The four people climbed up the city tower and walked on the spacious city wall. Zhu Qiyu took the lead and asked: "Dong Guo, tell me, if you were the first, where would you camp and which city gate would you attack?"
Xu Yongning replied without hesitation: "If I were to take the lead, I would camp in the western suburbs and attack Deshengmen and Xizhimen."
Hearing this, Zhu Qiyu, Yu Qian, and Zhu Yi all looked at Xu Yongning.
No one thought that a ten-year-old child could tell the correct answer.
Yu Qian asked first: "May I ask Lord Dingguo, what is the basis for making this judgment?"
Xu Yongning replied: "The south and east of the capital originally had many rivers and lakes, and there were several canals dug by the Jin and Yuan dynasties. The terrain was very unfavorable for the deployment of the army, so the south and east were excluded.
Outside Desheng Gate in the north, there are Tucheng buildings left over from the Yuan Dynasty, as well as many residential buildings. We might make a tentative attack from here first, and if blocked, then turn to the west. The terrain outside Xizhimen is open and easy for the army to deploy, so the main attack direction should be placed here first.
But it is useless to talk about this. The capital is the second most fortified city in the world. Unless the Ming army in the city opens the city and surrenders, it will not make any difference which gate they attack with the tens of thousands of cavalry first. Even if you fill up your life, you still can't climb this wall. "
Upon hearing this, Yu Qian praised: "The Duke is indeed a descendant of the King of Zhongshan. After all, he is a son of a general. His achievements in the future will be limitless."
Yu Qian also omitted one sentence and did not say it out loud: If you follow Zhu Qiyu, your future achievements will be limitless.
Once you show your face in the battle to defend the capital, and then go back to follow the Supreme Emperor Zhu Qizhen, you will never be reused again.
Zhu Qiyu ignored everyone and just stood by the city wall, blowing the cold wind, staring into the distance from the crenel in a daze.
What troubles Zhu Qiyu most now is that he lacks a direct military talent.
Although the Yu Qian in front of him is very talented, he is the type that he cannot cultivate well no matter how hard he tries.
Prince Jingyuan Wang Ji from far away is Zhu Qizhen's biggest supporter, and Zhu Qiyu has no intention of recruiting him.
As for Shi Heng, he is even more angry. I believe he might as well kill himself as soon as possible.
Zhu Qiyu sighed, probably he would have to wait miserably for Wang Yue in the end.
Thinking of Wang Yue, Zhu Qiyu felt much better. In the entire Ming Dynasty, there were only three civil servants who were knighted for military merit: Jingyuan Bo Wang Ji, Weining Bo Wang Yue, and Xinjian Bo Wang Yangming.
Wang Ji is a die-hard Zhu Qizhen, so it must have nothing to do with him.
Wang Yangming would not be born for more than twenty years. It happened that the year Wang Yue passed away, Wang Yangming was awarded the Jinshi, and he happened to be sent to attend Wang Yue's funeral. Even Wang Yangming, a great talent, could not catch up.
The good news is that in the second year of Jingtai, the first palace examination of the Jingtai Dynasty happened to be Wang Yuezhong's Jinshi. God helps send talents. Isn't this a sign of prosperity?
Zhu Qiyu was lost in thought when Yu Qian and others gathered around him. Zhu Yi pointed to the military camp in the distance and asked: "Your Highness, look at the garrison in the distance. It is well-defended and neatly organized. It looks like an elite force, but I wonder which King Qin’s army it is?”
Zhu Qiyu came back to his senses and smiled at Zhu Yi: "Those are my personal guards, the newly formed Yingzhou left guard and Yingzhou right guard. It's just that the military discipline is good. It has not been tested by war, and it cannot be said to be a strong force.
However, in this battle to defend the capital, I will personally supervise the battle, and my personal guards will also be the vanguard, taking the lead in killing the enemy. "
Hearing this, Zhu Yi suddenly realized: "No wonder, no wonder. I'm still wondering. Our army has obviously lost all its elites, so how could such a powerful force appear again? I didn't expect it to turn out to be His Highness's personal guard, so it's not surprising."
Zhu Qiyu laughed off Zhu Yi's flattery, but asked instead: "Why do you think our army suffered such a disastrous defeat in Tumu Fort?"
Hearing this, Zhu Yi glanced at Yu Qian hesitantly, but hesitated to speak.
Zhu Qiyu took everything in sight, and with a clear conscience, he smiled at Zhu Yi and said: "I have been too tired recently. I will deal with government affairs tomorrow morning, and you will follow me to patrol the city defense in the afternoon. I have to take a day off anyway the day after tomorrow.
We have a lot of deer at home. The day after tomorrow you bring the Duke’s wife to my house. I will ask the Princess to hold a family banquet. We will roast deer, drink fine wine, and relax for the day.
Although it is not appropriate to have a banquet now, even before the war, it was a banquet for me to boost morale for you, and it is fair to use this name to the outside world. Duke Dingguo is also here, and it will be more lively as there are more of us. "
Zhu Yi and Xu Yongning quickly accepted the order, and Zhu Qiyu asked again: "Are you interested in going to the Yingzhou Guard's military camp?"
Zhu Yi and Xu Yongning were excited when they heard that they were going to inspect the army. Even Yu Qian didn't mind going to see this new army.
So a group of people rode horses to the outside of the city. Not far from Desheng Gate, there was an earthen city left over from the Yuan Dynasty, surrounded by a large number of private houses. At this time, the Yingzhou Guards had opened up the area in the middle of the private houses into a camp.
As for the houses around the camp, barriers, hidden stakes, trip wires, and traps were set up everywhere.
As soon as Zhu Qiyu and others approached the residential area, they were stopped by patrolling soldiers.
Fortunately, the leading flag officer recognized Zhu Qiyu and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.
Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "I brought two princes and a minister of the Ministry of War to make a surprise inspection. Please take us in for a walk."
Unexpectedly, the flag officer replied: "Your Highness, I forgive you. The commander has an order. Anyone who wants to enter or exit the camp must report it. Only with the approval of the commander can he enter."
"Okay, then go ahead and report it. We'll wait here."
Upon hearing this, the flag officer hurriedly took the order and left.
Not long after, Xu Tong and Gu Zhong rushed over with several thousand households, and when they saw Zhu Qiyu, they quickly confessed.
Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "It's a good thing that you are strict in checking. It is true that people cannot come in and out at will."
Zhu Qiyu introduced each other to everyone again, and then went into the camp to inspect.
Xu Tong ordered: "The general will lead the way. Your Highness, Yu Shangshu and the two princes should follow closely behind the general. There are traps and hidden stakes everywhere. If you go wrong, you may be injured accidentally." "
Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Yes, it is best to use these private houses to hinder the Wala cavalry. Once the Wala cavalry cannot charge, they can attack in the dark with muskets, artillery, and strong bows and crossbows, which will definitely defeat the Wala offensive."
Xu Yongning also took advantage of the situation and answered: "Your Highness is right. To break through such a defense, it is best to use heavy artillery bombardment. However, the Navarre army is mainly cavalry and does not have heavy artillery troops.
Relying on cavalry charges alone, in such terrain, facing the elite Ming army that is well prepared and equipped with firearms, will almost be defeated.
The two commanders adapted their measures to local conditions and made very good arrangements. "
Although it was a bit strange to thank a ten-year-old prince, Xu Tong and Gu Zhong politely thanked Xu Yongning for the compliment.
Yu Qian walked while observing various defensive arrangements in the dark with interest.
Zhu Yi shook her head silently.
Zhu Qiyu knew that Zhu Yi had something in mind. After all, it was impossible for all the personal servants of Duke Cheng Zhu Yong to die in the battle. Some of them would definitely escape from the front line. Therefore, as the son of Cheng Guogong Zhu Yong, Zhu Yi must know the inside story of these three battles in Shanxi better than Zhu Qiyu.
Thinking of this, Zhu Qiyu patted Zhu Yi on the shoulder and comforted him: "Good Lord, don't be so sad. Our family has a century-old cellar of good wine, and we will get drunk the day after tomorrow. By then, after three glasses of wine, we will be troubled." They all disappeared.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yi calmed down and replied with a smile: "To be honest with Your Highness, our family also has a lot of fine wine that has been stored for hundreds of years."
"That's right, your family is the old Duke's Palace that has been passed down for three generations. I, the King of Qi, have only been sealed for less than half a month. How can I compare with your Duke Cheng's Palace.
But our family has things that yours doesn’t have, and you’ll know when you come here. "
Zhu Yi smiled and said: "That humble minister should learn from his teachings."
The group walked into the camp talking and laughing. Xu Tong then wanted to lead everyone into the Chinese army's tent. Zhu Qiyu had nothing to say, but Yu Qian insisted on going to the kitchen first.
