Daming talker

Chapter 597 Seven Generals (Please vote!)

Anyone who has studied the Wanli Ningxia Campaign knows that the attack on Ningxia City was the real beginning.

Historically, the Haibai Rebellion was put down in about half a year, most of which was spent on the siege of Ningxia City.

There are three main reasons why it is difficult to fight.

The first is that Ningxia City is tall and solid, and it has stored a lot of food and grass, and the defensive hardware is very good.

The second is the rebels trapped in the city. They are the core force of the Haobai Group and their combat effectiveness is quite good.

The third is that Ningxia City itself is close to the border, and there is a border wall not far from the city.

Because of the Haibai Rebellion, the border defense line was riddled with holes, making it easy for the enemy cavalry to raid in.

Haibai kept luring some northern barbarian tribes to help in the battle, posing a huge threat to the government troops attacking the city from behind.

In short, after recaptured the Hexi forts outside Ningxia City, the government troops, which were temporarily unable to attack the city, could only rest temporarily and wait for reinforcements.

Military Supervisor Lin Tailai discussed with Governor General Ye Mengxiong, saying, "The Governor's Office may as well return to Huamachi to garrison and prevent the enemy cavalry from breaking into the rear from Huamachi, while also raising food and money.

This military supervisor and General Li were stationed outside Ningxia City, continuing to besiege the rebels, but not attacking, waiting for reinforcements. "

Ye Mengxiong was speechless. Judging from your official position, your main job, Lin Tailai, is to be a "food and salary officer", right? Why did you arrange for him, the governor-general who fights against rebellion, to go to the rear to raise food and salary?
However, considering Lin Tai's actual combat record of five victories in five battles after arriving in the Northwest, Governor Ye, who was not tough enough, agreed for the sake of the overall situation.

Then Lin Tailai quickly asked, "Then, Governor, can you lend me your Shangfang Sword?"

"Get out! Don't push your luck!" Governor Ye scolded. Did he really think that he, the governor, was a soft persimmon?
At this time, there were more than 20,000 government troops outside Ningxia City, divided into two large camps.

General Lin and Xiao Ruxun, who was promoted to deputy general of Ningxia Town, were in the southeast, and Li Xun, deputy general of Guyuan Town, was in the west, closely monitoring the movements of the rebels.

When the war reached a temporary stalemate, reinforcements finally arrived one after another.

In history, there were as many as seven generals who participated in the war in Ningxia. There was even a spectacle of five generals attacking the city at the same time, among whom there were many famous generals.

These northern military leaders are now coming to report to General Lin.

The first reinforcements to arrive were two "former generals".

One of them is Niu Bingzhong, the former general of Ningxia, who had been retired for several years. This time he was hastily called back by the court to fight.

This is a veteran general who claims to have personally beheaded over a hundred enemies since joining the army. He is an absolutely ruthless character, and Lin Tailai respects him very much.

However, what is in short supply on the Ningxia front now is not generals and officers, but soldiers.

A retired veteran came hurriedly with his servants. It cannot be said that he was useless, but he could not play a decisive role.

Another "former general-in-chief" Liu Chengsi is even more useless.

Speaking of Liu Chengsi and Lin Tailai, although they were separated by thousands of miles from each other and had never met in their lives, they had a deep bond.

In the 16th year of Wanli, Liu Chengsi was still the general of Gansu Town. Inspired by Lin Tailai's mutiny in Yangzhou, his troops also besieged the governor with knives.

As a result, Liu Chengsi was dismissed from his post as general of Gansu Town and transferred to Lintao as general.

Then everyone knew that in June last year, Huo Luochi launched a large-scale invasion of Lintao, and Liu Chengsi was defeated and dismissed from his post as general.

Then Zheng Luo and Lin Tailai were sent to the northwest, and Zheng Luo is still guarding the Lintao front line.

Now Liu Chengsi was sent to Ningxia by the imperial court, which was considered as a meritorious service. But how useful could such a "former general" be?

Even if he came, he would have to command the troops. In the eyes of General Lin, it would be better if he didn't come.

Then some useful reinforcements finally arrived. Another veteran general, Taomin Deputy General Dong Yikui, was appointed as the general of Ningxia Town and transferred six or seven thousand soldiers from Yansui Town.

The number of generals who arrived at the front line of Ningxia City increased to five.

Xiao Ruxun, who was promoted to deputy general of Ningxia Town after defending the isolated city, was theoretically rescued by Lin Tailai.

Deputy General Li Xu, who rushed from Guyuan Town to support the counterattack and recover lost territory, was theoretically commanded by Lin Tailai.

Lin Tailai didn't care about the former generals Niu Bingzhong and Liu Chengsi.

Dong Yikui, a veteran military commander who was promoted from deputy general to general of Ningxia Town, was the nominal front-line commander.

After General Dong entered the scene, he quickly met with General Lin.

Lin Tailai looked carefully at Dong Yikui, who was nearly sixty years old. In his impression, this veteran also went to North Korea later.

Lin Tailai no longer remembers exactly what battle was fought, but he only remembers that Dong Yikui was almost appointed as the chief envoy to negotiate with Japan.
By the way, Dong Yikui also comes from a military family, and both of his brothers are generals.

At this time, General Dong felt a little uncomfortable. Why did he feel that General Lin's eyes were inspecting the livestock?
After Lin Tailai came back to his senses, he laughed and said, "Hahahaha, I remembered something from the past.

Twenty years ago, you were promoted to the rank of general, but you were impeached by the Governor-General Wang Chonggu, and were almost imprisoned for interrogation. Then you were demoted to the rank of deputy general, is that true or not?"

Dong Yikui replied a little depressed: "It is true, but thanks to the grace of the emperor, I was not arrested and questioned."

Wang Chonggu was a famous general and a veteran hero who led the Longqing Peace Talks. What could he say?
He said that he was ignorant at that time and hindered Wang Chonggu and Western merchants from smuggling?

Then he was demoted from the general to the deputy general, and he was demoted for twenty years? Lin Tailai replied, "If you have any grievances, just say it. It doesn't matter! My relationship with the three major families in Puzhou is also very bad!

A few years ago, when I was a military officer, I caused a mutiny in Yangzhou and even imprisoned the then governor Yang Junmin!
So you and I share the same hatred and the same enemy!"

The three major families in Puzhou are Zhang, Yang and Wang, which were at their peak from the Longqing period to the early Wanli period.

The representative figures are former Prime Minister Zhang Siwei, former Minister of War Yang Bo, and former Governor-General Wang Chonggu.

The three families were intermarried. Yang Bo and Wang Chonggu were in-laws, and Yang Junmin, who was captured by Lin Tailai, was Yang Bo's son.

Not to mention, the one who hoped that the old Prime Minister Zhang Siwei would not come back the most in his heart might be Prime Minister Shen.
Therefore, what Lin Tailai said to Dong Yikui that they "shared the same hatred and a common enemy" was not a fabrication.

Isn't this a way to get closer? Win over the general with the best cost-effectiveness!

Dong Yikui had been in the army for nearly forty years and had met countless civil servants, but he always felt that Lin Tailai was different from the other civil servants.

Although this legendary Nine Yuan True Immortal was indeed very domineering, he did not have any discrimination or contempt towards the rough men in the government army, and he would personally participate in the battles.

Thinking about it again, it seems normal. Which civil servant is famous for his military prowess and likes to mutiny and fight when he disagrees with something?

Looking at the slightly reserved General Dong, Lin Tailai asked again: "Now you are the commander, you decide! Do you want to start attacking the city?"

Dong Yikui said quickly: "It's not that I don't dare to brave the arrows and stones myself, but the time is not right! Firstly, the troops are still insufficient, and it is difficult to besiege the city, let alone attack it.

Secondly, I haven’t been here for 20 years, and the soldiers and generals are unfamiliar to me. It will be difficult for me to command them all at once, so I need some time to get familiar with them.”

Lin Tailai nodded, giving enough emotional value to praise him and said, "It seems that you are very calm, so continue to watch!"

Dong Yikui breathed a sigh of relief. He was most afraid that General Lin was young and hot-headed, eager to make a contribution, and would urge the government troops to launch an all-out attack in a fit of anger.

I heard that the greatest reputation of this military supervisor in the Northwest military circles, apart from the fact that great victories were as easy as drinking water, was that he was "willful and reckless," which was what Governor Zheng said himself.

The word "arrogant and brave generals" should be used to describe the government troops, but it is not at all inappropriate when used to describe the civil servant Lin Jianjun.

General Lin has done all the bad things that many military generals dream of doing, and the key is that he has not been punished after doing them.

But in Dong Yikui's eyes today, isn't this young military supervisor quite steady? It seems that the rumors may not be completely believed.

In mid-April, the sixth general, Ma Gui, the former general of Datong and Ningxia, who was impeached and dismissed last year and recently reappointed as deputy general, rushed over from Datong Town.

Lin Tailai wondered in his heart, is the order of appearance of these generals based on their status in the martial arts world?

Those with less important roles appear first, and those with more important roles appear at the end?

Ma Gui was also a famous general during the Wanli Dynasty. He also came from a family of generals. The Ma family and the Liaodong Li family were collectively known as "East Li and West Ma".

Take Ma Gui himself for example. He was the general commander of Datong Town more than 20 years ago. After working for more than ten years, he was transferred to be the general commander of Ningxia Town. He worked there for another ten years before being dismissed last year. His qualifications are so impressive.

Although Ma Gui had strong qualifications and high rank, he still had to pay a visit to Lin Jianjun after entering the venue.

There was no way, as General Lin was the only civil official on the scene who represented the court and controlled the military generals.

Governor Ye, who theoretically should have been in charge of the front-line generals, was not present at the scene and was responsible for the more important task of protecting the rear and raising food and wages.

"Old Ma, you are really lucky." After Lin Tailai invited Deputy General Ma Gui to sit down, he began to greet him.

Ma Gui, who is over fifty years old, is very confused. On the surface, Lin Jianjun’s words are easy to understand, but what does they mean deeper?
Some civil servants like to be riddlers and like to speak in a vague way. Is it the same for Supervisor Lin?
There are many interpretations for "good luck", for example, one was just dismissed from office last year, but this year the Haibai Rebellion occurred, which led to one being reinstated by the court, so one can say that one is lucky?

This is not a easy question to answer. If you say it wrongly, it would seem that you are happy about the Haibai Rebellion, and then you are doomed.

Just as Ma Gui was thinking over and over again whether this was a language trap, Lin Jianjun said:
"Don't let your imagination run wild! What I mean is, if you hadn't been impeached last year, you would still be the commander-in-chief of Ningxia Town.

If you were still the commander-in-chief of Ningxia Town, then when Haibai suddenly launched a rebellion this year, you would have been killed or committed suicide!
So I say you are lucky. You served as the general of Ningxia for more than ten years, but you were dismissed from office last year, which just happened to avoid the disaster of being killed this year.

Otherwise, I will set up an altar outside the city to commemorate you, a loyal hero, and even help you come up with a posthumous title! When the city is conquered and your body is found, I will probably have to write the epitaph.”

Ma Gui: “.”

Is Lin Jianjun joking with me? This joke is a bit cold.

After chatting with the young military supervisor for a long time, eating a meal, and drinking a few glasses of wine, he felt a little familiar with him, so Ma Gui asked, "Now that the troops have gathered and there is enough food and grass, we can consider attacking the city."

Lin Jianjun replied: "The reinforcements have not yet arrived, let's wait a little longer."

Ma Gui continued to plead, "Now the number of government troops besieging the city is nearly 40,000. We can give it a try!"

Lin Jianjun stared at Ma Gui for a while, and suddenly said: "Among all the generals, only Li Rusong has not arrived yet.

Do you want to capture Ningxia before Li Rusong arrives?"

Ma Gui immediately retreated tactically and denied it, saying, "I didn't do that. Don't talk nonsense!"

Really, was my thought so obvious? It was actually easily seen through by a young man.

(End of this chapter)