If we fight the Jiannu again, we will definitely fight better and achieve greater results.
He Kegang gently stroked the silver "Loyalty and Bravery" medal, lost in thought. After a long while, he carefully placed it in the box and put it away.
This was a reward for his leading his troops in the joint operation at Port Arthur, a great victory with the number of beheadings even exceeding that of the Battle of Guangning.
Of course, the reason for the big victory is also very simple, and there is more than one reason.
First, the Jiannu were not used to the new tactics of the Ming army. They underestimated the enemy and suffered heavy casualties from the Ming army who relied on defensive positions.
Secondly, the comparison of military strength: Liaozhen, Dengzhen, Jinzhen, plus the Dongjiang Army's left wing, the total strength of the troops is almost equal to that of the Jiannu. However, in terms of weapon advantages, they surpass the Jiannu.
After returning, He Kegang gave Xiong Tingbi a detailed report on the course of the battle, as well as his experience and evaluation of the battle.
Moreover, middle and senior military officers from Liaozhen also gathered in Ningyuan, listened to his and the officers' reports, and conducted serious discussions and summaries.
This procedure was specifically requested by the emperor and notified to all military garrisons, with martial arts also given special emphasis.
After each battle, regardless of victory or defeat, a review and discussion must be conducted to summarize the experience and shortcomings, and the results must be compiled into a written document and submitted to the Ministry of War.
Despite the great victory, the conclusions of the review, including those of He Kegang, were still found to have many loopholes and flaws. In short, it was not perfect.
Zhu Youxiao believed that learning about war in war was not just talk. And this post-war summary was plagiarized and borrowed by him.
The history he knew had proven that if one had this magic weapon and used it properly, a bumpkin could become a famous general.
He Kegang was deeply touched by this and admired the emperor immensely. At the same time, he was also full of confidence in the next battle against the Jiannu.
When He Kegang walked out of the room, he found Zu Dashou and Jin Guofeng, the guerrilla who had just been transferred to Liaozhen, waiting for him.
"Old He has put the medal away." Zu Dashou took one look and jokingly said, "So, you're planning to leave it to your descendants as an heirloom? Then you better hurry up and get married."
Jin Guofeng just smiled and bowed to He Kegang.
He Kegang chuckled and didn't respond to Zu Dashou's joke. He asked directly, "Why are you two here? Are you waiting for someone?"
Jin Guofeng smiled and said, "That's right. General He has returned victorious, and General Zu and I have prepared wine and food to congratulate him."
Zu Dashou nodded and said, "You still have to go back to Juehua to garrison, right? Let's have a drink before you leave."
"Thank you both for your help." He Kegang bowed in thanks.
Zu Dashou curled his lips and said, "Brother He, this is not very honest of you. You have won medals and silver rewards. No one is more glorious than you. You should pay for this wine!"
He Kegang was so delighted that he didn't care about it. He laughed and said, "I am stingy, don't blame me. Let's go and have a drink."
Although there are no civilians living in Ningyuan City, there are taverns and shops, which are run by military dependents who have such skills, mainly for the convenience of the stationed officers and soldiers.
In addition, the Ningyuan garrison also raised pigs and sheep and planted vegetables outside the city, improving the food while minimizing the burden on the court.
There is no land outside the city to grow crops for the time being, but a lot of alfalfa has been planted, which can be eaten by people, but is mainly used to feed horses as fodder.
The three of them chatted and laughed as they came to a pub, ordered food and drinks, and talked while eating.
Zu Dashou and Jin Guofeng were envious of He Kegang's award and rewards, but they were also quite surprised by the Jiannu's defeat.
This had never happened before, and they were both surprised and wanted to know more.
This is a good opportunity to eat and drink, which not only enhances the relationship but also provides more information, which is the best of both worlds.
He Kegang also guessed what the two were thinking. After two glasses of wine, he took the initiative to open up the conversation, "During the Battle of Guangning, we saw the weakness of the Jiannu in attacking. Even if there were no cities, the fortifications would have been just as effective."
Seeing the two men's attentive gazes, He Kegang continued, "In terms of defense, our army is not afraid of the Jiannu; but in close combat, there is still some gap."
Jin Guofeng nodded and said, "Our army still lacks combat experience, but the Jiannu have been fighting for years. It's no surprise that they are stronger than us in both martial arts and bravery."
"In that case..." Zu Dashou said, stroking his chin, "our army won't suffer any loss in mid-range and long-range firefights?"
He Kegang pondered for a moment and said, "I've already discussed this issue at the summary meeting. Firearms are more lethal than bows and arrows. As long as the armor is good, it can at least be a one-on-one exchange."
"And my suggestion is to equip soldiers with iron masks to protect their faces." He Kegang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Some Jiannu archers are very accurate and deadly. They can specifically shoot at the head and face at close range."
In the hail of bullets and arrows on the battlefield, the face is indeed a vulnerable part, and once injured, the injury is often serious.
Therefore, wearing an iron mask for protection appeared very early in history.
For example, in the Tang Dynasty, the Tubo army used armor that "covered the whole body and left holes for the eyes"; during the Song Dynasty, the helmets worn by the Jin Dynasty's "Iron Pagoda" only "exposed the eyes" to protect the riders' safety.
However, due to various limitations, those who can wear iron masks are often more elite troops or senior generals.
For example, Hu Zaixing, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty, "recruited death warriors to wear iron masks and covered with felt" as the vanguard to charge into the front; when the Jin army was fighting, they also "picked up strong soldiers to wear thick armor, felt shirts, and iron masks and marched forward."
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