Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 321 Zhang Liang’s plan, the ladder over the wall

Dakangbao and Taipingbao are in a state of emergency.

Xiao Daiqing's first attack was not on the west side of Jinzhou, but on the west side of Yizhou.

The attack was extremely resolute.

The battle situation was reported to Liaoyang without stopping. After reading it, Yuan Keli frowned and walked to the front yard of the Liaodong Military Region Yamen.

He knew the map by heart, and now he was just pacing in the yard, thinking.

Attacking Yizhou is not wise.

Although Yizhou is closer to Aohan, Naiman and other places, it is now also close to the main force of Liaodong led by Ma Gui.

What's more, Yizhou was the top priority in preventing a breakthrough.

Taiping Fort is located in the north of Daling River, and Dakang Fort is located in the south of Daling River, guarding the gateway before Daling River flows into the flat land.

It was indeed not easy for Ma Gui's army to go around Jianshan to the north and the upper reaches of Daling River to the northwest to block him. Crossing mountains and ridges, their movements could be easily detected. But Xiao Daiqing could not return empty-handed after attacking Yizhou? If he was determined to attack, there was no way to stop Ma Gui's army from moving.

So why didn't he attack the most important Jinzhou?
Wouldn't that make it easier to force Ma Gui's army to move south from the Xi River north of Yizhou to provide reinforcements and save the Aohan and Naiman tribes?

There is one thing that Yuan Keli cannot figure out for the time being: Yizhou is closer to Aohan and Naiman tribes, and there is a river valley gap on the west and north sides, which has always been a key defense area with more troops. Xiao Daiqing led only 10,000 people. Does he really want to conquer Yizhou by himself?
Why does he feel he can do something now when he has failed to do it all these years?
"Captain!"

Xiong Tingbi rushed over and said, "The Tartars are attacking Yizhou. There is something fishy going on!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Keli looked over and saluted first: "Where did Governor Xiong come from?"

"Fushun."

Xiong Tingbi is the governor of Liaodong. Now the right commander-in-chief of the left army is here. Xiong Tingbi’s main military affairs in Liaodong are logistical support.

But Yuan Keli had dealt with him so many times and knew that he was a man of strategy.

"Talk inside." Yuan Keli walked in. "Fushun? The governor knew it so quickly!"

Although Liaoyang is only two hundred miles away from Fushun, and Yuan Keli had only known the news for more than an hour, Xiong Tingbi and his men were already here.

"I set out from Fushun the day before yesterday." Xiong Tingbi explained, "Zhenyi Hou sent someone to report to Qingheyi Town that something is wrong in the east of Wula!"

Yuan Keli immediately stopped and turned to look at him, then quickened his pace and walked back inside to the map.

"This area!" Xiong Tingbi walked forward and pointed to the northeast of Wula City. "The Tianshu Camp was ordered to move to Liaoyuan Military and Civilian Office to spy on the movements of the Jianzhou Jurchens. As expected, some problems were discovered. We haven't found out how many people there are, but there are three groups of Jurchens who came from the southeast and are now slaughtering small tribes of wild Jurchens."

"...massacre?" Yuan Keli confirmed.

"It was definitely a massacre!" Xiong Tingbi said solemnly, "The scouts of the Tianshu Camp were not allowed to get too close, so they went to investigate in the dark afterwards. They didn't take any prisoners, didn't capture any young and strong people, looted some property, slaughtered some livestock, burned everything, and continued to head north."

Yuan Keli looked at the map and murmured, "Are the Jianzhou Jurchens trying to frame the Ming Dynasty?"

Today, the Ula tribe is gone. The main force of the Jianzhou Jurchens is in Korea. The small tribe of wild Jurchens east of Ula City was annihilated. It seems that only the newly established Liaoyuan Military and Civilian Office of the Ming Dynasty can do it most easily.

He recalled what Xiong Tingbi had said when he first arrived, and he was startled: "Are you talking about the time?"

"That's right!" Xiong Tingbi nodded repeatedly. "Since the enemy will start to fight in Yizhou within two or three days, it is very likely that they have made an appointment in advance."

"What's your guess?"

"It will involve Liaodong's troops!" Xiong Tingbi said directly, "In my opinion, we should prepare for the worst-case scenario, which is that Liaodong will be surrounded by enemies on all sides."

He paused and then said, "Including the Yehe tribe!"

Yuan Keli understood what he meant: "The Khalkha Khorchin Tatars are naturally unwilling to suffer losses. Now they have the wild Jurchens, the Yehe tribe who are unwilling to move west, and the Jianzhou who have lost the Liaoyuan land..."

This first of all means that Liaodong can no longer mobilize troops from the northern and eastern lines, and Jinzhou and Yizhou can only rely on themselves.

Once the situation becomes tense, the Ming troops that Ma Gui has assembled outside the border wall will be forced to return for support, and the Liaohe area that has been captured will be lost again.

"But if they can't break through the border wall with such a large battle, wouldn't it be a waste of manpower and money? Yehe and Jianzhou will become powerful enemies..." Yuan Keli looked back to the west, "Unless they can counterattack and take over the entire Liaodong, this will satisfy the appetite of all families!"

He looked at Xiong Tingbi: "Little bad guy is just feinting!"

"I think he really wants to attack Yizhou."

"Yizhou is not that easy to capture, Ninglubo..." Yuan Keli paused here, and suddenly his expression froze, "I understand. You mean, someone else is the one who is attacking Jinzhou, and Xiao Daiqing will also get reinforcements, and then they will break through the border wall between Jinzhou and Yizhou in one go?"

Xiong Tingbi said sternly: "Marquis Ningyuan has hidden 10,000 ambush troops in Hulutao, but what if the attackers are 30,000 or 50,000? Commander, you must report to the capital immediately. We must find out the movements of the Khan's army outside Jizhou Town!"

"That makes perfect sense!" Yuan Keli stared at the area. "It's disloyal and unrighteous to put the lord in a desperate situation. Although the Khan's chieftain is young and energetic, he went south for prestige. I heard that the Kharakalpa was almost full. With the Khan's army and the herdsmen of the Kharchin tribes in a standoff, it's not easy to tell how many people are missing. As for the big banner... All's fair in war. Maybe that Ligdan Khan is no longer there. Once we get to the other side of the Daling River, even if we can't capture Jinzhou and Yizhou, we can quickly return to support Aohan and Naiman. We can attack or defend."

"Isn't the Yongwei Camp buried over there? Haven't we found out more information outside Jizhou Town?"

"Perhaps there is already one, but it must be reported to the capital for His Majesty and the Privy Council to make the decision."

Yuan Keli said immediately: "I'm going to Guangning! Fei Bai, I'll give the order right now. When you pass through Shenyang, have the Shenyang Central Guard reinforce the defense of Yagu Pass. The Liaoyang Dongning Guard doesn't need to stay here. You can take them to the Liaoyuan Military and Civilian Office!"

"Yes!"

Xiong Tingbi knew that the situation was very serious. Although the Jianzhou Jurchens did not attack the Ming Dynasty, they were also fanning the flames by attacking the wild Jurchens.

And as they continue to move north, there is no telling how much trouble they will get into.

The most important thing is that the Jianzhou Jurchens are also making moves in Liaodong, which means that there may also be changes in Korea. How do we know that they will not turn against us and become our enemies?

"The imperial court has already been prepared. The 10,000 Beijing troops that arrived in Huludao earlier have already reached Dingliao, but have not yet reached Kuandian Liubao." Yuan Keli looked at him, "Xiong Futai, the east and north are now in your hands. If Ling Danhan really wants to lead his army to attack Jinzhou, the original plan to encircle him in Dayan Mountain must be changed. I have to focus on the west."

"Don't worry, Governor. I will not let the Jurchens take advantage of this opportunity!"

Seeing him coming and going in a hurry with great vigor and energy, Yuan Keli looked at this guy who was only seven years younger than him with admiration.

Even if he had noticed something was wrong from the movement to the east of the Liaoyuan Military and Civilian Government, it was not easy for him to quickly deduce this possible situation after knowing that Xiao Daiqing was attacking Yizhou.

Of course, all this is just speculation and remains to be confirmed.

But Liu Jing led his army out of the border, originally planning to block the Luan River. If Lin Danhan had quietly gone to the east, Liu Jing would have wasted money and food, or at least it would be difficult to catch up.

Winter is coming, and it is difficult to cross the Yanshan Mountains or the southern end of the Greater Khingan Range.

……

There is no danger south of Jinzhou for the time being.

Outside the border wall where the Liuzhou River flows into the Jinchuan Camp, a man dressed like an ordinary citizen emerged from the cover of the trees in the mountains and walked towards the border wall with difficulty.

"The left wing of the Royal Guards Battalion... Qin Banghan..."

Under the arrows and gun muzzles of the Ming army on the Great Wall, Qin Banghan spoke in a tired and awkward voice, holding high his personal guard badge: "Who is the guard? Urgent military information..."

After a long time, his identity was finally verified, and he was lifted up to the top of the wall in a hanging basket.

"Reinforcements... this..."

The deputy captain stationed here looked very embarrassed: "The commander-in-chief ordered that we can only defend the border wall to the death."

"… Just report it quickly."

Qin Banghan was very anxious.

He knew that the Yongwei Battalion was a special force with an important mission, and they had been lurking in the Dahei Mountain east of the Daling River for several months.

For such a long period of time, supply has been a big problem.

Fortunately, they had caused quite a bit of chaos in this area when they went out before, and captured a lot of cattle, sheep, and food and drove them to the mountain stronghold. Later, some supplies were transported to them from Hongluo Mountain.

Qin Banghan didn't know a lot, but the only people who knew about their existence there were probably only a few Liaodong generals.

But there is no way now, that place has been surrounded.

He had to go south with great effort to get the message here.

He also avoided several groups of Tatar scouts along the way.

Although the message had been delivered, he was very worried that Xiliang Bo and his sister would not be able to hold on.

But he hoped that the news could reach the important officials who knew about it as soon as possible. "Don't just report it to Liaodong Dusi and Zuojun." He emphasized, "Also report it to the capital! The Yongweiying personal troops must march forward secretly, and there is no time to delay!"

The deputy commander nodded repeatedly and did not dare to be negligent.

Then another rider rushed towards Shanhaiguan.

Qin Banghan could only wait here.

Three days have passed, and it will take another ten days or half a month for news to be transmitted and a decision to be made, if reinforcements really arrive.

Although it was easy to defend and difficult to attack, who knew that they would encounter so many ambushes and be driven back there?
At this moment, the post stations from the capital to Liaodong are naturally running in the most tense state, with military intelligence being the top priority.

The situation in Yizhou had already been sent to the capital, and the lights in the Fengtian Hall were brightly on.

Although it was almost midnight, Zhu Changluo was still here.

"It's too late now. We need more intelligence." Zhu Changluo now feels a little regretful and helpless. "Liaodong, Xuanda and the western borders are the most important. Jizhou Town has not paid enough attention in recent years. Otherwise, Jizhou Town's Ye Bu Shou should have gained more."

"Then we will stay overnight at Wuying Palace today." Tian Le nodded, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Yizhou is one of Guangning's gateways to the north. Governor Yuan and Ninglubo Ding have arranged elite troops to guard it. Even if there are more than just Xiao Daiqing there, they will not collapse at the first blow."

What Yuan Keli and Xiong Tingbi wanted, Tian Le naturally wanted as well.

It doesn't make sense that Xiao Daiqing attacked Yizhou.

Even if the entire Chahar Khanate's army went to attack Jinzhou and Yizhou, it would not be reasonable.

The Ming Dynasty was not so fragile before, and it is even less fragile now.

The emperor and his ministers had already made arrangements based on the worst possible scenario, so the current developments naturally made them think of the worst possible scenario.

As a result, the biggest problem now lies with the Jizhou border garrison and the quality of their officers and soldiers.

Lindan Batur had been holding the line at the Halahetao outside Gubeikou, and the entire northern part of the Jizhou town wall had indeed undergone months of reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. The Tatar scouts and the Ming border town scouts, known as the Night Never Rescue, had many clashes, and both sides suffered losses.

But perhaps they were tired, or perhaps Ye Bu Shou had suffered the heaviest casualties on the front line of Jizhou Town in recent times, so the reported situation on the Jizhou border did not match the current development of the situation.

Sun Chengzong had been busy until now. When he stood up to salute, he also said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Since Governor Li knows that Yizhou has encountered enemies, he will definitely think of this. Whether Lin Danhan is still in the Kharakalpa area, and whether those who stayed are still the main force of the army or just pretending, the scouts cannot detect it, but we will know it after a battle."

Zhu Changluo nodded and said, "You have been tired all day, go and rest first. Ruoyu, if there is any military intelligence, don't bother Tian Shumi first. I and Sun Canmou and others are younger. Once the war starts, it will not be a matter of one or two days. The decision-making on the spot also depends on the important officials on the front line."

He took heart and said, "No matter what, at least they are heading that way. At least they are still in Dayan Mountain!"

As an emperor, this is what it's like in a war.

The more he cared, the more he could only wait anxiously or patiently.

At this point, the battle situation is ever-changing and more depends on the decisions made on the front line.

Zhu Changluo thought about the important officials he had already appointed: Li Hualong, Yuan Keli, Xiong Tingbi, Liu Jing, Ma Gui, Dayun... and Li Chengliang.

Now, it all depends on the execution whether Lindan Batur and Xiao Daiqing can secretly cut off the Panghai Road and the various ethnic groups in the Northeast can fight together to take over Liaodong, or whether the Ming Dynasty can lure the enemy deep into the territory and destroy the main force of the Khanate in one fell swoop.

For both sides, this is a battle that determines the fate of their country.

Zhu Changluo walked out of the Fengtian Hall, feeling the night breeze. He looked at the Qianqing Gate, as if he was looking at the distant north.

What if it’s later? One year, two or three years later, when the telescope is developed and there are better tools.

A few days ago, good news came from Liulichang that glass with better light transmittance was produced.

Two or three years later, the Jizhou border troops should be reorganized and more powerful generals should be appointed instead of letting them take on easier purely defensive tasks...

Zhu Changluo thought about it and shook his head again.

Weapons and tools are of course good, but if you want to fight a war, it ultimately depends on people.

The current deployment is a rare situation where the Privy Council is obeying orders, and there are people like Shen Li and Li Tingji in the court to keep things in check.

In another two or three years, Tian Le's health might not be able to take it anymore, and he would have to spend time solving the issue of stability in the court.

There will never be an ideal situation.

Far to the northeast, Dayun and Qin Liangyu were both in the village on the Dahei Mountain.

"Uncle, this is not right."

Qin Liangyu was now dressed in military uniform: "It seems that they are only planning to block us here. Except for the fierce attack at the beginning, now they are just blocking us and not attacking."

"Since we are a Jedi, this is not wrong."

Dayun thought deeply and looked at the increasing number of people in the village.

A total of three thousand people were brought out, and they were originally hiding in four locations in this area, more or less.

Not long ago, they learned that the enemy was about to attack, so they began to gather and move northward, intending to complete the task of a surprise attack from behind and block the exit of the Daling River at Nailingao.

The opening on the west side of the Ridge Mountain should be the task that Ma Gui completed after defeating the Aohan tribe.

As a result, when they arrived at the Nailingao area, they encountered an ambush.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be like this. Dayun was no mediocre general either. He did not neglect the matter of investigating the matter when he went deep behind enemy lines.

However, the enemy seemed to have known that they would go there and had ambushed them very well, just like they had been hiding among the people in the Big Black Mountain for several months.

The most important thing is that it seemed like there were ten or twenty thousand enemy cavalry waiting for them.

Dayun had no choice but to lead the crowd back.

They couldn't bring too many heavy artillery with them this time, and it was difficult to form a formation in the mountains.

On the contrary, the enemy cavalry would set their arrows on fire and throw them. If this caused a fire on the mountain, they would be defeated.

"I suspect they don't have that many people. Their previous attack was just to force us to pass on military intelligence." Qin Liangyu suddenly said, "We are outside the border wall. They will naturally think that the Brave Guard Battalion has a very important mission. The court will not allow us to fail."

"You mean, besides us, they also want to ambush the reinforcements?"

Dayun looked at Qin Liangyu in surprise.

Dayun only met this female general after he arrived in the capital to command the Yongwei Camp. Now it seems that the position her husband held should actually belong to her.

The Zuoye Baiganying respected her much more than her husband.

"If it's just to eliminate us and get rid of future troubles, this shouldn't be done. We will certainly run out of food, and they have also chased us to the Great Black Mountain." Qin Liangyu said, "Your Majesty values ​​us, and the Yongwei Battalion lost the first battle and can only hold on and wait for help. How can we have the face to return to the capital? Lord, don't the Tartars usually have one horse and several horses? The sound of horse hooves that night was earth-shaking, as if there were tens of thousands of horses. Maybe it was a trick! They don't actually have that many people!"

Dayun's face turned red in the dark night.

He had often been to the west three sides before, so he certainly expected this. But it was dark at the time, and in order to hide during the day and travel at night, suddenly the sound of horse hooves shook the sky, followed by a rain of rockets. The weather was dry, and there was a big fire in the mountains, so he couldn't go to gamble.

Now they are trapped here, and it is not easy for the scouts to get out.

But the words "unfavorable first battle, hold on and wait for help" did stimulate him.

"Maybe they have already divided their troops to ambush the reinforcements." Dayun gritted his teeth, "You are right. No matter what, we can't just waste time here! Even if there are really tens of thousands of troops, we can kill them, grab some horses and arrows, and then drag them back. We can delay them here for a few more days!"

To their west, there were nearly 20,000 troops in the Longshan area at this time.

"Now that we're here, we should let them flee north." The person who spoke paused and sighed, "This is a matter of life and death. As many as can survive will be the best. Changshengtian will protect them."

"Yes, I will go back and deliver the message."

"Tell Ang Hui to fight to the death to hold back the Ming army, so that the people of Kharchin have more time to retreat northward. Then, defend Daning to the death and protect the southern route from Aohan!"

The one who spoke was Lindan Batur, who had indeed come here secretly. The main forces of the Khanate who had left the Harahetao had already quietly moved northward around the Laoha River and assembled in the Daning area, and then sneaked to this place.

Lindan Batur himself was a light cavalryman who joined them.

"The Han people are not stupid either." He said coldly, "Let's destroy that ambush first, and go with great fanfare! Let's see whether the Han people want to defend Yizhou or Ningyuan!"

Today there is only one big chapter

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(End of this chapter)