Wang Bin, Liu Ying and other generals led 40,000 cavalry and won a complete victory at Fuling Pass (near Xuanguang Province), winning a major battle that would have required only 10,000 troops.

After Zhu Gaoxu led the crowd to pass through the Fuling Pass, the heavens and the earth seemed to suddenly open up.

Forests, rice paddies, villages, and large fields of crops come into view. The flat fields and the houses that can be seen everywhere are populated, which makes Zhu Gaoxu believe that the Ming army has entered the hinterland of Annam!

The Ming army went all the way down, neither encountered a strong army to block it, nor did it involve a small group of guerrilla attacks, until it entered the plastered hinterland of the Annan Kingdom, and it was still very easy and smooth. It's so smooth that people think it's a trick!

At the beginning of September, Zhu Gaoxu's Wang Bin's troops made another meritorious service, and defeated the Hu Shooting Division of the Annan Army that came to block the attack. So Zhu Gaoxu led his army to approach the vicinity of the Baihe River on the north bank of the Red River.

…… In the middle of the Chinese army, a simple map was placed in front of Zhu Gaoxu. The drawings are very simple, and the scale and topography are not reflected, but important rivers, cities, and passes can be seen.

Zhu Gaoxu can also find the marching route of the past two months from the map.

More than 100,000 people of the Western Route Army set out from Kunming City and went south to the north bank of the Yuanjiang River. Until now, the army has marched almost in the direction of the Yuan River, so there is no risk of getting lost at all.

When the Yuanjiang reaches the country of Annan, it is the Red River, and the people of Annam mostly call it the big river; Just like the Yangtze River in Daming, it is also called Dajiang. At this time, the countries of East Asia were very influenced by the culture of the Central Plains.

The Ming army successively captured Jiling Pass (Lao Cai), Qinzhan and other places, repaired the roads destroyed by the Annam people, and marched along the southeast flow of the river to the hinterland of Annam. The mountains on both sides of this road are sparsely populated, and most of the people are mountain people who have migrated from various ethnic groups.

Later, Wang Bin captured Fulingguan (Xuanguang Province), and the Ming army approached the Baihe River (on the north bank of the Red River, near Yuechi). The rivers became more erratic, the land was flat, the water network was richer, agriculture was richer, and the population became denser.

…… Wang Bin returned to the Chinese army with a team of personal cavalry, a manor built between fertile fields.

The lord of the manor is not here, I don't know if he ran away, or if he does not live here. The Ming army expelled the slave tenants on the manor and requisitioned the manor.

The yard is planted with all kinds of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and the second-floor pavilion has furniture, comfortable beds, and kitchen utensils and food. After the soldiers of the honor guard came in to check, Zhu Gaoxu moved in directly.

When Wang Bin walked up to the pavilion, ripe tea had already been brewed in the tea hall. The two looked at the sunny pastoral scenery of Annam outside, and talked about military affairs.

"The forward army can no longer continue to march south, so the last general will leave Liu Ying in the army and rush back to the Chinese army to report the military situation to the prince." Wang Bin hugged his fists and bowed.

Zhu Gaoxu pointed to another chair next to the coffee table, "Commander Wang sits down and takes a sip of tea." ”

Wang Bin did not write a military newspaper this time, but returned directly to the Chinese army in person. Zhu Gaoxu had already guessed that the military situation that Wang Bin was going to say was a bit complicated and important.

Sure enough, Wang Bin sat down and thought for a while before he spoke: "At the beginning, the last general got some civil and military officials who took the initiative to surrender, all of whom called the Hu clan of Annan to raise the country's troops, forcibly recruit the people, and call the whole country two million people to resist the enemy. The last general did not dare to believe it all, and then the scouts inquired many times, and the decisive battle of the first letter was just around the corner! ”

Wang Bin continued: "The Annan Army has built a thousand-mile defense line based on the Great River (Red River) and several large cities and towns along the river! ”

"Uh......" Zhu Gaoxu heard this, and made a sound from his throat carelessly.

Wang Bin said: "The Hu family and his son mobilized all the troops in the country and deployed them on this defense line, and it is said that 2 million people were requisitioned. Dig ditches and build walls along the river, and resist the Ming army with all your might. ”

Zhu Gaoxu had already found a map of Annan, put it on the coffee table, picked up a brush dipped in ink and held it in his hand. He nodded and said, "Since the general outline of the Annan Army has gradually become clear, then I can rest assured." ”

Hearing the thousand-mile trench defense line, Zhu Gaoxu was very surprised. It can't be said that the Hu father and son are stupid, but Zhu Gaoxu thinks they are too avant-garde! After all, the First World War was to dig countless trenches to the death; It's just that in ancient times, it was very unusual to use this tactic.

The population of Annan should be less than 10 million, and it can mobilize 2 million strong men? Zhu Gaoxu was very skeptical. Either way, he just had to judge it that way: a lot.

Wang Bin said: "There are many wooden stakes and bamboo poles nailed in the Baihe River, and there are naval armies in the north and south. Heavy troops were deployed in the four cities of Mumaruju, Duobang, Thang Long, and Haikou along the river, which were the main fortifications of the Annam army. In addition, the East-West Defense ...... will be built in the area around Pyongdanjin."

The places mentioned by Wang Bin are all big names, which can be found on the map. Zhu Gaoxu listened as he drew a mark on the picture.

The Baihe River is not far from the garrison of the army and flows south into the river. When Zhu Gaoxu saw the location, a thought immediately flashed in his heart: The Annan army set up a barrier on the Baihe River, or to prevent the Ming army from temporarily building ships and entering the river to seize the right to control the river.

Starting from the Baihe River, it has entered the plains of Annam Province to the east and south. Located in the west of the plain, the mountain range that runs north and south is called West Mountain. Komaru Prefecture (near Koshiike) was the first castle near Nishiyama, located on the north bank of the Great River.

Duobang Castle (near Shanxi Province) is southeast of Mumaru Prefecture, on the south bank of the Great River. Thang Long (Hanoi) down the river is also in Dajiang Annam, and the mouth of the sea is already far to the south, far from the Ming army, which should be for the integrity of the Dajiang defense line and the role of the reserve Quanyong team.

On the map of the Red River Plain, the river looks like a diagonal line from the upper left corner to the lower right corner, dividing the hinterland of Annam into two. The main defense line of the Annan Army is to defend the left area.

However, there is also a horizontal defense on the right side, and it seems that Annan still can't let go of the entire Red River Plain. The Annam Army built a defense line throughout the country and mobilized manpower throughout the country to defend the core area...... The rich and fertile Red River Plain also realized the strategic possibilities of the Hu family and his sons.

…… Under the bright sunlight, the faint moisture outside the manor loft has completely dissipated, and the air and scenery have become extra clear and clear, and the scenery is more beautiful.

The strategic fog that shrouded the land of Annan also seemed to be completely clear at this time.

After Zhu Gaoxu learned about the military situation from the mouth of the forward general, he was able to make a clear judgment on the battle situation. Annanguo's idea is just two words: guard and delay.

Thousands of miles of defense line, known as more than 2 million soldiers and civilians, the first line of the Red River...... They wanted to hold the Red River Plain, to hold the war potential with a large population and resources. And with big cities, rivers, and fortifications as barriers, the war was delayed, and the passive defense waited for the Ming army to change.

Zhu Gaoxu quickly made a preliminary decision and ordered Wang Bin: "The three armies will stop advancing, and the forward will be deployed in the area near the Baihe River, while continuing to find out the military situation, while waiting for the arrival of General Zhu Nengbu of Pingyi and preparing for a decisive battle!" ”

The Annan army has set up a defensive line, and if the Ming army wants to continue to advance, it can only attack and break through the defensive line, and the method of this battle is almost doomed. However, Zhu Nengbu's army was more than Zhu Gaoxu's troops, and Zhu Gaochu decided to wait for the friendly army, and then fight a decisive victory after the combined army strengthened its strength.

Wang Bin resigned and returned to the front army. At this time, the eunuch Cao Fu bowed down and walked into the teahouse, and came to Zhu Gaoxu, he first glanced at a few men standing in the hall, then bowed his head and whispered: "Lord Wang, there is a local wealthy family who has taken refuge in slaves. Na Haoqiang said that he could choose a young lady with good background, conduct, and appearance nearby......"

Zhu Gaoxu immediately understood what he meant. In the eyes of his subordinates, he is a strong and strong-blooded man in his early twenties, not to mention that he has long been known for his "good sex", and he must like hue very much, and these slaves and eunuchs certainly want to do what he likes.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't think there was anything wrong with Cao Fu, and he wasn't uninterested in it. However, he thought that it was better to restrain himself when the war was imminent.

"Wait until after the big war." He didn't scold Cao Fu at all, and responded indifferently.

Cao Fu bowed and said, "The slave obeys." ”

At this time, playing with women in the Chinese army is somewhat harmful, of course, it is not harmful to the body. First of all, it will take a lot of time, in case it is rising, and the ministry will have something important to do and can't see him? Secondly, he was distracted, and it was difficult for him to concentrate on thinking about the situation day and night. Moreover, the main general is promiscuous and happy in the army, and the soldiers eat and sleep in the open and suffer hardships, and it is not good for the morale of the army to spread it.

So Zhu Gaoxu quickly made a choice, he wanted to do his best to win the war rather than enjoy it for a while.

Although he has a reputation of "arrogance, luxury, lewdness, and ease" in Beijing, but this time he is handsome, Zhu Gaoxu is quite restrained, and he will not make a big account if he does not catch a nun.

…… A few days later, the Chinese army received a message from the Eastern Route Army.

The good news is that more than 100,000 troops of the Eastern Route Army left Guangxi and captured Polei Pass (Zhennan Pass), and then connected the cities and moved closer to Zhu Gaoxu's department.

The bad news is that the general Zhu Neng was flattened, and he died of illness and died in the army!

When Zhu Gaoxu saw this letter, he stood in front of the window, did not speak for a while, and his face changed. He wasn't shocked, but suddenly a little sad.

A big man who can say whatever he wants to say with a big mouth, Zhu Neng, who is strong and in the prime of life, suddenly appeared in front of Zhu Gaoxu's eyes. Zhu Gaoxu realized that another acquaintance in this world had said goodbye and would never be seen again.

Zhu Neng was born as a military general in the Yanwang Mansion, and after countless battles, he spent most of his time eating and sleeping on the battlefield. It's just a few years since I was sealed as a prince, and I haven't enjoyed the blessing for long, which is really a pity.

However, Zhu Neng has a son named Zhu Yong, who is fifteen years old, and he will definitely be able to inherit the glory and wealth because of his father's merits, and the title of Daming is hereditary!

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly felt that it was better to be a second generation. No matter how powerful the first generation is, not to mention the hardships and hardships, most of them are old or hung up when they become famous, and they can't enjoy anything in the end.