A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 551 The Conqueror from Ming Dynasty

Lao Bainiu: If you find out that there is an urgent change, the plot will always be loose, because you have to scrape together some words to submit the document.It's better to write a big plot and post it, so that readers can read it freely, and I can also stick to the central idea, so as not to have too many details and go against the original intention of writing.Well, the big chapter will not be less than [-] words.

……

In September of the 14th year of Chongzhen, it was October in the Gregorian calendar of later generations. The weather inside and outside the Great Wall began to turn cold and cold.

Outside the Great Wall, the wide river area.

The clear wide river meanders from north to south, with dense vegetation and forests on both sides, and grassy beaches can be seen from time to time.However, this resort of singing birds and flowers has become a place of death. The conquerors from Ming Dynasty brought unimaginable death and slaughter.

Daji City on the left bank, which was originally a crude fortress with civil structures, opened its gates wide, and puffs of black smoke rose from time to time, and the houses and tents inside, except for the temple, were all burned down. up.

A wooden pole was erected less than a hundred steps away from the river, and a person was hung on it like a chicken. These people were dressed in expensive clothes (relatively) in Yishui, and their feet were covered by thick The rope was tied laboriously, and then hung upside down on the top of the wooden pole.

Their throats, or hands and feet, dripped blood from time to time, all of them opened their eyes wide, twisted their bodies, and died like that.

At this time, there are fewer people struggling. After a long time, most of the people who are hanging can't bear it and die. Their stiff faces are full of ferocity and fear.These people were originally the leaders of the various tribes, or at least small leaders, but now they died like chickens.

Relatively speaking, these people were lucky. Not far in front of the wooden frame, there were lumps of bloody things.Those things all showed a strange twist, obviously they had experienced incredible pain and struggle before they died, they were all trampled to death by wild horses.

and also……

There was one sound after another, and the side of the wooden frame was strewn with corpses, all of them in different shapes and expressions of pain.Although it is easier to die this way than to die by trampling or hanging to death, the pain of being hit by a bullet is just as unbearable.

On the south side of Daji City, the captured herdsmen of various tribes gathered in a dark mass, and there were countless tents for cattle and horses.On the banks of the Kuan River, in the grasslands and hills in the distance, there are teams of sturdy Daming knights galloping, escorting many people, vehicles, tents, cattle and horses continuously.

While the whips were being whipped, a large group of Mongolians were bound and kneeling on the ground. Regardless of men, women, or children, they all looked dull and dull, with fear and worry that could not be concealed in their eyes.It was a disaster from the sky, I went to participate in the Damu Conference, but it turned into a death conference, and the Ming army went out, which was beyond everyone's expectations.

Amidst their unconcealed fear, others were triumphant, waving their whips, and walking up and down the crowd.

These people were originally captive Han Chinese slaves, and when the Jingbian army arrived, they immediately turned over and became masters.Using the original Han slaves to temporarily manage the tribe, and divide them into teams of 50 or 100 people is one of the strategies of the Jingbian Army to go out of the fortress.

Facts have proved that the transformation of serfs into masters has obviously improved the enthusiasm of everyone. These Han slaves are all devoted to work with full enthusiasm.

Their work, first of all, is to identify those leaders and warriors who are hostile to the Han people and loyal to the Qing Dynasty. However, there are also some Guanqi Zhangjing, deputy Zhangjing and others left behind.

Most of these people were singled out and killed. Even the caravan accompanying the army thought that these people were difficult to manage, so it would be better to execute them.

Their executions are divided into three classes, first class, put into sacks and trampled to death by horses.

The second class is hung on a wooden pole to die.

The last one is executed with a knife, ax or bird gun.

The killing here was in full swing, making the herdsmen who were captured and watching frightened, and the on-site sales over there were also in full swing.

To the west of Jicheng City, there are piles of cows and horses, furs, vehicles, tents, people, etc., for on-site sales.The scene was very lively, with endless yelling, and many merchants came and went, choosing their favorite items.

These goods have been registered, and those people have also been screened and proved to be harmless, so they can be bought and sold.

According to the regulations in advance, even the cattle, horses, wealth and population obtained by armed caravans also need to be registered and sold by the business department.Hiding privately is a serious crime, but the price is more favorable, after all, those caravans have contributed, and they can also get meritorious service.

Many people were eye-opening. They didn't expect that there were a lot of things on the grassland. Tian Changguo, the head of the business department, estimated in advance that he might get 170 or six kinds of commercial goods, which seemed to be an underestimation.

A shrewd shopkeeper with several attendants, one of them is a swordsman, he collected a lot of sable fur, squirrel fur, black fox fur and other furs in one go, as well as hundreds of cattle and sheep, think about yourself After opening a ranch, I also want to buy some Tartar women and children to go back.

He suddenly realized that he had bought too hard, and the food stamps he brought were not enough to spend, so he had to pay on credit.

During this trip, Tian Changguo stated that he could pay on credit. He was very relieved that no one would dare to renege on the Jingbian army.Unless he can escape from the East Road, or even escape from Daming, but the properties of the renegades will definitely be confiscated.

A shogunate clerk was busy writing on a big horse in front of the shopkeeper. The business was so hot that he felt his wrists were a little sore, so he waited for the merchant in front of him to finish his purchases so that he could change shifts with his next colleague.

Unexpectedly, there was no movement in front of him for a long time, and the scribe raised his head a little strangely, and saw the shopkeeper frowning, looking at the large area of ​​Tartar women and children in silence.

In the market in the west of the city, cattle, sheep, horses, furs, groceries, and people are placed in separate columns. Among them, people are subdivided, such as whether they have skills, whether they are strong, whether they are adults or children, and so on.In front of several types, their prices are clearly marked, and a wooden sign with the words "clearly marked prices, no further discussion" is inserted.

Although Tian Changguo had already negotiated the prices of various goods with all the merchants in Serbia beforehand, there were still some people who liked to bargain.

After a long time, I heard the shopkeeper muttering to himself: "Some rags and rags, the price is so expensive?"

When the shopkeeper was watching, many Tartar women and children looked at him with numbness or anticipation. The massacre in the south of the city frightened them. If they can be bought by these Ming merchants, the future Don't say anything, it must be safe in front of you.

Anyway, they are in the tribe on weekdays. Whenever there is a war, or natural disasters or man-made disasters, they will go around among the tribes, and they will be bought again. Much better outside the Great Wall.

Hearing this, a Tartar woman became anxious. She knew some Chinese, so she shouted in blunt Chinese: "We are not broken, we can work..."

The clerk actually recognized the shopkeeper, whose surname was Sun. He used to run a pawnshop in Huailai City, and even went to pawn himself. He never liked this treacherous merchant.

Hearing this, he said bluntly: "Shopkeeper Sun, you are an idiot for opening a pawn shop. This man still has rags? Look at these tartars, they are all thick and lively. They can herd cattle, make fur, and endure hardships. You are proficient at doing laundry and quilts, what is broken?"

The surrounding merchants also surrounded at this time, and they all burst into laughter when they heard the words.

The entourage beside shopkeeper Sun also showed embarrassment. His boss had an occupational disease, and he uttered absurd words. They expected that they would become the laughing stock of everyone on the East Road in the future. Seeing others pointing fingers, they also felt shameful .

"This trip to the fortress, my teacher has gained a lot!"

Tian Changguo, the head of the business department, who was as thin as a twist, came here with his head held high, surrounded by big merchants such as Lai Mancheng.

Lai Mancheng was still wearing iron armor against the Qinglong Yanyue Saber. During the time he was out of the fortress, he boasted that he hacked five Tartars to death, but he didn't know if it was true or not.

"It's all thanks to the Jingbian Army Huwei, and also thanks to the care of the landlord."

The businessmen were full of flattery.

"If you have money, everyone earns it. You can rest assured that good times are yet to come."

Tian Changguo held his hands behind his back and straightened his waist. He found that he was right to enter the business department. These days, he is like a fish in water.

A businessman suddenly said: "The army will soon cross the Kuan River and the Qinglong River to attack the Harqin Zuoyi Banner, and even the Laoha River and the Daling River. I wonder if the landlord can persuade Generals Wen and Gao to let us follow ?”

Tian Changguo pondered for a while, then sighed: "You know, the closer you are to the Jinzhou slaves, the more you are thinking about your safety."

All the businessmen immediately became impassioned: "For the sake of the country and the people, why should I cherish this body?"

"Landlord, but don't worry, we have already put life and death aside!"

"Soldiers on the front line are fighting bloody battles. How can we live in the rear and hope to do our best?"

The businessmen beside them lobbied desperately, and the army came out of the fortress, and the harvest made people jealous. Going to the Daling River Basin in the northeast, the population of the Tartars was even denser. It would be a waste to not seize it.

Tian Changguo was still pondering, when he suddenly saw a circle of people in front of him: "What's the matter?"

After asking the reason clearly, he said to shopkeeper Sun and the surrounding merchants: "My business department sets the price, which is absolutely fair, and the old man is not deceitful. You can't trust Lao Tian, ​​and you can't trust me, Jing Bianjun?"

The surrounding merchants said one after another: "The landlord's matter is serious."

They chattered and condemned that shopkeeper Sun: "Shopkeeper Sun is too much."

"The old problem of running a pawn shop is no good."

"It's the first time I heard that Dingkou still has tattered ones."

"Old Sun, today is different from the past, you should think twice before you say anything, and don't hurt the relationship between my firm and the army."

Under the scolding of the crowd, the shopkeeper Sun blushed and begged for mercy.

The matter passed quickly, and the market resumed its bustle. For all shopkeepers, their time is also precious, and they cannot all be used to watch.

The merchants beside Tian Changguo followed behind Tian Changguo and continued to lobby.

To them, shopkeeper Sun is just a small character, and it's fine to say a few words without being clear, and it's not worth investing a lot of energy.

Lobbying is what matters.

……

"After more than a month in the fortress, our army has achieved remarkable results. It swept across the tribes of Harqin, Tumed, Aohan, and Bahrain, and captured a large number of cattle, horses, and wealth. The Tartars fled in anticipation."

Outside a forest by the Kuan River, Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, Gao Shiyin, Shen Shiqi and others walked and chatted.

Around the woods, there were guards from the third battalion. All of them put on winter clothes, thick cotton coats with armour, and fur coats with short sleeves to keep warm without affecting combat. There is a canopy for protection from wind and rain.

In the past, the Jingbian army used cloaks and cloaks. They looked mighty, but they were actually not practical, because many people took off their cloaks during the war, so as not to affect the battle.

Of course, the officers still wore cloaks and cloaks. For example, Wen Fangliang and the others wore red cloaks.

These soldiers have small warm hats inside their hats and helmets, and the military boots on their feet are also warm and thick.

The rustling autumn wind was coming, and it was quite chilly on the face, but these elite fighters were all motionless, only looking around vigilantly.

Gao Shiyin looked relaxed: "Of course, most of the tribes outside the Great Wall are old and weak. Even if there are some young and strong, how can they be the opponents of our Jingbian army?"

Shen Shiqi took a breath full of ambition: "It's really easy to beat these Mongolian Tartars."

While talking, he hummed a ditty: "Their wives are my concubines, and their sons are my servants... I beat them hard with my riding whip."

For his singing, no matter Wen Fangliang and Gao Shiyin, or the fans behind him, they all showed disgusted expressions, but Shen Shiqi was not ashamed, but proud, and he kept humming.

The [-] troops who went out of the fortress, the second battalion of the Jingbian Army, the first-class army, and the Zhongyi Battalion thousands of people, all the cavalry and cavalry, they were the vanguard. slaughter meeting.

The left-behind forces of many tribes were wiped out in one fell swoop, and the armed merchant group quickly followed up and took them away. All the things that the tribes could move were removed, and even the pots and pans were swept away. If the Jinzhou Tartars knew What happened in the rear must be crying bitterly and regretting it too late.

Of course, as the army rolled eastward, crossing one dry ditch after another, passing through one barren grassland after another, more and more Mongolian tribes got the news and fled overnight. This is what Wen Fangliang and others deliberately promoted the result of.

Among the terrified Mongolian population, the Jingbian army that went out of the fortress has been rumored to have [-] cavalry.

Wen Fangliang and others believed that this rumor was beneficial to the army and the generals fighting in Jinzhou, and it could put huge pressure on the slaves there.

"Report from the Sentinels. The general is fighting in Jinzhou. Hundreds of thousands of troops are in a stalemate in Nuerhe. Our army needs to attack as soon as possible to break the deadlock."

The army outside the Great Wall kept in touch with Wang Dou with sentry cavalry, so Wen Fangliang and others also knew about the Jinzhou intelligence, and vice versa, Wang Dou did the same.

Gao Shiyin nodded: "Well, the cavalry will set off the day after tomorrow, first attacking the large tents on the left and right wings of Karaqin, and then attacking Longcheng in the north. That Gulu Siqibu is considered a hardcore Manchurian Tartar. Give him a little bit of strength. !"

At this time, the Kuanhe area where the army was located belonged to the boundary of the Karaqin Right Wing Banner. It belonged to the nomadic land of the Subdi tribe and part of the Zhuosuotu League. He is resourceful, and his son Gulusi Qibu is also brave and good at fighting.

In the ninth year of Tiancong, Emperor Taiji issued an edict to compile the left and right banners of Karaqin, and Gulu Siqi clothed the right-wing banner, conferring Zasak, and sealing Gushan Beizi, and giving the name Doro Duleng. A total of 22 records were compiled. , 44 Zuoling, with a total of [-] households and more than [-] mouths, his uncle Seleng is in charge of the Left Wing Banner.

Among the banners of Outer Fan Mongolia, Harqin Banner was favored by the Qing court and married several times to become its Monanping Fan. If they were taken over from their old nest, Wei Heli would still be powerful for the pro-Qing forces in Outer Fan Mongolia.

As for Kuanhe, it is not far from the tents of the two palaces at this time, one is in Laoha River, and the other is in Longshan of Daling River.

Although the news came that many tribes in Harqin had already begun to migrate, Wen Fangliang and others were not worried. Those Mongolian tribes could escape the attack of the control. Unless they left all the tents with cattle and horses, their migration would be slow.

In the military strategy, after the army attacked the Harqin Banner, it would go northward to Longcheng, and at that time, it would either march eastward and go straight to the west of Jinzhou City, or go northward and push towards Yizhou, depending on the military situation.

Even the army continued to go northward, attacking the hard core of the Qing Dynasty, the Horqin Ministry.

Among the Thirteen Banners of Outer Fan Mongolia, Prince Tuxietu of Horqin Right Banner has a total population of 254 Niulu, and Prince Zhuoli Ketu of the Left Wing also has 193 Niuli. Huge population of multifamily.

If you go in and burn and kill, the blow to Qing will be unimaginably heavy.

The three generals discussed these strategies carefully for a while, and they all felt that there was no problem. Gao Shiyin suddenly remembered something. He clenched his fists and said with a smirk: "Old Wen, I heard that you allowed some small tribes to seek refuge? These Tartars are coming. What's the use, let me tell you, all the leaders were killed, and all the tribe's population was sold to merchants."

Shen Shiqi also nodded in approval.

Wen Fangliang raised his head to look at the sky, and said solemnly: "That's it, my teacher is very powerful, and I can recruit some people."

He said indifferently: "Old Gao, killing is only a means, not an end. The next route to march is quite dangerous. Some small tribes who are familiar with the grassland take the lead, which can increase the chances of victory and make the slaves in Jinzhou more eccentric."

Gao Shiyin was stunned for a while, and suddenly felt that Wen Fangliang was a little strange. When he didn't have that cynical expression, he had an inexplicable aura.

He muttered: "You are the ambassador of the staff department, you can do whatever you say."

He suddenly felt a sense of crisis in his heart. The brothers around him were all growing up, and he still had a lot to learn.

……

Capital.

Emperor Chongzhen rested at the desk for a while, and soon woke up. He gave up, stopped the persuasion of the eunuch on duty, ate a few pieces of snacks, and then concentrated on reading the memorial.

Most of these memorials are about Jinzhou's battle reports. Under Chongzhen's request, Jinzhou's affairs are reported every day.

They were handed over to his desk in a steady stream, to be deceived by his fearful ministers, Hong Chengchou, Zhang Ruoqi, Qiu Minyang, Wang Chengen, Wang Dou and others wrote the memorabilia.

The battle in Jinzhou was at a stalemate. He was encouraged by the victory of the Ming army in Nuerhe a few days ago. Since then, the two sides have stalemate.

The two sides, in this stalemate, will test their respective logistics supply capabilities.

Li Daiwen, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, just complained that the food and grass were difficult to support, and the food and grass were difficult to support. Even if there were dried fish in Liaodong, it was still difficult to support.

Whenever Wang Chengen urged the arrival of the memorial of grain and grass, he complained all over the place.

He screamed too much and couldn't solve it, so Emperor Chongzhen felt worried and thought of replacing Li Daiwen with Ni Yuanlu.

In the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty, people from Zhejiang were not allowed to be officials in the household department. Ni Yuanlu was from Zhejiang. In the 26th year of Hongwu, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty decreed that the officials of the household department should not use people from Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Susong, even officials who handle specific affairs on a daily basis. .

The reason is that these places are the main sources of tax revenue for the Ming Dynasty. In order to prevent the officials of the Ministry of Households from colluding with officials and gentry in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Susong, Jiangxi, etc. .

In order to change the bad financial problems, Emperor Chongzhen also ignored the ancestral system, and just replaced the candidates. The food and grass pressure on the front line of Liaodong was indeed here, and it could not quench the near thirst.

The cabinet ministers all thought that the matter of Liaodong should not be delayed for a long time, but should be resolved while the situation was sharp. Whenever the cabinet ministers complained, Chen Xinjia was a little shaken, so he listened to Hong Chengchou and others.

Under strong pressure from all sides, Hong Chengchou also hesitated, only Wang Dou persisted.

He said that it is difficult for Master Wang to supply food and grass, and it is even more difficult for the thieves and slaves. As long as the stalemate persists, the thieves and slaves will retreat, and they can win without fighting.

Obviously, Wang Dou's opinion is very important, so the war has been stalemate.

Thinking of Wang Dou, Chongzhen didn't know what it was like, he had already got some rumors, rumors came from outside the Great Wall.

He picked up another memorial and frowned. Before Yang Sichang died, he recommended Ding Qirui to be Minister of the Ministry of War. Thieves.
For Ding Qirui, Emperor Chongzhen also held him in high regard, and bestowed Shang Fangjian, Flying Fish Clothes and seals on him, but since his supervisor, he has deeply disappointed himself.

Not to mention the slow progress of the bandit suppression, the leather and the left turned to fight in several provinces, and the hungry people gathered, and the momentum became bigger and bigger, which caused the Ming army to suffer. Especially not long ago, Zuo Liangyu violated the order and went to Xiangyang at night. The army suffered many casualties.

It was not the first time for Zuo Liangyu to run away without authorization, but Emperor Chongzhen had no choice but to blame these warriors for their sins and meritorious deeds to redeem themselves.

Fortunately, compared with Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng, Luo Rucai and others will not cause him a serious problem, so he picks up another memorial in agitation.

This is the memorial sent by Li Xianfeng, governor of Henan Province. I haven't read it yet. Emperor Chongzhen is frowning. In summer and autumn, Henan's prefectures are experiencing severe drought again and again. no good.

Although he was mentally prepared, after reading the content of the memorial, Emperor Chongzhen almost jumped up: "The intruders didn't just escape into the mountains with their remnants, why did they suddenly attack Luoyang?"

His hands trembled: "Also, there are still tens of thousands?"

He stood in a daze for a long time, and then flew into a rage: "When did the intruder come out of the mountain, how could there be hundreds of thousands of soldiers? There is no news about the postal form, and the pond newspaper is not published. Li Xianfeng, you treat me as a deaf person! Hate me even more! Hate me even more!"

He sternly said: "Zhao, Zhou Yanru, chief assistant of the cabinet, and Chen Xinjia, minister of the Ministry of War!"

(End of this chapter)