Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 138 This...

Starting from Zhigu at the third watch on the [-]th day of the leap month, the [-] cavalry led by Chang Yuchun successfully completed all the "closed door" deployments only one and a half days later, that is, at noon on the [-]th. .

Zhizheng Emperor only received the news that an unknown cavalry passed through the north of Dadu on the evening of the [-]th day before. Although this cavalry did not go straight to Dadu, Yuan Ting was not stupid. Where did the Ming army come from, and the target was most likely a few passes in the north of Dadu.

Instead of going straight to Huanglong, they rushed to the pass instead. What is the Ming army going to do?

Accompanied by a strong premonition of uneasiness, Emperor Zhizheng not only immediately ordered the city gates to be closed and all the troops put on guard, but also asked all the ministries in the nearby walled city to gather in the capital immediately.

A dead skinny camel is bigger than a horse.

Even though the internal fighting has been serious these years, the total number of Yuan Ting's troops is close to 20 only in the surrounding areas of Dadu.Among them, there are 8 elite soldiers in the capital city, and the prime minister also quickly gathered 3 people to go south to confront the Ming army in Cangzhou, and the rest of the troops were distributed in the surrounding city military strongholds.

Not even mentioning other things, but the 8 elite soldiers in Dadu City, if they can work together, they can defend this city as solid as gold.

The problem is that Emperor Zhizheng also knows that the army inside and outside the capital has its own master, and there are many factions. At critical moments, there may be less than 2 people who can be firmly loyal to the royal family.

Therefore, after the edict was issued, Emperor Zhizheng's second thought was to escape.

After so many years of drunkenness, Emperor Zhizheng, who has been indulging in pleasure for a long time, really doesn't have the courage to confront the Ming army, let alone other ambitions.

Thinking of this, the Emperor Yuan Ting, who had experienced too many things in his 35-year reign, suddenly understood that the Ming army didn't want him to escape, and that's why there was that group of cavalry who bypassed most of the capital and headed north.

Maybe, I was wrong?
So he summoned Fan Chang, a direct scholar of the Imperial Academy of the Southern Dynasties who was still in Dadu, and denounced the Ming army's raid with fury on the surface, but what he said was a temptation.

Is there really no chance of peace talks?

Faced with Emperor Zhizheng's superficial questioning and feeling the various gazes of Yuan court officials around him, Fan Chang was not guilty at all, and even beat back, confidently stating that the current situation was caused by Zhizheng Emperor's hesitation, and Yuan court wanted to Take full responsibility. After all, if Emperor Zhizheng had agreed to a series of requests from His Majesty the Emperor, he would not have come to the current situation.

Emperor Zhizheng was not a fool, he felt that he was probably being tricked, and in some moments he even wanted to pull Fan Chang out and kill him.

Didn't do it after all.

It's just that people have to detain Fan Chang and keep him under strict supervision.

Then he discussed countermeasures with the prince Aiyou Shili Dala, who had been separated for many years, and the court officials.

What should we do now?
Abandon this metropolis and flee decisively?
The question is, where to escape?
to the north...

Think about the Southern Dynasty cavalry in the news. At present, it is difficult to say whether the northern passes have fallen. Even if the passes are not lost, the cavalry troops blocking the northern road must be the most elite family members of the Southern Dynasty. If encounters, both sides will win The negative is unpredictable.

east……

Emperor Zhizheng also left a way out for himself, went out to sea, and fled to Tamla.

Yuan Ting conquered Japan several times in the past. For various reasons, although he failed to conquer the overseas island country, he took the Tamna Kingdom in the south of Koryo along the way, incorporated it into the territory of Yuan Ting, and established the Tamna General Administration Mansion.

For this reason, Emperor Zhizheng specially sent people to Tamna to build a palace for himself last year.

In the current era, fleeing to the sea, in most people's consciousness, although the storm is dangerous, it is also a quite safe way out.What's more, when we arrived at Tamna, as long as Emperor Zhizheng wanted to, he could go ashore in Koryo, and then head to Liaoyang.

However, according to the previous news, the cavalry of the Southern Dynasty came from the east, and they may have landed from Zhigu.

This path therefore does not work.

west……

Go out of Lugou Bridge, cross Fangshan, Feihu, and Lingqiu, enter Daizhou, and go to Shanxi.

However, the past few years have been so turbulent, will Wang Kuo take him in?
Emperor Zhizheng hesitated for two full days in anxiety, and when he woke up, he found that he had no more chances.

Direct selling direction.

After Chang Yuchun set off, the second batch of [-] cavalry infantry led by He Wenhui also followed closely, and continued to disperse along the way, filling in and strengthening the defense of each pass, and setting up to intercept the cavalry.

After confirming that the first batch of 5000 people had all achieved their respective goals, He Wenhui divided up [-] troops and went straight to Dadu. On the afternoon of the [-]th, they arrived in the north of Dadu City, ten miles away, and set up camp.

south line.

It was only two hours earlier. On the morning of the [-]th, another [-] cavalry led by General Tang He arrived in Dadu. Set up camp in three directions, and confronted the Yuan army that was waiting in battle on the city.

A total of 5000 people, even if they are all elites, trying to surround a metropolis with a population of one million is a joke.

If Emperor Zhizheng made up his mind to escape decisively at this time, no matter whether he went north or west, he would have a chance of escape.

However, after it was reported that the number of Ming troops besieging the city was small, Emperor Zhizheng had illusions again, thinking that this was a means by the beggar emperor of the Southern Dynasty to force talks.

After all, according to the previous news, the army of the Southern Dynasty is marching westward, and it seems...it is unlikely that there will be enough troops to take Dadu again.Therefore, even if he received an urgent report from the prime minister who was still entangled in Cangzhou, Zhi Zhengdi still decided to stick to Dadu.

At the same time, Emperor Zhizheng once again issued an edict, sending a large number of cavalry to break through the siege, not only asking all the troops around the capital to work hard, but also thinking of the expanded Timur in Shanxi. For all the titles and titles, he also gave extra promises, hoping that he would send troops to rescue Dadu.

The first thing Emperor Zhizheng waited for was more Ming troops.

On the next [-]th and [-]th days, in just two days, Yuan soldiers on the walls of the capital could only see the Ming army outside the city visibly increasing and increasing. Compared with just two days ago, at a glance , the densely packed camp, an army ten times the size of the original gathered into a ring, completely enclosed most of them, and nothing could get through.

On the 5000th day of the leap month, the last day of this month, the third batch of [-] people led by Wu Zhen, the deputy governor of the navy, and a large number of civilian husbands arrived in the direction of Zhigu.

According to the established strategy, the Wu Zhen Department had to carry a large amount of luggage sufficient to supply the army for a month into Dadu by waterway. With the arrival of the Wu Zhen Department, General Xu Da, who had re-erected the banner in the south of the city, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This is also a key part.

If Wu Zhen's troops can't arrive by boat smoothly, the 20 troops who generally carry little food around most of the city can only rely on the land transport of food in the south. Prime Minister Yuan, who was still entangled in Cangzhou if he didn't solve it in advance, also speeded up the Ministry to avoid accidents on the grain road.

The army sent troops to the capital, but Li Wenzhong still stayed in Cangzhou to confront the Yesu Ministry.

Prime Minister Yuan also watched with his own eyes batch after batch of troops bypassing Cangzhou to avoid the Weihe waterway and heading north. Coupled with the news from the direction of Zhigu, he already understood what happened, but knowing it was useless.

Li Wenzhong not only took Cangzhou City, but also held an army of 3, staring at Ye Suu.

As long as you dare to move quickly, you will immediately pounce on this side.

Furthermore, Ye Suu was not that loyal to the Yuan family. Most of the 3 troops were his own direct descendants. He didn't want to waste it for Emperor Zhizheng, so he stayed on the sidelines.

The key is that Ye Su is not pessimistic.

The prime minister of the Yuan court also realized that this time the Southern Dynasty was gambling, a big one, and wanted to directly destroy the foundation of the Yuan Dynasty.

However, where is this easy?
It has always been easier to defend the city than to attack the city. What's more, the Ming army is so desperate, it is tantamount to cornering the Yuan Dynasty, and there is no way out, so they can only desperately.

In the desperate situation, it is only the 8 defenders in Dadu, and the foundation laid by Emperor Zhizheng's habit of storing food, it will be no problem to stick to it for two or three months.

In comparison, Ye Su didn't feel that the Ming army's supplies could easily supply the army for three months.

What's more, the Ming army seemed to go straight to Huanglong this time, but it also left a big loophole. It did not wipe out the Yuan court garrison around Dadu, which is simply a taboo for military strategists.Therefore, even if they survive until the autumn harvest, the Ming army may not necessarily collect food on the premise that they have not won the land.

As long as everyone can stick to March, no, even, as long as there are two months, the situation may reverse.At that time, Ye Su felt that the Ming army would take the initiative to retreat without even doing anything here.

In the south of the capital city, the camp of the Chinese Army.

After arranging his deployment, Wu Zhen hurried over to attend the military meeting.

In the big tent, apart from Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, who didn't want to miss this battle, had already rushed over after arranging the defense of Juyongguan.

All the generals in the account are very clear about the problems they face.

This battle must be resolved quickly.

Lao Zhu also gave a deadline, one month, if Dadu is still not captured within a month, the army will take the initiative to let go of the siege and slowly retreat southward.

This is a big gamble, if it really doesn't work, Lao Zhu is willing to accept the gamble and admit defeat once, no matter what, Daming's hundreds of thousands of elites must not be allowed to make mistakes.

After all, the time has dragged on, and not only the Yuan court tribes around Dadu may unite, but also reinforcements may arrive in Liaodong, Mobei, Northwest, and Guanzhong.

In this regard, it is true that there were disputes within the Yuan court, but Daming must also be their common enemy. It is okay if most of them fall in a short period of time. Make the choices you should have.

However, what no one expected was that the subsequent turn of events would be so abrupt and absurd.

After some discussion among the generals, Xu Da decided to take a rest overnight and, by the way, to surrender symbolically. Old Zhu's habit, even for the Emperor Yuan Ting, still had to go through the process.Until tomorrow, the first day of August, the army officially began to attack the city.

The details were also discussed repeatedly.

This time the army brought a group of soldiers from the Yuan court from Shandong and Henan as usual. If it was the past, these people would be the first to be consumed, and it was also to dampen the morale of the defenders.

This time, Xu Da did not intend to do so.

The pawns still have to go first, but the elite soldiers will also attack together.

The first step is to fill up part of the moat around Dadu, and then dig tunnels to the bottom of the wall, and then fill it with gunpowder and blast the city wall.

Exploding the city wall was the key to the Ming army's raid on Dadu.

Killer.

Therefore, not only repeated consideration and testing in advance, but also recently produced a batch of larger sugar gunpowder as an example.

The army plans to fill in trenches and dig holes from four directions. No matter which side is the first to successfully blast the city wall, it means that most of the attack has been completed. Traditional trebuchets can be used to repair the gaps in the city wall through continuous bombardment, and a section of the city wall was directly bombed. Opening is equivalent to opening a brand new door in an instant. It is very difficult for the defenders to block the gap.

The next day is not only the first day of August, but also the autumnal equinox.

At the fourth watch, the wind blew up, the north wind, the last trace of summer heat left in the end of summer was swept away, the sky was bright, and the wind was stronger, but the inside and outside of the city were already scattered just after taking off cooking smoke.

The calm before the war.

Tu Xiao, the director of the Surveying and Mapping Department, was called to the south of the city yesterday, and served as a staff officer to provide various opinions for the general until late at night.

Returned to the north of the city early.

The garrison here is mainly from the direction of Zhigu. Before that, Tu Xiao personally served as a guide for Chang Yuchun's forward, and he also returned from Juyongguan with Chang Yuchun.

When they came to the north of the city, Tu Xiao personally directed the final arrangements.

About hot air balloons.

Although this was proposed by the Yinghai Envoy who was far away in Mingzhou, it was realized under the leadership of Tu Xiao.

Lao Zhu had seen a demonstration before and ordered the craftsmen to make 30 at a time.In fact, the army brought a total of 46 hot air balloons this time, and there were at least 10 hot air balloons on each side in four directions. The plan was not only to deter the Yuan army, but also to detect the enemy's situation from high altitude.

Chang Yuchun has always been very interested in hot air balloons, and wanted to go to the sky, but unfortunately his master refused to let him.

After breakfast, not far from the launch of the siege, I still squeezed out time and rushed to check it out.

The hot air balloon this time is also different from the original one. In order to maximize the deterrent effect, it is no longer pure white, but painted with various or hideous or terrifying grimaces, magic soldiers, giant beasts and other patterns.

At the seven quarters of the hour, the sound of long and loud horns sounded at the same time in the barracks of the Ming army around Dadu.

This is the clarion call ready to go.

At the same time, the large balls that gradually swelled up in various barracks were slowly lifted into the air under the pull of the cables.

It was the first time that a hot air balloon appeared in front of the big army, not to mention the guards of the Yuan court on the city wall of the capital, even the Ming army itself, who had already greeted in advance, would inevitably give birth to some fears as they watched the terrifying big balls take off into the sky. Restlessness.

Tu Xiao also boarded the hot air balloon himself, and Chang Yuchun purposely arranged this one near his flag.

Unlike other generals and soldiers whose legs softened after seeing this weird big ball, General Chang felt very motivated, and if he could go up together, he would be even more motivated.

Unfortunately not.

Just like this time, General Chang was also strictly forbidden by his lord to personally attack the city, so he could only sit in command.

Command a bird!

Two quarters of an hour passed in the blink of an eye, and it was exactly the same time. He didn't intend to personally attack the city, but he still rode on a war horse, raised his spear and pointed in the direction of the city wall, and said loudly: "My sons, the meritorious service is just today, and the father and son of the Zhizheng Emperor were captured. Our lord has promised that no matter what your status is, you will be given a bounty to become a Marquis, and there will be no successor hereditary, but does anyone want this credit?!"

"want!"

After a loud roar in unison, Chang Yuchun also roared: "Beat the drums, march!"

thump—

thump—

thump—

Drums sounded.

The first group of soldiers either raised their shields or carried soil, and rushed towards the city wall of the capital.

Almost at the same time, drums sounded in the other three directions of the metropolis as if in harmony.

Tu Xiao, who was at an altitude of 30 feet, held a binoculars and watched the first batch of Ming troops arrive at the moat, and joined the Yuan army with the sound of killing.

After observing for a while, Tu Xiao felt that there seemed to be something wrong with his right hand just after writing down the first military situation on the city.

Turning his head and looking, not far to the west, a hot air balloon, for some reason, just like that, floated towards the city wall of the capital.

Tu Xiao hurriedly raised the binoculars, and saw a young official from the Surveying and Mapping Department in the hot air balloon just happened to look at him with a blank and fearful expression, obviously caught off guard.

Tu Xiao also quickly discovered that the rope tied to the hot air balloon broke for some reason.

In a blink of an eye, I realized that it was probably due to the strong wind today.

After all, in this hot air balloon, Tu Xiao could also feel the tension of the traction cable.

only……

screwed up!
It's broken!
How can this be so?

Sighing in his heart, Tu Xiao followed the hot air balloon all the way to the south, occasionally glanced down, and suddenly found that as the hot air balloon got closer and closer, on the city wall of the capital city, it seemed...a lot of soldiers...are... …escape……

escape……

Hmm...escape? ! ! !

(End of this chapter)