weaving

On the first day of the second month of the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, the spring equinox.

On the banks of the Yi River, a southwest wind blows through the newly thawed river water, which flows slowly southwestward.

On the embankment, hundreds of elite knights in full armor were scattered about. They gathered in twos and threes, some letting their horses graze on the newly sprouted grass beside them, while a few knights on the outer perimeter remained on their horses, nervously looking around.

Although there were only a hundred or so riders, they were spread out like stars in the sky, extending outwards from the center for a distance of one or two miles, which shows how tight their defenses were.

Further away, a few elite cavalrymen continued to gallop east and west, constantly moving back and forth. Some could only be seen as faint shadows, with no clear view of the warhorses and riders.

"After the Spring Equinox meal, the days grow longer by a thread each day," Sun Hao said, gazing at the remaining ice on the Yi River. "After the Spring Equinox, the days are long and the nights are short, the spring breeze brings warmth, and people usually start preparing for planting... Sigh..."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Marquis Yongning, Zhang Cheng, and said, "But this spring the Tartars are rampant, and I'm afraid it will delay the farming season."

Guo Jinyi then chimed in, "Snowfall at the Spring Equinox signifies the chill of spring sowing..."

As he spoke, he stretched out his left hand, palm facing upwards, and then watched the sparse snowflakes slowly fall. He continued, "Even without the Tartars' rampage and the farming season not being delayed, I'm afraid there wouldn't be much of a harvest."

Sun Keng then added, "Even a small harvest is better than nothing."

He stared at Guo Jinyi and continued, “The people are already suffering. Eleven years ago, they were plundered by the Tartars. Now they have suffered this calamity of war. If there is no harvest next year, even if we rescue them, how will they survive?”

"Alas..." Guo Jinyi sighed, "It really is true that 'when the country prospers, the people suffer; when the country falls, the people also suffer'!"

At this moment, Marquis Yongning Zhang Cheng turned around, his tiger-like eyes sweeping over the group of advisors and staff around him, and said loudly: "When the country prospers, the people suffer, but at least they can still live and reproduce. After several generations, they can ensure that their descendants live a good life with enough food and clothing."

But the fall of a nation is different. When a nation falls, countless lives are lost, and it's not just the common people who suffer. Even among the high-ranking officials and powerful families of the time, how many can truly survive?

After he finished speaking, he turned his head and looked at the Yi River. He said in a deep voice, "When the country perishes, the people perish too. Just like today, in this land of Qi and Lu, under the rampant rule of the Tartars, nine out of ten houses are empty, and those people who have been captured by the Tartars are living a life worse than death."

If they were taken back to the harsh, cold lands of Liaodong, they would be treated like cattle and horses, forced to toil day and night, subjected to constant whippings, and any act of disobedience or negligence would result in immediate execution, leaving them to die far from home.

Zhang Cheng turned around again, his gaze resolute as he looked at the people around him: "What we are doing today is to save the people of Qi and Lu. If we encounter Tartars driving their people to attack our camp on the battlefield, we will show no mercy..."

Killing them... was also to save them, sparing them the fate of being enslaved in the harsh, cold lands of Liaodong. The sacrifice of a small number of people, in exchange for the liberation of the majority, was a truly meritorious act.

"Do you all understand?" Zhang Cheng asked finally.

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief, we have noted it down."

At this moment, the shadows of several boats appeared on the Yi River in the distance. Zhang Mingyuan, the commander of the central army, pointed into the distance and said, "Commander, the boats are here."

Following the direction he pointed, everyone looked and saw the silhouettes of several riverboats gradually becoming clearer. Everyone seemed very excited, pointing and talking among themselves. Liu Chengzhu even said, "The Yi River has only just thawed, and the fleet is already here. It must have been quite a challenge for General Zhaoyi."

Lin Fangping smiled and said, "Zuo Zhaoyi is a man of the martial arts world and values ​​loyalty. He has many connections all over the world. Although he may not necessarily be willing to go to great lengths for you, he can still get a lot of people to respond when there is money to be made."

Hu Yiwen added, "The two managers, Cheng and Xu, also mobilized the merchant groups in southern Hebei and Shandong to help us raise the military supplies needed for the army so smoothly."

Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Cheng Ruzhi and Xu Qingyi have worked tirelessly. Last year, when they rescued Liaodong, and last year when they helped suppress the rebellion in Henan, they personally led merchant caravans to follow our army. Although it was to earn the salaries of our soldiers, they also helped us transport military supplies, which was of great help to our Yongyi Army. They are truly invaluable!"

Upon hearing the Earl of Yongning mention this matter, Liu Chengzhu immediately replied, "Commander-in-Chief, Manager Cheng and Manager Xu have expressed their willingness to serve my Yongyi Army and wish to obtain official positions from you so that they can travel outside and serve my Yongyi Army. You have agreed to this request."

"Oh……"

Liu Chengzhu reminded him of the matter, and he casually said, "Chengzhu, after you return to the Li Family Village headquarters, immediately draft an official document to appoint Cheng Ruzhi and Xu Qingyi as transport commissioners of my Western Route Army in the name of the commander of the Western Route Army, and then grant them the official titles of commanders of the Wanquan Commandery in the name of the commanders of the Wanquan Commandery."

"This matter is entrusted to you. Report it to the Ministry of War for approval as soon as possible, and obtain their official documents and tokens so that they can move about in the local area with fewer obstacles and do more for my Brave and Resolute Army."

"Yes, sir. Once Chengzu returns to the headquarters, take care of it immediately."

The fact that the Marquis of Yongning could decide the position of a sixth-rank military commander with just a word demonstrates the extent of his arrogance. Therefore, it is not without reason that officials throughout the court say that he is arrogant and domineering.

…………

On the second day of the second lunar month, at noon, a battle took place on the riverbank near Qingzhou Prefecture along the Shu River.

It turned out that Buyandai, the Gushan Ejen of the Bordered Red Banner of the Jurchen Mongols, had sent 500 Mongol cavalry northward on the orders of Turge, intending to establish contact with the Jurchen Abatai tribe in Juzhou. However, they were unexpectedly blocked by Li Fuming, the general of Shanxi.

Although Li Fuming, Pi Zhongyao, and Ge Ruzhi each established three camps, they were not far apart from each other.

With Li Fuming in the center, they blocked the official road heading north; Pi Zhongyao's camp was two miles to the north; and Ge Ruzhi's camp was two miles to the east of Li Fuming, forming a triangular formation. The camps were only a little over two miles apart and could support each other in less than an hour.

Buyandai's 500 Mongol cavalrymen ran head-on into Li Fuming's elite scouts. Initially, relying on their superior numbers, they wanted to encircle and annihilate the Shanxi army scouts.

Unexpectedly, after receiving the news, Li Fuming personally led a thousand elite cavalry to provide support. The two sides chased each other on the east bank of the Shu River for a long time, fighting fiercely for more than an hour. Both sides suffered casualties, but it was difficult to determine a winner.

However, Pi Chongyao and Ge Ruzhi each led six or seven hundred elite cavalry to reinforce them. They did not join the battle directly, but instead circled around and suddenly appeared on the flank and rear of the Mongol Bordered Red Banner cavalry.

However, in terms of combat strength alone, Li Fuming and his men were not much worse than the Mongol cavalry, perhaps only slightly inferior. But in terms of horsemanship and tactics, the Mongol cavalry were far superior in horsemanship and reaction speed.

In the end, they abandoned over two hundred wounded and killed Bordered Red Banner cavalrymen and broke through the encirclement to escape south... (End of this chapter)