Yingzi felt helpless, knowing that her father had no idea about the inside story. It was only after she heard Zhang Zhuzi talk about it that she realized that there was a reason for the resettlement of the common people.
For example, the Lüda area was considered the rear area, so even if spies got in, they couldn't get out. As long as they had no chance to report by boat, any intelligence they got would be useless.
As for other places that are closer to the defense line and may be used by the Jiannu to spy on the enemy, the conditions for settling the people there are restricted. At least they must bring their families with them, so that people can feel more at ease.
Yingzi felt more at ease when she thought about the reserve army in the village. She felt that even if there were spies, they would not dare to do anything bad and would stay there honestly.
"Girl, rest for a while before you go." Yingzi's father stopped in the shade of a tree and asked Yingzi to sit on the cart. He took out his pipe, glanced at the girl, walked away a few steps, and found a place to sit down in the leeward direction.
Yingzi moved the chicken coop on the cart. The newly bought chicks chirped. She sat down, took out some colored thread from her bag, and began to make a tassel.
Yingzi's father watched his daughter work deftly, smoking and thinking: I wonder if she is playing or giving it to some young man. She is old enough, but after several inquiries, the girl is not in a hurry at all!
Yingzi imagined that Zhuzi brother kept the tassel close to his body and thought of her wherever he went. She couldn't help but smile, and a few blushes appeared on her face.
………………
The common people did not know how to resettle them, nor did they know when the Jiannu could be completely annihilated, but they could feel that the flames of war were gradually fading away.
However, the generals of the Ming army could see the decline of the Jiannu on the map, and could also feel the dawn of the pacification of Liaodong through continuous victories.
On the training ground, the new recruits on this side, led by the veterans, were practicing assassination with loud shouts; the new recruits on the other side were mechanically repeating the actions of loading ammunition and raising their guns to shoot.
Kong Youde skillfully opened the iron cigarette box, took out a cigarette, put it on the mouthpiece, lit it and exhaled thick smoke.
The military pay was in full, and for an officer of his rank, smoking cigarettes was no luxury. Furthermore, he was single and had no desire to save money and start a family, so he spent all his pay on food, drink, and cigarettes, and didn't feel bad about it.
The troops have been replenished, and the training of the old and the new will take less than a month or two. His right brigade will be fully equipped and staffed again, and its combat effectiveness has almost recovered.
Although he still commanded a brigade of officers and soldiers, his military merit had earned him a promotion to the rank of deputy general. Moreover, the Ministry of War had already issued a decree that the Liaonan Left and Right Brigade would be reorganized into a mixed brigade with a total strength of 8,000.
With infantry, cavalry, artillery, baggage, and newly added engineers, the Mixed Brigade was fully capable of fighting independently. This meant that the imperial court had to speed up the process of pacifying Liao and launch a larger operation against the Jiannu.
This is not difficult to guess. If there was no such purpose, how could the court make such a huge investment?
However, what made Kong Youde somewhat resentful was that the newly established mixed brigade would dilute the manpower and combat power of the left and right brigades.
Although the backbone of the newly established mixed brigade also came from the left and right brigades, after being established as an independent organization, it became a friendly force with the left and right brigades and no longer had a subordinate relationship with them.
Moreover, the Ministry of War also issued a document ordering the left and right brigades to draw elite soldiers and generals to strengthen the "Panshi" mixed brigade.
Who doesn’t need elite soldiers and strong generals? Who would be willing to let them be led by others?
Kong Youde was thinking about whether he should use some tricks and transfer some veteran soldiers who were slightly inferior to the elite soldiers but also experienced to the "Panshi" mixed support unit.
Looking up, Kong Youde saw Zhang Pan approaching with two personal soldiers. He shook off his thoughts, stretched out his hand and greeted them loudly.
Zhang Pan walked closer and asked with a smile, "Brother Kong, why didn't you go to see the newly arrived artillery?"
Kong Youde chuckled twice and said, "As for the artillery, the artillery officers are in charge of the firing. I am an outsider, so it's useless for me to watch."
Zhang Pan shook his head and said sternly, "Brother Kong, you're wrong! If you don't understand your own army's equipment and effectiveness, how can you deploy troops and formulate tactics in battle?"
Kong Youde scratched his head and said, "Of course I know this, I just said it casually."
After a pause, he sighed with a wry smile and said, "I was just thinking about extracting elite troops to form the 'Rock', and I felt a little conflicted."
Zhang Pan smiled and said, "What's the problem? Just obey the emperor's order."
The emperor's order? Not the order from above?
Kong Youde was shocked and frowned in thought.
The emperor's decree to bestow the name "Panshi" had not yet come down, and Kong Youde thought it was just an order from the Ministry of War, but did not consider that it was the emperor's intention.
After Zhang Pan's reminder, Kong Youde suddenly understood. The newly established mixed brigade will not only have the elite soldiers and generals of the left and right brigades, but also the elite troops drawn from western Liaoning. The emperor's intentions are very profound!
Zhang Pan waited until Kong Youde finished his cigarette before approaching, sitting down casually, and saying, "Don't be reluctant to transfer people, and don't try to fool people. The Mixed Corps will be of great use in the future. Although Feng Datie and others are loyal and brave, they are still not capable enough to lead a corps."
Kong Youde blinked his eyes, feeling rather warm, but he remained composed and asked tentatively, "Old Zhang, who do you think the Emperor will send to lead the army?"
Zhang Pan thought about it, shook his head helplessly, and said, "I can't think of it."
Kong Youde grinned and said with some regret, "It would have been better if I had led the Third Battalion myself."
Zhang Pan chuckled and said, "Then you should be punished for deserting your post."
After a pause, Zhang Pan continued, "Actually, we don't need to be jealous. If we train hard, wouldn't it be better for the left and right corps to become a mixed corps?"
Kong Youde stroked his stubble and nodded in agreement, "That's right. If our weapons and equipment were the same, we'd really dare to compete with the Mixed Brigade."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
