It happened to be the first day of the Lunar New Year in the 13th year of Hongzhi's reign when Tang Yin paid homage to Lord Li of Yanshan.
This day was also the day when North Korean civil servant Wu Xun went to congratulate Li New Year. Tang Yin, as the envoy of the Ming Dynasty, entered the palace accompanied by Yin Bishang, Cheng Jun and others, and met Li in the Qinzheng Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace. myself.
Tang Yin's nominal mission was to confer Li's eldest son as the crown prince.
When Tang Yin came with a staff in hand, even the arrogant Li could only stand up and greet him respectfully. The etiquette when Tang Yin met Li was not that of a monarch or an envoy, but more like a meeting between ministers.
And Li wants to salute Tang Yin first.
If the king of Ming Dynasty had not been so demanding, Li would have even knelt down.
After Tang Yin personally read out the canonization edict, a banquet followed.
Tang Yin's position was right next to Li's, ranking higher than all the ministers in North Korea.
Xu Jing had to sit next to Tang Yin, and he was on an equal footing with the other party's political minister Yin Bishang. This was also Xu Jing's most glorious moment. He had never thought that being a retinue of the Ming Dynasty envoy would get such treatment.
"On behalf of His Majesty the Ming Emperor, I have come here to read out another edict. It is to send troops from Korea to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty's Liaodong town to suppress the Jurchen land in one fell swoop. This is the edict given to you by His Majesty the Ming Emperor. .”
Tang Yin didn't talk nonsense either.
He had already delayed the time, and now he had to hurry up to make up for the lost time and get North Korea to send troops as soon as possible.
The ministers present could basically understand Chinese. When they knew that Ming Dynasty wanted them to send troops, the voices of opposition rose loudly.
But when they came out to persuade Li not to send troops, they used their own language, as if to bully Tang Yin into not understanding... Tang Yin indeed didn't understand.
But Zhang Zhou obviously had this concern, and specially assigned an interpreter to Tang Yin. Seeing that the other courtier was a little excited, the interpreter walked over from behind Tang Yin in front of the Korean monarch and said "simultaneously" in Tang Yin's ear. translate".
Tang Yin shouted and asked Li Dao: "Do you want to resist the decree?"
The North Korean ministers fell silent for an instant.
Li asked: "The Ming Dynasty sent troops to build a state guard. I wonder how many troops will be sent?"
"When it comes to the march, His Majesty did not say anything clearly, but His Majesty's intention is for me to serve as a supervisor of the army and to send troops together with you and other soldiers and civilians. I will personally lead the troops, artillery, muskets, etc., and will cooperate You will send troops as a vanguard." At this time, Tang Yin was able to be neither humble nor overbearing.
Yin Bishang, who was sitting opposite Xu Jing, asked: "Why didn't the Ming Dynasty send troops and North Korea cooperated, but why did we send troops first?"
Tang Yin said: "This is to attack the east and attack the west."
Yin Bishang asked again: "What if the Ming Dynasty does not send troops after North Korea sends troops?"
Tang Yin also didn't expect that Yin Bishang, who had talked to him peacefully yesterday, would appear so strong in the court today.
Tang Yin's tone was not at all inferior, and he continued to speak in a tyrannical tone: "Now that the Ming Dynasty has decided on a marching strategy, how can it fail a vassal country like yours? And wasn't the idea of sending troops proposed by North Korea? "
In Tang Yin's opinion, the Koreans are a bit ignorant of praise.
We have agreed that you will send troops first and Ming Dynasty will cooperate with you. Now just because I am here to talk to you on behalf of the emperor of Ming Dynasty, you dare to make conditions with me?
Believe it or not...
Tang Yin thought about it and realized that he had less than 200 people under his command. It seemed a bit difficult to do something in North Korea.
Of course, there seems to be no need for him to vent his anger on the North Koreans. After all, his task is only to supervise North Korea's dispatch of troops.
Yin Bishang said: "North Korea experienced a disaster last year, which made it difficult for the people to make a living. Now they can no longer support a foreign war. Unless the Ming Dynasty can allocate enough military rations, otherwise..."
"shut up!"
This time it was Li himself who couldn't stand listening and stopped Yin Bishang's words.
Li was also very embarrassed.
The king hasn't even said a few words yet. Why do you officials like to show off yourselves so much?
Who said that fighting was the exclusive preserve of the Ming Emperor?
Doesn’t the king of North Korea have no face? Don’t you really know who the main militant faction in North Korea is headed?
With Li's words, the scene became quiet again.
Li Dao: "If North Korea wants to send troops, within how many days will Ming Dynasty send troops to respond?"
Tang Yin said with certainty: "It will take less than ten days. Both sides will send troops in cooperation and there will be no delay."
"Then, His Majesty the Ming Emperor, how many troops does North Korea need to send?" Li said, "North Korea can only send five thousand troops at present. This is the result of consultation after assessing the situation."
This means that we in North Korea can send troops, but how many troops we send is up to us.
Tang Yinze followed Zhang Zhou's instructions and said without hesitation: "Twenty thousand horses."
"this……"
Li was surprised.
Because when they discussed sending troops last year, they made the decision to send 20,000 troops. This decision was only known to the upper-level officials. Now that Tang Yin could directly tell this number, he instantly glared at the military judgment on the side. Cheng Jun seemed to blame Cheng Jun for telling Yu Daming this top-secret news.
Tang Yin said: "I, Duke Lai Guo of the Ming Dynasty, have a scheming plan and have formulated a comprehensive strategy. The Jianzhou Guards will not have any strength to resist."
Yin Bishang said coldly: "Then you, the Ming Dynasty, can send out troops yourself!"
Li stretched out his hand to interrupt Yin Bishang's words again. He asked: "After winning this battle, will the fiefdom of Jianzhou Wei be given to North Korea?"
Tang Yin said: "The territory of Jianzhouwei will be rebuilt with fortresses to prevent the tribes in the north from causing rebellion. It has nothing to do with you, North Korea."
"Then let's..."
Li actually wanted to argue with Tang Yin, the envoy.
We sent troops in accordance with the orders of the Ming Emperor, but the question is what benefits will we gain after sending troops?
Tang Yin said coldly: "If the Ming Dynasty sends troops to Jianzhou Guard, they cannot be destroyed, and the Jurchen tribe of Jianzhou Guard moves eastward, which will definitely affect your stability. If you win this battle, you will no longer have to worry about foreign invasion, isn't it? Is it a gift from Ming Dynasty to you?"
"Gulu Gua La..."
After listening to Tang Yin's words, there was a discussion in the Qinzheng Hall.
Of course, they were not discussing in Chinese, but more like a private chat in a small window.
Xu Jing approached Tang Yin and said, "It seems that they have a lot of objections to us. If they don't send troops, be careful of them playing dirty tricks."
"No." Tang Yin said, "Unless they plan to be enemies of the Ming Dynasty, they should have some self-awareness."
Tang Yin was right about this.
No matter how much the North Korean monarchs and ministers disagreed with his words, they would not be able to do such a thing if they were allowed to directly oppose the Ming Dynasty.
It’s because they know that no matter in terms of national or military power, they can’t compare with the Ming Dynasty. What’s more terrible is that they can’t even defeat the Jianzhou Guards. They all need the Ming Dynasty to send troops. Now the Ming Dynasty is willing to help them solve the border troubles in the north. In fact, It is already a great gift.
…
…
The monarchs and ministers on the North Korean side began a discussion.
It was as if Tang Yin was not present.
This time they all conducted the conversation in Chinese in accordance with Tang Yin's request. There were several people from the Xun old school present who did not understand Chinese. Whatever they wanted to say came out and they had translators, and every word they said was for Tang Yin to hear.
Li seemed to respect the minister's opinion. After listening for a long time, he said to Tang Yin: "Tang Yin, you should have heard that North Korea currently cannot provide enough food and grass to support the dispatch of 20,000 troops."
Tang Yin said: "There is no need to delay."
Li asked: "Then we first recruit 5,000 soldiers and horses, equip them with food and grass, then arrive at Ping'an Road, and then recruit 15,000 soldiers and horses from various places to transport food and grass to Ping'an Road. Is it feasible?"
This made things difficult for Tang Yin.
According to Zhang Zhou's instructions to him, this matter is non-negotiable.
If North Korea wants to send 20,000 troops, it must be 20,000, and it must be sent at once... But now North Korea seems to be in a dilemma. Just now, Li specifically asked Hu Cao's judge about the dispatch of grain and grass in front of Tang Yin. The problem also clearly raised the difficulty of supplying food and grass for 20,000 soldiers and horses.
Tang Yin said: "If the current rate of grain and grass mobilization is used, how long will it take to recruit all the grain, grass, men and horses?"
Li immediately asked his ministers, and Jin Enling, the judge of Hu Cao, came out and answered: "It takes six months to wait for the summer grain to be stored in the warehouse. But if we send people and horses from each road and bring their own rations, they can all arrive in Ping'an in about a month." Dao, and the supply of food and grass can last about three months."
Tang Yin thought about it in his heart.
If that's the case, it should be over in three months.
If the fight cannot be completed, then there is no need to continue this battle...
He was also thinking that if Zhang Bingkuan meant for me to cooperate with North Korea to complete the invasion of the east and west, then we could persist for ten days and a half. As long as the Jianzhou Guard dispatched troops to North Korea and the Shenyang Central Guard sent troops , my task is completed.
"good!"
Tang Yin immediately agreed.
…
…
Tang Yin didn't know where he had the confidence to agree to let North Korea send troops in batches on behalf of Emperor Ming and Zhang Zhou.
After returning, even Xu Jing was a little worried and said: "We agreed to send 20,000 troops, but now they are only willing to send 5,000 troops. They said they would dispatch another 15,000. Are you sure you can dispatch them in time?"
Tang Yin asked: "How many troops can Jianzhou Guard mobilize?"
"this……"
Xu Jing couldn't answer either.
How many men and horses are there in the Jianzhou Guard? Where does he know where to go?
Just when Tang Yin asked his entourage to light some candles, Liu Guitong reported at the door: "Two adults, North Korea sent an envoy here, saying he is the Jiedu envoy of Ping'an Road, his surname is Pu."
Xu Jingdao: "You should be here to discuss sending troops, right?"
"Um."
Tang Yin opened the door and walked out, "Take me to see you."
…
…
In the hall next to it.
A young North Korean official in his thirties appeared in front of Tang Yin. When Tang Yin saw this person, he suddenly felt that this person did not look like someone who could go to the battlefield at all, but more like... a pretty boy.
Tang Yin didn't know why he had such an opinion about this person.
"I, Pu Yuanzong, have been ordered by my superior to be the Military Envoy of Ping'an Road. I have specially cooperated with my superior to go to Ping'an Road to coordinate the dispatch of troops."
The other party reported his home address.
When Tang Yin heard this, he immediately became interested and said, "Are you Pu Yuanzong?"
This was unexpected by the other party.
Pu Yuanzong looked around and asked in surprise: "Why does the superior ask this? Could it be that the superior...knows that he is below?"
"I know, I heard that you are very loyal to North Korea." Of course Tang Yin didn't know about it before, but this person was mentioned emphatically in the "tips bag" Zhang Zhou gave him.
As a key figure in the future "Zhongzong Anyway", Park Wonjong is also a representative of the young faction in North Korea.
At this time, Pu Yuanzong was actually disliked by Li, so he was sent to Ping'an Road, a "border town" of North Korea, to serve as a military governor in the 13th year of Hongzhi. However, this set the stage for Pu Yuanzong's series of political events later. Activities create conditions.
Of course Pu Yuanzong didn't think that Tang Yin really knew him. He only thought that Tang Yin was saying polite words. He said: "I will do my best to cooperate with the superior's activities."
Tang Yin said: "You are wrong. I am not your leader. I am only responsible for cooperating with you. I don't bring many people. I still have to rely on your troops at critical times."
Just as he was talking, Tang Yin thought of something and asked, "We agreed to dispatch five thousand troops and horses. Can the troops and horses be dispatched tomorrow?"
Pu Yuanzong said: "Gyeonggi Province will send a thousand soldiers and horses to cooperate, which are the most elite cavalry in Korea. At the same time, Ping An Road will dispatch 4,000 soldiers and horses to cooperate..."
When Xu Jing heard this, his eyes widened and he said, "Are you kidding? We agreed to send five thousand troops, but only one thousand?"
Tang Yin did not force it. He raised his hand and said: "As long as we can send troops in time. I will send troops early tomorrow morning."
"Sir, are you too anxious?" Pu Yuanzong felt that Tang Yin was a bit out of tune.
When it comes to war, I don't want to wait for a moment.
Tang Yin said: "This is the order of His Majesty the Ming Dynasty. It is urgent. Will you lead the army tomorrow?"
"It's not me." Pu Yuanzong said, "It's Marshal Li Kejun."
Tang Yin frowned and said, "Why isn't your soldier Cao Shu Chengjun?"
Park Yuanzong didn't know how to answer.
Tang Yin's problem was based on the tips Tang Yin gave him, because before Li wanted to send troops to build the state defense, he decided to let Cheng Jun be the coach and Li Kejun be the deputy coach. But now that Tang Yin has come, it seems like Li They all changed their minds... and only let the originally appointed deputy coach be the head coach.
"Are you the deputy commander-in-chief?" Tang Yin asked again, knowing that Pu Yuanzong would not be able to criticize their monarch casually.
Pu Yuanzong said: "No, the candidate for deputy commander has not yet been decided. I am just the military commander of Ping'an Road, who is responsible for taking orders from the superiors."
Only then did Tang Yin know that Ming Dynasty sent him to supervise the North Korean march, and North Korea sent someone to supervise him.
It's like... supervising each other.
"Then we will send troops tomorrow without delay!" Tang Yin was also anxious.
Always talking about "no delay", it seems that even Park Yuanzong can see that Tang Yin is a soft persimmon, the kind who cannot achieve great things at all.
…
…
North Korea still followed Tang Yin's request and assembled a thousand troops and horses on the second day of the Lunar New Year... It was agreed that they would be all cavalry, but when Tang Yin saw this group of people near dusk, he found that the number of cavalry was not even one-third. Less than.
Li Keyun appeared in front of Tang Yin.
Tang Yin asked: "Why not cavalry?"
Li Kejun said: "Envoy Tang, please forgive me. After the disaster in North Korea, the horses died seriously and the forage supply was insufficient... If we want to ensure that the troops and horses can be put to practical use, we can only dispatch so many cavalry... But don't worry, envoy, we have a special Fifty carriages have been prepared to transport firearms, crossbows, etc. In fact, there are a large number of magical firearms stored locally on Ping'an Road, and there is basically enough food and grass."
Hearing this, Tang Yin felt that he had boarded a pirate ship.
Xu Jing, who was on the side, also came over and whispered in his ear: "Are the North Koreans fooling us? If that's the case, why do we have to come all the way to Hanyang City? Can't we just give orders on Ping'an Road?"
Tang Yin was also a little speechless.
"Sir, are you going to send out troops? If you don't leave, the city gate will be closed."
But at this time, Pu Yuanzong came over to urge him.
Tang Yin asked: "How many days will it take to reach Ping'an Road if we send troops from here?"
When Li Kejun heard this, he couldn't help but frown. He felt that Tang Yin had no actual combat experience.
When you come here by yourself, don’t you know how many days it will be?
Besides, the road to peace is not small. Where are you talking about the road to peace? How can one answer such an unclear question?
Pu Yuanzong came over and said: "If we want to reach the junction with the Jianzhou Guards, it will probably take six or seven days if we travel quickly. The mountain roads in North Korea are endless, unlike the Central Plains of the Ming Dynasty, which has flat terrain."
He also wanted to compliment Daming on his "superiority", but was glared at by Li Kejun.
Obviously, in the eyes of a militant like Li Kejun and a close confidant of the emperor, Park Yuanzong was not even a piece of shit.
Tang Yin said: "Okay, send troops quickly and reach the edge of Ping'an Road within five days."
Li Kejun said: "It's fine for those who ride on horses, but not for those who walk... Maybe the Ming Dynasty will have some horses with us, I don't know if..."
Tang Yin couldn't help but get angry when he heard this.
The envoys who followed Tang Yin from the Ming Dynasty all traveled on horseback. More than half of them were one person and two horses. This was to facilitate the transportation of artillery, rations, tents, firearms, weapons, etc. Now the Koreans even used their war horses. idea! ?
"march!"
Tang Yin didn't bother to pay attention to Li Kejun's suggestion. For him, now he had to rush to the edge of Ping'an Road at night to complete the task entrusted by Zhang Zhou.
…
…
Just when Tang Yin led his two hundred Ming Dynasty soldiers and horses, together with one thousand North Korean soldiers and horses, they headed for Ping'an Road.
At this time, Zhang Zhou had already led his people to Yongping Mansion, and completed the preparations for the mining in Yongping Mansion in two days.
Lin Ting, who followed Tang Yin, was a little speechless to Zhang Zhou. He said: "Bingkuan, you are a bit amazing. You have found where the mine is in less than two days. You are surrounded by desolate mountains and wild ridges. You How did you find it?"
Zhu Feng said with a helpless look on his face: "Do you even need to ask? The immortal's name is not for nothing."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "I still know you understand me."
Zhu Feng asked: "It's already the thirteenth year of Hongzhi. Didn't we agree to send troops to Liaodong? If we go this way, I'm afraid we may not arrive in a month or two."
"Don't be in a hurry, don't be in a hurry." Zhang Zhou looked very relaxed and indifferent.
Lin Ting also asked incomprehensively: "Didn't you mean to attack the east and attack the west? After North Korea sent troops, Ming Dynasty should cooperate in time."
"I only said cooperation, who said we need to cooperate in a timely manner?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "North Korea launched this war to eliminate the threat from their borders. After all, the influence of the Jianzhou Guard on the Ming Dynasty border areas has been limited in recent years. They want to The plundering efforts are all directed towards North Korea or the north. Now we are clearing the border troubles for them. If they don't contribute, who will?"
"But Bohu..."
Lin Ting suddenly thought of poor Tang Yin. After all, the two of them had been to the Xuan Mansion together, had been comrades in the same trench, were Jinshi in the same year, and lived under Zhang Zhou together.
Zhang Zhou said: "Don't worry, he probably won't die. Find a fortress to hide in, and it will also give the Jianzhou Guards some sweetness. Otherwise, why would they put all their troops on the eastern front?"
"should?"
Lin Ting realized instantly.
Not only did Zhang Zhou want to trick Tang Yin into traveling long distances to North Korea, but he also wanted to use Tang Yin's life as a bet.
Bet on him not to die.
(End of chapter)
