I want to be emperor

Chapter 472 Zhang Xianzhong surrenders

In the first month of the fifth year of Chengshun of the Great Chu Empire, although the main business is the development of the five-year development plan, there are many things, but these things are limited to the civil service system.

As for the military system, it continues to prepare for wars in Shanxi and Shaanxi.

At the imperial strategic meeting on the tenth day of the first lunar month, Luo Zhixue asked the military to capture Shanxi and Shaanxi within this year, with the main goal of eradicating the puppet Longxing regime.

The core strategic goal is to eliminate Zuo Liangyu's and Sun Chuanting's troops totaling more than [-] troops.

As long as the two main forces of Ximing were wiped out, the newly born Longxing regime would naturally become a rootless duckweed.

At the same time, Luo Zhixue asked the military to further consolidate the defense lines of the Jiliao and Xuanda border areas in the north, so as to prevent captivity from the east and interfere with the Great Chu Empire's war in the northwest this year.

But overall it shouldn't be a big problem.

Nowadays, the life of the captives in the Northeast is not easy, and also, the continuous severe cold and drought have a great impact on the agricultural production in the Northeast.

In the past, the Eastern captives were affected by natural disasters, and when they couldn't survive, they would think of detouring through Mongolia to enter the pass and plunder.

But last year, when Dongyao failed to capture Shanhaiguan, he once tried to send troops to detour through Mongolia to enter the pass, but was ambushed by the Chu army and lost thousands of cavalry.

The detour through Mongolia to enter the customs was unsuccessful, and the plunder of entering the customs was naturally out of the question. Therefore, last winter, the life of Dongyao was not easy, and the squeeze on the tribes of Mongolia and North Korea and other vassals was increased. .

With the current strength of the Eastern Captives, it is impossible to tear through the defense line of the Chu army and enter the customs.

Therefore, in the direction of Jiliao, due to the lack of cavalry, supply difficulties, and internal multi-line operations, it will be difficult for the Chu army to launch a large-scale exit operation for a while, but it is still not a problem to rely on the Great Wall defense line to block Dongyao big.

In this way, the Chu army will be able to concentrate enough power to solve the Ximing problem.

In the first month of the fifth year of Chengshun, although the northern land had not yet thawed, and even the Yellow River was still frozen, the Great Chu Empire still sent a large number of troops and supplies to the northwest front.

The two new main divisions and the Fifth Heavy Artillery Regiment of the Fifth Army have now arrived at the front line of Tongguan and can be used to break through Tongguan at any time.

At the same time, the [-]th Mortar Brigade assembled and reorganized, the [-]th Cavalry Brigade and the [-]th Cavalry Brigade transferred from the northern battlefield have also arrived in Luoyang.

In addition, the No.16 Division originally deployed in Tongguan, the Third Division deployed in Huaiqing, the Second Division deployed in Lushi, and the No.17 Division deployed in the direction of Hanzhong.

In terms of troop deployment, the Great Chu Empire Army has already completed the troop deployment on the Tongguan, Lushi, and Hanzhong lines facing Shaanxi, and can launch the Tongguan Battle at any time and enter the hinterland of Shaanxi, that is, the Guanzhong area.

In Shanxi in the north, after the mobilization of troops last winter, the Chu army has also completed the deployment of troops.

In the direction of Datong, the Chu army deployed the [-]th Division, [-]th Cavalry Brigade, [-]th Cavalry Brigade, and [-]nd Mortar Brigade. In addition, the [-]th Division stationed in the rear can also participate in the southward battle when necessary.

In the direction of Taiyuan, the Chu army deployed the [-]th Division, the [-]st Guards Division, the [-]th Division, the [-]th Division, the [-]rd Cavalry Brigade, the [-]th Cavalry Brigade, and the [-]rd Mortar Cannon Brigade.

In order to launch the Western Front Campaign with Shanxi and Shaanxi as the main objectives, the Chu army assembled a total of two new first-class divisions, seven old-style first-class divisions, six cavalry brigades, one heavy artillery regiment, and three mortar artillery brigades.

There are 12 front-line troops assembled. In addition, there will be multiple second-class divisions involved in tasks such as suppressing the rear and maintaining supply lines, so as to liberate the main force to participate in front-line operations.

The strength of this force seems to be about the same as that of the Ming army on the opposite side, but the quality of the Ming army is mixed. There are a large number of young and strong civilians and ordinary guards. These personnel are placed on the side of the Chu army. At the level of the regiment, even the soldiers are not considered...not even included in the calculation of the strength of the troops.

If these people with scumbag combat effectiveness are removed, the combat troops that the Ming army can pull out will only be 6 to [-].

Basically, it is the strength level of the two comparisons.

In addition, the Chu army assembled not only a large number of troops, but also a far higher level of equipment than the Ming army on the opposite side.

Even with the exception of the two new-style first-class divisions, the other seven first-class divisions are all insufficient artillery, but they can still gather more than 400 field guns of two and a half catties, five catties, and nine catties.

There are more than 20 nine-pound and fourteen-pound cannons.

There are more than 24 mortars of various types including 48-jin, 300-jin, and [-]-jin mortars.

The number of artillery alone can be several times that of the Ming army on the opposite side.

Other weapons and equipment are also significantly ahead of the Ming army on the opposite side.

For example, armor, the first-class divisions in the Chu army are all armored, and front-line combat soldiers, such as the spearmen in the old-style first-class divisions, are even more heavily armored.

The armored rate of the Ming army on the opposite side is far lower than that of the Chu army.

In terms of the number of troops, the amount of equipment, and the level, Zuo Liangyu's and Sun Chuanting's troops on the opposite side are far inferior to the Chu army.

However, war is such a thing that it is impossible to tell the winner by simply comparing the data on paper. Even if the Chu army has a huge advantage, it has to be fought to know. Otherwise, the war will be defeated without fighting the opposite side.

But what's interesting is that when the Chu army was making final deployments in Shaanxi and other places, and was preparing to launch a northwest offensive after the weather improved, the Chu army's second division was in Lu's and the flow from Shaanxi. The thieves fought first, and they were still under the command of the famous Zhang Xianzhong.

However, this battle between the Second Division of the Chu Army and Zhang Xianzhong's troops did not even alarm General Huang Dingquan, the commander of the Shaanxi-Gansu Campaign.

Because the scale was small, the duration was not long, and it didn't make the Second Division feel any difficulty. The Second Division defeated Zhang Xianzhong's more than [-] men in only three days.

Seeing that the situation was irretrievable, Zhang Xianzhong simply led the remnants to surrender... At least he could give the brothers a way to survive.

The surrendered Zhang Xianzhong looked at the Chu army on the side, and at the group of dejected subordinates under him, he couldn't help but sighed.

everything is over!
----

In the past few years, Zhang Xianzhong and other thieves who were active in Shanxi, Henan, Shanxi, Chu and other places had a hard time.

Earlier, Hong Chengchou led troops to encircle and suppress them, and drove them back to Shaanxi, which greatly reduced their living space.

After Hong Chengchou was transferred to Jiliao, Sun Chuanting who succeeded him was even more ruthless. Relying on his newly formed New Qin Army, he wiped out all the rogues who were still abusive.

Gao Yingxiang was captured, and Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others hid in hiding. During this period, many thieves were continuously wiped out by Sun Chuanting.

By the time of the first month of the fifth year of Chengshun, there were only Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong left among the originally vigorous rebel armies, and the others were either wiped out by Sun Chuanting or annexed by themselves. Some tried to break into the area controlled by the Chu army, and were killed by the Chu army.

Regardless of whether it was Li Zicheng or Zhang Xianzhong, they could only take their followers to hide in the Qinling Mountains, but it was not easy to live in hiding all the time, and the food problem was extremely scarce.

Some time ago, Zhang Xianzhong's troops were encircled and chased by some of Sun Chuanting's troops. In desperation, he had no choice but to lead his troops all the way east, and finally bumped into the defense line deployed by the Chu army in Lu's.

In other words, in fact, Sun Chuanting's troops chased Zhang Xianzhong's troops all the way, and even drove them eastward. In addition to suppressing thieves to ensure the stability of his own territory, he also wanted Zhang Xianzhong to consume the strength of the Chu army. A wave of destruction or something.

But these rogues couldn't even beat the Ming army under Sun Chuanting, let alone the Chu army who was armed to the teeth.

The second division simply made a surprise attack and defeated the main force of Zhang Xianzhong's troops.

Zhang Xianzhong saw that the situation was irretrievable, and he also knew that the general situation in the world today was different from the past, the rise of the Chu army was inevitable, and there was no way for thieves like them to survive, so when the army was defeated, it was very simple. Surrender.

Anyway, there is no future for continuing to be a thief, so it is better to surrender directly, at least it can give some brothers who have followed him for many years a way out.

The Chu army still gave preferential treatment to the enemy troops who surrendered as before. As long as they lead their troops to surrender, their lives can still be saved.

At the same time, Zhang Xianzhong also received the vacant post of lieutenant colonel.

However, Zhang Xianzhong didn't have much interest in continuing to serve as an officer in the Great Chu Empire. He used to be a fierce man who led tens of thousands of troops and spanned several provinces. How could he be willing to become a small lieutenant colonel in the Chu Army? Moreover, he is also a vain consultant with a military rank...

It's just not reconciled, so what, he has ambitions in vain, but he doesn't have the strength, and the general situation doesn't allow it.

When Zhang Xianzhong was disheartened, unwilling and helpless, many people under his command had new ambitions.

Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son Li Dingguo is one of them. This person was originally called Li Dingguo, but after being adopted by Zhang Xianzhong, he changed his surname to Zhang, so he can also be called Zhang Dingguo.

Although he is not very old, he is already a veteran general who has led the army to fight many times. This time he also surrendered with Zhang Xianzhong. After the surrender, he was also awarded the rank of captain.

Because Li Dingguo's military rank was relatively low after he surrendered, and he was not a leader like Zhang Xianzhong, the Chu army's management of the low-level officers who surrendered was more relaxed, and they would not be placed under house arrest or residential surveillance.

Instead, follow-up arrangements will be made according to their respective wishes. Those who are unwilling to join the army will go home, and they will make other arrangements to other systems.

If you are willing to continue serving in the army, you need to pass the assessment. After passing the assessment, you will be arranged to study in a training school for surrendered generals. The content of this kind of school is not military content, but political content.

After the political study is over and they pass the assessment, they will be arranged to study in the crash course of the military academy.

After the study is over, they will be assigned to some deputy positions, non-chief officer positions, and after a period of observation and assessment, the appointment will gradually be normalized.

Li Dingguo wanted to continue joining the army, so he expressed his wish to continue joining the army on the spot. Because of his sincere attitude, he also passed the assessment and immediately got the ticket to go to Xiangyang for political studies.

However, among several important generals under Zhang Xianzhong's command, he was the only one who was able to enter the Xiangyang Political Science Institute, and several others were not able to enter.

For example, Sun Kewang, who died long ago under the artillery of the Chu army.

Liu Wenxiu, although he also wanted to go to the Political Science Institute to study and continue to serve in the army, but he failed the assessment...

Ai Nengqi said that he wanted to be a rich man, and he didn't want to continue fighting.

So in the end, of the four important generals under Zhang Xianzhong, only Li Dingguo passed the assessment and participated in political studies, and will continue to serve in the army in the future.

Zhang Xianzhong's troops surrendered after being defeated, and the ending seemed to be good. This also stimulated Li Zicheng, who was still hiding in the Qinling Mountains, and some of his generals.

They also thought about whether they should simply defect to the Chu army. They dare not say anything else, but a rich man can still be kept.

Not to mention Li Zicheng and others, even many generals under Sun Chuanting were deliberating whether to surrender after hearing that Zhang Xianzhong had surrendered.

The general trend of the world is like this, no matter if Sun Chuanting is under or Zuo Liangyu's, there are many people who want to vote for Chu.

Not everyone is the same as Sun Chuanting, who stubbornly believes that the Ming court is not yet dead, that it can resist the Chu thieves, and then rejuvenate the Zhu Ming Dynasty.

Not everyone is as ambitious as Zuo Liangyu, who wants to separate the territory and become the boss by himself.

More importantly, with the destruction of Youzhou City and Chongzhen's suicide, in the eyes of many people, the Ming Dynasty has died.

Now, the Great Chu Dynasty is the orthodoxy of China!
(End of this chapter)