Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

If you ask the herdsmen on the grassland what is the most important thing for marching on the grassland, you will definitely get the same answer. The first is a guide who is familiar with geography, and the second is sufficient food and water supplies.With a guide who is familiar with geography, even if you lack water, he can take you to areas with lush aquatic plants to obtain supplies, and with sufficient water, you can travel unimpeded in some deep deserts that are difficult for ordinary people to pass. Additional detours are required.

For the northward Xia army led by Kuching, there are not only the qualified guides left by Tang Baoyi, but also the Yi Congjun army formed by various tribes in Inner Mongolia, so the former is not lacking.As for the latter, although Kuching hastily made a U-turn from the eastern front and headed northward, the material preparations were slightly insufficient, but the various banners of the Chechen Khan tribe who had tracked and asked for refuge brought enough cattle and sheep, which made him There is also sufficient guarantee in terms of materials.

Since both are in place, Kuching should make great strides. However, the Kuching Department is advancing steadily, without any intention of advancing aggressively.This is of course because the Xia Army wanted to build a trade station along the way, but more importantly, it was to take care of the horses that had lost weight due to the spring battle and the Xia Army's mixed-breed warhorses waiting to be bred to return to the front line.

Speaking of the commercial station built by Xia Jun, in fact, it did not start to be built after going north from Kuching.

After the Chengde League, as an important measure to relieve the Mongolian banners that were severely damaged in the war, Huaxia has already begun to spend money to recruit nearby Mongolian banners, from Pingdiquan Zhili Prefecture to Jining County to Xilin Gol League Sunit Between the Right Banner, between Zhangbei County of Xuanhua Prefecture via Chahar League Ordos Banner to Sunite Right Banner, between Sunite Right Banner and Erren, between Chengde via Chifeng and (Ba) Lin (Right Banner) A trade station has been built.

These post stations are usually located at intervals of two to three Xiali, and their pattern is usually a square fortress-like building.Each of the four corners has a three-story watchtower with an outer diameter of ten square meters (about 36m?), an inner diameter of eight square meters (about 23m?), and a height of about nine square meters (about 5.4m). Each watchtower is 60 meters apart. Xiachi (approximately 0.6m), connected by walls one Xiachi thick (approximately 3.6m) and six Xiachi (approximately [-]m).Like watchtowers, the wall is built with gravel and cement from the grassland desert. There is only one door on all sides. Except for the wall on the side with the door open, there are one-storey bungalows under the other walls, which are garrison barracks, warehouses and inns.

The purpose of the garrison barracks does not need to be exhausted. Such a fortress-style station usually has a team of about 30 troops, and in wartime it can accommodate a hundred or more soldiers and horses.The inns and warehouses are prepared for the merchants who come and go. Usually there are two or three single rooms and a big shop that can accommodate about [-] people. Therefore, the caravans who come and go can choose to rest and store goods in the post, and the garrison can borrow them. In this way, a part of the financial subsidy was obtained, which was used to buy meat such as cattle and sheep from the surrounding Mongolian people.Moreover, in order to provide convenience for merchants, the garrison barracks and the inn each have a kitchen for the garrison and merchants to start their own business. In winter, the waste heat from the kitchen can also be used to heat the kangs in the barracks and inn.

Although the foreign business of inns and warehouses is beneficial to both the military and local parties, it is not without disadvantages.As time goes by, it is very likely that horse bandits or other hostile forces will emerge with caravans and sneak in, and come to a fortress to conquer from the inside.Therefore, the regulations issued by the Huaxia Ministry of War clearly stipulate that the ordnance, gunpowder and grain reserves of the garrison must be scattered and stored in the armament warehouse on the second floor of the watchtower. In addition, all the garrison troops are not allowed to be stationed in the barracks, and certain defenses must be maintained in the watchtower. troops.

As a post station, stage horses are very important, so the barn is specially set up at the wall on the side where the door is opened, half of which is used to store military horses, and the other half is for merchants to store trolling horses and pack horses.However, no matter whether it is for the self-use of the station or for the use of the caravan, the two barns are semi-closed structures for ventilation, but in winter they need to be covered with felt to prevent the animals from being exposed to the cold and freezing to death.

There is also a well for drinking water in the central square of the post station where conditions permit. If the post station is built in a place where water cannot be dug out, a water storage pool will be built to meet daily needs and long-term persistence in case of siege.

Around the post station, a dry ditch was also dug to drain water during possible rainstorms, and at the same time increase the difficulty of attacking the post station.

The Huaxia Ministry of War estimates that with the Mongols' siege capabilities, these post stations can easily withstand more than a month without artillery. Even if the Mongols are equipped with cannons, they can guarantee to hold on for five to ten days, enough for The main force of the Xia army in the interior received due warning and responded appropriately.

"Master Gu," the Chechen Khan Umerke who was standing beside him said anxiously as Kujin was gazing at a station under construction. "The army of the Celestial Dynasty has entered Mobei for two months, and my lord is still wandering around the border. If Wang Zaledorji takes the opportunity to annex the Zasaktu Khan, I'm afraid it will be too late for my lord to regret it."

Kuching glanced at Chechen Khan, who was impatient, and said, "Your Highness, please be patient and wait patiently."

Although he has not yet received the seal robe, robe, and sword brought back by the envoys he sent to the inland to pay pilgrimage to Zheng Kezang, Wu Moke, who already knows that his family has become the king of East Khalkha County, boldly asked: "Please also ask Gu Sir, tell me, how long will this king have to wait?"

Kuching then asked to his side: "When will Daligang Aibu arrive at the rendezvous?"

The Daligang Ai tribe is the remnant of the original Chahar tribe that belonged to China. It was part of the Mongolian Rebel Army and participated in the crusade against the East Six Banners of Horqin and the Allied Forces of the Eight Banners along with Kuching. Due to continuous battles and injuries The movement of muscles and bones caused the vitality of the department to be severely damaged, and there were less than [-] men who could fight.Considering that the opponent is not a one-off cannon fodder, at that time, half of the Mongolian rebel army was handed over to Gao Mochun, who was later appointed as the deputy of the Songmo Governor's Guard, to Kuching, where he continued to carry out the Eastern Expedition. Li Gang loves to recuperate for more than a month to restore his horsepower.

Now that more than a month has passed, and there is no sign of Daligang's Aibu being dispatched again, Kuching can't help but feel suspicious, worrying that after he attacks, the other party will rebel and steal his way out.

Army Sima Engeng reported: "We have already contacted. Daligang's love department has dispatched [-] troops, and they will be able to come to the Seventeenth Station (north of Erren) in about five days to join our army."

5000 people?Kuching did some calculations in his mind, the Xia Army's main force is the Fourth Division of the Iron Cavalry Army and the First Division of the Flying Cavalry Army. In fact, it should not be counted in the military strength. If this is the case, plus the 1 people of the Chechen Khan, the main force of the Xia Army and the Mongolian Yicong Army is only [-] people. Even if it is stronger than the Tushetu Khan, it is limited. of.Moreover, the Darigangai Department is very weak, and the Chechen Khan Department is also a weak army. The only cavalry army that can be counted on has to wait for the mixed-blood horses to arrive, so it cannot be put into combat in a short time.

So Ku Jin, who had already thought about everything, told Wu Moke lightly: "There is no fixed number of how long to wait, if the opportunity comes, maybe it will attack tomorrow, but if the opportunity does not come, then we have to wait until the opportunity arrives. "

"Opportunity?" Wu Moke looked at Kuching with some puzzlement. "What is the opportunity, please advise the adults."

"My lord also said just now that Wang Zaldorji will not only pursue the ideas of the Chechen Khan. If he wants to become the Great Khan of Waikalka, he will inevitably conflict with the Zasaktu Khan." Kuching thought There is no need to hide it, so he explained. "But why haven't the two families fought yet?"

"Yeah, why didn't we fight?" Wu Moke also felt strange. "It is said that Wang Zaledorji is now powerful enough to annex the Zasaktu Khan, but why did he hold back and didn't make a move?"

"The reason is simple," Kuching explained. "Because the imperial court sent troops." Ku Jin further explained to the puzzled Wu Moke. "Wanzale Dolji is a smart man. He knows that if he is in a hurry, the Zasaktu Khan will join the dynasty. In this way, the Tuxietu Khan will never be able to resist the power of the three families."

Wu Moke was still a little puzzled and said: "This is the reason why this king proposed to send troops quickly."

Kujin interrupted bluntly: "But do the Zasaktu Khans have any intention of joining the imperial court? No, no, they are still hesitating whether to join the imperial court or join the Zhungeer people, or even the Eros People are also their choice, so I can't send troops, so as not to be a wedding dress."

Ku Jin coldly compensated: "The slower the imperial court goes northward, Wang Zaledorji will feel that he still has a chance, then sooner or later he will fight against the Zasaktu Khan. Once the fight starts, Zhungeer is out of reach, and the Oros people may not necessarily take advantage of the fire, so the Zhasaktu Khan has no choice but to submit to the imperial court, so it is justifiable for the official to march."

Wu Moke remained silent. Of course he understood that Kuching was planning to reap the benefits of the fisherman. When the two departments were exhausted and disabled, Kuching sent troops to secure the victory in one fell swoop.However, this result may not be the best for Umerk. Only when the Tushetu Khan and Zasaktu Khan are weakened, can the position of the Chechen Khan in Waikalkha be stabilized.But from the point of view of the Mongols, Wumoke felt very sad. It was the repeated internal conflicts that made the Mongols who had built a world-class empire reduced to being slaughtered by others. The knowledge he had mastered made him even more powerless.

After mourning and complaining for a while, the Eastern Khalkha King of the Huaxia Dynasty seemed to think of something, and suggested: "Once the war starts, it is best to hold Jebtsundamba Hutuktu in his hands. He is the religious leader of the grasslands, the spiritual ruler of the Mongols, and there is an old saying in China called "Holding the Son of Heaven to order the princes."

Ku Jin nodded: "It should be so, but it is better to ask the prince to send someone to help, after all, I don't know much about the Great Living Buddha."

Wu Moke responded: "It is about the ownership of Khalkha, and the king should do his best."