Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

In the Battle of Hutuo River, the Wei army completely crippled the main force of the Qing army. Less than 30,000 of Jidu's 100,000 troops fled back to Taiyuan. Even with the 20,000 troops recently recruited in Shanxi by Bai Rumei, the governor of Shanxi, and Li Haoxian, the general of Taiyuan Town, the total force was only more than 40,000. To make matters worse, as soon as they fled back to Taiyuan, they heard that Xi Rimo, the general of the Wei State's expedition to the south, went north from Guizhou and captured Chongqing, Shunqing, and Tongchuan, cutting off Shaanxi's connection with other provinces, and Tuoli, the general of the Wei State's expedition to the north, was also fiercely attacking Xi'an. Jidu panicked for a moment and remained silent.

Shanxi Governor Bai Rumei reported: "Shaanxi is the foundation of our dynasty and must not be lost. The emperor should return to Xi'an immediately. Just leave a general to guard Taiyuan."

"Who do you think can defend Taiyuan?" Ji Du asked solemnly.

"The Grand Secretary Da Su is brave and resourceful, and can defend Taiyuan. If the emperor trusts me, I am willing to stay in Taiyuan," Bai Rumei said after thinking for a while.

"I am willing to live and die with Taiyuan!" After hearing this, Dasu pleaded with emotion.

"What I am worried about is not defeat, but that after the Southern Guard Army captured Chongqing, our army's contact with the outside world will be cut off. Even if we want to ask for help from other provinces, it will be difficult!" Ji Du expressed his hidden worries.

"Why doesn't Your Majesty send an envoy to Kuidong and ask the Pseudo-Ming Dynasty to allow our troops stationed in other provinces to enter Shaanxi through Kuidong?" Bai Rumei proposed a solution that stunned everyone present.

"Please ask the Pseudo-Ming Dynasty to allow our army to pass through Kuidong to aid Shaanxi? I ​​don't think the Pseudo-Ming Dynasty may agree to it," Ji Du sighed. Over the past few decades, the Bannermen have killed the Han people ruthlessly. It is really difficult to expect the Ming Dynasty to cooperate with him now!
"I heard that the power of Kuidong is in the hands of Jiangling King Li Laiheng, and Li Laiheng is a man with great foresight. He took advantage of the war between our dynasty and Wei State to seize Jing and Yue states. Later, he took advantage of the opportunity of Wei army's attack on northern Sichuan to control the northeastern part of Chongqing. He is ambitious to snatch food from the tiger's mouth! Such a hero must know the principle of the lips and teeth being cold. He will definitely put aside the past grudges and form a secret alliance with us," Bai Rumei insisted on her opinion.

Ji Du thought about it and realized that there was no better way, so he had to try his best and ordered Xiao Shiyan, the Right Governor of Shaanxi, to go to Kuidong. This was a helpless move, but after Xiao Shiyan arrived in Kuidong, he really reached a consensus with Li Laiheng. The Ming army in Kuidong opened a channel for other provinces to aid Shaanxi, and the Qing court gave Kuidong a large amount of supplies as a reward.

Shaanxi was the base of Ji Du, so he dared not not return. He left 30,000 soldiers and a large amount of money and supplies to Dasu and Bai Rumei, and ordered them to gather the defeated troops on the spot and recruit soldiers to resist the Wei army. He then returned to Xi'an with more than 10,000 cavalry.
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"In this battle, our army suffered 10,000 casualties, beheaded more than 29,000 people, captured more than 31,000 soldiers, and seized countless supplies, money, and military weapons. It can be said that we have won a great victory! I would like to offer a bowl of wine to all the generals!" At Huangyu Pass, because of the decisive victory, the Great Khan Lianhua ordered a banquet for the three armies to celebrate the victory. The soldiers raised their wine bowls and cheered.

Since he had already won a decisive victory, Sultan felt that there was no need to rush forward. He carefully selected 10,000 prisoners to replace the casualties and patiently waited for his infantry to arrive. Soon, Jin Wang Ergalang arrived with 70,000 infantry, and the number of guards near Huangyu Pass reached 230,000.

"Report! The fake emperor has left Taiyuan and returned to Xi'an, leaving behind the Grand Secretary Dasu, the Governor of Shanxi Bai Rumei, the General of Taiyuan Town Li Haoxian, the Manchu Melezhang Jing Chahatai of the Bordered Red Banner and other generals to garrison Taiyuan. The Qing army has trained all the young and strong people in Taiyuan and nearby counties and recruited more than 30,000 new recruits. Now there are more than 60,000 troops. They have also sent cavalry to continuously escort food and grass into the city, as if they are intending to hold on to Taiyuan," the scouts brought the news of the Qing army.

"Hahaha~ Dasu is a veteran who has experienced hundreds of battles. Doesn't he know that an army is trained? Do you really think that an army can be made by just catching some civilians to serve as soldiers?" Sultan was not worried when he heard this. Instead, he laughed.

"Since the Qing army intends to hold on to Taiyuan, why don't you take the opportunity to surround the main force of the Qing army in Shanxi in Taiyuan and annihilate it?" suggested the Minister of Revenue Hu Lianqi.

"Well, Lord Hu has the same idea as me!" Sultan proudly ordered Duke of Lu Erke to lead 30,000 troops from Huangyu Pass through Liaozhou to attack southern Shanxi; he ordered Duke of Liang Barsi and Duke Baili Suhe to lead 30,000 troops from Huangyu Pass through Liaozhou, Qinzhou and Fenzhou to enter the eastern part of Luliang Mountains, cutting off the connection between Yangqu, the capital of Taiyuan Prefecture, and Shaanxi; he himself led an army of 170,000 troops leisurely and leisurely from Huangyu Pass north to Pingdingzhou, and then from Pingdingzhou west to attack Yangqu.

After learning that the Great Khan Lianhua had led his army to attack Shanxi, Dasu discussed with Bai Rumei and others and decided that it would be better to concentrate troops to defend Yangqu rather than be defeated one by one by the guards. Therefore, all the garrisons in Taiyuan Prefecture and the surrounding areas were withdrawn to Yangqu and Taiyuan. By frantically recruiting civilians and drawing garrison troops from various places, the number of Qing troops barely reached 70,000. Dasu ordered Li Haoxian, the general of Taiyuan Town, to lead 10,000 troops to garrison Taiyuan City, and Chahatai, the Manchu Melezhangjing of the Bordered Red Banner, to lead 10,000 troops to guard Mengshan between Yangqu and Taiyuan. He and Bai Rumei led 50,000 troops to guard Yangqu City.
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The section of Fen River near Taiyuan County was called Jin River in ancient times. This water flows out of Jinyang (now Guchengying Village, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City) and flows westward into Xuanweng Mountain (now west of Jin Temple, Taiyuan City). It flows silently and continuously, as if telling the immortal legend of the land of Shanxi.

Taiyuan was originally a strong city, with the Jinshui River to the south and Xuanweng Mountain to the west. In the northwest, there was a friendly army led by Melezhang Jingchahatai with 10,000 troops stationed in Mengshan. The terrain was favorable for the defenders. But Li Haoxian, the general of the Qing Taiyuan Town, was frowning and sighing. It was because the battle on the banks of the Hutuo River had frightened him. Although Taiyuan City was said to have 10,000 troops, he knew his own affairs. His veterans had suffered casualties in the battles over the years, especially in the battle of the Hutuo River. Now there were only 4,000 left, and the other 6,000 were all conscripted civilians. How could they fight a tough battle? Moreover, it was freezing cold, and the Jinshui River was frozen thick, making it easy for the guards to cross the river. How could they rely on them?

"Alas! I am a Han Chinese, why do I serve the Manchus?" Li Haoxian sighed and muttered to himself in his study. He had intended to surrender, but during his stay in Shanxi, he had fought repeatedly with the guards, mainly the subordinates of Liao Wang Su Muer, killing and wounding many guards, and the two sides had accumulated a lot of hatred. If he surrendered, would His Royal Highness the Liao Wang spare him?
"General, Shen Youji wants to see you for something!" Just as he was worried, his personal guard came to report. "Shen You?" Li Haoxian was slightly surprised. This man was a famous bandit in Luliang. He surrendered when he was exhausted and was appointed as a guerrilla when he followed Beile Shangshan to fight against the bandits in Luliang. At this time when people were uneasy, it must be bad for such a bandit to come to him. General Li rolled his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Call him in."

"Greetings to the General," Shen You was very polite and considerate, without the slightest trace of banditry.

"What does Guerrilla Shen want from our town?" Li Haoxian asked majestically.

"The Wei army is approaching, please find a way for our brothers to survive," Shen You expressed his true feelings.

"How dare you!" Li Haoxian was furious when he heard that, and drew out his knife with a "swoosh".

Shen You was not afraid at all, staring at him straight, "If the general kills me today, I will be killed by the guards someday. It's either death, please give me a quick death!"

"You are so brave!" Li Haoxian was so angry that his knife stopped in mid-air and couldn't cut down.

Shen You laughed, "When I was in Luliang Mountain, I was recruited by the Wei State and met Lord Liu Yaner, the captain of Shanxi Captain of the Wuyi Guard of the David State. Captain Liu is outside the mansion now. Please meet him, General. Whether you agree or not, please give me a straight answer."

"Liu Yan'er, the captain of the Shanxi captain of the Wuyi Guard? Could she be the woman who instigated the rebellion of Datong County Magistrate Wang Du in the past?" At this time, the story of the Wuyi Guard instigating the rebellion of Datong County Magistrate Wang Du and others had spread throughout Shanxi. Li Haoxian vaguely heard of Liu Yan'er's name. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly said, "Let her in."

Liu Yan'er walked into Li Haoxian's study, she was a young woman in plain clothes with a pretty face.

"What are you doing here, sir?" Li Haoxian asked in a dignified manner.

"I am ordered by the Khan to recruit Li Zongzhen to surrender. The Khan has ordered that if Li Haoxian is willing to submit, he can be retained in his original position and will still be stationed in Taiyuan without any punishment. If he refuses to surrender, he will be executed after the city is captured!" When the woman said the four words "he will be executed without mercy", it seemed as if she was talking about something very funny, and there was actually a smile on the corner of her mouth.

"Our town has been fighting with your army for many years and has killed many of your soldiers. If we surrender, can we have a good end?" Li Haoxian trembled as he expressed his concerns.

"You are right. My husband Zhao Yi died at the hands of your subordinates. However, in the battlefield, each serves his own master. Life and death cannot be blamed on others. I, a woman, know this truth. How can you not know it? Besides, the Khan's life is as heavy as a mountain. Since he said 'let bygones be bygones', who dares to trouble you again? You don't have to worry about this. Please give me a definite answer whether to surrender or not." Liu Yan'er said a few words lightly and threw Li Haoxian's worries to the wind. She said happily: "I am a Han Chinese. I have no choice but to serve the Manchus. Since the Khan has shown mercy and let bygones be bygones, I should surrender to the Heavenly Dynasty!"

After the three discussed surrender, Liu Yan'er returned immediately. The next day, Li Haoxian withdrew the garrison troops from Xuanweng Mountain and opened the gates of Taiyuan County to welcome the Wei army. The expected fierce battle did not happen, and the fortified city of Taiyuan fell into the hands of the Wei army without firing a single arrow. (End of this chapter)