Chen Mao's anxious look also made other ministers present feel worried.
You must know that Datong City has always been known as the "Key to the North". It is connected to Xuanfu in the east, Bingzhou in the south, the Yellow River in the west, and the desert in the north. It is an important barrier for the capital, and its geographical location is very important.
Datong and Xuanfu can be said to be the two most important towns on the border defense line of the Ming Dynasty.
Almost all border defense arrangements of the Ming Dynasty were structured around two important towns.
And unlike Yanghe, Datong City is truly walled and deep.
Since the time of Taizu, the Ming Dynasty has built Datong City several times. Today, Datong City Wall is solidly built and covered with blue bricks. It is a veritable military city.
This can be seen from the fact that Guo Deng, with more than 10,000 men, was able to hold on unharmed under the attack of tens of thousands of troops.
Although Yangheguan is called a pass, it is actually just a small city, with no more than one guard stationed there.
He also occupied Yanghe first, which was nothing more than tearing a hole in the border line, allowing him to cross the border and rush into the pass.
But once Datong is lost, Ming's border defense line will be cut off at the waist.
With Datong's strong city defense, it can advance, retreat or defend, just like a sword hanging over Ming Dynasty's head at all times.
Such an important military town may now become an isolated city. How can the bosses not be anxious?
Seeing this, Yu Qian smiled bitterly and waved his hands quickly.
"Chen Houyan is serious. Although the situation in Datong is not optimistic, it will not reach the point of becoming an isolated city."
"These days, although bandits harass various passes, they only focus on plundering. Even if they capture them, they never garrison them."
"So the route from Datong to the capital has not been cut off, it's just that the logistics and transportation are a little more difficult!"
After listening to Yu Qian's explanation, the elders felt relieved.
This is true!
If Datong was really in danger and could not be defended as an isolated city, Yu Qian, the Minister of War, would not be able to sit still for a long time. How could he still train troops in the capital with peace of mind.
At this time, Zhu Qiyu asked.
"Marquis Chen asked about Datong, but he wants to encircle both inside and outside?"
Chen Mao nodded, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise, indeed."
After thinking for a while, the old Marquis pointed at the map and said.
"According to the deduction just now, if we want to send troops first, they will most likely enter from Yanghe, attack Aries, Bauhinia, and defeat the horse at three levels."
"The terrain outside the pass is flat and wide. The bandits are good at riding and shooting. They come and go like the wind. However, if they enter the pass, they will be limited by the terrain and their combat power will be greatly reduced."
"When the army enters the pass first, our Beijing army can come out in full force to hold it back."
"Datong is adjacent to Yanghe. When the battle situation becomes extremely tense, Guo Deng sends troops from Datong to attack Yanghe. Once he succeeds..."
After saying this, Chen Mao's eyes suddenly became murderous.
"Once the success is achieved, Ye Xian's supply route will be immediately cut off. Our soldiers from the Beijing Army will attack from within, and Guo Deng will lead his troops from Yanghe to attack from outside. Under attack from both inside and outside, Ye Xian will definitely suffer in this life, and never again. Dare to offend my Ming Dynasty!"
But after finishing speaking, the old Marquis sighed again, with a look of resentment on his face, obviously unwilling to do so.
Zhu Qiyu looked at the location of Datong City on the border map, frowned, pondered for a moment, and said.
"Although this plan is good, it has three difficulties. One is that Datong currently lacks troops and logistics, and it is very reluctant to hold on. It may be difficult to cooperate with the Beijing army."
"Secondly, if he invades the pass first, he must know where his weaknesses are. Once the battle begins, he will definitely seek speed and will not tangle with my army."
"Third, the capital army is the foundation of the capital. Once they leave the capital and start a war with them in places like Zijin, the capital will be empty. If they divide their troops to attack first, the capital will be in danger."
The few ministers below looked at each other.
Your Majesty, is this our word? !
You have said it, what should we say?
So Wang Wen stepped forward and said.
"The emperor's sage can see thousands of miles through the light of the candle. This analysis is so penetrating that I will respect you!"
Yu Qian also echoed.
"What the Emperor said is true. He was also very cunning and used strange tactics. He injured our soldiers and civilians and captured my king. Everyone in the Ming Dynasty wanted to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin."
"However, our ancestors are in charge of the country, and now the situation is not conducive to me. It is best to stick to it."
The implication is that since Your Majesty understands this in your heart, don't bother and stick to the capital wholeheartedly.
After all, it's still the capital's problem.
The first thing to consider now is how to save the capital.
For Ming Dynasty, it is actually more beneficial to stick to it than to take the initiative.
The army also enters the pass first. The deeper it goes, the more disadvantageous it will be to him.
The first is the limitation of terrain. From the border, the closer to the capital, prefectures, counties, cities, villages, and streets, the more unfavorable it is for the cavalry to perform.
Without strong mobility, the cavalry is half useless.
Secondly, there is the issue of logistics and combat power. The further you go, the longer the logistics route will be, although you can rely on looting to supplement logistics.
However, it should be noted that there are also officers and soldiers stationed in various places.
First of all, once you enter the customs, there are enemies on all sides. Maybe you can't take the initiative to send troops, but if you stick to the city and support each other, you will definitely not be able to come and go like the wind like at the border.
At that time, the steps of the Wala army were severely delayed, which was in line with the wishes of the Ming Dynasty monarchs and ministers.
In this battle, we also need to be quick first. If we fight quickly, we must rely on our own logistics!
The deeper you go into the customs, the greater the pressure on logistics and transportation, and the more preparation you need to make.
This is probably the reason why Yexian has not sent troops yet.
In addition, he also made a long-distance attack from outside the pass, and needed to conquer many passes along the way. By the time he reached the capital, he would be exhausted.
On the other hand, in Jingying, they were waiting for work, sharpening their swords for a long time, and they had the advantage innately.
That's why Yu Qian said that sticking to it is the best policy.
Facing Yu Qian's expectant gaze, Zhu Qiyu did not give the response he wanted, but asked Chen Mao.
"Marquis Chen, in your opinion, if we want to send an army to Datong, who can lead it?"
Yu Qian's heart sank to the bottom.
He did not expect that the emperor, knowing so clearly the disadvantages of taking the initiative, still insisted on doing so.
Sighing, Yu Qian took a step forward and was about to speak to persuade him, but saw the emperor raising his hand to stop him.
Zhu Qiyu took his eyes away from the border defense map, turned and stared at Yu Qian, and said.
"Yu Qing, don't worry. The importance of the capital is related to the country. I naturally know this. Therefore, I will not move the capital camp, but humiliating the Ming Dynasty in this way. Simply sticking to it is not what I want. I hope Yu Qing can understand my heart. !”
This was said in an understatement, but it was actually very serious.
He even said "I hope Yu Qing can understand my heart". If Yu Qian tried to persuade me, he would be ignorant of praise.
But having said that, Yu Qian does care about the country, but he is not a fool!
Not dispatching the Beijing camp was his bottom line.
After all, as long as the capital camp is there, he is confident that he can defend the capital.
On this basis, although Yu Qian still has no hope for the "great victory" mentioned by the emperor.
But he wisely did not continue speaking.
In Yu Qian's view, as long as the capital is there, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty is there. Even if the emperor mobilizes troops from other places and causes any defeat, it will only be a period of rest and recuperation.
Under this situation, there is no need to stand up to the emperor.
What's more, as Yu Qian is the Minister of the Ministry of War, even if the emperor really wants to do something, he can't get around him, so after thinking for a moment, Yu Qian still raised his hand and said.
"My lord, I respectfully obey His Majesty's decree."
