Chapter 34 Jurchens
This is why the Ming Dynasty later assigned the east of the Yalu River to North Korea. Because to Ming Dynasty, these lands did not mean much.
Of course, there is actually another reason for this.
That is He Xi's special status. He had the confidence to make such a decision and temporarily sacrifice the Yalu River coast. The success of canal construction has always been guaranteed. Even giving up the Yalu River coast can still occupy the moral high ground. When the war against Goryeo was launched, it became even more justified.
If an ordinary local official loses a piece of his land, it is enough for him to die.
But He Xi also had to prepare things in advance.
He first wrote a letter to Ye Chen, asking Ye Chen to take a tough stance and fight back if Goryeo dared to violate boundaries. But toughness is a matter of attitude. At the same time, be fully prepared. Evacuate the Ming people east of the Yalu River to the west of the Yalu River as much as possible. When necessary, the east of the Yalu River can be abandoned. Even if it doesn't work, even the west bank of the Yalu River can be given up. He has already transferred part of the navy to the Yalu River front line.
We can maintain this line as soon as possible.
As soon as possible until this fall. Until then, no more reinforcements are possible. At the same time, he was authorized to recruit people of all ethnic groups into the army without restriction when necessary. Including Jurchens, Koreans, etc.
Of course, there won’t be no support at all.
The support He Xi gave was a large amount of weapons and equipment, food, and various iron tools.
These things are hard currency, enough to come in handy when recruiting people of all races.
Secondly, he informed Lan Yu about the situation in Goryeo.
Sapphire doesn't need to do anything. Just need Lan Yu to know.
At present, Liaodong is not ready for the Eastern Expedition, so it does not prevent the two sides from communicating first.
Finally, and most importantly. He will tell all the situations in Liaodong. I already had my own ideas and sent them to Nanjing. Zhu Yuanzhang must know and agree.
This is the premise for everything he does.
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He Xi's letter first came to Ye Chen's hands.
Ye Chen was at the Qianhu Office in Yizhou, carefully studying the contents of the letter. Then he slowly put the letter away. Then they inspected more than 200 boxes of various weapons that had just been delivered from the waterway.
They are all new from Shenyang Iron Works.
Ye Chen checked them one by one and was not too surprised.
In fact, Ye Chen's subordinate. Perhaps it is the most well-equipped unit in the entire Liaodong Army. On the one hand, it is true that Ye Chen's troops have an arduous task. With a thousand people, it is too difficult to defend thousands of miles of rivers and mountains. Naturally, it needs to be strengthened.
Although Ye Chen's army has a thousand households, there are nearly two thousand soldiers in total. They are all cavalry.
This is also the result of strengthening.
On the other hand, there are Ye Chen's connections.
Ye Chen followed He Xi on a trip to Nanyang, although he didn't get much credit. But He Xi also listed Ye Chen as one of his direct descendants and took care of him in many matters. The weapons and equipment are just one end. In addition, Ye Wang also loved his eldest son whom he valued very much, and provided maximum convenience for Ye Chen without violating the court's laws.
There is now Ye Chen's department.
But even so, Ye Chen felt very difficult.
Although He Xi said that when necessary, the east bank of the Yalu River could be abandoned, or even the west bank of the Yalu River. But as a general, the second generation of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, he was very powerful in the country of Ming Dynasty. How could you be willing to do such a thing when the founding momentum has not dissipated.
The Ming Dynasty won victories on all fronts, and even won a great victory over Mongolia. The Liaoyang Province of the Yuan Dynasty can be removed.
At this time, Ye Chen was unwilling to fight a losing battle. Not wanting to lose ground one after another, not to mention that it was beyond its capabilities before, in fact, it had actually given up on the Shuangcheng General Mansion, which was later known as North Korea and Xianxing.
Under such circumstances, he was unwilling to take a step back. Not to mention such a large retreat.
It is simply a disgrace to our ancestors.
not good. Fortunately, He Xi's great support did not allow him to retreat without a fight. This gave Ye Chen a chance. Ye Chen pondered for a long time and made up his mind.
The Yalu River is his last bottom line. If nothing can be done, he will definitely die in the east of the Yalu River. As for other things, they are other people's business. With this in mind, Ye Chen began to make his own arrangements.
Since Ye Chen was determined to die, and with He Xi's authorization, he naturally started doing things lavishly. The first thing he had to do was to unite the Jurchen tribes.
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In fact, the two sides of the Yalu River today are mostly Jurchen territory. This is why Huang Zicheng was able to recruit so many Jurchens here.
Meng brother Timur is only sixteen years old. His father died last year and he has just become the leader of the tribe. He is extremely brave. And he has enough skills. He is still under the leadership of many Jurchen leaders today, but in the next few decades, they will all be Jurchen figures.
But now he was facing Ye Chen, who was going straight to the point.
Ye Chen placed two hundred boxes of weapons in front of Meng Brother Timur. Said: "Nowadays, the Jurchens on both sides of the Yalu River always have to choose one. Either the Ming Dynasty or the Goryeo Dynasty. If the leader chooses the Ming Dynasty, this is a deposit. I, the Ming Dynasty, are rich in the world and have everything. As long as you take your headquarters to join you, from now on, at least I will give you a commander. If you have meritorious service, a hereditary title will not work. The leader can make the decision with just one word."
Meng brother Timur looked at the weapons in the box.
Two hundred boxes of weapons are actually not many. Among them are fifty pairs of armors, all of which are fine iron armors. It is also the latest type of iron armor. There are only a dozen nails, especially one on the chest. Without a blouse, it would be like a mirror.
Meng brother Timur drooled when he saw it.
In addition to these, there are hundreds of long knives and more than a thousand gun heads. etc. It was enough for Tamerlane to arm an army of more than a thousand people.
To be honest, the Jurchens lived in the mountains and forests, and their physiques were first-class. However, now they are repeatedly bullied by the Koreans, and they are even likely to be driven out of the Yalu River Basin. First, the Jurchens are in disarray. Secondly, there is the issue of weapons and equipment.
No matter how much you underestimate Goryeo, Goryeo is also a big country in the east of the sea. It has been a country for hundreds of years and has everything it should have. Although armor is not cheap for them, it is not that they cannot make it. The Jurchens are too far behind in this regard. Also, marching and fighting are not about personal bravery.
The Jurchens were in disarray, with almost no military formation to speak of. Naturally, they could not withstand the Goryeo army.
The latter, Meng brother Timur may not have deep feelings about it. But he has an unforgettable experience of the former. For these armors that can be called heirlooms. Of course I like it very much. I can't wait to rush forward now and lick it.
But he still has sense.
It’s just that good things are hard to come by. So there is a price behind the gains.
Now Goryeo is ready to move, and Ming Dynasty lacks troops on the front line of the Yalu River. Meng brother Timur knows. At this moment, Ming Dynasty recruited him to use him as cannon fodder. Tamerlane, the fierce brother, forcibly resisted his impulse and said, "Sir, are you afraid that I will steal something? Are you going to defect to Goryeo?"
Ye Chen sneered and said, "Do you think I came here today for me? Or for Ming Dynasty?"
Meng brother Timur said: "Isn't it the Ming Dynasty?"
Ye Chen said: "Of course not, it's for myself. The two sides of the Yalu River are just some forest farms, so what if they are thrown to Goryeo? How much loss has Yu Daming suffered? You also know that Daming has just captured Nahachu, and only then did the people along the Yalu River If something goes wrong, nothing will be a problem until the army returns. It's just that I am the guard here. Even if I lose this place, I have a father and Lord He as a guarantee, and I will only be demoted for a few years, so it won't be a problem. However, I lost to the Haidong bandits and returned to the capital. Where will I put my face? I have lost my face to Haidong. So I am not willing to accept it. I took this thing out of the warehouse. Today, the leader is willing Help the Ming Dynasty. Of course, you can say anything. If you don't want to, humph, the leader can try the consequences of taking the things of the Ming Dynasty. If the leader wants to use the knife, that's fine. I will accompany you. However, I have come to the front. Today, both sides of the Yalu River , the leader must choose one."
"Is it the east or the west?"
Meng Brother Timur secretly complained in his heart. It is either a matter of taking or not taking the thing in front of him. If he takes it, he will sacrifice his life for the Ming Dynasty. If he does not take it, he will be the enemy of the Ming Dynasty from now on. Meng brother Timur is also a character. He took a few deep breaths and made up his mind.
