Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

Chapter 231 The bitter cold is coming
  On November 4, the second year of the Ming Dynasty, it was extremely cold.

Black clouds filled the sky, accumulating layer upon layer, and they were so gloomy that they seemed to drip out of water.

The weather in Liaodong is getting colder and colder, and the severe cold of winter has arrived.

The cold wind howling outside the window every day, the ice on the eaves, the hoarfrost on the ground, and the beggars and poor people freezing to death on the streets all reminded Wang Qi that winter had already begun in Liaodong.

In the forty-seventh year of Wanli, when Yang Hao entered the Liao Dynasty, he was urged by the court several times to send troops. The Ministry of War, the Governor's Office, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, and the Cabinet sent letters for almost three days. Yang Hao, who was pressed hard, had no choice but to bite the bullet. Troops were sent out hastily, and the three groups were not under each other's control, had no contact or coordination, and were eventually defeated by each one, resulting in the tragedy of Saarhu.

Today, the situation in Liaodong has a trace of the original situation.

But the person in charge is no longer the same.

Wang Qi has been in Liaodong for half a month, but the imperial court has no intention to urge Wang Qi to send troops. The emperor's eunuchs who supervise the army do not even dare to ask about military affairs in front of Wang Qi. Training, it is even more impossible to ask Duke Lang when he will send troops.

Wang Qi himself didn't seem worried at all.

After all, the five days left for Daishan have recently reached the deadline.

In the past five days, Wang Qi seemed to be really waiting for something.

Guangning City, temporary government office.

"Now, including the baggage and rations sent by Shanxi Commercial Bank, our army's cotton uniforms, military boots and cotton armor are only enough for more than 10,000 people." As the newly appointed chief envoy of Liaodong, Yuan Chonghuan has been turning upside down day and night these days, almost He hadn't had a full night's sleep, and he was currently reporting to Wang Qi on the recent transfer of food and baggage accompanying the army: "The remaining 50,000 people don't have cotton-padded clothes for the winter, let alone armor."

"Where's the food?" Wang Qi lowered his head and kept his eyes on the map, as if he was studying the marching route.

"There is enough food. When Xiong Jinglue sent out troops, he did not bring much food and grass with the army. Almost 70% of it was stored in Ningyuan City and Guangning City. Now it is enough." Yuan Chonghuan stood there, holding the military uniforms he listed in his hand. There is a vacancy, and I am hesitating whether to give it to Wang Qi.

"Lu Xiangsheng and He Kegang have left?" Wang Qi asked after a while.

"I marched north to the grassland yesterday, but I still have some doubts about whether the force of more than 3,000 people will be useful." Yuan Chonghuan has always been full of melancholy these days, as if all the difficulties in his life have happened in these few days.

"Guangning City's army will set off tomorrow,"

call!
  Wang Qi breathed a sigh of relief and rolled up the map on the table. The densely marked map disappeared in front of Yuan Chonghuan. However, even when it was placed in front of the Liaodong Governor, he couldn't understand it.

"Tomorrow?" Without paying attention to the map on the table, Yuan Chonghuan took a breath of air: "We will set off tomorrow, but the food, robes, and armor are not ready yet. If we set off in such a hurry, won't we benefit Houjin?"

Yuan Chonghuan does not want to repeat the mistakes of Shenyang City or even the tragedy of Saerhu.

If it happens again, Wang Qi will not be able to save himself.

"At noon today, there will be ten shipments of goods shipped across the sea from Dengzhou Prefecture. You go prepare it and take people to Juehua Island to receive it. Early tomorrow morning, all battalions must be ready!" Wang Qi was sorting it out! Looking up at the letter on the table, he looked at Yuan Chonghuan: "Before I went north, Wang Huazhen had already rushed to Jiaodong to prepare supplies for our Liaodong war."

Yuan Chonghuan had heard about the Sihai Trading Company of the Wang family in Jiaodong, but the materials needed this time were not as simple as one or two items, but 50,000 items.
  "Sir, these are ten ships of supplies." Yuan Chonghuan wanted to confirm his thoughts.

"With the imperial court's endorsement and the emperor's seal, what can't be borrowed?" Wang Qi squinted his eyes: "Master Yuan, don't think too much about Liaodong, it is still the imperial court's Liaodong."

"Haha, sir, you are joking, you are joking, I didn't think about anything, and I won't think about anything," Yuan Chonghuan coughed twice, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Have you heard the rumors coming from the south?" Wang Qi was a little curious about how Yuan Chonghuan viewed his reputation in the court.

"Your Excellency, you have the appearance of a Marquis of Wu and the talent of a great leader. If you want to bring peace to the world, no one can compare with you." The expression on Yuan Chonghuan's face became more and more respectful. He pondered for a moment before continuing: "Having adults in Liaodong is a blessing to the Ming Dynasty. It’s also a tragedy for Houjin.”

"Oh?" Wang Qi smiled and expressed disbelief.

"Everything the official said is true," Yuan Chonghuan lowered his head and did not dare to look up at Wang Qi.

Not wanting to test Yuan Chonghuan, there was no need. Wang Qi waved his hand: "Go and do the work. We will take the manpower to Juehua Island in half an hour."

"Subordinate to obey!"

Yuan Chonghuan slowly retreated.

Wang Qi was the only one left in the tent.

The cold wind howled outside the tent, and the warmth inside the tent was as warm as spring. Wang Qi thought for a long time and opened the letter on the table again.

That was Wang Huazhen's letter. The logistical support for the Jiaodong Peninsula was extremely fast. With the endorsement of the emperor and the court, and squeezing out nearly half of the family property from the Confucius Mansion, in half a month in Jiaodong, more money than Xiong Tingbi's expedition had been raised. Also need more cotton quilts.

Even Sun Chengzong personally rushed to Denglai, Jiaodong to campaign for Wang Qi's expedition to Liao, using his own reputation as a guarantee to ensure the smooth progress of the expedition.

With the candles crackling and burning, Wang Qi thought for a while and picked up a pen to reply to the court a letter.

It is inevitable that the war will begin tomorrow.

Because of the matter of supplies, it has been delayed for half a month. If it continues to be delayed, when the coldest month of winter really comes in Liaodong, even if the Liaodong soldiers are familiar with the climate, they will still be at a disadvantage compared to Jiannu.

The fighting must be over by December.

This is Wang Qi's bottom line.

And how to solve it quickly?

Thinking of this, Wang Qi's writing speed increased.

Not long after, rustle, rustle.
  "I observe that Liaodong has thousands of miles of fertile fields, vast plains, and mountains dotted between the plains. Therefore, guerrilla warfare is the best strategy. It is first to pull out the stronghold and fortress on the outskirts of Shenyang, and then besiege the isolated city. This is the combat habit of the later Jin Dynasty. There are no reinforcements outside and no food and grass inside. , the winter is bitter and cold, you must go out of the city to fight with me, and I will win."

"If it is trapped in an isolated city, it is possible to make a long-term plan, but it will not last more than half a year. Therefore, it is an overall plan. The court's grain and materials still need to be continuously transported from the pass, so my winning rate will still be greatly increased. This is the middle strategy. "

"If Jiannu eventually abandons the city and flees, and retreats to Hetuala, then I will lead the troops eastward to plow the courtyard and sweep the caves to completely wipe out their race. However, this will go deep into the place, and the winter will be bitterly cold, so it is not suitable for long-distance marching. This is The next best thing."

After a while, Wang Qi stopped writing and blew lightly to make the ink dry slightly.

No matter what, when the army is out, it must give some feedback to the emperor and the court. Otherwise, if the troops are deployed for a long time, the palace will become suspicious.

(End of this chapter)