Lu Zuyun tied the horse and reached out to grab a handful of fine beans. The horse's mouth turned over and it was clear that there was an unpleasant smell, but Lu Zuyun didn't feel disgusted at all and instead touched his head gently.
"You bastard, you're exhausted too."
While he was talking, there were some footsteps coming from outside the wall behind the stable.
Not long after, Ma Rong, dressed in military uniform, appeared in his sight.
Lu Zuyun didn't dare to ask for help, so he hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, "I have met the general and my boss."
The boss he was talking about was a woman. It was this woman who recruited Lu Zuyun for Ma Rong's expedition last year. It was also because of Lu Zuyun's guide that the Ming army was able to successfully find the Yongxiebu tribe.
And he knows more information about Jinong.
As for this woman, she is a widow, whose real name is Xie Rou. She has been running the Izumoki store by herself over the years. She is engaged in the business of buying and selling cloth and animal skins, and she also has some exposure to salt.
Ma Rong met her by chance, and the plot was the same old-fashioned hero saving a beauty. Later, they became familiar with each other after going back and forth.
When he saw Lu Zuyun at this time, Ma Rong did not act like a general and said happily: "Get up quickly. I was originally asking Mr. Xie where you went."
The woman next to her held her hands and said, "I knew the general was going back to Datong, so I called him back specifically."
When Lu Zuyun looked at Ma Rong at this time, he was already different from last year. Ma Rong was promoted to commander because of his meritorious service in battle.
Moreover, his commander is stronger than ordinary commanders because he also leads three thousand Mongolian soldiers!
This is different from other health centers.
Therefore, Zhou Shangwen ordered him to lead an army alone, giving him the ancient name of "Yulin". The whole army had a total of 8,600 elite soldiers.
Ma Rong can speak Mongolian and has the deepest relationship with Yibula. Many Mongolians know him, so it is most appropriate to leave it to him.
After all, these three thousand people were requested by the emperor himself. If they didn't get it right, Zhou Shangwen wouldn't be able to do the job.
Moreover, it was Ma Rong who advocated the subjugation of the Yongxiebu tribe, and the Mongols trusted him the most.
When they returned to Datong this time, Ma Rong was ordered to handle the matter. Zhou Shangwen also admired him very much, so he gave him the best generals, soldiers, weapons, and horses.
Now Ma Rong has his eldest brother Ma Sheng, as well as the Mongolian warrior Gabia who was on a par with Ma Sheng on the battlefield, and Luo Yi and Xiong Han who originally followed him, a total of four strong generals.
Lu Zuyun had just returned to Datong and didn't know it yet. He just relied on his intuition and felt that Ma Rong seemed a little more mature again.
"The general must have been promoted."
Ma Rong patted him on the shoulder, "It's also your contribution. The court didn't reward you. I will never forget Brother Lu's kindness in showing the way."
"How dare you. General, if necessary, I am willing to tie my head and accompany him for a walk."
"really?"
"Since ancient times, heroes have emerged from young boys. Why wouldn't you want to follow a hero like the general?"
Ma Rong had heard such words from the young hero so many times that he was not too proud. Of course he smiled and said, "Brother Lu won't need to take risks in the future. There are Mongols in our army."
Xie Dongjia asked: "General Ma still wants to know about the situation on the grassland. Zu Yun, please tell me."
Lu Zuyun didn't look relaxed. He looked at Xie Dongjia and Ma Rong.
"During the Great Court Meeting, the Tatars should have already known the news of the imperial court's trade blockade, so many of their people have come to Datong recently. They want to buy more salt, iron, and cloth before the official blockade. But with me The person making the connection was obviously in a hurry, I guess it’s hard for the Tatars to survive the winter this year.”
The blockade was already being discussed during the imperial court meeting, so it shouldn't be difficult for the Tatars to find out through spies' reports or various information.
But that's not the problem.
Ma Rong raised his eyebrows in thought and said: "The imperial court's ban should be over soon. The blockade policy was not overturned during the imperial meeting. In the past two or three months, I have been busy with the matter of Zhuangtian in Beizhili. When His Majesty reacts, he will definitely Ask about this matter. So Mr. Xie, first of all, stop doing that business of yours. Although this will cause our news to be cut off, there is nothing we can do about it."
"Can you fight?" Xie Dongjia asked slightly worriedly.
"I don't know. But who would really wait to die of cold and hunger?"
If there was no trade, how would these prairie people survive without robbing?
Just the lack of salt can kill them.
The more Ma Rong thought about it, the more he felt that the situation was wrong.
He couldn't stay here any longer, so he turned around and was about to go out. Several soldiers also brought his horse to him.
However, before their group had taken a few steps, the sound of rapid horse hooves could be heard.
So a soldier in military uniform dismounted and knelt down on one knee, "General, General Zhou is summoning us urgently! General, please return to camp quickly!"
Ma Rong no longer hesitated, clamped his legs around the horse's belly, "Drive!"
General Military Mansion.
Zhou Shangwen has already received the imperial edict, and deputy generals Ma Yihuai and Yan Xingkui, as well as generals Sun Xilie, Chang Dacheng, Liu Jiangjie, and Xu Zhenan are all present.
The military order was issued very quickly, and soon Ma Rong arrived.
"The imperial court has received news that Dayan Khan will definitely invade the border this year. The only thing that cannot be determined is where and when he will choose to invade. The emperor, the Military Aircraft Department and the Ministry of War all think that Datong is the least likely, but the imperial court gave The purpose of giving people money, food, and horses is naturally not to make us just sit in Datong and watch at this critical moment.
To put it bluntly, I, Zhou Shangwen, have an elite army, and I am not yet in my seventies or eighties. I am thinking more about making achievements. This Dayan Khan took a detour, but it was not beautiful. How could I help him? "
The orders of the Military Aircraft Department and the Ministry of War were passed on to several generals, and finally fell into Ma Rong's hands.
Zhou Shangwen continued: "What do you think it should be?"
"Of course we have to fight him out," Sun Xilie said.
The so-called fight out means to lead the troops north and west. While they are sending troops to the pass, the Ming army here can completely take away his lair.
Although the Tatars grew up on horses, they would not drag their families with them when they went out to fight. Women, children, and all kinds of accumulated materials would definitely be left behind.
Without protection, these people are just a bunch of sheep waiting to be slaughtered on the grassland.
This is not hard to imagine.
Ma Yihuai also nodded, "Looking at the decree, the court should also have this intention."
Yulin, Ningxia, and Gansu to the west of Datong were beyond the reach of Datong. The news was passed on and they were rushed to arrive. This took too long. By the time they arrived, they couldn't even eat the dust raised by the Tatar cavalry.
"It's just about surrounding Wei and rescuing Zhao. Moreover, we have gone out to the Great Wall several times and our strength has increased this year, so it will definitely not be a problem."
Yan Xingkui asked a question, "What do the right-wing Mongolians say?"
…
…
Ma Rong listened to their discussion for a long time, but he didn't interrupt much because he felt that it was not a good idea to surround Wei and rescue Zhao. But the Military Aircraft Department and the Ministry of War seem to have this idea, and the deputy generals and staff generals under the chief military officer also think so.
They always felt that Dayan Khan would not leave his lair alone.
The truth is this, but the problem lies in one, such an obvious situation, even a fool can imagine it, would Dayan Khan not think of it?
That was a great Khan who aspired to unify Mongolia, and he was definitely not someone who only knew a few tricks and three-legged cat kung fu.
…
"Ma Rong?!"
"The general is here!"
"For those two tribes of ten thousand households in Mongolia on the right, you will lead the Yulin Army and Yibula together. Remember, no matter whether they are willing to surrender or not, do not conflict with them. As long as they do not fight with Dayan Khan. .”
"You will finally understand."
"What's wrong with you?" Zhou Shangwen looked at him strangely.
Ma Rong was just a little uneasy, but he didn't think through many joints. "It will be fine in the end."
Ma Yihuai looked at his son with slightly suspicious eyes.
Seeing him like this, Zhou Shangwen didn't ask any more questions, "Okay, let's prepare separately. I will reply to the court. Once the emperor gives permission, we will choose the opportunity to go on the expedition!"
Everyone dispersed.
At night time.
Ma Yihuai went to find his son and found him standing in a daze looking into the distance.
"You didn't say a word during today's discussion. What's wrong?"
Ma Rong turned around and said, "Dad, you are here."
"I'm asking you again."
"Well... I'm thinking that if the kid is Dayan Khan, how will this battle be fought? If it's dad, how will it be fought?"
Ma Yihuai frowned and said, "It's difficult to fight. If you move, the rear will be weak. Do you think our strategy is inappropriate?"
"It's not inappropriate, but Dayan Khan must want it. There is nothing in this world that can't be imagined. Once you think of it, there is always a way to deal with it. And..."
"And what?"
"And a heroic figure will not be easily afraid. We all think that he will avoid Datong's cavalry. But if I were Dayan Khan, I would definitely think that there must be a battle between the Tatars and the Ming Dynasty. Since there is such a battle , then the Datong cavalry would not be able to hide if they wanted to. At the same time, there are still two ten thousand households on the right wing who are disobedient, and Yongxiebu has submitted to the Ming Dynasty. There is no guarantee that those two ten thousand households will also submit. In that case..."
Ma Rong pursed his lips and said decisively, "Dad, if it were me, I would fight Datong! Fight Datong desperately and desperately!"
Ma Yihuai didn't look joking at all, "You didn't say it just now because you thought Mr. Zhou wouldn't believe it."
"The imperial court won't believe it."
"What about your reasons? Are they the same ones just now?"
"More than that. Dad, if you think about it carefully, if you don't attack Datong, if you enter the Central Plains from Yulin or Ningxia, the defense you will first face will be much stronger, because everyone knows that it is weak. Since it is weak, from the imperial court to Yangge Lao, it will definitely be strengthened. Guard, Dayan Khan must also know this. Secondly, if Datong's soldiers and horses are allowed to run rampant at will, he will have to worry about where Datong's soldiers have gone along the way. What if his retreat is blocked? The risk is not high, but Very deadly.
In other words, when fighting against Yulin or Ningxia, they would achieve smaller results with more sacrifices and take certain risks. More importantly, they would not be able to deal with the main force of the Ming army. In this way, they would not be able to deter the two right-wing Mongolian soldiers. households, and with the implementation of the blockade policy, they will inevitably become weaker and the Ming army will be stronger. In this way, they will eventually be wiped out one day.
Instead of this, why not fight Datong? Defeating Yulin and Ningxia is the same result. It is nothing more than the difference between early death and late death. But if they win, they will first eliminate the main force of the Ming Dynasty. In this way, the two right-wing Mongolian households will not dare to surrender to the Ming Dynasty easily. Maybe they can also conquer them with the power of a great victory, which can even more frighten the capital. Ming Dynasty's strength cannot be restored as soon as possible, and they will continue to violate borders next year and the year after that. In this way, the dead situation is alive! "
Ma Yihuai put his hands on his hips, and his head went numb when he said, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! Is he crazy, or are you crazy? You didn't say it, but if you did, Mr. Zhou would probably scold you!"
"Dad! That's not crazy. If he is really a grassland hero, he should choose like a child. As for saying that the enemy is stronger... this is not a reason to deter strong men."
In fact, at first I thought it was quite risky, but that was the chance of survival.
"But you also know that General Zhou can't get into this position, and His Majesty won't recognize this position either!"
Ma Yihuai raised his voice, which suddenly calmed Ma Rong down.
Yes, how could they tell the emperor? How to tell the civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty?
Your Majesty, we are the strongest, but we are the most dangerous?
Thinking further, if Dayan Khan is really hiding from Datong, how will Zhou Shangwen explain it?
They were in Datong, but they were also in the court.
(End of chapter)
