soldiers. The mules and horses pulling the carts were slaughtered and eaten by them. They took away as much grain as they could.
If it doesn't move, burn it on the spot.
Having tasted the sweetness, Ebilong identified a place. It was a small stream on the road that the transport team must pass. The stream was clear. It was just the right time for the horses to drink water, wash their faces, make a fire to cook, and take a rest. The surrounding area was empty, suitable for cavalry.
Run, and further away there are hills and dense woods, which are convenient for hiding troops.
The cavalry were hiding in the woods to rest. Scouts had been sent out, and a few brothers with good eyesight were climbing on the trees on the hills to observe. As long as they spotted the enemy's convoy, they would know it immediately, waiting for the enemy to dismount and unsaddle.
A, while resting by the stream, took the opportunity to rush out and ensure that no fish slipped through the net.
Seeing that it was almost noon, my stomach began to growl again. Just when I was about to take out the horse meat jerky and take a bite, the scouts on the hill sent out a signal. Five birds chirped, which meant that at least 500 enemy troops had arrived.
.
Ebilong put the dried meat back into his pocket and ordered his cavalry to prepare for battle.
After a while, several war horses ran over on the opposite road. The knight on the horse looked around and then turned his horse back. Then after a while, more than a hundred carts came over. The ruts were deep and they were probably pretending to be
They bought a lot of good stuff. Sure enough, they stopped by the creek. The vehicles formed a circle. The soldiers on the roof climbed down, threw off their helmets, took off their heavy armor, unhooked the mules and horses from the shafts of the carriages, and brought them to the creek.
While drinking water, some fire-head soldiers were busy washing rice, making fires, and burying pots for cooking.
Just in time, we can eat delicious rice in a while, Ebilong thought. While he was waiting for the opportunity, more enemy soldiers got off their horses and carts, and their spears, bows and arrows were put aside, in small groups.
They gathered together, drank water, chatted and peeed.
When the time came, Ebilong made a gesture, and 1,500 cavalrymen quietly mounted their horses, with bows and arrows in hand. When they rushed out of the woods, they fired arrows while running, and then slashed with long swords when they came forward.
No Ming army could withstand the fierce offensive.
But the careless Ebilong did not realize that this army did not have a flag with the words Ming Army.