Ping An Biography

The short-lived tenderness can no longer be missed, and the chill of war is getting closer and closer.The right way is to recruit soldiers in autumn on the battlefield, and the current autumn is really a season of frequent wars.Since ancient times, border troubles have mostly occurred in autumn. It is rumored that horses on the grassland grow fat after eating the grass that bears seeds in autumn, and the fat and strong horses can undertake the war; this factor is not important in the interior, because the soldiers and horses are mainly infantry. And the horses have to be fed.However, the autumn is crisp and the vegetation is withering, and there may be more fighting atmosphere.

The Senate Department has compiled multiple intelligence reports in the past few days, and can basically determine the movements of the official army, the north and the south. The northern army has assembled in Jingzhou and is preparing to go south. It may pass through Lizhou to attack Changde Mansion; the southern army has all passed through. Xiangshui is between Changsha Prefecture and Ningxiang County, and there has been no attack yet.

"Should this be the time for Zhu Butang to advocate waiting?" Zhang Ning tried his best to sound calm.

Zhu Heng bowed in front of the table and said: "At this time, when the South Road has crossed the Xiangshui River and the North Road has not reached Changde Mansion, if our main force is not noticed by the government's eyeliner when it is transferred to Yiyang in Changde Mansion, it will be a surprise attack. It will be even more unexpected. Yiyang is less than a hundred miles away from Ningxiang, and they will arrive in one day with light soldiers; after quickly occupying Ningxiang County, the army of the South Road is already dozens of miles away. A fight is probably inevitable."

Today, they have no other way at all, but Zhang Ning still turned around and asked Zhou Mengxiong, Wei Bin and others: "Do you think it's worth a try?"

After asking, he looked down at the blueprint in front of him. In the blank space between Ningxiang County and Changsha Mansion, he could imagine the position of the South Route Army. His gaze was like a wild beast waiting for its prey.

Zhou Mengxiong and others replied after a while: "It is indeed a fighter right now, and the general will wait to agree with Zhu Butang's proposition."

Maybe Zhang Ning just asked nonsense, these few people in the center will not object now, they have proposed to oppose this plan long ago.Zhang Ning didn't want to object, but when he really had to make a decision, he still couldn't help thinking about it again, so he asked Zhou Mengxiong and the others such a sentence.Zhang Ning felt that this might be a kind of weakness, but he comforted himself: be careful of the Wannian Ship, and carelessly miss Jingzhou.

"Since you all have no objections, it's decided. First mobilize troops and horses to Yiyang, and don't make a big fanfare in the early stage." Zhang Ning finally said this sentence, his tone was very calm, but he was actually very serious in his heart.

It was another crucial battle. Zhang Ning didn't feel any fear, just a little inexplicable worry.His eyelids twitched in the morning. Although he didn't believe in such mysterious things, it inevitably affected his state of mind.

Zhang Ning thought in his heart that the Suzaku army had excellent weapons and elite troops, with more than 1 people fighting against more than 2 officers and troops on the South Road, it shouldn't be a problem.At this moment, Zhu Heng continued: "The newly-made long-barreled guns should not be carried in the army. They are too heavy to affect the marching speed. The most important thing is to avoid delaying the fighters in this battle. I suggest that you don't need to carry mortar guns, but only a small amount. A mother-and-child gun weighing more than 100 kilograms is enough, so that the army can quickly seize the decisive battle between the officials and troops on the South Road."

Zhou Mengxiong also echoed: "The Yongle General Cannon used by the official army weighs more than five or six hundred catties, and its power is very limited. Other firearms are practical and cannot be compared with the firearms used by the Suzaku Army. The momentum can scare the barbarians. But we are not afraid. As long as we face the enemy head-on with the matchlock phalanx and cooperate with the cavalry, we have a great chance of defeating the Southern Route Army head-on."

Zhang Ning nodded in agreement. There is nothing to consider about this issue. The long-barreled cannon weighs six to seven hundred catties, and a cannon needs at least five or six horses to maneuver. This kind of weapon is not suitable for surprise mobile operations; otherwise, when the army passes by, The day lily is cold.

……

One thing that Changde didn't notice was that Yu Qian, governor of Huguang, came to Changsha Mansion.Even the generals of the army were a little surprised by this matter. The generals of the South Route Army thought that at most they would send the general officer Xue Lu to supervise the battle, but they did not expect the governor himself to come.

As soon as Yu Qian arrived in the army, he inspected military affairs everywhere. After returning to the big tent, he gave a lecture to the generals: "This time, the imperial court dispatched troops to encircle and suppress the rebels. The troops were divided into two groups. Although the number of soldiers and horses in the south route was much smaller, it was related to the entire battle situation; especially Now, the Changsha Army is the top priority, and military discipline must not be relaxed."

The generals in the tent listened seriously, but most of them actually didn't take it seriously, because this kind of official tone sounded the same, and it was nothing more than urging everyone to pay more attention.Among them is Meng Guang, the commander-in-chief of the South Route Army. He was originally the commander of Changsha Guards. This time, he mobilized a large number of troops from the surrounding guards to form an army. .Among the generals present was Tan Yousheng, who had once or twice fought against the Suzaku army.

Yu Qian made a phone call in front of everyone, and then told Meng Guang to send someone to make an unannounced visit and keep an eye on the movements of the Changde rebels.Of course Meng Guang hurriedly accepted the order, but he said in his heart: The battle is imminent, even if you don't order me, I will send someone to investigate the military situation, anyone will do that.

After leaving the big tent, Wang Jian, a staff member of the entourage, asked Yu Qian: "My lord let Wuyang Hou manage the army on the North Road, but you came to Changsha. Could it be that you think the rebels will take the initiative to attack the South Road?"

Wang Jian has been following him for many years, and Yu Qian replied unambiguously, "That's right. Zhang Ping'an is definitely not a person who just sits and waits for death. Even if we have an absolute advantage in military strength and attack on both sides, he may still take risks and launch an attack. Although The rebels are not afraid of him when they come to attack the South Road, but I am worried that the local generals will make mistakes if they slack off for a long time, so I should come and watch by myself. I still say the same thing, as long as we don’t make mistakes, Zhang Ping’an will have no chance.”

There was a rare murderous look in Yu Qian's eyes, and the little friendship between him and Zhang Ning has disappeared at this stage of the day, and he only wants to put Zhang Ning to death; this is not a personal grudge Or hatred, but a responsibility.Since the new emperor ascended the throne, there have been civil strife, and the war has lasted for more than a year; if the situation in Huguang is in his hands and nearly [-] troops are defeated (although Yu Qian thinks it is unlikely), the situation will deteriorate again. The civil war will also be prolonged... In that case, he will feel ashamed of his father and the people of the world.

Although he has been involved in many ways to get promoted and get rich since he entered the official career, he still has ambition and conscience in himself.Of course he can clearly distinguish what to do with power is right and what to do is black.

Within a few days, sure enough, Meng Guang rushed to report, and Tan Ma discovered that a large group of rebels were heading straight to Ningxiang.

Yu Qian was writing a letter to Marquis Wuyang at this time, and he immediately put down his brush and asked, "Attack Ningxiang? Where did the rebels come from?"

Meng Guang's face immediately became very ugly: "If you go back to your lord, it's from Yiyang."

Wang Jian on the side couldn't help but said angrily: "Futai only asked the generals to keep an eye on the movements of the rebels three days ago. What are the scouts and followers in the army doing? Why did the rebels go from Changde Mansion to Yiyang? There was no report at all for a distance of more than a hundred miles, and it was not discovered until it approached Ningxiang?"

Meng Guang's face became more and more pale, and he quickly explained: "Tan Ma discovered the rebel army just after they left Yiyang, but the rebel army marched very fast. As soon as Tan Ma reported to the central army and the last general reported to the big tent, they had already approached Ning Ma. Township."

Yu Qian pondered for a moment, and said to himself: "Ningxiang County is a small city, there is no danger to defend, and the defense is weak. It must not be able to stop the rebels. I am afraid they will not be able to defend it for a long time. After they occupied Ningxiang, according to Changsha Mansion only One hundred miles, according to South Road Camp, it is only fifty or sixty miles..."

Meng Guang gradually realized the seriousness of the matter. The Suzaku army had been tossing in Huguang for a year, and the officers and troops were defeated in a row.His heart sank, and he suddenly knelt down on the ground, his forehead hit the ground with a "boom", and his head was bleeding immediately, without batting an eyelid, he said, "The last general deserves death!"

Yu Qian did not lose his temper, but made a little supportive gesture: "Now is not the time to care about merits and demerits. As long as you win the battle and you have merits, who in the officialdom will have to make trouble with you?"

"Yes, yes..." Meng Guang said hurriedly.

Yu Qian helped his own black gauze hat, sat on the chair calmly and said: "The situation is not too bad, but the war is coming, the soldiers need to strictly prepare their armaments, and they must not be careless."

At this time, a general cautiously said: "The rebel army has not yet reached Ningxiang. Let's retreat to Changsha on the south road to avoid the front of the troops. When the northern army attacks, weixie will retreat by itself."

Meng Guang just got up under the action of Yu Qianfu, and immediately he couldn't help but scolded: "You useless thing, you want to run before you hit it!"

Yu Qian hurriedly stopped the bad words of the generals, and said kindly: "Unless it is absolutely necessary, you can't retreat easily. There are too many people and they are walking in a hurry. You may have to build two pontoon bridges to cross the Xiangshui River; even if you have time, you will definitely lose a lot of firearms. Baggage. And now that we have withdrawn to the east of the Xiangshui River, we have lost time and cannot cooperate with the North Road to attack Chenzhou Mansion...General Meng, our army has more than 2 people here, twice as many as the rebel army, and has artillery and firearms , do you have a way to win?"

Meng Guang paused for a moment, but he had some thoughts, but he didn't dare to say them casually.Thinking about the last battle of Gaodu, Cheng Guogong was six times stronger than the Zhuque army, and was defeated; the example was just a few months ago, and Meng Guang was very unconfident because of this.

At this moment, Yu Qian murmured: "I have a plan, so tell me, you can refer to it for details?"

"Please enlighten me on Futai." All the generals said hurriedly.

Yu Qian said: "The rebel army took the initiative to attack at this time and went south to attack. The plan was nothing more than to cut off the weixie on the south road first, so as to avoid the situation of being attacked by the enemy. When they raided the south road army, they were most wary of us avoiding the battle. They must urgently want to fight with us. Moreover, our Southern Army's soldiers and horses are relatively weak, and the rebel army has won many battles, so they must have the heart to underestimate the enemy. If they are eager to fight and underestimate the enemy, they are likely to advance rashly. At this time, the strategy of luring the enemy to set up an ambush is not Appropriate?"