I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 148 Li Chengliang has some complaints!

In the summer of April in the 45th year of the Jiajing reign, the weather north of Jizhou Town was not as hot as that in the interior of the country. Sometimes you could even feel a cool breeze blowing from the river valley and far away.

A large Ming army crossed the Liu River and slowly moved north along the Luan River.

In the middle was a convoy of 400 vans, on which sat the new military camp, which had been expanded to 15,000 men, and along the sides were the vans carrying the troops.

A total of five infantry regiments were organized into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Infantry Regiments of the New Army. Each regiment had three infantry battalions and twelve teams, as well as a baggage battalion, an artillery battalion, a guard team, a reconnaissance team, a communications team, and a rescue team, with each regiment having 3,000 people.

The rear team of the convoy was directly under the jurisdiction of Jizhou Town and was the first modern army organized according to the new military camp organization. In fact, it was the army formed by the previous batch of new military camps that had fought a bloody battle in Liuhe and were transferred to Jizhou Town.

The Jizhou First Division had three infantry regiments under its command, organized into the Jizhou First, Second, and Third Infantry Regiments. The organization was the same as that of the new military camp, with 3,000 men in each regiment.

In the middle of the convoy, there were fifteen twelve-jin heavy cannons, forty nine-jin long cannons, and twenty-four mortars.

They belong to the first and second artillery regiments of the new military camp.

This group of huge animals, each pulled by four to eight pack horses, moved slowly on the grassland.

Qi Jiguang rode on a tall black horse, looking sternly at the convoy and marching troops that stretched for more than ten miles.

Now he is the co-governor of the right general of the front army, and has been granted the title of General of Cavalry and the title of Pillar of the State.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already said publicly that after the battle is over, Xin Ai will surrender and he will be conferred a title of nobility.

Hereditary title, bringing honor to the family.

Thinking of this, Qi Jiguang's heart was filled with emotion.

He surveyed the endless team with proud eyes, enjoying the respectful looks from every officer and soldier who passed by.

These are the soldiers we trained ourselves.

I believe that it won't be long before I lead these officers and soldiers in the direction pointed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, conquer this vast grassland, and expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty by thousands or even tens of thousands of miles.

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty no longer guards the national border, but accepts congratulations from all nations in the capital!
"Da da da!"

The sound of hurried horse hooves could be heard, and teams of cavalry, each formed into three columns, galloped past the convoy two miles away on either side.

This time the Ming army attacked with both cavalry and infantry, vowing to wipe out Xin Ai's troops in one fell swoop.

"Where are General Ma, General Zhou, and General Ma?" Qi Jiguang asked his adjutant without even turning his head.

"Captain, they are leading the cavalry and are moving fast. They have already set up camp twenty miles ahead."

"Where's Counselor Xu?"

"I went there, too."

"Okay, tell the whole army to set up camp 20 miles ahead and rest for the night."

"Yes!"

Ma Fang, Li Chengliang and Ma Gui led five cavalry divisions, divided into left and right columns, as well as front and rear teams, and moved forward around the convoy in the middle.

According to the military order of the Supervisory Office, the cavalry from the four towns of Datong, Xuanfu, Jizhou and Liaodong were all organized into cavalry regiments.

The Class B Cavalry Regiment consists of three battalions in one regiment, with about 1,500 people, and is under the command of various towns.

The selected elite cavalry were organized into Class A cavalry regiments, with three battalions in each regiment, and also equipped with a cavalry artillery battalion and a baggage train, totaling 2,000 people in each regiment.

The three regiments of the Class A Cavalry Regiment were organized into a cavalry division, which was directly under the command of the Supervisory Office as a strategic reserve for the northern border.

Currently, there are a total of eight strategic reserve cavalry divisions. Five cavalry divisions were mobilized for this attack. Ma Fang, as the deputy commander-in-chief of the entire army and commander of the cavalry, led three cavalry divisions.

Li Chengliang and Ma Gui each led a cavalry division.

Ma Fang, Li Chengliang and Ma Gui were riding horses at a fast pace. They dismounted at the forward camp that had been set up and walked towards the central army tent together.

"Will Altan Khan have any objection to attacking Xinai this time?"

Ma Gui was still frightened by Altan Khan's military power and couldn't help but worry.

The one he beat was his own son. If Altan Khan turned against him and connected with Xin Ai, it would be troublesome.

Ma Fang glanced at Ma Gui, reached out and slapped him hard on the helmet, "Look at how little you can do!"

Ma Gui smiled awkwardly.

Ma Fang was a veteran general from Xuanda Mountain in the west. He had outstanding military achievements and was very senior. Even if Ma Gui's father Ma Lu came, he had to treat him with respect as a junior.

Li Chengliang bit a straw and thought, "Didn't Counselor Xu say that? The Lifanyuan has already sent a letter to Altan Khan, informing him that our dynasty will send troops to eliminate the traitor Xin Ai.

Xin Ai was not only the eldest son of Altan Khan, but he was also conferred the title of Duke Zhongshun by the Ming Dynasty. It was not long since he was awarded the imperial edict, but he turned around and rebelled. Doesn't he care about the reputation of the Ming Dynasty?
We must beat him!" Ma Fang nodded approvingly.

"Yes, people, as long as you are tough, others will be afraid of you. Xu Canshi also told us that Altan Khan had finally reached an agreement with me to open border trade, and he would definitely not tear it up easily.

Besides, in the manifesto Xin Ai sent, he didn't take his father, Altan Khan, seriously. It was no different from pointing fingers and scolding him. Doesn't Altan Khan care about his dignity?"

Ma Gui looked at Ma Fang and Li Chengliang, still a little confused, "Xin Ai is living a good life, why would she rebel?"

"It has spread all over the grasslands, and I have heard the news in Liaodong. Xin Ai is eager for his father Altan Khan to die so that he can inherit the Khanship. He even asked the shaman to make cursed dominoes to curse Altan Khan.

I also heard that he always carried a portrait of Jongjin Hatun. That was his father Altan Khan’s favorite concubine. What a beast.”

Ma Gui glanced at Li Chengliang and said, "Don't be so quick to call Xin Ai a beast. According to the custom on the grassland, once Altan Khan dies, Xin Ai will take over all of Altan Khan's troops, pastures, cattle, sheep and women. He must marry Zhong Jinhatun to inherit Altan Khan's throne."

Li Chengliang shook his head. "So, these northern barbarians outside the Great Wall do not understand the saints and wise men, and are no different from beasts."

The three of them entered the central army tent, which was empty. Ma Fang turned around, lifted the curtain door, and asked the guarding officers and soldiers, "Where is Counselor Xu?"

"To reply to the commander, he hasn't come yet. I heard he went to the baggage camp."

Ma Fang lowered the curtain and said to Li Chengliang and Ma Gui, "Counselor Xu is not here yet. Let's sit down and have a cup of tea first."

The three men were fully armored and could only sit on stools. They took the mare's milk tea handed to them by their attendants and drank it slowly.

"I didn't expect the training to be this way." Li Chengliang suddenly spoke.

"What's wrong?" Ma Gui raised his eyes and glanced.

"I didn't expect that as the new army was being organized, our cavalry would also have to be trained."

"Is the training bad? I think it's good. We were also given a lot of artillery and muskets, especially the submachine gun. It's light and fast. Although it can't shoot far, it's enough. It's really exciting to rush to the enemy and fire a cannon at their faces."

Li Chengliang glanced at Ma Gui and said, "Are you really heartless, or are you pretending to be so?"

After thinking about it, Li Chengliang decided to bring up the topic. "I think this kind of training is also good, but after this training, the only thing each general can take with him is the entourage."

That's right.

The Supervisory Office compiled a list of all the cavalry from each town in the name of organizing strategic reserve cavalry. Then, under the presidency of border supervisors such as Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun, a cavalry competition was held and all the cavalry, together with their previous battle records and military achievements, were incorporated into the A and B cavalry regiments.

Previously, many of these cavalrymen were under the command of various military generals, and many of them had been led for decades. The backbones among them were passed down from ancestors to fathers, and from fathers to sons, for decades, and were no different from private soldiers and servants.

Especially those who are the best at fighting in the nine borders are basically like this.

Now all of them are pulled out, mixed up and mixed,
Class B cavalry regiments are directly under the command of the general of the border town and can be dispatched by the governor.

Class A cavalry regiments are directly organized into cavalry divisions and are usually supervised by the governor, but can only be dispatched by the governor's office.

The organizational system is now very clear, with the regiment as the basic unit, and troops will be transferred back and forth regularly.

A Class A Cavalry Regiment will be transferred from this division to that division this year, and another Class A Cavalry Regiment will be transferred from that cavalry division to this cavalry division next year.

The Class B Cavalry Regiment is in Datong Town this year and may be transferred to Shanxi Town or Xuanfu Town the year after.

Coming from a family of military commanders, you were promoted step by step, from battalion commander to regiment commander, and then you were directly appointed as the regiment commander of another cavalry regiment. After three to five years, if you still hadn't been promoted, you were moved to another cavalry regiment to be the regiment commander.

In this way, even if you become the regiment commander, the only soldiers that truly belong to you are the escort platoon.

Ma Fang was a commander, a senior general, and was surrounded by only a detachment of followers.

This is completely different from the past when he had hundreds or thousands of trusted cavalrymen who were like private soldiers and servants under his command.

Ma Fang glanced at Li Chengliang with a half-smile, "Boy, you don't accept it? If you don't accept it, you can write a letter to the Supervision Office."

Li Chengliang's face seemed to freeze, and he smiled awkwardly, "Uncle Ma, I was just joking and complaining."

Last time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the opportunity of investigating the Gengxu Incident to kill not only a large number of Jin Party merchants, but also the nine border generals, those who had close contacts with the Jin Party, and those who pretended to obey and secretly refused to cooperate with Hu Zongxian, Tan Lun and other Crown Prince's Party members.

The civil officials were afraid, and the military generals were afraid too!

Everyone has only one head.

Therefore, the organizational and military reform of the Supervisory Office went very smoothly. Even if there were complaints, like Li Chengliang, they only dared to mutter a few words in private.

"Meet Counselor Xu!"

The officers and soldiers guarding outside the account shouted loudly.

Ma Fang glared at Li Chengliang fiercely and said, "The one coming is the Crown Prince's confidant, so just shut your mouth!"

(End of this chapter)