usatvline Chapter 375 Trading
Chapter 375 Trading
Upon hearing Wu Sangui's words, Liu Ye was speechless. This was indeed the Achilles' heel of the Qiongzhou Camp.
Before the advent of powerful weapons like machine guns and tanks, and while current firearms are insufficient to counter cavalry, cavalry remains the strongest branch of the military. Its unparalleled mobility and the initiative to choose the time and place of battle are unmatched by any other branch. Liu Ye didn't lack the desire to establish a cavalry force; it's just that places like Qiongzhou simply don't produce horses! Even in the entire south, horses are extremely scarce. The Yunnan horses from Yunnan and Guizhou are fine for carrying goods along mountain paths, but they're completely inadequate for carrying people in charges.
Seeing Liu Ye's expression, Wu Sangui knew he had hit a nerve, so he pressed his advantage: "There is an advantage in Liaodong; we can exchange ironware and tea from various Mongol tribes for warhorses. If General Liu is interested, we wouldn't mind acting as intermediaries..."
Liu Ye vaguely knew that the horse administration had declined in the late Ming Dynasty, and the main source of horses was through trade between various border towns and Mongolia. Apart from that, there was no stable and sufficient source.
Although the Mongolian horse is small in stature and unassuming in appearance, it possesses a large head, short neck, strong physique, broad chest, long mane, thick skin, and coarse hair. It is resistant to cold, adaptable to extremely rudimentary feeding and management, and has exceptional vitality, enabling it to survive in harsh conditions. It also boasts impressive speed and endurance for long-distance runs. After being trained, the Mongolian horse is fearless and incredibly brave on the battlefield, making it an excellent warhorse. The Mongols, using these warhorses, were once invincible across Eurasia. From Siberia to the Danube River, from India to Japan, armies of various countries fell to the iron hooves of the Mongol cavalry. If not for a sea storm, Japan might have become a vassal state of China.
If Liu Ye's desire to establish a cavalry force wasn't particularly urgent before today, witnessing firsthand the Guan Ning Army's complete annihilation of the rebel cavalry made that desire irrepressible. While the Qiongzhou Camp's firearms-equipped units were formidable, against large rebel cavalry units, they could only repel them; if the enemy wanted to retreat, they could only watch helplessly. Having a well-trained cavalry force, however, would allow for pursuit and annihilation after defeating the enemy, achieving greater victories.
Faced with Wu Sangui's temptation, Liu Ye weighed his options and found it difficult to refuse. Besides, he had no better source of warhorses. He sighed, "General Wu is right. Without cavalry, we're like a cripple walking on one leg—enough to defend ourselves, but unable to seize the initiative on the battlefield. I understand your point, but building guns and cannons is indeed very time-consuming… This isn't the place to talk. Let's discuss the details back at camp, shall we?"
Seeing that Liu Ye had finally relented, Wu Sangui, Zu Dabi, Wu Xiang, and the others exchanged knowing smiles, secretly pleased with themselves. Zu Dabi, in high spirits, took the initiative to speak: "General Liu is truly a straightforward man! I love dealing with people like you, so decisive! For today's victory, Li Jiucheng's head is yours, and the credit for annihilating the rebel army is mine, how about that?"
Zu Kuan, Wu Xiang, Wu Sangui, and others nearby were somewhat surprised upon hearing this. Li Jiucheng was no ordinary rebel leader; he was the key figure in this mutiny. Although his achievement of annihilating several thousand rebel cavalry was no less significant, it was not Zu Dabi's usual style to easily give such a great credit to someone else. Zu Dabi was known for his bravery in battle and leading from the front, earning him the nickname "Zu the Madman." He was also ruthless when it came to claiming credit and never shared his achievements with allies.
Liu Ye nodded; the allocation plan was reasonable. The credit for killing Li Jiucheng and annihilating the rebel army both belonged to the Qiongzhou Camp and the Guan Ning Army: if the Guan Ning Army hadn't cut off their retreat, Li Jiucheng wouldn't have walked right into the line of fire; conversely, if the Qiongzhou Camp hadn't intervened, the Guan Ning Army wouldn't have had the opportunity to wipe out the other rebel forces in one fell swoop.
He bowed and thanked Zu Dabi, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, General Zu. But what about the other two Shandong troops?"
Zu Dabi glanced at Wu Anbang's troops in the distance and said disdainfully, "That Wu fellow didn't contribute a single bit from beginning to end. So what if he doesn't get a head? He won't dare to utter a single word. As for that bastard Liu Zeqing, it seems he escaped with a few personal guards, but he's already wiped out his troops, so he's no different from a dead man. Why bother with him?"
Liu Ye smiled slightly, this was exactly what I wanted to hear. He still had a slight concern and asked, "I had a disagreement with Liu Zeqing today, will it be difficult to explain to the governor and the military supervisor?"
Wu Xiang interjected, "Liu Zeqing colluded with the rebels in private. On the battlefield, he first blocked my Guan Ning Army from attacking the rebels, and then joined forces with Li Jiucheng to charge the Qiongzhou camp. The thousands of people present saw it all clearly, and his crimes are indisputable. Now, General Liu has eliminated a scourge for the court, which is a great achievement. What is there to be ashamed of?"
Liu Ye was both surprised and delighted. He was surprised by the Guan Ning Army's first-rate ability to distort the truth, lying without batting an eye. He was delighted because as long as the other party had taken the initiative to launch this elaborate framing and was willing to cooperate, then his efforts to deal with Liu Zeqing would not only be without repercussions but would actually become a merit. He chuckled and said, "General Wu is indeed very thoughtful. I misunderstood. Liu Zeqing colluded with the rebels and deserves to die. The credit for eliminating this villain should naturally be shared equally between the Qiongzhou Camp and the Guan Ning Army. I dare not claim it all for myself."
Zu Dabi and the other generals laughed; it was so much easier talking to a smart person. Thus, the fate of Liu Zeqing, this local strongman, was decided in just a few words between the two visiting armies.
Shahe military camp, central command tent.
Liu Zeqing knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and cried out to Zhu Dadian and Gao Qiqian.
"...This humble general was originally assisting the Guan Ning Army in attacking the rebels from both sides, but unexpectedly, we encountered the machinations of those Guangdong soldiers. Caught off guard, my men were almost completely wiped out, with only a few riders escaping in a sorry state. I beg the Governor and Eunuch Gao to do me justice!" He only dared to shift the blame to the Qiongzhou Camp, but dared not mention the fact that the Guan Ning Army deliberately allowed the rebels to gang up on him. Besides not wanting to make too many enemies at once, the biggest reason was that the supervising officer above him, General Wu Sangui, the rising star of the Guan Ning Army, was the adopted son of this Eunuch Gao Qiqian. Complaining to Eunuch Gao about his adopted son was practically suicide.
Gao Qiqian harbored a grudge against Liu Ye for refusing to kneel before him. As a person with a physical disability, he was particularly sensitive to matters of face. He said sarcastically, "How dare that barbarian from Guangdong betray us on the battlefield? Has he lost his mind?"