Wu Nian effortlessly broke into Qiongyong Ranch. The Mongolian and Yuan soldiers and officials who stayed behind were either killed or ran away.
"Li Qianhu, Zhang Qianhu, you lead your troops to control the exits and be on guard."
"Wang Qianhu. You lead the heavy armor and heavy ax soldiers and enter the camp to rest."
Wu Nian rode into the camp gate and waved his hand. ordered.
"yes."
The three thousand households responded loudly and left separately.
"What a big pasture." Lu Yanxun and his fellow beggars got off the carriage and looked at the pasture in front of them, all amazed.
"General. We searched the pasture and found some Han people." Not long after, a man from a hundred households came over with dozens of men.
There were young and old alike, all with their heads lowered, their bodies bent, and trembling. Maybe it was fear, but maybe it was also being thinly dressed and cold.
"Don't be afraid. I am Wu Nian, the general supporting the Han Dynasty. My soldiers will not kill Han people."
Wu Nian got off his horse, came to the front of these dozens of people, and said sincerely.
"Thank you, General." But the Han people were still afraid and couldn't stop trembling. Wu Nian frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and asked: "Who among you has the highest status and knows the most about the ranch?"
"Reporting back to the general. It's Old Man. Old Man has been working at this ranch for twenty years." A thin old man with gray hair in leather clothes stood up and said to Wu Nian, cupping his fists.
Maybe it’s because he is older and takes life and death lightly compared to others. The old man is much calmer and calmer.
Wu Nian nodded, and then ordered his soldiers to take these Han people down to resettle them and distribute food to them.
Then he took the old man into a large tent.
There was a garrison on this ranch, and the tents were ready-made.
Now Wu Nian had plenty of time, so he asked the old man about his situation before he came up. Instead, let people light a bonfire in the tent and set up an iron pot.
Kill the live sheep raised in the pasture and cook the mutton soup.
Wu Nian asked the old man to sit with him in front of the campfire, talking while looking at the mutton soup in the iron pot.
"Old sir, who is your last name and where do you live from?" Wu Nian asked very politely.
"Report to the general. The old man was originally from Guangyang Prefecture in Liaodong. His name is Wang You." Wang You looked at the mutton in the iron pot, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and then said.
Wu Nian nodded. Wang You said that he had been staying at this ranch for twenty years, so he was kidnapped from Guangyang Mansion by the Meng Yuan people at least twenty years ago.
Wu Nian then asked about Wang You's situation and learned that Wang You was childless and alone.
He sighed, and at this time the soldiers cooked the hot wine and brought it in. Wu Nian picked up the jug, filled a glass of wine, and handed it to Wang You.
Wang You hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the wine glass and took a sip, his face quickly turned rosy.
After Wu Nian thought for a while, he said: "We Han people talk about providing for old age and ending their lives. Old gentleman, you have also seen the children I brought. They are all Han. I plan to take them back to Liaodong. Why don't you choose? One, to be your adopted son. How about it?"
"Really?" Wang You's eyes suddenly lit up and his breathing quickened.
It is great to have no descendants.
This is what the Han people talk about.
"Why should I lie to you?" Wu Nian laughed and said.
"Thank you, General." Wang You quickly put down his wine glass and solemnly saluted Wu Nian with clasped fists.
"Old sir, you don't have to be like this." Wu Nian shook his head and helped Wang You up.
After talking for a while, the two became more familiar with each other. The mutton soup in the iron pot also needs to be cooked for a long time. Wu Nian then asked: "Old sir, do you know how many horses there are in this ranch?"
"There are more than six thousand. About two thousand of them are mares, one thousand two hundred and thirty are ponies, one hundred and eighty are stallions, and the rest are war horses."
Wang You replied without thinking.
This has nothing to do with the favor Wu Nian gave him.
Regardless of whether Wu Nian wanted to take him back to Liaodong and give him an adopted son, he would answer this question.
Even if he didn't say anything, Wu Nian's soldiers could be counted quickly.
Wu Nian was a little disappointed. Not only were there not ten thousand horses, but they were not all war horses.
Soon, Wu Nian burst out laughing.
It's really a shameful thing.
Six thousand horses is already pretty good. Two thousand mares and one hundred and eighty male horses are used for breeding, and one thousand two hundred and thirty ponies are the future war horses and buck horses.
Besides, aren't there still more than 2,000 war horses left?
Not bad.
Relying on these horses, I can help Feng Chong form a cavalry regiment of five thousand households within one year.
A cavalry regiment with a mixture of heavy armor, heavy cavalry and light cavalry.
Moreover, I have an additional ranch.
Thinking of this, Wu Nian became satisfied. He and Wang You chatted and drank wine. Soon, the mutton soup was ready, and they ate and drank together.
Wu Nian asked someone to find a big cloak and put it on Wang You. The old man was so thin that he seemed to be blown away by a gust of wind.
The two of them immediately left the tent, surrounded by soldiers, to observe the situation.
pasture.
In addition to the stables, there is also a hay house. A large amount of hay and soybeans are stored. War horses cannot just eat hay, they need regular nutritional supplements.
Wu Nian looked at the hay with a thoughtful look on his face.
According to his expectations.
After he attacked this Qiongyong ranch, it may lead to internal strife among the remaining Mongolian captains. Then defeat them one by one.
But what if the Meng Yuan captain did not fight internally, but chose to defend the granary of Xiaoshan camp?
The weather is dry now, can we choose a time when the wind is strong? Bringing a lot of hay and setting fire to the Xiaoshan camp?
This idea made Wu Nian's heart beat. He asked the soldiers to take Wang You and dozens of Han people down and feed the horses fodder to prevent the horses that had finally been obtained from starving.
He led his soldiers back to the big tent and sat down, and sent someone to summon three thousand households to come in.
"General. Are you looking for us?" Wang Qianhu, Zhang Qianhu, and Li Qianhu all took off their armors, wore regular clothes, walked in, and saluted Wu Nian with cupped fists.
"Sit down first." Wu Nian first asked them to sit down on the small bench around the bonfire, and then told the three of them his plan.
"If there is internal strife among the commanders of the Meng Yuan Dynasty and someone comes to take back the horses, I will defeat them. Then I will lead the army and capture the Xiaoshan camp."
"If they insist on defending the Xiaoshan camp, I will set fire to it."
"What do you think?"
The eyes of the three thousand households lit up.
"Use the carts and hay in the racecourse? If the fire is good, burning down the Xiaoshan Camp will not be a problem." Li Qianhu said without thinking.
"General. I think the strategy of burning the Xiaoshan camp is feasible." Zhang Qianhu nodded and said.
Wang Qianhu didn't speak, but his expression was clear.
"Okay. Let's rest for a day in Qiongyong Ranch. We will set off tomorrow morning. Take these 6,000 horses and use the carts in the ranch to load hay. Head to Xiaoshan Camp."
Wu Nian nodded and was decisive.
He was very excited inside.
Burning down the granary in the Xiaoshan camp might force Chunyuan to retreat.
Forget about the fight between yourself and the Chu State. If Xiong Wuwo can do a little more to drive the Mongolians out of Liaodong, it will be done.
The goal was to expel the Tartars and regain Liaodong.
