In the summer and autumn in the north, vegetation is lush. In Gyeonggi Province, you can see green vegetation and scattered farmland and villages.
Dayan Khan himself was thinking that he was like boiling a frog in warm water, and somehow he got to this point.
Except for the sneak attack in the first battle of Yanghe, which went smoothly, there were some minor accidents in the subsequent attacks on Datong and Zijingguan, but there was no fatal defeat that could make him change his attack plan.
So I kept going.
Until Kutai disappeared, the number of three thousand soldiers and horses that could be returned was less than two hands.
He suddenly realized that this continuous and minimal loss had reached a point where he could no longer ignore it.
At this time, he no longer needed the Han man's reminder. He knew that something was not quite right based on his years of experience.
But this year's attack on the Ming Dynasty was originally a counterattack in a desperate situation. Otherwise, the Ming Dynasty strictly implemented the blockade policy, and the tribe's strength would be greatly damaged during the winter this year.
Therefore, if the purpose of the war is not achieved, he will not be able to retreat. He has no regrets until today.
It's just... we can't divide our troops anymore,
Three years ago, Huoshii underestimated the enemy and divided his troops, and was surrounded by the Ming army.
Now he has more than 20,000 elite cavalry and infantry, totaling 50,000. As long as they are combined together, it will not be easy for the Ming army to defeat him in a field battle!
Dayan Khan has this confidence.
Woo!
Woo!
The early morning war trumpet sounded, and the Tatar troops moved.
Zhu Houzhao seemed to be able to hear his voice in the capital.
"What does it mean that we didn't attack the capital?"
The emperor quickly turned around and asked the person who reported the report.
Xu Shi's tone of voice was a little harsh, and Wang Bing was a little frightened. "Your Majesty, I have confirmed this matter repeatedly. The little Tatar prince is leading his troops to the direction of Liangxiang."
"He won't attack the city?"
We are all under the walls of the capital, but we know we can't defeat them, so at least we have to fight.
Zhu Houzhao felt the same as Dayan Khan, that is, many things did not develop completely according to his plans, such as the unexpected loss of Zijin Pass.
"Could it be to show the enemy weakness and lure the defenders to pursue? Then turn around and counterattack halfway through the pursuit?" Wang Hao put forward this idea.
"Not likely," Wang Bing said: "The little Tatar prince walked very quickly and showed no other suspicious signs."
"What if he just doesn't attack the city, but mainly plunders the counties in Gyeonggi Province?"
Zhu Houzhao raised a question that worried him a little. Maybe Dayan Khan felt that it couldn't be defeated anyway, so forget it, and went back with guns, people and food.
But when I looked up, I saw that the other ministers did not have the same emotion.
That is to say, Wang Hao sighed, "If this is the case, the people will suffer."
But that's all.
Han Wen, Min Gui, Yang Tinghe, Liang Chu...
Zhu Houzhao looked at their expressions one by one, and they all remained at the level of sighing. For some reason, he suddenly thought of a possibility.
Just, maybe, to them...it doesn't really matter.
There is no place for ordinary people in history.
The capital is fine...this is the most important thing.
He didn't want to think like that,
"There are millions of people in the capital. It is impossible for me to tolerate the little prince running amok here, killing people and robbing cattle and sheep. Therefore, if he really does not attack the capital, the capital's capable soldiers will attack him."
As soon as this was said, all the ministers expressed their opposition.
"Your Majesty! This will play into the little prince's hands. Once the troops of the capital come out, the capital will be empty. Then the little prince will lead his troops to attack again. Who will defend the capital?"
"Exactly, the capital is the foundation of my Ming Dynasty, and there must be no room for error."
…
Yes, Zhu Houzhao didn't want to think that. He even wanted to believe that these ministers were not what he thought.
But the court and the emperor finally made it feel like this, that no one cares about the people.
"I will not send all the troops to defend the city. I will definitely leave some of them behind. Furthermore, if the Ming army fights with them, even if they lose, the little prince will not be able to escape easily. How much spare power will he have to attack the city? Even if he comes, , why should we be afraid of him?"
"Even if we can't win..." Wang Hao turned to face him, cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the war is dangerous, how can we say that we can't win? What if... what if we lose?"
"What about the people in the capital?! The aliens are massacred in my land of the Ming Dynasty. If the court doesn't protect them, who will protect them?"
When I asked this question, no one could answer.
Between protecting the people and protecting the capital, no one would tell that answer.
Then Wang Bing spoke up, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War can issue an order to urge Datong Commander-in-Chief Zhou Shangwen, Xuanfu Commander-in-Chief Yang Xing, in addition to the troops of King Qin from Shandong and Henan. The various places in the capital will not be slaughtered empty-handed. !”
"I am not the emperor! Don't use these words to deceive me! Datong's report arrived the day before yesterday. How many days did it take for him to get here from Yu County? You tell yourselves! And the troops of Xuanfu are not as good as those of Datong, and they are not as elite as the capital. , As for the guards in Shandong and Henan, they are even more dilapidated. Can we defeat 50,000 Tatar soldiers like this?! Who will stop the little prince while we wait these days?"
"Your Majesty!" Han Wen and Min Gui both knelt down. The emperor's words clearly meant that he wanted to use the elite of the capital. But in this way, the danger would be greatly increased. "I and others all know that your Majesty loves the people like a son. But in terms of priorities, which one is more important, the capital or the counties of Beizhili? I hope your majesty will think twice!"
…
…
When arguing in the palace.
Liangxiang County has received a night warning.
The people stationed here are Shi Feng and Zhu Feng, and the military team sent here by the Military Academy is Han Twelve Lang, Yue Jianting, and Cao Xin.
After Shi Feng brought Hu Benwei here, the recruitment went more smoothly than he imagined. Because Liangxiang County is close to the capital, there were many Huangzhuang and Guanzhuang that had been captured earlier. The land allocation in the first half of the year, There are more people who will benefit directly.
Resistance to the Tatars was therefore particularly intense.
Yizhou and Laishui are still separate townships, but Liangxiang County has unified and formed a food protection team.
At first, the team formed spontaneously by the people was not highly organized. Later, after the three-person team came down, people from all walks of life were classified and organized.
If your legs and feet are good, you can go around and deliver messages. If your body is strong, you should learn how to do it. And everyone can't rub together, they have to be separated.
The townships are named after Zhangji Township, Niuerpu, Daligou and Wangjiazhuang, which is equivalent to a designation.
At first I thought this was very tacky, but Cao Xin insisted on it. It didn’t matter if people from Wangjiazhuang went to Zhangji Township, and people from Zhangji Township also came. Everyone’s goal was the same, which was to protect food.
Moreover, the people have a strong sense of country, and it was these names that made him understand what he was fighting for here.
They are not fighting for others, but for the villagers in these places themselves!
In addition to food, many people also have wives and children. As long as you are a man, it goes without saying what you should do at this time.
Later, Shi Feng led the Tiger Guards into Liangxiang County, which made the local people even more excited.
But a few days ago, when the Tatar army passed by here, it was in a hurry and did not come to attack the county. They just released some troops, and these scattered Tatars seemed to be rehearsing for them. At least try to see if the planned chain of command works.
But today is different.
There were professional guards in the Huben Guards who refused to collect food at night, so they went to the county town in the morning to report.
The Tatar army is coming here!
"How many people are here?" Shi Feng turned around fiercely and looked at his soldiers with excitement.
"They're all here!"
"Are you all here?" Even Zhu Feng beside him was shocked.
Zhou Zheng, the magistrate of Liangxiang, looked like a thin teacher. He asked, "Are you coming to Liangxiang?"
"Yes! It's absolutely true!"
"What does this mean?" Zhu Feng really couldn't understand. "When we arrived at the capital, we stopped fighting and then turned back. Do we want to go back?"
"It's impossible to go back." Shi Feng has known Dayan Khan to some extent since the battle at Zijingguan. In a sense, he is also a cruel person who will not give up until he achieves his goal. At this stage, , how could he go back?
"If he doesn't go back, what other reason would make him come back?"
"Maybe it's food..."
"It's just food and grass!" Three people walked in from outside the house, led by the tall and young Han Twelve Lang. "Students see the commander, Xiaoguo Gong."
"It seems everyone has gotten the news."
Liangxiang Zhouzhi County was quite nervous, "Why did it come true!"
"The student has a question and would like to ask the commander."
"explain."
"The commander thinks it's possible that the little prince is withdrawing his troops?"
"Withdraw troops?" Shi Feng recalled that he had seen Dayan Khan from a distance, "...why do you ask?"
"Because in the eyes of the students, the Tatar army has a very small chance of winning, and withdrawing the troops at this time is the best strategy. Although food and grass may be one of the reasons, retreating the troops is also."
If you think about it from this perspective, Shi Feng can only shake his head, "The little prince conquered Oara and violated the Ming Dynasty. He fought thousands of miles for more than ten years and Mongolia was almost unified for him. This kind of person still has 50,000 soldiers and horses today. What is your name?" He admits his failure? How can that be done?"
These kind of current heroes are all very confident people, and temporary difficulties will not scare them. How come you are just trying to get people to admit their failure? What do you rely on? By mouth?
"Then it's food and fodder! According to His Majesty's decree, all parts of the capital give priority to food protection. Although there is still food robbed by him, it is more than 50,000 people and more than 30,000 horses. The supply of food and grass is not smooth. How can he attack the capital? ?”
"No matter what the reason is, the little prince has pointed to a good hometown. This battle will be difficult."
Shi Feng was eager for revenge, but when he heard that the little prince had led all the troops, he was also a little worried.
“Since it’s difficult, let’s report it truthfully and ask for help!”
Zhou Zhixian also responded, "Yes, 50,000 Tatar soldiers and horses, how can the people of Liangxiang County defend it?"
"Where are the reinforcements?"
Han Twelve Lang said: "If we fight tenaciously, there will be reinforcements!"
"what for?"
"The little prince's situation at this time is a desperate one, but if the war goes wrong again, he will have to retreat no matter what. As long as he is unable to threaten the capital anymore, reinforcements will be available by then."
Shi Feng's eyes lit up, and for the first time he paid attention to the young man under twenty years old in front of him.
"Your name is Han Twelve Lang?"
Yue Jianting at the side explained, "The commander doesn't know something. Twelve Lang is the top student in the military academy every time."
Han Twelve Lang nodded modestly.
They don't need to win, they just need to stall.
Even if he couldn't hold off, the little prince had been delayed here for too long, and once the soldiers of the court arrived, he would inevitably fail.
"Commander, Little Duke, if we can really hold back the little prince, not only will the Commander and Little Duke be exempted from their previous crimes, but they can even achieve new achievements."
Shi Feng was not just a matter of meritorious service, he also had many brothers who died at the hands of the Tatars.
"We meet the enemy!"
(End of chapter)
