Late Ming Dynasty: Special Forces in 1645

"Expel the foreign invaders, eliminate the traitors within, revive China, and jointly build a prosperous nation!"

The following morning, Li Chengming led hundreds of new soldiers in drills outside the city. They marched in neat formation, shouted loud slogans, and were in high spirits with an overwhelming momentum!

People carrying goods into the city to buy and sell early in the morning couldn't help but stop and look on, filled with emotion.

Most of the people had heard that Jingmen City was captured by an unidentified army in half an hour yesterday morning. This army was powerful, disciplined, and did not harm the people in the slightest.

It seems like a good thing to have an army stationed in Jingmen City!

Looking at the people who had stopped to listen, Li Chengming felt a little guilty.

And so, he was about to hand over the entire city to Li Zicheng. Li Chengming felt indebted to these people.

He shook his head, deciding not to think about these things anymore. When one is successful, one should help others; when one is unsuccessful, one should cultivate one's own virtue. If these people are still alive when he returns, he will make amends to them properly.

"Finally, it looks like an army!" Commando Liang Zicheng exclaimed from the side.

Li Chengming shook his head: "It's still a long way off. Just look at this formation and drills; they can't even compare to the formations of university military training in later generations!"

Liang Zicheng said, "You can't compare them like that. University students' learning abilities, organizational skills, and discipline far surpass those of ordinary people in this era."

Li Chengming said, "We still need to continue training. We are far from reaching the level I envision of being able to defeat cavalry with infantry."

"Infantry defeating cavalry?" Liang Zicheng was somewhat skeptical. "How many armies in history have actually accomplished that? Without advanced firearms or a large quantity of bows and arrows, it would be virtually impossible!"

During the rescue of Li Zicheng, Liang Zicheng himself temporarily served as a cavalryman. When he rode his warhorse and charged at high speed, he felt a sense of invincibility, as if he could overcome any obstacle in front of him!

Without advanced firearms, the cavalry would fear no obstacle!

That's why Liang Zicheng didn't believe that an infantry force could defeat a cavalry force using only cold weapons.

"Modern armies can do it!" Li Chengming said earnestly. "I mean, modern armies can defeat ancient cavalry using only cold weapons. Spear phalanxes are a good way to deal with cavalry, but they require extremely high levels of organization, training, and strict discipline. I believe our army will be able to do that soon too!"

Liang Zicheng nodded, then said thoughtfully, "Our new army is starting to appear in the world's eyes; it needs to have its own name."

After pondering for a long time, Li Chengming slowly said, "Our slogan is to drive out the barbarians from the outside, eliminate the traitors from within, revive China, and build a better China together!"

Let's name the new army after this: the Restoration Army, what do you think?

The revival of China!

Thus, the name "Restoration Army" was unanimously agreed upon by the commando members and became the official name of the new army!

......

The Restoration Army originally had eight companies, and then selected one out of eight from the original city-defending troops to form a new company of nearly one hundred men.

They recruited young men from the city to form a company. However, because the people in the city did not trust the Restoration Army, not many people volunteered to join the army. Instead, many young men from outside the city heard the news and volunteered to join the army.

They joined the army not for any lofty ideals, but because they were attracted by the five taels of silver relocation fee and the advance payment of a month's salary.

Many tenant farmers without land rushed to join the army when they heard that the Restoration Army was recruiting soldiers, in order to alleviate the pressure on their families and also to leave some money for them.

Seven taels of silver was a considerable sum for ordinary people, which was the most direct reason why people from outside the city joined the army.

If the Restoration Army stayed a few more days, recruiting five or six hundred people would be a very easy task.

With the addition of the two newly formed companies, the Restoration Army now has ten companies with a total of about a thousand men.

The assault team members no longer concurrently serve as company commanders; instead, one outstanding platoon leader from the original company is selected to serve as company commander.

Li Chengmin served as the commander-in-chief of the Restoration Army, while the other assault team members served as instructors for the Restoration Army. They were responsible for the training of the Restoration Army in peacetime and could serve as commanders of one or more companies in wartime.

After clarifying the command structure and responsibilities of the Restoration Army, all work proceeded normally, and Li Chengming felt that his burden had been greatly reduced.

The communications officer, Zhou Lei, reported over the walkie-talkie: "Captain, those two scout companies have already entered the city!"

Li Chengming replied, "Then let's arrange for them to rest."

Most of the scouts were sons and nephews of the Restoration Army soldiers. When the Restoration Army came to attack Jingmen City, the scouts stayed in the village.

The plan is for the Restoration Army to set off and withdraw early tomorrow morning, so the Scout Company will also come to join them first, and then withdraw together tomorrow morning.

A short while later, Liang Zicheng, one of the assault team members, called back to report to Li Chengming: "Captain, most of the experienced old craftsmen are unwilling to leave!"

"Then raise salaries!"

"That won't work either. I've already raised the relocation fee to thirty taels of silver, but they still don't want to leave. These old craftsmen usually have families, businesses, and skills, so it's normal that they don't want to join the army!"

Li Chengming rubbed his forehead, thinking to himself, "If there's really no other way, should I resort to force?"

He then shook his head. Apart from surrendered soldiers and prisoners of war, the Restoration Army did not force anyone to join.

Even among surrendered soldiers and prisoners of war, it wasn't a matter of just anyone wanting to join.

Li Chengming asked, "How many craftsmen have you recruited so far?"

Liang Zicheng said, "There are thirteen blacksmiths, fifteen carpenters, six tailors, and four traditional Chinese medicine doctors. These are mostly apprentices or novices."

Li Chengming nodded and said, "Try to recruit as many technical personnel as possible, any type is fine. If necessary, you can increase their salaries; you never know when you might need them."

"Do you want an executioner here? He said he can perform slow slicing and skinning."

Li Chengming shuddered: "No need. We don't need this kind of feudal dregs. Beheading is enough. No one needs such cruel torture unless they are utterly wicked."

Liang Zicheng: "Alright, I'm going to go outside the city to inquire if there are any other craftsmen willing to join the army."

After hanging up the walkie-talkie, Li Chengming went to the county government office.

Upon seeing Li Chengming enter, Guo Yonghang, the county magistrate who was leisurely drinking tea, hurriedly stood up and exclaimed in surprise, "General, you, you've come!"

Li Chengming nodded and sat down in the armchair on the other side: "Your Excellency, you seem to be in high spirits!"

Guo Yonghang exclaimed in panic, "General, you flatter me!"

Li Chengming didn't bother with formalities and said directly, "Tomorrow our Xingfu Army will withdraw from Jingmen, and then Jingmen will be handed over to you, Magistrate Guo, to manage."

"Huh?" This time Guo Yonghang was genuinely flustered, unlike his previous feigned panic. "General, what's going on?"

Li Chengming glanced at Guo Yonghang and replied, "After we leave, Li Zicheng will soon attack and take over Jingmen City. County Magistrate Guo, you know what to do. I believe the King of Chuang won't make things too difficult for you!"

Guo Yonghang said with a bitter face, "When the rebel army entered the city last time, the rebel army generals also promised not to disturb the people, but the rebel army was a mixed bag, with bandits and thieves in the army, which made the city a mess for a long time before it recovered."

"General, to be honest, your Restoration Army is the most law-abiding army I have ever seen. Whether it's the Ming army, the rebel army, or the Qing army, none of them can compare to you!"

Although Guo Yonghang's words came from the bottom of his heart, they were also a subtle form of flattery that hit Li Chengming's sweet spot.

A smile involuntarily appeared on Li Chengming's face as he said, "All good things must come to an end. Jingmen is a good place, but there is the rebel army in the north and the Qing army in the south. If our restoration army does not withdraw soon, I'm afraid we won't be able to leave."

If the rebel army were to attack, Jingmen would surely become a battlefield, filled with the smoke of gunpowder and rivers of blood!

Guo Yonghang's expression changed. He hadn't considered this aspect. Only after Li Chengming said this did he realize that if the Xingfu Army didn't leave, they would definitely face a fierce battle, and the situation would be even worse.

Realizing this, Guo Yonghang stopped making polite attempts to persuade Li Chengming's restoration army to stay.

After explaining some matters to Guo Yonghang, Li Chengming left the county government office.

I believe Guo Yonghang can maintain order in the city for a period of time.