"Xiao Shen will have his destiny, how dare I disobey..." Su Hao said with a smile.
The underground coal mine was not Su Hao's personal property. If it could be mined and help the border troops, why wouldn't he do it? Chen Dao once introduced Xiao Ruxun to Su Hao in detail, saying that he was loyal, brave and capable.
He is a rare talent. Su Hao was just a little annoyed at Xiao Ruxun's indifference to him before. Now that Xiao Ruxun's attitude has completely changed, Su Hao will naturally not refuse to agree to his request.
"The title General Su is a bit unfamiliar. You and I have hit it off as old friends, so why not call us brothers?" Xiao Ruxun said enthusiastically.
"It's my wish, but I don't dare to ask you to listen." Su Hao said an ancient poem, stood up and saluted Xiao Ruxun: "Brother Xiao is here, please accept the courtesy of my younger brother."
"Brothers you and I don't have to be like this." Xiao Ruxun came from behind the publican, took Su Hao's hand, and laughed.
Su Hao's various performances before had already made Xiao Ruxun have a good impression of Su Hao. Hearing Hu Zixin say that the quality of the sergeants in Kanyu Camp was better than that of the border troops, Xiao Ruxun had a high opinion of Su Hao's military management ability.
A few minutes later, when Su Hao said that he could find a large coal mine outside Pinglu City, Xiao Ruxun decided to make friends with Su Hao. This should be regarded as a hero's sympathy, and it was easy for everyone to treat each other with sincerity.
At noon, Xiao Ruxun ordered a banquet to be held at the General's Mansion to entertain Su Hao. Three women, Yang Shulan, Cheng Yi, and Ginger, were also invited to the table to accompany them. The people at the table were like a family, even in harmony. Ming Dynasty
The society in China is relatively open, and the protection between men and women is not strict. In addition, since Su Hao recognizes Xiao Ruxun as his brother, Yang Shulan is naturally the sister-in-law. From among the people, the relationship between uncle and sister-in-law can be relatively casual.
While Xiao Ruxun and Su Hao were chatting secretly, Cheng Yi and Song Ling also had a very interesting chat with Yang Shulan in the back house. Song Ling's grandfather was the imperial physician of Nanjing Imperial Hospital. Speaking of details, Song Ling actually met with his grandfather.
Yang Shulan's father, Yang Zhao, this coincidence made them feel quite destined, and they also worshiped each other as god sisters. Of course, Yang Shulan was the eldest sister, Cheng Yi was the second sister, and the singer was the third sister.
Seeing that Cheng Yi was over 20 years old but still dressed as a girl, Yang Shulan couldn't help but ask about her marriage. Cheng Yi blushed and refused to say more, but the naturally cute singer said frankly that Cheng Yi had some thoughts about Su Hao.
.Yang Shulan nodded immediately and threatened to mention it to Su Hao at the right time, and he must not miss Cheng Yi's life.
After eating, Xiao Ruxun was eager to go find the coal mine with Su Hao. Su Hao nodded and agreed. The two of them each took a number of soldiers and rode out of Pinglu City and headed towards the mountains to the west.
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Xiao Ruxun had been a general in Pinglu City for several years and was quite familiar with the surrounding terrain, but he didn't know where the coal was produced. Su Hao knew the location of the coal mine in his memory, but when faced with the current reality, he still couldn't find it for a while.
It was difficult to match up. Fortunately, the early surveying and mapping of the survey camp had achieved some results. The contour map of the area to the west of Pinglu City had been drawn. Su Hao took the map and rode forward on the basis of forgetfulness.
"Brother Su, is this in your hand the map you dedicated to the Ministry of War?"
Xiao Ruxun saw Su Hao taking out a pair of white silk and looking at it from time to time. He suddenly remembered those anecdotes about Su Hao and couldn't help but ask.
"Exactly." Su Hao replied, and at the same time handed the white silk map in his hand to Xiao Ruxun's hand.
Xiao Ruxun took the map and couldn't tell the front from the back for a while. He finally determined the front and back of the map from the directions of the tiny characters on the ground, but looking at these winding curves, he was still a little confused.
"What kind of map is this? What are these lines on it?" Xiao Ruxun asked.
Su Hao and Xiao Ruxun walked side by side, stretching out their fingers to explain the meaning of contour lines to Xiao Ruxun based on the landforms in front of them. Xiao Ruxun looked at the map, then raised his eyes to look at the mountains and valleys next to him.
Then his eyes lit up and he exclaimed: "There is such a simple way to mark out all these mountain ridges. Brother Su is really a genius. Brother Fool has been too rude before. Please forgive me, Brother Xian."
Soldiers are unparalleled in their sensitivity to maps. Once they understand the meaning of such a map, they will immediately realize its significant military value. Seeing that the team led by Su Hao was able to map out an area in such a short period of time
The detailed map gave the generals who commanded the battle almost the ability to spy on the terrain. How could Xiao Ruxun not feel shocked? He had always felt that he was both civil and military and did not take the heroes of the world seriously. But at this moment, he felt that Su
Hao was so impressed that he fell to the ground.
"Brother Xiao is serious. How can my little skill be compared with Brother Xiao's literary, Taoist and martial arts skills?" Su Hao said modestly.
Xiao Ruxun asked: "Brother Su, how big a map do you plan to draw when you come to Ningxia Wei this time?"
Su Hao said: "According to the requirements of the Ministry of War, we must draw a complete map of the Ningxia Defense Area."
"Should you draw pictures other than the side walls?" Xiao Ruxun asked again.
"I'm afraid I won't draw anymore." Su Hao replied.
In the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was not called the Great Wall, but the border wall. For the Ming Dynasty, the border wall was equivalent to the national border. Beyond the border wall was the territory of the Mongolian tribes. This time Chen Dao led Su Hao
The order came to ask the survey camp to draw a map within the border wall, but it did not say that it involved the outside of the border wall.
According to Su Hao's intention, he actually hopes to be able to draw the map beyond the border wall. As a modern person, Su Hao's concept of territory is far from being limited to the front line of the Great Wall. Even from the perspective of the reality of the Ming Dynasty
It is said that just drawing a map within the border wall is not enough to meet the needs of border operations, because when the actual war comes, the locations where the two sides fight are not limited to within the border wall, and the battle may also be fought outside the border wall.
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However, Chen Dao told Su Hao that it was too difficult to draw a map outside the border wall. Within the border wall was the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty, and there was no enemy interference. As soon as you left the border wall, you might encounter Tatars and surveyors at any time.
It was difficult to guarantee safety, so how could we complete the surveying and mapping mission? Su Hao felt that his battalion had no chance of winning against the Tatars, so he gave up the idea of going out to the border wall for surveying and mapping.
Hearing Su Hao's answer, Xiao Ruxun was a little disappointed. He said: "The map within the border wall is of little benefit to us. This is our own territory. Even if the general is not familiar with it, find one
It was not difficult to know the guide on the road. On the contrary, outside the side wall, we were in darkness. The places we had been to were better, but in the places we had not been, we would not know where there was an ambush. If there was such a map, then we would be able to
I am no longer afraid of places far away."
"Why, does Brother Xiao often go out to fight on the side walls?" Su Hao asked a little strangely.
Xiao Ruxun shook his head and said: "I just do it occasionally. The main reason is that I am not familiar with the geography. Once we arrive at the Tatar territory, they are the masters and we are the guests. If the terrain is unfamiliar, we will suffer too much in a war. It's
I dare not go out easily."
"So, if there is a detailed map, does Brother Xiao dare to go out to fight outside the border wall?" Su Hao asked again. He did not expect to go outside the border wall for surveying and mapping immediately, but just wanted to know how the Ming army generals felt about going out to fight.
Just an idea.
Xiao Ruxun said: "I will accompany Su Xiandi to the border wall to have a look someday, and you will understand. We, the Ming Dynasty, guarded the border wall. It seemed safe, but in fact it was passive. The border wall stretched for thousands of miles, and no one knew where the Mongols came from.
Which place to attack? The Art of War says, be prepared for the front and the rear will be few, be prepared for the rear and the front will be few, be prepared for the left and be right for the few, be prepared for the right and be prepared for the left and be few. Be prepared for everything, but not be prepared for everything. How can you guard a section of wall in a war?
The principle of waiting for others to attack."
"Yes, offense is the best defense." Su Hao said casually.
"Offence is the best defense...that's so well said!" Xiao Ruxun praised, "Su Xiandi has always hit the nail on the head."
Su Hao was greatly embarrassed: "This is what the sages of Franji said, and it is not my original creation."
Xiao Ruxun did not investigate who came up with this sentence, because he had also thought about this point of view, but he had never made such a generalization. He said to Su Hao with great interest: "Brother Su Xian, based on my thoughts, I understand
Instead of guarding this wall, we should send elites to the grasslands to actively seek out the enemy and fight. Even if we cannot completely annihilate the Mongolian army, we can at least deny them a chance to recuperate. In this way, they will not be able to gather a large army to come.
To invade the border, we can dismantle a large number of border troops, which will be of great benefit to the country and the people."
"Why don't you propose this idea to the court?" Su Hao asked.
Xiao Ruxun said: "I am a humble person, so it is not my turn to mention such a clause. Besides, it is not easy to organize elites to fight on the grasslands. The elites need training and capable generals. The Mongols are very skilled at once.
That's right. Ten thousand people versus ten thousand people, our Ming army has no chance of winning. And if we want to mobilize a larger army, it will cost a lot, and the army moves very slowly and cannot keep up with the Mongols. So Brother Yu, this
Ideas are just words on paper."
"I think Brother Xiao's idea is good. It just depends on how to improve it." Su Hao said.
He didn't have a deep understanding of the Ming Dynasty's military, but he just intuitively believed that Xiao Ruxun's strategy was right. Instead of being on the defensive and being beaten passively, it was better to take the initiative to meet the enemy, which would consume the effective strength of the Mongolian army and make it unable to organize a large-scale
The invasion. But when it comes to how to implement this strategy, there are many details that need to be worked out. He decided that after returning, he would ask Xu Guangzu, Li Zhi and others for advice to see how this veteran with practical experience and a
Can the scholar come up with any good ideas?
"This matter can be discussed later." Xiao Ruxun said, "Brother Su Xian, isn't this where the coal deposits you mentioned are located along the way?"
Su Hao raised his whip and pointed forward, asking: "Everyone, does anyone know the name of the valley in front of us?"
Some of Xiao Ruxun's soldiers were familiar with the local situation. When they heard Su Hao's question, they immediately replied: "General Su, that valley does not have an official name, but the local natives call it Rujigou."