The 20,000 Xiying troops successfully crossed the Yinping Bridge, winding like a dragon for several miles from end to end.
However, they had been bitter enemies for more than ten years, but the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty saw him off at the bridge and gave them five thousand shi of precious food as gifts, as well as many arrows.
"Second brother's friendship will be kept in mind by all the officers and soldiers of Xiying, thank you!" When Zhang Dingguo saw the entire army crossing the Yinping Bridge, the last worry in his heart disappeared, and he was even more grateful to Zhang Dapeng, his sworn brother.
"I wish my sworn brother a good start and success, and kill more Tatars for us!" Zhang Dapeng handed over a bowl of farewell wine.
"Okay," Zhang Dingguo took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp, "See you soon!"
·······
Xiying completely disappeared among the mountains, and the generals had different expressions at the Jade Barrier Pass.
No one expected that this would turn out like this.
"Five thousand stones of grain and one hundred thousand arrows," He Hongqi still couldn't help but feel distressed.
Zhang Dapeng withdrew his gaze and said, "Everyone, don't be reluctant to part with this little possessions. As long as the 20,000 troops can go around Yangping Pass and fight against the Tatars, it will be worth it!"
"The price of food is so expensive now. Even if you have money, you can't buy it. In many places, rice is worth 2 taels of silver. Five thousand stones of grain can be worth 100,000 taels of silver. And these arrows, we are all returning them now.
not enough!"
Zhang Dapeng smiled and said, "The head of a Tatar is worth thirty taels of silver, and a Tatar head of three thousand or more is worth one hundred thousand taels. And the pension for a Tatar's vest to die in battle is two hundred taels of silver, and the same is true for foot armor."
One hundred and fifty, even if the coated slaves wear armor and die in battle, there are still one hundred taels, and the green camp also has seventy taels, so killing a Tatar vest is worth at least two hundred taels inside and outside, and one hundred thousand taels of silver is at most five hundred.
You think Zhang Dingguo, such a fierce general, and the dignified little Yuchi led 20,000 people to bypass the Tatars’ backside, still can’t kill 500?”
Liu Jinzhong also fully supported his second brother's decision at this time, "If we let the Western Camp pass, it can be regarded as diverting trouble to the east. Otherwise, Zhang Dingguo will definitely fight us here to the end. Although we have five thousand troops here,
But the newly reorganized army lacks weapons and training, and if we really fight them hard, both sides will lose in the end, and it will only give the Tatars an advantage."
"If we let them pass now, they can not only fight the Tatars, but they can also block the Tatar invasion from the north for us."
Having said that, it is indeed true.
But He Hongqi and the others still felt that there was no need to send them food, and it would be good to lend them a way.
"The Tartars invaded the Central Plains. As Han people, we should unite with the outside world. No matter how valuable a little grain and grass is, it doesn't matter. What we give is just grain, but others are fighting for their lives."
"Everyone, now that Xiying has passed, we have to reorganize as soon as possible. Those surrendering traitors in the local area must be eliminated as soon as possible. Those bandits and bandits who should be exterminated must also be eliminated as soon as possible. We must clean up the rear area as soon as possible. We also have to go to Chengxian County.
, Liangdang, when we move to this area of Hui County, I told General Zhang that we should fight the Tatars side by side. This is not a joke. If necessary, we have to roll up our sleeves and fight the Tatars."
Guo Junzhen brought up the old story again, saying that there was a lack of ordnance, especially armor, and a lack of food and wages.
Zhang Dapeng is not too worried about this. Although Gongchang Mansion is relatively remote and backward due to the chaos and famine, but because of its remoteness and backwardness, it is actually less affected by the war. Geographically speaking, Gongchang Mansion belongs to Shaanxi.
But in fact, after Gansu was merged into Shaanxi in the early Ming Dynasty, Gansu was never restored.
However, the Shaanxi Xingdu Division was later established to manage the Hexi region, while the Gannan region was still under the jurisdiction of Shaanxi. However, geographically, Gongchang Prefecture was also the Longnan region. In fact, it was a completely different geographical unit from Hanzhong and Guanzhong.
Separated by high mountains and dangers, they are relatively independent.
Longnan does not have the fertile soil of Hanzhong nor the 800-mile Qinchuan River in Guanzhong, but it borders Shaanxi to the east, Sichuan to the south, and straddles the key points of the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan. It is known as "the key to Qinlong and the throat of Bashu". Because of its beautiful landforms and pleasant climate, it is known as "the key to Qinlong and the throat of Bashu".
Known as "Longshang Jiangnan", it is located in the intersection of the Longnan Mountains, Qinba Mountains, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and Loess Plateau where the east-west fold belt develops in the West Qinling Mountains.
The geographical situation is complex, and there are even many indigenous forces such as Qiang and Di. Generally speaking, transportation is inconvenient, the population is relatively small, and the economy is relatively backward. However, during the great turmoil in the late Ming Dynasty, this kind of place was relatively affected than the densely populated areas in the Central Plains.
smaller.
There are many tribes and villages scattered in those ravines and valleys, which are both farming and herding.
There are also better medicinal materials, wood, ores, furs, etc. here. What is needed is salt, tea, cloth, ironware, etc. In other words, it is actually possible to raise a camp here. Even as long as we can get in touch with Sichuan, we can recover.
Trade, transport salt, tea, etc., and exchange cattle, horses, and sheep for grain. Not only will the business not be short of food, but it can even become rich.
The Gongchang Mansion in the Ming Dynasty was actually very large, including not only the Longnan area in later generations, but also Tianshui by the Wei River and Dingxi in the north.
The capital of Gongchang Prefecture is in Longxi City on the bank of the Wei River. Its northernmost point, Dingxi, has reached the gate of Lanzhou. Its central Tianshui is in the lower reaches of the Wei River in Longxi, connected with Fengxiang Prefecture along the Wei River Road.
Its length from north to south is more than 1,200 miles, which can be said to be a very abnormal mansion.
Of course, the current Shaanxi-Gansu camp actually only occupies part of the southeastern part of the Weihe River in Gongchang Prefecture, but even if it only occupies the Longnan area, it still has great potential.
The terrain is difficult and transportation is inconvenient, but it is suitable for defensive development at the moment.
After the Ming army recaptured Chengdu, the Shaanxi-Gansu camp in Jiezhou would be able to contact Chengdu and Songpan, and there would be no need to worry anymore.
After long discussions with the generals, Zhang Dapeng, with the support of Liu Jinzhong and brothers Tang Zhenbang and Wen Xieji, decided to leave a thousand men and horses to guard Yulei Pass, while the rest moved to the Chengxian area and entered the Rhinoceros River, a tributary of the Jialing River.
Be ready to support Zhang Dingguo's troops at any time.
In fact, He Hongqi and other generals who had returned from Xi'an did not want to follow Zhang Dingguo. They suggested that Zhang Dingguo go to Hanzhong at this time to attract the attention of the Qing army. They could then attack the east and west, send troops to the Weihe River line, and take Tianshui.
, Longxi, and not going to Guanzhong.
Instead, they stayed in Longyou to develop, and concentrated on seizing the opportunity to capture Lanzhou, Taozhou, Minzhou, and even Xining, seize all the land in Gansu, and block the Qing army east of Longshan.
If there is a chance, you can also go to Ningxia and then take you back to Wu Dading in Guyuan, Pingliang.
Gu Ke
This advice is actually correct. Avoid the truth and make a fortune by keeping silent.
The last time He Hongqi and others raised righteousness in Longyou, it quickly shocked Guanlong. At this time, the Qing army in Gansu did not actually have any substantial strength. Most of them were the newly surrendered Yuan Shun army, Ming army, etc., and ruled
Not strong.
But Zhang Dapeng didn't think about taking the opportunity to occupy the territory at this time. He insisted that he should first unite with Xiying to fight the Tatars. He could not let the Tatars defeat Xiying. Otherwise, Xiying would be defeated.
, then the Ming army will be next.
In the battle over the route, Admiral Zhang Dapeng ultimately had the final say.
However, due to the persistence of He Hongqi and others, Zhang Dapeng finally made some concessions.
For example, if the 8,000 soldiers in the already organized camp are not moved, no matter whether the 16 soldiers in the camp can fight or not, at least they can't move anymore now.
He Hongqi and others want to go west, so let them go. They can integrate some of the remaining troops and redeploy them.
For example, He Hongqi could establish a Lanzhou Xie Town, Li Mingyi could establish a Xining Xie Town, Guo Junzhen could establish a Liangzhou Xie Town, Liu Wenbing could establish a Jinglu Xie Town, Wang Yuan could establish a Zhangye Xie Town, and Ma Deli could establish a Taozhou Xie Town.
, Jiang Denglai established a Minzhou auxiliary town. Anyway, as the deputy general of the auxiliary town, he could lead the team himself.
As for whether they can conquer the territory by then, that depends on them. Even food, wages, equipment, etc. will all depend on themselves for the time being.
As soon as this proposal came out, He Hongqi and others actually agreed.
Although some of their elite troops were merged into the camp, they could take away a small part of their servants and some of their close generals. During the previous reorganization, they also had some soldiers who had not been integrated into the camp. These soldiers
Some were demobilized, and some were reorganized into local town camps or even township regiments, and are now reclassified under their names.
Give them three thousand troops per person first.
He Hongqi and others were willing to march westward.
Zhang Dapeng also understands the thoughts of these people. First of all, they mainly follow the old camp, and they actually don't get along with Zhang Dapeng, Liu Jinzhong, Wen Xieji, Tang Zhenbang, etc. They even had troubles before because of the reorganization.
Reluctant integration.
Now that they have the opportunity to break away from the imperial camp and set up their own camp, of course they are willing to do so, not to mention that going east will have to fight the Tatars. After just experiencing the defeat of Xi'an, they are a little afraid of the Tatars and have no confidence. Going west is a good opportunity.
Entering in vain is a good time to grab territory and money and food.
Zhang Dapeng had no intention of blocking these people's thoughts. Since he had no intention of staying, he might as well share them out.
The final decision was to establish Qixie Town with He Hongqi as the leader. Seven deputy generals would each lead 3,000 troops to form a Western Expedition camp. He Junhong would serve as the acting camp commander, and Wen Fengji from the imperial camp's grain station would serve as the commander.
Director.
The two armies went their separate ways. Zhang Dapeng's Shaanxi-Gansu camp headed east to Chengxian County, preparing to join the Hanzhong battlefield to fight the Tatars, while He Hongqi and others would return to the Jiezhou area to reorganize the army, and then go northwest to recapture Tianshui.
Longxi, marching into Lanzhou, Liangzhou, Ganzhou and other places.
The Western Expedition camp had more troops, but now those who are better at fighting have all moved into camp. They can only bring their own servants and recruit the old troops again, and they have to raise their own food and salary.
Wen Fengji will report the matter to Wen'an, the governor of the five provinces, and the imperial court, and ask for the imperial court's approval. Of course, no matter whether they agree or not at that time, the family will be separated first and then reported.
Although He Hongqi and others lost some troops in the camp, they still needed the support and approval of the imperial court and the camp, endorsements, and titles, and they also needed the backer of the camp.
Both sides get what they need.
For Zhang Dapeng, when He Hongqi and others left, they lost some capable generals and took away many elite servants. However, after they left, the entire camp would be better managed and commanded, and it would be closer. In comparison,
The following losses are acceptable.
If they make progress in their westward expedition, it will also be beneficial to their camp.
"Now we share all the food and fodder for the camp, as well as the equipment in reserve, in half."
Zhang Dapeng took the initiative to share half of the food, grass and equipment with He Junhong and the others. This was an unexpected surprise for them, so they accepted it after pretending to refuse it for a few times.
Three days later, the separation was completed.
Wen Xieji, the director of the camp, led two battalions of 1,000 troops to guard Yulei Pass, and divided another 2,000 troops to guard Jiezhou and Wenxian counties. The remaining 5,000 soldiers, plus corresponding auxiliary troops, all went to the north to form counties, Huizhou, and Liangdang.
And go.
As they move north, they will sweep away bandits and purge traitors along the way. This can be considered as training in actual combat and collecting food and pay on the spot.
"Take care of yourself!"
"Take care of yourself!"
At the end of Yinping Bridge, several groups of troops went their separate ways to take care of each other. Urala's troops marched in a meandering way. These troops and horses, whether they were the imperial camp, the newly-organized Xizheng camp, or the newly-organized townships that had been abolished
The regiment has a variety of clothes, less than 10% of them are armored, there are few firearms, and there are not many horses and mules.
There are even more young men joining the army.
But it was this group of people who, under the slogan of expelling the Tartars and restoring China, once again embarked on a heroic journey.
In the imperial camp of the Eastern Expedition, Zhang Dapeng's personal camp was the most conspicuous. Many of the thousand pacesetters who dared to die in the left camp and the right camp were disabled, and even many old men with gray beards and hair, but they still
A state of high morale and a generous attitude toward death.