Chapter 886 Stop working for the dog court and live with the Datong Society
Chapter 886: Stop working for the Dog Court and live with the Datong Society
Author: Feng Shaoyu
Chapter 886: Stop working for the Dog Court and live with the Datong Society
Shanxi, in Pingyang Fucheng.
Today's Pingyang Mansion seems a bit depressed. It is rare to see young and strong young men and women. There are only a few old people and a few beggars.
Almost all street shops have been closed, and the few remaining ones are just grain and rice shops and pawn shops.
Originally, Pingyang Mansion was located at the junction of Shanxi and Shaanxi. It was considered a wealthy place, with a constant flow of merchants and merchants from the grasslands, and the streets were very prosperous.
However, with the policy changes of the Chongzhen Dynasty, the grassland merchants disappeared, and then with the uprising of the people in San Shaanxi, the merchants from San Shaanxi also completely disappeared.
Even so, it should not affect the lives of local people in Binh Duong.
Nowadays, even the city of Pingyang Prefecture has begun to become depressed, and ordinary people and merchants are leaving continuously, all because of a piece of news: San Shaanxi has been pacified by Datong, and Datong's general Shi Kefa in San Shaanxi will send troops to Pingyang to conquer the imperial officers and troops of Pingyang Prefecture.
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The war is coming. The so-called war is like a comb, whether it is the imperial officers and soldiers, the local guards, or the rogue bandits, which one is easy to deal with, and which one has the so-called military discipline?
The common people are familiar with the character of these so-called soldiers and generals, how can they not flee?
In such a desolate street, the sound of horse hooves came from far to near. Several Ming army generals rode war horses, wearing iron armor, followed by dozens of guards with the same basic level. The few pedestrians walking along the street hurriedly avoided, for fear of being affected.
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When these people arrived at the magistrate's office in Pingyang Prefecture, they immediately stood up and dismounted when they saw the team of geese lined up at the door of the magistrate's office, wearing strong swords and holding swords on their waists.
The leader asked: "Is the governor in the house?"
"General Ma, the governor is waiting for you." The captain of the guard at the door said quickly.
These generals immediately handed over their horses to the guards behind them, and then quickly entered the government office.
Entering the government office, these people found that the guards and servants in the government office seemed a little impatient, and their faces were a little frightened. Seeing the people in the government office like this, they also sighed sadly.
When they arrived at the main hall, the servants served hot tea, and soon after they sat down, Hong Chengchou walked slowly from the backyard to the main hall, and the people quickly stood up: "Governor!"
Hong Chengchou waved his hand: "No need to pay attention to these things. Let's talk about the current situation in the military camp first."
Several people looked at each other, and the general surnamed Ma said: "Governor, the people in the military camp are unstable now. Your Majesty has issued imperial edicts one after another forcing us to fight against the Datong Army. Now our brothers can't get their pay and kill the enemy.
The reward I deserve has not yet been distributed by the court."
He hadn't finished speaking yet, but Hong Chengchou knew what General Ma meant: the reward for killing the enemy promised by the court could not be paid, and the military pay was nowhere to be found. The soldiers had lost confidence in the court and now had no will to fight.
Hong Chengchou sighed and rubbed his eyebrows: "Is this true for all camps?"
The other generals nodded, and then one of them couldn't help but say: "Governor, I haven't seen a single tael of silver promised by the court before, and the food and grass promised by the court have not been delivered. The soldiers fought several bloody battles, and there was not a penny reward.
Forget it, the rations have been reduced again and again. Now the atmosphere in the military camp is no longer right."
Hong Chengchou nodded: "I have already discussed with the wealthy merchants and gentry of Pingyang Mansion and asked them to raise money to feed the army with food and wine. The generals must appease the soldiers' emotions."
"Governor, are those merchants and gentry willing to pay?" A general hesitated, obviously having a clear understanding of those gentry.
Hong Chengchou sneered: "The war is about to begin. We and the imperial officers and soldiers are fighting fiercely here to protect them. If they don't want Datong Society to come and divide their fields and their money, they must pay for the army. What's more, they
Even if we don’t give it to you, can’t we get it ourselves?”
"With 80,000 troops in hand, those gentry are really not afraid of death?"
General Ma reminded: "Governor, the relationship between those gentry in the court."
"It's just worrying about this and that that makes me timid and unable to manage the place well. I am too lazy to pay attention to those messy relationships. Now I only focus on the war in front of me. As long as we win, no one can say anything." Hong Chengchou was very happy.
To put it bluntly, it was obvious that he was also disgusted by the relationships and shabby affairs in the imperial court.
"But." The generals still hesitated.
After all, these gentry are not weak in the court. The gentry and merchants in Shanxi have big trees in the court. Those censors and ministers of various ministries, who have not taken away the filial piety of these gentry and merchants in Shanxi?
If the persecution is too harsh and the court's remarks are mixed, it will be too disadvantageous for them.
Hong Chengchou was not unaware of this. He knew very well that the imperial court was not only no help to him, but also a constraint to the army, making the army afraid of everything and unable to get what he wanted.
Sometimes Hong Chengchou was envious of Shi Kefa. Shi Kefa could use his talents as he pleased without worrying about the constraints behind him. Shi Kefa had an army of hundreds of thousands and had sufficient money and food supplies. Shi Kefa didn't have to worry about the complicated local relationships.
It was not that Hong Chengchou didn't know that the Datong Society's system was superior to that of the imperial court, but for the first time, he realized that the Datong Society's advantages were so great compared to the imperial court.
While the princes of the imperial court were still quarreling and weighing over a major event, the Datong Society had unified their minds and started to work on it.
When it comes to doing one thing, Datong Society can concentrate its efforts on it, but the imperial court suffers from serious internal strife and delays.
Are the princes of the imperial court really fools?
Obviously not, they are just sitting on the side of self-interest, not the court.
They pay more attention to their family's private interests in their family, country, and the world. The princes in the dynasty are all working together for the selfish interests of the family. Can you really govern the Ming Dynasty well if you are with these people?
Hong Chengchou fell into deep thought, but reality would not give him so many opportunities to think.
At this time, a large army was marching from Yan'an Prefecture, Shaanxi Province into Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi Province with high morale.
The army spread for dozens of miles from beginning to end. Sentinels were sent out hundreds of miles away. There were patrols around, and red flags were flying in the air. The soldiers were only wearing shirts and carrying weapons. Cotton armor and artillery were among the carriages at the rear.
superior.
As the army marched, the soldiers sang war songs with relaxed expressions, as if they were marching in victory.
Shi Kefa stood on a bare hill on his horse, his expression as calm as water: "Don't march too fast, let the soldiers ensure their strength. We have entered Pingyang Mansion and may encounter the Ming army at any time. Starting today, the army will march six times a day."
The camp will be set up within ten miles, the camp is set up, and the sentries will be spread out for a hundred and fifty miles, and at least three waves of rangers will be deployed within a hundred miles."
Shi Kefa ordered, and the staff on the side kept recording. As he spoke, Shi Kefa looked at the plain area in front of him. The army was marching out, with momentum like a rainbow, hunting with flags, and spears and blades like a forest.
Shi Kefa mobilized half of the troops and horses from the eight towns in the Sanshaan area. The troops from the four towns went to Shanxi to fight Hong Chengchou without giving him any chance. At the same time, the troops from the two towns approached Henan, opening up the situation in the Central Plains.
Shi Kefa personally left the town in Shanxi, while Qi Yuangong was in charge of the Henan area. For this old subordinate, a brave and strategic young general, Shi Kefa was very willing to reuse him. If Shi Kefa was not in charge of the northwest army, then Shi Kefa
The recognized successor is Qi Yuangong.
Qi Yuangong marched one step ahead of Shi Kefa, and now he had entered Henan and had a fight with Zhang Xianzhong. Zhang Xianzhong was defeated and fled in embarrassment. Datong Society raised its flag again in Henan.
Now, it was Shi Kefa's turn to take action.
"It's almost the end of the year. Speaking of which, our Datong Club has been officially established for five years."
"This year is the fifth year since the establishment of our Datong Society, and it is also the year that our Datong Society has returned to the Central Plains."
"At the end of this year, I always give the chief assistant a New Year gift. I, Shi Kefa, am not just interested in Shanxi, hahahahaha."
Shi Kefa smiled and waved his riding crop: "Let's go ahead and see if Hong Chengchou is ready. I can't wait to meet him!"
The Datong army entered Shanxi and directed its troops towards Pingyang Fucheng. Prefectures and counties along the way opened their cities to surrender. The people happily welcomed the Datong army into the city and even rewarded the army with precious food and wine.
After hearing this, Hong Chengchou looked at the empty city. The passers-by looked as fearful as tigers at the officers and soldiers, and suddenly sighed: "The weather is right, people and tools are in place, this battle will be difficult."
Not only was it difficult, Hong Chengchou didn't want to fight this battle at all. According to his idea, the army should retreat to Taiyuan, rely on the Taiyuan Fort and Shi Kefa to see-saw, rely on the terrain and the Fort in central Shanxi, continue to consume Shi Kefa's supplies and morale, and finally
It's time to counterattack.
Fighting against Datong elites and fighting against rogue bandits must not be confused.
However, the imperial edicts from the imperial court came one after another, forcing Hong Chengchou to hurry up and start the war. Some news sent from the imperial court also told Hong Chengchou that there were too many voices in the imperial court and that Emperor Chongzhen was even more short of money and food. The reason why he forced
The reason for starting the war with Hong Chengchou was not only to restore the imperial court's prestige, but also because it could no longer hold on and the imperial court urgently needed to open up the situation.
But now the morale of the army is unstable, and the soldiers are thinking about their families. No one wants to risk their lives to gain a hopeless future. There are even rumors in the army that they want to join Datong, which gives Hong Chengchou a headache.
While Shi Kefa was marching forward with his army, Hong Chengchou was troubled by the restlessness in the military camp.
Fortunately, just a few days later, Hong Chengchou no longer needed to worry about the commotion in the military camp, because Shi Kefa's army had already arrived outside Pingyang City, and Datong's sentries were even ten miles away from Pingyang City.
This was an extremely dangerous distance that Hong Chengchou had to pay attention to.
On that day, Hong Chengchou also wanted to send people to investigate the strength of the Datong Army. As a result, none of the Sentinel Riders who escaped came back. Apparently, they were completely defeated by the Datong Army in the duel between Sentinel Riders and Sentinel Riders in the wild.
Hundreds of Sentinels were scattered out, and none of them came back. This meant that they were all surrounded and killed or fell into a trap. It also showed that the Datong Army was highly elite. Hundreds of Sentinels were scattered in the wild. It stands to reason that a few of them would always come back.
But no one came back. It seemed pitch black outside the city of Pingyang, and no movement could be detected.
The entire city of Pingyang was like an isolated island, surrounded by a pitch-black sea whose depth could not be detected. Hong Chengchou felt that he had been surrounded, as if there was a huge vacuum zone around him, and nothing could get out.
Being unilaterally cut off from information channels, Hong Chengchou was restless and couldn't sleep well all night.
The next day, Shi Kefa led his army and set up a posture outside Pingyang City. Soldiers and horses from the four towns were arranged in battalion units. The army was in order, with flags covering the sky. Cannons were already in place, waiting for Hong Chengchou's movements.
When Hong Chengchou saw that Shi Kefa only brought 50,000 to 60,000 people, he suddenly felt that it was still possible. After all, he still had an army of 80,000 people.
Lead the army out of the city to confront Shi Kefa. This is your chance to restore morale and turn defeat into victory!
Hong Chengchou decisively ordered the army to march out. The two armies faced each other several miles apart. Shi Kefa looked at Hong Chengchou opposite and stepped forward: "Governor Hong, seeing is better than hearing a hundred times. It is not easy to meet each other today."
Hong Chengchou seemed very calm: "Governor Shi, I have heard of your name a long time ago. The famous trilateral governor of the previous dynasty was in charge of Gansu and Shaanxi to intimidate the northwest. I didn't expect that you would also betray the imperial court."
Shi Kefa smiled and said: "Betrayed the imperial court? Which imperial court? Now this imperial court that does not regard the common people as human beings?"
"Datong Society has always stood on the side of the people of the world. This is a truth recognized by all Datong Party members. The principles of the world are the principles of the people of the world, not the principles of the Zhu family."
"The reason why I want to meet with you today is because I feel that you, Governor Hong, are a talented person. There are very few heroes in this world who are as capable of running the army and the people as you are. If you are willing to come to Datong Society, Shi will visit you."
If you welcome me on the couch, the chief minister will definitely entrust you with important responsibilities."
Hong Chengchou couldn't help but laugh: "Oh? You also want to win over me?"
Shi Kefa was very calm: "Our Datong Society is willing to accept all the people with lofty ideals and talents in the world. Everything we Datong Party members do is for the world. Since it is for justice and the world, why can't we abandon each other?"
What about mutual cooperation?”
Hong Chengchou was silent for a moment and said slowly: "It's useless to talk more. Let's start a war. No matter what happens next, this battle is inevitable."
Shi Kefa smiled and said: "If you don't give up until you reach the Yellow River, that's fine. I still say this. I welcome Governor Hong to abandon the dark side and join the bright side. Datong Society will definitely welcome you."
After both sides talked, Shi Kefa, who returned to the military formation, asked: "How is the preparation of the heavy artillery battalion?"
The staff officer said: "With both battalions of heavy artillery in place, the first round of shelling can cover our army."
Shi Kefa smiled and said: "It's not in vain that Hong Chengchou and I have said so many words. Send us the order to start the war."
After saying that, a faint horn sounded, the horn sound was desolate and distant, with a hint of iron-blooded killing. Upon hearing the horn sound, a battalion of soldiers came out and marched in a standard three-stage shooting formation.
At the same time, war drums were beaten one after another. Along with the sound of war drums, military orders were passed on continuously, and the artillery fire began.
Hong Chengchou looked at the formation of the Datong Army opposite and began to command his troops.
Amidst the constant sound of horns and drums, the military formations of both sides began to approach, and at the same time, artillery began to fire at each other.
Large general cannons fired continuously, hitting the enemy's formation with explosive shells. Every time a shell fell, a large crater was blasted out on the ground as the fireworks rose. The charred crater was still covered with traces of smoke.
The heat, obviously the temperature is extremely high.
The military formations of both sides advanced against the artillery fire for less than a quarter of an hour when the heavy artillery battalion of the Datong Army began to roar.
The roar of nearly two hundred heavy artillery pieces from the two battalions was like the explosion of thunder, and like the collapse of mountains. For a moment, thick smoke billowed, and the ground shook. The caliber of the heavy artillery was larger, and it could fire explosive shells loaded with more gunpowder.
Very far.
The two heavy artillery battalions covered Hong Chengchou's central army with a single fire. The artillery fire passed over the heads of the Datong military formation and hit the opposite military formation, clearing the way for the soldiers.
The sergeants followed the artillery fire and advanced little by little. They were obviously very skilled in the coordination of infantry and artillery.
As for Hong Chengchou's Chinese army, which was bombarded by heavy artillery, the atmosphere was obviously panicked.
The sergeants who were originally unwilling to fight this battle are now even more demoralized, cannot get paid, and cannot get rewards for winning the battle. So why do everyone risk their lives to fight here?
Just so that the big shots in the back can drink wine and meat, recite poems and have fun, and be elegant and unrestrained?
Just because your family doesn’t have enough food and clothing to keep you warm, and you work all day long but can’t get enough to eat?
Just to fight desperately and die, your family will be ruined, your family will not get even a penny from an acre of land, and you will even be bullied by the government gangsters?
Is such a court really worthy of their service?
Hong Chengchou's military morale was obviously shaken beyond his control amid his constant disappointment with the imperial court.
At this time, the Datong Army's military formation had also advanced to a suitable position. Under the command of the captains, battalions of soldiers stopped and began to prepare, and then the crackle of gunfire continued.
The smoke of gunfire rose, and the soldiers of more than a dozen battalions took turns firing bullets. Hong Chengchou's front army was obviously unable to sustain such a steady stream of musket fire. The Ming army's sergeants began to suffer casualties continuously, and then the army's morale collapsed and began to retreat.
How could Hong Chengchou tolerate the collapse of his army after this contact?
Strictly ordered the war team to step forward to stop the defeated army, but found that the defeated army was not only in the front army, but also the left wing, right wing, and even the central army that had not yet started to make contact. Something was wrong.
"We won't fight, we don't want to fight!"
"The imperial court has taken back the land that originally belonged to us. Why should we still work for the imperial court?"
"The emperor looks down on us at all. He just wants us to die here, so he won't give us a penny!"
"After fighting for so long, fighting to the death, and not getting even one tael of silver reward or a bag of food, now you still have to fight to the death?"
"Let's stop fighting. The Datong Society is not a bandit or a barbarian. The Datong Society is our own brothers. We cannot kill each other!"
"That is, when the Datong Society comes, we can also divide the fields and grain. What can we get from working for the court? Who do those big shots think of us as human beings!"
"Brothers, don't forget the good days of the previous dynasty, don't forget what we were like originally. At that time, we were heroes respected by everyone in the court. We had military merit fields, medals, and sufficient monthly salary.
What a glorious day it was, but now we are here working as cows and horses, what have we changed?"
Various comments continued to appear in the central army, the left and right wings, and even the rear army. The soldiers of the Ming army were obviously moved. Thinking about everyone's situation in the previous dynasty, and then looking at the desolate appearance now, who is willing to do it? Who is willing to do it again?
Do you want to?
Hong Chengchou looked at the confused army with shock and anger. Before he could send people to arrest those who spread rumors, he heard someone in front shouting: "Lost! Defeated! The cavalry of the Datong Army came out and ran away.
ah!"
In astonishment, Hong Chengchou saw that his 80,000-strong army was really disintegrated into a ball of sand in an instant, and his whole body was stunned for a moment:
