The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The situation on the battlefield changed rapidly, but Li Hu did not expect such a big change. Before he arrived in Xuanfu, he was hit by a bolt from the blue. The main cavalry of Xuanfu, which was suppressing the remnants of Chahar outside the Great Wall, was gone and was surrounded by the Mongols.

In the lobby of the Xuanfu General's Mansion, Li Hu was flipping through the intelligence in his hands while looking around the sand table.

All the surviving generals of Xuanfu had arrived and were standing silently on both sides of the sand table, without anyone saying a word.

As for the general of Xuanfu, he is awaiting punishment at home.

In front of the sand table, a scout from Xuanfu who had escaped was reporting to Li Hu everything that had happened that day.

After listening to it, Li Hu finally resolved the doubts in his heart. No wonder the whole army was wiped out.

The deputy general of Xuanfu was ambitious and did not find out the enemy's strength. He ignored the advice of other generals and advanced deep into the enemy's territory alone. Eventually, he was surrounded and his entire army was wiped out.

Li Hu threw the information in his hand onto the sand table, walked to the door, took a deep breath, and looked into the distance with worried eyes.

The Ulanqab League was instructed by an expert! They marched quickly, concentrated their superior forces to create a time difference, and defeated them one by one!
In addition, the intelligence collected by the court was not right. To be able to eat up more than 10,000 well-equipped Xuanfu cavalry in one bite, the Ulanqab League had dispatched at least 30,000 people. Even if they suffered heavy losses, plus the reserve troops and the remnants of the Chahar, there were at least 30,000 Mongolian cavalry waiting for them on the grassland. 3,000 against 30,000, how could they win!
But they have to fight. If they can't open up the food supply route, the Beijing camp will be in danger. I hope they can capture enough cattle and sheep.

Judging from the situation, the Mongolian tribes south of the desert must have joined the war, otherwise the Ulanqab League would not have so many cavalry, and it would be difficult to fight in this unfavorable situation!

A gust of wind blew, making the big flag on the pole in the yard flutter.

Li Hu sighed, hoping that Wang Yaozu's sentry camp could obtain useful information as soon as possible.

At this time, a personal soldier came in with an envelope and reported to Li Hu: "General, this is a letter from General Chen Qiang." Then he handed the letter over.

Li Hu took the letter, tore it open and read it, his face turning greener and greener. The emperor actually sent a military supervisor eunuch to the Ruishi Battalion. He wanted to monitor him now?!
Thinking of this, Li Hu grabbed the letter, turned around and sat down on the chair in front of the desk.

Wang Daniu hurried towards Li Hu holding an account book.

Walking to the table, Wang Daniu reported, "General, we have selected a total of more than 1,500 soldiers who are skilled in archery and horse riding." Then he handed the military registration book to Li Hu.

Li Hu waved his hand: "Gather 2,000 people."

Wang Daniu: “Yes.” He answered and left in a hurry.

Li Hu picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then slowly swept his eyes across the faces of the generals in Xuanfu.

Everyone looked awe-inspiring.

Li Hu: "I know you all have servants, and they are all well-trained and have strong fighting power."

The entire lobby was silent.

Li Hu: "The court knows exactly where you get the money to support your servants, and I won't interfere. I just want to tell you one thing, this battle is not only to open up the grain route and support the Beijing Camp, but also to protect your homes. Without the Beijing Camp, the Mongols will invade Datong and Xuanfu on a large scale, and even the Jurchens will tear up the peace treaty. Now is not the time to preserve our strength. I will incorporate your servants into the Cavalry Camp, and the court will be responsible for their equipment and military pay. In addition, the heads of the Mongols you capture will be counted as first-class military merits for you."

There are four categories of prices for beheading people in the Dashun Dynasty from high to low: first, Liaodong, that is, the Jurchens; second, the Northern Tartars, that is, the Mongols; third, the barbarians, that is, the northwestern border and natives; fourth, the internal traitors, that is, the rebellious insurgents.

Everyone looked at each other, and no one spoke.

Li Hu slammed the tea bowl onto the large table with a bang. The generals and officers in Xuanfu stepped back subconsciously, and stopped when they saw that no soldiers rushed out from the back hall.

Li Hu leaned back in his chair and said, "I know what you are worried about. Look, I am a trustworthy person and I stick to my word. I will not use your servants as cannon fodder. Okay, report the number of people, and go down and discuss among yourselves to gather a thousand servants who are skilled in archery and horse riding for me."

Everyone looked at each other and answered in unison: "Yes."

At this moment, a personal soldier walked in with a big man dressed in the clothes of a lieutenant general.

The personal soldier said: "General, reinforcements from Datong have arrived." Then he handed over the document.

Li Hu took the exhibition and looked at it. His eyes lit up and he looked at the lieutenant general: "Are you the lieutenant general Zhou Xun of Datong Guard who led the remnants to successfully break through?"

Zhou Xun stepped forward and saluted Li Hu: "In reply to your Excellency, I am Zhou Xun."

Li Hu looked him up and down and nodded: "How many people did you bring?" Zhou Xun: "My Lord, the soldiers and civilians of Datong Town are united in their determination to defend the territory and avenge the general and his brothers. Including the young and strong recruits and the servants and guards from various mansions, I brought 3,000 men."

Three thousand?

Li Hu was really surprised. Together with the three thousand Mongolian cavalry, that made six thousand. The Xuanfu Guards would make another two thousand, and there would be one thousand family servants, making a total of nine thousand. The gap was still a bit big!
It seems that we can only wait for the infantry led by Zhang Qiang.

This is the western warm room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The room is full of steam and the smell of medicine.

Dai Quan squatted in front of a small charcoal stove, staring at the medicine jar that was emitting steam.

Suddenly, Emperor Yongchang coughed behind him.

Dai Quan came to his senses and quickly took the rag on the low table and wrapped the handle of the medicine pot, slowly pouring the medicine into the medicine bowl. He first wrapped the small stove and took it out of the door, then came back and used two bowls to stir the medicine back and forth until it was neither cold nor hot, then walked to the couch.

Emperor Yongchang sat back on the couch, staring out the window in a daze.

Dai Quan said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to take the medicine." He took a sip himself before handing it forward.

Emperor Yongchang sat up straight, took the medicine and drank it in one gulp.

Dai Quan brought a bowl of warm water and helped Emperor Yongchang rinse his mouth.

Emperor Yongchang: "What's the news?"

Dai Quan understood and replied, "Nothing has been found yet."

A heavy rain last night put out the fire.

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is the second son still alive?"

Dai Quan was silent for a moment, and then replied, "Your Highness is blessed with great fortune, and will surely be able to turn adversity into blessing."

Emperor Yongchang glanced at him and nodded: "Then I'll leave it to you to give me good advice."

Dai Quan was stunned when he heard this. What does that mean?
Emperor Yongchang changed the subject: "Is there any news from the Beijing camp?"

Dai Quan: “Not yet.”

Emperor Yongchang: "Can Li Hu open up the grain route?"

Without waiting for Dai Quan to answer, Zhao Tong hurried in, supporting the prince.

Looking at the prince's expression, he knew that it was not a good thing, so he stared at him.

The prince breathed a sigh of relief: "The Xuanfu cavalry is gone."

Emperor Yongchang's mind buzzed with a sound: "What? What did you say?"

The Crown Prince: "The deputy general of Xuanfu was greedy for merit and rushed forward rashly, and fell into the trap of the Mongols, and his entire army was annihilated."

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes turned dark and he was about to fall backwards.

Dai Quan quickly supported him.

With a "wow" sound, a mouthful of blood spurted out of Emperor Yongchang's mouth!
Dai Quan: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

The prince was also startled and shouted, "Father! Call the imperial physician! Call the imperial physician quickly!"

Zhao Tongfei also ran out.

Emperor Yongchang grabbed Dai Quan's arm and said, "Draft an edict. Tell Li Hu that no matter what means he uses, as long as he can save the Beijing camp, I will make him a marquis and transfer cavalry from Jizhou." Before he finished speaking, he fell into Dai Quan's arms. (End of this chapter)