Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 324 Dorgon's Preparation
All this gave Zhu Cilang an extra boost in the subsequent inspections, allowing him to completely let go.

Ma Bao's full cooperation set a benchmark for Zhu Cilang. Faced with the subsequent rectifications and punishments, Zhu Cilang's former subordinates lost their room for bargaining.

After all, if an "outsider" like Ma Bao can cooperate so well, how can these "old men" with deep roots in the military do the opposite?
However, Zhu Cilang was well aware of the principle of combining kindness and severity.

Simply enforcing military discipline and conducting rigorous assessments was not enough. He had to use this inspection as an opportunity to "show favor" in order to appease the troops and consolidate their support.

After all, Ma Bao's rise was too fast, which has caused dissatisfaction among some people.

Although these grievances have been suppressed on the surface, if they are not appeased in time, the potential rifts may lead to disaster at a critical moment.

After Ma Bao's inspection came to an end, Zhu Cilang turned his attention to Zhang Huangyan's "central army".

Zhu Cilang did not relax at all when it came to this core force with stable morale and strong combat capability.

He personally led his men to conduct detailed inspections and inquiries on everything from the soldiers' formations to the material reserves in the arsenal to the deployment and dispatch of the army.

While inspecting, Zhu Cilang also took the opportunity to complete a reform he had been planning for a long time.

On the grounds that "the war is imminent and efficiency needs to be improved across the board", he sent the "auditors" trained at Jinling Academy into the army and various military supply workshops, and gradually introduced more advanced financial auditing systems into them.

This system reform was the product of Zhu Cilang's long-term planning and painstaking efforts. As early as the beginning of the Nanzhong uprising, he realized the drawbacks of chaotic military accounts and uneven distribution of supplies.

However, due to the lack of professional talent and the layers of resistance from the old system, this matter has not been carried out.

Now, in this special period when the war is imminent, he has finally arrived at the best opportunity.

"If I don't change now, when will I?" Zhu Cilang thought to himself.

With a powerful enemy at the doorstep, all parties are focusing their attention on the upcoming war. Although there are voices of opposition to the implementation of the new system at this time, these voices seem insignificant under the banner of "for victory."

Through this new accounting, auditing and tax collection system, Zhu Cilang could not only grasp the true situation of wealth and population in the entire ruling area to the greatest extent possible, but also further squeeze the manpower, material and financial resources needed for the war.

More importantly, this system has curbed the breeding of corruption to a certain extent and provided a new weapon to combat the parasites that erode the vitality of the regime.

"If a regime is consumed by corruption, its demise will be faster than defeat in war!" Zhu Cilang warned his close ministers more than once.

He understood that corruption was the most terrible internal friction. Once it was not curbed, even with thousands of troops, it would be difficult to sustain it for long.

This reform also provides opportunities for new talents who have not been recognized to show their talents.

Although the auditors of Jinling Academy were young, they were all proficient in accounting and were rigorous and self-disciplined. With their joining, the old soldiers in the army gradually felt the pressure.

This "catfish effect" is exactly what Zhu Cilang wants - using fresh blood to break the rigidity of the old system and forcing those veterans who are accustomed to following the rules to change.

On the other side, Zhang Huangyan’s central military camp was located in an open area where the mountains and plains met.

Inside the tent, a simple yet detailed contour map was hanging on the wall. Several generals sat around a desk with serious expressions.

Zhu Cilang stood in the center, his eyes sweeping across the map, with a hint of thought between his brows.

"This map is much better than the previous ones." Zhu Cilang nodded with satisfaction.

He ordered the Military Intelligence Department to spend more than half a year redrawing the military maps of many regions. Although they are not completely accurate, the practicality of today's maps has been significantly improved compared to the crude cartography that could be called "abstract works of art" in the past.

Zhang Huangyan stood aside and pointed at several key points on the map.
"Your Majesty, after the vanguard army entered Gaizhou, the first five battalions of the central army have all arrived at the barracks in the areas of Yulinpu, Boluoguo, and Shimenguan to rest and replenish a large amount of military supplies.

The last five battalions are currently rushing in from Fuzhou City and other places. They plan to replenish their forces on the outskirts before reuniting with the main force."

As he spoke, he pointed his finger at the marks on the map one by one.

Every time a place name was mentioned, the generals next to him nodded slightly to show their confirmation.

Zhu Cilang did not rush to express his opinion, but pondered for a moment before asking:
"How is the frontline army progressing in Gaizhou? Are there any new movements in the enemy's defenses?"

"According to the latest reconnaissance intelligence, the Qing army's defense in Gaizhou is still mainly based on holding on, and there are no obvious signs of reinforcements." Lin Changfeng stepped forward and answered.

He was one of the lieutenant generals of the central army, and was deeply trusted by Zhang Huangyan because of his agility and fighting skills.

"Yeah." Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, then changed his tone and asked Zhang Huangyan:

"Can the last five battalions rendezvous with the main force earlier? The battle is imminent, and I don't want any of the troops to be delayed in their operations."

Zhang Huangyan thought for a moment and replied:
"I have already sent out an urgent order, instructing the five rear battalions to speed up their march, but they still need to replenish supplies along the way, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to compress the time further."

"Then we'll try to adjust the supply method." Zhu Cilang said decisively:
"Prioritize combat readiness. If necessary, some supplies from the front camp may be transferred to the rear camp. Ensure that the entire army is assembled by the designated time."

This military analysis and deployment adjustment allowed the generals present to see Zhu Cilang's decisiveness. Each of his orders hit the mark directly without any delay.

And this decisiveness and precision is precisely why they gradually became convinced of the young monarch.

Through this round of inspections, Zhu Cilang not only strengthened his control over the army, but also laid a more solid foundation for the upcoming war.

He knew that only when the military and political systems were in order could his reforms truly go on in depth, and this was the key to the future revitalization of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the Liaohe River area on the map.

He drew a line with the bamboo stick in his hand and said in a calm and confident tone:

"I have ordered Li Xiaolin to dispatch additional troops to harass the central coastal area in the near future in order to divert the Qing army's attention.

As long as their attention is drawn there, our army's advance from the north of Gaizhou will be highly concealed and difficult for the Qing army to detect."

Lin Changfeng, who was sitting next to him, quickly agreed, speaking with admiration:

"Your Majesty is far-sighted. With the armies now dispersed and mobilized, the ordnance bureaus in Shandong and Southern Zhili have already shipped weapons and equipment by sea.

This not only greatly reduced the burden of corvée labor on the civilians along the way, but also allowed the soldiers from Shandong and southern Liaoning to directly replenish their weapons along the way, making their operations more efficient.

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, then raised his head again, his eyes fixed on Lin Changfeng, and asked:

"How is the Nanzhili army currently assembled? I remember that the marching route of this unit is very critical." Lin Changfeng briefly gathered his thoughts and replied respectfully:

“The five battalions dispatched by Southern Zhili were originally dispersed to the three prefectures in the Huai River basin for training in order to improve their combat effectiveness.

These battalions have now begun to assemble towards Gaizhou and are expected to arrive at their destination within two weeks. They will replenish their weapons and provisions there and then advance by sea as planned.

General Zhang has already properly arranged the cotton armor, clothing, and other supplies needed by these over 13,000 soldiers, and has stored them all in the military warehouse in Huai'an Prefecture. They will be available immediately once the army sets out."

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang's expression relaxed a little, with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

He nodded and said:
"Very good. If everything proceeds as planned, I will spend the next two weeks in Xuanzhu's camp handling military affairs. All documents and military reports must be sent here."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Zhang Huangyan who was standing beside him.

Zhang Huangyan noticed the emperor's gaze and immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and replied with a knowing smile:

"I will live up to your Majesty's trust."

Zhang Huangyan's attitude was extremely respectful, but the senior generals of the central army behind him showed a hint of pride on their faces.

Zhu Cilang chose to publicly express his importance to the central army, apparently to further consolidate Zhang Huangyan's prestige.

Zhu Cilang knew very well that the central army led by Zhang Huangyan was the backbone of the current Ming army. Only by making these central army generals trust his command and respect Zhang Huangyan's command position could the stability and morale of the entire army be ensured.

After a brief pause, Zhu Cilang turned his gaze towards Gaizhou. He tapped the map with his bamboo stick again, his voice slightly sharper:
"How is Dorgon's deployment in Gaizhou and Liaozhong?"

At this time, Zhang Mingzhen stepped forward and answered solemnly:

"Your Majesty, according to the intelligence reported by the Military Intelligence Department in recent months, Dorgon and Jihalang stationed in Gaizhou seem to be planning to form a new army in Haizhou with the remaining main forces of the Eight Banners as the core, plus thousands of wild soldiers captured from the north.

They call it the 'Four Flags', and its organization is more like a supplementary field mobile force."

"'Four flags'?" Zhu Cilang repeated, with a hint of disdain in his tone.

He turned his gaze from the map to Zhang Mingzhen, indicating that he should continue.

Zhang Mingzhen clasped his hands respectfully and continued:
"Yes. These four banners are currently mostly deployed in Liaozhong, with a total strength of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 troops. Most of the generals are Dorgon's trusted confidants, but their capabilities remain to be further confirmed.

As for more detailed information on troop organization and movements, the Military Intelligence Department is making every effort to gather it."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang frowned slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he said in a cold voice:

"Dorgon really still wants to use these remnants of his defeated army to maintain his position. These so-called 'Four Banners' appear to fill the gaps in the Eight Banners, but in reality they are nothing more than a desperate struggle.

No matter what they try, they are doomed to fail.”

When everyone heard this, they nodded in agreement, but they couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

After all, no matter what Dorgon's plan was, he still had a certain amount of troops in his hands, and in the wild environment of Liaozhong, the situation might not be as simple as it seemed.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang sneered and tapped the bamboo stick lightly on the map, saying:

"Tell the Imperial Guards to expedite their efforts and quickly grasp the specific deployment of the Qing army.

At the same time, order Chang Denggui to expedite the preparations of the central army. This operation must be swift and accurate, not giving the enemy even the slightest time to react."

"We obey your orders!" Zhang Huangyan and the generals responded in unison. Their voices echoed in the military tent, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn.

Zhu Cilang's gaze fell on the map again, and an unfathomable light flashed in his eyes.

Zhang Mingzhen is currently transferred to the position of Minister of War, and his responsibilities cover many aspects such as military registration management, military affairs handling, military order execution, military pay and logistics support, and troop recruitment.

Although the power to appoint and dismiss military officers is now firmly in the hands of Zhu Cilang, the Ministry of War, as the hub of the court's military administration, still plays an irreplaceable role, especially during wartime, when it assumes some of the functions of the General Staff.

Especially at the moment when the war situation is tense, Zhu Cilang needs to concentrate on overall strategic planning. Therefore, the Military Intelligence Department has temporarily cooperated with the Ministry of War, forming an unprecedented efficient linkage.

"Order the Imperial Guard to continue sending personnel behind enemy lines to conduct reconnaissance and ensure an uninterrupted intelligence chain.

At the same time, the army's scouts must maintain their daily patrols along the border between Haizhou and Gaizhou. While it may appear to be business as usual, the actual deployment should be relaxed on the outside but tight on the inside. Zhu Cilang spoke firmly, and after a slight pause, he added:
"If we discover Qing scouts or spies attempting to infiltrate our defenses, kill them without hesitation! We must ensure that our army's movements are never leaked!"

"I obey your order!" Zhang Mingzhen responded in a resounding voice, his eyes firm, and he clasped his fists to accept the order.

After the order was given, the big tent suddenly became quiet, with only the faint flickering candlelight reflecting the solemn expressions of the people in the tent.

Zhu Cilang paced in front of the map for a while, his thoughtful gaze sweeping across the vast mountain and river marks, finally stopping on Zhang Huangyan.

"Xuanzhu," he raised his head, his eyes full of deep thought, "What are your thoughts on Dorgon's newly formed Four Banner Army?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huangyan pondered for a moment, obviously having been prepared.

He stepped forward, clasped his fists solemnly and said:
"Your Majesty, I believe that the so-called wild troops Dorgon recruited have been in existence for less than six months. In the previous battle outside Shimen Pass, although the Qing army boasted a force of 100,000, only 4,000 to 5,000 were able to be quickly mobilized to the battlefield.

As for the so-called 'Four Flags', they likely haven't yet reached combat effectiveness and are not a threat in the short term."

Zhu Cilang nodded and motioned him to continue.

Zhang Huangyan raised his head slightly, his eyes sharp as a torch, and continued:

"Dorgon is a man of many schemes, cruel, yet extremely calm. I believe he would never rashly launch a decisive battle before these new recruits have adapted to the military formations and fighting.

Therefore, these "four flags" were probably the main field forces prepared for future counterattacks.

However, Chieftain Ba Ming was different. He was young and full of energy, eager to achieve success. He had already attempted to launch a night attack. If the Qing army's musketeers arrived at the front line, Ba Ming would most likely lead the attack.

At this point, Zhang Huangyan pointed to the map and drew a line marking Boluoguo and Shimenguan:
"I have concluded that if the Qing army were to make any move, they would most likely use Boluoguo or Shimenguan as a breakthrough point and attempt to attack our rear.

These strategic locations are relatively open, and if their defenses are weak, the Qing army can take advantage of the situation and enter. Conversely, in the mountainous and rugged areas, although there is a certain possibility of a surprise attack, our army is defending the dangerous terrain, making it difficult for the Qing army to take advantage of the opportunity.

(End of this chapter)