PS: It coincides with the integration of the two festivals, I wish you all a happy Lantern Festival! I wish all lovers who spend Valentine's Day are brothers and sisters who have been reunited for a long time! Sister and brother!

The footsteps of the old man have just entered the first month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, and the land of the Ming Dynasty is filled with smoke and war. The peasant army Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng led their troops to the east to encircle Luzhou and take Hanshan and Hezhou. On the sixth day of the first month, the company battalion attacked Chuzhou for dozens of miles. On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Prime Minister Lu Xiangsheng led the general army Zu Kuan, guerrilla Luo Dai and other soldiers to aid Chuzhou, and fought with the peasant army at Wuli Bridge in the east of the city. The peasant army was unfavorable in battle, the company and camp were all defeated, retreated 50 miles to the north, and were beheaded more than 1,200 levels, from Zhulong Pass to Guanshan, the corpses were accumulated in the ditch, and the water did not flow.

After the defeat of the peasant army, they crossed north to force Sizhou and Xuzhou, and then retransferred to Henan.

On the 10th day of the first month of February, the soldiers stationed in Ningxia mutinied because they were at a loss for their salaries. Hungry soldiers besieged the government office. The governor of the right capital of the imperial history Wang Ji was unable to take a salary, and the hungry soldiers had no salary, so he made a noise and killed him. Ding Qirui, the deputy envoy of the military garrison, led the army to suppress it, captured seven people as the leader, and immediately beheaded him, and the mutiny was pacified.

On 11 February, Governor Lu Xiang was promoted to victory, cutting 676 ranks and seizing more than 400 horses and mules.

In March, a great famine broke out in Shanxi. When the hungry people had no food, they had to eat tree bark and grass blades. The bark and the blades of grass are all gone, and they are cannibalistic. Nanyang, Henan, near Shanxi, also suffered a famine. Tang Wang Yu played Henan Nanyang hunger, and even his mother cooked his daughter to eat. Chongzhen issued an edict of 3,500 gold to help Shanxi and Nanyang, and exempted Shanxi from the old and new salaries of the disaster-stricken counties.

On April 11, Huang Taiji, the Khan of the Jin State who obtained the jade seal of the country from the hands of Chahar Lindan Khan, was persuaded by the kings to proclaim himself emperor and change the Yuan to Chongde. Take this year as the first year of Chongde; changed the country name Jin to "Daqing"; changed the name of the clan to "Manchuria"; (This day is now the Manchu Gold Festival.) The capital is Shenyang. The honorable title "Emperor Kuanwen Rensheng." The next day, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty led a hundred officials to sacrifice to the Taimiao, and honored his father Nurhachi as "Emperor Chengtian Guangyun Shengde Shengong Zhaoji Liji Jiren Xiaowu Emperor", and the temple name was Taizu; Grandfathers and ancestors were all honored as kings. Ten days later, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty made his vassals vassal. His brothers, sons and nephews, all the foreign vassals of Mongolia Baylor, and the Ming Dynasty named Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi as kings.

In this era of extremely underdeveloped information transmission, it takes ten days and half a month to receive a letter from Beijing to Nanjing, not to mention the Central Plains, which is almost thousands of miles away.

People here are still busy celebrating the New Year. Enjoy the fruits of labor that bring them a good harvest. In the first month, people invite each other to eat spring wine, visit and pay New Year's greetings. It was the official slaves and Japanese laborers in the forest farms, mines, and shipyards that all received wine, meat, and vegetables. Show them my Chinese mind. In the first half of the first half of the first month. Almost all of Nanzhong is enveloped by the aroma of wine and meat. It makes people feel drunk.

In the first lunar month, in addition to the previous few days of sacrifices and New Year's greetings with the official generals, Shouhan rushed into the camp. Work with Wang Bao to sort out the affairs of the north.

Shouhan selected elite battalion leaders from the major battalions such as Guard, Phoenix, Qilin, and Xuanwu as troops to the north. For this reason, a special order was issued to evaluate and evaluate the soldiers in accordance with the training regulations and evaluation standards promulgated and implemented by the South Central Army, and all soldiers who could not reach the elite level of the army were to be beaten and dismissed from their posts until they were stripped of their posts and their fields were seized.

For a time, the entire Nanzhong Army began in October of the eighth year of Chongzhen, and it was a person who was tossed by Wang Bao on his back!

Pikemen thrust and cannot reach ten times per minute, penalty! If you can't stab the target at a distance of 20 meters, you will be punished! If you don't stab the target enough times, you will be punished! Those who fail to meet the three indicators will be classified as second-class sergeants. Once you enter this roster, you will talk about all kinds of treatment, that is, you have to rank behind the elite when you go to the canteen to eat!

Gunner shooting, requires the completion of three shooting actions within one minute, starting from pulling out the cap of the gun, loading the propellant, tamping the projectile, raising the gun, opening the fire door, shooting, and then reloading and shooting, after the individual soldier completes this requirement, the basic unit of A is gradually implemented upward, a team completes the requirements, and after a team reaches such a standard, it is a sentry.

And the most bitter are the soldiers of the sword and shield soldiers and the artillery team.

In addition to requiring the sword and shield soldiers to complete a number of actions such as chopping, chopping, slashing, and stabbing within one minute, there was also another task, which was to assist the artillery team in building artillery fortifications, using shovels, pickaxes, hoes and other tools carried by the artillery team, digging up the earth, filling straw bags, and piling up artillery fortifications.

"My lord, the artillery team has basically reached the point where the enemy cavalry is found five miles away, and it can complete the placement within five minutes, complete the preparation for shooting within ten minutes, and reload and fire once in two minutes."

"Where's the horse team?" Shouhan was very concerned about the construction of cavalry, fighting near the Beijing Division, on the endless and unobstructed plain, the enemy's cavalry impact, the psychological pressure on the infantry was great. In order not to be attacked by enemy cavalry, you must also have at least a cavalry that can be used as a patrol horse and serve as a scout guard.

"The subordinates have sent the order to the Phu Lang Mountains, ordering Huang Yishan, who trains horse teams in that area, to select the same elite sentinel team, load the ship and go north, and go to Hue for centralized inspection. At the same time, the general's palace sent an official letter to Hu Licheng of the livestock farm, requisitioning 2,000 mules and horses for use as a pack to the north. ”

"Mules and horses occupy a large space on the ship, and the capacity required for a mule and horse is enough to transport three cannons!"

Shouhan's words made Wang Bao a little embarrassed, but he didn't expect that these mules and horses would occupy more space than cannons. In this way, more than 2,000 mules and horses plus a team of several hundred horses, this is a huge ship capacity!

"My lord, then, what you asked before, you must bring enough rations for 10,000 people in the whole army to eat for one month, can you consider reducing it some? If there are not so many rations, vehicles, mules and horses can be carried less, saving transportation capacity. ”

Shouhan dropped the abacus in his hand and glared at Wang Bao, "Bao! Confused! ”

According to Shouhan's idea, he was ready to lead 5,000 soldiers to the north, carrying artillery pieces of less than 12 pounds, mainly six-pounds, eight-pounds, and big Buddha Lang machines, and a batch of rockets that showed off their might in the south. Beyond 5,000 combat soldiers. It is at least 2,000 to 3,000 auxiliary personnel, and the ships that meet the capacity of these personnel must use at least 3,000 sailors, so that is the standard of more than 10,000 people.

From Hue, Ha Tinh and other places to board a boat to cross the sea to the north, the Gyeonggi area has been plagued by famine for many years, and the Jiannu have been back and forth several times. It is said that if you can't find food in a famine year, you know where there is food. An army of unknown origin. Will the officials of the Ming court give you food? If the words of the sages in the daily life do not leave their mouths, and the officials who are loyal to the monarch and shout more than anyone else, they will be paid, and the Qinwang army composed of Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong will not be dispersed.

"We brought a lot of cloth for silver dollars. Is it possible to buy along the road? ”

"It's useless!"

Li Peiting, who is familiar with the inside of the Ming officialdom and the current disaster situation in the mainland, shook his head like a rattle.

"If the army marches to a deserted place. How to buy food? Not to mention the frequent disasters at present. Where to buy food? At this time, the silver dollar cloth was useless, and the grain could not be transported. The carts and donkeys have nothing to do, only relying on the grain and rice carried by the people, and the soldiers come and go, and the eclipse is one liter, half of which is for the soldiers to eat, and half for the people to eat, and the food for ten days and two buckets is exhausted, regardless of whether there is a thief in these ten days? Stalemate? And with thousands of soldiers into the thousands of shoulders, 10,000 soldiers into the 10,000 shoulders, grain with soldiers, in less than ten days and all to the end. ”

Pei Ting rarely spoke in crepe words, but these words made it clear that if there were not enough transports to carry grain and forage, the Han army would only be able to complete the worship offensive!

Seeing Shouhan frowning, he couldn't help but make everyone feel quite worried and humiliated.

Pei Ting had the courage to say to him: "Lord, if it's too difficult, what is this Beijing, let's not go, let Lin Wenbing find someone there to write a document, just take some cloth, knives, guns, leopard skin, porcelain and the like, and pay tribute to Chongzhen Xiao'er above, and this matter will be settled." Let's be down-to-earth in this south. ”

"No, you can't! If you have the conditions, you have to go if you don't! ”

"Actually, let Lin Wenbing send something in Beijing, and we can smoothly win the title of a consolation envoy. Besides, our country was beaten down by the lord and you, and it was our forehead spelled out in the wind, fire, mud and water, whether there is an edict from his Chongzhen child, this Nanzhong is ours! ”

"Pei Ting! Don't talk nonsense! ”

Li Peilin knows a little more about Shouhan's mind than his younger brother, although he doesn't think it very thoroughly, but he also knows that Shouhan's ambition is definitely not here, and he is by no means a loyal minister of the Ming court. So that the government decrees at all levels in Liangguang and Guangxi cannot go out of the city for ten miles?

"If the troops of 5,000 people cannot be guaranteed, then, let's reduce the personnel!"

In desperation, Shouhan had no choice but to make this decision.

The original 5,000 men and horses became no more than 3,500. Among them, the original number of more than 1,000 cavalry was compressed to 600 cavalry, including 100 scouts and 500 cavalry, which happened to be the strength of a battalion according to the establishment of the Nanzhong Army's horse team.

"The number of men can be reduced, but the spare horses of the cavalry cannot be reduced."

As a result, the number of horses in the horse team reached seven hundred and twenty.

The next step is to calculate the horse feed consumption.

According to the type and weight of the horse, a 500-kilogram war horse must consume at least 15 catties of bean feed and 20 catties of hay every day, as well as a certain amount of salt, to ensure that the body can be guaranteed. Of course, there are few such huge war horses in the South China Army, and most of them weigh around 300 kilograms. Horses of this weight consume at least 20 catties of hay and about 10 catties of beans every day, so that 720 war horses, a day of bean feed, is 7,200 catties, and the forage is 14,000 catties!

And that's just a day of exhaustion for the horse team!

"The soldiers are calculated according to the consumption of three catties of rations per person per day, which is the daily consumption of 10,000 catties of grain, including meat, vegetables, oil, salt, firewood and charcoal."

When discussing food, people's feelings are much more relaxed, after all, whether it is grain or meat, it can be transported and stored in a centralized manner, packed in a sack, or in a wooden box, saving space. Moreover, there must be ballast on every ship, and these grains, coal, and the like are the role of ballast!

In addition to food supplies, there are artillery and transport vehicles.

The cannon is easy to handle, and the Han guards are ready to refer to the practice of Yingyi during the first Opium War in history. The cannon is unpacked, packed and transported, and then assembled when it lands. For those four-wheeled transport vehicles, it is also prepared to refer to this mode of transportation.

"Artillery, don't bring those twelve-pounder guns. This time, he only carried a big Buddha machine and a six-pounder gun. The rest of the artillery was too wolf and inconvenient for marching. ”

After all, it will still take up the largest capacity and space for gasping!

According to the previous experience of transporting displaced people and soldiers, a soldier needs at least two tons of transportation capacity to ensure good health. And those war horses, mules and horses because of the relationship of size. The capacity and space that need to be occupied are even larger. Almost a war horse takes up about 20 tons of capacity, while mules and horses are slightly better, and they also occupy about 15 tons of space. What is the concept of twenty tons? The rated capacity of a liberation truck is only five tons, and a war horse will occupy the capacity of four liberation trucks!

The number that these individuals need. Multiply by the total. That's where the required capacity comes out.

"Oh my God!"

When his subordinates presented the astronomical amount of capacity and ship requirements that they had repeatedly calculated to Shouhan. That's all Shouhan has in his mind!

"Why?! Why are they all traversers, others can easily send 100,000 or even hundreds of thousands of troops to carry out cross-sea expeditions to Europe and the Americas. However, I just want to take a few thousand people to the mainland, is it so difficult? Oh my! You've been so unfair to me! ”

However, these problems, with the arrival of a person, become no longer a problem.

Zheng Zhilong jumped from the trestle to the dock with brisk steps, and bowed to Li Peilin who was waiting on the dock with a smile.

"Zhilong came recklessly, and Lord Labor Li is here to greet you!"

After a few polite words, Zhilong and Zhibao went to the Hue palace with Peilin.

The Zhilong brothers came this time to thank Shouhan.

Taiwan was snatched from the Dutch (no, it was recovered from Taiwan. After that, Zhang Xiaohu sent someone to transport the autumn grain harvested by the Taiwan Reclamation Bureau to Kinmen to Zheng Zhilong as military rations in accordance with Shouhan's instructions.

Along with the grain to Kinmen, there was also a copy of Shouhan's autographed book.

In the letter, Zheng Zhilong was told that the grain harvested by the Reclamation Bureau in the Tamsui area was still Zheng Zhilong's military and civilian food. In addition, Taiwan's trade routes to Japan are shared by Zheng Zhilong and Li Shouhan, and he can send people to purchase local products in Taiwan or entrust the Reclamation Bureau to purchase local products on his behalf.

"After the younger brother repairs the merchant hall of Tamsui and Anping, please choose one place at will for the trip."

Get! Shouhan released such kindness, if Zheng Zhilong didn't come to thank him, it wouldn't be worth rolling between the rivers and the sea.

However, when Zheng Zhilong saw the sad Shouhan, he was still quite surprised.

"Li Shuai, your army is invincible, the soldiers are fine, and the food is abundant; The jurisdiction has a bumper harvest year after year, and there is a lot of money, but why do you do this? ”

Listening to the Lisi Chengzheng An Tianhong on the side told the reason why Shouhan was worried, of course, he took the Spring and Autumn penmanship, and it was impossible to say that Shouhan was ready to go to Beijing with a large army.

"It turned out that Li Shuai wanted to go to the capital to ask for a nominal official title? Too much luggage?! It's easy to do! ”

Zheng Zhilong lives by himself, remembering the scene when he accepted Xiong Wencan's recruitment, isn't it also a mountain as high as silver flowing out like sea water? Now Li Shouhan's territory and situation are much more powerful than his own, presumably, the official title he asks for is not something that a mere guerrilla can satisfy his wishes.

"I'll vacate thirty Daifuku boats for Li Shuai! It's more than 2,000 ingredients! Is it enough?! ”

Zheng Zhilong patted his chest very righteously and straightforwardly.

A fortune ship of 2,000 materials is equivalent to a capacity of 600 tons, and 30 ships is 18,000 tons, which is almost the same to carry war horses, but those mules and horses that pull artillery and pull horses for transport vehicles also need capacity! And these mules and horses, about a thousand! Nothing more, no less!

After listening to Shouhan's narration, Zheng Zhilong knew that the Li Shuai in front of him was definitely not just as simple as asking for an official when he went to Beijing, otherwise, it would be enough for him to bring silver and jewelry! Take the big Buddha machine and do it? Attack the capital failed?!

"I'm not afraid of Zheng Shuai's jokes, I've heard for a long time that the mainland is full of rogues, and there are Northland Tartars who often break the border wall to harass and plunder. The younger brother is living a good life, so he is naturally afraid of death, so he naturally has to bring more of the accompanying guards! ”

While laughing at himself, Shouhan quickly recalled those numbers in his mind:

A total of 3,500 troops entered Beijing, including 600 cavalry, 500 artillery, 500 baggage, 400 auxiliary soldiers, 1,500 infantry, 720 war horses, 100 large franc machines and six-pounder guns. According to the estimation of carrying grain, grass and ammunition for March, it is necessary to carry about 500 tons of grain, rice, and non-staple food. According to the number of 720 war horses, 120 mules and horses for pulling artillery, and 400 horses for pulling baggage carts, the consumption of horses in three months is about 2,000 tons.

Add to that the weight of those artillery, ammunition, and baggage trucks, and that's another massive number.

"However, Li Shuai, if you want to come here, you can send a ship to the north first, transport some people and horses and wealth, and send competent personnel to meet you in Tianjin."

Zheng Zhilong's words reminded Li Shouhan that since he was going to travel for three months, he didn't have to go there all at once, and ordered someone to go to Tianjin first to unload the cumbersome materials, and then go south to meet him.

Or hoard in Shanghai and other places, and transport it from Shanghai to Beijing?

"Thank you Zheng Shuai for the reminder! In this way, the ships of your army going north can be loaded without weapons, and when they go to Hue, Ha Tinh and other places to load, our army will equip your ships with cannons. ”

"In addition, when going south, please ask your army to anchor in the area of Wusongkou, where I have some personnel and goods to board the ship and go south."

"It is reported that Zheng Shuai and Fusang have in-laws, and a few days ago, a Fusang daimyo came to submit a letter, claiming that he intends to buy our army's artillery, and these things will bother Zheng Shuai."

Shouhan's series of words overwhelmed Zheng Zhilong. Zhibao on the side heard one thing clearly, that is, the Nanzhong Army handed over the sale of artillery to Fusang to the Zheng Jiajun! The price of the elder brother's thirty Daifuku ships to help the transportation of the Nanchu army was exchanged for the right to sell artillery to the Daimyo of Fuso, what a bargain!

"Please rest assured, as soon as the south wind blows, Zhilong will send capable men to Hue to wait for the dispatch!"

When the Zheng Zhilong brothers left, the ship was loaded with ten twelve-pounder cannons given to him by Shouhan.

"That's it! Let's calculate again, what kind of tribute should we send to our Emperor Chongzhen!? ”

When the southerly wind generated by the warm and humid air flow over the Pacific Ocean blew, Zheng Zhilong's thirty Daifuku ships also arrived as promised.

On the dock, Chen Peng, who was the commander of the fleet, looked at the coolies who were constantly transporting all kinds of materials to the ship, and couldn't help but feel hot, "Damn! When you go out, you bring so many supplies and supplies, what kind of position do you want to buy for yourself?! ”

"Whose meal are we eating?!"

In the distance, a roar came like thunder.

It was the soldiers who were ready to follow the Han garrison into Beijing who were trained under the leadership of officers at all levels.

A battalion officer wearing a three-color ribbon on his chest as a star officer, he stood on the gun carriage at the front of the queue and roared loudly.

"Let's eat the general's meal!"

More than 3,000 people roared in unison.

"Whose clothes are we wearing?"

"Let's wear the general's clothes!" ……

"Whose pay shall we receive?"

"Let's get the general's salary!"

"Who are we supposed to work for?!"

"Let's work for the general!"

"What if it doesn't work?!"

"Take the field! Drive away! ”

This sound shook Chen Peng's ears for a while, and he glanced at it with some annoyance, "Huh! What's the use of yelling?! (To be continued......)