Chapter 490: Soldiers Leaving Zhennan Pass(1/2)
4338 (AD 1641), January 9, Zhennanguan Camp.
The Third Army and the Tenth Army arrived at Zhennanguan.
They set up camp outside the south gate of Zhennanguan, not far from the border.
Duke Su Hu of Wei looked at the red lanterns hanging outside the military camp.
This year's New Year's Eve, he spent the festival with the soldiers in the camp.
Originally, according to the normal day, the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month was the day to launch the attack.
Emperor Su He sent a decree to launch an attack after the festival, so that the soldiers could have a complete festival.
The hometowns of military lieutenants are far away from home, and their New Year customs are quite different.
However, the Third Army and the Tenth Army are stationed in the Northeast all year round. The custom in the north during the New Year is to eat dumplings during the New Year.
The officers and soldiers of both armies have become accustomed to this custom after years of training.
Eating dumplings is relatively simple and convenient.
Su Hu specially ordered the Huotou Army to kill hundreds of pigs and eat dumplings stuffed with pork and cabbage.
He paid special attention to this matter. For many soldiers in the camp, this would be the last festival they would spend and the last meal of dumplings they would eat, so they would have no regrets.
Su Hu walked through the camp and headed to the Chinese army's tent. He listened to the laughter and laughter in the soldiers' tent.
The Royal Army of Great China has learned lessons from the armies of past dynasties.
The military needs strict punishments, but it cannot make the soldiers too depressed.
Especially before the war begins, the atmosphere in the army is too depressing, and it is easy to cause camp roars.
How many generals in ancient and modern times failed on the battlefield because they were not as powerful as others.
But because of Ying Xiao, he was defeated by the army he commanded.
There are no theater troupes or professional art soldiers in the Royal Army of China.
Only talented soldiers are specially arranged to liven up the atmosphere.
They are ordinary soldiers who usually carry guns and go to the battlefield with their comrades.
With their identity, they will not be separated from the soldiers and can really blend into them.
These talented soldiers will read a story from the newspaper and talk about their marching experience.
Hum a little tune and sing a couple of dramatic songs.
Their level is not high, but they can greatly activate the atmosphere in the military.
Rich entertainment activities make the soldiers feel relaxed and effectively reduce the probability of camp roars.
Of course Su Hu knew that the main reason was that the enemy they faced was too weak.
When a strong army faces an enemy army that is much weaker than itself, it will naturally feel relaxed.
Su Hu walked into the Chinese army camp. Qin Xiangkun, commander of the Third Army, and Wei Yunshang, commander of the Tenth Army, led their deputies to stand up neatly and salute Su Hu.
"I humble myself to pay homage to the Duke of Wei."
Su Hu waved his hand and motioned for them to sit down. He sat on the main seat, with the battlefield's sand table in front of him.
He glanced at the generals in the camp, many of whom were his old subordinates.
"In the past few days, we have conducted sand table simulations many times to formulate an attack plan, and all the tactics that should be discussed have been discussed.
In this attack on Dai Viet, everyone displayed the majesty of our army.
How prepared are the armies now? Which army is not ready? I will give you time to prepare."
Qin Xiangkun, commander of the Third Army, said confidently: "Report to Duke Wei that the three divisions of the Third Army are fully staffed, and their weapons, ammunition and baggage are ready and can be put into the battlefield at any time."
Wei Yunshanghui, commander of the Tenth Army, reported: "Reporting to Duke Wei, the two divisions of the Tenth Army are fully staffed and all preparations have been completed.
The 2nd Division Bai Yuangui's troops, in cooperation with the Navy's 3rd Fleet, will land at Cam Ranh Bay.
Cut off the connection between the two forces of Vietnam, Zheng and Nguyen directly by sea.
Dai Viet's terrain is long and narrow. After cutting it in the middle, as long as the second division can hold on for about a month, the main force can arrive.
When the Second Division encounters a problem, they can also use the Navy's troop carriers to quickly evacuate the battlefield."
When Wei Guogong Su Hu saw that the army was ready, he stood up and said: "I am Wei Guogong Su Hu, and by the order of His Majesty the Emperor, I am going to conquer Dai Viet, which has occupied the territory of Da Hua.
I order the First Division of the Third Army to be the vanguard and dispatch troops in accordance with Operation Plan No. 26."
When the generals in the Chinese army camp heard the order from Wei Guogong Su Hu, they immediately stood up, saluted the military salute, and said in unison: "I humbly accept my order."
The generals received military orders from Wei Guogong Su Hu, and one after another walked out of the Chinese army camp, went to their respective armies, and mobilized the troops for the expedition in accordance with the battle plan No. 26.
At the edge of the Chinese army camp, there were only a few staff officers recording military orders.
There were also two young girls, one of whom had a more cheerful personality, who saw the military meeting end.
She walked up to Wei Guogong Su Hu and asked: "Second Grandpa, ah no! Lord Wei Guogong, I am Su Shiyu, a reporter from Dahua United News Agency.
I am responsible for reporting to the army and military records.
If the Hualian News Agency reports the movements of your army, will it affect the army's actions?"
Su Hu looked at Su Shiyu, the scrawny little girl from her cousin's family had grown up.
Su Shiyu's family is relatively young, and almost everyone in Sujia Village is their elders.
After Emperor Su He ascended the throne, he did not treat the royal family members too favorably.
Each clan member will receive education support and marriage support. These two sums of money are huge sums of money, and they usually do not have salary.
But if members of the royal family want to find a job, they can do so according to their preferences, and it is not difficult at all to support themselves.
Su Hu, Duke of Wei, smiled and said: "You can report anything you see in the military.
When the manuscript is sent back to the capital, the editor-in-chief of Hualian News Agency and the Propaganda Department of the Metropolitan Government will jointly review the manuscript.
They will choose the appropriate time to publish these manuscripts."
When Su Shiyu heard the introduction from her second grandfather Su Hu, she immediately felt relieved and reported according to her own wishes.
After she finished writing the manuscript, she sent it to the capital through the telegraph line.
The Hualian Associated Press published this report ten days later, when the army was about to attack Thang Long Province, and it was reprinted by major newspapers in China.
"Wei Guogong Su Hu, commanded the Third Army of the Royal Army of Great China, and the Tenth Army left Zhennan Pass"
Hualian News Agency, January 9.
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Commander Wei Jing of the Third Army listened to the sound of war drums that resounded throughout the battalion.
He gave the order: "You all listen to me.
Our division's vanguard mission was snatched away by me by issuing a military order in front of the division commander.
You must fight a good fight for me.
Whoever shows off his crotch, I will fire him from his post.
You don’t know how to lead troops, so you can help me feed the pigs.”
Wei Jing picked up the telescope and looked ahead at the hillside where the Vietnamese troops were stationed.
After the artillery regiment finished bombing, it was their regiment's opportunity to perform.
…………………………
The Vietnamese army's camp closest to Zhennanguan.
General Zheng Guiyong of the Vietnamese Army held Mei Ji in his arms and was drinking Erguotou.
Only the wine passed down from the great northern country is strong enough.
His lieutenant ran in, sweating profusely, and pushed the door open with great force.
When Mei Ji saw this scene, she was immediately frightened and hid behind the screen.
Zheng Guiyong was about to get angry when he heard the deputy general say in a panic.
"General, it's not good! The sky is falling."
Zheng Guiyong took advantage of the alcohol and scolded him: "Let out any farts quickly, don't affect my interest."
The deputy general shrank in fear when he heard the general's angry voice.
"Sir General, the army of the Celestial Empire is arrayed outside Zhennan Pass."
Zheng Guiyong went over and kicked the deputy general to the ground, cursing and saying: "You're too drunk, kid.
Since mid-December last year, the Chinese army has been outside Zhennan Pass.
In the first few days, you really scared me, and now you want to scare me."
The deputy general got up from the ground and said in a miserable voice: "General, today is different.
To be continued...