On all sides of the northwest, Yansui is in danger, and Ningxia and Gansu control the rivers and mountains. However, the area from Huamachi to Lingzhou is wide and the castles are sparse. If the Tatars were to invade this year, the area around Huamachi would be quite dangerous.
Huamachiding is at the forefront of the Hetao Plain and belongs to the land east of Hetao. The land is flat and there is no danger to defend. When Qin Hong was appointed as the trilateral commander-in-chief, he wanted to build cities and forts here, but only four or five small forts were built. According to the general configuration of the Ming army, each fort must be guarded by a garrison general.
It has been less than a year since Yang Yiqing took office, and he has not had time to make much change in the current situation. Now the road is Qianniu Fort, Wugong Fort, Iron Guard Fort and Ten Star Fort.
The commander of Qianniu Fort is always a Gansu guard named He Yanheng. He is a typical northwest man. He has no education, but he is not a coward. The forty-year-old man has been a soldier all his life. He just wants to return his father. I have two sons to take care of.
But in his team, there was a young man named Yu Zizai from the Beijing Military Academy. The superiors said that these people all know Tatars, so each fort must have one, and they said it was a treasure.
But He Yanheng liked to make him uncomfortable.
Because he was feeling uneasy all day long, he either said that the walls of the fort were not well built, or that their soldiers were not trained enough. Logically speaking, they were just remnants. But then the conversation suddenly changed and he said that they should not avoid the Tatars all the time, and that they should have the courage to make peace with them. People fight.
Damn, I have a lot of problems and I still have to work hard.
Doesn't this make them commit suicide?
The wind from the northwest was biting and biting. He Yanheng opened the door curtain and came to his stable. He chewed hard on the rye buns that were already a bit frozen, and his breath was full of water vapor.
Behind him, his little boy stepped on the ice and made a sound of "Bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah," "Dad, that Yu Zizai led a dozen people and went out again."
He Yanheng glanced at his son and almost lost his temper, "I asked you to put on your plain clothes, but who told you to put on the fucking blue ones?! Go back and change them!"
"Oh, the plain clothes are inside. I didn't feel warm, so I added another one."
boom.
He Yanheng kicked him without saying a word, "Then you can't go back the other way. It's a national mourning now. If you file a complaint, my father, your brother, you and I will all have their heads cut off. Go quickly! Grandma is a bear. This Yu Zizi has already made me very uncomfortable, and you are making me uncomfortable by coming over."
"Okay." Dad has a bad temper, and the boss has no choice but to relent first.
"Come back!" After He Yanheng fed the last bit of beans to the horse, he clapped his hands and turned around, "When did you leave because you felt uncomfortable? Why didn't I know?"
"Didn't you have a quarrel with him yesterday? He left last night. He hasn't come back all night now. I just came to talk to you because I was worried."
"You haven't been back all night?" He Yanheng's expression changed when he heard this. He looked to the north and thought, "If something bad is going to happen, pack up your things and take my father and your brother to Ningxia City. Big and safe."
"What about you, dad?!"
"I am a garrison general. If I escape, who of you will survive?!"
The eldest brother has a broad face and a short neck, and his face is full of flesh. "Then we won't leave! Let the second brother take grandpa with him, and I will stay. Brother Yu is right, good men are everywhere!"...
"That's right!" He Yanheng suddenly seemed to hear something. While running in the wind and snow, he turned back and pointed at his boss, "Hurry up and do what I say, or I won't be able to spare you when I come back!"
The boss shook his head, a little annoyed, "It's not like I've never seen a captor from the north before..."
What He Yanheng heard was the muffled sound of horse hooves shaking the ground. He ran a few steps and listened on the ground to confirm, and then quickly put his hat down to cover his ears.
"***coming!"
"***coming!"
…
The small fort suddenly started to spin because of such a cry. Previously, everyone was hiding in the house to avoid the wind and snow, like an uninhabited fort. Now, all the gray heads poked out.
He Yanheng's scalp exploded when he heard this, "Who the hell shouted that! I'll kill him for disturbing our morale in the army!"
As a result, he looked up and saw that he was uncomfortable!
He Yanheng stepped up a few steps and grabbed the scholar-like collar in front of him, "Shut up! What are you yelling about?"
"Shut up! Can't you hear the sound of horse hooves?" Yu Zizi dropped his hat and his hair was a little messy. He must have just run back, and his eyes were a little red at the moment, "The Tatars are already here! "
He Yanheng swallowed.
"Light up a cigarette!" Yu Zizai shouted again, but the soldier next to him hesitated a little and got a kick from him, "Quickly go!"
"Lao He, I went to find out the enemy's situation. I know that the Tatars sent out at least 30,000 to 40,000 people this time, and at least 10,000 people were sent in our direction. Our fort is said to have 3,000 people. In fact, there are only two thousand, and there are only more than a thousand who can fight. But that doesn’t mean that we all have to die here. The Tatars are here to plunder wealth and people, and they don’t like to attack fortified cities, so we want to be a fortified city! "
"Exactly." He Yanheng shook off the hand he put on his shoulder, "I have been at the border for fifteen years. You learn from other people's mouths, but I learned from horses. I am good at dealing with Tatars."
"What the hell are you doing!" Yu Zizi said in a suppressed voice: "You know why I came to find fault with you! Because the imperial court did not build enough castles along this road! Moreover, the terrain in this area is wide and we are in danger. You Did you know?!"
"Are you scaring me? If that were the case, wouldn't the imperial court know about it before you do? Wouldn't they build more forts here?"
"It is difficult for the imperial court to cover everything. But it is too late to talk about this at this time. My suggestion is to find a way to contact the other three nearby castles and take care of each other. Otherwise, it is really a time of death!"
He Yanheng grabbed a handful of snow and rubbed his face, "In this world, it's better to expect a strong wind from God to blow them back than to rely on others. I'll gather the troops. You can find a hole and stay by yourself."
How is this possible? Yu Zizai has been tired for several hours, but he still has to continue fighting at this time. Those who come out of the military academy have a sense of honor and they have their own pride.
He gathered the twenty-odd men who usually surrounded him and whispered, "Are you afraid?"
It would be a lie to say that they are not afraid. The Tatars have also come here in the past years. They burned, killed and looted, and some of the people they knew became victims of the sword.
"Yu Qianhu, you know a lot in the capital. Do you think the imperial court cares about us?" some teenage soldiers who looked like children asked. ….
"No matter! I promise you!"
"But *** comes here almost every year, and there is no movement from the court."
Another person also said: "In previous years, there was less control. This year, there is probably even less control. Since the emperor died, grandma probably has no time to deal with us. Anyway, we can just get through these few months."
"Everyone must believe me!" Yu Zizi was very afraid of such a loss of military morale, "I dare not say anything about others, but the prince will definitely take care of it!"
"What is a prince? Is he older than the emperor's official?"
"Idiot, the prince is the emperor's son!"
"Then my son must listen to me!"
Snapped!
He Yanheng didn't know where he came from. At this moment, he was wearing armor and had a scimitar hanging on his waist. "Don't think about the emperor and the prince at this time. You can't count on it. Count on it. Count on this knife. Take it!"
The young man was a little timid.
He Yanheng pushed the knife directly to his chest, "Kid, no one cares about your shyness at this time."
Turning around, he asked, "I'm not comfortable. I've gathered all the officers and soldiers. I heard that the people taught by the military academy have great powers. Tell me, how do you fight this battle?"
"Collect food and distribute it according to each household's needs. We will not be able to get out."
He Yanheng was a little surprised, "I heard you talk so excitingly on weekdays, but now I'm so excited again."
"Military academies don't teach you how to fight to the death."
boom! boom!
As he spoke, the sound of horse hooves became louder.
Looking at the sky and the earth, there is still a vast expanse of white snow, but the sun is hot, and the entire plain is reflecting dazzling light under the light. There are black shadows of mountains in the distance, and nearby are the turrets built by Baozi.
There is an urn city above the city gate, and in order to strengthen the defense of the city gate, He Yanheng also ordered people to build wing cities on both sides. In fact, the city gate is made into a "concave" shape, so that when enemies attack the city gate, they can attack from the flanks.
He and Yu led a group of subordinates to stand on the city tower, listening to the deafening sound of horse hooves coming from far and near, making the city wall tremble slightly when they stepped on it. When they looked up, they saw a figure appearing at the end of the earth. Team!
Bright banners were fluttering in the wind under the sky, and the Tatar armor also shone with dazzling luster. The horses' hooves clinging to the ground made a heavy rumble and rushed in with an unstoppable force. Snowflakes were rising, and the black heads were like It was like a tidal wave, and it was terrifying.
The two parties were probably very familiar with each other, and there was almost no need to identify them. Suddenly, a group of the large troops in front of them sped away, and then rushed towards their small fort.
The Tatars shook their whips and made strange noises. In the eyes of the Ming army, these were not humans at all, they were clearly animals.
"Beat the drum! Sign up and prepare to guard against their first wave of bows and arrows!" He Yanheng also hid in the house. After all, the Tatars' bows and arrows are still very powerful. "Damn it, you dare to hit them Grandpa He without even saying hello!"
[In other words, it is currently the best to use for reading and listening to books. Change the source and install the latest version. 】
Yu Zizai gave a difficult laugh, "Don't believe it when I tell you, Lao He. This is the first time I have fought with so many Tatars."
"Scared?"
"Hahaha, I am a strong-willed Han Chinese, how can I be afraid of the Beibei!"...
"It's all sour words. I don't care if I'm a Han or not, I want to be a living person."
boom! !
Suddenly, there was a loud noise in the city, and they heard the ground shaking. He Yanheng's face turned pale, "It's terrible, they used artillery. If we don't feel comfortable, we may have to die."
"Dead Han Chinese!"
Ah! !
This sound is attacking the city!
With a crash, He Yanheng opened the door and was about to go out. As soon as he got up, a flying arrow flew past his face and almost died in the back of the hand of the person behind him.
"Damn it! That's too much! Go out and kill!"
Yu Zizai knew that the Tatars were not very good at attacking fortresses, but they would attack a small fort passing by. What if they could defeat it? Secondly, it is a warning to kill the forces here so that they dare not leave the city.
Although He Yanheng was uneducated, he was the first to charge forward in battle. He personally went to the city gate tower to fight with the attackers who were climbing up.
Bodies were everywhere and blood was everywhere.
He Yanheng just bent down and knocked one down, but when he raised his head, he saw a Tatar wearing a hat holding a machete and slashing at him beside the city gate.
"Dad!" The boss rushed over and stabbed fiercely, regardless of everything.
The knife was red and penetrated the flesh, and the blood rushed to the sky, but it seemed that there would never be enough people to kill, covering it like ants, and soon many Tatar soldiers gathered around the boss.
"Boss!" He Yanheng shouted at the top of his lungs, "Ah! I will fight with you!"
Yu Zizai had been running for a while before and was exhausted. He only killed a few people before he felt the tiger's mouth was so painful that he couldn't hold the knife. He knelt down on one knee, and the scene during training at the military academy already appeared in his mind.
"I am the general of the Ming Dynasty! I am the master of this land!" He shouted at the top of his voice, "Invaders! Kill!!"
"General, let me help you!" It was the little kid from before, about thirteen or fourteen years old. Others called him Twelve Lang. I don't know why, but he was called that anyway.
Yu Zizai looked at the Tatar soldiers in front of him, and then at the baby soldiers behind him, and couldn't help but smile boldly, "Okay! The thieves and I are incompatible, but if it's a man, the baby soldiers should also join!"
For a moment, the small fort was filled with flying sand and rocks, and the sound of killings was loud...
…
In Guyuan Mansion and the Governor's Mansion, there were also people with panicked expressions like Yang Yiqing reporting the news.
"Budou! There's smoke!"
Yang Yiqing put down the military report in his hand, stood up and took a few steps forward, "
Which direction? ! "
"Hanachi!"
Qi Chengsui stood there with a sullen face, "It's just as expected. If the Tatars invade the border, they will have to pass through Huamachi. If we have Datong Yang Shangyi, we will go out of the city to ambush them!"
boom!
Yang Yiqing's heart sank. He wanted to know everyone around him, but he didn't expect the speed. It came too fast. The Tatars must have just hung up their plain clothes at the border.
"They want to take advantage of this chaos and the imperial court's inability to look north to stir up trouble."
At such a big moment, Yang Yiqing also fell silent. He had to think carefully.
It was because of winter that Xu Jin, who had not had time to return to the capital, persuaded: "Yang Butang, the Tatars are sure to invade at this time. We ministers must pay attention to the overall situation. The funeral of the former Empress Dowager is currently being held in Beijing. , His Majesty and His Highness both have no time to care... Yang Butang, I think we should focus on stability and survive this disaster first. In the final analysis, the Tatars just want to plunder some property. "...
"Put stability first?" Qi Cheng then asked first, "Can Shi Lang Xu explain more clearly, how to put stability first?"
Xu Jin did not hesitate and said directly: "Of course the main purpose is to defend the city. If we go into battle easily, it will lead to big consequences... How should we report the news of defeat during the national mourning?"
"But what if we refuse to fight the enemy if the court investigates us?"
Xu Jin was anxious, "Why didn't you meet the enemy? Do you have to lead troops and horses to fight with the Tatars in the field to meet the enemy? As for the imperial court, Yang Butang doesn't need to worry. I'll go and tell Da Sima that if you have any sins, I'll bear them." !」
Yang Yiqing slowly shook his head. He looked at Xu Jin with an unwavering look in his eyes. "I am the chief controller of the three sides. I have the responsibility to protect the territory. Whether it is now or in the future, if something happens to the three sides, I can't save my head, and I can't talk about you." If you take the blame for me, how can you take the blame for me? Besides, the royal guards are already here, and His Highness’s intention is very clear.”
He lowered his head slightly and began to order, "1. Order all towns and garrison posts to take precautions and strengthen contact. All personnel under the Governor's Mansion must coordinate with each other. They must not refuse help and must not fight alone!"
"Two. From now on, make every effort to raise military supplies and food and fodder. If you can transport it in time, you must transport it to storage. If you can't transport it in time, burn it with fire and don't leave it to the Tatars."
"In addition, I will immediately send a letter to the capital to ask for support."
"Support? What support?" Xu Jin didn't understand. The governor of the three sides, the largest official, was here. All the soldiers and horses were under Yang Yiqing's command. What else could he ask for?
"Is Yang Butang going to ask the imperial court to send a capital camp?!"
It's not the Beijing camp, it's Yang Shangyi's army.
Although the Jinyiwei's decree was that the Tatars would invade again this time and the court wanted to fight back, how could tens of thousands of Tatar cavalry in the wild fight back?
It's impossible to rely on infantry. Yang Yiqing doesn't believe it at all. Even if the infantry is several times the enemy's, the cavalry will probably disperse as soon as they charge, and they won't be able to catch up.
We can only rely on Yang Shangyi's troops to fight the Tatars, so that the infantry can gain something from behind.
But how could he mobilize Datong's soldiers, and he couldn't communicate with Yang Shangyi privately to discuss matters.
"Xu Shilang, there is no need to say anything else. I always have to report to the capital about the situation in the northwest. As for how to do it specifically, that is what the above said, and neither you nor I can decide." Yang Yiqing is also a man of literary talent, and wrote a Feng Zuoshu was too simple for him. He finished it in a few strokes, then picked up his hat and walked out.
"My soldiers are still in the flames of war! Please excuse me!"
…
…
Of course, the capital still cannot hear the cannon fire from the northwest.
The capital is actually still shrouded in a heavy atmosphere of grief. The funeral of Empress Dowager Zhou can be completed according to the procedures. The current problem is the body of Emperor Hongzhi.
As the emperor's favorite, Liu Daxia still persuaded the emperor to drink medicine that day, but to be honest, at this time, other medicines except elixirs would not work.
Liu Daxia himself was also very sad. Although this incident was directly caused by the sudden death of the Empress Dowager Zhou and the emperor torturing himself again, in fact, if he could recover, he would still be able to recover.
It was the conversation he had with the emperor last year.
Fortunately, Emperor Hongzhi didn't really blame him. Instead, he seemed to forget his grudges with a smile and left his Qianqing Palace to talk to him.
"...Shi Yong, the prince is very smart, but a bit strict. You...don't misunderstand him." Emperor Hongzhi could no longer get up and could only lie down half-ly, tilting his head to face Liu Daxia.
"How dare I?"
"You may have some complaints in your heart and feel that I dote on the prince too much, but I... am just such a son. You have to understand me."
These rights and wrongs are actually no longer important to Liu Daxia. He knows what will happen to him in the future.
"I only hope that your majesty will be in good health!"
"Hey, I know what my health is like. After drinking medicine for so many years, my mouth has no taste anymore." Emperor Hongzhi smiled with relief, "After I leave, you must continue to assist Prince Zuo. If you are affected by If you feel wronged, just take it for my sake, and blame me if you want."
Liu Daxia couldn't bear to hear such depressing words, but he seemed to know that that day would come soon, so he couldn't help crying and said: "Your Majesty, veteran, I can't bear to leave you!!"
Hongzhi blinked his red eyes, which were also moist, "Who am I willing to give up?"
royal hired cat
