Jingtai Fengyun: The First Absurd Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 811: Digging trenches to block Dongsheng’s decisive battle and encirclement for reinforcements

The two Mongolian forces, Totuobuhua and Ala, have been recuperating for more than ten years, and their accumulated manpower and material resources are enough to support the war for more than half a year.

But after all, Mongolia has limited material resources. By the end of the year, there will definitely be problems with its supplies.

Especially in winter, when the weather is freezing and the water and grass are dry, even if people can stand it, war horses cannot.

Therefore, Agabarji will definitely be interested in providing reinforcements at the siege point of Dongsheng City.

He Yi proposed his own strategy to Xu Yongning: "Ask for a huge amount of grain, grass, salt, tea, and ordnance from the Lord, transport it to Datong first, and then send it to Dongsheng City in batches.

In this way, Meng Yuan's main force will be firmly attracted around Dongsheng City, and Dongsheng will become the place for the decisive battle.

By capturing Dongsheng, Agabarji obtained supplies for a long-term war. He could advance to break Yanghekou, enter the hinterland of Shanxi to plunder, and retreat to Dongsheng to control Hetao.

The Hetao is rich in water and grass, which can support hundreds of thousands of cavalry, and the flat plains are perfect for cavalry to gallop.

As long as Agabarji can occupy the Hetao for a long time, then our Ming Dynasty will also have to maintain more than 200,000 troops on constant combat readiness for a long time. In the long run, the court will not be able to afford it.

In the end, the imperial court took the initiative to find Meng Yuan for a decisive battle. "

Xu Yongning nodded: "Agabarji wanted to fight quickly, but the Ming army on the entire defense line was unable to stand.

He had no choice but to engage in protracted warfare. And if you want to fight for a long time, you must capture an important town as a foundation.

Xi'an will definitely not be captured, and even if Daning and Guangning are captured, they will be embargoed by the imperial court.

Only Dongsheng and Kaiping have offensive value.

Especially Dongsheng, after it is captured, you can secretly smuggle trade with the powerful gentry and wealthy merchants of Shanxi. "

He Yi smiled and said: "This is generally true, but the powerful people in Shanxi may not smuggle supplies to Meng Yuan.

The Holy Father told me about this issue. Small-scale smuggling does not matter, but large-scale smuggling that is enough to support the survival of hundreds of thousands of Mongolians requires a complete set of procedures.

They must first rush into the hinterland and plunder, grabbing countless gold, silver and jewels.

Then they sold the stolen goods and gave the stolen gold, silver and jewelry to Shanxi merchants in exchange for strategic materials such as grain, salt, tea, and ironware.

The most important thing is to get gold and silver jewelry. If you don't have gold or silver in your hands, then any Shanxi businessman would be stupid enough to smuggle trade with you.

The problem Agabarji faces now is that he has no money. You exchanged cattle, sheep and horses for food. Your goal was too big, and you were discovered immediately. "

Xu Yongning nodded: "Agabarji is just too impatient. The Holy Lord has opened the mutual market. He can first exchange cattle, sheep and horses for gold and silver, and at the same time hoard a large amount of salt and tea, which will last five or six years.

Then wait for an opportunity to invade the Ming Dynasty and fight us decisively. "

He Yi smiled and said: "He would like to, but he can't afford to wait. The Monarch's currency reform is too cruel.

It was okay at first, after all, the Ming Dynasty was short of both copper and silver.

But after Japan was captured, large-scale coinage became possible thanks to its rich gold, silver, and copper mines.

Now the Mongolian dignitaries couldn't sit still at all. Once the mutual trade was opened, it would take less than three years for people to disperse.

These lower-class people in Mongolia raised horses and herded them, and then traded them with each other for money. If there is money to be made, and money can buy all kinds of daily necessities, then who would put their heads on their waists and follow the rich and powerful to plunder everywhere.

Just think about it, during the Warring States Period, the Qin Dynasty had a reputation for cruelty, and the Qin army was called the Tiger and Wolf Army, but in fact the people of Qin did not want to fight.

By the end of the Qin Dynasty, the old Qin people in Guanzhong did not resist at all and surrendered directly.

In a few years, the Mongols will be the same as the old Qin people. Therefore, Agabarji’s worries are entirely based on planning ahead and looking far ahead. King Wei asked: "Can we defend Dongsheng?" "

He Yi smiled and said: "It's possible, but it's a bit difficult. If what I expected is true, Agabarji has already sent people to cut down trees and build siege equipment.

In addition, he will surround our Dongsheng City again, dig several trenches, and surround us inside, making it impossible for us to get out.

Then there are digging tunnels, setting up ladders, and using catapults to attack city walls and gates. "

To the north of Dongsheng City, Agabarji, as if under the command of He Yi, began to order his men to go to the mountains to cut wood, build siege equipment, and dig trenches in the north of the city. He planned to finish digging the north of the city and then dig the east of the city to completely destroy Dongsheng. The city is isolated.

……

On June 21st, it rained continuously.

Zhu Qiyu had rested for the past few days and sat on the couch happily reading the military report.

After receiving a severe beating, he became serious this time. Just because I did some bad things to women, I have been locked up in the dark room twice this month.

Ningxiang reported with a smile: "Husband, the Huayue Building of the Jiaofang Division that you requested before has been built."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Very good. Whoever commits a crime will have his family sent to Huayue Tower. How do people react to me reopening the Jiaofang Division?"

Ningxiang smiled and said: "Everyone from the government to the public praises me. It is rare for everyone to reach a consensus."

Zhu Qiyu nodded with satisfaction. As the saying goes, it is better to block than to open up. Things between men and women are very beautiful. And according to the little hermit, things between men and women can also stabilize people's hearts and consolidate the rule of the dynasty.

There are always some people who insist on fearing them like tigers and wolves and treating them as dirty.

If your heart is dirty, then everything you see is dirty.

Ningxiang continued with a smile: "This year, six of my husband's concubines are pregnant, and according to the plan, six more concubines will give birth next year.

The queen mother was already a little impatient and asked when did you have your first baby? "

Zhu Qiyu spread his hands and said, "The women in our family can give birth to at most five children each, which is enough.

My birthday is on the third day of August. In just over a month, I will be thirty years old.

The life of Lao Zhu's family has reached a critical point. I quit working and want to practice Taoism and maintain health at home.

I strive to live to be ninety-nine. "

"It has to be a big birthday party. The etiquette department is already asking what to do."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "There's no need to make a fuss. It's annoying to me, and it's annoying to them, so why bother. Besides, it's wartime, so why bother with these useless things."

Qianxue asked: "Zhou Chen came here again, saying that illicit salt sales have become prevalent in recent years and there are many salt sellers. At the same time, the price of official salt is low, making it increasingly difficult to implement the Kaizhong Law.

Furthermore, the roads in Langshan, Liaojiao, and other places in Yangzhou were at key points. With the collusion and support of the powerful, some local tyrants recruited private soldiers, armed with bows and arrows, and occupied the key points. They traded at night, with tens of thousands of people at every turn, just like strong thieves.

Zhou Chen hopes to send troops to kill these thieves, and will not avoid the powerful to investigate to the end.

In addition, those who sold illicit salt had their whole families sent to Liaodong for military confinement; those who accepted bribes and indulged their will were also sent to Liaodong for military confinement.

Those who report and capture smugglers will be rewarded as appropriate. "

(End of this chapter)