The New Destiny of the Ming Dynasty

By the time Yang Zhen had finished arranging everything, the sun had completely sunk behind the western mountains, and it was gradually getting dark.

Yang Zhanao has already returned with Guo Xiaowu, whom Yan San recommended. The small boat has been arranged, and they are just waiting to set off after dinner.

This time, Yang Zhen took Yang Zhanao, Yan San and Guo Xiaowu to Zhang Degui's artillery camp for a "meal".

At this time, Zhang Degui went to Yuan Jin to coordinate the boat matter as Yang Zhen had requested. Only Yang Shen, the adjutant of the right wing of the artillery, and Deng En, the commander of the musket team, remained in the artillery camp, leading a group of people to work.

Deng En was a veteran battalion commander under Zhang Degui.

The reason he is called "old" is not because of his age; he is only in his thirties, a few years older than Yang Zhen, which is not considered old. The reason he is called "old" is because he has held the position of "bazong" for a very long time.

This man was born into the hereditary rank of centurion of the Houtun Guard in Guangning. He served as a battalion commander for many years and fought many tough and difficult battles alongside Yang Zhen and his son.

However, he suffered more defeats than victories in the battles he fought, and his troops dwindled with each battle, resulting in no promotions and a continued stagnation in his subordinate position.

This time, Yang Zhen ordered the formation of a sniper team. Zhang Degui, who always valued the seniority of his subordinates, promoted Deng En, the "old battalion commander," to lead the team.

After last night's night raid on the Tartar's grain supply camp, Deng En has passed the test. Yang Zhen also attributed the credit for killing the Tartar prince Loto to Zhang Degui and his musket squad.

Yang Zhen's actions naturally rekindled the enthusiasm of Dunn, who had been languishing in a low-ranking position and was somewhat disheartened, and he began to take on responsibilities more readily.

As soon as Yang Zhen and his entourage arrived, Yang Shen and Deng En came forward to greet them. A few steps away, Deng En, without waiting for Yang Shen to speak, greeted Yang Zhen with a broad smile:

"My lord! What time do we depart tonight? This time, if any Manchu high-ranking officials show their faces again, our musket squad will ensure they don't return! I didn't understand the sniping tactics you spoke of before, but since last night's battle, my brothers and I have all grasped them! This kind of achievement is the most satisfying and comes the fastest!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhen smiled at him and Yang Shen, and said to him, "It's good that you have confidence! If your rifle-flying team really understands sniper tactics, following me will make it very easy for you to earn merit!"

Having said that, Yang Zhen stopped looking at Dunn's beaming face and turned to Yang Shen, saying, "Is dinner ready? I'm actually a little hungry! We can talk about the rest while we eat!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shen and Deng En quickly made way for Yang Zhen to enter the camp.

The so-called "camp" was extremely rudimentary. On the ground, all that could be seen were rows of shacks with reed roofs, and the artillery personnel all lived in these semi-underground shacks.

The cooking and eating area was in a slightly wider ditch, but there was no shed or reeds laid on it.

In the dugouts of ordinary soldiers, it was impossible and impossible to use the precious tung oil lamps; at night, it was pitch black.

Now, only the soldiers on duty who set up the stoves to cook are there. The firelight in the stoves is shining brightly, so a group of hungry soldiers are gathered around, waiting anxiously like a pack of hungry wolves.

Yang Shen and Deng En arrived with Yang Zhen and the others. Upon seeing the situation, Yang Shen roared, "Get out of the way! You're all a bunch of people who have starved to death and been reincarnated, each and every one of you is a glutton! You ate so much at noon, and it's not even lunchtime yet, and you're all crowding around again! Get the hell out of my way!"

After Yang Shen finished his angry rebuke, the soldiers who had been surrounding the stove immediately stepped back, making room for him.

At this moment, Yang Zhen, who had already reached the edge of the trench, quickly stopped Yang Shen's reprimand and instead shouted at the old soldier in charge of the stove:

"No need to wait any longer! Let the brothers eat first! Just leave me a spoonful at the end! From now on, all officers and adjutants of the advance battalion must line up at the end of the table when it's time to eat. We must not let a single brother go hungry! As long as there is even one brother in the unit watching on an empty stomach, the officer or adjutant must not eat first!"

As soon as Yang Zhen finished speaking, the previously chaotic scene fell completely silent.

This wasn't the effect Yang Zhen wanted. Seeing everyone's stunned expressions, Yang Zhen immediately shouted again, "Did you hear me?!"

This time, the effect was evident. When the large group of soldiers standing below realized that Yang Zhen was serious, they all answered in unison, "Understood!!!"

"Very good! Cooks! Let's eat!"

Yang Zhen was also hungry, and he added a lot of minced fish and clam meat. The mixed noodle porridge, cooked over a high flame, also emitted a strong aroma, making him keep swallowing his saliva.

But at this moment, he encountered such a rare opportunity to win over the hearts and minds of his troops, and he could not let it slip by.

Yang Zhan'ao, Yan San, Yang Shen, and Deng En, who were also starving and whose stomachs were practically sticking to their backs, could only stand at the back of a long line with Yang Zhen, watching helplessly as the soldiers in the trench, like hungry wolves, devoured their food.

About fifteen minutes later, it was finally Yang Zhen and the others' turn. By then, only a little bit of the bottom of the pot remained, along with some burnt rice crust scraps.

"These bastards are truly a bunch of reincarnated starving ghosts! Sir! That's all we have! Let's just make do with this!"

Deng En was of lower rank, so according to Yang Zhen, he was naturally ranked ahead of Yang Shen and Yang Zhen. However, he wasn't really that ignorant, so after finishing the leftover rice, he first brought a bowl to Yang Zhen, handing it to him while saying with a wry smile.

Yang Zhen didn't stand on ceremony with him, took the food, found a place to squat down and eat it.

The fish and clam meat that I had worked so hard to bring back that afternoon had been completely gone, leaving only a thick paste and burnt rice crust at the bottom of the pot in the bowl.

At this time, the soldiers who had finished eating left in formation under the leadership of their respective shed leaders. In the end, only Yang Zhen, Yang Zhan'ao, Yan San, Guo Xiaowu, Yang Shen and Deng En from the artillery team remained, still eating.

A short while later, Zhang Degui returned to his camp with several men. Upon seeing Yang Zhen, he quickly came over to greet him.

Seeing that everyone had already eaten, he didn't say anything, because he had already eaten at Yuan Jin's camp.

As soon as Zhang Degui reached Yang Zhen's side, he said to Yang Zhen, "Sir! I've finished talking with Yuan Jin! The agreed time is still the same as yesterday, departing at Hai Shi (9-11 PM)!"

"This time, the distance is not far. We will board the boat at Hai Shi (9-11 PM) and we can get around there by Hai Shi 3:45 PM. We will find a place to anchor, then transfer to a small boat and go deep into the reeds to find a place to settle down!"

"Regarding how Xu Changyong's and Zu Keyong's troops will get their warhorses up tomorrow morning, I've spoken to Yuan Jin about it, just as you suggested, sir. He also agreed to the idea of ​​dismantling the deck of his large ship!"

"However, the construction of the pontoon bridge can only begin tomorrow after the tide recedes! Furthermore, the pontoon bridge can only last a few hours; we cannot linger on the shore for too long. Once the tide comes in, regardless of the outcome, we will have to retreat! Otherwise, we will have to abandon those warhorses!"

"I understand! It won't be long! For Xu Changyong and Zu Keyong to abandon their warhorses would be tantamount to killing them!?"

Upon hearing Zhang Degui's words, Yang Zhen understood Yuan Jin's meaning.

However, Yang Zhen was quite surprised that Yuan Jin agreed to dismantle the deck of his large ship so readily.

Yang Zhen asked Zhang Degui to coordinate this matter because Zhang Degui was experienced and could represent him.

On the other hand, he also took Yuan Jin's attitude into consideration, so he first sent Zhang Degui to speak to Yuan Jin on his behalf, while leaving himself some room for maneuver.

If Yuan Jin disagrees, then I will go and have a proper talk with him myself.

Yang Zhen initially agreed to let them bring their warhorses and travel north by boat in order to gain Xu Changyong's support, but not long after, he began to regret it.

Especially after arriving at this sandbar island, the warhorses were not useful for the time being, and it was difficult to get them ashore and board the ships. Each time, a lot of earthwork was required.

This time, however, we need Xu Changyong and Zu Keyong's warhorses; no matter how difficult it is, we have to get them ashore.

However, it's easier said than done; getting three or four hundred warhorses ashore is no easy task.

Especially when retreating, the speed must be fast enough; if we use ships for transportation as in the past, it will be too slow.

After much thought, Yang Zhen came up with only one solution.

That is, taking advantage of the low tide every morning, when only a shallow waterway about two zhang wide remains between this sandbar and the reeds opposite, a floating bridge is built on it using small boats and the decks of large ships.