The war in China

Since ancient times, it has been easy to conquer from the north to the south, and it is difficult to conquer from the south to the north.

Why? Potential!

The North is colder than the South. In order to resist the cold, the body will grow taller. As a result, northerners tend to be much taller than southerners.

In the era of cold weapons, tall and burly people will take advantage. Horses are produced in the north, which is more conducive to battlefield maneuvering and raiding. Therefore, the Chinese war situation before the Song Dynasty was determined by the north and the south.

However, that was only before Song.

Since Zhu Ming, the use of firearms has gradually reduced the advantages of the north, which also laid the foundation for the success of the later Northern Expedition.

"Firearms are important, but if a soldier doesn't even have the courage to fight hand-to-hand on the battlefield, then even the best musket will be defeated." In the school field outside Wuchang City, Zhang Rui answered Zhu Yizhang's question about why musketeers practiced bayonets.

"Has my uncle heard of the Qi family's army?" Zhang Rui asked.

"The world-famous Qi Jiajun has naturally heard of it." Zhu Yizhang said without hiding the admiration in his heart.

"Then do you know that they fought on the Hunhe River in Liaodong?" Zhang Rui asked again.

"This... There is no record of it in this book, and no one has heard of it. So I'm not very clear. Zhu Yizhang replied with some embarrassment.

In fact, it is no wonder that Zhu Yizhang could not allow such books to be popular in the market. After all, in the battle of Hunhe back then, their Qing army really didn't win much.

"They fought a tragic battle. With 3,000 infantry against nearly 30,000 Eight Banner soldiers, after the ammunition was exhausted, the hand-to-hand combat was so stunned that the Eight Banners did not dare to step forward. If it weren't for the inaction of the Liaodong soldiers, it is estimated that they would not have disappeared. Zhang Rui sighed and said: "I have a record about them in my study, you can take it and see it when you have time." ”

"That's good. Thanks, Sixth Son. Zhu Yizhang said.

Although Zhang Rui is his nephew, there is still a difference between a monarch and a minister after all, and this etiquette is always indispensable. Zhu Yizhang felt that his father forced him to make such a poisonous oath, just to understand this. lest he provoke criticism and bring trouble.

"My own family, what are you polite?" Zhang Rui said with some disgust. But for Zhu Yizhang's etiquette, Zhang Rui had no choice but to let it go. Taking history as a mirror, this is actually a way for him to protect himself.

"Uncle is still used to being in the General Staff?" Zhang Rui opened the topic and asked.

"Great, there's a lot to learn here. If you don't travel, you don't know how big the outside world is. Zhu Yizhang replied with satisfaction.

"That's good. I have just received news that the Qing army has assembled a large number of Qing troops in Nanchang, and we must eliminate them first. Otherwise, when our troops enter Anhui, they are afraid that there will be danger in the rear. The tone of Zhang Rui's words was very calm, as if he didn't care about the assembled Qing army at all.

"That's true. If they control Jiujiang, it will affect our Yangtze River grain route. Zhu Yizhang nodded in agreement.

"Well, the current situation in Wuchang is not stable, so I need you to sit in Wuchang City for me to stabilize the people's hearts. In this way, I can safely lead my troops out to attack Jiujiangkou, and then clear out the Qing army assembled in Nanchang. Zhang Rui said.

"You're taking the troops? Wouldn't it be okay to let Commander Li De lead the troops over? Zhu Yizhang said worriedly.

"There is no way, the time for the Sharp Knife Army to become an army is too short, and many soldiers have not yet gotten used to the current state, so I have to pick up the leaks from the past in case there is a big mistake." Zhang Rui said helplessly:

"Although the morale of the Sharp Knife Army is strong now, it is like a bamboo along the way. But that is all based on the fact that our army has always been victorious, and once it suffers a major defeat, the army's morale is easily disturbed. ”

"That's why you shouldn't go along. As the so-called gentleman does not stand under the dangerous wall, the monarch should sit in the back hall. Zhu Yizhang said with a worried persuasion.

"Who would want to have dysentery with hair? Don't look at the strength of our army now, but the short time it took to form an army is our biggest fatal wound. The parties still need enough time to adjust, so how can I stay in the rear with peace of mind? Even if Zhang Rui can understand what Zhu Yizhang said, he also has his own difficulties. There are all kinds of situations in the world, how can everything be at ease?

"Uncle, don't worry, I have my own way." Zhang Rui comforted Zhu Yizhang and said.

Listening to what Zhang Rui said, Zhu Yizhang said apologetically with an apologetic face: "Sixth son, it's also my fault that I don't have much ability to solve problems for you." ”

"Uncle can't be presumptuous, I still have a lot of things that my uncle needs to help me deal with." Zhang Rui looked at Zhu Yizhang and said with a smile on his face.

"By the way, is Min Rui's body buried?" Zhang Rui suddenly remembered and asked.

"Yes, the coffin has been buried as you commanded." Zhu Yizhang replied, he didn't understand why Zhang Rui suddenly asked about this. So he spoke:

"Still, a lot of people in the staff don't understand why you're doing this."

"Because we are weak, we have to recognize weakness. Burying him is not to show how respectable he is, but just to bury it for others to see. Zhang Rui replied:

"Alright, let's go! I'll have to go back to the city to deal with business later. ”

"Yes..."

With the end of the school review, Zhang Rui and the others left the school and returned to Wuchang City.

Wuchang City has a history of more than 1,000 years, and the houses in the city have long been overcrowded.

On the outskirts of the city, residential areas.

At a glance, it was all low thatched houses.

The people who live here are all impermanent people, and can only live in the world by working hard. If there is still an official government in the city to maintain order, outside the city is to live according to the rules of three religions and nine streams. If the ordinary people living here cannot join the forces, they will have to accept endless exploitation by various forces.

Zhang Rui and his group of horses passed slowly, and the people they met were all dressed in rags, squatting aside with vegetable faces and numb expressions.

There were a few children playing on the side of the road without any clothes, and when Zhang Rui and the others passed by, they also let their adults press on the side of the road to prevent them from moving.

Some cowards even knelt directly on the ground beside them, for fear of offending the nobles passing by and causing trouble for themselves.

Looking at the appearance of the people on both sides, Zhang Rui was very emotional.

"The backbone of our Han people has been suppressed to such a low level? You must know that in the past, it was the emperor who traveled, and the people only had to stop and watch (1). Zhang Rui asked secretly in his heart.

Recalling that at the end of the Qing Dynasty in later generations, the people had to grovel and shout at the beggars from the West, Zhang Rui was particularly angry. If it was in the Ming Dynasty, even if their bishop came, it would be just a red fan in the eyes of the people.

Perhaps, the greatest merit of the great man is to change the fourth-class Han people and enhance the pride and backbone of the nation. It's a pity..."

Note (1): The source of information refers to Baidu, and if you are interested in knowing, please take a look at Baidu: Do ordinary people have to kneel when they meet the emperor in ancient times?