Jingming

Chapter 505: You can only advance, not retreat

There is no doubt that if they can stay in Hetao and Xuanning, which are warmer and have warmer water and grass, do the Tatar ethnic groups prefer the bitter and cold Mobei?

Zhu Houcong didn't know how to do mobilization work.

The Khan Court, which has almost all moved south now, does have some momentum of "taking back its homeland".

But during the Warring States Period, the State of Zhao established Yunzhong County here!

Yang Yiqing, who has passed away, said: "Today's Hetao is Zhou Shuofang, where the Han Dynasty settled in Xiang, and where Helian Bobo ruled ten thousand cities. In the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Ren was willing to build Sanshoujiang City and install 1,800 beacons. The Turks did not dare to cross the mountains to herd horses. In ancient times, To carry out a major event, it is better to work first and take it easy. The husband surrendered and occupied three dangers, and he was covered by thousands of miles. At the beginning of the country, he surrendered and defended Dongsheng, which already lost one side of the danger. Later, he stopped to win in the east to extend the war. Sui, then used one side to cover the rush of more than a thousand miles, thus turning the fertile soil of the Hetao into a bandit's nest."

Looking south to Guanzhong, the Hetao dominates the world. Those who gain the Hetao will travel all over the world, and those who lose the Hetao will lose the world. If the Hetao is safe, the world will be safe. If the Hetao is chaotic, the world will be chaotic.

For the long-term future of Ming Dynasty, this place must be completely transformed into Ming Dynasty’s new home.

I answer that maybe I am playing the "sorrow" and "survival" cards. For the Tatars, this is the case, and Zhu Houcong cannot underestimate it.

Tactically, we must pay enough attention now.

"Your Majesty, the Tatars are coming fiercely. I will send you an invitation from Wansi to return to the Xuan Mansion..."

Mao Bowen couldn't bear this responsibility. Seeing An Da actually unite his troops and rush towards Tumo River, he already understood what tactics An Da was going to use this time.

Regarding this, Zhu Houcong also remembered a sentence in his mind: Concentrate superior forces and annihilate them one by one...

The Ming Dynasty's border troops had to guard the long border from Houtao to Kaiping, so their strength was naturally dispersed.

"Ten sieges", the defenders here in Qiantao only have a total of more than 20,000 frontier troops plus 45,000 escorts from the Beijing camp who have arrived. The "hundreds of thousands of troops" I answered were focused on one place. Even if the Ming army's weapons were more powerful in defending the city, I'm afraid they might still be breached somewhere.

What's more, the emperor is in Datong.

The troops of the Khan Court were directed at the imperial commander's location. If Houtao and Xuanning's frontier troops came to rescue the imperial commander, it would be a more secure field battle for the northern captives.

Zhu Houcong looked at the ministers kneeling aside and shook his head firmly: "What nonsense are you talking about! I've already retreated to Xuan Mansion before the fight started. How can the morale of the army not be in chaos? Ru Li, your petition is really serious. It shouldn’t be!”

Mao Bowen raised his head and looked at his eyes, feeling a little helpless.

This is no joke, I am really fighting for my life.

In the face of a national war of this scale, once the situation changes, it is easy to form a collapse situation.

The number of cavalrymen with war horses was at least over 100,000, which was really scary.

If the emperor, who is personally conducting military campaigns, has three advantages and two disadvantages, the world will be in chaos.

The Ming Dynasty can be more stable. Mao Bowen felt that he was not wrong: "I will come to Jining in person. Will Duke Yi lead the Beijing camp to go with me? No matter what, there is no room for loss in the Five Forts of Jinglu!"

This Jinglu Five Forts is another line of insurance that has only been established since the early years of Jiajing. To the north of Datong, surrounded by old and new side walls, it has become an important node leading from Datong to Qiantao.

It not only ensures the safety of Datong, which has become a semi-hinterland, but also ensures the safety of the road from Datong to the Hetao border area.

Guo Xun naturally patted his chest: "That's exactly what it should be!"

He headed north with 30,000 Beijing troops, and the 15,000 Beijing troops who had just arrived could escort him.

The Beijing camp was originally a mobile force, but now that the direction of the enemy's front was clear, it was time for him to work hard.

Zhu Houcong looked at them and said: "No! Pass on the order and move the imperial driver north to Victory Fort!"

"No!" Mao Bowen, Guo Xun and others were shocked and stood up in unison to dissuade him.

"Is it possible that after two great victories, your fear of the northern invaders is still there?" Zhu Houcong said firmly, "If you are still like this, I am afraid that the frontline troops will be uneasy! I went to let the frontline soldiers worry. Set it down!”

This is the pressure I will feel if I don't divide the troops at all. After all, there are too many troops.

Even Mao Bowen and the others were immediately worried about this and persuaded Zhu Houcong to retreat to Xuanfu. What would the defenders on the Guihua, Zhuozi, and Jining lines think? That's dozens of times more enemies.

"Jinglu Fifth Fort is safe enough, what are you afraid of?" Zhu Houcong knew that he could not retreat. He was the morale of the frontier army under the current situation. "Besides, if I had arrived at Victory Fort, the situation would have been different. I could only advance. , can't retreat! Once I retreat, the morale of the army will be in chaos. Under the strong wind of hundreds of thousands of cavalry and civilians, only the lonely city is left in Hetao, and the Ming Dynasty can only stick to the border wall! I march north to Victory Fort, I promise that as long as I can force me to retreat , then there is hope.”

Walking to the sand table, he pointed: "Only the five cities of Guihua, Zhuozi, Jining, Liangcheng, and Xinghe were built in the front. I know my temperament. Is it easier for him to attack the city or win by attacking it?" Is it easier to win with fine cavalry in field battles? I am at Victory Fort. He bypasses Jining, Zhuozi Chen Bingtucheng, and Maoerzhuang. Will the defenders of Jining and Zhuozi rush south to rescue him? After leaving the city, I will answer Tens of thousands of cavalry can be easily divided to charge and kill!"

Looking at Mao Bowen, Zhu Houcong said seriously: "As long as I don't retreat, and as long as the generals remain unmoved and defend this place, the Khan Court will definitely change in a few months!"

Mao Bowen knew it, but he still couldn't help but worry: "But if it's General Ma..."

"I believe in Ma Fang, I believe in you, and I believe in the generals of the border army!" Zhu Houxuan said firmly, "The only thing is, I can't retreat! If I retreat, the Hetao may be in chaos first, allowing me to really gain something in the northern border! Once the situation changes, Qinghai-Gansu, Yunnan, and Guangxi will all be affected!"

Guo Xun looked at Zhu Houcong, and a hint of red gradually appeared on his old face.

This emperor is naturally not the same character as Yingzong in the past. His decision not to retreat was based on strategic and tactical considerations.

But no matter what, it was in his prime that he actually went to the front line to face hundreds of thousands of northern prisoners who were fighting against the odds.

"General Staff Mao, let's do it!" Guo Xun also said, "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. They used a desperate posture. If the Ming Dynasty had been timid, it would have lost less than half. Both Northern Expeditions were defeated. It was a great victory for the Ming Dynasty, and His Majesty was blessed to the heavens. All the forty-five thousand soldiers from the Beijing camp were packed into the fifth fortress of Jinglu. If he attacks Zhuozi and Jining, it will depend on whether he can withstand the attack from inside and outside by the army defending the city and the elite soldiers from the Beijing camp. ! If he attacks the fifth fortress of Jinglu, does he really think that I, the Duke of Yi Kingdom, have gained a reputation in vain?"

Mao Bowen looked at them, and then said no more: "I will set off now, and rush to Jining in a light car first!"

"This battle to destroy the country! Ming Dynasty must also be prepared to take risks and fight bloody battles!" Zhu Houcong understood his determination, "The decision I made, no matter where this decision will lead to the war situation, you and others are loyal and brave. minister!"

If this decision ultimately led to bad consequences, what good would happen to the military general staff who failed to dissuade the emperor?

So Mao Bowen chose to go to the more dangerous Jining.

But Zhu Houcong became more and more aware that Anda was really going to have to fight to the death this time. Anda, who had been running away all his life, had always had a character that faced difficulties.

As two kings, their personalities will also be part of the confrontation in this battle to overwhelm the country.

Zhu Houcong thought about his arrangements. His son, who had been educated since childhood and was already in prison, saw the new order of interests initially established through the new law, and then he no longer hesitated.

Only when facing the northern barbarians, Zhu Houcong personally conquered them every time.

He has no regrets in this life. Japan will definitely be captured. The Europeans have been blocked to the west of the Nanyang Protectorate. The seeds of science have been planted by him.

Now that Zhu Houcong dares not to retreat, can I think that Zhu Houcong is proud of him, despises him, and bets on the future of the Khan Court? Then bet bigger and focus on forcing Zhu Houcong to retreat or even capture and kill him?

"March with dignity and dignity! Since I enjoy the dignity of the Emperor, I should protect the people of the country!"

Inside and outside Datong, Yujia and the Beijing Camp set out, and the Sanchen Banner and the Emperor's Dragon Banner were fluttering in the north wind, all the way north.

The situation is dangerous, and the people don't know much about it.

Bian Qing was still rushing to the capital. Zhao Zhenji, who was accompanying him, looked at the emperor sitting on a horse in armor, and a thought came to his mind.

The emperor chose to believe in the Ming Dynasty that he had governed with all his efforts, his civil and military skills, his frontier soldiers, and his son...

The prince is in charge of the country. In such a war situation, if someone with care does something, such as making a slight mistake in military supplies, it may be magnified in the end.

Now, the most prestigious emperor chose to believe everything and resolutely went to the front line to stabilize the morale of the army.

"Keep my token and go to Xuan Mansion to find the Coast Guard."

Zhao Zhenji ordered his "house servants". As the new chief of the royal study, Zhao Zhenji naturally has a staff.

"Tell him that your Majesty's safety now depends half on him. I hope he will remember the importance of your kindness and not let down your majesty's sincere heart!"

When Hai Rui arrived in Daxiang, Zhao Zhenji was by his side and witnessed the emperor's appreciation for him.

At that time, the emperor said something: "From this time on, you will start to be a supervisor. I have established this great unity party in the world, and I will need a backbone and a whip in the future. You have been planting trees for so many years, and you have to help me in the future." Then plant this small seedling into a towering tree. In the future, all our comrades in the world must not forget the aspiration of world unity!"

This was Hai Rui in the emperor's mind.

Now, Zhao Zhenji cannot speculate too much on the human nature of the prince, let alone the human nature of the courtiers and relatives in the capital.

He does not need to avoid the fact that as the chief of the imperial study, his future and destiny are tied to the emperor.

But in terms of this battle alone, the Ming Dynasty should win and His Majesty should return in triumph.

There is a pervasive atmosphere among the marching troops.

In this atmosphere, Zhao Zhenji couldn't help but feel a little more enthusiastic.

This is how you should be a human being.

The Great Wall of the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties is located along the Yinshan Mountain line in the north.

There are too many people in Anda's army, and it is not safe to follow the East River he is familiar with and cross the Yinshan Mountains to Fengzhou Beach.

The Shajing area became a logistics base.

It's flatter there and has several rivers.

From there, heading west can lead to Houtao between Langshan and Daqingshan.

Going from the east, you can bypass the main vein of Daqing Mountain and enter the north of Jining at the southeast foot of Daqing Mountain from the more open and flat area in the north.

Therefore, this place has been a fortress since ancient times. During the Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, there were mostly no wars here, and it also became a very important business hub.

In more than ten years, Jining City under the Ming Dynasty regained its former glory of six verticals and seven horizontals.

But at this moment, facing the herd of horses appearing in the northeast, Jining City seemed small.

There are over ten thousand people and horses, and there are no borders or shores.

Now the generals in Jining City have indeed been awakened to fear and even fear of the Northern Lu.

The large number of Tatars shows their determination.

And with the enmity that the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars have already forged, if the city is destroyed, there will be no reason to survive.

"March! When we reach the Jining Sea, we will lose the courage of the Han people first!" This Jining Sea is a lake southeast of Jining.

Not far to the south of the lake is Maoerzhuang, only a few dozen miles away from the Ming Dynasty's still well-preserved side wall.

In the sight of the Jining defenders, the locust-like army separated into a huge group in the distance and slowly marched south.

"They want to siege the city, they want to siege the city!"

When we reach the Jining Sea, the reinforcements and food routes to the south will be threatened.

And to the east, where the Great Encirclement is already, it is absolutely impossible for reinforcements from Xinghe to come.

Further to the west, Zhuozi is located between Daqingshan and is the gateway to Qiantao. They have already been ordered not to move lightly no matter what the battle situation is.

It was less than two hundred miles from Datong. Just as Anda's army was marching south to the north bank of Jining Sea, preparing to set up camp and begin the siege, Mao Bowen, guarded by about 500 pacesetters, rushed to the south of Jining City.

Anda himself is still northeast of Jining. He cannot see this place immediately and make a decision.

The commander of the cavalry going south saw this group of people and immediately gave an order.

"Go to the three thousand cavalry, kill them all, and frighten the defenders in the city. The five thousand cavalry on the flanks are ready. If anyone comes out of the city to meet them, we will kill them!"

Mao Bowen didn't expect my answer to come so quickly.

When the news came from Daqingshan, their army was still in Shajing to the north of Guihua.

The news reached Datong, and after further discussion, they traveled more than a hundred miles to Jining. In more than a day, I had already arrived in Jining.

Even if there are only two or three riders per person, it is only about four hundred miles from there, but it is an army of hundreds of thousands after all!

When he first arrived in Jining, he was in danger. Mao Bowen gritted his teeth and said: "Just call me by my name and ask your majesty to drive into the Victory Fort. Fifty thousand troops are coming to help! Rush into the city with all your heart. The garrison in the city can see me through the telescope." The general’s flag!”

This is a small opportunity for information asymmetry.

The Tatars were still a little far away, and they couldn't immediately tell that there was such a big fish in their group.

The first person in power and responsibility in the Ming Dynasty's military was surrounded by only five hundred pacesetters outside the city, while three thousand cavalry were preparing to intercept them.

When the pacesetters around him saw Mao Bowen's instructions, they could only feel heartbroken and roared in unison.

Mao Bowen was on his way, and there would be no shortage of horses for these five hundred men.

To the west of Jining Sea, five hundred riders began to sprint towards Jining City.

To the north of Jininghai, three thousand Tatar cavalry intercepted diagonally from the northeast.

Then the voices of five hundred people rang out. It was not loud among the sounds of horse hooves, but it did not break.

"The General Military Staff of the Ming Dynasty is here! The emperor's imperial commander has arrived at the Victory Fort, and 50,000 Beijing troops are coming to help! The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"

The sound first reached the closer Tatar cavalry, who could not understand it at first.

But since the southern expedition was so decisive, how could it not be worthy of some interpreters who knew Chinese.

On horseback, a man shouted excitedly: "It's... a high official of the Han people! A big official!"

After a while of chirping, the three thousand riders shouted in unison, trying to pass the message to the back.

In Jining City, on the city wall that had been repaired by the Ming Dynasty, the guard saw his flag with a telescope just as Mao Bowen said.

At this time, the Tatar army that was halfway marching to the southeast was already restless.

"Quick! Get out of the city quickly and be sure to guard the south gate!"

The guard looked ugly and felt extremely nervous.

How can the military general staff ignore death? And once the city gate opens, how dangerous will it be?

"Don't save ammunition! Come with me to meet them. They are not ready yet and will not attack in a disorderly manner. They can also go out of the city gate to deceive!"

There was only a small time difference. The Tatars were not ready to launch an attack. A large-scale operation must wait for Anda's order.

This is the only chance of survival.

The sudden situation allowed the Jining defenders to suppress their fear of the approaching enemy and began to execute military orders.

In the south of the city, life and death began to unfold.

Fortunately, Mao Bowen was closer, and their shouts reached the city.

"The General Military Staff of the Ming Dynasty is here! The emperor's imperial commander has arrived at the Victory Fort, and 50,000 Beijing troops are coming to help! The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"

This is timely news.

Facing the enemy troops that could not be seen at a glance, the soldiers and civilians in Jining City knew three pieces of information.

The General Military Staff of the Ming Dynasty came over in person.

The emperor also arrived at Victory Fort, which was less than a hundred miles away from Jining.

Fifty thousand reinforcements are on the way.

"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"

Vent emotions and boost morale.

Amidst the commotion in Jining City, the Ming army unexpectedly came out of the east and north city gates and set up military formations under the city wall.

From a distance, Anda looked at all this with some confusion and solemnity.

crazy?

But he was indeed not ready yet, and the cavalry carrying the message were still on their way here from the north of Jining Sea.

Mao Bowen looked at the Tatar cavalry getting closer and closer, and remembered the emperor's words: You can only advance, not retreat.

Now he really is.

For the time being, only the vanguard of the enemy and us in the south of the city knew what was going on.

Mao Bowen didn't care whether he was afraid of death or not, but he knew he couldn't die.

Before the war started, the General Military Staff of the Ming Dynasty died here first. What would happen?

It shouldn't be like this, but he couldn't dissuade the emperor, so he could only take the lead.

Besides, isn't it just three thousand riders?

Everyone has a horse!

"Charge! Charge over! Shoot the arrow first, there is only one crucial chance!"

When they are still far enough away, they shoot on horseback.

Needless to say, among the arrows, there are already guards around.

Some people were hit by arrows, and some fell off their horses.

Mao Bowen gritted his teeth and drove the horse. He was no longer young, and he could only feel one thing more truly: life and death, how can there be no bloody battle?

Fortunately, the distance is still far away. Except for a few special occasions, the two sides are close after all.

Mao Bowen could already see the fanatical and greedy eyes of some Tatars. The cavalry on the opposite side was like a dam, trying to block them.

Behind them, Mao Bowen could also faintly see smoke and dust in the south of Jining City.

"Wait a little closer! Stay low, stay low and get ready!"

During the rapid approach, this team of pacesetters actually put down their bows and arrows and began to make preparations as Mao Bowen said.

Getting closer and closer, soon only a few dozen steps.

"Listen to my general order! Get ready, three..."

The Tatar cavalry who crossed over diagonally watched in astonishment as the Ming army suddenly dispersed into a relatively large arrow, which was not considered sharp.

But they all had the same thing in their hands.

"put!"

There were only five hundred people guarding them, which was not only to save time, but also proves their extraordinary status.

They have a name: gun cavalry.

The sound of firecrackers sounded, and the Tatar cavalry in front of the arrow suddenly fell down in a row at a distance of less than thirty steps, and the troops were in chaos.

In fact, on horseback, there is almost only one chance to fire a salvo.

No time to reload.

But this was a situation that the Tatar cavalry had never encountered before. They only saw the Ming army on the opposite side with blood-red eyes, still holding something like that and pointing at them.

There are both spear heads and blunderbuss muzzles on it.

Credit is tempting, but life is your own.

Who blocks whom, who cuts through whom?

The outcome will be determined, but for Mao Bowen, only the brave can win and survive at this moment.

It’s not that Ming cannot outwit him, but I chose to outsmart him.

In the end, we have to fight this battle with real swords and real guns!

(End of this chapter)