Ming Dynasty entry: I am Chongzhen, the greatest emperor of all time!

Chapter 79 Qi Family Army!
Dorgon drank the milk tea in the bowl in one gulp, not caring at all about the injury of Jiala Zhangjing who reported the incident.

At this time, the Qing Dynasty's military system evolved from the hunting organization.

As a fishing and hunting nation, the Jurchens established a complete hunting system very early on.

The men in a tribe who are able to hunt are organized together and led by a prestigious person from the tribe, and several nearby tribes hunt together.

Although this system is primitive, it is very effective.

This inter-tribal hunting organization was called Niulu, which means big arrow.

The leader was called Niulu Ezhen, which means arrow master.

Later, Nurhaci integrated the Niulu system.

The rule is that 300 people form a Niulu, which is the most basic organization in the army.

Five Niulu form a Jiala, and there is a Jiala Ezhen.

Five Jiala form a Gushan, and there is a Gushan Ezhen.

In the past, the Jurchens were few in number, and basically one Gushan was one banner.

By the time Huang Taiji changed the Later Jin Dynasty into the Qing Dynasty, the Nuzhen people had become very powerful.

Basically, each banner has several Gushan, and there are also a large number of Mongolians and Han people.

In order to show that the Qing Dynasty was a dynasty of the same level as the Ming Dynasty, rather than a superior-subordinate relationship, and also to reduce the gap between the Mongols and the Han people.

Huang Taiji also established military official positions and titles.

But it is relatively complicated, with Ezhen and Zhangjing coexisting, and there is also the position of Zuoling.

Because at that time most of the Niulu in each flag were from the same tribe, the highest chief of the Niulu also had jurisdiction over the tribe to which the Niulu belonged, and had enormous power from money, grain and farmland to population distribution.

In the end, the position of Niulu Ezhen remained unchanged, and a new Zuoling was appointed to be in charge of war. It can be understood as an adjutant, and both Mongolians and Han people can take this position.

Officials above the rank of Jiala who only had the power to command the army and did not have the power to manage tribes and military farms were called Jiala Zhangjing.

The Jiala people who owned the Niulu tribes under their command were called Ezhen.

However, after several years of operation by Dorgon, there were very few such people left.

After all, there are 1,500 people in one Jiala, and the population of the subordinate tribes is as high as nearly 5,000, and the population of some may be tens of thousands. This power is really too great.

The Gushan level is Zhang Jing, because most of them are the trusted generals of the flag owner, responsible for assisting the flag owner to control the Gushan under his command.

As for those above the flag owner level, it all depends on who has more Niulu under his command.

Dorgon was able to completely control the upper three banners and had nearly three hundred Niulu under his command, so he could naturally act with impunity in Shengjing.

Shunzhi did not have a single banner under his command. Although his brother Hauge had a Zhenglan Banner, it was dismantled by Dorgon, so he naturally had no power.

Like the battle situation just reported by Jiala Zhangjing.

There were four Gushan and nearly a hundred Niulu under the Xianglan Army. The loss of just one or two was not enough to provoke Dorgon's emotions.

Jirgalang, the leader of the Bordered Blue Banner, didn't take it seriously.

He folded the Buddhist beads in his hands and looked at Dorgon.

"Old Fourteen, with only 5,000 defenders, there's no need to wait for the Eight Banners of the Han Army. Just let the men attack and capture the city first."

Jirgalang was the son of Nurhaci's younger brother and a cousin of Dorgon.

Although they were both regents, their powers were very different, and Jirgalang could only put Dorgon first.

Hearing this, the latter shook his head nonchalantly and poured himself another bowl of milk tea.

"Why are you panicking? The fifteenth brother hasn't reached Xifengkou yet, and the second brother won't be able to reach Zhangjiakou for at least ten days."

"Are we going to scare off the old emperor by taking Shanhaiguan now?"

Upon hearing this, Jirgalang paused his hands as he was playing with the beads.

"Wouldn't it be better to scare them away at this point?"

Dorgon smiled lightly and asked, "What's good?"

"Let's wait until the second brother arrives in Zhangjiakou. I want to see how many of these tribesmen who obey the Qing Dynasty are loyal."

"Do you really just want to deal with the barbarians?" Jirgalang frowned.

Dorgon shrugged indifferently, "You can't still think of destroying the Southern Dynasty in one battle."

Jirgalang had a rough idea of ​​Dorgon's plan and started turning the Buddhist beads again.

He closed his eyes and persuaded, "Old Fourteen, your ambition is too big, so big that even the jackals on the grassland can't swallow it."

"The Southern Dynasty Emperor has reached this point, yet he can still defeat a million people in the city. His strength is not as weak as you think. It is better to stop while you are ahead. Wait until they are weaker, and you can save many lives."

Dorgon drank milk tea without even glancing at Jirgalang.

The latter sighed helplessly. Dorgon was good in every way, he was resourceful and courageous, but he was too conceited.

He was so conceited that even he was a little scared.

If the Southern Dynasty remained a sheep like before, it would be powerless to fight back against the jackal Dorgon.

But now this sheep seems to be about to shed its skin. Once the horns are taken off, the golden dragon's whiskers will be revealed!
He didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing to pull out the beards at this time, but it seemed that this was the best time for them, the Jurchen men.

Dorgon didn't know what Jirgalang was thinking, and he didn't need to know.

He put the tea bowl in his hand back on the table and stood up slowly.

"Have Tan Tai send two more Jiala up and take their time. Let the soldiers familiarize themselves with the cannons we brought with us. Tell them not to rush."

Jiala Zhangjing, who was kneeling on the ground, was stunned at first, then he stood up in a daze and walked out of the tent.

"Sixth Brother, don't be idle either. Go and arrange for the Bordered Blue Banner to build siege equipment on the spot. It's impossible that just because the Han people built it, we Jurchens can't build it, right?"

Jirgalang stood up helplessly and tried to persuade him many times, but he couldn't open his mouth.

When he reached the tent entrance, he finally turned around and asked, "Old Fourteen, how can you be so sure that you can keep the Southern Dynasty Emperor?"

"Because I can take my men and keep the emperor of the Southern Dynasty, that's all." Dorgon looked at Jirgalang and said seriously.

The latter nodded heavily, "Okay, I'll go right away."

As Jirgalang and several of his personal guards left, the tent finally quieted down. Dorgon didn't even leave the tent. He just poured two more bowls of milk tea and called out to the inner tent, "Mr. Fan, come out and have some hot tea."

Soon, Fan Wencheng, dressed like a scholar and with a rather ugly face, came out.

Without being polite to Dorgon, he sat down opposite him, picked up the tea bowl and started drinking.

Instead of being angry, Dorgon was very happy.

There is no other reason, Fan Wencheng's brain is really good, and his success in reaching this point is inseparable from the help of the person in front of him.

After taking a few sips, Fan Wencheng brought up the serious business, "Your Majesty, how is Prince Li doing?"

"I just received an express letter from the second brother yesterday. The Tumed tribe has agreed to send troops, and there are more than 30 small tribes willing to join in and share the spoils. Only the Chahar tribe has not responded yet."

Upon hearing this, Fan Wencheng subconsciously stroked his beard. "The Chahar tribe has always been hesitant. Even if they are unwilling to send troops, it doesn't matter. Once the army passes through, they will naturally figure it out."

"Your Majesty, please remind Prince Li that when dealing with Li Zicheng, you must treat him with great courtesy and use both kindness and force to subdue his enemies."

"As for Prince Yu, as long as Shandong Road is not conquered, the king cannot move!"

Dorgon trusted Fan Wencheng very much, but he couldn't help but ask, "Is it really that troublesome?"

Fan Wencheng put down the tea bowl, and his skinny fingers, stained with milk, drew three water marks on the table.
"Prince Rui, please look. Shanhaiguan is the Ming people's tortoise shell, but its head extends to Liaodong, and its tail is connected to Jizhen."

"If the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty march straight in from Shanhaiguan, the many major cities along the way, from Datong and Xuanfu in the west to Jizhou and Tianjin in the east, will become obstacles."

"The capital also has the elite troops of Emperor Chongzhen who just defeated a million-man army. Furthermore, with these fortified cities defending, even an army of 200,000 would find it difficult to capture the city."

"The Ming court still has hundreds of thousands of troops in the south. If we can't move southward with the force of a mighty wave, once Emperor Chongzhen gathers his court, the Qing dynasty won't be able to cross the river for another 30 years."

After hearing this, Dorgon couldn't help sighing.

He took everything into account, except the variable of Chongzhen!

The neighing of war horses could be heard outside the tent. Craftsmen from the Bordered Blue Banner were building ladders. The clinking of iron tools mixed with the shouts of the Jurchen language was very much like the hunting scene outside the city of Hetuala back then.

The current Emperor Chongzhen is like a trapped beast. If the hunting net is not tightened and the way out is not guarded, the captive beast will be able to escape.

The women and children in the tribe will have to starve for a few more days.

"Mr. Fan is a man of foresight, something Dorgon could never match."

Dorgon sighed, then picked up the copper kettle, and the boiling hot milk tea drew an amber arc in the air.

"Then why do we have to wait for Old Fifteen to break through the Shandong Road? With our three armies attacking at the same time, how dare Chongzhen not flee?"

"The Second Brother has already persuaded the Tumed tribe. As soon as the Fifteenth Brother leaves Xifengkou, the Kharchin cavalry will descend on the capital from Zhangjiakou like vultures pouncing on their prey."

"Now that Chongzhen's position is still unstable, and spies have reported that the capital is in ruins and millions of soldiers and civilians are starving, this is the perfect opportunity to launch a joint attack!"

Fan Wencheng suddenly stood up and walked forward to lift the sheepskin curtain.

Ten miles away, flames flickered at Shanhaiguan, and the Ming army could be vaguely seen moving between the battlements.

He took a deep breath. "During the Battle of Guangning, Xiong Tingbi built seven hundred watchtowers. Later, it was Sun Chuanting and Yuan Chonghuan. Even when Li Zicheng's million-strong army pressed forward, Emperor Chongzhen did not retreat a single step."

"Even though Emperor Chongzhen had many faults and could be called a tyrant, there is one thing I cannot help but admire."

"That's the backbone of Emperor Chongzhen, or rather, the backbone of the Ming Emperor."

Fan Wencheng looked at the city wall of Shanhaiguan with an extremely bleak tone.

"Five thousand old and weak still guarded the pass, and even when Emperor Yingzong was on a northern expedition, Yu Shaobao saved the day. What a great emperor guarding the country's gates, and a king dying for his country! If the Ming court hadn't severed its own tendons and broken its spine, how could our Qing Dynasty have been in trouble?"

At this point, Fan Wencheng's Adam's apple moved. "Believe it or not, Your Majesty, even if the Qing army of 200,000 Eight Banners invaded the capital, the most they could do was behead Emperor Chongzhen."

"As soon as Emperor Chongzhen dies, the Ming court will immediately support the Jiangnan royal family, abandoning the area south of the Yangtze River and ruling across the river from the Qing Dynasty. That would be even more troublesome."

"Hahahaha, it's because the Southern Dynasty cut off its own foundation that our Jurchen warriors came out to conquer the mountains and seas!"

"I already know what Mr. Fan is planning! I won't rush into anything!" "But that idiot Hauge is still sending people to Xifengkou to deliver food and fodder. What if this team of food carts 'happens' to be discovered by the Ming army, and the Fifteenth Brother doesn't stop, and a spy happens to know that I have a grudge against Li Zicheng and has sent the Second Brother with two red flags and other Mongolian tribes out of Datong to the west? I came to the north to search the mountains and seas just to prepare food for Li Zicheng. Will the Southern Dynasty emperor give up the capital and move south to Nanjing?"

"Your Majesty, are you planning to openly repair the plank road while secretly attacking Chencang?" Fan Wencheng was shocked.

Dorgon did not answer, but drew on the table with his fingertips dipped in milk tea.

"Mr. Fan, do you still remember the battle at the entrance in the third year of Tiancong?"

"We swept through Jizhen like a gust of wind, and the Ming army didn't even have time to light the beacon fire."

Fan Wencheng's brows twitched.

That year, he followed Huang Taiji to break the Great Wall and witnessed with his own eyes the people in the capital shivering like lambs under the iron hoofs.

But at this moment, what was flashing in Dorgon's eyes was a fire of ambition even more intense than that of Huang Taiji.

"The Southern Dynasty is now even weaker than it was back then. We can no longer wait for Chongzhen to turn the tide."

"The Shaanxi bandits have already broken into Luoyang, and Zhang Xianzhong is currently gnawed at the Ming court in Huguang. He has 200,000 soldiers, red-haired cannons, and..."

"An opportunity personally delivered by the Southern Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty's plan is far better than mine, but the princes and the emperor in the court..." Fan Wencheng actually didn't quite agree with entering the pass at this time. No one in the world would have thought that Dorgon wanted to annex the Central Plains at this time.

"So they are only fit for cockfighting and horse riding in Shengjing!"

Dorgon suddenly raised his voice, startling the guards outside the tent and making their swords clang.

He reached out and smoothed the wrinkles on his mink coat, his tone suddenly gentle, "Back then, when my father Khan launched his rebellion with thirteen suits of armor, who among the three Jianzhou guards wasn't waiting to see him make a fool of himself?"

"Now that our army is strong and our horses are strong, and the Southern Dynasty is weak, it's time to go to the Yellow River and test its waters."

A smile appeared in Dorgon's eyes, and he picked up the copper kettle to refill Fan Wencheng's tea.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried horse hooves could be heard outside the tent. The Jiala Zhangjing rushed in with a bloody smell. "Report to Prince Rui! The left wing Jiala has arrived at the city. Lord Tan Tai requests..."

"It's all right."

Dorgon didn't even raise his eyelids. "Move the Franco-Machinery captured last month to the right wing, and let the Han troops of the Wuzhen Chaoha Camp lead the charge."

After the messenger left, he turned to Fan Wencheng and chuckled, "Mr. Fan, I'll have to trouble you to write a few articles with Zheng Zhilong at sea. When the Southern Dynasty Emperor goes south, the guard dogs raised by my Qing Dynasty will bark."

Fan Wencheng had no objection. Even though Dorgon was now very friendly to him, he was still a slave of the Eight Banners. "I will write a letter shortly, but Your Majesty should not take it lightly. The Central Plains still has a rich cultural heritage."

Dorgon laughed heartily, "How could the Southern Dynasty still harbor such elite troops as the Zhejiang troops from the bloody battle of Hunhe?"

Should we say that Dorgon’s guess was right?
Or is it not right?
Zhu Youjian did not have any Zhejiang soldiers.

But he has the core of Zhejiang soldiers, the complete Qi family army!

At three quarters past three in the morning, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

When Zhu Youjian rode his horse to the Meridian Gate, the corner flags on the city wall were blown straight up by the north wind.

As the imperial guards guarding the city slowly opened the gate, the scene outside the gate came into Zhu Youjian's sight.

Four thousand soldiers were seen standing in the training ground like green pines, wearing iron mesh armor over crimson jackets and six-petal iron helmets on their heads.

They stood in four neat square formations, not even shaking, let alone talking to each other.

Zhu Youjian felt as if he saw the mighty army of his previous life.

As the white horse slowly moved forward, almost at the same time.

Four thousand suits of armor vibrated with a clang, and the soldiers knelt on one knee in unison. The leading general took off his phoenix-wing helmet, revealing his square face that was tanned into bronze.

"General Qi Yuan, leading 4,000 Zhejiang soldiers, respectfully wishes His Majesty the best of health!"

Zhu Youjian was stunned.

The troops given this time actually have a general! ?

Although I have never heard of Qi Yuan's name, it is obvious that he is a descendant of Qi Jiguang.

He rode his horse out of the cave, raising his right hand slightly.

"No need to pay tribute."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qi Yuan roared, then stood up and waved the green flag in his hand several times.

"rise!"

Suddenly, the small flag bearers at the head of each row in the formation repeated the flag orders and passwords.

Four thousand soldiers stood up in unison.

Zhu Youjian was shocked by what he saw. He had been there for so long, and this was the first time he had seen an army with such strict discipline.

Even the Black Armor Army is far from reaching it.

Looking closely, the four formations are almost identical.

The rattan shield bearers in the front row half-knelt with their shields in hand, their wolf-whips pointed diagonally towards the sky. The long spears in the middle row shone like a forest, and the bird-gun bearers were stationed on both wings.

There are forty tiger-crouching cannons in front of each formation, with the muzzles wrapped in moisture-proof oilcloth and triangular anti-slip wood pads under the cannons.

Each formation had a large flag embroidered with the four characters "courage, loyalty, integrity and chastity".

Apart from anything else, this formation alone really has some flavor of modern line infantry.

Zhu Youjian first dismounted, and as usual, he helped Qi Yuan up with a smile.

"Where are you from, my dear? Where are you usually stationed? Why did you come to the capital? How many people are there in your family?"

When it was given to a general for the first time, Zhu Youjian was very curious whether this was a living person or generated by the system.

"In reply to your Majesty, I am from Xuzhou, the fifth-generation descendant of General Qi. I am usually stationed in Xuzhou. I received your Majesty's secret order and traveled here overnight. I have an elderly mother and a wife at home, a total of six people."

After listening, Zhu Youjian nodded slowly.

I have a rough guess in my mind.

He didn't know whether Qi Jiguang had this great-grandson, and as for secret orders, that was even more impossible.

At present, it seems that the system has arranged the background of the generals or everyone, so that there will be no such person who cannot be found.

He put aside his curiosity and looked at the Qi Family Army. "Qi Qing, could you please demonstrate your martial arts skills so that I can see the might of the Qi Family Army?"

"I obey your order!" Qi Yuan did not hesitate at all. After saluting, he pulled out two red flags behind him.

He shook it three times left and right and shouted, "Martial Arts Performance!"

All the small flags immediately waved blue flags, and the four large formations of 4,000 people became as one.

When the rattan shield soldiers rolled sideways, the long spears in the back row happened to pierce through the gaps in the shields, and the wolf-whip swept across with a sound of breaking through the air. The bird-gun soldiers immediately fired in turns in a three-fold formation.

What amazed Zhu Youjian the most was the artillery camp. The loaders used wooden spoons to fill the gunpowder in a fixed amount, and the rangefinders adjusted the elevation angle according to the formula in the "Shooting Classic". When forty tiger-crouching cannons fired at the same time, they hit the inland river five hundred steps away.

But except for the rattan shield bearers who had waist knives, the rest of the people were not equipped with close combat weapons.

You must know that no matter what kind of army the Ming army was, as long as conditions allowed, they would bring as much equipment as possible.

The Qi family army is so elite that it is impossible for them not to be equipped with swords.

Asked Qi Yuan with doubts.

The latter clasped his fists and replied, "Your Majesty, this is the iron rule of the 'Treatise on Military Training'."

"After firing a firearm, one must retreat to the rear of the formation to reload. Swordsmen can easily become entangled with long weapons. All soldiers must focus on their respective duties and not interfere with each other."

As the martial arts performance continued, commands were shouted out by the little flags.

Sayings such as "Anyone who pretends to be sick in battle will be beheaded" and "Anyone who does not clean a bird gun properly will be beheaded."

Behind the Qi family army, there were 800 neatly stacked ceramic heads. This was the Qi family army's unique method of training their courage. New recruits had to sleep with fake heads as pillows.

Seeing Zhu Youjian staring in a trance, Qi Yuan stepped forward to explain.

"Your Majesty, this order only applies to the battle formations. For the rest, there will be daily inspections at dawn. If more than 10% of the corps is missing, the entire team will be punished."

Qi Jin took off the bamboo tube from his waist and took out the badge with the soldier's name engraved on it.

"Whenever a soldier wanders off the line for five steps, he will be flogged twenty times; when camping, anyone who steals civilian property will be beheaded; when facing an enemy, if the rear platoon fails to advance upon hearing the drum, the front platoon will be beheaded..."

All military laws cover almost every aspect, even the time for going to the toilet and eating.

Zhu Youjian suddenly interrupted and asked the question that concerned him most, "What if we encounter the Jianlu cavalry charging into battle?"

"Your Majesty, please take a look at this."

Qi Jin took out the yellow flag and kept waving it, and the formation suddenly changed.

The rattan shields formed a tortoise shell formation to block the front, the wolf-whips protruded from the gaps in the shields to sweep the horses' legs, and the long spears were used to stab the fallen cavalry.

The musketeers on both wings maintained the barrage with three rows of rounds, while the artillery battalion switched to shotgun shells and retreated to the second line of defense.

"Your Majesty, this formation is the Hundred Birds Formation. During the bloody Battle of Hunhe, my great-uncle Qi Jin led 3,000 Zhejiang soldiers and used this formation to fight off tens of thousands of elite Jianlu cavalry for a whole day."

Zhu Youjian looked at the large flag with the word "Qi" fluttering in front of the formation and felt relieved.

"Alright! My dear minister, please lead your troops back to the outer training grounds for a while. In a few days, the Qi family army will have a place to use their skills!"

"I obey your command!" Qi Yuan clasped his fists again.

Then he drew out a white flag and waved it, "All divisions, muster your troops! Move back to camp!"

Suddenly, there was a loud sound of drums. The Qi family army, which had just been in battle formation, formed into small square formations in a moment, and then returned to the shape of four large square formations.

Following Qi Jin's order, four thousand people, singing "Victory Song" with an eastern Zhejiang accent, rushed to the outer parade ground under the guidance of the Imperial Guards.

"With one heart and one mind, the mountains can be shaken; with loyalty and righteousness, the spirit can surpass the bull..."

The war song sung by four thousand throats is as loud as a single voice.

(End of this chapter)