The person who announced the decree was not someone else, but Han Ziren, deputy envoy of Jinyiwei, who was in charge of Nanzhen Fusi. He came all the way from Xuanfu and never showed his face in Datong. Even Chang Dacheng didn't know that there was such a person in the city.
As a close confidant of the emperor, coming to deliver it in person shows the importance of this matter.
Han Ziren said to Zhou Shangwen: "Back then, Duke Wang Xiangmin was entangled with Li Guang and was attacked by Qingliu in the court. The emperor at that time was still the prince, so he told Duke Wang Xiangmin to just kill the enemy without worrying about the court. Hall, your Majesty wants to say the same thing to General Zhou.
General Zhou is a brave general on the battlefield, and his expression does not change even with thousands of troops. Only the changes in the court situation are often something that warriors are not good at. Your Majesty is particularly concerned about this.
Because this is a war between the Han and the Mongols. The Central Plains Dynasty has been the homeland of the Han people for thousands of years. It is not that we have never had famous generals, but how many generals dominated the battlefield. The northern captives could not hurt them in the slightest, but eventually died at the hands of their own people. In the Song Dynasty, Di Qing and Yue Fei, even if they used one of them well, It will not cause China to sink and be humiliated for hundreds of years. As future generations, we cannot let such regrets happen to us again. "
This purpose is indeed different.
Han Ziren helped Zhou Shangwen up and finally said: "Your Majesty's meaning is very simple. He told me in the secret room that all clans in the world are of ancestral blood. The most intolerable thing is to let the Tatars return to the north. In this battle, The only goal is to win.”
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room was shocked.
What does it mean that all clans in the world are of ancestral blood?
Doesn't the meaning mean that it doesn't matter if I die?
Zhou Shangwen's rough hands trembled. The emperor's decision was the moment he returned with his troops.
If he loses, then everything is meaningless.
"Your Majesty! I understand!" Zhou Shangwen suppressed his excitement and shouted in the direction of the capital.
Then he raised his hands above his head, and the decree was under the sun.
In the room, Chang Dacheng, Ma Yihuai, Yan Xingkui, Ma Rong and other generals all knelt on one knee, as if they were the emperor.
Zhou Shangwen turned around and said, "Pass this general's order, the army will set off in five days! Just one thing in these five days. After returning to the camp, let all those who are not yet married get a wife and keep a seed."
Everyone understood what was going on and shouted, "Yes!!"
The original military order was to set off in two days.
Generally speaking, military orders will not be changed. After all, Zhou Shangwen is leading the army. He is not a loser like the eunuch Wang Zhen. He leads the orthodox emperor on this route one day, but then changes his mind and puts it another way the next day.
Therefore, the whole army was a little surprised.
Because of this, Datong City immediately became different.
Chang Dacheng was kneeling outside Zhou Shangwen's door. He asked to join the expedition no matter what. He said that Datong was a majestic city. Where could the Tatars capture it? One more of him is not too much, and one of less of him is not too much.
Xie Rou of Izumoki immediately asked Lu Zuyun to find Ma Rong.
When the two met, it seemed difficult to say many important things.
Xie Dongjia asked: "I heard that the army will set off in five days?"
"Yes."
"The bravery of the major general should still serve as a pioneer."
Ma Rong did not deny it. He just said, "Xie Dongjia, this is a military order and it is not suitable to be exposed."
"It's because the slaves are so abrupt." Xie Rou turned around and said, "This world is really wonderful. The Tatars attacked the city. Many people in the city hung up white cloths. It seems that they are full of happy words in the past two days."
"yes."
Xie Rou knew it. If she didn't say anything, this dull martial artist wouldn't say anything at all.
"Where's General Ma?"
"My eldest brother already has two sons."
Xie Rou was anxious and couldn't help but talk about him. After that, she simply excused herself from the table.
When she returned to the room, she had already changed into a skimpy daughter's outfit.
"The slave family is not blessed with good fortune. The general is young and has a high position. It is really beyond the reach of the slave family. There are many other things that the slave family has never thought about. There is only one thing."
"Wha...what?"
"The eldest brother has a son, and the second brother should also have a son. Only in this way can the incense continue."
…
…
Ma Rong had a wonderful night.
As Xie Rou herself said, her status was so different that she wanted nothing but a child, and she didn't even want to enter the Ma family.
Don't even be a concubine.
It is said that a woman's reputation is important, but if war is used as money, perhaps this side will be the last in this life.
The so-called status...
She only hopes that people can live. If you can, nothing else matters. If you can't live, everything else is naturally unimportant.
…
…
The Ming Dynasty cavalry has been in Datong for several years. There are locals here, some who have married and have children here, or they have some friends, even bachelors with nothing, they all talk to their horses in a farewell tone. .
Zhou Shangwen also lifted the ban on alcohol. He hosted a banquet for hundreds of generals and colonels in the army, and the soldiers were also allowed to drink on the first night of their rest.
There is no need to say too many sensational words. On the battlefield, there are people who are here today, but they may be separated from each other tomorrow.
These,
I understand.
…
…
"Choose a name." Xie Dongjia put his hand on his flat belly.
"...Already have a child?" Ma Rong asked in surprise.
It made the woman laugh a little.
The young general didn't have much experience, but she was willing to tell this white lie.
…
…
August 28, the second year of Zhengde.
The army left the city,
southward! !
…
…
Different from the tense atmosphere between the capital and the people in Datong, the report received by the emperor was that the Tatars no longer led their troops forward after occupying Zijin Pass.
This is a strange phenomenon.
At that time, he first broke through the Zijin Pass. In excitement, he mobilized his army to surround Beijing in two days.
However, Zhu Houzhao is now facing Dayan Khan who is standing still. There is clearly no danger to defend along the four hundred miles. What is he waiting for?
North Korea and China also have doubts about this.
"Little prince, could it be that you felt that the losses were too heavy and that it was hopeless to attack the capital, so you changed your mind?"
Zhu Houzhao didn't like this overly optimistic conjecture.
"In the battle at Zijingguan, the Tatars must have been short of men and horses. They also rushed for two days, but it was actually considered a failure. This little prince must have learned the lessons of his predecessors."
Such an explanation makes people feel that the measures taken by the Tatars are more reasonable, and the Ming Dynasty will also have to withstand a more violent attack.
The Qianqing Palace was filled with important officials of the imperial court.
Zhu Houzhao didn't like bringing such important matters to Fengtian Palace. So many people were discussing this matter, but in fact there was no discussion.
When the number of people is small, it is easier to come up with opinions and make decisions easier.
"It's always right to be lenient when the enemy is expected. If the battle in the second year of Zhengde was fought to this extent, it would not end in an anticlimactic manner." Wang Hao agreed with the emperor's analysis.
The emperor asked again: "What positions did the two commanders Xue and Xu of Shandong and Henan reach?"
"Back to Your Majesty, both of you commanded the envoys to lead a total of 70,000 troops and arrived in Yizhou and Laishui counties respectively."
From Zijingguan to the west, pass through Yizhou, Laishui, Fangshan, Liangxiang to Marco Polo Bridge, and then you can truly threaten the capital.
The little prince was delayed for some time, so the army of King Qin arrived at both places.
"So it seems that we are stuck on the road ahead of Zijingguan."
"good."
Zhu Houzhao touched his chin. At this time, the soldiers of the Ming Guard were really incompetent. If it weren't for his strict order this time, they wouldn't dare to defend even this kind of county. If it doesn't work well, it will easily collapse in an instant.
But there is nothing that can be done about it. They are usually people who receive royal salaries. After raising them for so many years, when they are needed, they cannot refuse to obey orders just because they are afraid of death.
"The Tatars are fighting hard. Once they leave Zijingguan, they will definitely go to the countryside to burn, kill and loot. I don't want Xue and Xu to defend Yizhou and Laishui. They can't defend it at all.
But even if they lose their lives, they must not ignore the people in the two places! Do you still remember what I once said? The army is the main force, and the militia is the supplement. Without the master, the auxiliary function does not work. Only when the imperial court takes the lead and the people in the prefectures and counties of Northern Zhili have the courage to resist, can Dayan Khan be trapped in the quagmire. It would be best to send a few more elite troops to help. "
The emperor's words made the officials' expressions change. "Your Majesty, the capital is the foundation of the country! There must be no room for error!"
"I know, I know." Zhu Houzhao waved his hands continuously, "Then, if the Tatars show their defeat, I will send troops out of the capital, otherwise I will focus on preserving the capital. Can we, the monarch and his ministers, each take a step back?"
Wang Hao, Han Wen, and Wang Bing were all bored and couldn't say a word.
Zhu Houzhao clicked his tongue and said, "If this doesn't work, I will fight in person!"
"Your Majesty!" Han Wen said anxiously, "It is absolutely impossible to conquer in person. Furthermore, Your Majesty does not need to have such a trivial dispute with the ministers. As for the little Tatar prince, if he really shows that he is unable to do anything, the minister will feel …It’s not impossible…”
"Okay! It's settled then!" Zhu Houzhao took the lead and said, "The little prince only has tens of thousands of troops, what kind of trouble can he make? In the battle of Zijingguan, the combat power of Shanzhi's personal guards is also You all know, it’s not that I don’t attach great importance to the capital, it’s because the little prince can’t win quickly. It’s better to use the remaining brave men to chase the poor bandits, and not to use the name of the academic overlord.”
"On the battlefield, everything is changing. Your Majesty, what if our army... our army's situation is unstable?"
Zhu Houzhao did not change his tone, and his expression became more serious than before.
"If that time comes, Mr. Wang, you will know that I have to choose."
The emperor guards the gate of the country, and the king dies in the country!
Although he does not have a great character, it is absolutely impossible for him to become an emperor who fled south.
"His Majesty!"
While talking, Jin Gui, who was always steady in the attendant's room, suddenly walked in quickly and rashly. He held a piece of paper in his hand with a few oval-shaped drops of bright red blood on it.
"Your Majesty, General Shi is reporting!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao walked away, "General Shi, Shi Feng? He's not dead?!"
"Your Majesty, that's right. After General Shi was injured and unconscious, his subordinates used the golden cicada's escape technique to rescue him. Then more than a hundred cavalry escorted him all the way back to the capital! This is the report just delivered, General Shi He has also woken up! He is asking for forgiveness outside the palace!"
After Jin Gui finished speaking, the emperor also finished reading.
"This Shi Feng also has a great destiny!"
This time, Zhu Houzhao was even more confident. Shi Feng's bravery was beyond words, even though he failed to defend Zijingguan in the end. But this is understandable to Zhu Houzhao. After all, he was attacked from both sides, and the Tatar offensive was extremely fierce. Although he was defeated, the Ming army had not killed so many Tatars in many years. Moreover, the data is second. As a general of the imperial court, anyone who has courage on the battlefield is a good man.
What he cannot understand, accept and tolerate are those who fear the enemy.
"Hurry up and come in! This counterattack will really lack some flavor without him."
