Here in Lahore, the Ming flag still flutters at the head of the city. But outside the city, as before, the Ottoman flag fluttered.

Since Delhi was occupied by the Persian Empire, there have been no reinforcements or supplies in Lahore. At first, it was fine, but now that a few months have passed, life in Lahore is starting to be difficult.

Pessimism began to grow in the city, for there was no hope of victory. If it weren't for the strong combat power shown by the Ming Dynasty in destroying the Mughal Empire before, this pessimism would have come much earlier.

The lack of materials made Wu Sangui have to start restricting, especially in terms of food, and after the control, the pessimism became even stronger.

For this reason, he had to make daily rounds of the city, inspecting the city. In addition to sharing weal and sorrow with the soldiers and eating the same rations, he maintained a high fighting spirit to influence the soldiers.

It was also thanks to him that after deciding to use Lahore as a city to block the Ottoman Empire, he sent the old and weak out of the city. Otherwise, food consumption will be even greater.

Wu Sangui knew very well in his heart that he had to give hope to his soldiers in order to have the hope of holding on and even turning defeat into victory.

For this reason, he constantly told the soldiers defending the city that Li Laiheng's troops were harassing the enemy's rear road, and they would be more uncomfortable if they did not look at the number of enemies.

Especially later, the enemy army outside the city did not attack Lahore again, but divided tens of thousands of soldiers and horses and went to the northwest, Wu Sangui knew that Li Laiheng's troops were still fighting. While he was worried about Li Laiheng's department, he actually had a lot of emotion in his heart.

In the early years of his life, his father Wu Xiang and his uncle Zu Dashou had a great influence on him. They have all told him that only with soldiers can they have power, and if they don't have soldiers, they have no power, so they must protect themselves wisely, and having the troops in their hands is the fundamental way.

However, before he could begin to apply the guidance of his father and uncle, Emperor Chongzhen began to personally lead the army to fight, and then, one battle after another. He also began to go on the expedition with him, and what he learned from Emperor Chongzhen was different from what his father and uncle had reminded. In short, he kept winning, so much so that later, he forgot what they said.

Now, in the days when he held on to Lahore, especially when the situation of the Ming army in Lahore was becoming more and more difficult, I don't know why, the things that his father and uncle taught back then came out, and he was a little afraid.

He was afraid, not that he was afraid of himself, but that Li Laiheng's subordinates would understand what his father and uncle taught. When you know that you can't do anything, you will choose to protect yourself!

Wu Sangui knew very well in his heart that the only thing Lahore could rely on now was Li Laiheng's department. If Li Laiheng's troops fought more passively, or simply hid all over again, who could blame them? They can say that they have been fighting, not to mention running away.

If they didn't do their best, the Ottoman army outside the city would be able to concentrate on the siege. In a few months, not to mention whether it will be captured by them, at least it will definitely not be like now, mainly from the pressure of food and material consumption.

From the fact that the Ottoman army actually divided most of the cavalry, Wu Sangui knew that it was definitely Li Laiheng's troops who hurt the Ottoman army, forcing them to transfer so many troops back to encircle and intercept them, so as to clean up and ensure the safety of their rear roads.

Of course, Wu Sangui had to take advantage of this movement and immediately publicize the reason for the departure of the Ottoman army, so that the soldiers in Lahore would know that they were not alone, but that they had friendly troops and were still cooperating in battle.

To be honest, at that time, the morale in the city was immediately much higher.

Wu Sangui also thought about taking the opportunity to break through, after all, the enemy outside the city had already lost tens of thousands of cavalry. Once you can successfully break through, it will only be a foot army, and it should be much easier to deal with.

However, first, he didn't dare to guarantee whether the Ottoman cavalry would really have to encircle and suppress Li Laiheng's troops when they left, and whether they would just play tricks and find a place to ambush him and wait for him to break through.

The reason why this suspicion still existed was that he did not understand the enemy of the Ottoman Empire. He didn't know what kind of people their commanders were, what kind of battles they usually fought, and what style they used to use, so he wondered.

The second reason is that it is not so easy to break through. During the months of the siege, the Ottoman army dug trenches around Lahore to prevent the Ming army from breaking through or raiding out of the city. If Wu Sangui wants to lead his troops to break through, the casualties will definitely not be less.

In addition, there is a last reason, Wu Sangui and Li Dingguo have different backgrounds. Li Dingguo was born a thief, and he didn't particularly care about Tang Wang and others from the bottom of his bones. With the emperor's secret decree, he didn't care, and used the trick of hurting each other to enter the territory of the Persian Empire.

But Wu Sangui is from a family of Jiangmen, and he thinks a lot of things, so he is not as single as Li Dingguo. Although there was the emperor's decree, he was still a little worried.

After all, the Tang king was a relative of the emperor, and if he broke through on his side, then the Ottoman army could advance eastward and unite with the Persian Empire, and not only the Tang State would suffer, but even the other two vassal states could suffer. If that happens, who will be unlucky? In Wu Sangui's heart, he was actually unsure.

With all kinds of concerns in his heart, Wu Sangui didn't dare to move. After the time passed slowly, the morale that had been boosted before was slowly consumed again.

On this day, when Wu Sangui was in the military camp in the city, when he ran out of gruel with the soldiers, suddenly the city head came to report: "Commander, there is movement of the enemy outside the city, it seems that their cavalry has returned!" ”

When Wu Sangui heard this, he was immediately shocked, and hurriedly rushed to the city to check the movement.

Sure enough, to the northwest, it was dusty. Even without looking through a telescope, you can see a group of Ottoman cavalry returning to the camp outside the city.

Seeing this, Wu Sangui's heart sank. The return of the cavalry of the Ottoman army can only say one thing. It's that they've solved the problem of the back road, so they can attack the city with all their might!

He didn't know if Li Laiheng's troops had been wiped out by them, or if he couldn't withstand the heavy encirclement and suppression of the Ottoman army and had fled. In short, no matter what, Li Laiheng's department only had 5,000 cavalry, and after fighting for a few months, he was suddenly surrounded and suppressed by heavy troops, and it was absolutely impossible to win.

Thinking of these, to be honest, now that there is not even the only friendly army, Lahore is really left to fight alone, Wu Sangui is a little desperate.

However, no matter how desperate he was, he knew in his heart that this kind of emotion must not be revealed, but he had to find various reasons to boost morale.

With this in mind, he carefully observed the movements of the enemy. Not to mention, he saw some signs of abnormality.

First, the Ottoman cavalry that came back did not come back in order, but in a group.

Second, although the distance was too far to see the faces of those people, it seemed that his movements after the enemy greeted him did not seem to be good news. If they really did accomplish their goal and come back, at least they could hear the cheers, right? But no!

Wu Sangui believed that if the goal was really achieved, even if the Ottomans were very restrained, their commanders would not be unaware, and it was simply best to use this news to boost morale. After all, the Ottomans were held back on Lahore's side for several months, and their morale was no less high.

Finding this, Wu Sangui was a little suspicious. Could it be that the few men and horses under Li Laiheng were able to thwart the encirclement and suppression of heavy troops? How is this possible?

Although he thought so in his heart, it did not prevent Wu Sangui from telling this matter and telling all the soldiers to know. In short, he used all means to boost morale.

"Pass the order down and let all the soldiers know that Li Dashuai's troops have won the battle again!" Wu Sangui showed an excited "smile" and said to his personal guards, "The enemy is in a hurry, waiting to see it, if they win, they will inevitably send the head to intimidate, if not, they are defeated!" ”

At least he looked through the binoculars and didn't seem to see a head.

As a result, Wu Sangui's reasonable inference became the hope of the soldiers of the Ming army.

The Ottoman cavalry who came back one after another were there until the evening, but Wu Sangui did not go down to the city, and kept observing with binoculars. Finally, he realized that something was wrong, and the enemy army that came back seemed to be less than tens of thousands of cavalry.

And the most important thing is that it has been a day, and there is not a single cheer on the side of the Ottoman military camp, and no heads have been thrown. If it were Wu Sangui himself, he would be able to throw the fake head to the city to scare the enemy!

Therefore, at this time, he came to the conclusion that either the enemy commander would not be able to fight, or the enemy would have suffered a great defeat and would not even have the heart to use this method.

Comparatively speaking, Wu Sangui believes that it is the latter situation. However, it doesn't seem to be possible! Li Laiheng has worked with him for several years, and he knows what the combat power of that cavalry is!

I didn't understand, and he didn't say it.

By the next day, Wu Sangui had made a new discovery. Looking through the binoculars, it seems that there is a feeling of panic on the enemy's side. He was even more surprised, could it be that Li Laiheng's department really had to win?

At this time, he didn't think that it was Hong Chengchou's department or the reinforcements from China. Therefore, the enemy used the strategy of attacking the heart, so that Wu Sangui's side knew that the main force of the Ottoman Empire was still in the north. Domestic reinforcements, the messenger will not come, who knows that it will come so soon, in general, at least a year and a half.

After a few days, the enemy outside the city seemed to be more chaotic, and even the soldiers of the Ming army who did not have binoculars could feel it.

Hope, like a seed of spring, began to sprout and grow in the hearts of the soldiers of the Ming army, and the morale of Lahore finally rose. But they are curious, what happened to make such a turnaround?