I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 419 Datong City before the War

Wang Chonggu, dressed in a blue robe and a footless hat, quietly walked out from the side door of the governor's office, followed by only a few attendants and guards, and a trusted aide.

The morning sun rose higher and higher, shining on the ancient city of Datong, on the soldiers standing on the city walls, and on the faces of passers-by hurrying along the street.

The soldiers on the city wall had solemn expressions and listened to the officers' speeches in teams.

The laborers and auxiliary soldiers were busy carrying supplies and weapons.

Behind the towers, sentry towers and parapets, there were all kinds of weapons and equipment. The cannons were painted black and gleamed in the morning sun. The patrols came and went in an orderly manner.

Pedestrians on the street had just walked out of their homes. Some were holding breakfast made by their families and eating while walking; some turned into the roadside breakfast stalls to first worship their internal organs that had been hungry all night.

After walking around the most important North Gate, the trusted aide said to Wang Chonggu, "Wang, have breakfast first."

His name was Mu Chendong, with the courtesy name Chaoling. He was from Luzhou, Shanxi Province. He passed the imperial examination in his early twenties, but failed the imperial examination twice. He then participated in the official selection of the Ministry of Personnel and became a teacher in Zhang County, Longchang Prefecture, Shaanxi Province.

He was dedicated to his duties and made outstanding achievements. When the barbarians in Taozhou rebelled, the county magistrate and the county magistrate fled, leaving only him, a ninth-rank official appointed by the imperial court. He organized the young and strong people in the city to defend the city, fought wits and courage with the barbarians, and saved the city of Zhang County and the people of the city.

Unexpectedly, after the county magistrate came back, he not only took away the credit, but also falsely accused him of colluding with the barbarians, so he was dismissed from his post.

Later, the case was uncovered by the Inspector General, the magistrate and the county magistrate were impeached and brought to justice, but Mu Chendong's reinstatement was never resolved. He was then retained by the local elders to teach, and he also led the people to build roads and bridges, reclaim land and build water conservancy projects.

Wang Chonggu, the governor of the Gansu-Ningxia border affairs, heard about his deeds and sincerely invited him to join the shogunate.

Wang Chonggu looked a little dazed. When he heard what Mu Chendong said, he stopped and saw a foot shop not far ahead.

"Okay, let's go there and worship our internal organs first."

Wang Chonggu and Mu Chendong walked into the foot shop, found a clean empty table and sat down, and the rest of the entourage and guards also sat down separately.

"Shopkeeper, give me two bowls of mutton soup and six mutton buns." Wang Chonggu shouted.

"Coming! Please take a seat, gentlemen. I'll be right there!"

Mu Chendong looked around and saw that there were more than ten tables in the foot shop, all of which were now full of people, drinking steaming mutton soup and eating fragrant mutton buns. Some people were busy talking.

An elder said indignantly: "Why did Altan Khan come to attack us again for no reason?"

"The man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure. Over the years, our treasures have flowed northward like a mountain and a sea, and these northern barbarians are jealous, greedy, and want to get something for nothing."

A man who looked like a scholar shouted while biting a bun.

His companion, a prim and proper scholar, shook his head and said with a look of deep sorrow, "Who told us to value profit over righteousness? I have long said that if we only care about profit and ignore education, something bad will happen sooner or later. Now, we have finally made such a big mistake."

The people around him couldn't help but turn their heads to look at him. Someone joked, "Master Xiang, we have jointly written a letter to the government, asking you to come out and educate Altan Khan. You are highly respected and well-versed in the classics. You can educate Altan Khan with just a few words and avoid a war. Your merits are immeasurable!"

The old man was anxious, and said: "Working with your mind but not your body, you can benefit others but not yourself." Then he said: "What is the principle of heaven? Knowing etiquette and following etiquette is the principle of heaven. I am just a commoner, I cannot go beyond the etiquette."

He said these words which were incomprehensible to everyone and made everyone laugh. Even his fellow scholar couldn't help laughing. The shop was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Wang Chonggu looked at the people who were living in peace and tranquility, feeling deeply moved. He couldn't help but turn around and ask a middle-aged man who looked like a vendor next to him.

"Master, aren't you afraid of the spread of war?"

"Scared! Of course I'm afraid." The vendor took a sip of the mutton soup, took out a handkerchief and wiped his beard. "War is ruthless, everyone is afraid. Look at those aristocratic families. As soon as they heard the news, they desperately ran south and hid in Taiyuan these two days.

But it's useless to be afraid. For people like us, if we stop working and have no income for a day, our whole family will go hungry. War is terrible, but it's not as terrible as starving to death.

Besides, things are different now than they were before.”

Wang Chonggu asked with great interest, "What's the difference?"

The vendor said, "During the Gengxu Incident in the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, I was 15 or 16 years old and was also in Datong. That time, Altan Khan invaded the country and the whole city was in a panic, just like an ant nest that was blown up.

The government, the soldiers, the rich and powerful, and the common people were all panicking, just like headless flies. At that time, everyone ran desperately to the south, officials ran, the rich ran, and the common people also ran. Later, Altan Khan broke through the border and entered the country, and many people were killed and abducted on the way.

This time, you see, Wang Duxian is in Datong, Ma Zongbing is in Datong, and the deputy generals are either in Datong or in Tiancheng and Youwei. The officers and soldiers are patrolling every day, and everything is arranged properly. Yesterday, the 20,000 to 30,000 reinforcements from the capital also entered the city, all equipped with firearms, and the momentum is so fierce!"

Someone immediately echoed, "That's right, we saw them enter the city yesterday, and they are indeed different from ordinary soldiers. I heard that they were trained by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself. The emperor's army is extraordinary." "That's right, if the officials and soldiers are not panicking, how panicky can the people be?"

"Yes, we ordinary people just leave everything to fate. If they don't panic, we can't panic even if we want to."

Wang Chonggu felt both relieved and guilty.

This time, Altan Khan marched to the city of Datong and mobilized 30,000 households on the right wing of Mongolia and 100,000 cavalry. The momentum was far greater than the Gengxu Rebellion, but the turmoil it caused was far less than that in the 29th year of Jiajing.

Why?

Just as the vendor said, if the government and soldiers are not panicking, the common people below will not panic either.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in charge of rectifying the nine frontiers, and one of the most important things he has done is to maintain strict confidentiality measures.

In the past, whenever there was a little trouble at the border, all kinds of rumors would fly around, causing people to panic. You were panicking, and I was panicking too. The panic among the people would in turn shake the morale of the army.

This time, the confidentiality regulations were strictly followed, and none of the secrets about why Altan Khan launched an invasion of the border and how many troops he gathered were leaked.

He simply issued various military orders, and all states, counties, and garrisons followed them.

The three giants Wang Chonggu, Zhang Xueyan and Ma Fangxuan were extremely anxious, but the execution below was orderly and not panicky at all.

This mentality was passed down, and the officers, soldiers and civilians remained calm, believing that the court and the governor had made all the necessary preparations and they did not feel there was anything to worry about.

After breakfast, Wang Chonggu had no intention of continuing to patrol around Datong City with his entourage.

He sighed softly and said to Mu Chendong, "Seeing the villagers like this, I feel really bad. This war and disaster should not fall on them."

Mu Chendong replied: "Dong Weng, as long as we can hold on, then it will be the best strategy to talk about other things."

"That's true. But we should avoid it if we can. When we get back to the yamen, I will write another letter to persuade Altan Khan. We must not let both sides suffer losses!"

As soon as he arrived at the Governor's Office, a military officer reported: "Governor, the deputy commander of the Beijing Camp, Xue Yi, wants to see you."

Wang Chonggu nodded, "Please come in!"

Wang Chonggu invited Xue Yi into the signing room without even having time to change into his official uniform.

"Deputy General Xue, what is it that you want to see me for?"

"Reporting to the Governor, I request to lead the Jiayin and Bingyin Infantry Regiments of the Divine Might Army to station at Zhenguan Fort."

Wang Chonggu was stunned. "Deputy General Xue, Zhenguan Fort is the gateway to Datong. Altan Khan is leading 50,000 Tumed cavalrymen waiting for an opportunity to attack the fort. Do you know that?"

Xue Yi replied: "I know what the governor said."

Wang Chonggu nodded and said, "Deputy General Xue, you are very courageous. But I think it would be better for you to stay in Datong City."

"Governor, when I left the capital, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince earnestly told me to take the initiative to go to the front line and set an example. I hope you will do that."

Wang Chonggu was silent for a while, "Okay! I will appoint you as the garrison commander of Zhenguan Fort, Juqiang Fort, and Zhenchuan Fort. Immediately lead the Jiayin and Bingyin Infantry Regiments to station at Zhenguan Fort to strengthen the defense and resist the northern barbarians."

"As ordered!"

After Xue Yi left, Wang Chonggu hurriedly ground and spread out the paper, then wrote a letter. He also called Mu Chendong over and gave the letter to him for review and correction.

"This is a letter from me to Altan Khan, trying to persuade him to lay down his sword and stop fighting by appealing to his emotions and reason."

After reading it, Mu Chendong hesitated for a moment and said, "The letter from the governor is sincere and full of deep feelings. But I think it is unlikely that he can impress Altan Khan with this."

Wang Chonggu said sadly: "Altan Khan is the powerful ruler of the southern desert, how can he be moved by a letter from me. But this is the last thing I can do.

The peace and tranquility in the three borders of Shanxi for several years was not easy! "

(End of this chapter)