A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 613 Responsibility
Old White Bull: Still in Xiamen, alas, mourning for the brothers and sisters who were killed and injured in the bus explosion.

……

"Zhangjiakou is under the jurisdiction of the general of Wanquan Right Guard on Shangxi Road in Xuanfu, under the jurisdiction of Wanquan Right Guard City, Left Guard City, Zhangjiakou Fort, Xinkaikou Fort, Xinhekou Fort, and Shanfang Fort."

Pointing to the map, Yang Guozhu explained to Wang Dou: "The general of this road was established in the tenth year of Chenghua. Helu has about [-] officers and troops under his jurisdiction, and more than [-] internal reinforcements. The general, Lai Tianlu, is a local army officer. He was born in a noble family, and Wan Quan is the commander of the same magistrate."

"Brother Lai Tianmin, general of the Dushi Horse Camp on Xuanfu North Road, under the eight guards of Dushi City, Maying Fort, Longmenweicheng, Chicheng Castle, Longmensuo City, Dishuiyabao, Ma'anling City, and Yunchuanbao, Helu There are more than [-] officers and soldiers, and more than [-] domestic reinforcements, all of whom are in charge of the military affairs."

"Lai's family has been hereditary from generation to generation as the generals of the guard. The local forces are deeply rooted. Many of the subordinates are their confidantes or clan members. For example, Gao Jinzhong, the guard of Zhangjiakou Fort, married Lai Tianlu's nine-year-old son. sister."

"For a hundred years, the Lai family has generally married the surrounding officials. For example, Lai Tianlu's eldest sister married Li Jian'e, the general who guarded the Daoxia West Road in the Xuanfu. Eighth Sister."

"Looking at the roads in the north of Xuanfu Town, from Longmensuo, Dushi Fort, to Xiaobaiyang Fort, Zhangjiakou, Shanfang Fort, and finally to Shahe Fort, Ximarin Fort, Chaigou Fort, the castles near the frontier fortress, to There are more than a dozen of them, judging from the information, all these frontier forts have fornication, only Zhangjiakou is the most violent."

Yang Guozhu finally sighed: "At present, it seems that the profiteers' private transportation of goods will not be successful without the permission and support of these generals. After all, including Zhangjiakou Fort, which frontier fort is not heavily armed? The powerful officials in the city, even the King of Gu, have no property in the local area. Many frontier soldiers also make a living from this. If you ban Zhangjiakou, Guoqin, there will definitely be a fight. Local military households and civilians may also be instigated to move."

"These local snakes, even my brother should stay away!"

Yang Guozhu's tone was helpless. As the commander-in-chief, his responsibilities were to train the army and horses, repair the city, supervise the piers, defend against bandits, comfort the soldiers, and protect the residents. a new barracks.

The following battalions of Rangers, Reinforcement Battalions, and Raiders Battalion follow the principle of big and small relatives in the Ming Dynasty. Except for the right to control during wartime, he can't control it. After all, food, salary, personnel, etc. are not in his hands. As a general, in fact, his life is more nourishing than that of the chief soldier.

And these local generals, guarding what, for generations, are also controlled by those who come from the guards and generals' families. It is difficult for outsiders to get their hands on them. It is not an exaggeration for them to be called local emperors.

Wang Dou nodded silently. Having seen the information earlier, he knew that it would be impossible to ban Zhangjiakou without bloodshed. How could the local local tyrants and generals see their fortunes damaged?Cutting off people's money, such as killing their parents, they will definitely jump over the wall in a hurry.

Even many ordinary military households and frontier soldiers rely on this for a living, and they will also jump out to fight desperately, because when smuggling, many of them not only participate in cover and collect tolls, but also serve as escorts for caravans, and even Carry goods and get some benefits.

For example, in Zhangjiakou, because of the early mutual trade with Mongolia and other places, in addition to the civil affairs departments such as household deployment, council office, and tax office, the fort also set up an escort agency, which used officers and soldiers as escorts for caravans and served as frontier After the ban on trade, the officers and soldiers of these escort agencies openly participated in smuggling and escorting. Many people even went to the territory of the Qing Dynasty with the caravans of Shanxi merchants.

The warriors, businessmen, tyrants, literati, and petty officials in these places are all intertwined and united, and they are desperately sucking blood. In order to protect their own interests, they do everything possible to expand their power.

At the beginning, when I was just a general in the East Road, the Lai family and others came to test, hoping to get married, and this was even more so after I became the commander-in-chief of the regiment.It was Xiong Tingrui, Ren Shun Shengwei Guangsan General of Xuanfu Town South Road, who was a little shy, and married Lai Tianlu's daughter?
Zhang Guowei can be called a local tyrant in Donglu, but compared with the Lai family, he is nothing compared to the big witch.

These officials and generals in the north of Xuanfu Town are even more lawless and powerful. It’s just that this is the case everywhere in Daming. Just like the coastal areas, they are privately involved with pirates and participate in maritime trade. The scale of profits is even more frightening. The Zheng family It is representative.

There is wealth everywhere in Daming, but this kind of wealth has nothing to do with the country, and has been swallowed up by moths. In this kind of world, it's okay to be in the same boat. If you want to make a difference, how difficult is it every step of the way?
"Guoqin, you still have to deal with profiteers and ban Zhangjiakou?"

Seeing Wang Dou's silence, he nodded heavily again, and Yang Guozhu sighed one last time: "Brother, I... am not as good as you."

In the afternoon of the same day, Wang Dou, generals of the Jingbian Army, Wang Pu, Li Yunshu and others got together to finalize the operation.

Facing the huge Xuanda map, Wang Dou arranged them one by one.

"Take Wen Fangliang, the general of the Zuowei Qinglong Battalion of the Jingbian Army, and lead the Zuoying Jingbian Army to deal with Zhangjiakou. Some artillery battalion Hongyi cannons will accompany the army. If Lai Tianlu, Lai Tianmin, Gao Jinzhong, Li Jian'e and others intercept and obstruct them, they will be punished!"

Although Lai Tianlu and other fortresses number tens of thousands of soldiers, Wang Dou believes that a single battalion of Jingbian army is enough to defeat them all.

Not to mention, these officials will get the news, and then contact each other, assemble, etc. I don't know how much time it will take. Some soldiers and horses can be pulled out without saying that they can be pulled out. Finally, when they meet, the matter has already been settled. Certainly.

From Huailai and other places to Zhangjiakou, the distance is only more than a hundred miles, and the official road is relatively easy to travel. It is still possible to carry artillery.

"The operation in Zhangjiakou needs to be done quickly. The intelligence department has also arranged manpower in the fort, so we can open the door and respond inside!"

During the trip outside the Great Wall, Wen Fangliang and Gao Shiyin captured a lot of mules and horses. These horses have not been allocated for the time being, so the soldiers of the Zuoying, even the second-class army, have horses for everyone. Very clever, but everyone rides a horse, and there is no problem.

"Jingbian Army Youwei Baihu Battalion General Zhong Xiancai, led the first-class army in the battalion, went to Datong with Wang Zheng and other brothers from Datong Town, and searched the shops and treasures of various profiteers inside and outside Datong City. , as a guide..."

Originally, Wang Dou wanted to hand over the matter of Datong Town to Wang Pu, but Wang Pu insisted that a part of the Jingbian army accompany him, so Wang Dou made the arrangement.

And when Wang Dou was speaking, Wang Pu's face was also tense, and the general Wang Zhengren and others were gasping for breath.

If the facts are established, they will break with many officials and businessmen in Ming Dynasty. It goes without saying that there will be an uproar between the government and the public, public opinion attacks, open guns and hidden arrows, but Wang Pu has also figured it out. Terrible, and the two are still neighboring towns.

The Wang family already has great power in Datong Town. After sweeping away the power of the major merchants in Datong, the family business power will become more powerful in the future. Anyway, because they are close to Wang Dou, they are also cold storage now, so they can be the emperor in Datong with peace of mind. I don't think much about it.

Besides, as long as the power is powerful and powerful soldiers are in hand, in the end, all parties will still want to win him over.

"General Li Guangheng of the Cavalry Battalion of the Chinese Army led the cavalry, Gao Shiyin, the forward general of the Zhuque Battalion, and Han Chao, the general of the Xuanwu Battalion in the rear, each led the first-class troops in the battalion. Together with Li Yunshu and other brothers, some brothers from Datong Town went to various places in Taiyuan. Catch the profiteers and seize the property of the thieves!"

"All of the above will be accompanied by the governor, who will supervise the military discipline and record the seizure."

Li Yunshu's face was solemn, and he nodded emphatically.

For their soldiers and horses in Shanxi Town, most of them are stationed in frontier fortresses in the town, such as Ningwu Pass, Piantou Pass, Hequ, Baode, Zhenxiwei, etc. They have little connection with Shanyou Bajia, of course, it is not completely absent Contact, some generals also receive tribute from those merchants on weekdays, especially from merchants in Shanxi and Shaanxi.

After the Liaodong War, there were not many soldiers left in Shanxi Town. This operation also needed to be selected. Officials and generals who had a close relationship with the merchants were selected and did not participate in the operation.

Although the consequences were serious this time, after the two evils came to power, Li Yunshu and other Shanxi town generals decided to join Wang Dou's side.

Seeing the current situation of the East Road, they are also full of confidence in the future. Wang Dou has already painted a big picture for them. What they will gain in the future will greatly exceed what they have lost. Not to mention, after the ban on profiteers, they will immediately You can get many benefits.

Of course, because Shanxi Town has fewer soldiers and horses, especially cavalry, most of them have the function of leading the way and persuading people in this operation.

The specific actions will be carried out by the Jingbian Army and the Datong Army.

The jurisdiction of Shanxi Town includes Taiyuan and other places, and the forces of all parties have always been chaotic. If only Shanxi Town soldiers and horses act, it is inevitable that some of them will release water, or inform them beforehand. , it is inevitable.

Li Yunshu understood this, so he volunteered and proposed to let the Jingbian Army and the Datong Army join in.

In particular, the participation of the Jingbian Army, while supervising and enforcing military discipline, can also prevent some places from being ripped off when the time comes, and taking the opportunity to harm the rioting places.

After all, he is the official of Shanxi Town. Although he decided to attack the profiteers, he still has feelings for the local area.

Li Yunshu quickly entered the role. He looked at Pingxingguan, Taiyuan, Yuci, Taigu, Jiexiu, Pingyang and other cities on the map, and pondered: "After the failure of the business war, the profiteers must have fled back to their lairs. They have great influence in the local area. Before arresting them, it is very likely that the local guards will be persuaded to resist stubbornly, and even incite the local people to act as human shields."

"If they stick to the city, not to mention Taiyuan, but Pingyao, Taigu and other places, all have deep cities, and they will want to attack them in a short time. It is not so easy. It is best to have a handwritten order from the governor or governor in advance. , get the name, there is also an internal response in the local area, and you can open the city gate."

Wang Dou nodded. The big merchants in the late Ming Dynasty were not ordinary merchants, but officials and businessmen. It is to buy officials and buy generals, the people belonging to them, the catastrophe of annihilation is ahead, so naturally defend the city desperately to resist.

In history, Jiang Yu, the general of Datong, surrendered first to Li Zicheng, then to the Manchus, and later rebelled against the Qing. He once attacked Taiyuan with heavy troops. The local Shanxi merchants bribed the guards with a lot of money, and recruited their own Ding clan to defend them. Finally, they came. The reinforcements from the Qing Dynasty defeated Jiang Guan's troops.

It can be seen from this that the wealth and power of these Shanxi merchants are not those merchants without force as imagined.

Nodding to Li Yunshu, Wang Dou said: "Brother Li is interested, there is no need to worry about this matter, our shogunate's intelligence department personnel are already everywhere, and we can guarantee that every time our army passes through a city, there will be an insider who will open the door to offer the city... "

On the afternoon of the 23rd, when the clouds were overcast and the day before the army was about to move, Zhu Zhifeng, the governor of Xuanfu, and Du Xun, the guarding eunuch, also rushed to Wang Dou's barracks.

Zhencheng is only a hundred miles away from Huailai and other places, after they received the news, they hurried off and still arrived in time.

As for Datong Governor Wei Jingyuan and Xuanda Governor Ji Shiwei, they traveled more than [-] miles from Datong City to Yulinbao.

However, Wang Dou and his father-in-law were in close contact with each other through letters, and they all came back and forth quickly. Ji Shiwei was well aware of Wang Dou's movements.

Although persuaded, seeing Wang Dou's resolute attitude, Ji Shiwei still gritted his teeth, and gave Wang Dou a document permitting action, arresting and confiscating profiteers. It was deliciously done.

Whether he will be able to serve as the governor of Xuanda in the future, he is already mentally prepared.

Not to mention Cai Maode, the governor of Shanxi, Huailai and other places, the journey to Taiyuan was over a thousand miles away. He went south from the capital, passed through Baoding, Zhending, crossed Guguan in the west, and then arrived in Taiyuan City. It is doubtful whether they have received any news about the business war.

To respect his opinion, Wang Dou also dispatched a fast horse and a letter to contact Cai Maode.

Zhou Yuji, the new Shanxi General Soldier, is coming to Ningwuguan from Huguang and other places to take up his post. For a while, he couldn't be contacted.

In the middle of winter, when Zhu Zhifeng and Du Xun entered Yulin Fort with only a small number of entourages in the afternoon of the 23rd, Wang Douzheng, general Sun Sanjie, the supply battalion officer, and Qi Tianliang, the ambassador of the logistics department, discussed the matter of food and grass for the army.

Wen Fangliang went to Zhangjiakou for the Zuoying Jingbian army. It was relatively close to the East Road, and it was quite convenient to replenish food and grass. Moreover, the journey was not far, and they only needed to carry dry food for a few days.Zhong Xiancai's Right Battalion Jia and other soldiers headed to Datong were supported by Wang Pu's clansmen, and it was also convenient for them to supply anything.

Only the army going to Taiyuan and other places has a long journey, and the places they pass are full of hostility. It is obviously not easy to replenish the army's food and grass, so arrangements must be made in advance.

Before Zhu Zhifeng and Du Xun entered Yulin Fort, they both saw the Jingbian Army and other frontier troops stationed in various places outside the fort. The entourage around him still all changed color.

and……

Look at the appearance of this army, isn't it?

Zhu Zhifeng looked solemn, while Du Xun's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Yang Guozhu and Wang Pu avoided seeing each other for the time being, Wang Dou received them, and according to the rules of etiquette, both of them made official salutes to Wang Douzhi.

Entering the General's Mansion, before Zhu Zhifeng could speak, Du Xunji couldn't help but screamed: "Marquis Yongning... your army, what are you going to do?"

His face was livid, and there was an unconcealable anger in his tone.

(End of this chapter)