Chapter 62: Alarming the Snake
Chapter 62: Alarming the Snake
The wind is cold and the winter is a bit chilly this year. A cold wave hit last night.
Before setting off, each soldier was given an emergency cotton vest.
This is not provided by logistics and does not cost any money.
It was because they heard that the Huai Army had wiped out the bandits in Qinhu Lake and eradicated the bandits in Taizhou that Wen took the lead and called on more than a thousand ordinary people in Hailing City to sew the cloth overnight, and it was not until noon that it was delivered to the military camp with the beating of gongs and drums.
The Wen family took the lead, but it was the most prestigious gentry in the city, Lord Wu, who sent his servants to make contacts everywhere, and the headmen of each neighborhood all went out overnight to arrange the tasks, so that this miracle could be created overnight.
In a sense, this was the gift that Wu Ziyi brought when he joined the Huai Army, demonstrating the Wu family's extraordinary appeal in Hailing City.
The work was done in a hurry, and although the stitching on the vest was large, the soldiers felt extremely warm and proud when wearing it.
Our Huai Army is the true sons and daughters of Taizhou. We do not disturb the people or rob, and the people truly love us. It feels so good.
Now, outside the Fairy Temple, hundreds of marching tents have been set up along the Tongyang Canal, and the soldiers are silent.
Next to the Fairy Temple is Caijia Village, which has hundreds of households, and the villagers were not disturbed at all.
How was such good discipline achieved? Why did everyone obey Shao Quanzhong's orders? It was a simple four-word answer: "Pay salaries in real time."
It is very difficult to achieve these four words, but as long as they are achieved, orders can be enforced, there will be no need for travel expenses when sending troops, and the soldiers will really rush forward when a tough battle is needed.
No one is a fool. Everyone has their own account in mind and must be worthy of their salary.
If you don't pay me enough, I might still work here. It would be fair to you if I could fire three shots at you at the last minute.
If you keep delaying, I'm sorry, but when the time comes I'll slip away and take my gun with me.
Or should we let our head coach die unexpectedly and then appoint someone who can pay our salary as his successor?
The world is a big makeshift team, and most generals understand this truth. Once they have the money in their hands, they are reluctant to spend it.
People like Shao Quanzhong, who are truly able to "disperse money and gather people", will eventually rise and succeed.
Shao Quanzhong’s temporary command center was set up in the Fairy Temple.
The Fairy Temple was built in the Eastern Han Dynasty and was renovated in the second year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign. Today, the main hall still looks brand new.
The camp was set up under the charge of the newly appointed camp affairs director Wu Ziyi. Le Xiucai felt a lot more relaxed and strolled to the central hall with his hands behind his back.
In the hanging basket of the central hall is the imperial edict from Emperor Xianfeng conferring the title on the ancient fairy.
Scholar Le bowed towards the imperial edict as a sign of acknowledgment, and chanted, "The water is noisy in the Fairy Temple, the moon is over Xie Gong Bay," with the style of a famous scholar who learned from Jiang Chunlin.
What? Should I kowtow after seeing the emperor's edict? Come on, Le Xiucai is already doing well.
He was the only one who bowed to the emperor's edict, while the others simply turned a blind eye.
After more than two months of brainwashing education, the Huai Army now only knows about Commander Shao, but not the emperor. This matter is still led by Le Xiucai...
"Captain Le, are you here? Commander Shao got angry because he couldn't find you."
Huh? You are so good at kung fu, but you still have to take care of logistics like me? Le Xiucai ran to the Fairy Temple study, saluted as soon as he entered the door, and said, "Grain official Le Sen greets the commander."
The Fairy Temple was very popular, and the study room was specially built for officials like Shao Quanzhong to stay temporarily when they came to the Fairy Temple to burn incense.
Seeing Le Sen signing up as if he had made a mistake, Shao Quanzhong looked calm and held Le Xiucai's hand.
"Brother Le is a noble man. As a leader, it's not wrong for him to inspect the temporary command center. Come, take a seat."
"Please give instructions, sir!"
Le Sen insisted on standing at attention.
His relationship with the commander was not as close as that of his sworn brothers, and his backing was not as strong as that of the new Wu Ziyi, so he had to be a lone minister, and mainly be obedient and loyal.
He reflected on himself and realized that he was not worthy of being the military advisor Zhuge Liang in the Huai Army. Now he didn't even call him "lord" anymore, but just "commander".
"Brother Le, it's not easy for you, a scholar, to march with the troops, but you still have to work hard, because you are a senior officer of our Huai Army. Brother Le, please go to Yangzhou City overnight to borrow some things from Yang Youji of the Green Camp in the city."
Huh? What does the Green Party have that we don't?
If there really was one, couldn't he borrow it from the captain in Hailing before leaving? Why did he only remember it when he arrived in Jiangdu?
Le Xiucai was confused and could only complain in his heart. After listening to Shao Quanzhong's instructions, he became even more confused.
However, since his superior didn't say anything, he didn't dare to ask. He went out and called a dozen logistics soldiers, and rowed to Yangzhou overnight.
As soon as Le Xiucai left, Tian Xing, Hai Qing and Shao Hengzhong followed into the study.
Without saying a word, Tian Xing unfolded a detailed topographic map of Guazhou in his hand and spread it on the table.
This is the reconnaissance result of the plainclothes sprint team sent out during this period.
It marked the locations of the seven weirs of Hou Boqiu's forces around Guazhou and Hou Batian's old nest Guiliu City, the approximate number of garrison troops, the number of muskets, the height of the city walls and other information.
"Second brother, how do we defeat Hou Batian? I think that the Baijia Village is isolated on the east bank of the canal, and is quite far away from the other villages on the west bank and Guiliu City. We can take it first.
There are less than 200 people in Baijiawei. They are led by the Hong Gang, and they don't have a good relationship with the Qing Gang on the west bank of the canal. If we raid them, they probably won't have any reinforcements.
That would be the best. We can launch a surprise attack tonight while they are not paying attention.
Their earthen wall is only about one person high. I can lead the marching team to climb up with flying claws under the cover of night, and then open the gate from the inside and the dike will be broken immediately.
Even if we take over Baijiawei, the West Bank may not know about it. Speed is of the essence in war, why don’t we——”
Shao Quanzhong waved his hand and said, "We have to attack Baijiawei first. What Big Brother said is right. But we can't launch a surprise attack. We have to make a big show and announce to the west bank that we are coming."
Hai Qing scratched his head, "Why should we alert the enemy?"
Shao Quanzhong smiled, "Because the remaining weirs are too strong, and the people there have firearms, so they are much more difficult to attack than the Seven Weirs.
If we fight them one by one, we will definitely suffer heavy casualties, so I have made a special plan..."
After Shao Quanzhong finished explaining his plan, Hai Qing gave him a thumbs up and said, "Second brother, you are really smart and you are a master at using troops."
Shao Hengzhong shook his head nervously, "This is too risky for you, brother. Why don't you let me go instead of you?"
Shao Quanzhong sighed, "No one else can replace me. With my eldest brother and third brother by my side, this is not a risk.
In fact, relying on my experience to formulate a battle plan is not the right way to fight a war.
When our Boy Scout students return from their studies in Berlin in the future and set up a general staff, that will be the way to fight a big war.
The talents trained in professional military academies may not have any brilliant ideas.
But they have a mature method to analyze intelligence, predict the enemy's combat intentions, and have dedicated personnel to be responsible for personnel deployment, equipment deployment, preparation of battle sequences, and establishment of action plans.
With the assistance of staff officers, even a mediocre general can defeat the enemy with an upright army.
Of course, if there is a famous general with strategy and the assistance of staff, it will be easier to win the battle.
We have no other options now, we can only make do with our own abilities."
The next morning, Le Xiucai and his men rushed back from Yangzhou City.
Thirteen hundred men broke camp, rowed forty-five sampans, and supported more than ninety small boats captured from Qinhu Lake, entered the Grand Canal through the Mangdao River, and headed south in a mighty manner.
Three hours later, they approached the mouth of the canal where it enters the Yangtze River, and the fleet docked on the east bank of the canal.
"Report to the commander, Baijiaweizi is two miles ahead."
"Take half an hour to rest and prepare for battle!"
(End of this chapter)