Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

After setting the general policy, Zhu Qiyu instructed the six ministries of the cabinet to discuss the specific details.

For example, the items and quantities that Arazhiyuan and Tuotuobuhua needed to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty each year.

The Ming Dynasty would award them two departments every year.

And the specific items and quantities traded after the exchange.

A day later, two delegations of several dozen people each departed from Beijing, heading west and north respectively.

On the same day, fifty li southeast of Tongzhou, Lijiabao.

A grain transport team of several hundred Oirat people was slowly making its way along the official road.

The truck was loaded with grain and cloth that had been seized from surrounding prefectures and counties.

There were also dozens of abducted civilians.

They were strung together by ropes and staggered along.

Although Zhu Qiyu issued a notice when Yu Qian organized the transport of grain from Tongzhou.

The people of the entire Gyeonggi region were ordered to seek refuge in Daesung.

Officials in major cities were not allowed to prevent ordinary people and refugees from entering the city.

However, there are always some people who don't believe in superstition.

The centurion Khulitai, who was escorting the shipment, was in a good mood as he rode his horse.

Although they failed to capture Beijing, they plundered quite a lot along the way.

In two days, this batch of supplies will be transported back to Esen's camp, and he will surely receive a great reward.

Hulitai waved his whip, urging the group on: "Hurry up! We need to reach Liujiazhuang before dark!"

Just then, dust suddenly rose from the bend in the road ahead.

"Warning!" Hulitai shouted, and the Oirat soldiers drew their swords and bows.

But instead of cavalry, a dozen or so horse-drawn carriages that appeared to be fleeing a disaster arrived.

The cart was piled high with boxes and baskets, and was driven by the elderly, women, and children.

Seeing that the Oirat army was in a panic, their carriages were scattered and blocking the road.

Hulitai frowned and sent ten cavalrymen forward to prepare to "receive" the supplies.

Just as the cavalry approached the carriage, a sudden change occurred.

Suddenly, the chest on the carriage was lifted open, and Ming soldiers armed with crossbows jumped out!

As the crossbow bolts were fired, ten Oirat cavalrymen fell from their horses.

At the same time, shouts of battle arose from the woods on both sides of the road, and five hundred Ming cavalrymen charged out like a whirlwind!

Hulitai was terrified and immediately drew his sword to fight: "Enemy attack!"

But the Ming army simply refused to engage in battle.

The cavalry split into several groups, and a volley of arrows felled dozens of Oirat soldiers.

Instead of charging, the Ming army circled around to the rear of the grain convoy and shot at the horses pulling the carts.

The horses were startled and ran wildly, causing the grain carts to overturn and spill grain all over the ground.

In the chaos, the captured civilians had their ropes cut by the Ming army: "Run east! into the woods!"

Hulitai roared and led his troops in pursuit, but the Ming cavalry ran away as soon as they finished shooting arrows, without stopping.

By the time Hulitai had regrouped his troops, the enemy had already disappeared behind the hills, leaving behind only a mess of grain carts and fleeing civilians.

Hulitai cleaved an overturned grain cart in two with a single stroke: "Bastard!"

Hulitai then tallied the losses, finding that more than 30 people had died and more than 50 had been injured.

Most of the looted grain was scattered on the ground.

Some of them were even looted by the Ming army.

The abducted civilians all fled.

This Ming army was the rapid reinforcement force led by Shi Heng.

They didn't rest for two days; the next day, Shi Heng led them out of Beijing.

Shi Heng divided his 5,000 cavalry into more than 20 teams, each with 200 to 300 men.

They specifically targeted these small groups of cavalry that came out to raid.

Strike and retreat without hesitation, never lingering.

They didn't take it seriously at first.

He firmly believed that the Ming army could only send small groups of troops to harass him, and could not pose a major threat to him.

On this day, the Oirat army reached the territory of Xianghe County.

Esen decided to rest here for a day, while sending troops to plunder the surrounding area.

In the afternoon, a raiding force of two thousand men entered the county town.

They found the city empty; the people had already evacuated.

They took all the food and valuables they could carry, and burned everything they couldn't.

The Oirat soldiers retreated from the county town, cursing and swearing.

However, they were ambushed on the outskirts of the city.

A thousand Ming cavalrymen shot arrows from three sides of the mountain slope.

The Oirat forces suffered over a hundred casualties in their hasty response.

By the time the Oirat forces had organized their counterattack formation, the Ming army had already withdrawn.

That night, patrols around Esen's camp were attacked one after another.

Countless Ming soldiers were hidden in the darkness, and sentries were constantly being shot dead by stray arrows.

The entire army had to increase its vigilance, and the soldiers couldn't sleep all night.

Esen finally realized the seriousness of the problem.

Inside the main tent, Esen's face was grim: "The Ming army is trying to wear us down. I never expected that the Ming Dynasty would have such a formidable figure."

A general said, "Grand Tutor, our army's provisions are only enough for ten days."

If they continue to be harassed like this, they will run out of food before they even reach Tianjin.

Why not turn back and wipe out this Ming army first?

Esen shook his head: "This Ming army is very cunning and does not engage our main force at all."

We turned around, and he ran away.

He harassed us as we marched.

"To annihilate five thousand cavalry on this plain would be difficult."

The general hesitated, then said, "But Grand Tutor, Arazhiyuan has gone north, and Toghtobukqa has yet to break through Juyong Pass. What if they…?"

Ethan snorted coldly: "Hmph! That coward Tuotuo Buhua is not worth worrying about."

"Arazhiyuan...I'll settle accounts with him when I return to the grasslands."

Ultimately, they decided to continue their journey towards Baodi.

However, the army is now moving very slowly and is very close together.

Esen deployed 20,000 cavalrymen to various positions within the army to prevent further harassment by the Ming army.

Two days later, an urgent report arrived from the front: "Grand Tutor! The city gates of Baodi County are wide open, and there is no one on the city walls!"

Esen frowned; this wasn't the first time.

After bypassing Beijing, the county towns they encountered were mostly like this, completely empty.

On the contrary, some villages still have people and food.

Esen gritted his teeth and said, "The Ming emperor is trying to turn Beizhili into a wasteland, leaving us with nowhere to resupply."

The lieutenant whispered, "Grand Tutor, the situation in Tianjin is probably the same. Perhaps... perhaps we should go and meet up with Arazhiyuan?"

He also remained silent for a moment.

The road to Gubeikou is long and dangerous, and the army is currently short of food and supplies. Traveling any further would likely lead to unforeseen circumstances.

Just then, a fast horse galloped in from the northwest: "Grand...Grand Tutor! Urgent report!"

Esen recognized him as the scout leader sent towards Juyong Pass: "Speak!"

"Arachiin... Arachiin's troops suddenly broke camp the day before yesterday, not heading north out of Juyong Pass, but... but heading west!"

Esen was taken aback: "Westward? To Zijing Pass? What about Toghtoa Bukha? What's the situation at Juyong Pass?"

The scout panted, "I don't know the condition of Tuotuo Buhua Dahan."

However, the number of Ming troops at Juyong Pass suddenly increased yesterday, with at least 10,000 new soldiers stationed there.

Judging from their banners, the new army is the force of Yang Hong from Xuanfu and Guo Deng from Datong!

Esen abruptly stood up: "What?!"

Yang Hong and Guo Deng's army had to face Tuotuo Buhua directly in front of the pass to enter the pass.

And now they have appeared at Juyong Pass.

There are only two possibilities.

With Toghtog Bukha completely wiped out, the Ming army could then enter Juyong Pass without any trouble.

But that's obviously impossible.

Then there's only one other possibility.

The Ming Dynasty had reached a peace agreement with Toghtog Bukha.

Moreover, Yang Hong and Guo Deng dared to leave Xuanfu and Datong.

This shows that they are not afraid of Araji-in attacking these two places.

Therefore, Arajiyuan also reached a peace agreement with the Ming Dynasty.

Now that a peace agreement has been reached, Arazhiyuan should leave through Juyong Pass.

But now they are marching westward with their army...

Esen finally understood the truth behind this whole series of events and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

Both Toghtobhuqa and Arajiin betrayed him!

Moreover, Arajiin even planned to go to Zijing Pass to ambush him!

Esen immediately ordered: "The entire army shall turn around and march rapidly back to Zijing Pass! Travel light, carrying only five days' rations; abandon all other baggage!"

One general asked reluctantly, "What about... all the looted goods and prisoners?"

Esen roared, "Throw it all away! What use are valuables when we're about to die?"

The order is to change course within half an hour and proceed at full speed towards Zijing Pass!

Anyone who disobeys will be executed!