It is now the Mid-Autumn Festival in the 19th year of Wanli, and the moon in the sky is getting rounder. In the Huamachi area, both Mongolian and Han people are looking up at the full moon.
Xiao Ruxun even gave Wan Shide a piece of mooncake he found from nowhere, and said:
"The Taolu suddenly retreated ten miles. They probably knew that their internal strategy was ineffective and did not want to let their own people risk their lives to attack the city again."
"If we don't want to risk our lives to attack the city, then we have to let the Han people do it."
Wan Shide took a bite of the mooncake, chewed it for a while, opened the water bag and took a few sips of the boiled hot water, and then said something serious.
"Han people?"
Xiao Ruxun asked.
Wan Shide said: "That's right! Do you think Prince Qing and Cao Zideng care about how many Han people there are in Houtao?"
"Of course they don't care, but we have to care!"
"Originally, the Ningxia area suffered from today's disaster because of the capture of too many Han people. If the rebels let the Han people risk their lives and charge into the battle, then this area will really become the territory of the Hu people in the future."
Xiao Ruxun said.
Wan Shide stood up, glanced at Qiuyue and said: "There is no solution to this matter! If the rebels force the Han people to die, we can only be their executioners and massacre the Han people who were forced to attack Huamachi."
Bang!
Xiao Ruxun punched the battlement without saying anything.
…
boom!
"Asshole!"
"Are you saying that the Taoists were wildly arresting Han people in various forts in Ningxia Town, including women, children and the elderly, and were all taken to Huamachi?"
Pingliang Mansion.
After Li Rusong heard Jin Yiwei Xizuo's report on the current situation in Ningxia, he punched the table and asked Jin Yiwei Xizuo.
The Jin Yiwei replied carefully: "Yes! The current situation in Ningxia is not so much the rebellion of King Qing, but the rebellion of the Taolu."
"Xiao Butang, it seems that we must rescue Huamachi as soon as possible, otherwise if we let the Taoluo continue to cause chaos like this, there will be even fewer Han people in Ningxia!"
Li Rusong therefore turned to Xiao Daheng, the former governor of Xuanda, who had already decided at the beginning of the year to serve as governor of Xuanda.
Now when Xiao Daheng heard what Li Rusong said, he cupped his hands and said to Li Rusong: "Then please ask the Tieling Marquis to go north immediately, so that the Taolu have to deal with the personal guards led by the Marquis first, and have no time to capture the Han people."
Li Rusong nodded: "I intend to go north immediately, but I haven't collected enough food and grass yet! What is the nature of the two governors of Yansui and Shaanxi? Does the ministry know?"
"There has been no war in the northwest these years, and the civil and military forces guarding the border have mostly neglected military affairs. The results of these two ministers' examinations can be considered to be satisfactory, and they have been promoted based on their seniority."
Xiao Daheng said.
Li Rusong didn't say anything after hearing this.
At that time, Ma Gui also rushed to Yulin from the front line of southwest Sichuan without stopping.
Commander-in-Chief Lu Xiang, Dong Yikui, Du Tong and other officers and generals had led 70,000 troops from three armies transferred by the Privy Council to wait for him for a long time.
In recent years, after Qi Jiguang carried out military reforms, Ming Dynasty has added brigades, divisions and corps establishments on the basis of battalions.
Mobile armies that can be mobilized at any time are often deployed in the important towns on the nine sides.
Now what Ma Gui wants to lead is the three armies drawn from Xuanfu, Yansui, and Shanxi as the main force to regain the Hetao.
"Go to Daban Shengcheng first and advance along the river. Be sure to keep more sentries and cavalry. It is better to be slower than to be careful. Beware of trapping the captives and setting up an ambush."
As soon as Ma Gui arrived, he issued his orders to Lu Xiang, Dong Yikui, Du Tong and others.
Lu Xianggang raised his hand and said yes.
As a result, this large-scale Ming army group first set off from Yulinwei and headed north in a mighty manner.
The terrain of the entire Hetao area is flat in the middle and surrounded by mountains. It is divided into Qiantao, Houtao, Xitao and Dongtao. Among them, the Ningxia area belongs to Xitao, the Aoerdusi area belongs to Dongtao, the Yellow River Basin to the north of Helan Mountain belongs to Houtao, and The area around Daban Shengcheng in the Tumut Department belongs to Qiantao.
Now that the leader of the Tumote tribe, Sanniangzi, has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, it is naturally feasible for the Ming Dynasty to borrow troops and use a big plank to ascend the city.
At that time, it was autumn, the weather was cool, the grass was deep and the horses were fat.
It was the right time for Ma Gui and his 70,000 troops to march into Hetao.
The 70,000-strong army was basically elite. Qi Jiguang, Li Chengliang and others were transferred to Jiubian after training in the Beijing camp. They were rotated to the southwest to participate in the wars related to the land reform and return to local rule. There were also many official schools who went north. I followed Li Rusong to the vast sea, and many even crossed the sea to Luzon.
In addition to the upper class being divided into north and south systems, the middle and lower classes can no longer distinguish between southern soldiers and northern soldiers.
The generals of the northern army also had officers' schools for artillery and firearms training, and the generals of the southern army also had officers' schools for cavalry. This was mainly because most of the middle and lower classes were directly recruited by the emperor, and each battalion was also mixed with infantry, artillery and cavalry, so there was no They are divided into the north and the south. Among many grassroots officers and soldiers, the two people who have a close comradeship are often one from the south and the other from the north.
Because of this, Ma Gui did not have to work hard to reconcile the conflicts between the north and the south, and he only needed to balance a bowl of water between the upper-level generals.
But now, for the entire army, recapturing the Hetao is just an opportunity for them to make military exploits again, so the morale is still very high.
There are three forces in the Taolu in the whole Hetao, one is the force of Sanniangzi, the other is the force of Zhulitu, and the other is the force of Huoluochi, the brother of Zhulitu.
But now, Ma Gui's troops are attacking the sphere of influence of the Rabbit.
One day at the end of August, Ma Gui and his 70,000 troops arrived at Dabansheng City.
The son of Sanniangzi, who was born in Daban Shengcheng, was named Zhu Xinli by Zhu Yijun because of his contribution to helping Li Rusong recover the vast sea.
This was something he asked for without being rude, because he had been learning Han culture under the guidance of Sanniangzi since he was a child, and then under the influence of Li Rusong, he learned Zhang Juzheng's modern learning and learned about the new rituals. In addition, he and his mother Because Sanniangzi had gained huge mining profits from Xinli, she was no longer opposed to Xinli and sinicization, and took the initiative to ask the emperor to give her a national surname.
Zhu Yijun gave him this name.
Zhu Xinli was very happy after seeing Ma Gui, and took the initiative to host a banquet for Ma Gui, and said: "I have heard for a long time that Marquis Shuozhou is coming, and I have asked them to prepare some fat sheep, and I am waiting to invite Marquis Shuozhou. Come and enjoy your meal.”
"Thank you!"
After Ma Gui said this, he asked, "How did you know that I am coming?"
Zhu Xinli was startled.
"I told him."
Zhu Xinli's stepfather and Sanniangzi's current husband, Shunyi Wang Chelik, walked in at this time.
Zhu Xinli smiled and said: "Exactly!"
King Shunyi then sat down next to Ma Gui and said, "The Marquis of Shuozhou plans to rest here for a few days before going to attack his camp of Zhulitu?"
"Why, King Shunyi is afraid that if I stay here too long, I will eat too many yellow sheep from your tribe?"
Ma Gui asked.
Zha Like smiled and said: "What are you talking about! Naturally, the sheep of my Tumote tribe can be eaten by Marquis Shuozhou as he pleases. It's not like Marquis Shuozhou doesn't know how to pay anyway! Gu just asked casually. In addition, Gu also I want to follow Marquis Shuozhou to make meritorious deeds, but Marquis Shuozhou is willing to give me this opportunity?"
"Of course I wish for it!"
"You just have to listen to my orders! Otherwise, I would rather not trouble King Shunyi."
Magui replied with a smile.
Zha Like said: "Then it's settled! Don't worry, Marquis Shuozhou, Guzi will listen to you! After all, you are here under the emperor's order."
Zhu Xinli also followed: "Me too, if Marquis Shuozhou needs my help, just ask."
Ma Gui pondered for a while, and then said: "Well, in five days, I will ask King Shunyi to lead his troops to search for the Songshanlu camp in Hetao first!"
Because the Litu tribe often grazes in the Songshan area of Gansu Province, they are often called Songshanlu in the Ming Dynasty.
"I know it. Five days later, I will lead my cavalry to search along the river."
After saying this, Chelik started talking to Ma Gui about something else.
Five days later, Shunyi King Chelik really mobilized all his troops and horses and left the city.
But as soon as the Zalik tribe left the city, Ma Gui asked Zhu Xinli: "Is Uncle Guihua really loyal to Huang Ming, or is he pretending to be loyal to Huang Ming?"
Zhu Xinli was granted the title of Guihua Bo by Zhu Yijun because he and Li Rusong once defeated the Mongolian tribes in Yuerhai and Hanhai.
Therefore, Ma Gui now calls Zhu Xinli as Uncle Guihua.
"How do you say this?"
After Ma Gui asked, Zhu Xinli asked him strangely.
Ma Gui smiled faintly and said: "If you are truly loyal, please hand over the city to the army. From now on, your department will only be responsible for appeasing Itakura in the city. If not, please draw your sword now and fight me." !”
"Zhu Su!"
Zhu Xinli immediately gave an order after hearing this.
Zhu Xinli's son Zhu Su immediately came over and said, "Please give me your father's instructions."
"Follow the instructions of Marquis Shuozhou and hand over the city defense to the army!"
Zhu Xinli ordered.
"yes!"
Seeing this, Ma Gui smiled and said: "Very good! Next, please ask Guihua Boduo to send some sentries to investigate and report the movements of Tali Ke immediately. If there is any situation, we will report it immediately. After all, if we are familiar with the Hetao, we The Han people are now inferior to you."
Zhu Xinli nodded after hearing this, and then asked Ma Gui: "Does the Marquis of Shuozhou suspect that King Shunyi has colluded with the Songshan captives?"
Ma Gui frowned and said: "I'm not sure either! The Hetao is located in the south of the Yangtze River. It is a geomantic treasure land. It is not only suitable for grazing but also for farming. No one should think that the army can easily occupy this place. I am afraid that Guihua Bo is not very willing to return to the Hetao. The imperial court rules.”
Zhu Xinli was silent for a while, then looked at Ma Gui and said, "Since my mother and I have chosen to be ministers of the Ming Dynasty, we will naturally not disobey any of the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"
When Zhu Xinli said this, Ma Gui frowned even more.
"Would the Marquis of Shuozhou be too suspicious? King Shunyi has always been very friendly with my mother, and there is a lot of profit in subscribing to the coupons. What's more, the most powerful person in the Tumote Department now is my mother, Houlian of Shuozhou. My mother and I can trust each other, so why can’t we trust him?”
Zhu Xinli continued to ask at this time.
At the same time, Commander-in-Chief Dong Yikui asked: "Is the Marquis worried that the Zhali Ke and Songshan prisoners will ambush us between Dahe and Yinshan in front? He may even capture Dabansheng City while we are out of the city. Cut off our retreat, and then sit back and watch us being eaten away in this narrow strip of land by the army transferred back from Songshan?"
"We can't rule out the possibility!"
Ma Gui replied.
"This is impossible!"
Zhu Xinli said something again at this time.
Ma Gui looked at him at this time: "How is this impossible?"
With that said, Ma Gui personally took the map from the soldier's hand, spread it on the table, and said to Zhu Xinli:
"If I were him, I could go to Urad to build a trench camp first, and then after the Songshan rebels returned to cross the river, I would use no less than 500,000 cavalry, and rely on the Yinshan Mountain and the river to surround Dabansheng and the 70,000 officers who left the city. Army, wouldn't it allow me and Uncle Guihua to be divided and surrounded, and have to wait for death?"
"Isn't he afraid of offending the court?"
Zhu Xinli asked.
Ma Guidao said: "The Han people have a saying that people's hearts are not as good as snakes swallowing elephants. In the end of the world, the mantis catches the cicada. No one knows whether King Shunyi will want to take this opportunity to seize the entire naturalized mining industry, and then borrow Songshan captives first." Eliminate us, then monopolize the mineral resources and move south! Even if we fail, we will just escape further west to graze our cattle."
Zhu Xinli was silent for a long time after hearing this, and said: "If this is true, then how will Marquis Shuozhou plan to deal with the Songshan captives next?"
"Let's look at it again. Staying here with 70,000 officers and soldiers is not a long-term solution. People eat horses and eat horses. Even if our country has abundant national strength, it cannot withstand such losses."
"The key is morale is also affected."
After Ma Gui said that, he left Zhu Xinli's place and came to the city. He looked at the setting sun outside the wall and said nothing for a long time.
"Is the Marquis really worried too much? After all, we have 70,000 elite soldiers. Even if he colludes with the Songshan bandit, the current ability of these Tatars may not cause us to suffer a big loss."
Du Tong took advantage of the fact that he was the only Han Chinese and asked Ma Gui again.
"Yes! Our 70,000 soldiers and horses need cavalry and cavalry, artillery and artillery, and more stable four-wheeled carriages. Even if we are caught in an ambush for a while, we can form a formation to protect ourselves."
Dong Yikui also followed suit.
Ma Gui then said: "What if Zhu Xinli and Kuaibai also mobilized troops to join in? They are not from my tribe, and their minds will be different. Hetao is a place where Tatars can farm a lot! No one knows what they, the Tatars, will do." We will not give up attacking Huamachi, or even abandon Ningxia, but we will try our best to eat our 70,000 fresh troops first, and then defeat them one by one!"
Ma Gui's worries are actually justified.
Because in the original history, when Yang Hao led an army to conquer Jianlu, Nurhachi used this trick, concentrating all his strength to first eat the Ming army led by Jun Song, and then achieve the tactical purpose of defeating each one.
Dong Yikui and Du Tong didn't say anything else. They had to admit that there was a reason why Ma Gui had made great achievements, became a famous general in the empire, and then became a marquis. His rank was higher than that of his brother Ma Jin. It was not just because of good luck. , and in the early years, because he went to Jingwei Martial Arts School, he established a relationship with His Majesty and became His Majesty's confidant.
At this time, Lu Xiang, who had been silent all the time, suddenly said: "How about leaving part of the troops in Daban Shengcheng? This way there will be no worries."
"no!"
Ma Gui vetoed Lu Xiang's proposal without thinking: "Don't divide your troops when you lead an army out of the fortress, unless you only bring light cavalry!"
Dong Yikui and Du Tong both nodded.
Prime Minister Lu did not insist on this proposal and only said: "But September is approaching. If we cannot defeat the Mongolian camp of Songshanlu in Hetao before October, when the weather gets cold, my 70,000-strong army will have to fight in the ice and snow. On the march, there will be countless more sick people, especially southern soldiers.”
After hearing this, Ma Gui said nothing, only looking at the autumn grass all over the hills swaying under the setting red sun, and a group of yellow sheep walking towards the grassland.
(End of chapter)
