The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 150 Gao Yingxiang

Chongzhen ninth year, March [-]th.

Shaanxi Province, Hanzhong Prefecture, and Baihe County.

Baihe County is named after the Baishi River in its territory.

Baihe County is located at the junction of Xunyang Mansion and Hanzhong Mansion.

The terrain is high in the south and low in the north, with mountains and valleys interspersed in the whole county, and there is no one hundred acres of flat land.

Surrounded by Chu on three sides in the east, north and south, it is the main throat for the Central Plains to enter Shaanxi and Sichuan.

In ancient times, it was known as "the head of Qin and the tail of Chu". All goods that want to enter Hanzhong Mansion from the east have to pass through Baihe County.

It is precisely because of this commercial road that Baihe County has been prosperous for thousands of years.

However, from now on, Baihe County may not continue to prosper...

Billowing black smoke rose, and the fire was spreading among the streets and cities in Baihe County.

Just three days ago, Baihe County had fallen.

In the north of Baihe County, a brigade of soldiers in gray clothes and gray scarves was heading west along the official road.

Their eyes were calm, and they walked forward slowly with spears on their shoulders.

On the official road, apart from the dull and chaotic footsteps, there were no other superfluous sounds.

Their goal is the west of Baihe County - Hanzhong Prefecture, Shaanxi Province!
These well-organized and orderly troops, dressed in gray clothes and gray scarves, were not Ming soldiers.

They are Chuangjun, Chuangjun under Gao Yingxiang's command.

Unlike other rogues who were dressed in disorderly clothes, Gao Yingxiang had already begun to ask for neatly dressed military uniforms.

The main color of General Gao Yingxiang is gray.

Gray is basically dyed with plant ash.

It takes a lot of money to dye other colors, but it is easy to dye gray.

You only need to pour plant ash on the white cloth, keep rolling it and then rinse it, and it will turn gray after drying.

Plant ash is not uncommon. The army produces a large amount of plant ash for cooking and burning firewood every day.

A neat military uniform can improve the appearance of the army, and the appearance of the army seems to be only superficial engineering.

But in fact, the external appearance of an army can have a great impact on morale.

Gao Yingxiang has never read any military books, nor has he heard any lectures from famous generals, but the battlefield is the best teacher.

One thing Gao Yingxiang knows very well is that those officers and soldiers with neat military appearance and orderly ranks are often stronger than other officers and soldiers.

Not only was the standard of military uniforms unified, but the Chuangjun under Gao Yingxiang's command was actually different from other rogue bandits in many places.

Most of the peasant army rested immediately after they were safe, looting everywhere to replenish food and grass.

As for Gao Yingxiang, he subdivided the army under his command, one part of the army trained, and the other part went to find food and grass, taking turns.

Now Gao Yingxiang has [-] fine cavalry, more than [-] cavalry troops, and [-] troops under his command.

There are 72 women and family members in the army, and more than [-] non-staffed hungry soldiers. The total number exceeds [-], and the strength is the first in the [-]nd Battalion.

The combined strength of Zhang Xianzhong, Lao Huihui and others can barely match Gao Yingxiang's strength.

Gao Yingxiang's position as leader is not so much because of sufficient prestige, but rather because of his superior strength, so that everyone can only bow their heads.

You must know that among the 72nd Battalion, the battalion owners of the 24th Battalion can only have a thousand elite cavalry.

The 24th Battalion of the Middle School has only a few hundred elite cavalry, while the 24th Battalion of the Lower [-]th Battalion is even weaker, with a total number of only a few thousand people.

……

Gao Yingxiang was wearing a Fan Yang Li on his head, and a plain white war robe. The right sleeve of the war robe was tucked behind his waist, exposing his right shoulder.

Under the battle robe is an indigo mountain pattern half body armor, and a dragon pattern inlaid gold vermilion battle skirt.

Gao Yingxiang's complexion was much more haggard than when he was in Shaanxi half a year ago.

His beard and hair were messy, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Gao Yingxiang rode his white horse and stood on a high slope, staring at the distant mountains.

A group of personal guards are all leading horses and carrying knives, silently guarding under the high slope.

Gao Yingxiang's eyes were cold, and he thought of what was written in the imperial court's mansion newspaper.

One million taels of military spending, and a six-month deadline to suppress the bandits...

Those high-ranking officials sitting in temples would rather spend millions or even tens of millions of taels of silver on counterinsurgency, but are unwilling to spend a little money to relieve the victims...

Gao Yingxiang closed his eyes, and the warm wind blowing from the southeast slowly swept across the hills.

"Rather than sit and die of hunger, why not steal and die!"

Gao Yingxiang couldn't remember who said this sentence first.

But this is not important, this sentence has already spread throughout Shaanxi, and even the whole world...

For several months, from Shaanxi Province to Henan Province, then from Henan Province to South Zhili, and then back to Henan, all the way south to Huguang.

Nine years have passed since the first year of Chongzhen after traveling to many places and traveling thousands of miles.

During the past nine years, the Ming army has been following closely like tarsus maggots.

For nine years, Gao Yingxiang didn't dare to slack off for a single day, nor did he dare to relax.

He knew how valuable the head on his neck was, and how much those officers and soldiers wanted to take his life.

Gao Yingxiang sighed softly and opened his eyes, his spirit was too exhausted.

In the past nine years, more and more soldiers and horses under his command, and more and more people followed him.

Originally, he had only a few hundred people under his command. When he walked out of Ansai, the number of soldiers under his command increased to more than 3000, and then tens of thousands or even tens of thousands of people.

Along the way, many of those who have walked in front of him, walked with him, and followed him have passed away.

"Xi'an..."

Gao Yingxiang's eyes were deep. He was most proud when he became the leader of the 72nd Battalion.

Unified the 72nd Battalion, led an army of one million, with a battalion of hundreds of miles, and the beacon fire shone in Xijing.

But even with all his strength, he still failed to capture the city of Xi'an.

The forces of the officers and soldiers became stronger and stronger, and more and more troops came to counter the rebellion, and they became stronger and stronger.

Although the forces under his command are constantly growing, they are always inferior in skills and powerless when facing officers and soldiers.

To be honest, his ambitions were continuously worn down in the constant tossing and fleeing.

The world is so big that he didn't finish it in nine years.

As long as nine years, there is no way to change it.

No matter how many officers and soldiers they defeated, no matter how many victories they won.

Officers and soldiers will always come from all over the place...

This time the officers and soldiers recruited a large number of Liaodong cavalry from the north.

In the Battle of Chuzhou, Zu Kuan led the Liaodong iron cavalry to appear on the battlefield like a heavenly soldier, and then easily stepped through the multiple lines of defense he had set up...

The result behind is clear to everyone - a crushing defeat.

Gao Yingxiang led the horse and turned around, looking back to the east with a gloomy expression.

Lu Xiangsheng is now gathering troops to guard the Han River in Nanyang Prefecture, and Xiangyang Prefecture is also heavily populated.

If you attack Xiangyang at this time, you will definitely suffer from two sides. Now is not a good opportunity to attack Xiangyang.

In the past nine years, although they seem to be powerful, they have captured countless cities along the way.

But they never captured any big city.

Fengyang can't be counted, because Fengyang didn't even set up a city wall, and there was no hindrance.

Footsteps came from behind, Gao Yingxiang did not turn his head away.

"The vanguard of our army has already crossed the Baihe River and arrived in Xunyang. We first scouted the horses and harvested hidden clues from outside the city. Please check it out, Your Majesty."

The person who spoke was named Liu Zhe, and he was Gao Yingxiang's lieutenant general. He had been under Gao Yingxiang's command since Ansai.

Gao Yingxiang looked sideways slightly, and Danfeng's eyes flashed a gleam, and then slightly stretched his right hand downward.

Liu Zhe noticed Gao Yingxiang's movements and immediately stepped forward, handing the letter to Gao Yingxiang with both hands.

Gao Yingxiang didn't know much before, but since the uprising, he has been learning continuously.

It is inevitable that mistakes will occur if some military information is not recorded on paper and pen, especially this kind of intelligence snooping.

"Chen Wang..."

Gao Yingxiang narrowed his eyes slightly, his memory has always been very good.

When he saw Chen Wang's name, he immediately thought of the Eight Years of Chunhua Battle.

He knew how capable his nephew was, but Li Zicheng was defeated with a crowd of tens of thousands.

Later, Li Yangchun and Lin Shengquan, who he sent to Gongchang Mansion as the back chess, were also beheaded by Chen Wang.

"General Hanzhong..."

Gao Yingxiang's heart sank slightly. Chen Wang was just a guerrilla before, but in less than half a year, he was promoted to a general again.

Such a speed of promotion is considered extremely fast in the entire Ming army system.

Gao Yingxiang glanced at ten lines and quickly read the contents of the letter.

After reading the letter, Gao Yingxiang frowned more and more, and his complexion became cloudy.

Even though the letter clearly stated the matter in black and white, he still couldn't believe the news recorded in the letter.

Because the last thing written in the letter is a bit too unbelievable.

"On February [-], the officers and soldiers of the brigade withdrew from Xing'an City to Hanyin."

(End of this chapter)