It's early November.

The scouts led by Liao Wenru have drawn many maps, the most detailed of which are the topographic and landform maps of Penglai Water City and Dengzhou heading to Linzi, which Liao Wenru and others have devoted their efforts to.

Intelligence from Dengzhou and Laizhou was continuously sent in. After Liu Ning sorted it out in detail, it was reported to Wu Zongrui.

At the end of September, Sun Yuanhua, the governor of Denglai, ordered the guerrilla general Kong Youde to lead two thousand reinforcements and a large number of firearms to set off from the waterway to rescue Daling River City. Unfortunately, the warship Kong Youde and others were riding encountered a huge storm soon after setting out to sea.

, was forced to return to Dengzhou, Sun Yuanhua lost his temper, severely reprimanded Kong Youde, and immediately asked Kong Youde to lead reinforcements and set off overland to Daling River City for reinforcements.

It was already the end of October when the two thousand reinforcements led by Kong Youde set off from Dengzhou again.

It has been two days since Kong Youde set off from Dengzhou, and it is estimated that he will arrive in Qingzhou in about three to five days.

In fact, Kong Youde's move lost any meaning, because the battle of Daling River City was basically over.

Wu Zongrui also learned the news through Lu Faxuan's letter.

The news of the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Daling River City has not yet spread, and not many people in the court knew about it. Both the emperor and the court were greatly shocked. Lu Faxuan also tried every means to get the news, and immediately wrote to Wu Zongrui.

On the table is a letter from Lu Faxuan.

Zeng Yongzhong and Liu Ning looked solemn. They had read Lu Faxuan's letter. Apart from being angry and puzzled, they really couldn't understand why such a situation was happening.

"Sir, Liu Ning, you already know the situation of the Battle of Daling River. This battle is basically over. Tell us what you think."

Zeng Yongzhong looked at Liu Ning and spoke with a puzzled expression.

"Sir, I really don't understand. Zhang Chun was recommended by Lord Sun Chengzong. He performed well in the battle to recapture Yongping, and he has the reputation of being a great leader. It is said that he should be both wise and brave. He led an army of 40,000 to rush for reinforcements, but unexpectedly

I think it was Zhang Chun's own fault for such a tragic defeat, and I'm afraid Master Sun is also to blame."

"Sir, you are right. Master Sun may have to bear all the responsibilities this time."

"Sir, judging from the situation in your letter, the Houjin Tatars also have a large number of artillery. This is bad news."

Wu Zongrui nodded and looked at Liu Ning.

Under normal circumstances, Liu Ning rarely spoke, but this time it was different.

"Sir, my subordinates believe that Zhang Chun underestimated the enemy and failed to detect the information that Hou Jin Tatar had artillery, and did not realize that Hou Jin Tatar had laid an ambush circle and blindly advanced. This led to the disastrous defeat of 40,000 people.

The army was almost completely wiped out in less than a day, and Zhang Chun could not be blamed. If it were me, I would have killed Zhang Chun long ago..."

Liu Ning spoke a little hastily, and he also said the words "it is hard to blame". Think about it, the Xinyi Police Department currently only has a scale of ten thousand people, but it was Wu Zongrui who devoted all his efforts and worked hard to reach such a scale.

Zhang Chun led an army of 40,000 men. It would be gone if he said he didn't have it.

A sneer appeared on Wu Zongrui's face.

"Sir, Liu Ning, this kind of disastrous defeat was actually expected. Zhang Chun is a scholar. Although he performed outstandingly in the battle to regain Yongping, it was only the result of sufficient logistical support and the joint operation of multiple armies.

, the battle to rescue Daling River City is completely different. There is no logistical support, no intelligence sources, and a long-distance attack will encounter countless problems, big and small. If you don't plan carefully and don't know yourself and the enemy, and you haven't started fighting, you will be

Already showing signs of failure.”

"Zhang Chun has an unshirkable responsibility for this tragic defeat. Liu Ning said it well. Zhang Chun cannot escape the blame. The Houjin Tatars already have artillery, and it is a powerful artillery. It is about the same power as the Hongyi cannon.

Zhang Chun didn't know anything about such important information, so he rushed in blindly, and why did he act like a commander? Forty thousand troops entered the artillery ambush circle, and he was doing this with the lives of the sergeants."

"As the saying goes, knowing yourself and the enemy means you can win a hundred battles without danger. Lord Sun Chengzong was far-sighted. However, he did not conduct detailed research on recommending a commander. He did make major mistakes, and he is also to blame."

"The generals don't know the soldiers, and the soldiers don't know the generals. If an army like this goes to war, victory will be a fluke, and failure will be the norm."

Zeng Yongzhong looked at Wu Zongrui, his face turned pale. Wu Zongrui's last words were a taboo in the court.

The army of the Ming Dynasty has always been characterized by generals who do not know soldiers and soldiers who do not know generals. This is also a measure taken by the emperor and the court to prevent the commander-in-chief from having too much power and threatening the imperial power and the court. Combat troops are scattered everywhere. When fighting is needed, the emperor

Appoint the commander of the army and lead the troops in battle. After the battle, he returns to the court and returns the military talisman to the emperor's court, losing control of the army.

Moreover, the command of the Ming army was entirely in the hands of civilian officials.

This was to prevent the generals from having a huge army, threatening the imperial power, or even rebelling.

Leading troops to fight in this way, unless the commander is extremely smart, has an overall concept, and plans strategies, it is possible to achieve victory in the battle. What is terrible is that most of the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty lacked military knowledge. They were left to do the work.

In battles commanded by the commander-in-chief, do not expect to achieve a decisive victory.

This was particularly evident in the late Ming Dynasty.

Wu Zongrui could see Zeng Yongzhong's expression clearly.

"Sir, are you worried that I will say something I shouldn't say outside again?"

"Well, my lord, what you say is that generals don't know soldiers, and soldiers don't know generals. Although this is the actual situation, it's best not to say it again."

"I understand what you mean, sir. When I say this, I am actually reminding myself and you."

Wu Zongrui stood up and let out a long sigh.

"The Liaodong frontier army is the most elite army among the Ming army, and its combat effectiveness is also the most powerful. The battle of Daling River suffered heavy losses, almost losing its vitality. The frontier army stationed in Ningyuan, Jinzhou and other places has very few left.

The losses of the frontier troops stationed at Shanhaiguan are not too great. As a result, when Liaodong comes out of Shanhaiguan, there will be no troops in other places that can resist the Houjin Tatars. If things go on like this, Shanhaiguan will be difficult to protect."

"If there is a problem with the Guanningjin defense line, the Ming Dynasty will be in danger."

"I can predict that after experiencing the Battle of Daling River City, the Houjin Tatars will no longer have many scruples and will harass the pass more frequently. They will not attack from places such as Jinzhou and Shanhaiguan to avoid losing too many troops, but

You can bring them into the pass from Miyun and Zunhua, drive straight in, and threaten the interior of the pass."

"From now on, my Ming Dynasty will never have peace."

...

After some emotion, Wu Zongrui turned to the topic.

"The new army stationed in Dengzhou and Laizhou are both soldiers and bandits. They have never been bound by military regulations. Liao Wenru has already sent news from Dengzhou that Kong Youde and his sergeants, who had only set out for two days, looted along the way.

They even went directly into people's homes to rob, without any discipline at all. According to the rules of the imperial court, when the reinforcements enter Qingzhou, the prefecture and county offices along the way must provide military rations. Please worry about this, sir. They still have to provide a certain amount of rations, but be sure to inform Kong Youde and others.

If people dare to plunder anywhere in Qingzhou, don’t blame me for being rude."

Zeng Yongzhong nodded.

"I have remembered your Lord's instructions. When the army led by Kong Youde enters the Qingzhou area, the government office will immediately send documents to the prefecture and county offices along the way, asking them to provide the food and grass needed by the army. At the same time, Kong Youde and others are warned not to

If trouble occurs in Qingzhou, you must not plunder the people, otherwise you will be severely punished."

Wu Zongrui's face showed a wry smile again.

In fact, such requests and warnings have no effect on Kong Youde and others. People are plundering people along the way. You can't send sergeants to suppress them. That is equivalent to rebellion. Since the first year of Chongzhen, too many things have happened in the north.

The Ming troops who fought in battles and rushed to the north for reinforcements all behaved like this and plundered the people along the way. Of course, they did not get much food and grass from the local government, and sometimes they could not even eat enough.

"Sir, please speak as harshly as possible. I think Kong Youde and others always have to be careful, so that the farmers along the way will not suffer too much loss."

Zeng Yongzhong stood up and clasped his fists.

"Sir, I will make arrangements right away. The sergeants under Kong Youde will be arriving in Qingzhou soon. There are still many things that need to be planned and prepared."

"Okay, sir, let's arrange it and try to be as detailed as possible."

After Zeng Yongzhong left, Wu Zongrui's expression became more serious.

"Liu Ning, today sent a scout to notify Liao Wenru, asking him to return to Qingzhou immediately, leaving some scouts behind to monitor Kong Youde and his troops along the way, and report news at any time. In addition, starting from the day Liao Wenru returned to Qingzhou, Xinyi

All sergeants of the Administrative Division have entered the intensive training stage, and unless there are special circumstances, they are not allowed to leave the military camp for even half a step."

Liu Ning nodded.

"Sir, are you ready to deal with Kong Youde?"

Wu Zongrui glared at Liu Ning.

"What nonsense? The sergeants led by Kong Youde are going to Dalinghe City to help. If we attack them, wouldn't it be a rebellion? Don't even think about such a thing. All sergeants in the Xinyi Division have entered the intensive training period just as a precaution.

First, if something unexpected happens in the future, we can deal with it calmly."

Liu Ning definitely didn't understand what Wu Zongrui said, but he wouldn't ask any more questions.

More than a month has passed, and all Wu Zongrui's preparations have been at the pace of battle.

...

Liu Ning left the wing and returned to the Xinyi Police Headquarters.

In the empty wing, Wu Zongrui was lost in thought again.

Whenever he encountered a major opportunity, Wu Zongrui would meditate for a long time. The situation in the Ming Dynasty was deteriorating day by day. The successive attacks of the Hou Jin Tatars and rogue bandits forced the Ming army sergeants, who were already weak in combat effectiveness, into the embarrassing situation of fighting on two fronts.

, the result is that both front-line operations are not ideal.

This situation will continue until the complete demise of the Ming Dynasty.
Chapter completed!