The snow was falling, it was boiling and noisy.
Mahamu watched as the road ahead was gradually covered by heavy snow, and he could not even see into the distance. He couldn't help but feel a little irritable. The whip in his hand twitched, breaking pieces of snowflakes, while the war horse under him only took two steps forward and then stopped. Not forward.
Taiping drove his horse forward and looked up at the heavy snowfall in the sky: "We can't continue to move forward. Not to mention the cold weather, the horses are tired and the sergeants are also tired. It's time to rest."
Mahamu did not answer Taiping's words and looked sideways at Zhewuduo: "How far is it from Polo City?"
Zhewuduo took out the map, looked around again, and shook his head: "Under the heavy snow, it is impossible to identify the specific location, but based on the itinerary, the distance to Polo City should be only about two hundred miles."
"Two hundred miles!"
Mahamu frowned.
If it hadn't been for this heavy snowfall, it would have been impossible to capture Polo City in two days, then go straight to Sailimu Lake, descend from a high place, and attack Ili City!
But God was not kind, and a heavy snow blocked the way. What was even more troublesome was that no one knew how heavy the snow would be, whether it would be one hour or one day.
"March in the snow!"
Mahamu gritted his teeth.
This may not be the best decision, but it is the right choice.
It was difficult to oppose Tupolo and Taiping, so he ordered the cavalry behind him to follow. However, after only advancing twenty miles, Mahamu had to order a stop to rest.
The strong wind blew up the snowflakes, which made it difficult to see clearly even from a distance of two feet away. The sergeants behind were already lagging behind. If they continued like this, there would probably be a group of people missing the next time they were counted.
Pitch the tent.
Mahamu did not arrange for sergeants to patrol. In such a ghost world, there is no need for patrols.
First, the main strategy of the Ming army in Xijiang Province has always been to hold on to the city. Even if Mahamu peeked from outside Urumqi, Qu Neng did not send troops to fight. Except for following and sweeping away the scouts, the Ming army never sent out. Any cavalry team of more than a hundred people.
Second, the Wala march was secretive and entered the edge of the desert from time to time. No one could follow without being discovered. The Ming army didn't even know where they were, so it was impossible to send a large army to attack blindly.
Third, the heavy snow blocked Oala's path and also blocked the Ming army. This was a fair barrier.
The Ora cavalry were indeed exhausted to the limit. After many sergeants got into the tent, they didn't even have time to take off their clothes and armor, so they burned cow dung and fell asleep.
Since the army was raised in July, in three months, the Oara cavalry could be said to have been on horseback all the time, traveling across nearly five to six thousand miles. If it were not for the configuration of three horses per rider, and if it were not for carrying a large amount of supplies, No one can bear the suffering of three months.
From Jiayuguan to Dunhuang, from Hami to the south, I originally wanted to go to Loulan, but then suddenly turned around and returned to the north of Beishan. I peeked at Urumqi, the capital of Ming Dynasty in Western Xinjiang. I waited for an opportunity but never got one. The Ming army huddled in the city. There is no possibility of taking action at all.
No need to tempt, for temptation is death.
The city of Urumqi was tall and solid, and equipped with a large number of firearms. Without a better way to deal with firearms, Mahamu did not intend to sacrifice his soldiers outside the Ming Dynasty's city.
In desperation, they only had to retreat from Urumqi City and then enter the desert. Although they did not go deep into the desert, it slowed down the marching speed and made it difficult. Especially after entering October, the desert nights were too cold.
Even after experiencing countless difficulties and sacrificing many soldiers along the way, Wala still approached the Polo City of the Ming Dynasty and approached Ili without anyone noticing!
Inside the tent, candlelight flickered.
He took off the wine bag from Tupolo's waist, drank a few sips, and said indifferently: "Mom, I can't even drink a sip of wine these days. I live on this mare's milk. Mahamu, we We will capture Yili and the racecourse of Ming Dynasty, right?"
Mahamu said firmly: "Yes, we will definitely climb the Tianshan Mountains, occupy Sailimu Lake and the Ili Valley, and turn the countless war horses there into tiles."
Taiping was a little sad: "The most troublesome thing now is this
Luocheng, according to intelligence, the person stationed in Polo City is Cai Xiongying. This person was born in Juren and participated in the battle with Timur. He is a difficult character to deal with. "
Mahamu waved his hand: "We have only one purpose for this trip, and that is war horses, high-quality war horses. Whether Wala can rise and become the king of the Mongolian Plateau will determine how many war horses we can take away this time. Also, How many horses have been killed!"
Without war horses, the Ming Dynasty would not be able to safely control the vast Western Xinjiang Province.
Without war horses, it would have been impossible for the Ming Dynasty to form a super-large cavalry that could threaten the survival of the Oara tribe.
Destroying the racecourse and killing the horses will weaken the power of Ming Dynasty and protect Wala. Of course, excellent war horses need to be taken away, which is the key to whether Wala can become stronger.
This time when the war started against the Ming Dynasty, Mahamu initially wanted to occupy Xijiang Province, cut off the Ming Dynasty's access to Hami, and realize the westward migration of the Oara tribe. However, the popularity of Ming Dynasty firearms, self-sufficient farming in Xijiang Province, the hoarding of large amounts of materials, and the inflexible strategy made it impossible for Mahamu to realize this strategy.
The Ming Dynasty, with its cities and firearms, is an existence that no cavalry team can defeat, especially the Ming Dynasty's divine machine cannon. Its range is much farther than Wala's arrows. Before they can charge, people have sent in missiles falling from the sky. Black gift, who can bear this.
If the grand strategy cannot be realized, then turn to a small strategy: weaken the Ming Dynasty, strengthen Oara, and buy time.
In order to achieve this small strategy, the best way is to take away a large number of high-quality war horses, and then completely destroy the Ming Dynasty's horse farm.
It is not that Wala is short of horses. Over the years, in order to please the Ming Dynasty, hundreds of war horses have been sent there every year. After all, they are an alliance and need to do business.
Even some generals were disobedient and secretly sold many war horses in order to obtain exquisite silks and porcelain from merchants, enjoy stronger wine, and buy better spices.
In this long-distance campaign, Mahamu spent all his capital and brought all the war horses of the entire tribe. This was enough for one person and three riders, but now there are only one person and two riders left, and the missing one is , has reached the stomach. There was no other way. After months of long-distance marching, no matter how much food you brought, you wouldn't be able to get enough food. You could only eat war horses at the end.
Not weakening the Ming Dynasty would mean that Oara was not safe anywhere, and the racecourse was the biggest threat to Oara besides firearms. Once the Ming Dynasty had a large number of cavalry, the Oara tribe would no longer have room to survive, and the vast grasslands would not be able to escape the pursuit of the Ming army.
"Report!"
A sergeant shouted outside the tent.
"Come in!"
Mahamu shouted.
The sergeant entered the tent, saluted and reported, "We caught a lone Ming trader."
"Not a spy of the Ming Army?"
Mahamu became nervous.
Although snowy days are not suitable for fighting, who can guarantee that this guy Qu Neng will not do the opposite, and it is not impossible for him to come over and beat himself up.
The sergeant hesitated, shook his head and said, "Not like a sergeant."
Mahamu ordered Yuezhe to bring the man over. Looking at the thin and short man, he finally believed that this was not a cavalry or spy of the Ming Dynasty, and asked sternly: "Who are you and why are you here?"
The clerk was frightened and trembling: "I, I am Wang Tiehan, a clerk from Huizhou merchants. This time I followed the shopkeeper to Yili to buy goods. I just came out to relieve myself. I lost my way in the heavy snow. As I walked, I... I was caught by you..."
Mahamu looked at the clothes on the waiter's body. It had the mark of Huizhou merchants and the word "Shen" hanging on it. He thought it had something to do with Shen Yiyuan, so he relaxed and said, "As long as you tell the truth, I won't kill you."
"Explain what?"
Wang Tiehan wanted to cry. This was his first time doing business. How could he be so unlucky to meet these murderous men?
Mahamu asked in a deep voice: "Where did your caravan come from?"
"Kannai."
Wang Tiehan did not hesitate.
Mahamu then asked: "Did the Ming Dynasty send a large army to the west, and did it recruit a large number of civilians into Hami and other places to prepare for large-scale wars?"
? "
The roads that the caravan takes are basically official roads. If there is any movement, these people will definitely hear about it.
Wang Tiehan looked at Mahamu and lowered his head.
"Why don't you say anything? Aren't you afraid that I will kill you?"
Mahamu snapped.
Zhe Wuduo immediately pulled out the knife and put it on Wang Tiehan's neck.
Wang Tiehan's eyes were red, he looked at Mahamu, and said sadly: "Emperor Jianwen, emperor, he, he has..."
On and off, not really sure.
Tupolo and Taiping became nervous and anxious.
Could it be that?
Taiping asked sharply: "How is Emperor Jianwen?"
Wang Tiehan wiped his eyes: "I heard from the shopkeeper that there was a vassal rebellion in Jinling. Emperor Jianwen was poisoned and fell into a coma. Even the prince was missing. There is no one in charge of the court now, let alone the Western Expedition. A big deal..."
"Zhu Yunwen is dead?!"
Mahamu was pleasantly surprised.
To say that Wala's biggest enemy is none other than Emperor Jianwen!
The reason why firearms flourished in the Ming Dynasty was because of Zhu Yunwen's strong push!
The reason why the Ming Dynasty conquered Yili and made it the Western Xinjiang Province of the Ming Dynasty was planned by Zhu Yunwen!
The Ming Dynasty's national power is booming, its soldiers are strong, its people are rich and the country is strong. Behind these are the results of Zhu Yunwen's eleven years of hard work!
There is no doubt that he is a good emperor of the Ming Dynasty and a promising emperor, but to Wala, he is a demon, a demon who wants to eat all his enemies, a demon who wants to eliminate all threats to the Ming Dynasty!
Now, Zhu Yunwen is dead!
The Ming Dynasty's prosperous national destiny will be interrupted by his fall, and it may even fall into civil war, split, and then decline!
Putu Polo was in a trance.
Could it be that the Ming Lord of a generation died in conspiracy and palace chaos?
Zhu Yunwen, I have met him many times. He was a seemingly gentle guy, but in fact he was a strong man. It is a pity that he died, but it is great news for Wala!
Perhaps, the chaos of the Ming Dynasty is coming, Wala is about to rise, and plotting the entire Western Xinjiang is no longer a foolish dream!
