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Chapter 530 What is a soldier?

Regarding this problem, Sun Chengzong and Du Song were more attentive than placing artillery. Last time, the Jurchen Qingqi broke through and went straight to the capital. If it weren't for the emperor's protection, they would have been dismissed from their posts and investigated. How could they dare to do it again.

However, the method of dealing with it was not the handiwork of the two of them, but came from the eunuch of the Royal Horse Prison. To be precise, it was the emperor's instruction. Since the Jurchens could take advantage of the Mongols' half-heartedness, why couldn't the Ming Dynasty also take advantage of it.

And the Jurchens definitely don’t have as much to offer as the Ming Dynasty. As long as you don’t always think about cheating people to make a lot of money, it’s not difficult to deal with various Mongolian ministries. The power is to spend money to buy information, and the method of using caravans as spies was still very useful in ancient times.

In addition, we can also take the opportunity to conduct relatively accurate mapping of the directions of mountains, rivers and mountains north of the Great Wall. This data has been reflected on the big map. Although it is of little use in the short term, as more data is collected, it will come in handy sooner or later.

"Mr. Li, it is not enough to rely on the Shanhaiguan garrison to detect the movements of the Jurchens. Does the navy have corresponding arrangements?" Du Song and Sun Chengzong did everything they could, but Hong Tao was still not satisfied.

In later generations, combat requires the coordination of infantry, tanks, and sea, land, and air forces. Although there were not so many arms and instant communication means in ancient times, the necessary sense of cooperation must be cultivated in advance, and everyone cannot sweep away the enemy.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the General Staff has been paying attention to the movements along the Liaodong coast. It has established observation posts at Donghai Fort and Wanghaitai, and stationed marines, rotating every half a month, with horses and clippers. Once any abnormalities are discovered, they will be reported to the police in a timely manner. Report the warships near Shanhaiguan and then convey them to General Du and Governor Sun."

Yuan Keli nodded slightly and explained the details of the navy's arrangement in a leisurely manner. Although this step was considered to be a step ahead of the emperor, he was not at all satisfied in his heart.

No matter what, most of the staff members in the Naval Staff came from the Kaito Division. They were students of the emperor on the surface, but privately they all thought that the emperor and the empress were the reborn parents. No matter what, they were still the emperor's credit, and no one could take it away.

"Well, although the Shanhaiguan General Army and the Navy are not under each other, they are both armies of the Ming Dynasty. When facing the enemy, they must be in the same boat through thick and thin. They must not imitate the officials of the court and form cliques to fight against each other. Ziqing, the army can do this Have you made arrangements?"

In fact, Hong Tao already knew most of the situation from daily secret reports. He brought his generals together today just to reiterate it in person, so that they would have a clearer understanding, and at the same time, to see if there were any omissions in details. .

"According to His Majesty's instructions, in addition to placing the main force in Tongzhou, the army also prepared two guards of workers to protect the factory in Luanzhou. The supplies of vehicles, horses and ammunition are always sufficient. Once the nearby pass is alerted, after receiving the notification, one It can be set off within hours, and the command will be controlled by the accompanying army staff. "

Compared with the Shanhaiguan General Soldier and the Navy, the Army's tasks and responsibilities are much lighter. After all, this army has not yet officially become an army. However, the burden on Li Ruzhang's shoulders is not easy. If the Shanhaiguan General Soldier and the Navy are the peripheral defense line of the capital, then the army is the last barrier and firefighting team of the capital.

It is precisely out of this responsibility that while stepping up the training of 30,000 formal army troops, he also secretly dispatched a 300-person officer and staff team to Luanzhou to deal with
Workers in iron plants, coke plants, mines, and coal mines received military training.

It is not clear whether they can face off against the Mongol and Jurchen elites head-on, but with their sharp muskets and artillery, as well as their bizarre tactics, it should not be a problem to set up ambushes and interceptors on the only way to defend them for three to five days. As long as it can be delayed for a few days, leaving enough reaction and travel time for the Marine Corps or Shanhaiguan border troops and the army, and ensuring the safety of the Luanzhou Iron and Steel Base, the goal will be achieved.

"Du Wenhuan, have you figured out how to answer?" When asking about Shanhaiguan's defense work, Jun Song and Du Wenhuan's uncle and nephew also stopped whispering and waited peacefully until the emperor asked.

"I also drank soldiers' blood and emptied their pay in the army, so I dare not speak out. In comparison, the people of Ningxia and Gansu are fierce, and there are a lot of Semu and Mongolians in the army. They have unruly personalities and have foreign enemies. Frequent harassment, this behavior is not serious.

This has become a common practice. If a lower-ranking official refuses to eat it, not only will he not be praised by the superior, but he will be made things difficult for him everywhere, and Ma Ginseng will not be exempt from this custom. As for lust, Ma Shenjiang married two women, both of whom were Hui Hui, and both of them were his wives, so I can’t say for sure. "

"Well, I'm just asking casually, don't think too much about it. But I want to tell you something clearly. It shouldn't be a common practice to drink soldiers' blood and empty pay. As the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan, Jun Jun has nearly 100,000 border troops. Elite, ask him if he dares to drink the blood of soldiers and take empty pay since he took office?
Yes, I gave you enough food and salary, and I never missed a day in arrears. But this is only one aspect. As generals, you have all fought your way from the bottom with swords and guns. You should be able to appreciate the hard work of soldiers.

They worked hard to join the army just to have enough food to eat and to wear cotton-padded clothes. If they couldn't even get enough of these, who would be willing to obey orders and work hard to become an official at a critical moment.

If it were me, I would flee for my life as long as there was a glimmer of hope, or surrender to the enemy. It doesn't matter who I serve as a soldier for, as long as I can kill all those who drink my blood on weekdays, what's wrong with being a horse slave for the northern barbarians?
My new policy will not only open factories and impose maritime restrictions, but also build a new army. In our new army, military discipline must be strict and punishments must be strict, but the most important thing is to treat soldiers as human beings and their lives as good things.

But since ancient times, there have been no undead soldiers. Yes, being a soldier means sacrificing one's life, but I will try every means to prevent them from dying. Even if they die, they have to sell them at a good price, so that their families can at least live a stable life for a few years. I can't be cheap. Like pigs and dogs.

And we should cherish those who are alive. We dare not say how rich we are. Anyway, if my new army takes out one at random, he will not become a poor man when he returns to his hometown. The silver he gets is enough to build a house, buy land, and marry a wife.

It doesn't matter if you don't believe it. You can ask Governor Yuan and Governor Li to see how much pay soldiers in the navy and army can get on weekdays, how much pension they can get after they die in war, and how much subsidies they can get if they are disabled. Let me ask you, if you were asked to command such an army, could you do it without drinking the blood of the soldiers or taking empty pay? "

Faced with Du Wenhuan's answer, or his confession, Hong Tao neither praised nor blamed him. This kind of thing is indeed as mentioned just now. It is 100% routine in the Ming army, without exception.

If an official does not deduct money from soldiers, how can he use his money to recruit and train soldiers? How can he win a war without soldiers who are well-trained, well-equipped, and willing to fight?

(End of this chapter)