Late Qing Dynasty Executioner

Chapter 146 Borrowing Food from the Enemy
The armies set out at the same time, but the Buddhist headquarters was in the front. Their mules and horses were the best, so they could naturally move faster.

The 3,400-strong army will be divided into four teams. Chen Gu's vanguard will not only be responsible for clearing the way, but also for gathering food and fodder.

The army only had three days' worth of food and fodder, all of which were carried with them, so there was no baggage train. This was done intentionally in order to get to Chengdu as quickly as possible.

In this way, the speed of travel would naturally be faster, but the replenishment of food and grass became the most fatal problem. Chen Gu's solution was to take food from the enemy.

When they arrived at the Tenth City on the first day, Zhang Haomin was already waiting with his troops, delivering ammunition and meat to Chen the Assassin.

Even with this replenishment, each of the thousand soldiers would only have twenty bullets. However, the bullets produced subsequently would continue to be delivered to Chen Gu somehow.

In addition to bullets, each person was given ten detonators, five bombs, and five half-pound kerosene cans.

With ammunition, rifles and bulletproof vests, a soldier's load is about 30 kilograms. If 10 kilograms of food and 15 kilograms of soybeans are added, the total weight exceeds 50 kilograms. Fortunately, there are mules and horses for transportation, so this weight is not a big deal.

This is also the reason why Chen Gu asked Bai Wencheng to collect mules and horses. After all, if he wanted to speed up his journey, he would not be able to do without mules and horses. Marching on foot is not just ordinary walking.

The soldiers dismounted, took off their equipment, took out soybeans to feed the horses, and after the horses had finished eating, they had to be taken away for a while to eat some grass and drink some water.

After Chen Gui dismounted, he handed the horse to Lao Piao, sat down and drank a sip of rice wine, and asked Zhang Haomin beside him: "How is Fobao?"

"Those who stabilize it, don't worry. It's a pity that dozens of Green Camp soldiers who were recuperating from the wound died. They were all young and strong men. And judging from the situation, I'm afraid dozens more will die before the end is over!" Zhang Haomin sighed.

Chen Gu smiled and said, "In war, there will always be casualties. Even more people will die on this trip to Chengdu. If you want to change the world, there will be casualties. As long as the casualties are not our own, it's fine!"

"That's true. How confident are you about going to Chengdu?" Zhang Haomin hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question that concerned him.

"It doesn't matter how much you have control over. Man makes the plan, but success or failure ultimately depends on fate. Just do your best in everything!" said Chen Gu.

The journey alone would take more than ten days, and there were too many unexpected events. Even if Chen Gu was confident, he could not guarantee anything.

Zhang Haomin thought about it, frowned and said, "Your method of traveling light and being eaten by the enemy is actually a bit too risky."

"There is no other way. Not only do we need to rescue the families of our subordinates who surrendered to the Green Camp Army as soon as possible, but we also need to avoid giving Chengdu too much time to prepare. There is a garrison army in Jinchuan. Although it only has 2,000 soldiers, its combat effectiveness is very strong.

Although the sour scholar said that without the imperial order, they would not return to defend Sichuan, but what if it happened? "Chen Gu sighed and said, "I must take Chengdu as soon as possible, so that I can deter the whole Sichuan, and then it will be much easier to capture other counties."

Even the chief officials in all states and counties were basically Han Chinese, and their loyalty to the Qing court was not very high. Moreover, their purpose of becoming officials was to get money, so they basically would not form an army to resist.

As for the officials at the prefecture level, the proportion of Manchus is very high, but they can act tyrannically at ordinary times. When the army is approaching, their orders are not so effective. In general, after Chengdu is captured, many corrupt officials in prefectures, counties and cities will flee, and even if they stay, their resistance will not be too strong.

Because although the imperial court had been promoting the idea that Manchus and Han people were one family, in fact the Manchus and Han people had always been in a state of separation. Whether in the court or in opposition, the Manchus had more privileges and were more noble than the Han people.

"Okay, I hope you have a smooth trip!" Zhang Haomin said with a smile.

After spending a night in the Tenth City, Chen Gu's vanguard arrived in Hejiang the next day and encountered the first difficulty of this journey.

If they want to move forward, they must cross the Chishui River. It is not easy for a thousand troops to cross the river, and Chen Gu's army is a rebel army.

At this time, it was time for Bai Wencheng and others to step forward. It was also a test for Yang Huiyuan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Well, now Yang Huiyuan is the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his father has taken the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Bai Wencheng and Yang Huiyuan first took a small boat to cross the Chishui River. It was almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the water level of the Yangtze River was already decreasing, causing the water level of the Chishui River to recede a lot as well. At this time, the width of the Chishui River was only more than ten meters.

The two of them quickly crossed the Chishui River. Someone from Hejiang came to greet them. They had to come because Chen Gu's army was already approaching and might attack Hejiang County. Although the Chishui River could stop them for a while, it could not stop them for too long. At this time, Hejiang County had no soldiers available.

Not only Hejiang County, but also the garrisons along the Chishui River, including the entire Luzhou, did not have many troops.

Originally, there were only 3,000 soldiers in the entire Luzhou, but Le Bao withdrew 2,000 of them, and it seemed that there were 1,000 left. In fact, most of the 1,000 were vacancies, and the remaining ones were all old, weak, sick and disabled.

Not to mention resisting Chen Gu's army, even the various checkpoints along the Chishui River were being maintained with the help of Hejiang's big families and gangs.

Therefore, Hejiang had no resistance to Chen Gu at this time, and the only option was to negotiate.

Bai Wencheng and Yang Huiyuan were naturally aware of the current situation in Hejiang, so after entering the county town and meeting the county magistrate, they did not waste too much time talking. After introducing themselves to each other, Yang Huiyuan said, "Our army is only here to borrow the passage and will not attack Hejiang!

Therefore, I hope that the gentlemen of Hejiang can give some cooperation so that our army can pass smoothly. In this way, everyone can be safe and sound. When the dust settles in the future, the Lord of Hejiang can also have a sense of incense. What do you think? "

"Are you really just borrowing the road?" asked the Hejiang County Magistrate with a frown, obviously not believing it.

"It's true that we are just borrowing a passage. Our army's target is Chengdu, so we won't waste time in Hejiang. Of course, in order to get to Chengdu as soon as possible, our army travels light and doesn't bring much food and grass. We'll have to trouble Hejiang to gather some food and grass!" Yang Huiyuan said with a smile.

Everyone present couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. You borrow food from the court officials and then attack the court. Is this really a good idea?

But now the situation is stronger than people. If everyone is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, they will naturally refuse it sternly. However, everyone becomes an official to get money. If they are not given food, their lives will be in danger. If we weigh the pros and cons, the choice will be clear.

(End of this chapter)