Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 267: Prancing Horse and Swinging Whip into Xining

The army pressed on the border, and all the chieftains jointly elected Qi Tingjian, the commander of the Xining Guard, as the marshal in charge of the troops and horses of Hehuang and Shaanxi. Qi Ting's admonishment did not give in. He ordered Li Hongyuan of Qianhu of Xifu to build forts on both sides of the narrow and dangerous path in the southeast of the city to guard against death. He also ordered Wanjin of Qianhu of Huangyuan to lead more than a thousand cavalry to specifically attack the rear route of Dashun army. If they see the grain transport team and the stragglers of the Dashun Army, they will kill them. If they encounter a large group of people, they will run away.

This tactic gave Xin Sizhong a headache, and he had to send Qi Zhizhen, the commander-in-chief, to send troops to protect the grain road. Xining City was clearly in sight, but it took two months and more than fifty battles to remove the outer strongholds and advance to the city.

Just as he was about to attack the city, he received an order from Emperor Yongchang of Dashun, ordering him to retreat to Wuchang, plunder Huguangzhou County and plunder grain, and return it to the command of Bohou and Zhijiang Li Guo (Li Jin).

Just as General Xining was about to leave, this order came. After so much effort and so many casualties, could it be just a dream?
In the camp, all the generals were silent and looked at the general Xin Sizhong with their eyes.

Suddenly, Fan Dingge shouted: "Tiger Flame Squadron, you cannot die in vain to control the general! If you don't capture Xining, how can you deserve to control the general?"

Xin Sizhong was shocked. The bandit name Tiger Flame Squad was his name when he was in the 5th Battalion of Ge Zuo. The person who called him was also his old brother Fan Dingge. This Fan Dingge was originally a subordinate of the big bandit "Cao Cao" Luo Rucai. After Li Zicheng annexed Gezuo Fifth Camp and Xiaoyuan Camp, he returned to He Jin for control, and Jin treated him well.

"Yes, the city of Xining is about to be destroyed, we must not stop halfway," Qi Zhizhen also shouted. This man was a surrendered general of the Ming Army and did not have much affection for Li Zicheng.

"Commander, please conquer Xining first and then go to Wuchang." Huang Cheng and Ma Anbang refused to let go of the fat on their lips. They had just joined the Dashun Army and had never even met Emperor Yongchang.

In short, these people are not directly related to Li Zicheng, and they all want to break Xining and get a vote before leaving.

Seeing that the generals refused to retreat, Xin Sizhong nodded, regained his true nature as a great thief, and stretched out two fingers: "Two months. In two months, no matter whether we can capture the city or not, we will go to Wuchang immediately."

The offensive and defensive battle in Xining begins.

The Dashun army returned to their true nature as thieves and drove the people of all ethnic groups near the city to fill in the trenches outside the city. In the face of life and death, the defenders ignored their homesickness and fired artillery fire, staining the blood of countless people under Xining City.

Ten days later, the trenches were filled up, and all the people captured by the Dashun Army were killed or injured. Nearly 10,000 people were buried under Xining City. The piles of corpses can't stir up any waves in Xin Sizhong's heart. At this moment, he is not a "mighty general" but a big thief named "Tiger Flame Squad". He has been a thief for so many years and has killed so many people that his heart has become as hard as stone. It doesn't matter if a few people die, just arrest them after they're dead. He also wanted to capture some more people to attack the city, but after hearing about the brutality of the Dashun Army, the people in Xining hid in the mountains, and he really couldn't catch them.

If you can't catch it, get it yourself.

Xin Sizhong sneered and issued the siege order. After experiencing hundreds of battles, he found that the defense of the East City was weak, so he concentrated all artillery to bombard the East City. Ladder trucks, goose trucks, and rams rushed towards the city walls and gates, and the infantry hid in the gates. The car came slowly from behind.

Qi Tingjian personally commanded the Ming army, used bows and arrows, and fired various firearms to severely attack the Dashun army. The battle was fierce. Arrows and cannon stones were fired from the city like raindrops. Dashun's army was killed and many wounded.

"General Huang, you are leading the elite camp to the city," Xin Sizhong said to the heroic general Huang Cheng. Huang Cheng was originally a powerful Nian Bo, good at wielding two swords, and had a reputation for bravery. After hearing the order, he responded loudly and led the five hundred warriors who had rested for a long time to rush towards the east wall.

"Dong~dong~dong~" The Tiger Flame Squad beat the marching drum themselves.

"Qi Gong, this must be an elite enemy soldier who can fire cannons," Hu Lianqi said to Qi Tingjian. He came up with a plan to hide the artillery in the East City, and deliberately planted fewer flags in the East City to lure the enemy to attack. The Dashun army fell into the trap. "Fire the gun," Qi Tingjian shouted.

"Boom~boom~boom~"

The sound of cannons continued, fireworks rose into the sky, and the Dashun army's flesh and blood flew everywhere, falling one by one. In just a moment, most of the five hundred warriors were killed, and Huang Cheng himself was lifted into the air.

"I will not give up until I kill the Qi thieves." Xin Sizhong became ferocious and wanted to go to the city in person, but his subordinates tried hard to persuade him to stop.

Although they began to suffer some losses, the Dashun army had experienced hundreds of battles and outnumbered the Turkish army. Xining City gradually became in danger. Dashun's army scaled the city wall many times, and once even broke into the city. Thanks to Qi Ting's remonstrance son Qi Xingzhou, who was brave and led his army to repel the enemy, the danger was temporarily turned into safety.

The commander of the Wei sent Si Yamen, Qi Tingjian, Li Hongyuan, Qi Xingzhou, Wanjin and others to ask Hu Lianqi for advice. "Mr. Hu, the matter is urgent. What can I do?"

Hu Lianqi sighed, "For the current plan, the only way is to agree to Emperor Qianyuan's request to raise Xining and surrender the guards."

"Alas! I am the commander of the ninth generation of the Qi family!" Qi Tingjian sighed and felt unhappy.

"Father, a good man seeks his own fame, so why rely on his ancestors. If you don't make a decision early and the intruders enter the city, they will all be destroyed. Please make up your mind quickly," Qi Xingzhou persuaded his father.

This Mr. Qi is quite knowledgeable! Hu Liangqi nodded secretly.

"Come on, come on, I'm an old father! Whether our Qi family will prosper or decline in the future depends entirely on you!" Qi Tingjian smiled bitterly at his son, then turned to Hu Liangqi and said: "I have prepared tunnels in the city. , was originally used to prepare for the city to be breached. Sir, please leave the city from here, go to the guard camp, and tell His Majesty Emperor Qianyuan that I am willing to raise Xining to surrender the guard and ask him to send a large army to rescue quickly."

"Yes", Hu Lianqi took the order and left.

"I just dreamed last night that Changshengtian sent me a handful of soil, and Mr. Hu is here today. There must be good news." Suletan joked when he saw Hu Liangqi.

"This piece of soil given to your majesty by the gods is not a trivial matter. It is a land in Hexi that surpasses the world in appearance. Please give me a pot of fine wine. I will drink it while I plan for your majesty." Hu Lianqi is also a wonderful person, and he actually opened it. The emperor's joke.

The higher your status, the fewer friends you have! It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him so casually, and Suletan felt very cordial. The words "Land of Hexi" shocked his heart even more.

There are few strategic locations in history that can surpass the "Hexi Corridor". "Buddhism Spreads to the East", "Silk Road" This accumulation plain in Gansu is called the "Hexi Corridor" because it is located to the west of the Yellow River and is surrounded by towering mountain plateaus on both sides. To the north is the Alxa Plateau, which is full of Gobi deserts and inaccessible. To the south is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has a harsh environment and inconvenient transportation. This corridor has become the most convenient passage to connect the Western Regions. The land is fertile and supports many nomadic peoples. Obtaining it can become the foundation of a king!
"Drinking alone is too boring. Come here, bring me the imperial wine that I have treasured for many years. I want to have a good drink with you sir! Hahaha~" Penetrating laughter sounded in the big tent.

(End of this chapter)