Datong, Shanxi.
Wuding Hou Guo Ying was inspecting the city wall. Suddenly, yellow sand rose in the distance, covering half of the sky. A cold and desolate wind blew. The sergeant on the city wall held a long gun and looked motionless ahead.
The cold wind cracked the fingers, revealing reddish flesh.
Even though it was so cold and painful, not one of the soldiers on the city wall complained. Instead, they gritted their teeth and stubbornly stood upright.
After Shanxi merchants came out of the customs, Guo Ying moved the Dusi Yamen to the tower of Wuding Gate. He would patrol the city when he woke up and lie down to sleep when he was sleepy.
Guo Ying's actions hurt all his colleagues in the capital, and fellow magistrates Wang Chengming, Qianhu Zhang Tao and others could only accompany him with a sad face.
Is there anything you can do? Master Dusi won't go back to sleep, who dares to go back?
Let’s build city walls…
Wang Chengming, Zhang Tao and others did not quite understand Guo Ying's actions. The north wind was strong, and the Beiyuan cavalry would not come out at the moment. As for such a big fanfare and preparedness, it seemed as if they were coexisting with the city.
"There are cavalry, there are cavalry! Close the city gate and prepare for war!"
Urgent shouts were heard from the watchtower, gongs were ringing continuously, and groups of sergeants entered the city gate and slowly closed the heavy iron gate.
When the sergeants in the military camp under the city heard the news, they put on their armor and weapons and climbed up the tower in an orderly manner.
Some officers on horseback were running on the city wall, shouting loudly: "The Tatars are coming, please cheer up and rub your hands to warm them up!"
Spearmen, swordsmen, and archers stood in three rows behind the city wall, on top of the archery tower. The crossbows were already drawn, and the long and thick arrows were aimed at the front.
There are many cavalry in the city, waiting for military orders to rush out of the city.
From the early warning to the completion of the rectification, it took only half a quarter of an hour.
Guo Ying summoned all the officers and was currently on the city tower, holding a monocular telescope and looking at the long yellow sand in the distance. However, the yellow sand had blocked his sight, and even through the telescope, he could not see the details clearly.
"Lord Tosi, let me use it!"
Tongzhi Wang Chengming rubbed his eyes and said.
Guo Ying glared at Wang Chengming and said: "How can such a military and national treasure be used casually? If you want to use it, wait until you become the governor."
Wang Chengming looked at the stingy Guo Ying depressedly.
This guy has become obsessed with the telescope. He takes it out to see what's going on outside the city when he has nothing to do. He shows off all day long and won't let anyone touch him. It's so abominable that it makes people grit their teeth.
Wang Chengming only used the telescope once. The magic of seeing far away excited Wang Chengming. With the telescope, he could have a panoramic view of the situation within five miles outside Datong. Even if he sent a scout out, he could still see the enemy from a distance. Army, come back and report calmly.
I heard that this is the best telescope that the craftsmen of the capital spent a long time building, and it was given priority to Datong.
The number was so small that Wang Chengming wanted to cry, just two.
Guo Ying took one away, and the other was on this guy who just came over - Gu Yun, Qianhu of the Security Bureau.
One is the Dusi, and the official is bigger than himself, so he can't handle it.
One of them is from the Security Bureau. He is a junior official, but he still can't handle it.
"Sir, look at this dusty area, there are at least three to four thousand cavalry."
Gu Yun clasped his fists in salute and said seriously.
Guo Ying put away the telescope, walked to the desk, and said in a deep voice: "Get ready to fight. Anyone who leaves the city without orders will be killed!"
"As you command!"
Wang Chengming, Zhang Tao and other generals agreed and left the tower one after another to go to their command positions.
Gu Yun stared into the distance and said to Guo Ying doubtfully: "It's December now, and the weather is cold.
It's been freezing and snowing for two times, and on a day when the wind and sand are blowing, how could there be such a large cavalry? "
Guo Ying shook his head, walked out of the tower, stood behind the crenellations and said to Gu Yun who was following him: "Wolves will always come out to look for food when they are hungry. The wind and sand cannot stop their ambitions. Five days ago, more than two hundred Tatars peeked at Datong, and finally Going west, more than fifty Tatars passed by three days ago. It can be seen that they have always wanted to go south to plunder, and now they are using a large army to open the door from Datong."
Gu Yun grinned and sneered: "Datong is an important border defense town. If only three or four thousand people come, haha, then they will die. If you want to enter the customs from here, don't even think about it without thirty or forty thousand people."
Guo Ying pointed to the dust in the distance and said: "But some people like to die."
Gu Yun patted the city wall and stared into the distance with squinted eyes. He suddenly realized something, took out his telescope and looked at it, and said to Guo Ying: "Sir, these people seem to be walking very slowly."
"Well, what's the problem?"
Guo Ying looked at Gu Yun.
Gu Yun frowned and said: "If it was the sand brought by the cavalry charge, the cavalry should be approaching at this time, but now the yellow sand is endless, but there are no cavalry rushing out. This seems a bit abnormal..."
Guo Ying immediately understood what Gu Yun said. The cavalry was running very fast, but the yellow sand in the distance seemed to be swaying slowly, moving forward little by little, without any sign of charging.
The Tatar cavalry are the best at surprise attacks. They spur their horses like thunder, use their scimitars like the full moon, and shout like ghost trumpets. But now, they hear neither the sound of horse hooves nor the ghost trumpets.
"Could it be that the cavalry has slowed down?"
Guo Ying asked with some uncertainty.
Gu Yun shook his head and said: "Such sand and dust must have been trampled by many horses. If the cavalry slowed down, the sand and dust brought up by the entire team would not be so violent."
Guo Ying recognized Gu Yun's analysis and did not relax his vigilance.
Gu Yun moved the telescope slightly, then suddenly stopped. In his eyes, several figures appeared, Sanqi!
"Above Heaven"
It's just that the telescope is still not clear enough to see its appearance.
"somebody is coming!"
Gu Yun said quickly.
Guo Ying snatched Gu Yun's binoculars and looked carefully. As the three horses continued to approach, Guo Ying finally saw the people on the horses clearly, with a suspicious expression on her face.
Chang Baiye raised his whip to urge the horse, and the horse ran quickly, with the cold wind going straight into his body.
Not cold, not cold at all, the blood is hot and boiling!
I, Chang Baiye, have been outside the customs, met the most noble Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, and completed the mission assigned by the imperial court!
I'm back alive!
Although it was expected to return to Daming in the spring, the plan could not keep up with the change. He chose the right route when he went, and found Yuan Ting's location without much effort.
Coupled with the Yuanting Incident, the caravan changed its plan and returned early.
On the way back, they encountered secret confrontations between the Oara and Tatar tribes. Small-scale cavalry continued to appear. In order to avoid long nights and long dreams, the caravan accelerated its return.
Chang Baiye looked at Datong Chengguan and for the first time felt that it was no longer so annoying.
"My boss, we can't go any further."
The guy on the side shouted to Chang Baiye.
Further forward, we will reach the arrow coverage area of the city. If we are killed at the doorstep, it will be a big loss.
Chang Baiye pulled back the reins and raised the handsome horse high, but Chang Baiye did not fall to the horse, but sat on the horse's back until the horse stopped safely.
Above the city gate, Wang Chengming saw that there were only three riders under the city, so he shouted to Guo Ying not far away: "Master Dusi, give the order, I will shoot these arrogant Tatars to death."
! "
"Shut up, no one is allowed to do anything!"
Guo Ying roared angrily, leaned out of the crenel, and looked carefully at the people under the city.
"Lord Du Si, we are back. You have seen me, Chang Baiye."
Chang Baiye shouted at the top of his lungs a hundred steps away from the city gate.
Guo Ying frowned and looked up at the dust surging in the distance. The dust slowly dispersed, revealing sheep, cows, camels, and horses.
They turned out to be the eight major Shanxi merchants who came out of customs? !
Guo Ying couldn't believe it and shouted to Zhang Tao: "Take five hundred cavalry out of the city and see if there are any Tatars hidden under the horses' bellies!"
Zhang Tao's face turned pale, five hundred cavalry? If he really hid the Tatars, wouldn't that mean he was going to die?
"Sir, are five hundred cavalry too few..."
"Get out! Get out of the city immediately!"
Guo Ying shouted sharply.
Zhang Tao had no choice but to hold up his hands and said: "If Zhang sacrifices his life for the country, then I will leave my wife and children to Master Du Si!"
Guo Ying had a toothache. This bastard spoke as if he wanted to steal his wife, without even looking at what his wife looked like.
Zhang Tao ordered five hundred cavalry and rushed out of the city gate. Without saying hello to Chang Baiye, he divided into fans and moved toward the caravan to outflank it.
Chang Qianli was riding on a horse and was discussing with Hou Xiyu and others how to transport the wool to the capital when Zhang Tao arrived.
Chang Qianli was very familiar with Zhang Tao. He waved his hand and shouted: "Master Zhang."
Zhang Tao looked at the horses and camels around him and found no trace of the Tatars. He couldn't help but feel relieved. He stopped his horse and asked Chang Qianli and others, "Didn't you say you're coming back in the spring?"
"Haha, the goods have been sold completely, and we have got all the news that the court wants. Naturally, we have to go home to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year."
Chang Qianli dismounted, pointed at the large caravan behind him, and said, "Don't worry, there are no Tatars. The weapons and knives are all at the back and have been put away long ago. Is Lord Dusi here?"
Zhang Tao gestured towards the city gate with his thumb, which meant that Guo Ying was watching from the top of the city. Seeing that the soldiers around him reported that there was no problem, he nodded and said: "Get ready to enter the city."
Chang Qianli looked in the direction of the city gate, jumped on his horse, raised his whip, and shouted loudly: "Guys, enter the city!"
Go out together and come back together, this is already a success!
The caravan entered the city in batches, and Zhang Tao led 500 cavalry on patrol outside. This was a basic defense. The caravan was too large, and it would not take a short time to completely enter the city.
Once a large-scale cavalry took the opportunity to raid and the caravan occupied the city gate, causing the city gate to not be closed in time, Datong would be in danger.
Guo Ying was a serious soldier. Before the caravan completely entered Datong, he had been standing on the tower, his cold and stern eyes staring at the movement in the distance like an eagle.
In the past two hours, the caravan drove a large number of cattle, sheep, camels and horses into the city, and Zhang Tao's cavalry quickly returned to the city.
The heavy city gates were closed again, and Datong's war preparations were lifted.
Guo Ying, Gu Yun and others came down from the city wall. Chang Qianli, Hou Xiyu and other eight major Shanxi merchants had been waiting for a long time and came to greet them one after another.
"Welcome home!"
Guo Ying's always serious face showed a rare smile.
Chang Qianli and others couldn't help but be moved when they heard this. Thousands of words were stuck in their mouths, but they were just moved.
Guo Ying welcomed us home as if we were family members.
These four simple words convey both warmth and respect.
This is the first time that Chang Qianli has been respected by officials since he has been in business for decades. He is also a senior general of the Ming Dynasty and a marquis!
