The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 286 Strategy for Advancing Troops
After initially agreeing on the intention to conduct business dealings, Jiang Han invited Zheng Zhifeng to a banquet at the Prince's Mansion.

The banquet was a lively and harmonious affair, with toasts and laughter filling the air.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zheng Zhifeng put down her glass and seemingly casually asked Jiang Han a question:
"Your Highness, I have long heard that your army is strong and powerful, and its strength is unstoppable."

"I've heard that the King of Han is waging war towards Guizhou. I wonder if I could be permitted to travel there and observe the situation?"

"As you know, most of us brothers are people who drift at sea, and this time we also want to see the might of your land-based elite troops."

After hearing this, Jiang Han turned to look at him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"If Mr. Zheng is interested in going to see it, that's fine."

"However, most of the battles in the southwest region are battles involving attacking cities and capturing strongholds, searching mountains and suppressing bandits."

"The Ming army is small in number and has long been terrified. They are now mostly holed up in a few major cities and are unlikely to come out for open battle."

"Moreover, most of the militiamen I sent to Guizhou this time were newly reorganized. They were mainly sent to see blood and get some practice. They are not considered elite troops."

"The scene might not be pleasant, Mr. Zheng, are you sure you want to go?"

Hearing Jiang Han's words, Zheng Zhifeng became even more interested.

After all, one of his purposes for this trip was to see how strong Jiang Han's troops were.

Although Zheng's fleet was invincible on the seas, its combat effectiveness plummeted once it landed.

To put it bluntly, without the advantage of strong ships and powerful cannons, the Zheng family, like a sea dragon that has come ashore, is basically no different from a mudfish.

In previous land battles with the Ming army or other adversaries, Zheng's troops had not gained any advantage and had even been chased onto ships, unable to disembark.

That's why Zheng Zhifeng was so eager when she heard Jiang Han mention "training troops".

He was eager to see for himself how the troops under the command of the Prince of Han, who had caused the Ming Dynasty so much trouble, actually fought and trained.

"Your Majesty is too modest."

"Even if the main purpose is training troops, being able to observe your troops' martial arts demonstrations is a rare learning opportunity."

"I humbly request Your Majesty's guidance."

Seeing his insistence, Jiang Han nodded:

"Since Mr. Zheng is interested, I can't stop him."

He then summoned his personal guards and gave them instructions:

"Go and inform Cao Er to select a team of capable men to escort Mr. Zheng to the front lines in Guizhou."

"Remember, send elite troops to ensure Mr. Zheng's safety."

"Guizhou is in chaos right now, we mustn't let anything go wrong."

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and immediately turned to leave.

Seeing this, Zheng Zhifeng also raised her wine glass and thanked Jiang Han repeatedly, seemingly looking forward to the trip to Guizhou.

Meanwhile, General Shao Yong, who was far away in Bozhou Pacification Commission, was unaware that a special "observer" was about to appear in his war zone.

At this time, Shao Yong was leading his main force to garrison troops near Zunyi County.

Zunyi is located in northern Guizhou, bordering Qijiang in Chongqing to the north and the important town of Guiyang to the south. It is a vital passage from Sichuan to Guizhou and is known as the "Gateway to Northern Guizhou". Its geographical location is extremely important.

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, this place is easy to defend and difficult to attack. At the same time, it can be connected with Sichuan in the rear via the Qijiang River, making it the most ideal forward base for advancing into Guizhou.

Recently, Shao Yong has been busy planning the logistics of the large army.

He had previously received orders from Chengdu to establish a stable supply depot and granary along the Qijiang, Tongzi, and Zunyi line, ensuring the safe and unimpeded flow of supplies to the rear.

To complete this task, Shao Yong conscripted laborers in the vicinity to carry out large-scale construction along the Qijiang River and Zunyi line.

This includes dredging the Qijiang River and its tributaries, and building large ferry terminals and riverside warehouses at key points along the way, such as Songkan and Ganshui.

On land, he organized his soldiers to widen and ram existing post roads, especially the steep sections, where he ordered them to be widened by three feet to ensure the smooth passage of carts, horses, and supplies.

With the coordination of Zhao Sheng, the chief steward in the rear, large quantities of grain, weapons, and clothing were being transported from the Chengdu Plain to the Zunyi camp via this combined land and water route.

Once everything was ready, Shao Yong summoned his generals to the Bozhou government office to discuss their strategy for advancing the troops.

The atmosphere inside the government office was solemn, and the early summer breeze dispelled the sweltering heat.

Shao Yong, seated at the head of the table, glanced at the assembled generals and spoke first:

"Gentlemen, although Guizhou is remote, it is of great significance to our army and is an indisputable springboard."

"If we take Guizhou, we will have no worries about the flank of Sichuan, and we can also look eastward to Hubei and Hunan, and southward to Yunnan and Guangxi."

He abruptly changed the subject, pointing to the map, his tone grave:
"However, attacking Guizhou is by no means an easy task!"

"Guizhou is known for its harsh climate, with 'no three days of sunshine and no three feet of flat land.' The mountains are high and the valleys are deep, with miasma and pestilence rampant. The roads are rugged and the climate is unpredictable, making it extremely difficult for troops to march and fight."

"The situation in Guizhou right now is even more complicated."

"On the Ming side, Xu Chengming, the general of Guizhou, gathered his troops and retreated to the fortified city of Guiyang, attempting a last-ditch resistance."

"In places like Shuixi, Sizhou, and Huishui, various local chieftains, large and small, still held sway, commanding armies and controlling their territories, acting ambivalently."

"During this period, countless bandits took advantage of the chaos to rise up and harass the local area."

"Among these towering mountains, the situation is extremely complex, with the enemy, ourselves, and the stubborn forces all intertwined."

Following this, Shao Yong specifically pointed out the power of the Tusi (chieftains):

"Among them, the two chieftain forces, led by the An family of Shuixi and the She family of Yongning, deserve the most attention."

"Although the rebellion of She Chongming and An Bangyan has been quelled, their remaining forces still exist and should not be underestimated."

"Under their influence, the chieftains, Miao villages, and Dong villages of all sizes in various places were quite hostile to the Han Chinese regime."

After listening to Shao Yong's analysis, the generals in the hall nodded in agreement and echoed his sentiments.
"The general is right. The mountain roads in Guizhou are narrow and dangerous, and they become even more muddy and difficult to travel after heavy rain."

"In addition to the miasma and mosquitoes, it is easy to cause a lot of non-combat casualties. In my opinion, we should bring more doctors and medicines." After a lot of discussion, Shao Yong finally decided on the advance plan.

He planned to divide his forces into three groups to support each other.

The main force in the central route, personally commanded by Shao Yong, consisted of elite soldiers and a large number of heavy artillery pieces. They marched south along the official road, heading straight for the Wujiang River.

The Wujiang River was the first line of defense for the Ming army in Guizhou. If they could successfully cross the river, they would be able to reach the gates of Guiyang.

On the left flank, Shao Yong dispatched a detachment to clear out bandits and mountain thieves from south of Zunyi to the north bank of the Wujiang River, in order to protect the flank of the main force and ensure the supply lines were secure.

On the right flank, he planned to send several small teams deep into Shuixi, Jinzhu and other places to scout out the movements of the chieftains.

After the strategic direction was determined, when it came to specific tactics, especially how to cross the treacherous Wujiang River, everyone fell into deep thought.

A minor official familiar with the situation in Guizhou stood up and said:
"General, the banks of the Wujiang River are almost all cliffs, and the current is rapid with few crossings. I think we should plan the crossing in advance."

Shao Yong nodded, then looked at the adjutant:

"General Shen Zhixing, I heard that you once followed the Ming army and participated in the suppression of the rebellion in Guizhou. What suggestions do you have?"

The lieutenant general named Shen Zhixing cupped his hands and said loudly:

"Reporting to the General, as far as I know, there are several major ferry crossings on the Wujiang River, such as Chashan Pass, Jiangjie River, Sunjia Ferry, and so on."

“These places are all strategic locations, and the Ming army will surely have them heavily guarded.”

"When I went to war with the army and crossed the river, it was General Zhang who found several secret crossing points so that we could cross the river successfully."

"I think we can follow this method. The main army can remain stationary for the time being, while a small elite force can be sent to sneak across the river, and then we can attack the crossing from both sides."

Shao Yong stroked his chin, thought carefully for a moment, and then agreed:

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

"General Shen, you take two hundred men and sneak over there first. Carefully survey the north bank and look for any places where you can cross the river."

"I will have the craftsmen rush to build rafts and small boats, waiting for the right time to cross the river."

On the left flank, everyone agreed that the river bandits and mountain bandits in various places must be resolutely wiped out without any mercy.

However, when it came to how to deal with the chieftain's forces, the generals present had considerable disagreements regarding the right wing.

Deputy General Liu Ning was the first to express his opinion:

"General, there are many chieftains in Guizhou. If we attack relentlessly, we may end up in an endless search for the enemy, which will not only waste our energy but also affect the overall battle situation."

"In my opinion, shouldn't we follow the old system of the Ming Dynasty and first pacify and control these chieftains?"

"Offering them official positions and titles to make them submit can save them a lot of hardship in war."

"After we pacify Guiyang, we can proceed with our plans gradually."

Upon hearing this, many generals present nodded in agreement.

Since there is an old system in place, let's follow it accordingly.

The Ming Dynasty government's policy toward the Tusi (local chieftains) in the southwest was basically to establish Pacification Commissions, Pacification Offices, and Anfu Offices, and to appoint local leaders as Tusi (local officials) who would inherit their positions and govern their territories.

All they needed to do was acknowledge the authority of the central government, pay their annual tribute on time, and accompany the army on campaigns when necessary.

This is a low-cost method of indirect rule.

But Shao Yong rejected the suggestion outright after hearing it:

"This proposal is inappropriate!"

Whether or not to adopt a policy of appeasement and control is not a decision you or I can make!

"We warriors are only responsible for quelling rebellions, defeating enemies, and expanding our territory."

"As for how to govern the local areas, that is the king's decision. No one else's opinion matters, and certainly no one can act arbitrarily!"

"Remember this! Remember this!"

Upon hearing this, the generals present immediately came to their senses, nodded in agreement, and dared not utter another word.

Shao Yong looked around at everyone, his tone solemn.
"Before his departure, the King gave clear instructions that the major chieftain forces in Guizhou must sincerely submit and be replaced by centrally appointed officials!"

"The hereditary local officials were abolished, and instead, officials were dispatched from Chengdu to govern the area. The people under their jurisdiction were registered and incorporated into the county system."

"Anyone who dares to disobey orders will have their entire clan exterminated; there will be no other way!"

He further explained,

"His Majesty said that the previous policy of appeasement was a last resort, which is why these chieftain tribes have grown powerful and become states within a state, frequently rebelling and causing endless trouble."

"Now that our army is fully assembled and its members are eager to make progress, how can we tolerate these persistent problems any longer?"

"Except for the worthless Miao villages deep in the mountains, which can be ignored, everyone in the area where the army reaches must come under the king's rule!"

"After the people within the territories of these chieftains submitted, they could live normal lives, learn to use Han characters, and those who excelled could even take examinations to enter officialdom."

"The former chieftains need to select their sons and nephews and send them to Chengdu to study so that they can serve as officials in the court in the future."

But Liu Ning still had some questions after listening:
"General, are we going to launch a three-pronged attack simultaneously?"

"This humble general believes that we should try diplomacy first and then resort to force, by selecting a few envoys from the army to go to the chieftain tribes in places like Shuixi."

"Firstly, it demonstrates the might of our army and clarifies the advantages and disadvantages; secondly, it allows us to order them to surrender within a specified period."

"If they agree to submit, then let them send their servants to accompany the army on the expedition."

After thinking about it, Shao Yong readily agreed.

"Alright, then go and pick a few people to go to Shuixi and Chishuiwei first, and see how the An family and the She family respond."

(End of this chapter)