PDLP Chapter 231 Rapid Reorganization
Chapter 231 Rapid Reorganization
Looking at the open space in the square, the prisoners of the Fang family army were kneeling down and crying.
Some people even wailed.
After persuading Fang Weihong, although his hair was still disheveled, he had nothing to regret now.
He bowed to Ning Yi and said, "Your Highness, I have already persuaded them. The Fang family army is willing to serve you. I hope you will treat them well."
Ning Yi swept his eyes across the square and nodded with satisfaction, saying, "This prince will do it and will not let these soldiers suffer any injustice."
At the same time, he said, "This prince has already sent someone to infiltrate the Heavenly Prison. I believe your father will pass away peacefully in the near future without suffering much."
Fang Weihong was in mixed emotions, and seemed to have let go of everything. He knelt down and kowtowed three times towards the capital, for his father.
After standing up, he finally said, "Your Highness, do it. The Fang family is in this situation today. We are to blame, not Your Highness."
Ning Yi looked at Zeng Zhizhong and said, "Prepare a cup of poisoned wine for each member of the Fang family. Bury them all with honor and do not abuse them."
Zeng Zhizhong immediately accepted the order.
Fang Weihong knew that he had no way out, and that his current situation was the best possible outcome.
He spent two days with his youngest son and was very satisfied. He also saw his youngest son off personally. He had done what he should do and had no regrets.
It is much better for the whole family to go on the journey together than to be collectively tortured to death by the old emperor.
The era of the Fang family army has passed, and now it is time for Ning Yi to reorganize the Fang family army.
"This time, we'll keep the seventh batch of servants. They've been training for quite a while and have been on the battlefield several times. They have experience in bloody battles and are qualified to serve in the army."
"Also, one hundred reading seeds will stay behind to reorganize all the Fang family troops."
Zeng Zhizhong immediately agreed: "Your Highness, I think the Fang family army can be reorganized into two infantry armies and one cavalry army, which will just be enough to supplement the second cavalry army."
"No need." Ning Yi waved his hand. "Two infantry armies will be enough. As for the Fang family cavalry, they are all good seedlings. Separate them and wait for the First Cavalry Army to return. Then merge them with their 6,000 cavalry and redistribute them into two cavalry armies. This way, we can quickly achieve the combat effectiveness of two cavalry armies."
Zeng Zhizhong thought it was feasible.
Ning Yi then instructed: "The remaining troops will be combined with our newly recruited men to form a transport corps of 8,000 men."
"Transport troops?" Zeng Zhizhong was puzzled.
Ning Yi explained: "The transport troops have weaker combat capabilities. They are only responsible for transporting food, weapons, and supplies. They are not first-class combat troops, but they must also have sufficient defensive capabilities."
"When this prince doesn't need to fight, transporting food and fodder requires recruiting large numbers of able-bodied men. The logistical pressure is too great. The slightest enemy attack will cause the logistics to collapse."
Zeng Zhizhong thought about it and felt that it was feasible and there was no problem.
He continued, "Your Highness, we can select some of the 30,000 forced captives sent from the north, as well as the tens of thousands of able-bodied men left behind by King Huai."
Ning Yi frowned. "They are all under guard by various government offices in the Beijing camp. It's difficult to take action right now."
"I'll think of a solution after a while."
Those people are being watched by the imperial court. All we need to do is to feed them enough so that they don't starve to death.
But it is impossible to let them do this and be supported all the time. They may be beaten into slaves and sent north.
Ning Yi felt that there were still available manpower, but it would take time.
Otherwise, when the imperial court was watching, you, the Sixth Prince, suddenly pulled a large group of people away. What did you want to do? Did you want to form your own army and rebel?
They were not the Fang family army. In name, the Fang family army resisted resolutely to the end, but a large number of them were killed in the battle, and many others escaped.
Except for the few thousand Fang family soldiers who surrendered on the battlefield, the rest were turned into corpses.
The imperial court was completely unaware of the supplies and prisoners that were secretly escorted back by the First and Third Armies.
"How's the weapons and equipment?" Ning Yi asked with concern.
The only things that can truly increase the combat effectiveness of an army are weapons and equipment.
Otherwise, the Fang family army, without armor, would not have been completely captured without any ability to resist, no matter how tired they were.
Zeng Zhizhong immediately said with a confident and excited smile, "Your Highness, don't worry about this."
"The Fang family army armor that has been delivered from Hushan Pass is a whopping 40,000 sets of high-quality armor. Along with captured weapons and warehouse inventory, it's more than enough to arm the newly assembled army."
"I just want to train the Mandarin Duck Formation again. It will take some time because firearms are slow to produce."
"However," Zeng Zhizhong added, "Your Highness also brought a large amount of weapons and equipment from the Ministry of War warehouse, and we can select at least 20,000 sets that are still usable."
These were the weapons and equipment that Ning Yi asked Yang Long from the Ministry of War to open the warehouse and replace the 100,000 elite troops of the Beijing Camp heading north. Except for a batch of replacements for the remaining troops of the Beijing Camp, all the others were brought here.
Although they are all old and worn out, after careful screening and repair, there are still 20,000 sets that can be used.
Ning Yi nodded in satisfaction: "That's the best. In this way, we don't have to go to the Dongfang family to buy new soldiers for the periphery for the time being."
The Dongfang family’s weapons and equipment are good, but too expensive.
Ning Yi couldn't help but confiscate the property of the fat pig Dongfang family.
The battle of Shanhu Pass made Ning Yi well-fed and well-watered. The newly-assembled Fang family army and the transport army were not only well-equipped but could also be used immediately, which reduced a lot of resistance and time.
What's more, their combat effectiveness is already strong, and they just need to replenish their firearms.
The Fang family army was composed of the Fourth Army, the Fifth Army, and an additional cavalry army.
With this rough calculation, Ning Yi is about to reach 80,000 elite troops.
Once the Fang family army is fully integrated, Ning Yi will be no match for ordinary vassal kings in terms of military strength.
He even couldn't help but look towards the capital city in the east, and he was qualified to directly raise an army to attack the capital city.
But I can't do this. The more I think about it, the more unbearable it becomes.
No matter who you are, no one wants to be ridden on the neck by the old emperor and tormented by him.
Everyone wanted to kick this old guy off the throne. After all, this old guy was too annoying.
However, Ning Yi still shook his head slightly. Now is not the time. The old guy is not so easy to deal with.
Even if he really got rid of the old guy, the entire Dawu Kingdom would be in chaos. I believe that so many vassal kings would immediately raise the so-called banner of Jingnan and enforce justice on the people.
As for the northern border troops, even though they are all commanded by Han Dingtian and obey him, that is because the old emperor is in charge.
If Ning Yi dared to rebel, who knows how many commanders in the border towns would rebel as well.
Maybe they would even turn around and surrender to the barbarians, and Han Dingtian would have no way of controlling them.
There is also a large army in the northwest, which is also the elite of the Dawu Kingdom. They will definitely raise the banner of the Jingnan Rebellion and may turn around and join the vassal kings in the northwest.