The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 28: Soldiers are powerful and fast

Ma Xun learned how to set up camp. He would not choose to camp on high ground that lacked water, a canyon with only one entrance and exit, or a depression surrounded by mountains.

He sent out the Tang cavalry to find the four directions of Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise, and used the four-colored flags as banners to mark the area for the army's camping.

A group of soldiers were assigned to be on guard with bows strung and swords unsheathed, and officers from each group counted the number of people and checked the livestock. When setting up the camp, each group guarded the central army camp, and arranged chevaux de frise where there might be enemies.

Repairing toilets, setting up stoves, etc., these have long been mentioned in military strategies. The ancients have long been aware of the cycle of grains, and they also know that poor hygiene may lead to epidemics in the army.

After these things were arranged, Ma Xun breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a great sense of accomplishment, even though this was just the most basic of setting up camp.

There is also a certain amount of knowledge involved when leaving the camp. A part of the cavalry leaves the camp first and spreads out, and then the infantry leaves the camp and immediately forms a battle line. Everything is very methodical.

These are all growth, and these are where Ma Xun is constantly improving.

Even though these abilities are not worth mentioning in Mu Ying and others, one should not be too introverted. Just compare yourself with yourself.

As we continued on our journey and march, the weather became increasingly hotter.

"Wenying, from now on, you can't drink raw water when you are marching or drinking water at ordinary times." Ma Xun emphasized again, "Don't even drink river water or stream water. You can't drink well water directly."

Mu Ying, who was thirsty, said, "Uncle, I'm not used to drinking tea."

Ma Xun stared at the big pot and said, "It's not about the tea, it's about the water! Raw water looks clean, but it's not. You have to boil it before drinking it. If that doesn't work, just let it cool down and then drink it."

Ping An asked in confusion, "Uncle, if it cools down, won't it just become raw water?"

"Cooked water is still cooked water even if it's cooled down. It's called boiled water!" Ma Xun used his medical skills to show off his medical skills. "There may be pests in the water. You have seen pests in the water before, right?"

Mu Ying and the others nodded subconsciously, but the bugs they saw were basically mosquito eggs and the like. And what Ma Xun was talking about was obviously bacteria, but it didn't matter, as long as they understood the meaning.

Ma Xun continued to remind him, "Although raw fish is delicious, it cannot be eaten raw. Fish from the sea are better, but fish from the river should not be eaten raw if possible. The same goes for meat, just cook it before eating."

He Wenhui seemed quite regretful, "Raw sashimi is so good, I like it!"

"Do you know Chen Deng from the Three Kingdoms?" Ma Xun said, "He loved to eat raw meat, and ended up with worms in his stomach. You are all out there marching and fighting, your bodies can't stand it, and if you eat and drink like crazy, what will happen?"

Liu Jing standing next to him couldn't help but look at Ma Xun a few more times. He didn't necessarily fully agree with what his future brother-in-law said.

But he also knew that Ma Xun was good at medicine and had read some history books. Although he was not familiar with military affairs, he could not deny that he was well-informed and did not seem to have wandered around in his early years.

The family tradition of Her Royal Highness the Queen's family is really good, it is worthy of being a family tradition of poetry and books!

Ma Xun knew that he was not good at military affairs, so he could only do what he could, such as imparting some life concepts. Not necessarily health preservation methods, but some simple health common sense.

However, many people in this day and age have not yet realized this so-called common sense.

The soldiers were all very tired, especially as the weather started to get hot, but Ma Xun and others still needed to hurry on.

But now the time has been slightly adjusted, with marches taking place in the early morning and evening, and a rest at noon.

Fortunately, the climate in the north and the south is different. The south is hot and humid, and the temperature in the north is also high now, but you can still cool down by taking a rest in the shade.

Tangqi brought a military report. Ma Xun took it, read it, and then handed it to Mu Ying.

After Mu Ying looked carefully, his face was grim. "There is still a fight in Gansu. Wang Baobao is such a traitor!"

Mu Ying said this because this Mongolian official, who was called "a strange man in the world" by Zhu Yuanzhang, had a "complex identity". His father led the righteous army to suppress the Red Turban Army in Henan, and his uncle Chagan Temur was a general of the Yuan Dynasty.

However, Wang Baobao was born in Henan. His ancestors were from the Mongolian Boyetai tribe. After the Mongolian army occupied Henan, they settled in Gushi County, Guangzhou.

Wang Baobao also stood out during the war-torn years and once pacified the Central Plains.

However, he did not take advantage of the opportunity of the battle between Zhu Yuanzhang, Chen Youliang and others in the south of the Yangtze River to lead his troops south and completely annihilate the rebels. Instead, he spared no effort to participate in the internal party struggles of the Yuan Dynasty.

He was involved in the dispute between Emperor Shundi of Yuan Dynasty and the crown prince, and inherited the feud between his father, uncle and another Yuan Dynasty rebel army active in Henan, led by Borod Timur.

Wang Baobao was a man of his own, who only obeyed orders and not announcements. Although he was the left prime minister and grand tutor in the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Shundi of Yuan was still wary of him.

Zhu Yuanzhang also satirized in his "Edict to the Central Plains" during the Northern Expedition that those who "forgot the names of their Chinese ancestors and instead took the names of barbarians and beasts as a compliment."

This is not Wang Baobao's fault. Although his real name was Kuyuk Timur, some people in the Yuan Dynasty attacked his identity during the turbulent times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, not to mention an opponent like Zhu Yuanzhang.

Ma Xun asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Is the war intense?"

"We have to go to Kaiping quickly." Mu Ying analyzed, "The general and Wang Baobao are in a tug of war, and we don't have enough troops now. We have to let General Chang lead the army to suppress the Tartars."

In March, the Ming army, under the command of Xu Da, marched westwards to successively conquer Long, Qin, Gongchang, Lanzhou and other places, and approached Lintao. Li Siqi was left with no choice but to surrender.

Xu Da then attacked Xining and personally led the main force to attack Qingyang.

In early May, they successively captured Anding, Huizhou, Jingning and Longde, and went to Pingliang via Xiaoguan. On the one hand, they divided their troops to garrison in the strategic locations of Yan'an and Jingzhou, and on the other hand, they sent Zhang Huan to lead cavalry to scout the movements in Qingyang.

Zhang Liangchen, the defender of Qingyang, was known as Little Pingzhang. He was a battle-hardened general with very elite soldiers under his command, and his seven adopted sons were even more brave and good at fighting.

If Qingyang was not conquered, the flanks of the main force of the Ming army would be constantly harassed by the Yuan army. Xu Da first used courtesy and then force to send people to surrender, but Zhang Liangchen was very cunning and actually used false surrender.

In order to force Zhang Liangchen to fight to death, Wang Baobao in Ningxia directly captured Zhang Liangchen's brother.

Xu Da led his troops to capture Huizhou, Xiaoguan and other places, and cleared the periphery. Zhang Liangchen relied on the terrain of Qingyang to confront Xu Da.

Moreover, Wang Baobao and Emperor Shun of Yuan were also gathering troops, preparing to destroy the enemy's main force.

Ma Xun and others went to Kaiping not only to receive the spoils of war, but also to replace Chang Yuchun's army to garrison Kaiping.

Qingyang will become the place of decisive battle between the Ming army and the Yuan army. Only by taking Qingyang can Shaanxi and Gansu be completely recovered and an opportunity for a decisive battle with Wang Baobao can be found.

Otherwise, the Yuan army would threaten Guanzhong, and Emperor Yuan would not give up his plan to march south.

The only way was to speed up the march. Ma Xun must have understood the principle that speed is of the essence in war. Although he was also worried about the fatigue of the soldiers, he did not know how to command an army with kindness.

If the outcome of the decisive battle was affected because of his kindness, Ma Xun would be doomed to death.

The more extreme situation is that if the compassionate soldiers move slower now, the main force of the Ming army may be surrounded. At that time, Ma Xun and his men will be left alone on the grassland and will be killed by the Yuan army.

Since the war was urgent, Ma Xun had to order the entire army to speed up so that they could reach Kaiping earlier and feel at ease earlier.

The 10,000 elite soldiers and horses at the decisive moment are likely to completely change the situation of the war and increase the Ming army's chances of winning in this brutal battle that is about to break out.

(End of this chapter)