The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 117: Unable to Fight, Blind Command

As the sun sets, the ancient ferry terminal in Baodezhou looks increasingly dilapidated.

Several dilapidated ferries had already docked and were parked next to the slightly damaged pier. This scene formed a sharp contrast with the neat Ming army camp next to it. The two sides seemed to be in two different worlds.

At this time, the Ming army camp was already several miles in radius, and cavalry were constantly coming from behind.

The camp is constantly expanding to both sides, as if it will expand to the sky.

When Zhang Wei Zhong and Zhang Jie saw this scene, they couldn't help but reveal a strange smile on their faces.

This little emperor is probably even worse at fighting than them. Isn't this just nonsense?
After they rode into the camp with their personal guards, they galloped for a full quarter of an hour before arriving in front of a huge tent that was more than ten feet in radius.

The little emperor lives in this circle of huge tents, but no one knows which one he lives in.

Soon, they were taken into one of the tents.

However, this is obviously not a place for the little emperor to rest.

Because inside was a circle of generals wearing fish scale armor.

These guys seemed to be discussing something around the big table in the middle.

Zhang Wei Zhong and Zhang Jie did not know Wanli, and they did not even know the group of generals there. However, they knew many of the leaders of the Northern Tartars.

They were just stunned when Wanli slowly raised his head. The generals surrounding the long table also squeezed to the sides to avoid blocking his view.

These two guys were actually wearing casual clothes, and they were both potbellied, with fat on their faces, and looked like profiteers. They didn't look like border generals at all.

He couldn't help but frown and asked, "Are you the generals of Pianguan Town and Yansui Town?"

Who are you?
Zhang Weizhong looked at the generals on both sides who looked unhappy, and asked carefully, "Who are you?"

Qi Jiguang immediately scolded him, "How dare you! You haven't even bowed to the Emperor yet."

This is the little emperor!

Why are you, the emperor, wearing fish scale armor?
Are you so afraid of death?

Can't you see we're not wearing any?
This border is very safe for us.

However, it is indeed very dangerous here for you, the little emperor.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weizhong and Zhang Jie hurriedly bowed and said, "I, General Zhang Weizhong of Pianguan Town, and General Zhang Jie of Yansui Town, pay my respects to His Majesty."

These two are indeed the generals of Pianguan Town and Yansui Town.

However, none of them are famous at all.

There is not even a detailed description of them in history books, no battle records, no military achievements, and no information about their hometowns. Their names are only occasionally seen in certain historical events.

This is not normal. A general of a town is a well-known figure on the border of the Ming Dynasty. They are usually recorded in official biographies, with detailed descriptions of their origins, hometowns, achievements, promotion process, etc.

However, this kind of biographies usually include several generals together.

For example, the brothers Dong Yikui and Dong Yiyuan, the brothers Du Song and Du Tong, the brothers You Shigong, You Shilu, and You Shiwei, etc., all have detailed records in the official history biographies.

There is no record of them in biographies, which proves that they did not participate in any battles, did not gain any military merits, and their hometowns were hidden because they were afraid that people would know their origins.

These two guys are just like the eight imperial merchants, as if they popped out from between the rocks.

It is obvious that they are the lackeys of the three major families in Puzhou.

Wanli nodded slightly, then beckoned, "General Zhang, come here, I have something to discuss with you."

Do you have anything else to discuss with us?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei Zhong and Zhang Jie hurried over to the long table.

Wanli pointed at the map with a white wax stick and asked, "General Zhang, how many troops are there in Yansui Town now?"

I do remember this.

Zhang Jie quickly boasted, "Yansui Town now has over 24,800 border troops."

Wanli asked, "Where's the horse?"

Uh, the people and horses you are asking about also include horses?

Zhang Jie said rather embarrassedly, "There are less than ten thousand horses in Yansui Town, and only about two thousand war horses can be mobilized."

Humph, Altan Khan used to pay tribute of more than 30,000 war horses a year, but for more than ten years, no border town has had more than 30,000 war horses.

Wanli snorted inwardly, then asked: "How many men and horses can you mobilize to transport the grain and grass?" You still want me to help transport the grain and grass?
Zhang Jie shook his head repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Right now, the troops in Yansui Town are defending against the rebels in the west and the northern barbarians in the north. We really can't be mobilized."

I'm just fooling you.

Wanli pretended to frown, then asked, "General Zhang, how many troops are there in Pianguan Town now?"

Zhang Weizhong said nervously, "Your Majesty, Pianguan Town can barely muster 20,000 border troops right now. As for horses, there are less than 10,000 in total. I don't think we can even muster 2,000 war horses."

The five northwestern borders are all in terrible shape. Ningxia Town is in rebellion, Yansui Town and Pianguan Town have so few men and women, and Guyuan Town and Gansu Town are probably not much better.

No wonder in history, troops were dispatched from all over the country to quell the Haobai Rebellion, even troops from Zhejiang were dispatched.

Wanli pretended to frown again, then asked, "How many troops can you mobilize for me to transport food and grass?"

Zhang Weizhong said cautiously, "Your Majesty, at least ten thousand border troops will be stationed at Piantou Pass. I can only muster ten thousand men. As for the horses to pull the grain carts, I estimate I can only muster four to five thousand."

Wanli actually nodded slightly and said, "Well, ten thousand men is almost enough. General Zhang, can Yansui Town also gather four or five thousand horses to pull the grain carts?"

Do you really want our people to help transport food and supplies?
Are you looking for death?

Zhang Jie nodded repeatedly and said, "No problem, no problem."

Upon hearing this, Wanli pointed to the map and said, "I will arrange for troops from Datong and Xuanfu towns to transport food and fodder from Xuanfu Town to Shuozhou. The line from Shuozhou City to Fugu will be left to you.

I will order people to build a floating bridge here. You can transport 100,000 dan of grain from Shuozhou City to Fugu in one month. Is that a problem?"

This is a bit tiring, but shouldn't be a big problem.

Anyway, they are not the ones who are tired. When the time comes, they can just say that it is the order of the Emperor. It is none of their business if those guys are exhausted to death.

Zhang Weizhong and Zhang Jie nodded repeatedly: "No problem, no problem."

Wanli pointed at the map and asked, "General Zhang, is the road from Fugu to Shenmu, then to Yulinwei, and then to Sanshanguan pass accessible to grain carts?"

You really don't know how to fight!

That line can be used for grain carts, but it is very close to the territory of the Northern Tartars. The closest place is only more than ten miles away. Although there is a Great Wall guarding it on the map, the Great Wall in Yansui Town has been riddled with holes by the Northern Tartars.

I won't tell you.

Just wait for the food supply to be intercepted!

Zhang Jie nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, we also transport our own food and grass along this route, there is no problem at all."

That's about it.

Wanli lied and said, "The food and fodder that these 100,000-man army has brought is only enough to last for about half a month. Within ten days, I will order the construction of a pontoon bridge. You must return quickly to gather troops and prepare food carts. Once the pontoon bridge is built, you must immediately send troops to help transport the food and fodder."

Okay, let’s go and inform Lord Wang Chonggu right away.

Zhang Weizhong and Zhang Jie quickly bowed and said, "We obey your orders."

After that, they retreated respectfully.

After a while, the sound of horse hooves was heard outside.

When Wanli heard the sound of horse hooves, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly and he smiled evilly to himself.

These two guys should inform Wang Chonggu and ask the Ordos tribes in the inner area to organize people to rob the grain road.

Then there will be a good show to watch.

Wanli thought for a moment, then pointed at the map and asked, "General Du, how many cavalrymen do you think the Ordos tribes in the inner area can muster?"

Upon hearing this, Du Song said cautiously, "Your Majesty, I cannot estimate the exact number because Neitao is so vast and has so many places suitable for raising horses. The number of cavalrymen in the Ordos tribes has been increasing over the years.

Last year, they gathered at least 30,000 cavalry to invade Yansui Town, which proves that they definitely have more than 30,000 cavalry."

There must be more than 30,000 cavalrymen, right?
Wanli thought about it carefully, then nodded slightly and said, "Okay, then you and Ruxun will take turns leading 10,000 cavalry to protect the grain carts of the Shenji Camp."

Can these 10,000 cavalrymen defeat 30,000 or 40,000 cavalrymen?

Under normal circumstances, it is probably impossible.

He just wanted Wang Chonggu and the Northern Tartars to think that the grain was easy to rob.

(End of this chapter)