Time flies, and more than half a month has passed before I know it.
Jia Heng stayed in Haiyan City for more than half a month. He mainly worked with Wei King Chen Ran to supply food, fodder and military supplies for the three armies. At the same time, he sent people to prepare for the situation on the east and west routes.
First of all, from the Hami Guard side, Fei Ge sent a message to report that Xie Zaiyi had led his troops to successfully enter Shazhou. He shot and killed the Junggar general Talitai in Shazhou with one arrow, killed six or seven thousand horsemen, expelled the Fan people, and built the city. guard.
Next came the Chijin Mongolian Guard. The two generals Jia Fang and Dong Qian, together with the commander of the Suzhou Guard Gui Yong, strangled the two to three thousand Mongolian cavalry who lived in the Chijin Mongolian Guard area, and finally succeeded in occupying the vast territory of Chijin Mongolia. The city (today's Yumen) was once again garrisoned by a town of one thousand households sent by Suzhou Guards.
Generals Jia Fang and Dong Qian, under Jia Heng's subsequent orders, went to Shazhou Guards to aid Xie Zaiyi.
Finally, the father-in-law, Ezhe, had already led troops with Pang Shili, the general of the Beijing camp, to the land of Duogansi (Yushu) to monitor the movements of Qamdo.
The three-pronged advance was rapid because there was no decent large tribe in Qinghai Mongolia that could resist the Han army.
It can be said that the entire Kansai Seven Guards were originally in a state of scattered sand. In other words, the Mongolian tribes living in each place could only have a few thousand riders at most, not more than ten thousand.
This is actually the norm, because those with more than 10,000 people are large tribes.
Therefore, when facing the expulsion of the Han army, in addition to resisting, they mostly fled westward, and then joined forces to fight back under the banner of the Junggar Alliance.
This is determined by the tribal characteristics of Mongolia. It is impossible for a large tribe of tens of thousands of people to gather in one place, otherwise, the pastures will be able to make fools of themselves.
Therefore, the key is not temporary recovery, but whether it is possible to send thousands of troops to defend the acropolis.
Therefore, Jia Heng still wanted to raise a large army to annihilate the main forces of the Mongolian armies so that they would not dare to invade.
Or it could be like the snake game played by grassland tribes, that is, after killing the nobles of the tribe, they subdue all the tribesmen.
Fuyuan General Jin Xuan's advance was not very smooth. In the past, the Mingzhihan Dongwei fought all the way and encountered many resistances, but the Xiningwei's frontier troops were also victorious.
The successive losses of the Chijin Mongolian Guard and the Shazhou Guard made Wen Chun in Hami furious. He once again sent a fast horse to report to Junggar Khan Batur Huitaiji in Boxer. Convene the ministries for discussion.
Hami City
On this day, Wen Chun sat in the fortress, looked at the several Mongolian scouts who delivered the battle report with a gloomy face, and said in a deep voice: "Let people gather the tribes, select the young and strong, and assign them to the riders. We still have to fight." Enter Shazhou."
This month, bad news came one after another. The Chijin Mongols fled, and the Mongolian tribes of Shazhouwei also fled. Many clan chiefs who originally belonged to Shazhou and Chijin Mongols came to ask for help.
Galdan was at the bottom, with a thoughtful look on his face. He thought for a while and said, "Brother, since the Han people have led troops to attack Shazhou, we might as well send troops to drive away the Han people. I heard from the clan chief who escaped that the Han people are coming this time." There don't seem to be many people in Shazhou, only 20,000 people, this is a fighter opportunity."
"It's not much, I'm afraid it's not much. It's better to wait for Father Khan to lead the army." Wen Chun said.
After all, Wen Chun was cautious and did not want anything to happen before Junggar Khan led his troops.
Galdan seems to have become a fierce man later on, but now he is still in an immature and reckless state.
Galdan frowned and said, "But my brother is the general manager of Hami and has the power to help other tribes. We should send troops to help them drive away the Han people, otherwise we will lose people's hearts."
Wen Chun shook his head and said: "But we only have 30,000 people. Even if we add these timid tribes, we still have no absolute advantage in troops and horses. The Han people have just won a battle and their morale is high."
Galdan said anxiously: "Thirty thousand people versus twenty thousand, how come there is no absolute advantage? I, the warriors of Junggar, are not afraid of death, so how can we be afraid of the Han people?"
Just when Wen Chun hesitated, a deep voice came from outside the castle. It was the three Dorji brothers from Heshuote Mongolia. They said loudly: "Brother Wen Chun, let me tell you, the Han people will definitely fight." They came here just to make us go all the way to the west to eat sand and not give us any way to survive!"
Dorji said angrily, looked at Wen Chun with burning eyes, and said, "Brother Wen Chun, Uncle Batur's troops should have arrived, right?"
"I have reported to Father Khan, and I will lead the troops here soon, but the journey is too long, and it may take another month." Wen Chun said.
The distance between the two sides is very long, and even flying pigeons to deliver messages will take a long time.
Jia Heng had previously insisted on sending troops by himself without waiting for Junggar and Heshuote. This was also the reason why he could make a time lag.
"It will take another month?" Dorji was a little anxious and said, "The Han people will be full by then and won't even hiccup."
It means that the fruits of victory of Qinghai Mongolia have been digested.
Dorji said: "The people from Chahar are also helping the Han people. In a month, the holy lake will belong to the Han people."
Dorji said: "And the Han army is now stationed in Shazhou. At that time, this grassland belonged to the Han people."
Dorji's brother Sanggarza said: "Yes, in the past half month, I have seen many people fleeing here. If a month goes by, the Han people will have built several cities."
Wen Chun looked at Dorji opposite and asked, "What do brothers Dorji mean?"
"We have so many soldiers and horses. It is better to go to Shazhou and defeat the Han general. That banner with the word "Xie" chased me all the way. Their soldiers and horses will not be too many. After defeating them, we must first defeat them. Be energetic! The battle ahead will be much easier to fight." Dorji said angrily with a fierce look in his eyes.
Dorji also realized it later. When he was chased by Xie Zaiyi to the desert, he regretted it when he discovered that the Han army did not have many soldiers and horses and was unable to regain the position.
Then, in the past few days, the Mongolians who had escaped from Shazhou Guard learned that the Han army did not have many troops this time, only 20,000, and they felt angry.
Wen Chun said: "Brother Dorji, Father Khan will be here soon after receiving my letter. Please wait patiently."
Dorzi persuaded: "Now we have 30,000 soldiers and horses. Recently, nearly 10,000 people have fled back one after another. Plus the people under my command, the total number is 40,000 to 50,000. Even if it is Wen Chun, brother Wen Chun, what are you afraid of?"
Wen Chun pondered for a moment and said: "Hami is an important place and cannot be lost. We still have to keep troops to garrison it."
Dorji persuaded again: "Brother Wen Chun, listen to me and follow me to capture the Han general. When more Han soldiers come, it will be even harder for us to fight. They have firecrackers and explosives in their hands." The sky was full of cannons, and we suffered a lot at the beginning."
Hearing this, Wen Chun looked hesitant.
"Brother, there is no need to wait for Khan." Dorji persuaded again.
Galdan also advised: "Brother, let's fight first and try the Han people's fighting power."
Wen Chun thought for a while and felt that it was no big deal. He said in a low voice: "We can't lead too many troops. Hami can't allocate too many troops to prevent accidents. I will leave 10,000 people and send two troops." Thousands, plus the 10,000 from the Fan tribe, the total is 40,000, and then go forward with your brothers’ troops.”
If on the grassland, 30,000 soldiers and horses were enough to gallop north and south. Thinking of this, Wen Chun's worries disappeared.
Even if we can't defeat the Han people, we can just withdraw.
With this thought in mind, Wen Chun ordered his men to mobilize troops to fight against Shazhou.
…
…
boxell city
Junggar Khan Batur Hutaiji is in his early fifties, with a gray beard under his chin, but he is energetic, his eyes are bright, and the bronze skin on his face is quite resolute. At this moment, he is sitting on a golden knife On the chair made of red gold, he glanced at the civil and military officials sitting below and asked: "The Han people have captured Shazhou and are also attacking Hami. Tell me, how should we deal with it?"
Since the Ming Dynasty, during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty decided to abandon Hami and captured it by the Turpan Khanate. The Seven Guards of Guanxi were gradually lost in the future. By the time of the Chen and Han dynasties, Taizu and Taizong mainly drove away the Zhu family of the former Ming Dynasty. The main focus was on appeasing Mongolia on the border. It was not until the Longzhi period that there was a war in the northwest. Although they won the war, due to the opposition of civil servants, they still adopted the strategy of abandoning the Seven Guards of Kansai.
When Junggar rises, they will take over the ruling area of Turpan.
Wenchun garrison was stationed in the strategic location of Hami, which radiated Mongolian tribes of all sizes in Chijin Mongolia, Shazhou, Handong and other places. These tribes nominally regarded Junggar as their co-lord, and Junggar protected them from invasion.
"Great Khan, the Han people are attacking Heshuote. We don't care. But now they have invaded Shazhou and threaten Hami City. That is our gate to the east. We cannot let them block it." A tall man with strong muscles The big man said in a loud voice, which made the ears of the people around him ring. It was Chao Ketu, the number one general of Junggar.
Batur Hutaiji pondered for a moment and said: "Recruit 50,000 cavalry from all ministries, and Hami Guard Wen Chun's 30,000, plus the Heshuote's 10,000 cavalry, and then fight with the Han, as long as After defeating the Han people, the Han people will no longer be able to stand in Kansai, and we can also lead our troops to capture Qinghai!"
In fact, Junggar's life has not been easy in recent years, because to the west is Junggar's old enemy Kazakhs, to the north is the invasion from Tsarist Russia, and to the south is Yarkand, all of which require heavy defense.
However, Junggar's military strength is stretched thin. Now it can only mobilize 50,000 cavalry, plus Hami, who is pacifying the Seven Guards of Guanxi, and Wen Chun's 30,000 cavalry. If you add Heshuote's 10,000 people and Zhu Zhu The 100,000 troops gathered together by the Mongolian soldiers and horses who had fled back were enough to launch a war to destroy the country.
The princes and tribesmen of Junggar and Mongolia sitting below mostly had happy expressions on their faces.
"The land of Qinghai is rich in pasture. It was too kind of the Great Khan to give it to Heshuote. If we take it, we can feed many people." The official secretary of Junggar is also the think tank of Batur Huitaiji. , said an old man with a goatee.
Batur Hutaiji said: "Gushi Khan of Heshuote is also a hero. There is a saying among the Han people that when two tigers fight, one of them will be injured. I asked him to go to Qinghai, but now he has gone to Tibet. We each have our own territory. North and South, but now that he can’t hold Qinghai, we can help him get it and we can’t let the Holy Lake fall into the hands of the Han people!”
This is also the reason why Batur Hutaiji helped Gushi Khan defeat Quetu Khan even though Junggar was crowding out Heshuote.
It was not until Galdan, the gravedigger of the Heshuote Khanate, that he led the Junggars to rise and completely wiped out the Gushi Khan lineage during the Kangxi period.
All the generals responded happily and actively prepared for war.
It can be said that as Jia Heng decided to take back the Seven Guards of Guanxi, Junggar could not sit still at first, and even before waiting for Gushi Khan's messenger thousands of miles away, he was ready to lead troops to intervene in the Qinghai War.
The ministers of the Junggar tribe have long been coveting the fertile Qinghai.
In fact, Heshuote and Junggar were attacking from two sides. Because of the long distance, it was difficult to cooperate in time.
…
…
Shazhou Acropolis
Under the vast sky and earth, with green grass and a Xilagajin River passing around the city, this is Dunhuang, the famous city in the Hexi Corridor.
Xie Zaiyi and deputy general Wang Xun, accompanied by their own soldiers, inspected the city defense of Shazhou Acropolis. This city has recently been strengthening the city weir and building defense facilities. At this moment, you can see that the soldiers and warriors are in full swing on the fortification. Build walls and build defensive facilities.
Because it had been in the hands of the Mongols for a long time, they were not good at building or defending the city, and they used it more as a place for gathering in the city, trading goods, and sheltering from wind and rain.
Of course, there are also some Han merchants who come here to do business, as well as fugitives from the northwest and other places, and ordinary people who come to make a living. In short, there are Mongolians and Han people living together.
"The walls of this city have not been repaired for many years, and most of the people in the city live and do business. It is almost impossible to rely on this acropolis alone to resist the invasion of the Junggar Mongols." Xie Zaiyi stood on the city gate tower, picked up a telescope and looked to the west, except for the winding The undulating mountains and the desolate desert cannot be seen from the city of Hami.
Wang Xun agreed and said: "What the governor said is true. Back then, the imperial court wanted to recover this place, but it cost too much money and food. Moreover, the situation of the various Mongolian tribes was intertwined and very complicated. It has been delayed until now. It has become increasingly difficult for the Mongolians to live here for generations. Return and cure.”
Xie Zaiyi looked solemn and whispered: "Over the years, the imperial court has wanted to regain the old land of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Without opening up the Hami important road, if this goes on for a long time, even if the Han people move here, they will not be able to hold it."
Without a population, there would be no defense soil.
The reason why there is no population is because it is precarious and Mongolian tribes can plunder it at any time. Whenever they have the choice, they will move to the inland provinces.
Wang Xundao: "Captain, Hami Guard is a strategic point. There are 30,000 troops stationed in the Junggar tribe. Recently, we have seen many Shazhou and other tribes fleeing there, so they will probably take action."
The Han army's military operations, while regaining their homeland, also caused the Mongolian tribes who originally lived here to flee in panic, dragging their families and families to flee towards Hami.
"Jia Chang, send a message to Jieshuai Feige and send troops to help immediately." Xie Zaiyi asked.
"Yes, Commander." Jia Chang took the order and left.
Xie Zaiyi said: "If we don't continue to drive out the Mongolian tribes in the city, when the war breaks out, something will happen to them again. What do the big tribes in the city think recently?"
There are four families in Shazhou City, mainly engaged in tea, ironware, and leather goods business. They were originally attached to the Talitai of the Junggar tribe who guarded Shazhou. After Talitai was shot to death by Xie Zaiyi, these families panicked. .
Xie Zaiyi was about to return to the city. At this moment, several fast horses came from a distance. After entering the city, he dismounted, handed the reins to his entourage, quickly came to Xie Zaiyi, and said: "Captain, Commander," General Jia and General Dong arrived. "
Many days later, Generals Jia Fang and Dong Qian who went to the Chijin Mongolian Guard, after handing over the affairs of the Acropolis to Gui Yong, the commander of the Suzhou Guard, led eight thousand cavalry troops to rush to the aid of Xie Zaiyi, and finally arrived at Arrived today.
"General Wang, follow me to greet you." Xie Zaiyi said happily.
At this moment, to the west outside the city gate, Jia Fang and Dong Qian were leading eight thousand cavalry troops, with excitement on their energetic faces.
This sweep of the Chijin Mongolian tribes was almost like chopping melons and vegetables. Many small tribes could not organize a decent resistance at all. Under the strangulation led by the two men, the entire Chijin tribe died, surrendered, or escaped. The Mongolian guards returned to the command of the Han Dynasty.
"Master." When Jia Fang saw Xie Zaiyi, he got off his horse and went up to meet him, smiling.
Xie Zaiyi nodded and asked with a smile: "You two are here at the right time. How about galloping around the Chijin Mongolian Guard?"
Jia Fang said: "I can't compare to Master. We can't compete with Wanqi from the Shazhou Guard. We are just a small tribe."
Dong Qian looked at Xie Zaiyi, who was wearing a bullfight uniform, with a somewhat complicated thought. They followed Brother Heng together, and now Brother Xie was already an earl.
And he is still a mere guerrilla general and leader of the left army. Although he will probably be promoted after this battle, he will at most be the commander of the third-grade guard or better, the governor of the capital camp. He is still far from being knighted.
Xie Zaiyi said: "Let's all go to the city. It's been a hard journey."
With that said, he stretched out his hand to welcome the second general into the Shazhou Acropolis behind him.
Shazhou Acropolis has converted a mansion that was originally Talitai into an official office, and Xie Zaiyi works here.
After Jia Fang and Dong Qian entered the official office and sat down, Dong Qian asked: "General Xie, how many enemy troops are there in Hami?"
"According to the interrogation of the generals of the Junggar tribe, there are about 30,000 people, mainly mediating the Fan tribes of Shazhou, Chijin Mongolia, Handongwei, and Anding." Xie Zaiyi said.
Dong Qian said: "If there are 30,000 people, if we add Heshuote's 10,000 people, there will be about 40,000 people. It will be very difficult for our army to advance again."
Xie Zaiyi nodded and said: "It was indeed not easy before, but after you two came, my troops here have become richer. Let's see if we can capture Hami."
Wang Xun looked solemn and frowned as he said: "Captain, the Hami Acropolis has a large population and the city is very well built. Our soldiers and horses cannot attack it at all."
As a strategic location, Hami was used by Junggar as a strategic fortress to control the Seven Guards of Kansai and monitor the Han Dynasty. The city was carefully built.
"This governor has been expelling the Fan people in the past few days. These Fan people are bound to pour into the Hami Guard. We have probably spread the truth to the Hami Guard. The enemy army is not allowed to attack on its own initiative." Xie Zaiyi said with a flash of light in his eyes: " Send scouts to Hami to investigate and wait for news."
…
…
And Haiyan County, hundreds of miles away——
County government office, in the study
Jia Heng is also discussing how to send troops to Shazhou and Hami.
Chen Xiao pointed to the map and said softly: "If Junggar Mongolia sends more troops this time, our troops here may not be able to withstand it."
Jia Heng pondered and said: "I asked Qu Lang to investigate before. All the Mongolian people in the Junggar tribe have soldiers. The total strength is about 150,000 or 60,000, but it is an overwhelming force. All men over the age of twelve are mobilized to participate in the war. Junggar We need to guard against several groups of soldiers and horses, and it would be good to allocate up to fifty or sixty thousand, besides, this is to draw chestnuts from the fire for Heshuote."
Even in the Manchu Qing Dynasty in parallel time and space, when the heroic lord Galdan raised his army, the Junggar army did not have many soldiers and horses, because the core tribe only had 700,000 to 800,000 people, and the standing army was 50,000.
Of course, this parallel time and space is still very different. At this moment, Junggar has actually recruited other tribes, but relatively speaking, the combat power of the soldiers is much weaker, so he is trying to be as lenient as possible to the enemy.
Having said this, Yan Ye is really hateful. If he had not killed 60,000 elite soldiers from the capital, he would have tried to penetrate Junggar.
Chen Xiaoxiu frowned and whispered: "But the combat power of the Han army, if it is a frontal field battle, can it defeat the Junggar tribe?"
Jia Heng said: "The people we brought this time are all elites who have gone through many battles, but it is indeed difficult if we don't have an absolute advantage in strength."
Chen Xiao thought for a while and said: "Ask Jin Xuan not to continue marching westward and to return to support the Shazhou Guard. It's been half a month, so it's almost time."
"I have sent someone to call him to help the Shazhou Guard." Jia Heng said.
Chen Xiao's cold eyes flashed, and he said in a clear voice: "Then the strength of the troops is about the same, but if the Junggar tribe has too many troops, it's okay not to use the Seven Guards of Guanxi."
These tens of thousands of Beijing elites are the foundation of his life, and they are also the most valuable asset of the Han Dynasty. They must not be compromised here.
The two of them came to a plan like this.
The next day, Jia Heng also led 40,000 cavalry (including 10,000 Xining cavalry and 15,000 Qinghai Mongolian cavalry) to support Xie Zaiyi. Letter, go directly to Shazhou Guard for support.
In terms of military strength, the Han army is actually not very abundant.
Xie Zaiyi's Shazhou only had 28,000 cavalry. Adding in the 40,000 cavalry brought by Jia Heng, there were nearly 70,000 soldiers and horses. Adding Jin Xuan's 20,000 soldiers and horses, there would be 90,000 soldiers and horses. .
Of course, Junggar does not have many soldiers and horses to dispatch, and both sides are actually evenly matched.
Just like that, tens of thousands of troops marched toward Shazhou Guard in a mighty manner, holding flags. The fiery red flag they raised was like a winding red dragon, and the sound of roaring men and horses neighing sounded on the grassland.
Under the banner of the Chinese army, Chen Xiao, who was walking side by side with Jia Heng, covered his face with a wind-proof veil and said, "In a month or two, Nanbian'er will give birth."
If Junggar sends troops, the war will most likely be delayed until October or even November.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, sighed, and said, "Yes, it's almost the same over there in Shenjing City."
By the time the war is over, Jinyang and Keqing may not be able to catch up with the births. He is the father...
I guess Zhen Qing didn't know how to scold him for being heartless in Jiangnan.
But the problem is that when he goes back, he can't go to Zhen Qing.
However, after this war, the imperial court should not use any major troops for a year or two. It will take at least a year for the Jurchens to lick their wounds in Liaodong, and the border between the two places will probably be quiet for a year or two.
(End of chapter)
