Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

"It's really hard to recruit soldiers from Liaodong!"

Kong Zhenyun, who came to recruit soldiers, sighed.

Like Zheng Zhihu, he was sent by the emperor to Liaodong to recruit soldiers and place the disbanded soldiers.

However, what embarrassed the two was that the large-scale military reduction in Liaodong turned into a small-scale military reduction. Those who were being laid off were mainly those who did not want to go to the battlefield to fight.

Those people don't even dare to fight in Liaodong, so how can they think of going to Heilongjiang and Nanyang.

Therefore, the two of them recruited very few soldiers during this period, and only some generals chose to follow them for the sake of their future.

Zheng Zhihu had already given up the idea of ​​recruiting soldiers in Liaodong and said to Kong Zhenyun:
"The natives in Nanyang are not very strong. We just need to recruit some Dongning soldiers and equip them with firearms."

"To be honest, after being equipped with the new muskets, the veterans don't have much of an advantage."

"It would be better to recruit more new soldiers, so the salary will be lower."

Kong Zhenyun disagreed and said:

"Ordinary infantry is okay, but cavalry and artillery require time to train."

"Even mounted infantry is not that easy, it requires professional soldiers."

Zheng Zhihu agreed. They basically didn't need cavalry in Nanyang, and the artillery could just use naval gunners.

Unlike the north where we are facing the Jianlu, we need a lot of artillery and cavalry.

This made him somewhat glad that his elder brother was going to establish a fiefdom in Southeast Asia, so after defeating the Dutch, he wouldn't have to worry about too many enemies.

However, thinking of Zheng Zhilong who was conferred the title of Earl, he felt anxious again:

The eldest brother has been conferred a title, so how can he, the second younger brother, fall behind?

However, he was only responsible for logistics in Liaodong and had little chance to make great contributions.

"How can one be granted the title of Earl?"

"I need to ask someone."

Thinking of this, Zheng Zhihu looked at Kong Zhenyun in front of him and felt that he should ask for some advice.

As the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Kong Zhenyun had a very thorough understanding of the court's policy of enfeoffment.

Although he is now being demoted to Heilongjiang as an inspector general, he is actually still favored by the emperor.

In particular, he was going to preside over the division of fiefdoms in Heilongjiang, which was an unattainable power for Zheng Zhihu and others.

He asked Kong Zhenyun for advice:

"Mr. Kong, do you think there are any opportunities for conferring a title in Liaodong?"

"This time the court allowed the Liaodong army to go to war. What can I do at sea?"

Kong Zhenyun felt a little embarrassed when he heard this question.

Because he was not proficient in military affairs, let alone how to use the navy.

However, Zheng Zhihu asked for advice in good faith. The Heilongjiang region under his jurisdiction had many connections with Nanyang due to the ice business. This made him unable to ignore Zheng Zhihu's question. He pondered for a while and said:

"On the sea, being able to do a good job of logistics is the most basic thing."

"If we want to go further, we need to train the Marines well."

"Use the Marines to attack along the coast and make the Jianlu uneasy."

"These are the established strategies of the imperial court, and they have been implemented over the past two years."

Zheng Zhihu nodded and said:
"exactly."

"But there aren't many Jianlu people along the coast. After they moved their borders and closed the sea, our harassment won't be very effective."

"If we continue to go deeper, we will probably be surrounded by the Jianlu."

Kong Zhenyun smiled slightly and said:

"That's during normal times. Next year it will be different."

"Isn't the Liaodong Army going to attack next year? You can help them mobilize along the coast."

"Build camps along the coast and advance little by little."

"You can discuss with the Liaodong generals and join their battle."

The Dalinghe garrison would definitely not participate in the Liaodong army's attack this time. Like the 30,000 Shanhaiguan troops left behind, they were all left behind by the emperor as a backup.

In addition, soldiers were needed to stay in Ningyuan, Jinzhou, Tashan and other places, so the Liaodong army could mobilize about 50,000 to 60,000 people.

If the navy led by Zheng Zhihu is willing to join, it is estimated that the Liaodong top leaders will warmly welcome it.

Zheng Zhihu pondered Kong Zhenyun's words and felt that they made sense. However, he did not have many dealings with Liaodong's high-level officials, so he could only continue to ask Kong Zhenyun:

"I'd like to trouble Mr. Kong to help introduce one or two."

"If Zheng goes there rashly, I'm afraid he will arouse suspicion."

Kong Zhenyun immediately said:
"This matter is easy to discuss. I also need to go and discuss it with the Liaodong Army."

"How to fight the war in Heilongjiang requires cooperation with the Liaodong Army."

The two of them traveled together to visit Sun Chengzong and others.
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After learning the purpose of the two people's visit, Sun Chengzong and other Liaodong high-ranking officials were very happy. They were originally worried about the lack of troops, but they didn't expect that two new forces would come.

Sun Chengzong thought about it and said:
"The imperial court set up three major protectorates in the south of the desert, with the goal of holding back 20,000 Jianlu, or two to three banners."

"Unless Jianlu does not want to maintain his rule in the south of the desert, he will have to keep at least two banners."

"Minus two flags, the remaining force of Jianlu is six flags."

The strength of a Jianlu banner was about 7500 people. Although some banners had more and some had less, it did not prevent Sun Chengzong from making such an estimate.

If there were six flags left, that would be 45,000 people. After the Han soldiers who defected to Jianlu were defeated, Jianlu could only mobilize about 20,000 Mongols.

This was the situation in the past. Now that the Mongols in the south of the desert have been conquered, there may be more. However, not many can be transferred to Liaodong, because the court set up three major protectorates to prevent the Jianlu from using the manpower and resources in the south of the desert, but to hold them back.

Therefore, Sun Chengzong still estimated the number of Mongols at 20,000 and said to Kong Zhenyun:

"Your mission is to hold back the Khorchin tribe and make them unable to support the Jianlu."

"When the time comes, Mangui and part of Jizhen will also attack to hold back the Inner Khalkha and other tribes that are dependent on Jianlu, and cut off the connection between Jianlu and the Mongols south of the desert."

"I will lead the 50,000 most elite troops in Liaodong to seek an opportunity for a decisive battle with the Jianlu."

Such a decisive strategy showed that Sun Chengzong attached great importance to this battle. It could be said that he was going to burn his boats and put all his strength on this battle.

Kong Zhenyun was secretly shocked when he heard this, and was worried about the outcome of this battle. If he failed, Sun Chengzong and the Liaodong army he relied on would be destroyed.

Zheng Zhihu was a little excited. Wasn't this kind of battle what he had been looking forward to?

As long as he participates in this war and wins, he will definitely have the opportunity to be granted a title.

This made him push the golden mountain to topple the jade pillar, and he took the initiative to bow to Sun Chengzong and said:
"The commander-in-chief has such a great strategy, I am willing to do my best to help."

"Please give the order, Commander. Our navy will do its best!"

Sun Chengzong was delighted when he heard this, and he helped Zheng Zhihu up and said:
"Having a great general like General Zheng to help us is like adding wings to a tiger." "I intend to have the navy cooperate with Liaonan to recover Yaozhou and Haizhou and attract the attention of the Jianlu."

"If the Jianlu don't divide their forces, it will be fine. But once they do, the armies of Liaodong and Liaonan will devour them."

"We must work together this time to make it difficult for the Jianlu to take care of both ends."

This was the strategy he came up with to recover Liaodong.

When he and Yuan Keli ordered Mao Wenlong to recover southern Liaoning, this strategy began.

Unfortunately, after the defeat at Liuhe, he was forced to resign, and Yuan Keli was also forced to leave Denglai.

Mao Wenlong later retreated from southern Liaoning, and the Liaodong Army could only retreat and defend.

Now, Sun Chengzong planned to restart this strategy, starting with sending troops from southern Liaoning and attacking from both the east and the west.

This time, the power he could mobilize was even stronger. Not only did the emperor completely let him go, but the Privy Council chaired by Yuan Keli also fully supported him.

The Liaonan and Korean armies would cooperate with his actions. Even Kong Zhenyun and others had to obey his orders.

Sun Chengzong vowed to win this battle and become a Purple Pavilion hero for his achievement in pacifying the Jianlu.

To this end, he selected the best from the Liaodong army and selected 50,000 elite soldiers. He even allowed the Northeastern Pacification Office to recruit soldiers and sent out Yingyang Army personnel to record their achievements.

The purpose is to encourage the Liaodong soldiers to make meritorious deeds and let them know that their achievements will not be buried.

The entire Liaodong region began to mobilize for next year's war and made various preparations.

The details of the Xinwei Plan were also improved bit by bit and submitted to the Privy Council for deliberation.
-
In the Forbidden City, Zhu Youjian looked at the plan presented by Sun Chengzong and other Liaodong senior officials, and said approvingly:

"The Liaodong army is full of morale, Sun Qing has worked hard!"

"Pass the order to issue land certificates to all Liaodong soldiers who participated in the war."

"As long as we can win this battle, both this and previous rewards will be redeemed."

Zhu Youjian unceremoniously made a big promise and returned the battle plan to Yuan Keli, saying:

"I will not interfere with how the war is fought."

"Even you, the Privy Council, should not interfere too much. Unless there is a danger of the entire army being annihilated or the Jianlu breaking through the pass, then don't interfere too much."

"I hope that Commander Sun can make great contributions. I will take the vacant positions of Left and Right Privy Councilors."

Zhu Youjian made naked promises to Yuan Keli and Sun Chengzong, and he really hoped to win this battle.

In that way, he wouldn't have to worry about the Jianlu and could focus all his energy on dealing with the Jianlu.

At a time when the Ming Dynasty was about to encounter unprecedented natural disasters and Western countries were colonizing the world, he was more concerned about immigration and the establishment of fiefdoms rather than entanglement with the Jianlu.

Yuan Keli was very happy when he heard the emperor's expectations.

This was not only because the emperor promised him and Sun Chengzong the positions of left and right privy councilors, but also because the emperor's attitude towards the war in Liaodong had changed.

If we say that the emperor had no expectations before and just wanted to use the war to consume the Liaodong military forces, now it can be said that he hopes that the Liaodong army will win and make great achievements.

This means that the emperor's support for Liaodong will be strengthened, and all kinds of weapons stored by the court can be transferred there.

At the same time, there are new requirements for the Liaodong army, and Sun Chengzong and others will bear more pressure.

However, Yuan Keli did not sympathize with this.

Because Sun Chengzong has to bear this kind of pressure, and when the war comes, the pressure he will bear will be even greater.

He even has to take the initiative to exert pressure now to make Sun Chengzong and others adapt. Otherwise, when the war comes next year, Sun Chengzong will collapse and play badly like Yang Hao.

He said to the Emperor:

"The Privy Council cannot interfere too much in the specifics of how the operation is carried out, but the operational plan must be perfected as much as possible."

"I think this war can be used to complete the running-in process and test the various agencies of the Privy Council."

As a newly established institution, and not completely modeled after the previous dynasty, the various departments of the Privy Council and its subordinate offices are constantly changing and have not yet been completely finalized.

Yuan Keli wanted to examine these institutions this time, streamline unnecessary institutions, and lay off mediocre people. He wanted to build the Privy Council into an institution that fully met the emperor's expectations and consolidate military power.

Zhu Youjian was quite pleased with his idea, because he also wanted to know how effective the Privy Council he established was. The purpose of establishing the Privy Council was to guide the Ming army in fighting and complete the transition to the firearms era and modern army.

If the Privy Council fails to meet his requirements, he will unceremoniously demand rectification.

Yuan Keli's proposal was in line with his requirements, and he praised it:

"Yuan Qing, just go ahead and do it."

"As long as the Privy Council can do it, you will arrange it this time."

"I will issue an order to have them cooperate with you."

“Whoever interferes can be directly dismissed.”

He immediately ordered someone to convey the oral order and asked Shi Fenglai to draft an edict to be sent to the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, the Five Military Commandery and other military offices.

He also reminded Yuan Keli:
"It's just a matter of war, and things are not urgent yet."

"But before the battle next year, adjustments must be completed and a wartime committee must be established to provide support to the frontline during the war."

"Liaodong and other places should also set up front-line committees and ask them to submit the list of names."

Seize the opportunity to implement collective consultation system to avoid a major defeat due to the mistake of one person.

This was actually what he expected of the Liaodong army, as long as it didn't suffer a major defeat and collapse.

He could accept a draw or even a defeat, as long as he could kill the Jianlu troops and complete the exchange with them.

This was actually his biggest goal, to use the huge manpower of the Ming Dynasty to consume the Jianlu.

In his opinion, if the Liaodong Army could accomplish this mission, it would be a good thing. If the 50,000 Guanning Army could consume 50,000 Jianlu, he would praise Sun Chengzong and others to the sky.

Although Yuan Keli didn't know what the emperor was thinking, he felt quite excited about the power granted by the emperor and the requests made by him.

This looks like a big battle, instead of being decided hastily like before.

After returning to the Privy Council, he arranged for the General Staff to review the combat plan submitted by the Liaodong army, and at the same time modify it based on the combat plans of other places.

This back-and-forth change lasted for several months until the battle plans of all parties were finalized and unified into a complete strategy.

The Privy Council received great training in this process, and this newly established institution was further improved with the help of the war that was about to take place next year.

The final battle plan includes not only the preferred battle strategy, but also the alternative and secondary strategies, as well as how to end the battle in the event of victory, tie, or defeat.

Plans have been made for various situations that may occur on the battlefield.

Zhu Youjian was very satisfied with this and believed that the Privy Council had met his requirements and had become a qualified highest military institution.

Especially the General Staff, under the leadership of Yang Sichang, can be said to have exceeded expectations.

Regardless of the outcome of next year's battle, he felt it was worth it just to prepare for the experience of war.

The military institutions and talents of the Ming Dynasty will gain experience in large-scale combat from this war. (End of this chapter)