Section 46: Combat Readiness (Part 1)
In Beijing, Sony and Oboi are gathering together to discuss national affairs. After the Chinese New Year, the atmosphere in the court changed, that is, the call for a large-scale offensive to western Sichuan was the upper hand. Both princes and court officials developed a strong interest in Sichuan. However, everyone's perception of Li Guoying was getting worse and worse, and there were more and more remarks against Li Guoying. Many people pointed out that although Zhang Changgeng, Jiang Guozhu and others were struggling to face Deng Ming, who had a navy, they at least did not suffer miserable defeats like Li Guoying, and lost more than 100,000 troops.
"Li Guoying is still a real skill. Although he doesn't fight Deng Ming very well, he has to attack Chengdu and ask him to assist the head coach." Sony could not agree with this statement at all. In his opinion, the Southeast was completely letting Deng Ming robbery, and wait until the other party robbed him enough to return to the army. Liangjiang's troops were to defend the city and prevent Deng Ming from gaining a foothold in the Southeast, which was somewhat similar to Shandong before the Qing army entered the pass; and the same was true for Huguang, according to Zhang
Chang Geng's report said that the entire Hubei riverside area was almost built into a built-up area by him. Sony still remembers his opinion on the Shanxi Xuanda defense line: there are many fortresses, and there are soldiers everywhere, and there is nothing worth robbing. It is better to bypass Hebei and Shandong. Now Sony estimates that Deng Ming also has this view of Hubei. Since Zhang Chang Geng has no ability to hinder his mobility at all and is still a fortress, Deng Ming naturally does not have that good appetite to bite Zhang Chang Geng.
Even though he dared to attack Li Guoying, Sony felt that he was better than the governor of Huguang and Liangjiang. As for Sichuan Governor Gao Mingzhan, Sony was just a minister who was good at flattering. This person gave Sony a lot of gifts, and the New Year's Day gifts prepared by the sect kings were also quite good. Sony didn't hate Gao Mingzhan, but if he really wanted to fight in Sichuan, he knew that Gao Mingzhan would definitely be far inferior to Li Guoying.
Oboi fully agreed with Sony. Suksah and Ebilon could not compare with him with Sony. The latter two were confidants of Huang Taiji since the Nurhaci era. They personally experienced the most dangerous period of the Later Jin Dynasty in the middle and late period of the Apocalypse. Although the world is stable today, Oboi still clearly remembers the attack on the Later Jin Dynasty. Huang Taiji was worried and unable to swallow his appetite, and also remembers his sense of crisis at that time. He firmly believed that Sony must still remember these feelings. Compared with the two of them, Suksah and Ebilon seemed too smooth. They had never seen Huang Taiji and other common Beile repeatedly consider it and make a lasting judgment in the dilemma. Then everyone went to the shaman to pray for the war to go smoothly.
There is a very popular view in Beijing at present, that is, the reason why Deng Ming was in trouble in Sichuan was because the Qing court did not mobilize all its strength and did not send out the most elite army. In short, the Qing court did not give its all its strength, so it gave the Sichuan Ming army the opportunity to show off its power. As for the Battle of Gaoyou Lake, those who hold this view either ignore it or say that the late emperor was ambushed dozens of times as much as himself.
The princes undoubtedly think so. Their ancestors were all in their teenage years and fought in their twenties, so they thought they were right to do so. The kings all believed that as long as they dispatched enough Eight Banners troops to supervise the Green Camp, there were prince-level people in charge, and those who were familiar with Sichuan geography, such as Gao Mingzhan, could destroy the Ming army base in Chengdu with the force of Mount Tai. Suksaha and Ebilong also supported this view. They still remember that after the Battle of Gaoyou Lake, Deng Ming fled back to the riverside as quickly as possible. The 100,000 Ming troops who besieged the Imperial Camp acted like this, obviously because they were afraid of the more than 10,000 Eight Banners in their hands, and knew that a dignified battle would definitely not be an opponent.
"The princes of those days were indeed able to go into battle when they were teenagers. Not to mention the princes, they were just you and me, weren't they all used to be white armor for Emperor Taizong?" Oboi said to Sony, but at this time, the princes did not dare to expect them to be related to the performance of those princes in the foreign era. Dorgon and others were immersed in the military atmosphere since they were young. The daily life of their fathers and brothers was war, and the topic of daily life was to discuss the gains and losses of war and their experience of fighting. The Eight Banners nobles at that time had the advantage of being compared to the Banner Ding.
There is more time to ride a horse, more opportunities to practice bows and arrows, and better martial arts training. Although we have only been in the pass for twenty years, the atmosphere has changed drastically. The current Eight Banners are no longer discussing wars, but Sony and Oboi have not fought with the army for many years. When a large number of Han people were willing to work hard for the Qing court, they just had to command the green camp to fight to the death. The princes and princes with prominent status no longer fiddled with bows and arrows, but enjoyed the rare treasures that were filial to all over the world.
Although Jieshu's grandfather Dai Shan was not famous for his bravery among the four major benevolents, Oboi remembered that the old prince was wearing white armor every day and trained with his subordinates. Oboi once saw a white armored man in the red flag swollen Dai Shan's face, but he was not angry at all, but was reviewing his carelessness, knowing that if a similar mistake was made on the battlefield, the Ming army would be cut off. Now Prince Kang's martial arts performance is completely like his ancestors. Although Jieshu himself still thinks he is very hardworking, is there any ignorant slave who dares to swing his fists and greet the prince's head?
"How about let Prince Kang command the army to fight in Shandong?" Oboi made a suggestion. Although Oboi doubted the new generation of princes who discussed opera and entertainment than war, the Eight Banners could compare with him and Sony. Even when discussing war, Oboi doubted how similar the war imagined by the new generation of Manchu and Han Eight Banners was to war with real swords and guns. However, even Oboi agreed in his heart that as long as Beijing did his best and attacked at all costs, the Ming army in Sichuan could only escape.
For many years, the Eight Banners of Manchu and Han in the capital were unwilling to go out because they could enjoy the supply in the southeast, while the northwest was said to be in remote areas, and even if they won the enemy, they could not grab any good things. This time, the Eight Banners, from princes and princes to flag-mass, all agreed to go out overwhelmingly, because Sichuan was said to be very rich. Many Han people said that Sichuan had been called the Kingdom of Heaven since ancient times. The food was exquisite and sufficient. There was no need to worry about eating when going out. They also produced jewelry. If they rolled a bag of agate, jade, gems or ivory, they would even earn the family property of their descendants. Because they were full of desire for wealth, everyone immediately remembered the revenge of the king and father, and they all gritted their teeth to avenge the ancestors. Obai thought this was a good phenomenon. It would be better for the Eight Banners to have such fighting spirit than to think about enjoying happiness in the capital all day long.
Sony thought for a moment and nodded. Like Oboi, the remark that "Deng Ming was able to be rampant is because the Eight Banners did not deal with him seriously" was also agreed by Sony, because it was related to the pride and dignity of the Eight Banners, and it was also the truth that he and Oboi believed in. However, as a group of people in the era of Huang Taiji's entrepreneurial era, Sony and Oboi had a layer of caution that Ebilong and Suksaha did not have, which is also the reason why Oboi proposed to ask Jieshu to go to Shandong for a walk first.
Now the calls for attack on Sichuan are getting louder and louder. After Shandong's seven chaos are pacified, it will most likely propose to use troops to Sichuan as a whole. If the wealthy people of Sichuan can be used to transport food and grass for a long time without the court's long-term transfer of food and grass, and the benefits can also make up for the court's expenditure, Sony and Oboi can't even find a reason to convince themselves to disagree with this plan to avenge their father and resolve the crisis in the Yangtze River Basin once and for all.
"Let Prince An go too." Sony added, feeling that even if they are all sect kings, there is no way to divide and rule them. As long as the ministers of the regent are attentive, there will always be a good opportunity to divide them.
Of course, this matter cannot be blatant. Now that the princes and princes intend to repair their relationship with the Taihuang Empress and the Minister of the regent, the Taihuang Empress also privately expressed their desire to make positive reactions, we should make good use of this Sichuan crusade. Sony has been determined to support Prince Kang or Prince An as the commander of the next Sichuan crusade. Then let them all exercise in advance and be familiar with the actual operation of military affairs. At that time, the court can also determine the specific candidates based on their performance in Shandong.
"Let Li Guoying go too." Sony added another sentence. Although Li Guoying is the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, since he is in Beijing, it is still okay to let him temporarily serve as a staff officer for the prince. In addition to letting them get familiar with each other, Sony also plans to examine Li Guoying's true level up close: the court in the army is full of eyes, and if Li Guoying really cannot bear the heavy responsibility, Sony will not support him unconditionally.
Then, we will move our troops westward. With this training and cooperation, the losses in the attack on Deng Ming will be smaller and the results will become more fruitful.
Victory can always eliminate differences and resolve conflicts. The court and the soldiers received a large amount of seizure income, which was enough for many people to boast about their lifetime military achievements and show the whole world the unity of the sect king and the ministers of the regent. Compared with these benefits, the benefits of avenging the late emperor seemed to be the result of this Sichuan crusade.
Victory makes people happy and everyone is praised. At that time, the ministers of the regent can stand beside the Empress Dowager and share the glory. Whether it is Sony or Oboi, they feel that such a victory is really necessary, so that they can completely get rid of the shadow of the Kangxi case.
Chapter completed!