Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

The sky had just begun to turn pale, and the dawn light had not yet fully illuminated the earth, but the loud and passionate slogans had already echoed for a long time above the military camp like a huge bell.

This has long become a common sight in the Zhongwei Camp.

Before the "Self-Rebellion Manifesto" was issued, Chongzhen had already begun to establish the Zhongwei Battalion. Unlike the newly formed People's Army, the Zhongwei Battalion was formed based on the troops led by Li Laiheng and Yan Yingyuan. Its members were loyal, brave, and skilled warriors carefully selected from the armies of other towns.

The Zhongwei Camp still follows the old system in terms of organization and management, but its equipment has been greatly strengthened and improved.

In particular, their muskets were all equipped with a newly formulated black powder, which was powerful and far superior to previous models. Simultaneously, paper shell fixed ammunition began to be gradually deployed. However, in order for soldiers to master and utilize these new equipment and develop a strong combat capability, extensive and arduous adaptive training was required. The training focused on enabling soldiers to load and fire ammunition as quickly and accurately as possible in the shortest possible time, which was crucial for improving the unit's combat efficiency and firepower output.

However, Chongzhen had completely different plans and ideas for the People's Army.

He was determined to meticulously build this force according to the model of a modern army, making it a revolutionary force in the Ming army. The People's Army's primary weapon would be the musket, and all tactical systems would be designed and employed around it, radically overcoming its current, supporting role in the military. Chongzhen's plan promised that the volleyball tactics, later nicknamed "line shooting" and renowned in the West, would soon make their grand debut on Ming soil.

The core of the so-called volley tactics is to have the soldiers stand in a neat row and fire in unison, so that the bullets whiz out like an impenetrable "wall of bullets", thereby greatly increasing the lethality and hit rate.

While this tactic may seem foolish and rigid at first glance, it was actually the key to the British and French armies' long-term dominance in Europe. Back then, they relied on rigorous scientific training methods to transform each soldier into a ruthless "killer machine." On the battlefield, these soldiers were driven by the single principle of obedience. Whether marching, reloading, aiming, or firing, every movement was precise and unified, as if controlled by a single machine.

However, although this tactic seems simple and easy to implement, it is actually an extremely severe test of the soldiers' psychological quality and courage.

Because in actual combat, soldiers must march resolutely under the enemy's fierce bullets and whistling artillery shells, which requires them to first overcome their deep-seated instinctive fear of death. Otherwise, if even one person retreats out of fear and turns back to flee, this panic is likely to trigger a chain reaction, spreading rapidly through the troops like a plague, and ultimately leading to the defeat of the entire army.

Therefore, those soldiers who stood at the front of the ranks, their heads held high, and marched fearlessly in goose-step were undoubtedly carefully selected warriors. What spurred them forward courageously, in addition to their loyalty to their country and nation, was the promise of generous pensions and supreme honor after death in battle. These dual incentives, both material and spiritual, became a powerful driving force for their unwavering perseverance on the battlefield.

This is why, when recruiting soldiers for the People's Army, Chongzhen explicitly stated that he only wanted honest, obedient, and simple-minded common people, and resolutely rejected veterans with extensive combat experience but tainted by the bad habits of the military. He knew that for an army designed to implement new tactics and emphasize discipline and obedience, a soldier's loyalty and obedience were far more important than individual combat experience.

For the later Chongzhen Emperor, military training was undoubtedly a top priority, a core component of building a strong army. From the day the Loyal Guard Battalion was established, Chongzhen personally supervised Li Laiheng and Yan Yingyuan in developing a detailed and rigorous training plan, demanding that all officers and soldiers of the battalion strictly adhere to it, enhancing both the intensity and quality of their training.

In fact, in the ancient traditional military training system, a relatively complete set of methods and theories has been formed on how to train soldiers' physical fitness.

Chongzhen initially thought that his insights and knowledge from later generations would allow him to offer some unique and remarkable suggestions in this area, bringing about innovative changes in military training. However, after in-depth research and reflection, he found that all he could contribute was some insignificant supplements and refinements.

The significant difference between military training in later generations and ancient times, from the perspective of cultivating individual soldier qualities, is mainly reflected in the comprehensive improvement of comprehensive qualities, including the coordinated development of cultural qualities, psychological qualities, military skills and other aspects.

In the military concepts of later generations, an excellent soldier must not only have a strong physique and superb military skills, but also have a certain amount of cultural knowledge in order to better understand and execute complex tactical instructions. At the same time, he must have strong psychological qualities and be able to remain calm and firm in extremely harsh battlefield environments.

"Quality is more important than quantity"—a principle familiar to almost any general with even a passing military sense. However, building a truly elite force requires a significant investment of resources. From the long and arduous initial training, to the individual soldiers' sophisticated equipment, to their daily food supplies, all of this ultimately relies on substantial financial support.

Moreover, this investment is not only huge, but also continuous, requiring long-term and stable financial support. Therefore, although this principle is well known to everyone, there are very few people who are truly willing to put it into practice and spare no expense to build an elite army.

Chongzhen, however, was one of the few willing to commit fully. The allocation of funds and grain to the four Jiangbei garrisons had to go through Shi Kefa, so Chongzhen naturally prioritized ensuring the needs of the Loyal Guard Battalion. Now, having secured a massive sum of over 20 million taels from the Lianghuai salt merchants, he had ample funding for military training, and naturally, he wasn't stingy.

Therefore, the Loyal Guard Battalion today not only boasts top-notch weaponry, the finest in the entire army, but also exceptional food and amenities. Soldiers enjoy hearty and nutritious meals at every meal, ensuring they have the stamina to endure intense training. Chongzhen never defaulted on pay, distributing it in full and on time each month. With such generous treatment, despite the intense and arduous training, the soldiers utterly refrained from complaining, instead brimming with energy and fighting spirit.

In reality, the demands and expectations of these soldiers at the bottom of the hierarchy are quite simple. As long as they receive the proper pay and treatment, and feel cared for and respected by their superiors, they will willingly dedicate everything to the military and carry out every mission without regrets.

These 5,000 soldiers were originally elite troops selected from the armies of various towns. After several days of rigorous training and careful reorganization, coupled with sufficient nutritional supplements, the spirit of the entire army underwent earth-shaking changes in a short period of time, as if they were reborn.

Chongzhen would personally participate in the five-kilometer weighted cross-country training every morning.

When he first proposed running with the soldiers, Li Laiheng and Yan Yingyuan could hardly believe their ears, their jaws dropping. In their minds, it wasn't unheard of for generals to share hardships with their soldiers, but generally speaking, this happened more often at the lower levels of the hierarchy. For a high-ranking general, especially the Emperor, to run alongside ordinary soldiers was extremely rare in Ming history; it would be difficult to find many such examples throughout the entire Ming dynasty.

Li Laiheng and Yan Yingyuan initially tried to dissuade Chongzhen from this idea, but seeing that he was determined, they felt helpless, thinking that perhaps the emperor was just trying to show off and would give up after a few attempts. However, to their surprise, the emperor, who had initially barely managed to walk, was now able to successfully complete the weighted run, wearing heavy armor and carrying a backpack, without missing a single day. This persistence not only impressed Li Laiheng and Yan Yingyuan, but also gave them a new understanding of Chongzhen's determination and perseverance, and further strengthened their faith in and loyalty to him.

After the publication of the anti-rebellion manifesto, the soldiers gradually learned that the person they had been running with was actually the Emperor. This news shocked them, yet also filled them with a sense of gratitude and pride. Even more surprising was that even after his identity was revealed, the Emperor continued to accompany them in their weighted running training, showing no airs and sharing their joys and sorrows. This gesture caused the morale of the Loyal Guard Battalion to skyrocket, reaching an unprecedented peak, and the soldiers' loyalty to Chongzhen naturally reached its peak.

Although this can be said to be a trick to some extent, throughout history, it is indeed difficult to find emperors who can truly humble themselves and train side by side with ordinary soldiers, except for a few founding emperors.

If it were the real Chongzhen Emperor, it might have been difficult for him to let go of his superior status and share the hardships with his soldiers. But for this time-traveling author and marathon enthusiast, this was simply a return to his daily habits. It offered him exercise while also earning the loyalty of his soldiers. Why not?

Moreover, after this period of persistent recovery and exercise, Chongzhen clearly felt a significant change in his physical condition. He even secretly suspected that his time travel had brought him some special benefit, and his body's recovery speed was far faster than that of ordinary people.

He was no longer the frail, sickly emperor he once was. Furthermore, he could now ride a steed with ease and gallop across the battlefield, and even expertly draw a bow and shoot an arrow. In everyday combat, whether in boxing or weaponry, he could hold his own against masters like Zhu Tie and Zhao Meng. As for ordinary soldiers, in a one-on-one fight, he was no match for most.

Even so, Chongzhen knew he couldn't relax for a moment. The situation he faced was dire, and the mess he needed to clean up was immense. If he couldn't successfully rally the Southern Ming court before the Qing army marched south, forming a unified and powerful resistance force, and if he couldn't build a solid Jianghuai defense line in time to stop the Qing cavalry, their defeat would be imminent.

Historical experience shows that the Qing army was not actually strong when it entered the Pass. However, they cleverly exploited the situation and quickly surrendered a large number of Ming and Dashun troops, rapidly expanding their own strength and subsequently establishing a powerful military force that advanced southward. Generals such as Zuo Liangyu, Li Chengdong, Liu Zeqing, and Liu Liangzuo, each commanding tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of elite troops, ultimately surrendered to the Qing court.

Today, in Henan, Shandong and other places, there are still many spontaneously organized civilian volunteer armies. They are loyal to the Ming Dynasty and eager to contribute to the defense of the country. If Chongzhen can gather and integrate these people in time and bring them under his command, how can the Qing army dare to easily march south in a short period of time?

Therefore, Chongzhen knew that the most urgent task was to seize control of the imperial court as soon as possible. Only with a firm grip on the court could he further promote reforms and development in all areas, including military, finance, economy, and politics, and lay a solid foundation for saving the Ming Dynasty. Only then would his efforts to turn the tide be truly the difficult but crucial first step!

What Chongzhen didn't expect was that not only was he anxious, but there were people in the court who were more anxious than him.

While he was still training in the military camp for a five-kilometer weighted run, Wang Chengen hurried in to report that Liu Zeqing and Ma Shiying had sent Liu Kongzhao, the Earl of Chengyi, as an envoy to meet His Majesty with a very important matter. Meanwhile, Shi Kefa was anxiously waiting in the camp with the Earl of Chengyi.

"Liu Kongzhao, the Earl of Chengyi? I recognize him," Chongzhen said, a hint of surprise showing on his face. "He is the envoy of Liu Zeqing and Ma Shiying? What did he say?"

"Your Majesty, this was not mentioned. The Marquis Chengyi seemed not to want others to know, and Lord Shi only asked Your Majesty to return to the camp, and they would report in detail in person." Wang Chengen said respectfully.

"Ma Shiying... Liu Zeqing... This is interesting. These two are actually together." Chongzhen frowned slightly, his heart moved. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Could it be that Ma Shiying is ready to abandon Zhu Yousong?"

"Your Majesty, now that you mention it, this is indeed possible..." Wang Chengen pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

"If that's the case, that's a good thing." Chongzhen raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile, and said, "Then let's go back quickly."

Chongzhen simply wiped the sweat from his forehead, quickly changed his wet clothes, and hurried to the central army camp.

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor!" Although Chongzhen was in casual clothes, he was immediately recognized by Liu Kongzhao, who was good at observing people's expressions. Without hesitation, Liu Kongzhao knelt down in front of Chongzhen and shouted "Long live the emperor!"

"The Marquis of Chengyi is a descendant of noble families, so there's no need for formalities." Chongzhen glanced at Liu Kongzhao calmly and said calmly, "I heard that Ma Shiying and Liu Zeqing sent you here? I don't know why you've come."

"Your Majesty, Lord Ma and I are loyal to you. Upon hearing that you have returned, we are overjoyed and eager to welcome you to the capital!"