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Chapter 638 Do You Want Me to Take My Family as a Hostage?
The army marched all the way to the east. Since it was marching on the interior line, the cavalry under Zhang Cheng led the way, the infantry of the Shenji Battalion followed, and finally there were artillery vehicles, rocket vehicles, etc. , There are also countless teams of civilians who help transport food and supplies.

For the Battle of Jinzhou, the Ming court had stockpiled half a year's worth of grain in Ningyuan Weicheng and the nearby Juehua Island, but how huge was the consumption of grain and grass for an army of [-] to [-] troops?
In order to ensure the supply of grain and grass for the Liaodong frontline army, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry of the Ming Dynasty not only sent grain and grass to Juehua Island by sea, but also mobilized tens of thousands of chariots and horsemen around the capital, from the capital to Shanhaiguan, day and night, It is full of people and vehicles transporting food and fodder.

Zhang Cheng's subordinates had high hopes, from Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, to Chen Xinjia, Minister of the Ministry of War, and even the current Emperor Chongzhen had full expectations. It seemed that where there was Zhang Cheng, there would be no failure.

The soldiers and horses led by him are the most highly anticipated and powerful army of all parties. Naturally, the supply of food and grass is the top priority. No one dares to be short or short, lest Zhang Cheng will throw a big iron pot on his back in the future.

Even so, Zhang Cheng still left behind for himself to ensure that his family has full control over the military rations that can feed the army for a month. This is Zhang Cheng's firm and unshakable principle.

Therefore, in addition to carrying military rations in his own heavy truck, he also cooperated fully with the North Road business group, and they helped purchase, process and transport a large amount of military rations and supplies into Liaodong.

It's just that Che Ying, under the leadership of battalion general Wei Zhice and Zhen Fu He Biao, has already escorted food, fodder, supplies, weapons and ammunition to Liaodong, and the North Road Merchant Group also transported supplies after Che Ying.

Now, Zhang Cheng entrusted the Ministry of War to recruit a group of civilian men to transport the medicinal materials and grain that he took over from the capital. Most of them pushed wheelbarrows, and there were also some large carts mixed in during the period, following behind the army.

Zhang Guangda led the cavalry battalion in the front, and the Tiger Guard battalion was under the command of Lin Fangping, guarding around Zhang Cheng's central army. This place almost became the headquarters of the expeditionary army. Chen Jiugao, the former battalion commander of the Shenji battalion, was always here. Even the deputy general Fu Yingchong squeezed in from time to time to chat with Zhang Cheng.

Among the army, Zhang Cheng's handsome flag is the most eye-catching. The tall and strong general trolley is now being used as a handsome flag car, which is even more powerful and domineering. Chen Jiugao and Fu Yingchong are really envious.

They either rode slowly, or entered Zhang Cheng's general's car to rest and drink tea. Originally, he was very satisfied with his two-passenger general's car, but now the three of them were drinking tea and chatting inside, but it was a little cramped. .

Zhang Cheng thought to himself: Do I need to build a bigger car, at least ten people can sit in the car to drink tea and chat, and then when I go out in the future, I can take a few beautiful people with me. beautiful woman……

Thinking of this, he shook his head and thought to himself: "The army is outside, but what are you thinking about?"

I turned my head and looked out of the car window, seeing the green grass in my eyes, I couldn't help but think: How could the emperor Chongzhen be so generous, not only bestowing beauties, but even setting up a house in the capital for me.

Suddenly thought: You don't want me to move my family members into the capital and take them as hostages, do you?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a chill running down his back.

"Brother, you will really enjoy yourself!"

The former battalion deputy general Fu Yingchong sat in the car and praised repeatedly, Zhang Cheng was also brought back to reality by this sentence.

The two-seater car he brought on this expedition was similar to the trolley. It was carefully crafted from high-quality wood, and for safety reasons, the car was covered with iron to enhance protection.

The two-seater cars have their own purposes, and what they are riding now is for meeting guests and directors. There is only one car inside, with desks and tea seats, and the three of them only occupy half of the space in the car.

The other one is for resting. It has two compartments. The outer compartment is mainly used by the guards, and the inner compartment has a soft couch, which is specially used for Zhang Cheng to rest.

Zhang Cheng only heard Chen Jiugao also say: "I really didn't expect, brother, you enjoy it more than the gang in the capital. This car is covered with leather cushions, it is indeed much more comfortable!"

"Ha ha!"

Zhang Cheng laughed loudly and said, "Make the two elder brothers laugh at me. Xuan Town is poor and remote, especially the North Road is a place of bitter cold. How can it be compared with the prosperity of the capital? The two elder brothers are well-informed, so they don't need to spend time in It's me!"

For this battle, the Shenji Battalion has more than [-] troops in front of the camp. Originally, there were a lot of vacancies in the camp, but this time the expedition to Liaodong is huge, and our own troops are even stronger. Many veterans were transferred to the front battalion to fill up the vacancies.

The soldiers of their front battalion are mainly composed of musketeers and artillery battalions.

The gunners all use flintlock Lumi guns, while the artillery battalion has [-] rocket vehicles and a large number of light chariots, loaded with large and small Flang machines, etc., and also loaded with godfire flying crows, flying air strikers, etc. The bandit Zhen Tianlei and other killer weapons, and there is also the Shenwei General Cannon that has been transferred in advance.

Their combat strategy is to bombard the enemy with artillery for a while, and then launch rocket vehicles to attack the enemy's rear. At the same time, they use Lumi guns to shoot at the enemy at close range. From the early Ming Dynasty to the present, the tactics of the Shenji Battalion have actually been very mature. .

If all the soldiers in the battalion can fight bravely, the power cannot be underestimated!

Although the front battalion of the Shenji Battalion is theoretically dominated by infantry, except for the artillery vehicles, there is no cavalry system, but the chief soldier Chen Jiugao and the deputy general Fu Yingchong each have a team of family soldiers.

The total number of them is no more than five hundred, and many of them are hereditary hundred households and general banners of the various guards in Beijing. They have lived in peace for a long time, and many of them are going out to fight for the first time. sing.

Even Zhang Cheng nodded his head, and said with a smile, "The Shenji Battalion is really useful, and the morale is commendable. In this way, the battle of Liaodong should be worry-free, and the siege of Jinzhou should be worry-free!"

Chen Jiugao smiled, but he didn't say anything, but Fu Yingchong said very proudly: "Hehe. When Donglu sees the power of the artillery in my camp, I'm afraid that he will be defeated immediately, and it will be difficult to join the battle."

Zhang Cheng just smiled, echoed him casually, and didn't say much. After all, the cruelty on the battlefield should be experienced first-hand. No matter how much others say, it will be useless after all.

…………

Although the scorching sun continued in the afternoon, Zhang Cheng and others decided to march all day and walk out of the boundary of the capital in one breath, so that they could camp and rest in Tongzhou that night.

The day in mid-May is already the middle and late June of the Gregorian calendar in later generations, and it is relatively cool only in the morning and evening. At other times, especially at noon, the sun is quite fierce, especially when it is mixed with flying dust. People are very hot.

Although due to the war, the official road has been in disrepair for a long time, and it is full of potholes, but fortunately it is very wide, but the artillery vehicles have to adjust their direction from time to time.

As the army continued to move forward, the dust flying up on the official road due to the dry weather gradually increased. At this time, the soldiers of the Beijing camp could no longer sing.

(End of this chapter)