Ming Taizi's Total War

Chapter 105 Suizhou Xu Dingguo

"Well, let's just stay in Suizhou for one night. Our marching team is too long. We should stop for a while so that the soldiers who fall behind can catch up."

Considering that there may be soldiers who are left behind due to various situations on the way to the march, for example, some people have a little disease, and they are stranded behind to be treated by the army doctor.

Another situation is that the vehicles of the soldiers transporting supplies broke down, or the livestock were sick. Because the road conditions in ancient times were very poor, if you don't take the official road, it is no different from off-roading, so this kind of situation is very common.

Therefore, Zhang Yong felt that it would be better to rest in Suizhou for one night. Anyway, there is plenty of time now, and Zhu Cihong didn't set a specific time before he must arrive at Kaifeng Mansion.

At present, only Xu Dingguo's army is stationed in Suizhou. Xu Dingguo was considered a veteran general in the late Ming Dynasty.

Since the 46th year of Wanli, he began to serve under the command of Liaodong Governor Yang Gao. After the four dynasties of Taichang, Tianqi, and Chongzhen, he has fought for the Ming Dynasty for almost 30 years.

How many 30 years can a life last?Not to mention the ancient times when medical methods were backward, but also the modern times where science and technology are advanced and the average life expectancy is more than 30 or [-] years. For many people, [-] years is almost half a lifetime.

It's a pity that Xu Dingguo couldn't persist in his loyalty to Daming in the end. In the first year of Hongguang, he trapped Gao Jie and shattered Shi Kefa's northern expedition attempt. Then he joined the Qing army and became a slave of the mite people.

"Xu Zongbing, the imperial army is coming to Suizhou soon, do you think they will attack us?" The person who spoke was Li Jiyu, the leader of Suizhou Nanwuzhai.

When Xu Dingguo first came to Suizhou, he only had dozens of remnant soldiers in his hands. Later, he used officials and nobles to seduce Li Jiyu and these local powerful factions were able to control the entire Suizhou.

"Probably not. The old man just robbed some states and counties, so why would the imperial court accuse us of crimes?" Xu Dingguo said confidently.

"If you serve as a soldier, there are people who don't want to plunder. Then wouldn't it be a waste of time to be a soldier. Besides, we have merit in defending a place." Xu Dingguo is worthy of being a veteran soldier, and he seems to have taken plundering as a routine.

But this is also the general environment. No wonder he, among those military leaders with heavy troops, doesn't do this. Otherwise, how can he have the money to raise troops and how can he live a luxurious life?
In fact, the imperial court has always acquiesced to this. As long as it does not cause anger and resentment, even if the emperor knows about it, he can treat it as nothing happened.

Zuo Liangyu in the last years of Chongzhen was like this. He collapsed in the first battle in Henan, looted along the way, ran all the way to Wuchang, and scraped three feet there.

Chongzhen ignored him, but added an official to Zuo Liangyu and made him Ning Nanbo.

Those who steal the hook will be punished, and those who steal the country will be martyred.

"What your lord said is that it is a time of troubled times and the court is employing people. It is certain that we will not dare to do anything to us. It is necessary to fight in the future, and we must rely on us who are familiar with the terrain." Li Jiyu deeply agreed with Xu Dingguo's words. .

"Stop talking nonsense, go and clear the land outside the city to make room for the army to station. I heard that Gao Jie and that Laoshizi Dingyuan General Zhang Yong brought 8 to [-] people." Xu Dingguo said.

"My dear, there are so many people. It seems that the imperial court has spent a lot of money." Li Jiyu was surprised by the huge number of soldiers and horses on Zhang Yong's journey.

Even though 8 or [-] people are not a lot to say, if they are placed in front of people, they are truly like mountains and seas. If tens of thousands of people shout anything in unison, it will make people feel like the mountains are falling apart.

"It's more than that. This is just the vanguard. The soldiers and horses of the other three towns are behind. In addition, the little emperor also brought tens of thousands of people to garrison in Yangzhou." The situation is very clear.

After all, he is a veteran who has been in Daming for decades, so he has a wide network and is naturally well-informed.

Of course, the most important thing is that Zhu Cihong did not keep this information secret, otherwise Xu Dingguo would not have known it so clearly.

"So, the imperial court put down the rogue bandits and reorganized the rivers and mountains is just around the corner?" Li Jiyu was originally a strongman in Suizhou. No insight.

"That's so easy. Suppress thieves. Suppress thieves. Li Chuang and his group alone have been suppressing them for more than ten years. Mite people have become popular since before I joined the army."

"Besides, these years, you can see that the imperial court has more and more soldiers, but the rogues and mites are getting stronger and stronger. Last year and the beginning of this year, Gao Jie, Tang Tong and others held hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses, but they even blocked Li Zicheng. It can’t be done outside Zhili.”

"Oh, this Ming Dynasty, I think it's not going to work anymore."

Xu Dingguo did not have any hope for the future of Daming, not only him, scholars, peasants, businessmen, and there were not a few people who had such thoughts, even the emperor's domestic slaves were like this.

When Li Chuang attacked the capital before, it was a few eunuchs who opened the door for him and led the way.

But this can't be blamed for their lack of loyalty. It's really that Da Ming's energy is exhausted, and the millions of troops have no fighting spirit.

The most important thing is to directly capture the leader and sell him for glory, or to take the initiative to surrender to the city.

This is why Li Zicheng was able to fight from Henan to Shaanxi in just a few months, cross the Yellow River from Shaanxi to Shanxi, and then enter Zhili and break through the capital.

Otherwise, one or two people like Zhang Xun in the late Tang Dynasty could drag Li Zicheng for ten days and a half months on the road thousands of miles away.

"Then what does your lord mean to still contact the north?" Li Jiyu pointed in the direction of the capital while speaking.

"It's natural, so be prepared. Only in this way can we preserve our wealth and keep our incense alive." Xu Dingguo said solemnly.

On the surface, he seems to be a courtier of Ming Dynasty, but in fact he is not loyal to anyone. The only thing he is loyal to is money, and only high officials and rich salary.

"Then why do we clear the site for them and let them station?" Li Jiyu didn't understand why Xu Dingguo did this.

"You are so stupid."

"I only have the land of Suizhou and less than [-] soldiers. If I refuse them and don't listen to their orders, I'm afraid I will be crushed to pieces in an instant."

"Besides, if we seek refuge in the north, we must have something to sell."

"With these tens of thousands of people, one city, and several thousand soldiers, do you think anyone will take them seriously?" Xu Dingguo was very smart.

He knows that taking refuge is a business. What kind of power he chooses, what kind of bargaining chip he takes out, and when he chooses it all have to be particular. .

Just when Li Jiyu was listening in the rain and fog, but still wanted to flatter Xu Dingguo, a messenger suddenly ran in.

"Report, Commander-in-Chief, I saw General Dingyuan and Uncle Xingping's reconnaissance cavalry five miles outside the city."

(End of this chapter)