(0411) It seems that a unit like the Archery Army has fought with the Tartar cavalry, and the veterans have experience. What to do and what not to do, be clear. The unclear veterans are all dead. Recruits just need to follow the moves of the veterans. Of course, you can also not follow. However, it must be you who are unlucky. If you want to live, you will obediently follow the words of the veteran. The experience they have gained is all exchanged for blood, and it is not easy to come by!

In addition to combat experience, mentality is also important. Troops that have not experienced brutal actual combat are simply unstable when facing the enemy. Panic is inevitable. People are afraid of death. Without the severe pressure of the officers, it is very likely to have collapsed. However, for the troops who have experienced a hundred battles, encountering the enemy is like a daily routine, there is no need to panic at all, and they can do whatever they need to do.

In contrast to the two sides, troops that have no actual combat experience will argue with each other once they encounter them. On the side of the white-clothed army, they have long been ready for battle, and the Ming army on the opposite side has not yet set up an array. Just for this point, their fate is sealed. Some of the Ming troops, who felt that something was wrong, had already quietly looked at their rear and were ready to retreat.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

Violent gunfire rang out, and smoke filled the area around the Red Castle.

Under the command of Chi Hu, the 600 musketeers of the Shooting Army took turns firing and pressed the Ming army on the opposite side step by step. They did not advance very quickly, and after a volley of guns, they advanced about ten paces, followed by another volley of guns. This is the most standard way to march in line for shooting, and even a soldier who has not been in the army for a long time can master it proficiently.

The ranks of the Ming army on the opposite side were very dense, especially the first few rows. The purpose of this, of course, was to ensure the density of the muskets. The bird guns, thunderbolts, and three-eyed guns they use are all smoothbore guns, and the density of the muskets must be guaranteed in order to have a certain lethality. As a result, when he was hit by Minnie's bullet, it was immediately tragic. In the three or four rows in front, people kept falling. The latter ones go backwards.

The person in charge of commanding the Ming army was a staff general. His own private family still has some combat effectiveness. He shouted at his own family and killed a dozen Ming soldiers who tried to escape before re-stabilizing the ranks. However, the muskets of the white-clothed army were too lethal, and the Ming army in front couldn't resist it, and they still kept retreating. Sensing that the general was turning, the general had no choice but to pack up his personal belongings and hurriedly evacuate the battlefield.

"Run!"

"The White Army is too murderous!"

"The generals have all run away, why don't we run quickly?"

Without the Supreme Commander in charge, the dragons are leaderless, and any army is scattered. The Ming army that came to reinforce the Red Castle was immediately dispersed. In front of the muskets of the white-clothed army, they left three or four hundred corpses, and the others were all scattered. They didn't figure it out at all. They came to reinforce the Red Castle, but they didn't expect that the white-clothed army would actually come to the vicinity of the Red Castle. Without the cover of the castle, they don't even know how to fight. Some of the Ming troops, even confused, ran in the direction of Xu Xingxia.

Liu Chuang was itching to see it in the back, and he was gearing up, but unfortunately, the chasers wanted to protect Xu Xingxia's safety, and there was no way to participate in the battle. Seeing that the scattered Ming army was actually rushing towards this side in a daze, he immediately found an opportunity and shouted: "These rabbit cubs, look for death!" Brothers, rush, kill them! ”

He immediately led the chassars and rushed towards the rout of the Ming army.

The Chasseurs were newly formed units, which were supposed to have five squadrons and 1250 soldiers. Including the officers, there are about 1,500 people. However, 1,000 of them are recruits, only 250 are veterans, and at the moment the recruits are all training in the Montenegrin battalion, and there is only one veteran of the squadron, who follows Xu Xingxia. Together with officers of all ranks, that is, about 300 people. However, with three hundred people on hand, it was enough.

"Listen to me!"

"Ready!"

"Put!"

Liu Chuang brandished a machete and shouted loudly.

His mind is indeed not very clear, which is the main reason why he has been unable to take charge on his own. However, when he was fighting, he was very strong, and even Chi Hu, Wang Xia, and Mao Shisan, who were born as rangers, did not dare to fight him hand-to-hand at close range. They are all normal people, but this Liu Chuang is a madman. Can a normal person fight a madman? Liu Chuang's subordinates were all musketeers, but he himself used a machete. The alternative of this machete is like Xu Xingxia's bow and arrow.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Puff puff!"

The first volley of the chassars startled those Ming army routs. The distance between the two sides is very close, only about 30 zhang, and the hit rate of the moon gun is very high. One by one, the Mini bullets whistled away, bringing with them the greetings of death. The Ming army that rushed to the front was routed, and almost all of them were tragic. Blood bursts out, and their owners fall to the ground. The remnants were so frightened that they all fell down at once, holding their heads and shrinking to the ground, not daring to move.

They did not expect at all that in front of them, there were more white-clothed troops. Some Ming soldiers thought that they were encircled by the white-clothed army, and they ran blindly around, but they were killed by the chasseurs. After leaving behind dozens of corpses, the few remaining Ming troops hurriedly turned around and ran back. Liu Chuang chased after the chasers for three or four miles, worried about Xu Xingxia's safety, he didn't dare to chase too far, and they all withdrew.

Soon, the Ming troops who came to reinforce the Red Castle were all dispersed. A simple count of the results of the battle, as soon as the two sides came into contact, the white-clothed army killed and wounded five or six hundred Ming troops. The white-clothed army itself, several people were injured, all of them were injured by falls and bumps, and there was no major problem. It is estimated that this contact will give the Ming army in Guyuan Town a deep understanding of the combat effectiveness of the white-clothed army. The next time, when they want to enter Ningxia Town, they will definitely wake up their spirits. Unless they want to die.

The battle ended so quickly, Chi Hu didn't feel like it, and the soldiers of the Shooting Sound Army didn't feel like it. Before they could get excited, the battle was over. If you are facing three or four thousand Tartars, it is estimated that it will not be so easy. Liu Chuang and his chasers also found it unpleasant. The surname of the chasers was originally a guard unit, and it was rare to have the opportunity to participate in actual combat. This accident is also providential. It's a pity that the enemy was defeated all at once without fighting. Liu Chuang asked expectantly, "My lord, do you want to take the Red Castle?" ”

Xu Xingxia shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Forget it, there's no need." ”

A fortress like the Red Castle, after it is taken, it is necessary to send troops to garrison it. If you don't send troops to garrison it, the meaning of the fortress is lost. However, in this ghost place, sending troops to garrison it requires considering logistics. To be honest, Ningxia City is too far away from the Red Castle, and in terms of logistics, it is not easy to guarantee. If you look at these winding mountain roads, transporting grain is a hassle. The current logistical supply capacity of the white-clothed army is actually very weak and cannot afford it!

On the contrary, if the white-clothed army gave up the red castle and abandoned this fortress, the Ming army would definitely hold it to the death. They should value this fortress very much. As long as they value it, it's easy to do. After three days, Chi Hu came with his troops to greet him. As soon as reinforcements of the Ming army were found, they were dealt with directly in the field. After several battles, it is estimated that the vitality of the Ming army in Guyuan Town should be almost consumed.

"Chi Hu, come, sit!" Xu Xingxia looked around, found a relatively flat place, turned over and dismounted, sat down, and discussed the entire defense system in the entire south with Chi Hu. The battle of the Red Castle is only one part of the entire southern defense system. In the south of Ningxia Town, there are still many places and many traffic arteries, and the white-clothed army must be controlled.

The White Army was ready to pursue an active defensive strategy. What is an active defense strategy? That is to say, if you show signs of beating me, I will be the first to beat you. The purpose of beating you is to make you lose the motivation to beat me. Therefore, robbing the enemy's resources and disintegrating the enemy's vital force is the first priority. Specifically, the White Clothes Army will establish guerrilla zones in several areas south of Ningxia Town. The population of this area has all been moved, and the walls are clear. The troops led by Chi Hu were active here, taking the initiative to attack the enemy.

Their purpose is to intercept, delay, harass, and fatigue the enemy's attack. They are definitely not somewhere, they are stationed to the death. They don't stay in one place for long. They will not give the enemy a chance to surround and will not give the enemy a chance to attack. They are like wolves that travel thousands of miles alone, staring at their enemies all the time, regardless of where they are. No matter what method is adopted and what means are adopted, as long as the enemy is destroyed, it will be a victory. In other words, it is victory to make the enemy unable to reach the front line of Ningxia City.

Xu Xingxia estimated that the Ming court's ability to bear it was limited. After more than 200 years of development, the Ming Dynasty was already terminally ill and difficult to return to in the late Wanli period. The most conspicuous drawback is that the financial resources are exhausted and the income cannot make ends meet. Fighting a war requires money and grain, and it is impossible to have a lot of money and grain from the imperial court. In other words, the war cannot last long. The longer the war lasted, the greater the cost of the imperial court. If the court can't beat it, there is only Zhao'an. They also used this trick against Li Zicheng. Xiong Wencan has successfully recruited many people.

If the imperial court recruits peace, it means the end of large-scale wars. Of course, Xu Xingxia would not believe that the imperial court would really let him go, in history, as long as he embarked on the road of rebellion, unless he became the emperor in the end, there was basically no good end. However, this is good for the overall strategy of the White Army. If the white-clothed army wants to expand externally, it cannot continue to use too many troops in internal battles. After all, Tatar cavalry of hundreds of thousands of people, no joke. The white-clothed army must concentrate its forces in order to win the battle.

This is the main defense strategy of the White Army on the Southern Front, so that the enemy will retreat in the face of difficulties and be daunted. Of course, it would be better if you could make the enemy retreat and be at a loss. Xu Xingxia believes that with Chi Hu's ability, it can be done. The Shooting Sound Army under his command is the greatest guarantee of confidence. It is absolutely impossible for the Ming army in Guyuan Town to enter Ningxia Town and suppress the rebellion without spending a major price.

As for the eastern front, it is mainly the Ningxia rearguard area. Over there in the magnetic kiln village, Xu Xingxia was ready to hand over to Gao Yigong and them to be responsible. Coming from this direction should be the Ming army in Yansui Town. Gao Yingxiang and Gao Yigong should be quite familiar with the Ming army in Yansui Town. With them in the area of Ciyao Village, the Ming army in Yansui Town wants to enter Ningxia Town, but I am afraid that it will not be so easy. Of course, the Ming troops of other military towns may also arrive from this direction. However, if the Ming army from other military towns arrives, the reinforcements of the white-clothed army are estimated to have also arrived.

To the west, naturally, there are officers and soldiers from Gansu Town. Their number is not estimated to be very large. Because, there are not many Ming troops in Gansu Town itself. They were also limited to the constraints of money and food, and it was impossible to send too many reinforcements. Zhang Yi's vulture cavalry stragglers are responsible for containment. From Gansu Town to Ningxia Town, it is thousands of miles away, and just rushing is enough for the Ming army to have a headache.

With the new recruits of the White Army, the training and maturity of the soldiers, the military strength of all units of the White Army will grow rapidly. At that time, any white-clothed army can block tens of thousands of Ming troops. How many Ming troops can be dispatched by the imperial court? In that year's resistance to aid Korea, the Ming army dispatched was only a few tens of thousands.

The most important thing is that with the work of Ningxia City gradually getting on the right track, the comprehensive strength of the white-clothed army will definitely be further improved. In particular, the production of the three iron-making blast furnaces has a direct effect on the improvement of the combat effectiveness of the white-clothed army. The problem of raw materials, which originally restricted the production of weapons and equipment for the White Army, has been thoroughly resolved. As long as the output of the Moon Gun reaches 100 per day, the white-clothed army will not lack weapons.

With an army, a territory, grain and grass, and the knowledge of a traverser, what does he Xu Xingxia need to worry about? On the contrary, what should be worried should be the imperial court, the cabinet, and the Wanli Emperor! In time, he will surely defeat them!

…… Jingshi, south of the Forbidden City, Yamen of the Ministry of Officials.

The sedan chair of Zhou Jiamo, the secretary of the Ministry of War, slowly entered the back hall of the Ministry of Officials. It's his patent. The Ministry of Officials is the head of the six departments, and its majesty is absolutely not to be provoked. Other people's sedan chairs must stop in front of the officials, except for him. Because, among all the important ministers of the court, he is the oldest. This year, he is 71 years old. At such an age, he still needs to work for his master, which shows how serious the matter is.

In fact, Zhou Jiamo himself also knows the seriousness of the matter. He was a Jinshi in Longqing for five years, and his career has experienced the entire Wanli Dynasty. Whatever happened in the Wanli Dynasty, he had witnessed it all. In his life experience, such a serious thing did not exceed five times at most. This time, what happened in Ningxia Town, he didn't expect it at all. Subconsciously, Zhou Jiamo felt that Xu Xingxia's rebellion was even more serious than the Bobai rebellion in the past.

Fang Congzhe personally walked to the side of the sedan chair, opened the curtain for Zhou Jiamo, and asked Zhou Jiamo to get off the sedan chair. Regarding the etiquette of Lord Shoufu, Zhou Jiamo just nodded lightly, which was regarded as a return gift. He has every qualification. After all, his qualifications are really too old. Fang Congzhe is a pure junior in front of him. If Fang Congzhe was not so respectful, countless saliva would fly over from behind him and drown him alive.

This meeting was convened by the first assistant party Congzhe. He is in charge of the Ministry of Officials and has always been working in the Ministry of Officials, and this meeting was naturally held in the Ministry of Officials. After the arrival of Zhou Jiamo, other important ministers arrived one after another. The second to arrive was the Rite Ministry Squire [***] Star. The third one to arrive was Yang Dongming, the head of the household department. The fourth one to arrive is Cui Jingrong, the waiter of the Criminal Department. The last to arrive was Sun Wei, the imperial history of the left capital. This is what Fang Congzhe, who is the first assistant, can find all the important ministers of the court who can discuss national affairs.

What the? Can a squire be regarded as an important minister of the court? Where did Shangshu go? Sorry, there is no Shangshu! Because of Emperor Wanli's neglect of government, he deliberately did not appoint or dismiss officials, and of the six departments of the Ming Dynasty, only the military department had Shangshu, and the other three were all led by Shilang. This is actually good, the worst thing is the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Rites, there is no Shangshu, there is no waiter, and Fang Congzhe doesn't know who to turn to. Fortunately, there are generally no major events in either department.

Nonsense aside, [***] star people are also used to such a structure. There are no tigers in the mountains, and the monkey is called the king, just get used to it. Anyway, do you expect Emperor Wanli to leave the palace and seriously appoint and dismiss officials, or don't do it. Because, that's simply not possible. If you are angry with the emperor, it is estimated that the one who will be suffocated to death in the end must be you. Emperor Wanli's endurance is definitely not comparable to anyone present. In order to establish the prince, he fought the entire six cabinets alone, and he was stunned for more than ten years.

Today's topic is actually only one, and that is how to deal with the rebellion in Ningxia Town. Regarding the news of the rebellion in Ningxia Town, Huang Kezhang naturally did not dare to hide it, and the urgent documents were sent to the imperial court a few days ago. Later, several good news were added, explaining in detail the situation in various aspects. After Fang Congzhe read it unhurriedly, he asked Zhou Jiamo and others to circulate it, and only when everyone had a bottom in their hearts did he start to convene today's meeting.

To be honest, before this, several important ministers of the imperial court here have not paid much attention to Ningxia Town. There is no way, Ningxia Town is indeed a bit far away from Jingshi. Besides, it is a mixed place, and the situation is more complicated. More than 20 years ago, Bobai occupied the city of Ningxia and rebelled, causing a lot of chaos. After that, they had the impression that it should be a barren land. Unexpectedly, in the end, there would be such a big mess. I didn't expect that this time it was actually Ningxia City conquered by the rebels from the outside.

I really don't know what the defenders of Ningxia City are doing to eat. It is incredible that tens of thousands of defenders, with high walls and artillery, were actually conquered by the rebels. The Tartars repeatedly went south to commit crimes, but they had never heard of conquering Ningxia City. Why did a rebel army suddenly come and conquer Ningxia City? Could it be that the fighting power of the rebels is stronger than that of the Tartar cavalry? Is there any other hidden meaning in this? Dongchang and Jinyiwei, there is no other information? No matter how you look at it, it doesn't feel normal!

Those responsible must be held accountable. Li Maohui and Li Guozhen, the crime is unforgivable. These two people, losing the city and land, beheading the capital is the lightest, and it is also appropriate to raid the family and exterminate the clan. Wong's culpability will be decided later. There is no doubt about sending troops to quell the rebellion. It is impossible for the imperial court to tolerate such a big event. Raise an army to rebel and conquer the nine-sided town, so you still have it? If this matter is not dealt with quickly, I don't know how the other border towns will react!

It's just that Emperor Wanli doesn't care about anything, and Fang Congzhe has not replied to the recital sent by Fang Congzhe so far. I don't know if he watched the folds. Maybe I didn't see it at all. Or maybe I read it and knew it, but I didn't bother to deal with it and didn't take it seriously. If it were another emperor, it would not have been possible. However, it is difficult to say about the Wanli Emperor. He has a lot of quirks. There was no way, Fang Congzhe had no choice but to stop waiting for his approval and was ready to start acting.

Although they are civilian officials, they also know the truth of the speed of soldiers, and they must take advantage of this time when Xu Xingxia's foothold is not stable, and launch a counterattack in order to contain the rebellion as soon as possible. Otherwise, the longer the time drags on, the stronger the rebels will be. The rebels are the best at coercing the people, and they know this best. At the beginning, the suppression of the Bobai rebellion was done in the same way. If they blindly wait for Emperor Wanli's reply, they are afraid that the daylilies will be cold.

However, the thought of doing this, and whether it can really be done are two different things. If things were really as simple as Fang Congzhe imagined, and he only needed an order to complete the matter, he didn't need to call a meeting of his colleagues at all, and directly ordered the suppression. The point is, how to raise the money and food? Without enough money and food, there is no way to mobilize the army, let alone let the army go up and fight the rebels.

The financial situation of the imperial court was well known to everyone present. The current situation is that if the Wanli Emperor's internal funds are not used, the Taicang silver will not be enough to pay. However, if you need to use internal funds, Emperor Wanli will definitely call you poor. That's right, it's called poverty. Seriously, they sometimes think that Emperor Wanli is simply a miser. The whole world belongs to your Zhu family, but you still behave so stingily, isn't this a miser?

Before, a group of senior colleagues tried their best to persuade Emperor Wanli to take back the tax supervisors, mine supervisors and the like, and no longer reach out to the people. For this reason, countless colleagues, the dismissal of officials, the pension of the elderly, and the board of the board, can be said to have paid an extremely heavy price, and only barely achieved some victory.

Now, he needs to use the money from the inside, and if he doesn't take the opportunity to send out the tax inspectors, mine supervisors, and the like again, he will definitely not be his old man. What was he doing in his old age? I'm trying to make money by all means! Such a good opportunity, if he let it go, he would not be the Emperor of Wanli.

(To be continued)