Late Ming Dynasty: Special Forces in 1645

Li Chengming instructed Chen Qiliang to make a trip to Dexing County to investigate the layout of the county town and the situation of the officials and people, as well as to investigate the specific location, distribution, transportation, quality, and mining status of the copper mines.

Chen Qiliang is clever and has a strong learning ability. He is willing to work hard and has already learned to read and write six or seven hundred characters.

Li Chengming gave him a new name: Chen Qiliang, and began to intentionally cultivate his intelligence-gathering abilities.

Chen Qiliang lived up to expectations. With the fifty taels of silver given to him by Li Chengming, he managed to develop more than twenty intelligence agents in Xinzhou City, three of whom were patrol soldiers of the Xingfu Army.

Seeing Chen Qiliang's talent in intelligence, Li Chengming agreed to give him two hundred taels of silver every month, allowing him to develop his spies both inside and outside Xinzhou City, but not to extend his reach into the Xingfu Army.

Then he dismissed the three patrol soldiers who had been recruited by Chen Qiliang as informants, because the Xingfu Army did not need informants!

When the first batch of key trainees from the Military Academy complete their training, they will be sent to the Restoration Army to serve as ideological instructors and conduct ideological education for officers and soldiers.

The intelligence system should also be gradually established. Once Chen Qiliang has acquired a certain level of literacy, he should be formally appointed and a formal intelligence agency should be formed.

Sending Chen Qiliang to scout Dexing County was also a test for him.

After Chen Qiliang left to receive his orders, Li Chengming summoned Liang Zicheng, Huang Longkun, and Song Yourong. He first explained the situation at the Dexing Copper Mine and then asked for their opinions.

Liang Zicheng said, "Dexing Copper Mine, I seem to remember it. Dexing Copper Mine is supposed to be the largest copper mine in the country."

Hearing this, Li Chengming was speechless: "If you had said so earlier, I wouldn't have had to spend so much money to buy refined copper."

Liang Zicheng was a little embarrassed and said, "I only have a vague impression of it. I don't usually remember it. I only remembered it when I heard about Dexing Copper Mine."

What the commandos didn't know was that the Dexing uranium mine was Asia's largest open-pit copper mine, as well as China's largest associated gold and silver mine.

Huang Longkun suddenly said, "Captain, have someone bring back some copper ore. I'll analyze its composition and then come up with a plan for smelting copper ore."

Song Yourong said, "I have nothing to say. I support the captain in taking over Dexing County. Not only can we harvest copper mines, but the new policy work team can also clean up a group of landlords and gentry, and then collect the autumn harvest taxes, which will bring in another batch of income."

Li Chengming nodded and said, "So you all have no objections to taking Dexing County?"

Liang Zicheng said, "No objection. It would be a waste not to take over such a large copper mine. Not only Dexing County, but I suggest that the captain also take over Wuyuan County, because I seem to remember that Wuyuan County also has a lot of minerals, but I can't remember exactly what kind of minerals they have."

Li Chengming pondered for a few seconds and said, "If that's the case, then it is indeed necessary to capture Wuyuan County. It's not just about the mineral resources, but also its strategic location. Wuyuan County borders Anhui to the north and Zhejiang to the east, so its strategic position is very important."

Huang Longkun said, "Captain, since we've already sent troops, I also support taking Dexing and Wuyuan counties!"

Song Yourong said, "I support the captain!"

While checking the map on his tablet, Li Chengming said, "I plan to send Shao Ping from Yushan to lead the expedition, with Yushan City sending a regiment and Xinzhou City also sending a regiment. Who among you is interested in leading troops?"

Huang Longkun shook his head and said, "Captain, you know me. Nitroglycerin explosives, smokeless gunpowder, and primers are all in the trial production stage. The research was interrupted when I left."

Song Yourong said, "Captain, you know me. I don't have much talent for leading troops. Right now, we're developing antibiotics and training battlefield medics. We're also recruiting battlefield nurses, so we can't do without them right now."

Liang Zicheng was about to speak when Li Chengming interrupted him, saying, "I know you. The steel mill is already on track. As for the manufacture of guns and cannons, just find someone to oversee it. Ten cannons and three hundred muskets a month isn't much of a challenge. The agricultural administration team has also established a mature process. Just let your subordinates follow it."

Before Liang Zicheng could speak, Li Chengming cut him off, saying with a wry smile, "Captain, you are actually the most suitable person to lead the troops there. We all have specific tasks to be responsible for."

Li Chengming glanced at Liang Zicheng and said indifferently, "I can leave. How about you take over my work for a few days?"

Liang Zicheng shrank back in fright and said awkwardly, "Never mind, never mind. When you led the troops to attack Jin Shenghuan, we took turns fighting to barely take over your job."

Li Chengming shook his head and said, "Now you know my difficulties. Those few days you guys took turns calling me, as if I couldn't get the work done without your reply."

Building an army and a regime is not easy. It's not something you can simply delegate and expect your subordinates to do well. If you don't delegate authority, they won't be able to exert their initiative; if you do delegate authority, they're prone to misbehaving.

Liang Zicheng and the other two remained silent. When Li Chengming was around, they could focus on doing what they liked without having to worry about the economy, logistics, team building, or development. When Li Chengming gave orders, they could simply follow them. When there were no orders, they were quite relaxed and at ease.

Not everyone has the ability to coordinate the overall situation.

Liang Zicheng and the other two knew that if they led the troops on this expedition, they would likely be ordered to stay in Dexing County to guard it, where a whole host of complicated administrative affairs would be a real nuisance.

Knowing he couldn't escape this time, Liang Zicheng had no choice but to say, "Captain, I'll lead the troops this time. It's just a small county town; we'll take it easily!"

Li Chengming nodded in satisfaction and said to Liang Zicheng, "Then it's you. Gather a thousand troops and get ready. I'll give you three days to prepare. You can set off after the scouts return."

"Dexing County must be taken. Then, depending on the situation, you can attack Wuyuan. Neither of these counties has heavy troops, so taking them shouldn't be too difficult."

Liang Zicheng nodded and said, "Since we've already set out on the expedition, we must take Wuyuan as well. Captain, I only have one condition: I want the First Regiment!"

Li Chengming smiled and said, "You certainly know how to choose people. You've got your eye on Feng Erlei, the commander of the First Regiment, haven't you? With him around, things will be much easier for you."

The Xingfu Army has nineteen regiments, and most of the regimental commanders are so-so. Many of them are very capable of charging into battle without hesitation, but they are less capable of leading independently. They must be given clear instructions before they can carry out orders.

But Feng Erlei is different. He is not only brave in battle, but also likes to use his brain in battle. Even if you give him a vague order, he can carry it out clearly. He is a person who can stand alone.

Liang Zicheng sighed, "Indeed, if Feng Erlei were here, I would only need to grasp the general direction. If there were more people like him, that would be great."

Li Chengming said, "Although the other regimental commanders are not as good as Feng Erlei, it would be good to train and train them more so that they can become steady and reliable generals."

Liu Dazhu from the agricultural administration team is also a very quick learner. He's always wanted to join the Restoration Army, so let's take him on this expedition. He's a squad leader in the agricultural administration team; let's give him a squad leader position in the Restoration Army too.

Upon hearing the name Liu Dazhu, Liang Zicheng smiled knowingly. Liu Dazhu was someone he had discovered. If he gave Liu Dazhu a chance and nurtured him, his future achievements might not be inferior to Feng Erlei's.