The current situation is similar to that in history. The Later Jin is to the east of the Liaohe River, and the Ming army is to the west of the Dalinghe River. In between is a large area that no one wants to occupy.
But the defeat in Guangning made it impossible for the old slave to live in peace for four years.
Even Mao Wenlong guessed that by winter, the Eastern Tartars would most likely go to war again. War was an important means for the Eastern Tartars to gain wealth. Without war, what would they eat, wear, and how could they win over the Mongolian tribes?
But the Dongjiang Army could not wait until winter to take action. Money, food and weapons had to be continuously allocated. Even if it was a small military action, it was to prove the value of the Dongjiang Army's existence to the court.
Mao Wenlong's eyes stayed on the locations of Manpu and Changcheng. The favorable conditions were that the two cities were close to the Yalu River and there were not many troops stationed there.
Of course, the final decision would have to wait for the results of the next reconnaissance mission. Attacking Manpo and Changcheng would also require other Dongjiang Army units to make feints elsewhere to divert the enemy's attention.
………………
Guanglu Island.
The training camp of the Left Brigade of the Dongjiang Army.
Zhang Pan, the left-wing lieutenant general, was standing on Nantai Mountain on Guanglu Island at this time, looking towards the mainland of Liaodong Peninsula.
Beneath his feet is a beacon tower, built during the war against Japanese invaders. It's said that the famous Wanghaitang victory was triggered by this beacon tower, which alerted the Ming army at Liangjiadian, Jinzhou, to prepare in advance and completely annihilate the Japanese invaders.
Five thousand troops, including more than five hundred musketeers, equipped with nearly a hundred grenade launchers, boosted Zhang Pan's confidence and he set his sights on the Jinzhou area that he had long been eyeing.
According to the latest reconnaissance intelligence, due to the limited manpower of the Eastern Tartars, they did not deploy defenses along the coast, but left a buffer zone more than ten miles wide on the coast.
In other words, coastal forts such as Lushun, Guifu Fort, Wanghaitang, and Huanggudao Fort were all abandoned.
The Eastern Tartars withdrew their forces and abandoned the coastline, firstly because they could not defend it, and secondly because they wanted to lure the Ming army ashore and penetrate deep into the area, where they could then use the mobility of their cavalry to attack the Ming army.
Moreover, the buffer zone is an uninhabited area, which creates some difficulties for the Dongjiang Army's infiltration, reconnaissance and spying.
Zhang Pan looked north, thinking about the reaction of the Eastern Tartars after they captured Lushun Fort. If Zuo Xie had 2,000 musketeers, he would have a great chance of defeating the Eastern Tartars' attack and defending Lushun.
I still don’t have enough strength now. After thinking about it again and again, Zhang Pan shook his head helplessly.
According to the imperial court's weapons supply rate to the Dongjiang Army, one thousand muskets were supplied per month. If the four associations were to share the supply equally, it would take half a year to meet Zhang Pan's requirements.
But if the two associations act together—
Zhang Pan narrowed his eyes and thought of the troops of the Right Brigade led by Kong Youde stationed on islands such as Shicheng and Wangjiashan.
If Deng Zhen could be dispatched, or if Marshal Mao could send another brigade, with the combined strength of the three brigade's forces, they should be able to win another great victory in Jinzhou.
Zhang Pan let out a long breath, withdrew his gaze, turned around and saw several boats sailing on the sea in the south. He couldn't help laughing and walked down the mountain.
At this time, several wooden sailboats approached the dock one after another. The residents of the island had already come to greet them, and laughter and cheers resounded on the dock.
Zhang Zhuzi limped across the gangplank and stepped onto the dock. Looking at the crowd on the dock, a cheerful smile appeared on his dark face.
As a brave warrior who first attacked Jinzhou City, he was knocked off the city wall and happened to fall on the body of his dead comrade below the city. Although he survived, he broke a leg and left the army in disgrace.
Although he received the reward of beheading and being the first to reach the target, he could no longer wield a gun or a sword to avenge his dead relatives. For a long time, Zhang Zhuzi was in a gloomy mood.
He was unwilling to accept this, so he chose to settle down on Guanglu Island and maintain public order on the island with the organized militia.
In this way, he could be closer to his relatives who died in Liaodong, and he wanted to see the army continue to attack and fight to avenge him.
"Brother Zhang, this time we have a good catch!" A familiar Liao people greeted him, his eyes fixed on the baskets of fresh fish being carried down from the boat.
Haiyang Island, located dozens of miles away from Guanglu Island, has the best harbor Taiping Bay and the highest mountain Kuniangding in the Changshan Islands, as well as the "Haiyang Island Fishery", one of the four major fisheries in my country.
"There are so many fish in Guanmenzui. I can catch them one after another with one net." Zhang Zhuzi had a happy smile on his face. He had a natural and simple sense of closeness to the Liao people who moved to live on the island.
An old fisherman put down his basket and said with a laugh, "It would be great if we had a big boat. We even saw a whale at sea! It was really huge. If we caught all of it, we could feed everyone on the island."
"Uncle Zhang, you're bragging and lying again." A crisp voice rang out. Yingzi came over and said with a smile: "No matter how big it is, it's still a fish. There are so many people on the island. If we share it, we can all have a bite, right?"
The old fisherman didn't take it seriously. He reached out and nodded at Yingzi, saying with a smile, "You haven't seen anything before, so of course you don't know. That whale is bigger than this fishing boat. It could easily overturn it with one headbutt."
Yingzi curled her lips, turned to Zhang Zhuzi and asked, "Brother Zhang, is there really a fish that big?"
Zhang Zhuzi nodded and said, "It was my first time seeing one, too, and I didn't dare get close, but it was a really big fish."
The ocean island is the water area where the cold currents of my country's northern temperate zone meet. It is not only a good place for marine treasures to survive, but also an important whaling base in my country.
Sometimes you can chance upon a school of whales at sea. The white water columns burst out of the sea, splashing foam and changing colors under the shining sunlight. It is known as one of the wonders of Changshan Islands.
Yingzi blinked her eyes, feeling incredible. A fish that was bigger than the boat, couldn't it be a spirit?
In the girl's mind, since it was a fish, how big could it be so amazing? The largest one she had seen was only about the size of a human. With her strength, she should be able to hold it.
So Yingzi thought people were teasing her and said that on purpose, so she didn't take it seriously.
"Master Zhang is here." Someone reminded.
Zhang Pan strode over with a few personal soldiers, smiling warmly at the people without any airs, and greeting them repeatedly.
Looking at the military uniforms worn by Zhang Pan and his personal guards, a trace of sadness flashed in Zhang Zhuzi's eyes. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Master Zhang."
Zhang Pan reached out to support him, patted Zhang Zhuzi's arm, and said, "Don't go out to sea so easily in the future. Now that you are familiar with the route, let others go!"
Zhang Zhuzi smiled innocently and said, "There are more than a dozen families coming to Ocean Island this time. I won't feel at ease until they are well settled."
Zhang Pan nodded, glanced at the fish baskets being carried onto the dock, and said to Zhang Zhuzi with a smile, "The Ministry of War has issued a document requiring Dongjiang Town to implement universal military service. I'll leave the training of the military and civilians on this island to you, an old soldier."
Everybody is a soldier?!
Zhang Zhuzi didn't quite understand the specific meaning, but the word "soldier" and the fact that he had to train made his eyes light up immediately, and he quickly bowed and agreed.
……………………
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