Chapter 544: General Zhengbei sets out on the expedition!
My name is He Wulang, and I live in Huangcun, 40 miles southwest of Beijing.

Yesterday, the Beijing camp began to rest. Governor-General Gu Houye sounded the drum to gather the troops. Qi Jiguang, who has been training us like dogs recently, was also present.

Of course, there is also that damn Minister Yan, who can ensure that we have enough meat every day.

Yesterday I thought that these two big demons in the Beijing camp were going to come up with some new tricks to torment us.

Thinking about my experience in the camp for the past three months, I feel like I was having a nightmare.

But General Qi is a good man. He trains even harder than us every day. Even though Minister Yan also trains with us, he always cheats and others can't see it, but I, He Wulang, see it clearly.

But Minister Yan was a capable man. Just the meat supply for tens of thousands of soldiers in the Beijing camp was an astronomical figure, but he was able to get it. It was said that this young minister would surely be able to enter the cabinet and become a prime minister in the future. Many people were so shameless that they would come to Minister Yan all day long.

They didn't even think about how they, as soldiers, could have caught the eye of such a nobleman.

I've been thinking too much.

Back to the point.

There was no training as usual in the camp yesterday. Instead, large trucks drove into the camp from outside.

Just by looking at the deep ruts, you can tell that the carriage is carrying heavy objects.

I was still curious about what it was.

Those carriages had already been opened by Minister Yan.

Then, this young nobleman pushed a large wooden box under the carriage in front of everyone.

There was a loud rustling sound.

I saw it clearly.

money!
Countless money!
The strings of copper coins sparkled in the sun, and their orange color was as dazzling as gold.

Then Minister Yan began to speak to all of us.

All the carriages were loaded with copper coins, which were newly minted by the court with the best materials and appearance, and had the emperor's image on them.

This is a rare thing.

Minister Yan even shouted in public that the money was all for us.

The soldiers in the camp were paid one guan each. Those below the rank of centurion but above the rank of chief cook were paid three guan each. Those above the rank of centurion were paid five guan each.

Everyone was very happy.

I feel like after the past three months of training, looking at all this shiny new money, it doesn’t seem so tiring anymore.

But I understand that this should be the silver before the army sets out on the expedition.

When the imperial court gathered a large army to suppress rebellion and went on a campaign, it had always had to pay silver. It was called marching silver, but in our view, it was money to buy one's life.

But life is short.

This was said by the little teachers who came to the camp every night to teach us how to read during the past three months.

Country, country.

Only when there is a country, there is a home.

I thought about it for a long time and felt that what the young gentlemen said was very right.

If the Ming Dynasty is destroyed, how can my family, He Wulang, be preserved?

Since the court can actually give us money, we can risk our lives!

What's more, Minister Yan later explained clearly that the court had appointed him as the general of this expedition, and it seemed that he had another title of general, such as the General of the Northern Expedition.

He was also a minister and a high-ranking official of the general. He also said that when everyone goes to the battlefield, they will be rewarded with one gold coin for each head they chop off from the enemy.

I don't know how much one gold is worth.

But his colleagues said that this was the new currency system of the court, and one gold was equal to ten silvers, which equaled ten thousand coins.

Guaiguailongdidong!
If this really happens on the battlefield, and I, He Wulang, chop off seventeen or eighteen enemy soldiers' heads, wouldn't I become rich overnight?
Not to mention marrying another wife, he would buy some jewelry for his wife at home, buy a set of rouge and powder, buy a few jars of good wine for his father, make a few new clothes for his mother, and send the eldest son to the academy at the village head...

No, no!
I heard that the General Assistant Minister has a big-nosed academy in Changping, so we have to send the eldest brother to the Changping Academy!
If there is still some money left, buy more land in the village.

In this way, the He family has become successful.

Just when I was daydreaming, the assistant general actually promised in public. Killing the enemy will be rewarded, and being wounded will be rewarded more. If you die in battle, the court will support your family. Changping Academy also allows the children of the brothers who are going to the war to enroll.

The most important thing is, there is no tuition fee and no renovation fee!

Just for this reason, my life, He Wulang, from now on belongs to the Minister of the General!

Although my colleagues around me didn't say anything, I knew they probably thought the same thing.

Yesterday, after the Assistant Minister General gave us the money, he allowed us to leave the camp and go home for one day. We will return to the camp the next day and wait for notification. Everyone on the list will go with the army.

Many people, in order to receive the reward of one gold coin per head, ran to their superiors to plead for mercy, hoping to be included in the list of those who would go with the army.

But I didn't go.

Because during these three months of training, I, He Wulang, fought against General Qi twice in a row and defeated him.

The first time I got ten taels of silver.

The second time, he even received ten taels of gold as a reward from the Governor-General!

A tough guy like me, He Wulang, from the Beijing Camp will definitely be on the list of people who will go with the army to the war.

He packed up his valuables, the ten taels of gold and ten taels of silver he had recently earned, as well as the three strings of cash he had earned from defeating General Qi twice in a row and being promoted to captain of the battalion, and sent them back home.

Dad and Mom were crying and laughing.

They laughed because their son He Wulang had become successful, not only making money but also getting promoted. They cried... probably because they were worried that I would die on the battlefield.

But my wife works very hard at night.

As soon as it got dark, I sent the eldest and the youngest sister to my mother's room.

A whole night!

It was not until dawn that I got out of bed with swaying legs.

It is impossible to hold on to the wall.

I, He Wulang, am a tough guy from the Beijing camp who defeated General Qi twice in a row!

It's just a burst of emptiness...

After forcing myself to leave the house, I had no choice but to spend thirty cents to ask Uncle Liu at the village entrance to drive a horse-drawn carriage to take me back to the military camp.

After returning to camp.

As expected, the list of those who would go on the expedition was posted.

Many brothers were very angry because they had to stay in the capital, and they hated themselves for missing the opportunity to kill the enemy and make money.

And my Beijing camp tough guy He Wulang was indeed on the list.

Moreover, because the troops going to the expedition were reorganized again, He Wulang, a tough guy from my Beijing camp, was promoted to a higher rank and became a centurion of the Central Army Camp commanded by the Assistant Minister General himself.

That night, after another filling meal of unlimited meat and even a bowl of wine, I had a sound sleep.

In a dream.

I dreamed that I was killing people in the battlefield, chopping off the heads of enemies one by one, receiving huge rewards, and being promoted three levels.

Wait until dawn.

War drums are beating in the capital.

After getting dressed, I walked out of the tent and found that it was Lord Gu himself beating the war drum on the parade ground.

The old marquis is here to personally send us off!

The brothers in the camp were also gathering quickly, and soon we officially set out from the camp.

Arrived outside the camp.

All the brothers from the Beijing Army camps surrounding Beijing gathered together and headed northwest of the capital. On the official road, countless people gathered to see us off.

When 40,000 brothers from the Beijing Camp and 10,000 brothers from the Shan Camp gathered together, I discovered that three dukes and six cabinet ministers from the court were also accompanying us on the official road on behalf of the emperor.

It seems that the imperial court attaches great importance to this expedition and also attaches great importance to us.

I won't say more. This time, I, He Wulang, a tough guy from the Beijing Camp, will definitely fight to create a peaceful and prosperous era for the Ming Dynasty, even if I have to die on the battlefield!

The first year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty.

April 6th, Xinmao Day.

Good luck! Very good luck!

The imperial court issued an edict to gather 40,000 soldiers from the Beijing Camp and 10,000 soldiers from the Heshan Camp, a total of 50,000 troops, to go to the battlefield to attack the 100,000 rebellious troops led by Huang Taiji, a member of the Altan tribe, who had been stationed in Hetao for a long time.

on the official road.

Duke Dingguo Xu Yande, Duke Yingguo Zhang Rong, and Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, all three led a group of nobles from the capital, looking excited.

This was because the commander of the army this time was Yan Shaoting, the eldest grandson of the newly promoted noble family of Changping Earl of the Ming Dynasty, who was appointed as the General of the Northern Army to lead the army into battle.

In their view, this was a new breakthrough for the noble group.

Once Yan Shaoting can achieve real military merit this time, then these nobles will naturally be able to rise in status and make a breakthrough in military power.

As for Gao Gong and the others, although they had smiles on their faces, their hearts were tense.

A large army is mobilized to fight, and the slightest mistake will lead to a complete defeat.

If it weren't for the late emperor's will and the new monarch's support, they would never have been willing to let Yan Shaoting lead the army. Fortunately, the deputy general accompanying the army was Qi Jiguang, and this general who had won every battle in the southeast was the commander of the vanguard camp this time.

As for Wang Chonggu, who had been working in the Nine Frontiers, an imperial edict had also been sent to him, ordering him to wait at Piantou Pass and serve as the vanguard of the royal army.

This way, there is some guarantee.

"After sending you a thousand miles away, we must finally say goodbye. This time, the army is setting out to drive out the Tartars, recover Hetao, and enhance our country's prestige."

"Runwu is the commander. I hope you will be very careful in following the military orders. If there are any difficulties, you should report to the capital at any time. Although we are not good at military strategy, we will definitely do our best in the central government to help Runwu wipe out the bandits."

With so many words to say, Gao Gong could only pick out the good and important ones.

Yan Shaoting was wearing armor, holding a whip while sitting on horseback, and bowed: "Please rest assured, Prime Minister, and the three dukes, the elders, and the marquises! When Runwu leads the army to the battle this time, I will abide by my oath and will not return until I have recovered Hetao!"

Seeing Yan Shaoting's serious expression.

Gao Gong also suppressed his worries, raised his head and clasped his hands, and said solemnly: "We are in the capital, waiting for the general to report the victory. When the royal army returns triumphantly, we will set up a wine bar beside the road to congratulate the general!"

With high arch opening.

Even Li Chunfang, who was present to see him off, bowed and clasped his hands with a solemn expression.

"When the king's army returns victorious, we will set up a banquet on the road to congratulate the general!"

"When the king's army returns victorious, we will set up a banquet on the road to congratulate the general!"

"When the king's army returns victorious, we will set up a banquet on the road to congratulate the general!"

Yan Shaoting smiled slightly and waved the whip lightly.

As expected, Yan Hu, the Dragon and Tiger General who led 3,000 Dragon and Tiger soldiers as his personal guards in the central camp, personally went to Zhu Zaigui to ask for permission to join the army. He held a red flag with a long tassel in his hand and waved it forward fiercely.

"The army is marching out!"

"Let's go!"

"Let's go!"

The official road roared.

An army of 50,000 marched forward silently, with a long baggage train parked in the rear camp, raising a cloud of dust.

Gao Gong and others on the roadside did not hide, but just watched the army go away quietly.

Wait until the soldiers and horses are completely covered in dust.

Gao Gong then sighed quietly, then put his hands on his hips, held his head high and chest out, cheered himself up, and glanced sideways at the three dukes who were staring at him.

Gao Gong spoke in a deep voice in front of everyone: "Although I am worried about Runwu leading the army to go to war, this time our dynasty is going to war to drive out the Tartars and recover the old land of Hetao. This is a matter of military and state. Today, I want to make it clear to you that as long as I am in power and the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, I will never allow anyone to secretly obstruct and hinder the army from conquering the rebels. Anyone who dares to do anything, I will report to the emperor and ask for beheading for the crime of treason!"

Yang Bo, the Minister of War, followed closely behind: "I have sent a letter to all the garrisons in the nine border areas. This time, the General Zhengbei will control the six garrisons of Xuanfu, Datong, Shanxi, Yansui, Ningxia, and Guyuan. If anyone disobeys the orders of the General Zhengbei, I will be the first to punish them!"

The expressions of the three dukes and a group of nobles immediately relaxed.

Civil servants such as Li Chunfang also nodded with serious expressions.

Gao Gong was the prime minister, so the army's expedition had something to do with him in any case. If they won, everything would be fine, but if they lost, he would not be able to escape the blame.

As for Yang Bo, it is even simpler.

As Wang Chonggu was appointed as one of the only two deputy generals of this army, the Jin party was tied to Yan Shaoting's chariot, and he had no choice but to say so.

Watching the army moving further and further away.

No one was in the mood to talk in this remote place, so they got in their cars and went back to the city.

And on the official road.

Yan Shaoting also rode his horse very calmly.

He did not feel the slightest bit of joy at leading tens of thousands of troops to go into battle, nor was he happy about having been given the title of General of the Northern Expedition. Instead, he was in a heavy mood.

The soldiers in the army may be dreaming of a great victory and receiving numerous titles.

But he not only had to think about how to fight and win the Mongols, but also how to reduce the casualties of the Ming army.

"elder brother……"

"Um!?"

Yan Hu took off his visor, looked embarrassed, and lowered his head and said, "General."

Yan Shaoting's expression softened: "Speak."

Yan Hu cupped his hands and said, "Just now General Qi's vanguard camp reported that they have accelerated their march. According to the plan, they will camp below Juyong Pass tonight, and the central army and the baggage rear camp will camp north of Changping today."

Yan Shaoting nodded and said "hmm" but didn't say anything more.

According to military practice, the normal marching speed is not actually fast, basically only about 60 to 90 miles a day.

If they move faster, they may lose touch with the baggage train of the rear camp, and the soldiers will be exhausted before the battle even begins.

Qi Jiguang's Shanzi Camp was now the vanguard camp, and needed to speed up and distance themselves from the central army at the beginning, always maintaining a distance of about 30 miles. According to the plan, after passing Juyong Pass, the baggage of the rear camp had to slow down and keep a distance of about 15 miles from the central army.

It takes about a thousand miles to travel from the capital to Hetao.

According to the calculation, it will take about 20 days to reach Piantou Pass and enter Hetao.

If Xin Ai Huang Taiji knew that the Ming army was going to march and began to move, turning to attack northern Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu and other places, the army would have to extend its march time.

Now that the army has set out, the Mongols will certainly get the news and make changes accordingly.

They either fought the Ming army head-on or took another route, dragging the Ming army into a long march, making it a tired army.

Think of this.

Yan Shaoting drove his horse close to Xiao Que'er and warned her in a low voice, "Once you are outside the border wall, do not act rashly without military orders. Once the two armies go to war, do not act arbitrarily!"

He was really afraid that his younger brother, who was determined to be a match for thousands of enemies, would become too aggressive and lead his Dragon and Tiger Army into deep enemy territory, or be ambushed while chasing the enemy in the unfamiliar desert grassland.

Yan Hu tightened his face and nodded heavily: "General, rest assured! I will definitely follow the military order!"

Yan Shaoting looked at his brother uncertainly: "Really?"

"General, please don't worry!"

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
(End of this chapter)