I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 375: The King and His Son Are Together

Before Altan Khan made any move, the Ming army on the eastern front began to move.

Xu Wei escorted nearly 100,000 people from the Chahar royal tent back to the Liaohe Hetao area.

Qi Jiguang led a cavalry division to meet him thirty miles outside Tongliao City.

"Brother Yuan Jing!"

"Brother Wen!"

Qi Jiguang stepped forward and bowed to greet him, but Xu Wei suddenly took a few steps forward, hugged him tightly, and patted him on the back enthusiastically.

Qi Jiguang was caught off guard and was a little confused at first, but then he smiled and hugged Xu Wei, patting him on the back a few times.

The two hugged each other for nearly a minute before separating.

The two stood on a hill, with the morning sun shining obliquely from the east, making the sky bluer and the grassland greener.

Under the escort of the Ming cavalry, nearly 100,000 Chahar people, driving cattle and sheep and carrying tents and other items on high-wheeled carts, formed more than ten long dragons and slowly crossed the Tu River from north to south.

Now it is the Spring Festival, the snow melts and flows into the rivers, and the water levels of the Huanghe River, Tuhe River and other rivers rise sharply. The Ming army built several wooden bridges on the Tuhe River to facilitate their passage.

"Is everything going well on the road?" Qi Jiguang asked.

Xu Wei knew what he was asking, and replied with a smile, "All good. These tribesmen are very obedient. The people on the grassland are all like this, following the strong. They look like Chahar tribesmen, herdsmen directly under the Tumen Khan's tent, but in fact many of them were robbed by Tumen Khan from the Doyan, Taining, Fuquan, Khalkha and other tribes."

"Okay. First, we will place them in the Liaohe Hetao area. The castles extending eastward from the Luanhe River in the west and the castles along the Huanghe River and Xiliaohe River in the north will be completed this year, and the two iron chains in the Liaohe Hetao area will be cast.

Whether Tumen Khan makes a comeback or Altan Khan rushes east to help, they must first weigh the weight of these two chains. "

"Good! With the Liaohe River and Hetao as our foundation, we will be able to easily manage the southern desert." Xu Wei turned to look at Qi Jiguang, "Yuan Jing, the military strategy for the spring counterattack has been decided."

"It has been decided, and we have also received the approval of the Crown Prince from the Supervisory Office. The troops will set out soon. On the left, I will send another 15,000 cavalry to Li Chengliang, heading north from the Ulus River, across the Raknor Gobi Desert, and heading northwest straight to the Luju River (Kerulen River), cutting off the Tumen Khan's retreat to the Khalkha tribe.

The central route was led by Liaoxi General Xiao Wenkui, who led 30,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry, relying on carriages, starting from Tongliao City, crossing the Wuluxu River, and heading north along the west of the Black Mountain to wipe out the remnants of the Chahar tribe and search for the traces of Tumen Khan. The troops headed straight for Buyuer Lake (Beir Lake) and Xuanming Pool (Hulun Lake).

Qi Jiguang pointed his finger to the northeast on the right.

"The commander of the right wing is Zhou Guotai. I have sent him an additional 10,000 cavalrymen, plus his own 15,000 cavalrymen and 15,000 Sushen campmen, for a total of 40,000 troops. Starting from Kaiyuan City, we will first go north to the Songhua River, then go upstream, and go north along the Naowen River (Nen River) east of Heishan Mountain to search for the remnants of the Chahar troops and wipe out the Haixi Jurchen tribe.

They will continue northward to Heilongjiang and then wait for an opportunity to act.

If Tumen Khan led the remnants of the Chahar to flee westwards to the Khalkha, Zhou Guotai's troops would not care about them, and would hand them over to Xiao Wenkui and Li Chengliang to pursue and suppress them. Zhou's troops would turn eastwards, along the Heilongjiang River, all the way to the coast, and completely wipe out the various Jurchen tribes in the Haixi region of Jiangnan!
Kill him while he's weak! The main force of the Haixi Jurchens brought disaster upon themselves. They followed Tumen Khan in a sneak attack on Liaodong and suffered heavy casualties under the city of Fushun. If they were to plow the area again, Haixi would truly be the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Nurgan Dusi, the prince said it was too ugly and he wanted to change it to a nicer name. Haha!"

Xu Wei listened quietly and could not help asking: "Yuan Jing, what about you? Why didn't you lead the army north, but gave the opportunity to Guangyi (Xiao Wenkui) and Ruqi (Li Chengliang)?"

"Wen Chang, now that our main forces have been deployed, the Liaohe River and Hetao regions are somewhat under-strength and struggling. However, the Liaohe River and Hetao region is over a thousand miles long, bordering the northern desert and the left and right wings of Mongolia. To its left is the Luan River, and behind the Luan River is the capital.

Our army defeated Tumen Khan and the news reached Altan Khan. According to the military intelligence report sent by the Supervisory Office, Xuefu Gong (Wang Chonggu) had already made preparations for war in case Altan Khan turned against him and led his troops south.

Altan Khan could break through the border from Luanhe River or Xuanfu. No matter which of these two places he broke through, someone would be needed to guard the capital. Or to prevent Altan Khan from marching eastward and seizing the pasture population of the Chahar tribe.

Wenzhang, I have no choice but to stay here."

Xu Wei looked at Qi Jiguang and knew that as the commander-in-chief, he shouldered a responsibility far beyond that of ordinary people and it was not easy.

I also know that it is difficult to persuade him to make such a decision. He raised his head, his eyes shining, sighed softly, forced a smile, and changed the subject.

"Now, the border towns communicate military intelligence through the Supervisory Office in a timely and effective manner. It is really as Your Highness said, the overall situation is a chess game. It is much better than the previous border towns that were deaf and dumb."

Qi Jiguang also saw that Xu Wei was feeling sorry for him, and followed up on his words and said, "Yes, I have talked about this with many veterans in the border towns. Not to mention that we can learn about the military situation of Datong Town in a timely manner, even the military situation of different troops in the same town is difficult to know.

Previously, the civil officials who led the army were more careful in guarding against their own people than against the northern barbarians. "

Spring is in the air, but the north wind is still a little chilly. Xu Wei shrank his neck, sniffed, put his hands into his sleeves, looked at the vast and boundless grassland, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The Ming Dynasty's border affairs were ruined by those ignorant and self-righteous civil servants. Some of them were greedy and embezzled food and money; some of them were self-righteous and would rather the border affairs be ruined than let the border generals make achievements.

Fortunately, all this has changed, which has led to one great victory after another."

Qi Jiguang squinted his eyes and looked far into the north, as if he saw Buyuer Lake and Xuanming Pool, Lujuma River, Langjuxu Mountain, Yanran Mountain, and the North Sea.

Suddenly, Qi Jiguang remembered something, "Wen Chang, I heard there's news about Dong Huli?"

"Yes, it's hard to explain in a few words. I will tell you in detail when we return to the city. I will also report this matter to the Crown Prince. Please make the decision, Your Highness."

"Okay. By the way, we will hold a memorial ceremony at the Martyrs' Park at Si Lazi Mountain in three days. Mr. Wenchang, please come and join us."

"Memorial ceremony?"

Qi Jiguang nodded and said, "The Crown Prince sent a letter through the Supervisory Office, asking us to hold a memorial service and departure ceremony at the Heroes' Park on Mount Si Lazi, so that the heroes can follow the soldiers and embark on the expedition to the northern barbarians."

Xu Wei nodded vigorously, "Okay!"

Three days later, the Xilazi Mountain Martyrs Park was where Li Chengwu and other soldiers who died in the ambush at Xilazi Mountain and those who died while pursuing the remnants were buried.

Tens of thousands of Ming army soldiers, wearing armor and helmets, half-knelt on one knee facing the tomb of heroes and martyrs. Qi Jiguang, Xu Wei, Xiao Benkui and others knelt in the front.

Qi Jiguang led the entire army, holding a bowl of wine and raising it high.

"To the spirits of our comrades in heaven, we pay tribute today and comfort the heroes. We ask all comrades to follow the soldiers and step onto the enemy's land again. Protect our Ming Dynasty and make it as glorious as the sun and the moon!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers shouted in unison: "Bless our Ming Dynasty, as bright as the sun and the moon!"

Qi Jiguang poured the wine in the bowl onto the ground and sang loudly, and the soldiers behind him sang along with him.

"How can I say that I have no clothes? I share the same robe with you. When the king raised an army, he repaired my sword and spear. I share the same enemy with you!"
How can I say that I have no clothes? Wear the same clothes as your son. The king raised his troops and repaired my armor. Go with me! "

The singing was passionate and resounded throughout the heaven and earth.

Long after the singing, the song still lingered in everyone's ears.

Xiao Wenkui, wearing armor, climbed onto his horse with the help of his followers, and said to Qi Jiguang and Xu Wei, "General Qi, Lieutenant General Xu, I and the soldiers are going to the battle! Wait for our victory report!"

Xiao Wenkui flicked the reins, and his mount let out a squeak and started to trot. The followers behind him, carrying huge flags with the Chinese characters "Ming" and "Xiao", followed closely behind him, and soon they joined the sea of ​​people and flags consisting of tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of flags.

Qi Jiguang and Xu Wei bowed and waited until the figures of Xiao Wenkui and others disappeared between heaven and earth before they stood up.

As they watched tens of thousands of Ming soldiers rolling forward, a voice kept echoing in their ears: "Who says I have no clothes? I will share my clothes with you. When the king raises his army, I will prepare my armor and weapons. I will go with you!"

(End of this chapter)