Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 4 Enemy Attack
After passing Yanguan, the road heading south is mostly downhill.

The continuous rain was like a galaxy falling from the sky, washing the roads into pieces. The difficulty of marching was like sailing against the current. In many places, the water was higher than the horses' bellies, and the officers and soldiers' armor, weapons, and food were all soaked, making them very embarrassed.

At noon on the tenth day, the soldiers trudged to Gantang Ferry, which is located in the northeast corner of Lingchuan County. There was originally a floating bridge across the Li River, which was an important way for people to travel between the two banks.

To the east of the Li River, Jiao Lian and his entourage were anxiously waiting; to the west of the Li River, Guilin City was waiting for reinforcements.

Unfortunately, the floating bridge had been washed away by the flood, and the soldiers guarding the bridge were nowhere to be seen, having gone to shelter from the rain. The shacks beside the bridge were in ruins, and only two small boats were left, which were of no use.

Fortunately, the rain has subsided, the cold wind is no longer raging, and the heavy rain that has lasted for many days finally shows signs of stopping.

The river water rose sharply and became extremely turbid, mixed with mud, wood, and branches, rolling and surging like an angry dragon out of the sea, making people fearful and afraid to set foot.

Jiao Lian immediately decided to collect boats along the river bank and downstream. The standard bearer rode his horse for more than ten miles, requisitioning civilian boats along the way, and finally collected more than 20 fishing boats.

As a general, you must keep your word. The three-day deadline is urgent. Jiao Lian looked solemn and ordered: "Each team should cross the river in turn. No crowding, no noise, and no delay!"

The sound was sonorous and powerful, like the sound of metal and stone, echoing along the river bank.

The standard camp has six teams, each with fifty people, a total of more than three hundred people.

The Ming army's recruitment system was quite chaotic. The northern part of the country mostly implemented the battalion system, with five people in a squad, ten squads in a squad, ten squads in a division, five divisions in a battalion, and a battalion of about 3,000 people. The southern part of the country mostly implemented the battalion sentry system, replacing the squad with the sentry. The squad or sentry was the basic organizational unit of the Ming army, equivalent to the modern company.

This is a very old organization. The system of five people in a group is "the ancient Sima method". The system of fifty people in a team was used in the Han, Tang and Song dynasties. The system of three thousand people in a battalion can be traced back to Wang Anshi's method of appointing generals in the Northern Song Dynasty.

In ancient times, the ability to organize was low, and a battalion of 3,000 soldiers was basically the largest unit of the army. Jiao Lian's army had more than 3,000 soldiers, which happened to be the number of a battalion.

In comparison, each of the Eight Banners had 7,500 soldiers. From the perspective of organization, the Eight Banners were clearly superior to the Ming army.

Jiao Lian personally commanded the crossing of the river, with standard bearers leading horses and riding boats in an orderly manner.

The fishermen who drove the boat had been drifting on the Li River for many years and were used to seeing all kinds of armies. An army like Jiao's, which was strictly disciplined and obeyed orders, was rare and admirable.

After the last batch of standard-bearers boarded the ship, Jiao Lianfang and Cen Danchu boarded the ship together.

After crossing the Li River, Jiao Lian said to the fishermen: "My fellow villagers, I am General Jiao Lian, and I am on my way to Guilin to join the war. Because I left in a hurry, I didn't have time to bring money, so I will give you five taels of silver as a token of my appreciation.

"In the next few days, our army will have more infantry moving south. The Gantang Ferry Bridge has been destroyed, and they need your help to find a way to cross the river. Guilin's safety depends on this one move, so please help."

The fishermen were deeply moved when they heard this. In this day and age, it is a blessing that the army does not kill people or rob money, and there is such a benevolent commander.

A fisherman representative bowed and said, "The Marshal's reputation is far-reaching, and we have admired him for a long time. The people of Guangxi are in need of his protection. It is an honor to serve the army across the river. How dare we accept money?"

Jiao Lian laughed loudly, threw the silver on the ground, and rode away.

Cen Danchu followed behind him and said, "General, there are many loyal and righteous people in the rivers and lakes. From the words and actions of the fishermen just now, we know that the morale of the people in Guangxi has not declined, and there is still hope for the revival of the Ming Dynasty."

Jiao Lian stroked his beard and smiled, liking this new recruit more and more.

Cen Danchu was on his first forced march, enduring hardships and working hard without complaint. He was still busy when others were resting. He also made many surprising remarks, some of which were beyond the imagination of even Jiao Lian.

Well, he is indeed a promising talent. I just don't know how he will perform on the battlefield. If he can charge into battle and kill the enemy bravely, he will undoubtedly be a talented general.

Passing by Lingchuan County, Governor Zhang Tongchang invited Jiao Lian to rest in the city. Zhang Tongchang was the great-grandson of the famous prime minister Zhang Juzheng. He was upright and honest, and was originally a scholar. However, Emperor Yongli appointed him as the commander of the Jinyiwei and gave him the title of "Governor of All Armies".

The court originally wanted to rely on Zhang Juzheng's reputation. Now that Huguang was in urgent need, ministers Du Yinxi and He Tengjiao successively recruited Li Guo, Hao Yaoqi and other Dashun generals in Huguang.

Zhang Juzheng was a great name in Huguang, and Zhang Tongchang was a descendant of Zhang Juzheng, so he might be able to spread his prestige to the Dashun Army. Zhang Tongchang did not avoid danger and went to comfort the generals of the Dashun Army.

After Li Zicheng's death, the Dashun Army fell apart. Li Guo and others were like dogs that had lost their homes, being chased and beaten by the Qing army. When they saw Zhang Tongchang, they were very happy and wrote to Emperor Yongli, expressing their willingness to submit to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Tongchang successfully completed the task and returned to report. The Yongli Emperor was delighted and asked him to stay in Lingchuan to help guard Guilin and Yanguan.

In fact, although Zhang Tongchang was the "governor of all the armies", he was a commander without troops and could not control the arrogant and powerful generals around him.

Jiao Lian was in a hurry to go to Guilin and originally didn't want to meet Zhang Tongchang.

Cen Danchu advised: "General, Gantang Ferry connects the east and west of the Li River. The destruction of the floating bridge has a great impact. If the governor can send people to repair the floating bridge and restore traffic, it will be more convenient for our army to act."

Jiao Lian was very happy and said, "Thanks to you for reminding me, I almost missed something important."

So Jiao Lian met Zhang Tongchang and told him about the floating bridge.

Zhang Tongchang was shocked when he heard this and said, "General, are you serious? When was the floating bridge destroyed? I don't know anything about it!"

Cen Danchu smiled bitterly, feeling very disappointed. The soldiers guarding the bridge deserted their posts, and no one reported the destruction of the floating bridge, so the governor knew nothing about it. It was unbelievable that the Southern Ming army was so dilapidated. Would there be more outrageous things to come?
Jiao Lian warned: "I will go to Guilin now and have no time to stay. Gantang Ferry is very important for east-west transportation. Please ask the governor to recruit civilians as soon as possible to repair the ferry bridge, so as not to delay the military operation."

Zhang Tongchang bowed and said, "General, please go now. I will repair the floating bridge as soon as possible and live up to your trust."

At dusk on the 11th, the battalion finally arrived at the gate of Guilin. The city gate slowly opened and the soldiers of the battalion filed in.

When Qu Shisi, the governor of Guilin and the Grand Secretary, learned of Jiao Lian's arrival, he was overjoyed and went out of his house in person to welcome the battalion.

He held Jiao Lian's hand, stroked Jiao Lian's back, and said with a smile: "I have waited so long for General Jiao to finally arrive. With General Jiao here, I can rest assured."

Jiao Lian was flattered and said, "Lian has few soldiers, so I will lead the troops and fight to the death with the Qing invaders regardless of my own safety."

The two chatted happily, as if they were old friends. That night, Jiao Lian stayed at the Liushou Mansion.

The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, a soldier came running in hurriedly, looking panicked, pointing east and west with his hands, but he was so nervous that he could not utter a word.

Qu Shisi pretended to be calm and asked, "Are the enemy here? Why are you in such a hurry?"

At this moment, more than a dozen Qing soldiers rushed into Wenchang Gate, climbed the city tower and spied on the governor's mansion. Then, arrows rained down and landed beside Qu Shisi.

Qu Shisi was horrified and shouted, "Jiao Lian! Jiao Lian!"

Jiao Lian was exhausted from days of forced marching and got up late this morning. He was drinking porridge at the table and immediately stood up when he heard the change, shouting, "Dan Chu! Dan Chu! Hurry up and bring me my sword, bow and armor!"

Cen Danchu was shocked upon hearing the news, with anger and sadness in his heart. How did the Qing army suddenly rush into Wenchang Gate? What on earth were the defenders doing?
He didn't have time to think, so he quickly picked up his sword, bow and armor and ran towards Jiao Lian.

(End of this chapter)