eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 668 Civil and military complementarity
In mid-May of the tenth year of Zhengde, the Pegasus from the capital finally arrived in Gansu.

From the late Zhengde period to Jiajing in history, the defense pressure of Gansu Town in the Ming Dynasty mainly came from three directions. The one outside Jiayuguan was the Turpan Khanate.

In addition, there is the little prince, who fought against the Ming army in the second year of Zhengde.Historically, the fall of the Hetao area allowed the little prince to enter the Pass from Ningxia. In addition to threatening the hinterland of the Central Plains from the east and west, he could also march westward to plunder the Hexi Corridor.

Of course, this pressure no longer exists.

The third one is the Yibula tribe in the direction of Qinghai, which is the Yibula tribe that surrendered.In real history, he failed in the little prince's campaign to conquer the [-] households on the right wing of Mongolia, so he fled westward to garrison near Qinghai, and since then he has been at war with the Ming army.

This one no longer exists.

Of course there are some Mongolian tribes in the direction of Qinghai, but as the border army has become stronger in recent years, those who dare to take the lead have long been beaten by Zhou Shangwen.

Nowadays, the defense pressure of Gansu Town is outside Jiayuguan, a Turpan Khanate that exists in the name of a country.

The soil quality in Gansu is poor, and most of it is desert and Gobi. This geological condition is not suitable for the survival and development of agricultural civilization. In the Ming Dynasty, the population here was sparsely populated, with only more than 100 million people even in its prime.

This is a disadvantage to waging war and substantive rule.

And the situation has not improved significantly after leaving Jiayuguan, otherwise the ancestors would have grabbed it long ago.

Basically, the northwest region can only carry out regional farming along some rivers and oasis areas.

Another way is to transport materials from abroad.

This was the case during the Zhengde period. Even if sweet potatoes were available, they would still need to be shipped out. Sweet potatoes have low calories and consume a lot of land. They alone cannot turn Gansu into a treasure land like Jiangnan.

After all, in addition to staple food, there are also necessary supplies such as salt, iron, cloth, and refined beans for war horses.

Zhu Houzhao was transferred from Ningxia, Hetao and other regions through regional adjustment to form support for Gansu.

After several years of preparation by Zhou Shangwen, Gansu Town also streamlined its military strength. His general military headquarters was located in Ganzhou (today's Zhangye City). There were [-] elite infantrymen of Ganzhou left guard and right guard in the city, and Ten thousand Ming cavalry were used to defend the town.

At Suzhou, the most northwest endpoint, there were set up Suzhou left and right guards, with a total of [-] elite infantry, to deter Hami and Turpan.

In addition, Ma Rong led five thousand Ming cavalry to be stationed in Suzhou. The number was a bit small, but no matter how many there were, the logistical pressure would be even greater.

Behind Ganzhou, or in the east, Yuanshan Danwei has built a huge official horse farm and has five thousand cavalry stationed there.

Further east are the original Yongchang Guards, Liangzhou Guards, etc., which are also garrisoned by Qianhu, but their combat power has been reduced to a concept similar to that of a second-class guard.

To the north of the Liangzhou Guard is the Zhenlu Guard, which belongs to the defense scope of Ningxia Town. If the Hetao is lost during this period, the Zhenlu Guard will not actually be able to provide much help, and even the Liangzhou Guard will be in danger.

But there are no such worries today.

The overall thinking of the Ming Dynasty is that the elite are outside and the less elite are included.

Nowadays, as long as the imperial court orders it, Zhou Shangwen can mobilize a large force of [-] elite infantry and more than [-] cavalry.In the northwest, fighting with various tribes and khanates, this is a huge force that cannot be ignored.

In addition, because the imperial court had become wealthy in recent years, Ganzhou City was expanded and reinforced. The perimeter of the city wall reached twelve miles, 350 seven steps, three feet high and three feet seven feet thick.There is a gate in the middle of the east, west, south and north of the city wall, with banners inlaid on each gate.At the same time, a large number of enemy towers and turrets were built on the city wall, forming a complete defense system.

The city is home to the largest number of Han people in the northwest region, and it is also an important node city for trade between the Central Plains and the Western Regions. Military facilities such as the Gansu Town General Military Mansion, the Ganzhou Guard Commandery, and the Guarding Eunuch Mansion are all located here.

It can be said that several years of military construction have brought rare elements such as people, materials and security, which have made Ganzhou City full of vitality again.

The emperor's confidence in ordering the use of foreign troops this time also came from this.

After Zhou Shangwen received the decree, he was very excited. He immediately called for Cao Guanping, the governor of Gansu, and Li Li, the eunuch guarding Gansu.

Of course, all the lieutenants under the tent and the commanders of several guard posts also gathered.

After Cao and Li arrived, Zhou Shangwen said to them: "The emperor has approved the memorial two months ago, and the decree is here." Looking at it, it turns out that the core meaning of the five words is:
"...Hami, don't lose it."

"Eunuch Li, Cao Zhongcheng, the imperial edict has arrived and the holy will has been made clear. This official in Ganzhou City cannot stay any longer. In ten days at the latest, the General Military Mansion will send an order for the army to set off. I hope you two can make preparations as soon as possible. It’s time to set off with the army!”

Neither Cao nor Li were acquainted with the emperor directly, but they both got the position through the recommendation of close ministers. Now that the emperor meant this, they naturally didn't say anything and didn't show much. How could they get into the emperor's sight?
"We are willing to fight side by side with Jinglubo!"

"it is good!"

Zhou Shangwen felt at ease. It was no longer the past. He had been Zhengde for ten years. As long as officials who dared to politically restrict military operations reported them, the emperor would definitely kill them all.

Therefore, this sense of comfort outside the battlefield is the peak of Zhou Shangwen in recent years.

As for these ten days, they have to wait for some supplies.

After Zhou Shangwen got the news, he also sent several troops to greet him.

Guyuan Town, Shaanxi Province, transported the previously stored treasury silver, which can be used to deal with urgent needs such as the withdrawal of silver and the subsequent need for pension silver. Ningxia Town and Hetao Shuofang Town transported large quantities of military rations.

The grain transport team formed a column in the valley, with no end in sight.

Probably the ministers also felt the emperor's determination in his will, so they naturally paid attention to this matter to express themselves.

Wang Shouren asked Han Twelve Lang, the commander of Shuofang Left Guard, to personally escort the military rations, while Wang Qiong, the governor of Shaanxi Province, even came himself to avoid losing the treasury.

In the past few days, the city gates of Ganzhou City have been opened, and carts and carts are transporting things inside.

With such a movement, even the common people knew that a war was about to begin.

Before leaving for the Gansu General Military Mansion, Zhou Shangwen personally greeted Wang Qiong. Who the hell wouldn't welcome the God of Wealth?
"Jinglupp! Jinglupp!" Wang Qiong is not a stable character, and his pride and credit are clearly visible on his face, "Your Majesty's decree has not yet arrived, so I asked people to open the bank and load the car, waiting for the decree. The decree As soon as it arrives, the silver car will leave the city in two sticks of incense time! This time, Jinglubo will have to return a big victory to His Majesty!"

"Thank you Zhongcheng! Zhou Shangwen will never forget Zhongcheng's help! Please come in, Zhongcheng!"

Zhou Shangwen welcomed Wang Qiong with great ceremony.

After sitting down, he asked: "How does Zhongcheng know that Your Majesty will let Zhongcheng use the Shaanxi treasury silver first?"

"Jinglubo didn't know something," Wang Qiong leaned closer, "His Majesty told me in the seventh and ninth years of Zhengde, during the two great court meetings, that once there were changes in the northwest, Shaanxi would take the lead, and I would take the lead. Money and food must be prepared in advance. So Jinglubo doesn't know that every time you patrol the border and fight a small battle, I have to gather here."

"Hahaha! This is your Majesty's foresight. In a few days, the military rations from Hetao and Ningxia will arrive." Zhou Shangwen handed over in the direction of Beijing, "Your Majesty has suppressed the opposition in the court this time, so trustworthy , no matter which dynasty or generation it is placed in, it is rare.”

Wen is Wang Qiong, Wu is Zhou Shangwen.

For this reason, Zhu Houzhao did not touch Wang Qiong for several years.

Wang Qiong is greedy for money, but he is very capable. He said: "After the Gansu soldiers and horses went out for the expedition, Your Majesty has also taken into consideration the problem of Gansu's lack of troops. I have ordered all the Shaanxi guards to prepare for war according to the order, and to provide appropriate support to them." The direction of Ganzhou is approaching. In addition, although the army rations have not been used in Shaanxi this time, we are still prepared. Jinglubo, just charge and kill the enemy. I am in the rear. Even if I can't, there are also Qiu Yue and Shuofang from Ningxia. Wang Shouren. Oh, by the way, are there any weapons and medicines? I have prepared these."

"There are even medicines?" Zhou Shangwen was slightly surprised.

Wang Qiong smiled proudly again.He has been in this barren land for several years, and this is the biggest opportunity. If he gets it right, he can be directly transferred to the capital.Can you not be careful?
This guy worries about sea trade in Zhejiang, and worries about military deployment in the northwest. He wanders around and stays true to the holy will, and he is very good at being an official.

Zhou Shangwen was also able to observe his words, and he said with a tacit understanding: "If we win this time, I will report Zhongcheng's contribution to the emperor."

Wang Qiong was proud and humble at the same time, "Everywhere, this is all the Holy Spirit's will and the Holy Spirit's contribution, ah? Isn't it?"

At the end of the sentence, I still couldn't hold back my smile.

Zhou Shangwen understood it and laughed, "That's right, that's right!"

(End of this chapter)