There were more than 4,500 kilograms of Hongyi cannons (5,000 pounds) in the artillery camp, which were extremely heavy and heavy, thus slowing down the march of the army. We could not travel much in a day, and in the evening, we needed to set up camp.
Zhong Jinwei followed Sun Chengzong and learned how to march and fight. Sun Chengzong also kept no secrets and devoted himself to training Zhong Jinwei and taught him as his own student.
In the evening, after Sun Chengzong finished handling the military affairs for the day, he talked about military affairs with Zhong Jinwei. He also asked Zhong Jinwei questions from time to time to see how he understood it.
After talking like this unconsciously for half an hour, I was ready to take a rest. After all, I was still on the march, not touring the mountains and rivers, so I had to keep my spirits up.
But just as Zhong Jinwei was about to get up from his seat, he remembered something again and asked, "Master Sun, I have another question."[
Sun Chengzong had already stood up. After hearing what Zhong Jinwei said, he sat down again and asked, "What's the problem? Just say it."
"Master Sun, doesn't your military book say that chariots, infantry, and cavalry should be used in conjunction? In our war this time, it seems that there are no chariot camps mentioned in the book. If there are such chariot camps, what will happen to the marching battle?
?" Zhong Jinwei asked.
He always felt that what Sun Chengzong said in his military book was suitable for the current military situation, and he might want to learn from him in the future. Therefore, he took this opportunity to learn more about the relevant content.
Sun Chengzong nodded and said: "The carriage camp consists of side carriages, quasi-front carriages and baggage carriages, which are not found in the current army."
These armies were cobbled together by generals from various places, and they did not bring chariots and camps when they served the king.
"If we follow the military organization mentioned in my book of war, then marching and camping will be different. By the way, I have a specific army organization and equipment volume here, which I haven't given to you yet."
After Sun Chengzong said this, he stood up and moved into the back tent. After a while, he took a volume and handed it to Zhong Jinwei.
After Zhong Jinwei took it, he unfolded it and saw that it was the detailed configuration description of the three battalions of chariots, infantry and cavalry mentioned in Sun Chengzong's military book.
After a cursory look, Zhong Jinwei was shocked. How much would it cost to build such an army?
Usually I always think that an army can be formed without a lot of things and just a few words. Even when I read time travel novels in later generations, the protagonist in them easily raised the enemy's army.
Now Zhong Jinwei understands that it is easy to say, but it is definitely not that easy to build an enemy army.
At the same time, Zhong Jinwei also discovered another reason for the death of the Ming Dynasty. Although he had thought of it before, it did not have as profound an impact on Zhong Jinwei at this time.
If it were simply the cold weapon era, or had transitioned to the hot weapon era of later generations, the cost of equipping an army would be lower than at the end of the Ming Dynasty.
Because at this time in the late Ming Dynasty, it happened to be the transition period between hot and cold weapons. Firearms could not bear the burden of the battlefield alone, and there was a great chance that cold weapons would continue to be used.
Therefore, any army must be equipped with hot and cold weapons. In this way, not only military expenditures will increase, but the quality of soldiers will also inevitably increase. Because it is impossible for an army to be equipped with a large number of different sergeants who use firearms and cold weapons at the same time.
While a sergeant is required to be able to use firearms, he should also not neglect cold weapon training.
At this time, the Ming army lacked precisely these two things, namely military expenditure and the quality of its soldiers. It is a pity that this transitional period happened when the Ming Dynasty was experiencing internal and external troubles. It did not survive this stage, complete the rebirth and become a real Eastern giant.
dragon.
Otherwise, given the wealth and manpower of the Ming Dynasty, who could defeat the modern firearms force?
The more Zhong Jinwei thought about it, the more regretful he became. It was so regrettable.
Sun Chengzong saw that Zhong Jinwei was looking at the thin pages of paper. He remained motionless for a long time and his expression was still changing. He couldn't help but feel a little strange. He didn't know what pattern the Zhongxing Hou saw on the paper.[
He waited for a while and saw that Zhong Jinwei was still in a daze, so he had to wake up Zhong Jinwei and said: "Hou Zhongxing, do you have any questions?"
Sun Chengzong always had a loud voice, which had the advantage of waking up Zhong Jinwei just once, without having to do it a second time.
Zhong Jinwei was a little embarrassed and was lost in thought. He thought for a moment and asked Sun Chengzong: "Master Sun, when you were in Liaodong, didn't you train this army?"
When Sun Chengzong heard this, he shook his head and sighed: "We don't have enough military pay, so how can we get any extra money for training? The army equipped with firearms consumes the most money. Every musket fired and every cannon fired is money!"
When Sun Chengzong talked about this, he couldn't help but sigh. Zhong Jinwei also agreed. The cost of a firearms army was more than double that of an army equipped with cold weapons.
Suddenly, Zhong Jinwei asked: "Master Sun, these wars are all about money. That means that every time a war is fought, the court spends money and food, and it is a loss-making business?"
Sun Chengzong nodded and said: "Since ancient times, every major war in China has been a war that consumed national power. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty launched a war to expel the Xiongnu, which depleted the savings of past generations and led to the decline of the Western Han Dynasty. This is an obvious example. But
It’s impossible not to fight, otherwise the empire’s northern front will be peaceful.”
Zhong Jinwei smiled and asked another question that surprised Sun Chengzong: "What if we fight wars in the future instead of losing money?"
"What, don't bully me, fighting is not a business, how can you pay attention to not losing money?" Sun Chengzong retorted in disbelief when he heard Zhong Jinwei's strange theory.
"Really not?" Zhong Jinwei confirmed.
Sun Chengzong saw that Zhong Jinwei was serious, so he thought for a moment, and then said: "If war is regarded as a business, it cannot be said that it will all be a loss. For example, in the battle of Gyeonggi, the Jianlu were repulsed and the Gyeonggi
It will be worthwhile for the people and the court to restore peace to the land."
"Master Sun, you may not understand what I mean. Let's put it this way, if every time a war is fought, the court provides the army with money to fight, it will allow the court to get more money after winning the war than the money provided in advance.
Would it be better?" After Zhong Jinwei finished speaking, he looked at Sun Chengzong with great interest to see what he thought of this issue.
After hearing this, Sun Chengzong frowned and asked: "Are you talking about plundering enemy countries to obtain money? This is an act of barbarians!"
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, even Sun Chengzong, a military leader who suffered greatly from the army's money, was opposed to it, let alone a civil official who was above the court.
He immediately changed his explanation and continued: "What Master Sun said, plundering the enemy's country and obtaining money nakedly is what the Jianlu were doing. The more they fought, the richer they became, and the more they fought, the stronger they became. We should not learn from this."
We should defeat them, make them convinced, and then write a surrender order and return to the court, waiting for them to pay some symbolic tribute in the future and call them boss. This is better, right?"
Sun Chengzong obviously heard that what Zhong Jinwei said was ironic, but what he said made sense. Over the years, Jianlu had really followed what Zhong Jinwei said, and became stronger and stronger as he fought.
Rationally speaking, he had to admit that this style of play was obviously beneficial, but emotionally speaking, years of Confucian education made him think this was a barbarian move.
In fact, Sun Chengzong also knew that the armies of the Central Plains Dynasty would often raid and loot in order to gain morale and win the war. However, such people were often not recognized and excluded by the mainstream in the officialdom, or impeached, and in the end there would be no
Good ending.
Seeing Sun Chengzong's silence, Zhong Jinwei knew that it was difficult for him to accept this suggestion at the moment, so he changed his explanation and said: "Master Sun, we two don't say that kind of nonsense, we are just discussing the matter, right?"
Sun Chengzong looked at Zhong Jinwei's sincere eyes and nodded. He already understood Zhong Jinwei's personality after getting along with him for such a long time.
"If I fight a war that benefits everyone, at least the people in power. For example, after winning the war, I get a lot of money and distribute it to civil and military officials at all levels and the emperor, then will they be very happy? If I give more
If they listen to the name of justice, will they support this kind of war?" Zhong Jinwei asked using the interest analysis method.
Sun Chengzong did not shake his head, but just looked at Zhong Jinwei.[
"In this way, fighting a war is like doing business. The money you get after winning is much more than the cost of fighting a war. Fighting this kind of war is a virtuous circle, and the national power will not decline because of the war. You are fighting this kind of war.
Or not to fight?" Zhong Jinwei expressed his conclusion and then looked forward to Sun Chengzong's reaction.