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

Chapter 670

Responding to the words of Han and North Korea, Zhao Xuan suddenly said: "In the past, when our Jingbian army dispatched, didn't they all carry some food and grass with the army? With our tight defense, there is no way the Tartars could rob our army of food and grass, so why are they cutting off my food roads? ?”

It was rare for this technical nerd to speak, so Wang Dou smiled.

Han Chao said: "Brother Zhao, fighting outside the Great Wall is not as good as fighting in the Central Plains. Indeed, in the past, our Jingbian army carried some food and grass when fighting in the frontier. However, after reaching the target, there are plenty of supplies. Grain and rice supplies, after all, the Central Plains is densely populated with cities.”

"It's just that outside the Great Wall, there are often thousands of miles of uninhabited people, vast grasslands, deserts and Gobi deserts, where can I find food and grass?"

"If you can't find the Tazi tribe, and you don't have any supplements such as cattle and sheep, the food and grass accompanying the army can only last for half a month, or a month. The consequences are unimaginable."

Zhao Xuan was not convinced: "Hmph, with the strength of our Jingbian army, we should have captured Guihua City long before the food and grass ran out."

Han Chao shook his head: "Tarjas are best at fleeing. If I were a Tartar of Guihua City and faced with the Jingbian Army's approach, I would definitely abandon the city and take away all the baggage in the city. Flee somewhere, so, even if our army occupies Guihua City, it is only the beginning."

"Furthermore, in order to maintain the food and grass of the garrison, the supply of grain roads is even more necessary. This is no longer a matter of carrying some food and grass with the army. On the other hand, the Tartars can constantly harass the grain roads. This is the trick they are best at. The Han army in the past dynasties has often been defeated here. recruit."

"Will they give up Guihua City?"

Zhao Xuan was puzzled. According to information, the Tumote people in Guihua City were already half-nomadic and half-herding. As early as the Jiajing period, Altan Khan recruited or plundered Han people to cultivate them. Hundreds, around Guihua City, there are many people with surnames such as Ding, Yun, Rong, and Kang.

Moreover, for Guihua City Tumed, this city is considered their holy city. Even if Lin Danhan and Huang Taiji repeatedly tossed and burned it here, they still couldn't bear to give it up.

"It's hard to say. We have to consider the possibility. After all, when Emperor Yuan Shun gave up most of them, the Tartars would run away in their bones!"

Zhao Xuan had nothing to say and was in deep thought.

Zhong Susu suddenly said: "Not only that, fighting outside the Great Wall, in addition to food and grass, we must also consider the drinking water of the army!"

She said: "When the dense army goes out of the fortress, how much drinking water do the troops need, and the logistics need to transport not only grain and grass, but also water tanks and leather bags, which makes the supply more difficult."

Everyone was moved. Indeed, beyond the Great Wall is no better than the Central Plains. In the Central Plains, it is easy to find rivers. Even if they dry up, there is always groundwater nearby. However, on the grasslands, there are few rivers and lakes, and they are often separated by a long distance.

This man and horse can go without food for a few days, but they can't go without water for a day. The defeat of the Tumubao back then was due to lack of water.

Everyone supplemented each other and pointed out various problems.

In the past dynasties, when the Han army went out of the fortress, there were often people with black eyes. They did not understand the various things outside the fortress, the terrain was unknown, and the information was difficult to know. Going to the desert is even a narrow escape.

Therefore, in the past dynasties, except for the early days of the dynasty, most of them were afraid of fighting outside the Great Wall and did not dare to run too far.

For this outing, the Jingbian army already had a considerable advantage and had a good understanding of the nearby grasslands, but there were still various difficulties in planning.

"What is the strategy of the Chief of Staff?"

Looking at the sand table in front of him, Wang Dou said calmly.

"...The Chief of Staff has several strategies. The most important one is to imitate Chengzu's first strategy of conquering Mobei, attacking the army of Guihua City, and take the feather cavalry and the new Mongolian army first, and carry some food and grass. Wait for the infantry to catch up, and transport food, rice and drinking water together with the supply battalion, and build a city every few days according to the distance."

"These villages not only store grain and grass, but also have water sources. If the army going forward is short of water and food, they can send people back to the rear villages to get food and water. Of course, these villages need to leave an army Guards, even if it is unfavorable, the army can return to the division along the same route."

Wen Fangliang explained to the sand table, he said: "When the army goes out of the fortress, it comes from Yehuling. It is more than 1000 miles away from Guihua City. According to the calculation of the Chief of Staff, for every 100 miles, or [-] miles, it takes one Walled City."

"Fortunately, near the frontier fortress of Xuanzhen, there are already fortresses such as Shacheng. This is the advantage of our Jingbian army, so the army went west, in the area of ​​the original Xinghe garrison of thousands of households (the boundary of Shangyi County and Xinghe County in later generations), and established Erzhai is enough, there are Daqing River, Erlong River, Dongyang River and other rivers in this place, enough to build a village."

"Further to the west, there is Jining Haizi, where you can build a village; further west, there is Xiashuihai (later Daihai), where you can build a village, and finally by the Xiaohei River (later Zhuozi County boundary), Build another stronghold, with five strongholds like this, it will be enough to control the grain roads and keep our army of conquering captives undefeated!"

Wang Dou nodded. According to the road situation in the future, the journey from Wanquan or Zhangjiakou to Guihua City is less than a thousand miles away.

Of course, at this time, the road conditions cannot be compared with those of future generations.

Among other things, when passing through the mountains, there are no tunnels for future generations, and there are no highways. The distance is also much more difficult.

The strategy proposed by the Chief of Staff is also feasible, the victory is not expected, the defeat is expected first, all kinds of measures are enough to make the army conquering the fortress invincible first.

"The Chief of Staff originally intended to build another village by the Dahei River, but this place is surrounded by Daqing Mountain in the north and continuous mountains in the south, with a lot of vegetation and meadows. The Tartars can hide in the mountains and harass them densely. Not easy!"

"Of course, if the army crosses the Dahei River in the future, they can build a fortress not far from Guihua City, on the border of the old Fengzhou!"

Wen Fangliang continued.

The establishment of these strongholds was intended by the Chief of Staff to not only protect the grain roads, but also to lure the Tartars to attack and let them bleed under the strongholds.

After the expansion of the Jingbian Army, the second-class battalions of each army are basically recruits. Although they practiced in Tunbao for a long time in the past, they also concentrated on drills after entering the barracks. However, they were still recruits without seeing blood. Let some people feel the atmosphere of war. Well, a few low-intensity battles will help their growth.

The battle of guarding the stronghold is the best way to exercise, I am afraid that the Tartars will not be fooled.

And this time, in the planning of the staff department, the military strength is very sufficient.

At present, the Xuanwu Army of the Han Dynasty has three battalions in one army, and Zhong Xiancai's White Tiger Army also has three battalions, but Gao Shiyin and Wen Fangliang's Suzaku Army and Qinglong Army currently have two battalions.

In the Chinese army, Sun Sanjie's supply battalion has been expanded to two battalions, Xie Yike's sentinel battalion has also been filled with a thousand people, Wang Dou's guard battalion has been expanded to a thousand people, plus two cavalry battalions and one artillery battalion. Battalion, Zhongyi Battalion and Xinyi Battalion, Wang Dou's total strength is almost 6 people.

This is also the maximum limit of his ability to raise soldiers, if there are too many, it will not work.

The plan of the Chief of Staff is to attack the battle on the west front of Guihua City. It is enough to dispatch one army of the Jingbian Army, followed by a battalion of the New Mongolian Army, with about [-] cavalry, and a part of the Artillery Army Battalion, which contains four Hongyi cannons. ten doors.

To attack a Guihua City, even with the fortification of the fortifications along the way, forty Hongyi cannons are enough, but on the grassland, unless the two sides have a decisive battle, the artillery will not be effective.

This is the strength of the Jingbian army, in addition to the accompanying Datong army. Wang Pu has communicated with Wang Dou that he will send [-] troops to fight, and the two sides will meet at Jining Haizi.

Naturally, one army is needed on the eastern front. In addition, the Jingbian army has three remaining armies, which can be arranged calmly. Of course, it is up to the commander Wang Dou to decide who to send to each front.

After looking at the sand table for a long time, everything became clear, and everyone subconsciously stood up straight.

This kind of discussion is also clear, so that the generals of the army have a sense of the overall situation, and try their best to get the exercise of the overall situation.

It's not like some troops in the Ming army, who play tricks on mysteries. After the commander-in-chief makes a plan, he just orders it. Many people can only know what they should do, and the rest are vague. It feels like the whole battle is muddled. This is also the victory of the Jingbian army. The place.

Wang Dou pondered for a long time, and finally ordered: "This time when the army is going out, the battle of Guihua City on the western front will be in charge of the Xuanwu Army Captain Han Shang, accompanied by the new attached army. Fortress, defend the food road."

Han Chao's eyes flashed with joy, and he clasped his fists and said loudly: "The last general takes orders!"

"On the east front, Lieutenant Zhong Shang is in charge. For your White Tiger Army, you can leave a second-class battalion on the east road, and the rest will gather in Xinyongning City and other places to guard against the eastern captives."

Zhong Susu also shouted orders, deeply feeling the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

Wang Dou nodded to Zhong Susu. Although the intentions of Ji Erhalang and others were unclear, Wang Dou was not worried about the Eastern Front.

Mantaoer and other places are criss-crossed by mountains, which is not conducive to cavalry activities. Many fortresses are also stuck on the main roads. If Jierhalang and others want to invade the interior, they have to pull them out one by one and attack the forts and villages everywhere. Fort, I'm afraid I'm going to hit my head and break my blood.

The Jingbian army's castle is no different from other castles in Daming. Jierhalang and Du Du are both old and spicy people, so they can't fail to see this.

What's more, it doesn't take long to go to the rescue at the speed of your own cavalry. If they are attacking the city, the Jingbian army rushes from the rear, hits back from the back, or even steals the luggage from the back, then everything will be fine. Hugh also.

"Captain Gaoshang and Captain Wenshang each left a battalion of second-class troops in the town, and the rest of the two armies consisted of feathered cavalry, Zhongyi battalion, Chinese cavalry battalion, and artillery battalion. Gather in Shacheng and wait for the opportunity."

"The heavy battalion of Lieutenant Sun Shangdu of the Chinese Army is responsible for transporting the food and grass of the army everywhere, and the sharp sentry battalion is sentry everywhere!"

All the generals received their orders loudly, and each of them became excited again. Finally, the strategy was decided, everyone's duties were decided, and the battle was about to begin.

Wen Fangliang felt a little regretful in his heart. His own battalion of soldiers and horses was placed in the town, and they would not be trained in this battle. Gao Shiyin also looked at Han Chao enviously and cracked his mouth.

The generals of the battalions behind the two of them, especially the chief general of the second-class battalion, also wept for a moment.

This time, it's not their turn to go out to fight vigorously. It's just that the Jingbian army has strict discipline, especially Wang Dou's promises, and the decision cannot be overturned, so we have to wait for the next opportunity.

This is the general strategy for conquering the fortress.

When everyone was discussing matters, several clerks of the staff department kept taking notes. After they submitted them, the staff department would further refine and perfect them. Finally, Wang Dou stamped and signed, and issued an official document to each army. A battle The plan finally takes shape.

Afterwards, the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed, and Gao Shiyingao shouted: "Haha, our army is out of the fortress, with such power and power, the Tartars will definitely flee!"

Han Chao was in a good mood when he was given the important task of going to Guihua City, but his personality was originally calm, and he became more stable after he was in a high position. If you don’t run away, you will fight head-to-head with my army!”

Wen Fangliang quickly calmed down.

He knew that in the heart of the general, he was still inferior to Han and North Korea. The two were originally between Zhong Bo and had an old friendship, so they naturally took care of Han and North Korea. However, he was the ambassador of the General Staff Department. A master at balancing.

He leaned back on the chair with ease, and said, "No accident, all kinds of wars on the western front took place in these villages. Captives can't even talk about cutting off my food!"

"Of course, they won't be willing to fight against the main force of our army, they will only harass them closely. Therefore, how to find their main force is the most important thing!"

Han Chao nodded. He admired Wen Fangliang's insight. After all, he came from a military officer's family, and he came from a humble background.

In the two world, you often surpass me, and I surpass you, and there is fierce competition in secret.

Right now, I am in charge of the war on the Western Front, this is the general's high regard for me, so naturally nothing can happen.

He said confidently: "The grassland is the home of the Tartars. These Northern Tartars are best at raiding and harassing them. But as long as our army detects them and finds their lair, they will die."

Tactics such as elusiveness and long-distance raids are the natural instincts of nomads such as the Mongolians outside the Great Wall.

They usually eat cheese, meat floss, dry food and other things to satisfy their hunger. Generally, one person has more than one horse, and the horses under the crotch are equally hard-working. Therefore, they have less requirements for logistics and supplies, and their tactical flexibility is much higher than that of Manchuria and other fishing and hunting peoples.

Therefore, the range of activities of the nomadic cavalry is very large. Although the Mongols are not as strong as Temujin's army back then, if they harass them, they should not be underestimated.

Of course, this doesn't mean that they don't need logistical supplies.

In fact, compared with infantry, cavalry requires more luggage and a lot of drinking water. Those who drive cattle and sheep must gather near some rivers and lakes, where there are rich pastures.

Their base camp, a large number of cattle and sheep, often gather together, tens of thousands of head, and move slowly. As long as they are found, they will die.

Huo Qubing traveled thousands of miles and finally found the Huns' lair. In order to ensure the safety of their women, children, cattle and sheep, the Huns did not want to fight a decisive battle with the Han army.

Ming Chengzu's first three northern expeditions also found the lair of Can Yuan. Arutai and others had to fight the Ming army. Otherwise, they would flee far away as soon as the Ming army left the fortress. If they could not fight, they would not fight. , When the Ming army retreated, they came back.

There are always traces to be found. Through the location of the ranger harassment, the scope of activities, the number of people dispatched, the amount of food and grass they carry, etc., it is possible to judge where most of them are and where their luggage is gathered.

Just like Wang Dou's cavalry, if they ran for hundreds of miles, how many days and nights, and appeared at Mantaoer, Kaipingwei, etc., those with strong intelligence and rich experience can still slowly judge that Wang Dou's base camp is in Shacheng , Xinghesuo City area.

Food, grass and supplies also gathered here, trying to find ways to attack them.

This is also the fundamental reason why cavalry can only decide tactics, not strategy.

Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty still drove the Mongols out of the Central Plains. Even if the grasslands were the home ground of the Tartars, they had a wide range of activities and abandoned Guihua City. Place.

The nearly [-] cavalry and feather cavalry that Wang Dou gathered in Shacheng will go straight to Huanglong and uproot them!

"This trip..."

Looking at the generals under his command, Wang Dou said slowly: "We must show the prestige of our Jingbian army."

He yelled suddenly, and swung his right arm vigorously: "I swear to sweep away the dust and calm down my northern soil!"

"Sweep away the dust, calm down my northern soil!"

There was another roar of applause below, and the gold and iron horse rushed straight into the sky with arrogance.

(End of this chapter)