1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 2347
The northern defense line of the Haihan army is only ten miles wide, and there is no need to worry about the opponent's detour from the sea to launch an offensive. In this way, at least [-] soldiers and horses are stationed all year round to prevent the opponent from launching a sudden offensive.

However, Daming has a vast territory, and the defense line in the north stretches for thousands of miles. It is impossible to adopt the defensive strategy of deploying heavy troops on the entire defense line like Haihan in Jinzhou. It can only disperse the troops to guard the various military towns on the border.For the Qing army with strong mobility, such a defense method undoubtedly has loopholes everywhere. As long as the troops are concentrated in one place, they can basically be defeated in one hit.

For the Qing army's nearly routine clearance and looting every year, today's Ming can only struggle with it, and there is no effective means of resistance.Under such circumstances, if the level of weapons and equipment of the Qing army were raised to another level, then Daming would be completely out of luck.

Of course, the threshold for producing advanced weapons such as guns and artillery is not just technology. With Haihan's industrial capabilities, it is far from reaching the level of a single gun in the army, and there are only a few advanced weapons with outstanding performance. Only elite troops are eligible for deployment.Considering the social productivity level and resource output status of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, even if they have mastered some weapons manufacturing technology from the West, it may be difficult to truly form a large-scale production capacity in the short term.

I learned from the captives that the Qing army still has three outstanding musketeers on the front line of Daheishan. The number of these secret troops should be close to a thousand. This is very likely to be the upper limit of their new muskets. Maybe there are still some of them. There are many old-fashioned matchlock guns brought to Liaodong by the Ming rebels.

The Qing army hid these musketeers probably because they had learned the lesson of last year. They knew that if they were exposed, they would attract targeted attacks from Haihan. This secret weapon had to be reserved for use at the most critical time.For example, the feigned attack in the direction of Jinzhou turned into a real fight. Then maybe the Qing army had to pull out its own musketeers to fight. In the case that the Haihan army was unprepared for this, it might really get a miraculous effect. .

However, compared to the size of the Qing army's Musketeers, Chen Yixin was more concerned about whether they had mastered the corresponding tactics and had actual combat capabilities.If it is only equipped with some muskets, it does not mean that it has formed a real combat effectiveness.

But regarding this issue, Wei Lin failed to get more detailed information from the captives. He could only confirm that there were Spaniards and Japanese who served as instructors in the Qing army last year, and this news was no longer considered by Hai Han. It's new. When the Marine Corps went deep behind enemy lines last year, they discovered that there were Westerners in the army guiding the training of musketeers.

Limited by the performance of weapons, almost all musketeers in this era use array tactics, and it is not complicated to practice. Even ordinary people without military foundation can be trained into musketeers with qualified combat skills in a few months. The speed of forming combat power is very fast.

"It seems that we need to say hello to Daming, and we can't just watch them suffer!" Chen Yixin quickly made a decision. The first target to be dealt with after possessing such a high-level unit is obviously only Daming.

The reason is simple, the Qing army is unlikely to use the hard-won musketeers to fight Haihan, they will only use them to deal with relatively weaker targets.After Jinzhou successively lost thousands of people, the Qing army has realized that it is difficult to expel the Haihan army from Jinzhou through military means. Continuing to invest troops in the frontal battlefield is just a waste of military exploits for the Haihan army. It is already an ideal state to block the Haihan army in Jinzhou.

And North Korea has Haihan's elite troops stationed there, and there is a natural moat like the Yalu River on the border. It will be troublesome if the Haihan navy cuts off the retreat if they fight there.In comparison, Daming is the best target to deal with. You can enter Daming from Xuanfu, Datong, Jizhou and other places. Breaking through the defenses of these places is much easier than the Jinzhou Isthmus defense line and the Yalu River natural moat. .

Although a considerable part of the combat troops were pinned down by Haihan to the north of Jinzhou all the year round, the Qing army often tried their best to mobilize some troops to participate in the attack on Daming.This time, the Military Intelligence Bureau has found out about the recent mobilization of troops by the Qing army, and it is very likely that the soldiers and horses who were transferred away participated in the attack on Daming.

In the past, the Qing army could break through the border defenses of Ming Dynasty only by the cavalry who came and went like the wind. If more musketeers join in, I am afraid that the situation of Ming Dynasty will be even worse.As a nominal ally, Haihan is indeed obliged to warn Daming.

Wei Lin replied: "Then the humble officer will go and inform the Ming envoy?"

Chen Yixin thought for a while before answering: "You go and tell him to come, I'll tell him face to face, it's more serious."

The formal contact between Da Ming and Hai Han began in Jinzhou. In 1636, Mei Shengchuan, the minister of the Ministry of War, secretly came to Jinzhou to discuss military cooperation and the ownership of Jinzhou with Haihan, which later led to the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.After that, Daming also sent official personnel to Jinzhou as a communication channel between the two sides.

This kind of stationed agency is actually very leisurely. The envoys of the Ming Dynasty only need to write a memorial to the court every month according to the battle report provided by Haihan.If the imperial court has a decree, it will also be conveyed to Haihan by the envoys stationed in the agency.The rest of the time can be used to grow flowers, fish, read books and play chess. There are no places for consumption and entertainment in Jinzhou, but it is very suitable for self-cultivation.

The Ming envoy who is currently stationed in Jinzhou is Yue Yongshou, the confidant of Mei Shilang of the Ministry of War.Although he was only a small head of the Ministry of War, he was backed by Mei Shengchuan to get such a good job.In addition to the monthly memorials submitted to the imperial court, which can give a sense of presence, Yue Yongshou can also receive a certain amount of silver from Haihan on a monthly basis, which is called "office expenses". Naturally, all of them went into his own pocket, which is quite a considerable amount in one year.

Cannibals are soft-spoken and short-handed. Yue Yongshou did not take advantage of Haihan during his stay in Jinzhou. Naturally, he has been very cooperative, not going where he is not allowed to go, and asking things he is not allowed to ask.

After receiving the communication, Yue Yongshou came to meet Chen Yixin soon.He is very clear about his role in Jinzhou. Chen Yixin must have something to convey to the court when he summoned him.

Chen Yixin straight to the point explained to Yue Yongshou the reason why he was in a hurry to summon him, because he found that the Qing army was very likely to be forming and training musketeer troops, and these special troops might appear in Daming at some point in the near future. On the border, Daming will then face the Qing army whose weapon performance has surpassed that of its own.

Yue Yongshou was also shocked when he heard this. He knew that the Ming army had a firearms battalion, but the weapons used were mostly primitive matchlock guns or very old-fashioned flintlock guns, which were far inferior to those used by the Haihan army. Equipped with repeating rifles and artillery of various calibers.If the Qing army had similar units and equipped them with better-performing weapons, then Ming's frontier defense would have to bear even greater pressure.

Yue Yongshou said: "Since even Mr. Chen thinks it is very dangerous, then I will definitely report this matter to the court as soon as possible. I just wonder if Mr. Chen has any solutions to solve this problem?"

Chen Yixin said: "For now, we haven't been able to confirm the real strength and deployment of the Qing army's gun troops, so it is difficult to evaluate their specific combat effectiveness. If these troops are sent to the northern border of the Ming Dynasty, I think the Ming army will It is difficult to have the power to fight against it. To solve this problem, unless the Ming army is equipped with a large number of weapons of the same level."

Yue Yongshou said: "Master Chen, what do you mean, let me make a suggestion to the imperial court to buy a large number of weapons and equipment produced in your country?"

Chen Yixin nodded without hesitation and said, "Exactly. Only when your country takes the initiative to improve its military strength can the Qing army be kept out of the country."

Yue Yongshou hesitated and said: "However, the imperial court does not seem to agree with the purchase of your country's weapons. The price is high, there are too few types of weapons to choose from, and the delivery cycle is long. Many adults think that this kind of sale is too disadvantageous."

What Yue Yongshou said is indeed true. Although Haihan also sells weapons and equipment to Daming, there are many restrictions, and the performance of the weapons sold to Daming is not even as good as that sold to Fujian Xu Xinsu.As a buyer, you have to be angry when you pay, so naturally this transaction will not be too comfortable.

Chen Yixin said: "There is only one reason for these problems, that is, only we can sell these weapons and equipment to your country on the market. If your country wants to continue fighting with the Qing army, then only by obtaining enough weapons from our country can we Guarantee that your country will not be defeated by the Manchus in the future."

Yue Yongshou smiled bitterly and said: "I have personally seen your country's army fighting against the Qing army on the front line of Jinzhou, so I naturally believe what Master Chen said. But those adults in the court don't know the difference between these weapons, and they may not understand what Master Chen said. It makes sense. There are many things that cannot be understood just by looking at the memorial."

"After all, it's because there are too few officials like Mr. Yue who are proficient in practical affairs!" Chen Yixin expressed emotion on purpose, and flattered Yue Yongshou by the way.

Yue Yongshou said: "Master Chen is absurdly praised. I can only do my best and try to explain things clearly in the memorial. As for whether this matter can be accomplished, I dare not give Mr. Chen a guarantee."

Chen Yixin emphasized: "Buying weapons is just a suggestion. What your country really needs to pay attention to is the situation of the Qing army. If the Qing army's well-organized musket troops appear on the border of your country, it is likely because the Manchus have mastered the manufacturing of such weapons. The technology of this weapon, your country must be more careful."

After dismissing Yue Yongshou, Chen Yixin still felt a little uneasy. He really didn't have much confidence in whether the warning he raised would have the desired effect.

However, in fact, Chen Yixin's warning was a step too late. During Operation Treading Snow, the Qing army, led by Prince Dorgon and Belle Yuetuo, divided into left and right armies and invaded Daming.The Qing army took Qian'an, Fengrun, Nengzhou and other places one after another, all the way to Gyeonggi.

The capital of the Ming Dynasty was shocked, and the supervisor Lu Xiangsheng personally led the army to meet the enemy, but still could not stop the Qing army's offensive.The Qing army attacked 43 cities in Daming territory, and all large and small towns in the Gyeonggi area were breached.The Ming army guarding these places either flinched or fled, and did not play a role in stopping the Qing army at all.

During this series of battles in the Gyeonggi area, the Ming army suddenly discovered that in addition to the usual swords and bows and cavalry in the Qing army, there were actually formed musketeers appearing in the Qing army.Moreover, the weapons used by these musketeers were of a uniform standard, and they knew how to fight in formations. The Ming army who fought with them were quickly defeated.

The two firearms battalions stationed by the Ming army in the Gyeonggi area suffered a small loss after fighting against them.They found that the weapons they used were not even as good as those of the Qing army. If it weren't for long-term training and rich actual combat experience, they would probably be directly defeated by the opponent.

This discovery is definitely bad news for Da Ming. In the military confrontation, Da Ming has gradually become a passive side. He can only parry but has no power to fight back.Now that the strength of the Qing army has been further enhanced, even advanced arms such as Musketeers have appeared on the battlefield. In time, the disadvantages of the Ming army due to backward weapons will be further expanded, and the ambition of the Qing army to go south will not be affected. Controls start to swell.

Almost at the same time when Chen Yixin had an interview with Yue Yongshou, the court of the Ming Dynasty was already arguing over the recent decline in the battlefield.

Some people think that Lu Xiangsheng's ineffective supervision of the battle made the Qing army feel like no one in the Gyeonggi area. At the moment, other generals with real skills should be replaced to take Lu Xiangsheng's position.

Some people also think that the fact that the Qing army has musketeers just shows that the Ming army should further expand the establishment of the firearms battalion.It's just that this kind of argument was refuted after it was thrown out. The Ming army is currently struggling to maintain the current size of the army.

Some people suggested that since military expenditures are tight, we should try to collect Liao salaries domestically and use taxes to subsidize the military's combat expenditures.However, this kind of opinion also encountered opposition voices. It was believed that the crux of the Ming army was not the lack of military expenditures, but that it simply did not know how to fight against opponents like the Qing army.

Since the rise of the Qing Dynasty, Daming has been in a state of passive defense, with more defeats than victories, and even repeated defeats.How to defeat the Qing army has become a difficult problem that plagued the Ming Dynasty, and after the evolution of time, this difficult problem seems to have become how not to be defeated by the Qing army.

Even if there were no musketeers in the Qing army, the decline of the Ming army was slowly showing, and the musketeers only accelerated the process.But even if the situation is so urgent, no one in the court has taken the initiative to ask Haihan for help.Compared with the ferocious Qing army, it seems that "Haihan" is the existence that makes the big shots so afraid that they don't want to mention it.

(End of this chapter)