I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 96 This is not an easy matter!

On a hill in Baimachuan, Xin Ai and Dong Huli rode their horses side by side on the hillside, looking at the "panicked" convoy in the distance.

Thousands of people were busy running around, and the carts and vans were quickly unhooked from their packhorses and linked end to end, forming an insurmountable line of defense.

Dong Huli raised his whip and pointed forward, saying to Xin Ai, "Xin Ai Huang Taiji, this southern barbarian caravan has formed a defensive formation so quickly, there is some method in it."

Xin Ai replied disdainfully: “When faced with an enemy attack, we link up the wagons or lie the camels on the ground to form a wall. This is a tradition passed down from generation to generation in our tribes on the grassland.

The southern barbarians in Jizhou Town have fought us for so many years, so it’s not surprising that they have learned some of our tactics.”

Dong Huli looked worried and said hesitantly, "Xin Ai Huang Taiji, how many southern barbarian soldiers do you think are in this team?"

"At most two thousand soldiers, the rest should be civilian laborers. The Southern Barbarians' court has rewarded you with hundreds of carts of wealth and goods, as well as the imperial edict that they value most. Ji Liao Town will definitely send people to escort it. Two thousand soldiers is enough.

Didn't we agree that you would send troops to support us? Otherwise, how could these cowardly southern barbarians dare to go north?
Chief Dong Fox, don't worry. The barbarian soldiers in the southeast of Liaodong are wolves, the barbarian soldiers in the south of Xuanda are jackals, and the barbarian soldiers in the south of Jiliao are just a group of sheep. As long as our men charge, they will flee in all directions, and then we will catch them and turn them into slaves."

Dong Huli glanced at Xin Ai who was in high spirits, and wanted to ask, last year you and Baduer led your troops to break through the border and enter the capital of the Southern Barbarians, but you got nothing, and more than half of Baduer's Duoluo Tuman tribe was killed in the south. It is said that you were also facing the Ji-Liao Southern Barbarian soldiers who were as weak as sheep?

But he didn't dare ask, because he was afraid that if he asked, Xin Ai would draw her knife and kill him.

Xin Ai was still immersed in his own emotions. He waved his whip and pointed out the situation.

"This time, Chief Dong Fox was willing to cooperate with me, pretending to be a vassal of the Southern Barbarians, and defrauding them of their rewards and imperial edicts. Now that we have robbed all these things, it will also ease my hatred a little!

Last year, he broke into the south to raid the valley, but was implicated by Baduer. This cowardly bastard was surrounded by 20,000 to 30,000 southern barbarians without knowing what was happening. He even boasted that the southern barbarians had invited shamans to perform magic and send down thunderbolts to defeat them.

Haha, incompetence is incompetence, no need for too much explanation! "

Listening to Xin Ai's gritting teeth words, Dong Huli was glad that he didn't ask that question just now.

It seems that the defeat in the south last year was a knife in Xin Ai's heart. That's why he made such a crazy plan, hoping to wash away the shame with a so-called great victory.

Dong Fox thought more deeply.

As the eldest son of Altan Khan, Xin Ai was under great pressure. He had to perform outstandingly to stand out among his brothers and nephews.

The struggle for power on the grassland is a winner-takes-all affair. Only by becoming the Great Khan can one possess the most wealth and decide the life and death of others.

But the road to the throne is very dangerous, and you can't afford to make a mistake. That's why Xin Ai is anxious to win back a game from the southern barbarian.

But if you want to turn the tables, don't sacrifice me and my people.

Dong Fox glanced at Xin Ai.

"Chief Fox Dong, our family will get half of these spoils, okay?" Xin Ai drew a circle at the convoy with her whip and said generously.

"I love Huang Taiji, he is as generous as the sea." Dong Huli flattered, "Huang Taiji, how are we going to attack these southern barbarians later?"

Xin Ai hesitated for a moment and asked, "Chief Dong Fox, how many soldiers did you bring with you?"

"Four thousand, all the bravest knights in our tribe." Dong Fox replied.

"So few?" Xin Ai frowned. The Halausu tribe was one of the tribes of the Doyan Guard. Although it was not a large tribe, it could still mobilize tens of thousands of people if they gritted their teeth. However, they only dispatched 4,000 cavalry.

This is a bit unreasonable!
Dong Huli said calmly: "Xin Ai Huang Taiji, there are unusual movements in Chahar. Tumen Khan seems to have noticed our movements and has quietly gathered troops to the north and east of my pasture.

I have to be on guard. If we are fighting fiercely here and Tumen Khan stabs us from behind, it will be bad. Xin Ai Huang Taiji, hunting on the grassland, not only must we suppress the resistance of the prey, but we must also be on guard against attacks from other wolf packs. "

Xin Ai stared at Dong Huli and regretted her generosity just now.

You only have so few troops, and I will lose a lot if I give you half. He knew that what Dong Huli said was the truth. Altan Khan put him here, and his biggest responsibility was to guard against the nominal overlord of the Mongols, Tumen Khan of the Chahar Wanhu tribe.

"I have brought 25,000 troops with me, and we must defeat this caravan of southern barbarians! So, Chief Dong Huli, your 4,000 troops will be responsible for attacking from the gentle slope in the south.

Give your men a few more whips, work harder, and take down this convoy as soon as possible. Then we can have a celebration party tonight and drink together happily!"

"Okay!" Dong Huli said happily, "I just bought a few jars of good wine from the southern barbarian caravan and presented them to Huang Taiji."

Xin Ai held her head high, raised her whip high, and said to the followers around her: "Pass the order, divide into five teams, take turns to attack the southern barbarian caravan, whichever team rushes in first will have the priority to pick the spoils!"

"Yes!"

Horns sounded, and more than 20,000 cavalrymen poured out from all directions. They urged their mounts and moved slowly forward on the grassland, like an endless lake, slowly seeping in and completely surrounding the Ming army convoys that were connected in a circle.

The next moment, these cavalrymen will turn into a raging flood and rush towards the Ming army convoy.

Qi Jiguang stood in the middle of the chariot formation, looking at the surrounding Northern Tartar cavalry in silence, then raised his head.

The blue sky, white clouds, bright sunshine and gentle breeze.

"Get ready to fight!"

Qi Jiguang shouted loudly.

In the cabinet room, Xu Jie looked at Zhang Juzheng across from him and asked, "What on earth is Tan Lun doing?"

"What is the teacher referring to?"

"The story of the Khara-Usu tribe and Dong Huli's surrender."

"Oh, didn't the Ji-Liao Governor's Office and the Ministry of War submit a report? When the Border Investigation Division was investigating the enemy situation among the Northern Tartar tribes north of Jizhou Town, they discovered that the leader of the Khara-Wusu tribe, Dong Huli, was caught between the Tumed and Chahar tribes and was in a dilemma.

Moreover, Xin Ai, the leader of the right wing of the Tumed, was bullied and oppressed by him, and he could not bear the hardship and wanted to submit to our dynasty. After several secret negotiations, Dong Huli agreed to lead his troops to move south, graze near the border, and serve as a shield for our dynasty.

Teacher, didn't the cabinet draft this and send it to Xiyuan for approval? Dong Huli was appointed commander and given more than a hundred carts of gold, silver, cloth, grain, salt, sugar and other valuables."

Xu Jie shook his head. "When the bill was drafted, I didn't know that the Crown Prince was involved in this matter."

Zhang Juzheng was stunned. "Teacher, is there any problem here? I think it is very normal. Our dynasty has always been like this. After winning a battle and declaring the power of heaven, we will find one or two tribes close to our dynasty and give them some benefits. If they are used by me, the northern border will be peaceful for a while."

After saying this, Zhang Juzheng spread his hands and said, "Teacher, I think this is normal. The crown prince may be interested in border affairs and asked a few questions. There is nothing wrong with that."

Xu Jie shook his head slowly, like an owl, his eyes gloomy. "I got the news from the palace that the emperor went to the counselor's room some time ago."

"Council room?"

Xu Jie continued to talk about his thoughts: "The counselor's office of the Beijing Camp Military Administration Supervisory Office. Not long after the emperor went there, Tan Lun reported that Dong Huli of the Khara Usu tribe had surrendered, and then it was the normal process.

It’s just that I think this is too normal, that’s why it’s not normal.”

Zhang Juzheng was very confused: "Teacher, what do you mean by this?"

Xu Jie's eyes flashed with a shrewd light: "It is difficult to predict the actions of the Crown Prince from common sense. This time, he even invited the Emperor to the Councilor's Office. Uncle, do you think it is as simple as a small tribe submitting to the throne?"

Zhang Juzheng thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case.

Xu Jie said leisurely: "Just wait, if we don't poke a hole in the sky this time, it will be a great achievement."

(End of this chapter)