After re-boosting morale and putting the whole army on the defensive, everyone from the emperor to the generals was visibly relieved. Especially after seeing that the Mongols were not in a hurry to continue the onslaught, but chose the tactic of encircling the hill, even those Ming soldiers relaxed a lot.

The attack just now caused them great damage from psychology to body, and many of them were also injured, and they were even thirsty and hungry at this time, so they really didn't have the heart to continue to fight with the Mongolian people. After all, morale may be able to withstand for a while, but the exhaustion of the body cannot be dissipated because of this.

Now that the Mongols have suspended their offensive, they will be able to treat their wounds, rest well, eat some dry food, and fill their stomachs first. Moreover, now that it is almost dusk and the sky is about to darken, it is even more unfavorable for the Mongolian people to attack the mountain, so everyone can rest for a good night and wait for tomorrow to make the next plan.

At this moment, someone asked an extremely serious question: "Your Majesty, generals, there is a general shortage of water in our army today. If we can't find a water source in a short time, I'm afraid the army won't be able to hold out at all! ”

As soon as they heard this, everyone from the emperor down was dumbfounded. It was only then that they suddenly realized that they had indeed forgotten about this most important issue. Just thinking that this place is easy to defend and difficult to attack, plus his own troops are quite sufficient, he can still wait for Xuanfu reinforcements for a while. But now it seems that things are much more difficult than I thought before.

Even a veteran like Zhang Fu was also frowning at this time, looking at the Mengren who had become surrounded under the mountain, and secretly said in his heart: "These Tartars are much more cunning than those previous opponents." Obviously, this time, they came to target the problem of lack of water in our army......"

"How's that okay?" Zhu Qizhen also panicked when he heard this, and subconsciously felt a dry mouth, so he quickly took a golden cup from his hand and dried up the sour plum soup in the cup. Although he escaped in embarrassment just now, the dragon chariot he was riding on was extremely stable, and the things in it were not damaged much, even the kettle containing sour plum soup was unharmed.

Seeing that the Son of Heaven drank a mouthful of soup, many people couldn't help but show envy and yearning, and they only felt that their lips and throat were drier than just now. But in front of the emperor, who dared to put forward such a non-trivial thought, so he could only lower his eyebrows and not look at him.

But Zhang Fu didn't care about this, but quickly turned his mind, and said after a while: "Your Majesty, the only way to do this now is to try to find a water source on this mountain." Although there are not many flowers and trees on this mountain, there should always be some groundwater, so it is better to let them dig on the spot while the Tartars have not yet attacked, and see if they can dig a well. ”

"Okay, quasi-play." As soon as the emperor heard this, his spirit immediately lifted up, and he hurriedly issued an order: "Order the soldiers to look for water sources on the mountain, and if they can dig a well, I will definitely be rewarded!" ”

"Your Majesty." The crowd hurriedly praised it, and then conveyed the order.

In fact, even without the emperor's will, after discovering that their homes were short of water, these Ming soldiers would spontaneously look for water on the spot. So soon, except for some people who continued to guard the main road up the mountain and paid attention to the movements of the Mongols, everyone else began to look for water sources on this not too large hill.

When the chaotic actions of the Ming army on the mountain fell into the eyes of the people below, many of them also felt uneasy, and hurriedly reported the news to Yexian.

Afterwards, someone rubbed his hands and said: "Taishi, why don't we send troops to attack the mountain, and take advantage of their distraction, maybe we can really go up the mountain in one fell swoop." ”

But at this time, Yexian's reaction was quite cold, and after groaning, he shook his head: "Don't act rashly, forcibly attacking the mountain is not a good idea for our cavalry." If the loss of troops is too much, even if it can really be killed, the gains will outweigh the losses. ”

"But if we do find a source of water for these guys, wouldn't our plan be ......," someone said anxiously.

But his words were interrupted by a wave of his hand: "You don't have to be so alarmed, they have just started to find water, how can they do so easily?" It's better here than on our grasslands, but if you look at the ground, it's also quite dry this season. The water source on this mountain must be hard to find. And, even if they did find a source of water, would one or two wells really be enough to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of troops? ”

This is true, and the spirit of everyone is lifted. Then, he smiled and said, "One more thing, do you really think that finding a water source is a good thing for them?" Maybe this will be an opportunity for internal division. There is a saying in the ancient books of the Han people, which says that the people do not suffer from widowhood but suffer from inequality, and it is also applicable here. ”

Although the vast majority of people did not understand the meaning of this last sentence, this did not prevent them from being impressed by Yexian's insight. For a while, everyone slapped him again.

And first, he also calmly accepted these praises, and then made the final conclusion: "So, all we have to do is to quietly surround this mountain, wait for them to be exhausted, and then move on to the next plan." ”

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The first judgment was really good, and the mountain was so dry that it was almost impossible to find any water source. Only on the eastern mountainside, I found a mountain spring, but for these hundreds of thousands of Ming troops, this little bit of water is not even a drop in the bucket, and it is not enough for a team of 100 people.

In this way, the Ming army on the mountain had to defend against the attack of the Mongols, but also to find a water source, and after more than ten hopes and disappointments, everyone finally gradually despaired. At the same time, due to the lack of water, many wounded and blood-losing soldiers have fallen down and completely lost their combat effectiveness. The dark clouds of despair have already shrouded everyone's hearts, even the emperor who doesn't have to worry about food and water is a little out of proportion at this time.

"This ...... How good is that? After a full day and a night, but still nothing, but found that the soldiers had begun to lose their spirits, and could only sit against the rocks, the emperor finally began to panic, and hurriedly looked at Wang Zhen beside him and asked.

"The old slave is also ......" Wang Zhen subconsciously wanted to say that he had nothing to do, but then he changed his mind and quickly changed his words: "The old slave thinks that now there may be only one way to break through with all his might." If you stay here, it won't take two or three days, and these hundreds of thousands of troops will have to be compensated here, even Your Majesty, your safety will not be guaranteed. ”

"yes, it seems like there's only one way left now." After Zhu Qizhen nodded, he muttered to himself: "It's just that the Mongolian cavalry below ......"

"Your Majesty, as the so-called putting death to the place and then reviting, wasn't it because Xiang Yu had the courage to break the cauldron in the first battle in Julu that he was able to break the Qin army? Now that I'm a Ming soldier, I'm far above the Tartars, can't I muster the courage? What's more, with Your Majesty sitting in the army, the morale of our army is like a rainbow, and we will be able to achieve this victory! Wang Zhen immediately encouraged his three-inch incorruptible tongue and tried his best to persuade.

In fact, Wang Zhen has no confidence in his heart for the breakthrough move. But he knew that it was most unrealistic to expect reinforcements to arrive in time at this time, so it was better to gamble on it. Although in this way, the damage of the army must be extremely serious, but as long as it can be safe, what is the point of killing some lowly soldiers in the army?

Although he had been moved by Wang Zhen's words, it was impossible for Zhu Qizhen to continue to go his own way at this time, so he hurriedly asked Zhang Fu to come to him and asked him about the feasibility of doing so.

As soon as Zhang Fu heard this, the whole person immediately panicked: "Your Majesty, don't do anything." At this time, the morale of our army has fallen to the bottom, and only by relying on the advantages of the terrain can we reach a balance with the Mongolian people, if we break through rashly, not only will there be a rout, but also your majesty's safety can hardly be guaranteed. Now the best way is to hold on, we must believe that the soldiers and horses of the Xuanfu will come and cooperate with us inside and outside in order to reverse the current unfavorable situation. ”

"Hmph, British duke, you keep saying that there will be reinforcements, but it's been a day, why don't you see half of the reinforcements coming? Now that there is a shortage of water and food on the mountain, are you going to starve Your Majesty? Wang Zhen immediately asked angrily. He didn't want to stay in this ghost place for a moment, and now that Zhang Fu was so opposed, it naturally touched his scales.

"I don't dare. But judging from the minister's decades of experience in leading troops to fight, it is the safest way to endure and stay on the mountain at this time, and please see it from Your Majesty! Zhang Fu hurriedly defended himself, and at the same time looked at Wang Zhen and Zhu Qizhen with a tough attitude.

Zhu Qizhen's face was also tangled. To be honest, he regretted it very much at this time, it turned out that the battlefield was so dangerous and cruel, and he really shouldn't have come here without listening to the advice of his ministers. Otherwise, the officials who had fallen behind would not have died here in vain - although the people below had been hiding it, he still found that a large number of courtiers had died in the chaos on the way up the mountain. Even Cao Nai, the first assistant of the cabinet, has long since disappeared, and was obviously killed by the Mengren.

At this time, he finally knew that the battlefield was by no means what he had thought in the palace before, and it was impossible for him to become a pioneer like Taizu Taizong. Not to mention leading the army, it is extremely difficult to survive in such an environment.

Therefore, at this time, the emperor had given up the idea of continuing to interfere in the use of troops, and he was quite self-aware of this. Since Zhang Fu, a famous general of several dynasties, said so, he no longer insisted: "Okay, then do it according to the British public's wishes." ”

"Your Majesty." When Zhang Fu heard this, he was really relieved. It's just that Wang Zhen on the side hated him to the core.

At the moment when a crisis was resolved, a general guarding below rushed over with a strange expression: "Your Majesty, the British Duke, the Tartars suddenly sent a messenger over, saying that they wanted to meet Your Majesty, and there was something to do!" ”

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Happy holiday to all book friends, once a year... Let's pretend to be as tender as we can!!!