Since ancient times, military operations must have a legitimate reason.
Only with a name can one have reason.
Only if you have reason can you have appeal.
Only with appeal will the soldiers risk their lives and the people will truly support the war.
Having the support of the people is equivalent to having the people's hearts.
If the gap in strength between the two sides is not particularly large, winning the war is only a matter of time.
Chongzhen needed a reason (excuse) to conquer the Mongolian tribes.
The reason is that the vassal states did not send envoys to pay tribute to the suzerain state!
After learning that Chongzhen was going to attack the Mongols, Fan Jingwen advised him not to do so: "Your Majesty, please do not do this... We have finally wiped out the bandit Li Zicheng, and the Ming Dynasty urgently needs time to rest and regroup. Moreover, the Tusi rebellion in the southwest has not yet been quelled, and it is not wise to fight on two fronts. If we go to war with the Mongols at this time, they may even join forces with the Jiannu to invade the south again and plunder."
"Minister Fan is wrong," Chongzhen said with a firm look, "Even if we don't fight the Mongols, the Mongols will fight us under the instigation of the Jiannu."
"Why?" Qiu Yu asked with some confusion.
Fang Yuegong patted Qiu Yu on the shoulder and said, "Let me ask you, why did Zhuge Wuhou rush to the Northern Expedition instead of resting and recuperating?"
"Because Zhuge Wuhou was eager to support the Han Dynasty..."
"Wrong!" Fang Yuegong laughed, "Because Guanzhong was richer than Shuzhong at that time, the population and grain growth rates in Guanzhong were faster than those in Shuzhong in the same period of time."
"The longer Zhuge Wuhou recuperates, the greater the gap between Shu and Wei's national strength will be!"
"This is the ultimate reason why Zhuge Wuhou is eager to march north!"
Chongzhen took over the conversation and said, "Minister Fang is right. Liaodong is a bitter and cold place, and cannot be compared with the Central Plains. The longer the recuperation time, the greater the gap between Jiannu and Ming Dynasty. They will definitely find a way to drag Ming Dynasty into the water!"
Chongzhen's words completely convinced the cabinet.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to governing the world together with the scholar-officials.
As long as they can be convinced, this group of people will take the initiative to help the court.
The drawbacks are also obvious, party strife... corruption...
In fact, Chongzhen had two main purposes in conquering the Mongols.
The first is to solve the problem of surrendered generals of Shun army.
First of all, there were too many surrendered generals in the Shun army, and their qualities were uneven. He needed to use the enemy's hands to eliminate some of the burdens, and then focus on cultivating the remaining pillars.
During this period, he also examined the loyalty of the surrendered generals.
The loyal ones will be employed, and the disloyal ones will be abandoned or killed.
As time goes by, these people's fighting power will become stronger and stronger.
When Liaodong is recovered, it will be of great use.
Secondly.
Once a direct war breaks out with the Mongols, the Jiannu will definitely join the war to help the Mongols fight the Ming army.
In this way, the Ming army would have the opportunity to kill the Jiannu on the grassland.
The more Jiannu we destroy, the greater our chances of recovering Liaodong in the future.
Directly recovering Liaodong is definitely not the best strategy because they have the geographical advantage.
This problem does not exist if you go to the grassland.
The Jiannu had the help of the Mongols, while the Ming army had merchants and Mongolian spies to lead the way.
Both sides started from almost the same starting line.
During the time when the messenger went to the grassland with the imperial edict, Chongzhen was not idle, but was preparing for the next war.
First of all, money and food.
The national treasury and the imperial treasury are not short of money for the time being, and the autumn grain has just been harvested.
The Ming Dynasty is fully capable of fighting.
On August 17, the 19th year of Chongzhen, Chongzhen began to frequently mobilize troops the day after the messenger left.
"Send an order to transfer Yuan Zongdi to Gansu Town, Liu Xiyao to Guyuan Town, and Liu Fangliang to continue to garrison Yansui Town. He Jin, Gao Yigong, Liu Tichun, and Ma Shiyao go north to Wanquan's left and right guards to assemble and wait for orders."
"Dispatch Li Xingzhong and Liu Zhaoji to lead all cavalry to Datong to assemble and wait for orders."
"Order Qin Zuoming to lead 3,000 white-pole soldiers north to Datong to assemble and wait for orders."
"Order Gao Jie to lead 15,000 elite troops north to Pianguan Town to assemble and wait for orders."
Chongzhen's troop deployment seemed random, but in fact it was well considered.
Gansu and Guyuan were both inhabited by surrendered Shun troops, so it would be inappropriate to send the Ming army to take over directly, so Yuan Zongde and Liu Xiyao were sent to garrison there respectively.
He transferred He Jin, Gao Yigong and others to Wanquan's left and right guards.
If these people planned to rebel again, they would be immediately attacked by Tang Tong and Yan Yingyuan of Xuanfu Town, Li Xingzhong and Liu Zhaoji of Datong Town and three thousand white-flag soldiers.
Pianguan Town is located to the west of Datong, bordering the Mongolian grasslands.
It is not only the gateway to Shanxi, but also the backbone of Datong.
After the expedition to the grassland, Datong will become the transit hub for food and military supplies for the Ming army, and it must not be lost.
Gao Jie is not only loyal but also capable. He is the best choice for Pianguan Town.
"Order Yuan Jixian to go north to Wuchang and continue searching for Zhang Xianzhong's whereabouts." Chongzhen added another sentence after he finished speaking the decree.
After Zhang Xianzhong fled into the mountains, he seemed to have disappeared. Chongzhen was worried and ordered Yuan Jixian to continue searching for his whereabouts.
Looking at the densely packed imperial edicts in his hand, Wang Chengen felt a little dazed.
In March of the 17th year of Chongzhen, the imperial court needed soldiers but had none, and needed generals but had none.
In just less than three years, the Ming Dynasty had so many available generals and soldiers.
This shows the importance of silver!
Troops were dispatched from Beijing to Baoding, Shaanxi and Shanxi.
As the army set off, the prefectures and counties along the way began to prepare food and fodder for the passing Ming army.
It costs money to buy food and fodder, and it costs money to hire laborers to transport the food and fodder.
Chongzhen felt distressed when he saw the silver in the national treasury flowing out like water.
But there is no way, war is fought for money and food!
"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue Fang Yuegong came before Chongzhen holding a memorial.
As Chongzhen opened it, Fang Yuegong began to explain: "This is the various expenses incurred when recovering Guanzhong. In addition to the soldiers' salaries, pensions, rewards, and merit silver, there is also silver for purchasing food, fodder, weapons, armor and other military supplies."
"The total is nine hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred and forty-nine taels and two cents."
Chongzhen picked up the pen, sketched his agreement, and began to suck his teeth.
War is too expensive. It costs more than you think.
"Have all the compensation for the Battle of Chengtianfu been paid? The White Spear Soldiers suffered heavy losses in that battle, and the Sichuan Army also suffered many casualties."
"Yes," Fang Yuegong nodded. "The battle of Chengtianfu cost a total of more than 779,000 taels of silver, which Qin Liangyu has directly deducted from the money borrowed from the King of Shu."
etc...
Chongzhen suddenly thought of a big problem!
He asked Qin Liangyu to borrow five million taels of silver from the King of Shu for emergency use.
Now the bandits are either dead or escaped. If nothing unexpected happens, the King of Shu will definitely come to demand repayment.
Not just the King of Shu.
He "borrowed" a lot of silver from the court officials and nobles of the capital when they moved south. Although those people did not dare to demand the repayment openly, they took turns writing to him to express their desire to leave Nanjing and return to the capital.
If nothing unexpected happens, the first thing they will do after returning to the capital is to collect debts!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
