There is always endless things to talk about when you are refreshed and refreshed during the night march, but you are also somewhat worried. After all, in this era of war and chaos, it is most common for thieves to rob homes and houses. Even ambushes of officers and soldiers also happen from time to time. What's more?
In an area seriously affected by banditry.
Kuang Ren was in charge of the peripheral warning signal and did not dare to be careless. He was busy riding forward and backward, and had a clear picture of the situation within five miles in front and behind. However, he did not know that nearly ten thousand soldiers and horses were pursuing him dozens of miles behind.
At the same time, tens of thousands of troops in Pei County, north of Xuzhou and on the shores of Weishan Lake, gathered here to camp for repairs. It was the main force led by Li Yan who arrived here.
Although Li Yan is the commander-in-chief, this is a joint force, including the Beijing camp, the emperor's personal troops, Huang Degong's department, the Ma Ke department, the Shenji camp's firepower and horses, and Wu Sangui's department, which is more responsible
The generals in Gongziying who supervise military discipline are all well-known, including Wu Sangui, Huang Degong, Ma Ke, Wu Weiying, not to mention, there are also a few gilded nobles, including Xinlehou Liu Wenbing, Hui'an Bo Zhang Qingzhen and Xuancheng Bowei.
In spring, in addition to Ji Jike and Hao Yaoqi, who were responsible for depositing the money, Liu Tiren, who was captured and surrendered, was also in the army.
It can be said that half of the most powerful generals in the Ming Dynasty are gathered here. Any one of these people will be awesome and arrogant. Putting them together will naturally lead to various cliques and conflicts.
There can be friction, there can also be friction on the top of a hill, and it would be strange if there is not. Who doesn’t have Xiao Jiujiu in their heart, and who doesn’t have a small group.
This kind of thing is very much like the imperial court, but it is also the most troublesome thing for the emperor.
Chang Yu also had a headache, so he handed it over to Li Yan. No one was better at this than him.
The team was mainly infantry, accompanied by a large number of grain, grass, artillery and other baggage. Coupled with the hot weather, the march in one day was actually only more than fifty miles. Under Li Yan's urging, it sometimes marched at night and could not exceed a hundred at most. Even so, the number of troops and horses was reduced.
I was exhausted and started to complain a little bit.
"The cavalry can still hold on, but the infantry can't bear it anymore. Although the south is in a hurry, how can we expect to suppress the thieves after such a passerby has arrived? It's better to say that he will be killed." By the canal, Wu Sangui looked solemn. His strength
Strong and powerful, the only one here who can equal him is Huang Degong, and even Li Yan is slightly less qualified.
"General Wu, what's the best plan?" Li Yan's injuries were almost healed, and he was half-lying on a couch shaking a cattail leaf fan. Wu Sangui looked at the river: "The limit of marching fifty miles a day in the hot summer is already high. If you are really anxious, you have no choice but to do it."
The cavalry goes first, and the infantry comes behind."
"I agree." Tu Yuan and Jia Waixiong immediately agreed. They were waiting in Jinan to hand over their pay, and then marched with Li Yan's troops. However, they were groaning like pigs moving around their nests for dozens of miles a day, and they were very tired.
"In fact, the young governor has not ordered the cavalry to branch out, but it is okay. What do you think?" Li Yan looked around and asked.
Huang Degong didn't even raise his head: "It's a hot day... I'll follow you. As long as the little governor doesn't give the order to go ahead, there's no need to worry."
The military situation in the south is urgent, and the cavalry taking the first step can solve the urgent problem. Ma Ke was determined to catch up with Chang Yu, thought for a moment and said calmly.
Wu Weiying said: "I am a gun and a cannon, so I can't run fast even if I want to".
However, the rest of the people stated that they would obey Li Yan's decision.
At this point, Wu Sangui was convinced that although Li Yan had little qualifications, he was favored by the emperor and trusted by the young eunuch, so his appeal was indeed extraordinary.
"In that case, how about you, General Wu, General Ma and the Dongchang Guards go ahead?" Li Yan finally made the decision, Wu Sangui and others agreed and even left camp overnight.
"Why are you so anxious? Anyway, I don't believe they are busy going to the south to provide support." Liu Tiren and Li Yan had a good relationship in the bandit army, and now they are getting closer and closer by hugging each other for warmth.
"Look at who here doesn't have a small calculation in mind." Li Yan smiled bitterly, and suddenly said: "That is, that Huang Chuangzi has always followed the little governor's lead, and the rest... hehe."
"That's not necessarily true." Liu Tiren was slightly surprised: "The personal guards of Jingying and Teng Xiangwei all became famous through the battle of the little governor, so they should not..."
Li Yan sighed and curled his lips and smiled: "It's so comfortable to live in the capital with good food and drink. Who would be willing to be suddenly dragged to fight on the battlefield? Moreover, even if some people want to go to war, they are mostly just to gain merit. What they really want
It is only a small number of people who serve the Ming Dynasty and fight for the glory of the army."
Liu Tiren screamed, then smiled mysteriously: "Perhaps this is also the reason why the young governor asked you to command all the ministries. After traveling thousands of miles, the morale of the soldiers in the field has almost been washed away."
Li Yan laughed loudly: "You even know the new word "brainwashing" invented by the little governor?" He said seriously: "This is not brainwashing, it is to eliminate the old and retain the good, and to innovate. It requires all troops to establish correct values.
Establish a sense of team honor and national identity..."
Liu Tiren had some suggestions, and Li Yan learned a lot of new words from Chang Yu, which made him confused: "What is the view, what is the feeling?"
"To put it simply, it means that all officers and soldiers must have a sense of responsibility and awareness: "When the country is in trouble, every man has a responsibility"!
"Uh... everyone should have it. I'm afraid this one is too difficult..." Liu Tiren shook his head, but Li Yan smiled: "Sometimes the things you think are difficult are actually very simple, and you may not be able to listen when you say them.
Go in, but put you in that situation and you will quickly have a sense of identity.”
"What situation?" Liu Tiren looked confused.
"Battlefield!" Li Yan said solemnly.
"Nowadays, there are many soldiers and troops with this kind of consciousness. Compared with our troops, Huang Degong, Zhou Yuji, Tang Tong, as well as some of the Beijing camp and guardsmen who participated in the war, they are all proud of participating in the war, and they all kill to defend the country.
The enemy is proud of himself. In fact, it is not necessary for everyone to have this awareness. As long as most people have it, our Ming Dynasty will become very different."
"If that's the case, why did Wu Sangui and the others be let go just now?" Liu Tiren asked again.
Li Yan smiled bitterly: "Wu Sangui is too high-minded, so the young governor must cleanse him personally."
"Is it true that the Tao is as high as the devil?" Liu Tiren laughed.
"What are you two talking about? You are laughing so happily." Hao Yaoqi, who was as big as an iron tower, came from a distance. Liu Tiren chuckled: "We are talking about you."
"What are you talking about?" Hao Yaoqi walked over and sat down as he spoke. He avoided Li Yan's cattail fan and slapped him hard a few times. The three of them are old acquaintances and are very close now. They can be considered a small group. After all,
It was the rebels who surrendered, but they were always looked down upon by those with upstanding roots.
"Wine jar, I heard that the young governor promised you that you can drink as much wine as you want when he surrendered to you, and it was also the only exception to the military prohibition on alcohol. Why haven't you been seen drinking in the past few days? I heard that the wine in Peixian County is famous.
That's great, why don't you try some?" Liu Tiren asked half-jokingly and half-seriously.
Hao Yaoqi let out a long sigh: "The alcohol bug in my stomach is scratching my heart, but I have some serious things to do these days, and I'm afraid that drinking will cause trouble. I can't make a mistake at this time."
"Are you talking about the payment?" Liu Tiren asked: "Not to mention Ji Jike's calmness, what can go wrong with this silver car among tens of thousands of troops? Such caution is not what I have known before.
Wine jar."
Hao Yaoqi curled his lips and shook his head: "It's not about money, it's about my life, Hao Yongzhong."
"What, you're marrying your wife?" Liu Tiren and Li Yan were both shocked. Hao Yaoqi originally had a partner, but he later killed him.
"Why should I marry a wife before my military exploits have been accomplished?" Hao Yaoqi rolled his eyes: "Don't you two know that I will now raise a team of a thousand people to directly obey the orders of the young governor?"
Oh, it turns out that this is what happened. Liu Tiren was actually very envious of him. Although he was not as brave as Hao Yaoqi in the bandit army, his status was much higher than him, and he was awarded the title of Guangshan Bo.
But things turned around. He was injured in Taiyuan and captured and then escorted to Beijing. He missed the battle to defend the capital. Now he is just a small military general with a false title. In terms of military rank, he is far inferior to Hao Yaoqi. What's more, this guy is now valued by the young eunuch.
"How many people have been recruited?" Li Yan asked with a smile. Hao Yaoqi was not idle along the way, recruiting people everywhere.
Hao Yaoqi sighed and shook his head: "There are not many people who can catch my eye. Those who like them either have owners and won't let them go, or they offer high prices... There are only more than 300 people now, but Ji Jike picked them quickly.
Eight hundred years old, this guy is really not picky about food."
Li Yan laughed: "General Ji is good at training troops. He mainly focuses on team cooperation and does not pay much attention to individual combat capabilities. But you... are just the opposite. You place too much emphasis on personal courage..."
Before he could finish his words, Hao Yaoqi interrupted him: "One brave man is worth ten, and ten brave men are worth a hundred. The key to charging into battle is invincibility and bravery. Didn't the little governor support me just because of my bravery... What are you looking at, little one?
The four battalions under the governor are another weakling."
Uh...you're right.
Li Yan and Liu Tiren looked at each other and smiled.