The disappearance of the three guards of Duoyan caused huge changes in the situation in Jiliao. In the original military strategic positioning of the Ming Dynasty, the responsibility of the Liaodong region was to play a containment role when the Northern Zhili region was attacked by Mongolian military forces, which was what the Ming Dynasty called "defending the capital."
However, with the destruction of the Duoyan Three Guards and the arrival of the Chahar Tribe, the military pressure on the entire Zhili and Liaodong regions suddenly increased. Therefore, the original military deployment in Liaodong had to be reduced to the western Liaoning region, which was most threatened by military forces. A large number of health centers in the Jianzhou area had to be abandoned. In fact, it was this reason that later led to the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens - did Li Chengliang really let Nurhaci become big because he was his godson?
Are you kidding me? How could such a national strategic event be decided by a mere commander-in-chief of Liaodong Army!
When Emperor Wanli was on the throne, no matter how much credit you Li Chengliang had made or how powerful you were, it was just a matter of one sentence whether you wanted to fight him to the end or simply confiscate your family and exterminate your clan. So... where did Li Chengliang get the courage to allow the Jianzhou Jurchens to grow even without the approval of the imperial court?
Another branch of the Chahar tribe, the Horqin tribe, also began to go eastward to contact the Jurchens at that time. For the Jurchens who were culturally backward at that time, this group of Mongolians immediately became the object of their study. Therefore, starting from the late Jiajing period, including the Haixi and Jianzhou Jurchens, rapid changes occurred in the entire social structure and culture. As a result, a new barbaric dynasty was finally born in this originally barbaric land.
Some readers may want to ask: Why did the Ming Dynasty allow the Jurchens to rise in order to suppress the Mongols?
There are certainly reasons for this, but two of the more important reasons are really ridiculous to talk about: First, because Ming Dynasty felt that Jianzhou Jurchens were relatively honest and weak in strength. Even if they were strengthened, they would still behave and follow Ming Dynasty's instructions. Turn the stick and let him bite the Mongolian, but he will not dare to kick the Korean.
Second, it is because the Mongolian left wing has always held the throne of the Mongol Empire - which is equivalent to the Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty.
This is difficult to handle, because the "Great Yuan" and the "Great Ming" are life-and-death enemies. In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, the Mongol Khan is the type who can only fight to the end. Anyone who dares to talk about peaceful coexistence with him will be Traitor.
It is precisely for this reason that the right-wing Anta Khan, who had a falling out with the Mongolian left-wing Khan, later got the good thing of paying tribute.
In fact, if we really talk about it, the losses caused to the Ming Dynasty by the invaders in recent years were actually much greater than those of the Mongolian left wing. However, because the Ming Dynasty believed that Anda's tribute could continue to weaken the power and prestige of the Mongol Khan, the matter was finally determined. However, the Mongolian left wing continued until the Ming Dynasty lost the Battle of Sarhu, and the situation in Liaodong greatly deteriorated. After that, the Ming Dynasty changed from an all-round attack to a win-over - but Lin Dan Khan was really won over immediately. It can be seen that the Mongolians' longing for tribute is really like looking forward to the rain after a long drought.
However, only Gao Pragmatic is aware of these situations in Ming Dynasty. Others, even Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, who are "good ministers for saving time", cannot see that far, or in other words, they cannot jump out of the thinking stereotype of "who is the Yuan Lord, who is the mortal enemy."
Therefore, their strategic thinking still tends to "stabilize the right wing and attack the left wing."
Sure enough, Gao Gong said at this time: "I have always been arrogant. I have been invading the invaders for decades without planning, which is really a disaster. However, now our defense is getting stronger day by day. Both Wang and Fang have been in border towns for a long time and have made great contributions. The two commanders, Ma and Zhao, have also experienced hundreds of battles and are powerful in Shuomo... I think, I declare that it is advisable to be on the defensive and be prepared for any danger. And our Ji Liao new army has just been formed, and it is ready for a battle. Let's give it a small test. , and secondly, to frighten the northern captives so that they dare not look southward. I wonder what Taiyue thinks?"
Zhang Juzheng nodded without any surprise and said: "That's what I think." He paused slightly and then said: "But after all, our army is mainly infantry, and the cavalry army is limited. If we take the initiative to go out and attack from a long distance, the opponent will be defeated." When the whip is raised, our army will be in vain. Therefore, I think that the control of the timing of the battle should be controlled by the frontier commander. I am in the center and can only make overall decisions and not control the war... …Does Duke Zhongxuan think so?”
Gao Gong laughed, stretched out his finger and nodded, saying: "Are you afraid that I will force your favorite general to go straight to Huanglong and capture Chahanhot?"
Zhang Juzheng smiled slightly awkwardly: "Just kidding, just kidding, how could Duke Zhongxuan be so smart, how could he talk about it on paper?"
"Even if we have to go straight to Huanglong to capture Chahanhot, it is Wang Zhidao and Li Chengliang's business." Gao Gong waved his hands and said: "What's more, although our Ming Dynasty has slightly changed its previous decline, it has not yet plowed the courtyard to sweep the caves and sealed the wolf's home. Xu’s strength, Xuanda’s plan to defend and Ji Liao’s attack this time is just to frighten the northern captives... You need to make this clear to Qi and Wang.”
Zhang Juzheng nodded and responded: "The imperial treasury has accumulated a lot of debt over the years. Although it has improved slightly now, it has not yet been able to make ends meet. In this way, a small battle at the border will not only show the new army's strength for the first time, but also scare the northern captives. We must not take it lightly." It is a good strategy to commit crimes; however, if the war continues, the treasury will not be able to support it. Even if the battle is won, the national power will be wasted, which will be a big disaster... If you understand these truths, Duke Zhongxuan can rest assured. I won't let them fight."
Gao Gong felt relieved and suddenly asked curiously: "How do you think Qi Shuai will fight?"
"I don't know either." Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly and said with some hesitation: "To be honest, I doubt Qinantang will take the initiative to send troops deep into the grassland."
"Oh?" Gao Gong asked, "How can you see it?"
Zhang Juzheng smiled bitterly and said: "Tan Zili, Liu Zihe and Qi Yuanjing finally built many hollow enemy towers. Now that the enemy towers have not been put into actual combat, I don't know how effective they are. How can they leave the newly built fortifications unused and rush to send troops deep into the grassland?" Fight? Therefore, I expect that they will prepare their troops and horses, waiting for the barbarians to invade at any time, and then quickly fight back to try to defeat the prestige of the barbarians."
What Zhang Juzheng calls Tuman is the Mongolian left-wing Chahar tribe, which is also the current headquarters of the Mongolian Great Khan.
After hearing this analysis, Gao Gong couldn't help but frowned and murmured: "So, if Jizhen wants to test the effectiveness of the hollow enemy platform, it may be difficult to achieve a big victory... As for Liaodong, can they? Form a powerful counterattack?"
Zhang Juzheng did not dare to say anything, so he could only mutter: "Logically speaking, there should be a chance, but first the barbarians must attack first, and then our army can launch a counterattack..."
Gao Gong sighed and said: "It's all about lack of strength, especially the lack of cavalry. Now I may have more than enough to defend against the invaders, but I don't think I'm enough to attack the enemy."
Zhang Juzheng nodded calmly, but sneered in his heart: Ma Fang's Ma Jun is quite capable. If you are willing to get me Ji Liao, I don't mind Qi Jiguang going out.
But Gao Gong was thinking: Qi Jiguang is good at infantry combat, so it is not free for him to train a new cavalry force. Otherwise... the imperial court will squeeze out some more money every year to train a new cavalry force in Liaodong?
