Fang Guangchen wanted to refute Xia Guoxiang, but he couldn't find the right words in a short time.
After some thought, he said to Wu Sangui: "Brother Wu, no matter what, it is an indisputable fact that the court has weakened the Guanning Army! If we don't make plans early, there may be unexpected disasters in the future."
Wu Sangui remained silent.
In fact, he also knew that Fang Guangchen was telling the truth.
Although the Guanning Army was an elite border army, it was not loyal to the imperial court.
He and the Guanning Army were only loyal to themselves and their own interests.
The imperial court was wary of the Guanning Army.
They did not want to break off relations and lose the Guanning Army, but they were also afraid that the Guanning Army would become the only powerful force.
For this reason, the court could only train Li Xingzhong, Li Xianzhong and others to take precautions.
"Then according to Brother Fang's opinion, how should I respond?" Wu Sangui asked.
Fang Guangchen's eyes were firm. "Brother Wu, the most urgent task is to consolidate our own strength. If the court treats us sincerely, we will welcome them with courtesy! If they use us as pawns and send us to our deaths, we can only find another way out!"
This sentence made everyone present frown.
They were the Ming Dynasty's official army, and seeking another way out definitely meant surrendering to the Jian Nu.
But now the imperial court is powerful and the Jiannu are weak, so there is no reason for them to get closer to the Jiannu.
Fang Guangchen smiled and continued, "You are overthinking. The Guanning Army and the Jiannu have a feud. Unless they are faced with a situation where they are doomed to die, it is difficult for them to let go of their grudges and surrender!"
"What I mean is that we can't just sit there and wait for death. On the one hand, we need to strengthen training and improve the combat effectiveness of the Guanning Army; on the other hand, we need to continue looking for supporters in the court!"
Wu Sangui sighed, "Alas, it's not easy to find a backer! Since the 18th year of my reign, I asked Yingxiong (Wu Sangui's son) to visit the former cabinet chief Li Banghua, but he didn't even let Yingxiong in!"
"Although the current cabinet chief Fan Jingwen allowed Ying Xiong to enter the palace, he did not accept expensive gifts, only tea leaves, fine salt, and cigarettes."
"The imperial guards are overrun in the capital now. Other ministers and assistant ministers of the six ministries are afraid of arousing the suspicion of His Majesty, so they dare not contact Ying Xiong at all!"
"Oh, it's too difficult!" Wu Sangui sighed again!
"Don't worry, father-in-law, things will soon turn around!" Hu Guozhu, who was standing behind Hu Xinshui, spoke.
"What do you mean?" Wu Sangui's eyes lit up.
"Since the imperial court intends to recover Liaodong, it must rely on the Guanning Army! In order to reassure my father-in-law, Your Majesty should help him find a backer in the court!" Hu Guozhu said.
"Help me find a backer?" Wu Sangui was stunned at first, then he couldn't help but nodded, "That makes sense!"
Everyone discussed for a while, then said goodbye and left.
After everyone else had gone far away, Fang Guangchen whispered to Wu Sangui, "Brother Wu, there is one more important thing to do when you leave the border this time!"
Wu Sangui asked hurriedly: "What's the matter?"
"Take advantage of this opportunity to get in touch with Shengjing while we're out of the country to gather information!"
"What to do after getting in touch?" Wu Sangui asked cautiously.
"Do nothing, just wait!" Fang Guangchen looked mysterious.
Wu Sangui squinted his eyes and thought about it, and soon understood the meaning of Fang Guangchen's words.
The only way to regain control of the imperial court is to make it realize the importance of the Guanning Army.
As for the method...
He knows what's going on.
After seeing Fang Guangchen off, Wu Sangui began to arrange the banquet.
That night.
In the name of appreciating the moon, he summoned senior generals of the Guanning Army and eunuchs who supervised the army to drink together.
"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, I would like to toast you all!" Wu Sangui raised the glass in his hand generously, tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass.
Everyone responded and raised their glasses to drink.
After three rounds of drinking, Wu Sangui's face turned slightly red.
After taking a sip of tea, he stood up.
Everyone present stopped what they were doing and looked at Wu Sangui.
Wu Sangui cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, today I received an order from the court, ordering us to go out and investigate the situation outside the pass. If nothing unexpected happens, the court will counterattack Liaodong!"
Hu Xinshui immediately stood up and said, "When does the general plan to send out the troops? I am willing to be the vanguard!"
"I want to be a pioneer!" Xia Longshan stood up and patted his chest.
"We are also willing to be the vanguard!" Deputy Generals Wang Pingfan, Wang Xu, and Wang Hui stood up at the same time.
"And us!" Gao Dejie, Han Daren, Wu Zhimao, Zhang Guozhu and other generals stood up and volunteered.
"Don't rush! The imperial court asked us to gather information, not to fight with the Jiannu. So... it's most appropriate for us to go!" Deputy General Bake Yong stood up with a group of people, smiling.
Wu Sangui glanced in the direction of Bakyong and found that the generals who stood up were all Mongolians.
In addition to Bakyong of the Zhenbiao Central Camp, there were also Wei Lahai, Keshtu, Hayu and Zhukeshitu from the Yizi Fourth Camp.
Looking at the generals under his command, Wu Sangui felt much more at ease.
If one day he were to turn against the imperial court, these people would be his support.
He did not deny that the cavalry of Li Xingzhong and Li Xianzhong were very strong, but there was still some gap compared with the Guanning Army.
There are two key factors in determining combat effectiveness.
First, equipment. Second, combat experience!
Why is the Guanning Army so strong?
Because they were well-equipped and had absorbed a large number of elite border troops and surrendered soldiers.
After the Battle of Sarhu, the imperial court continuously dispatched elite border troops to Liaodong.
After the defeat, the organization of many soldiers was disrupted.
The Guanning Army recruited them all and internally called them the Recruitment and Training Camp.
In addition, there were many surrendered soldiers, and the Guanning Army also recruited them to form a surrendered camp.
They are all people who crawled out of a pile of dead bodies, so you can imagine their combat experience!
If they go to war with Li Xingzhong and Li Xianzhong, they may not necessarily be their opponents.
certainly.
This is just Wu Sangui's confidence, not his idea.
He just wants to maximize his own interests.
It would be a very bad idea for him to turn against the imperial court now!
"Don't rush, everyone," Wu Sangui raised his voice, "I have already thought of the person who will leave the border tomorrow."
Everyone looked at Wu Sangui, their eyes full of anticipation.
"Tomorrow the troops will be divided into three groups. Hu Xinshui will lead 500 cavalrymen to investigate Tiechang Fort; Ba Keyong will lead 500 cavalrymen to investigate Yong'an Fort; and I will personally lead a group of troops to investigate Guangning Zhongqian Fort."
Wu Sangui paused for a moment, stared at a man in the corner and said, "Zu Zepu, come with me to the battle tomorrow!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
