Late Yuan Dynasty: I am the true emperor

Chapter 176 Liao Yongan's Letter of Request

With the recall of trainees participating in training outside, the reorganization of the combined brigade has been completed. Coupled with the continued output of weapons and armor at the iron factory, the entire Luzhou has entered an atmosphere of large-scale military training.

Xu Yong selected the best and bravest warriors to form the Xianzhen Camp, gave priority to distributing armor throughout the brigade, and led the soldiers of the Xianzhen Camp to mainly train their personal skills.

Bows and arrows, bone halberds, swords and shields, short halberds, flower spears, even maces and lances, whatever you want you can get, use whatever you like, take whatever is convenient, and even if you win first place in the competition within the camp, you can apply for customized exclusive weapons and armor, which is the best treatment in the entire brigade.

At the same time, Zhu Shou also allocated the West Gate Wengcheng of Luzhou to them as a training ground. The soldiers of the Xianzhen Camp had to practice various ways of climbing the city walls, fighting on the city walls, and the tactics of capturing city towers and seizing city gates every day. After completing training every day, officers at all levels were organized to participate in tactical discussions, and they were allowed to express any ideas about sieges.

A squad leader who is in charge of eleven people can express his views on tactics in the army. If his suggestions are useful, they will be included in the training syllabus and the tactics will be named after the person who made the suggestion.

The squad leader can participate in the formulation of tactics, and those who win the competition in the camp can obtain exclusive armor and weapons. This method of training soldiers is really beyond everyone's expectations, especially the new Zhu Chongba, who is now a squad leader. He admires and is shocked by the training method arranged by Lu Jin, and is also secretly learning from it.

Naming new tactics after the proposer's name is a sign of honor, and it can actively mobilize officers at all levels to actively offer suggestions. It can even make you famous in the army and make your name remembered by senior generals, which will increase the possibility of promotion in the future. Whether it is a sense of honor or making a name for yourself and paving the way for your future, it will be of great benefit to the individual. This is what Zhu Yuanzhang understood himself.

In fact, this method has a deeper purpose. Is this arrangement really for the officers below to give their opinions? No, although this consideration is indeed there, it is not the main purpose. The main purpose is to allow officers at all levels to deeply learn and understand various tactics of siege.

Because this is a question of sequence. If you don't even have a deep understanding of the existing tactics, how can you make useful tactical suggestions? It doesn't matter if there are reliable suggestions or not. What matters is that the squad leaders of each squad can deeply understand the siege tactics.

Second, rewarding the winners of the competition with exclusive customized weapons and armor once a week is a practical benefit, as well as a face and honor. But more importantly, it is to mobilize the training enthusiasm of the soldiers in the entire battalion and let everyone know that hard training can have visible benefits. This is also what Zhu Yuanzhang himself understands.

But he still didn't see some details, that is, the content of the "martial arts competition".

This so-called competition does not necessarily involve a real fight. It could also be a competition of speed in climbing walls or ladders, or an archery competition. In short, various competitions are held in rotation to allow those warriors who are not particularly strong in one aspect but have good skills in other aspects to feel involved.

Otherwise, if we only compete in sparring, there will always be a few exceptionally strong ones, such as Zhu Liangzu and Chang Yuchun, who are ridiculously strong. Then, no matter how hard others practice, they will never be able to beat them, and slowly they will lose the passion for training and competition. This is also not acceptable. We must give everyone the incentive of "I can win a prize", even if it is only one aspect of it.

However, just the above two points made Zhu Yuanzhang say that he had learned a lot. They in the Xianzhen Camp had to line up for running every morning and practice queues after breakfast. However, the queue practice time was not long. More time was spent on training personal weapons use, physical fitness, and group tactics.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also observing the training of other troops. The training of the four musket battalions was quite outrageous. It was said that when selecting soldiers, their Xianzhen Camp was the first to select, and they selected the tallest and strongest ones, while the four musket battalions were composed of the remaining soldiers. This made many soldiers in the Xianzhen Camp look down on those in the musket battalions, but the number of people in the musket battalions was the main force of the entire brigade.

The training content of this group of people is also different. They practice marching in formations from morning to night every day. There are also musicians beating tin drums and blowing flutes beside the team as they march in unison.

The most exaggerated thing was that the company of 200 people were arranged into a horizontal formation, and then they marched in unison to the beat of drums and flutes. Finally, the four companies of the battalion were arranged into four rows and marched in unison, with each person carrying a bamboo pole as high as his eyebrows.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little surprised. Although he had never fought in a war, he felt that the formation trained by those musketeers was too thin. If the Musket Battalion came to defend and the Trap Camp came to attack, wouldn't their thin three or four rows of formation be broken through in one go?
But he knew that Lu Jin was good at fighting and there was no way he didn't understand this. Since Lu Jin insisted on training like this, he must have his reasons, but he just couldn't understand it yet.

Ten days later, the Musket Battalion received the first batch of 200 flintlock rifles. When the entire company of men lined up in a horizontal formation and fired their muskets, the noise was earth-shattering. If the Xianzhen Camp encountered them at close range, they would probably be defeated in one round. From then on, the Xianzhen Camp never dared to underestimate those musketeers again.
The training at the artillery battalion is a bit like listening to a foreign language. Every day we study mathematics and geometry for half a day, and practice artillery for half a day. We are divided into several groups and take turns. Those who give lectures are busy, and those who practice artillery are also busy, so we make full use of the teaching resources.

However, due to the limited output of gunpowder, the number of live-fire training sessions was restricted for both the musket and artillery battalions. After practicing with empty guns and cannons a hundred times, it was estimated that there would only be one chance to actually fire.

The training of the chariot battalion was even more complicated. Since Xu Da insisted on integrating the functions of the grenadiers with the auxiliary troops of the chariot battalion, the chariot battalion not only had to practice driving, harnessing horses to drive carriages, vehicle maintenance, close combat with swords and shields, throwing grenades, and musket shooting, but also had to participate in all of these trainings. They were considered the two most tiring battalions.

However, with such comprehensive training, if they do well, they are worthy of the name of grenadiers.

However, when the carriage camp was replacing the new carriages, it caused a commotion in the entire brigade, because Xu Da and his men received a four-wheeled carriage that they had never seen before.

These carriages have small front wheels and large rear wheels. The two front wheels share a bogie and are pulled by four horses, but can carry more than 2,000 kilograms of cargo.

Moreover, unlike those common carts, this four-wheeled carriage has openable and closable railings around it, and an arc-shaped ceiling is supported by bamboo strips on the upper and lower railings. If modern people take a look, they will know that this is the shape of a military truck, except that this four-wheeled "truck" is pulled by horses.

Qi Jiguang's new book on military logistics introduced the transportation situation of the Ming army. His book recorded a large cart pulled by eight horses with a payload of 12.5 shi, or about one ton.

80 carts require 640 mules and horses, and a baggage camp of 1660 people. Each person carries three days' rations. All the people and carts together can transport 1100 shi of supplies at a time, about 88 tons of supplies, which can supply cavalrymen and their horses for three days.

Of the 1000 dan of supplies, half was given to people and half to horses. Two hundred dan was food for people, about one pound and two ounces of rice per person per day. The remaining three hundred dan was various pickles, and the amount of pickles was actually more than the amount of rice.
The other five hundred stones were all beans, which were used to feed the horses, about 80,000 kilograms. On average, each war horse ate two and a half kilograms of beans every day. The total consumption of man and horse was 160,000 kilograms. This was the military transportation capacity and food consumption rate of the ancient army.

In Lu Jin's car camp, each squad was equipped with a large cart, and a battalion had a total of 64 carts, which only required 320 mules and horses. By using 50% of Qi Jiguang's mules and horses, he could achieve 80% of his transportation capacity. All the credit should be attributed to the leaf springs and ball bearings.

If all the carriages of the regular infantry regiments were replaced with four-wheeled carriages, 800 shi of supplies could be transported at a time. If 54 carriages were loaded with food, they could supply food to the entire regiment of 4500 people for 20 days. Ten carriages would still be left to carry salt. The 10 kilograms of salt could be used as currency to buy vegetables and meat from the local people.

Salt is hard currency, so there is no need to worry about no one wanting it.

However, this is based on the calculation of conventional infantry regiments. If it is replaced by the combined brigade of the Imperial Guard, the two vehicle battalions can only guarantee the entire brigade's combat for 15 days, because the firearms troops are more dependent on logistics, and more vehicles need to be freed up to transport ammunition, and not all of them can be used to transport food. As soon as this vehicle appeared, it immediately attracted the attention of Li Shanchang and Feng Guoyong. As the saying goes, laymen look at the strength of the troops, and experts look at the logistics. Feng Guoyong understands military affairs, so he saw the convenience of this four-wheeled carriage at a glance.

Li Shanchang was in charge of food and fodder. Although he was not very good at military affairs, he knew that the front line should have as many supplies as possible. He could not see anything else, but he could see that this carriage used fewer mules and horses and loaded more supplies. If the same number of mules and horses were used, this carriage could transport twice as much supplies to the front line. This was the advantage!
Li Shanchang immediately asked Lu Jin, "Marshal, can you make more of these four-wheeled vehicles? It will be more convenient to transport supplies to the front line in the future."

Lu Jin nodded and immediately affirmed, "Of course we need to build more. In the future, each regiment's vehicle battalion will have to replace these vehicles. A regiment will be equipped with 64 vehicles, which is enough."

Li Shanchang was stunned when he heard this, and immediately corrected, "Marshal, that's not it. What I mean is, can we equip the local areas with some of these four-wheeled carriages to transport food and fodder to the front line?"

"Oh, this one." Lu Jin thought for a moment and said, "Of course, I can. I originally wanted to produce this kind of four-wheeled carriage for a long time. It would be best to set up a carriage factory. In the future, we can not only produce carriages for the army, but also make more to sell to the people or merchants. Of course, local areas can also purchase some.

“As for transporting supplies to the front line, we are still fighting on the front lines now, and there are no long-distance expeditions. When we need to go on expeditions in the future, we will definitely set up a temporary logistics department and appoint a quartermaster to organize the transportation of food and fodder.

"My idea is to set up a material distribution center within our territory, gather materials from all over the country to the center, and then open up a supply route. This route from the interior to the war zone should preferably be by water, as the waterway has a large transport capacity and requires fewer people. This is a first-level transit station.

"Then, we will set up a logistics center in a key town in the frontline combat zone. It must be a strategic location guarded by heavy troops, and it can be located slightly further back as a secondary transit station.

"Finally, the various armies on the front lines are responsible for the short-distance transportation of supplies between the front lines and the secondary transfer stations. They transport ten to twenty days of supplies at a time to maintain the operation of the front lines. So, in fact, the rear does not necessarily need too many of these large vehicles, but the front-line regiments need a lot."

Li Shanchang nodded when he heard this. He was familiar with Lu Jin's work style. No matter what he did, he arranged everything in an orderly manner. Just for the transportation of food and fodder, he actually divided it into a three-level transportation system, from his own side to the war zone, from the war zone to the front line, with water transportation in the rear and trucks in the front line. It was indeed more reasonable.

"Since the Marshal has made up his mind, there is no need for me to say more."

After listening to this, Lu Jin said, "The transportation of grain and grass is easy to deal with, but the production and grain collection in the rear still need your hard work. Now it is the beginning of March, and the spring plowing is imminent. Please urge the counties to not miss the farming season and actively organize production. The seeds, farm tools, and oxen needed by various places still need your hard work to collect. Don't miss the spring plowing."

Li Shanchang immediately laughed, thinking that he was still very useful, so he said, "Please rest assured, Marshal, I will definitely live up to your trust."

Li Shanchang was busy preparing for spring plowing, while Feng Guoyong was formulating a military plan for the next six months. By the beginning of March, the iron factory had produced another 3,000 sets of cloth armor, which were all supplied by Lu Jin to the northern division. Now the three regiments in Haozhou were fully armored, and their combat effectiveness should be greatly improved.

Zheng Yong and Zhu Liangzu were also in the north of Haozhou. They had found a battlefield to encircle and annihilate Chelibuhua, but they kept waiting and did not see the 3,000 cavalrymen mentioned in Lu Jin's intelligence, and they didn't know when Chelibuhua would arrive.

Before the defensive counterattack in Haozhou in the north started, Liao Yongan in the south sent someone to deliver a letter of request for war. Lu Jin opened it and immediately took it seriously, then called Feng Guoyong to study it together.

The letter of request for battle was written by Liao Yongan himself, and was accompanied by a battle map of the planned battle.

The letter first said that the 101st Division was established at the end of last year and was supplemented with too many new recruits from Dingyuan, especially people like Miao Daheng, Guo Zixing, and Lu Ding. They were not familiar with the organization and tactics of the Shengwu Army, and had not received much training. Their combat effectiveness was low and they were of no use, and could only be used to strengthen the army.

The goal that Lu Jin had told them before was for the Southern Army to capture Anqing. At that time, Liao Yongan was not sure and had no confidence in commanding an army of more than 20,000.

However, after three or four months of training, he had gained confidence in his troops. Liao Yongan also used this time to send out spies and scouts to gain a general understanding of the situation around Anqing.

Now the area surrounding Anqing, including Anqing, is all guarded by the original local troops. There are no generals and troops sent by the Yuan court. He also heard that Xu and Song were fighting in the south. If it drags on, once Xu and Song's troops turn to the eastern front, the Yuan court will definitely send strong generals to Anqing, a strategic location, to prevent Xu and Song from going down the river to the east.

By then, whether the Yuan court occupied Anqing or the Xu Song occupied it, it would probably be difficult to fight.

Considering that the 101st Division is now strong and well-trained, with sufficient food and grass reserves, and there is no strong enemy or heavy garrison in Anqing, the enemy situation is extremely favorable to us. It is recommended to launch an offensive on the southern front immediately.

Next is the battle plan. In this southern battle, the main battle zone is located in the narrow plain area from the foot of the eastern foot of the Dabie Mountains to the west bank of the Yangtze River. There are three major combat targets, namely Tongcheng County, Qianshan County, and Huaining County (the capital of Anqing Road, now Anqing City).

There are two east-west rivers in this area, both flowing out of the Dabie Mountains and flowing eastward into the Yangtze River. The one to the north is the Shahe-Congyang River, and the one to the south is the Wanshui River. The targets selected this time are all along the Wanshui River. It is planned that by the end of the battle, the north bank of the Wanshui River will be completely controlled, and a new defense line will be formed relying on the Wanshui River to defend against the enemy in Jiangxi.

The plan was to mobilize all the main forces of the 101st Division, a total of four regiments, divided into three armies: left, center and right. The center army would be led by Liao Yongan himself, with the third regiment of his headquarters and Zhao Yong's 11th regiment, forming the center army. Guo Zixing's eighth regiment would be the right army, and Miao Daheng's 12th regiment would be the left army.

At the beginning of the battle, Guo Zixing's Eighth Regiment took Shucheng as its starting point and was the first to set out, along the edge of the eastern foothills of the Dabie Mountains, secretly marching southward in the mountainous area, detouring to the south of Tongcheng, hiding in wait in the upper reaches of the Shahe River, and sending small boats to scout the surface of the Shahe River, preparing to block the reinforcements coming from the north.

Miao Daheng's left-wing army quickly moved south along the west bank of the Yangtze River, first attacking Fushanzhai (a larger town) south of Lujiang and north of Anqing. After capturing Fushanzhai, they did not station troops there, but continued to move south secretly, occupying the commanding heights of Qingshan north of Tongyang, where they lay in wait and overlooked Tongyang Town.

Congyang River is the lower reaches of Shahe River. The upper reaches are called Shahe River, and the lower reaches that flow into the Yangtze River are called Congyang River. There was a Congyang County at the mouth of the river in later generations, but it was just a town at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

According to Liao Yongan's scouts, there are no city walls and not many troops stationed here. As long as Mr. Miao's main force rushes over, they can take it down directly.

(End of this chapter)