The vast grassland, a large green mountain range runs through the east and west. In the western part of the Hetao Plain, a new town has sprung up.

The town is small compared to the hinterland, and the most special thing is that it does not have tall walls. There are only concrete houses, which form the core area of the town in an orderly manner. And in the four corners of the town, there are four barracks. These four barracks are all concrete walls, and all kinds of defensive measures, as long as they should be in the barracks, are available here. Another difference from ordinary barracks is that these barracks are built according to the shape of a diamond.

In the middle of the town, there is also a building about the size of a barracks. Like the barracks, there is a Ming flag fluttering, needless to say, this is the official office.

If you have the patience to observe the place, you can see that there are actually more soldiers here than ordinary people.

This place is the westernmost city of the Ming Dynasty in the grassland, and the emperor insisted on building the city of Baotou. That official office is the Baotou Governor's Yamen.

At this time, behind the yamen, there were two people drinking mare's milk tea and talking.

One of them, who was very strong at first glance, with a big beard on his face, seemed to be a little sullen, and saw him look up and say to the sven scarlet-robed official on the main throne: "Lord Zhongcheng, you train every day but you have no battle to fight, and you are about to get out of the birds." It's really not as good as before, so I can fight every day! ”

"Uncle Zhongyong, just say what you say here, if you go out and say it, the impact will not be good, and the official will impeach you!" Baotou Governor Yang Sichang had a serious face and earnestly admonished.

Now the emperor Shengming has defeated the enemies in the north of the Ming Dynasty, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, which is a good thing, but the loyal and brave Bo Mangui shouted that it was not as good as before, and this kind of thing is definitely criticized.

If the two were not familiar with each other before, Yang Sichang would not have been so kind to remind him; Of course, this is also related to the fact that Man Gui is a rough person and doesn't even know a few words. This kind of words, coming out of his mouth, are not much surprising. But Man Gui's loyalty to the Ming Dynasty and to the emperor is also obvious to all. It is also because of this that he was named a loyal and brave man by the emperor.

Of course, there is another reason why Yang Sichang is so easy to speak, that is, he himself actually thinks so. Although he is the governor of a party, his political achievements can also be obtained from governing the locality. But this Baotou is built on the uninhabited grassland, and there is not much population, even if you want to make achievements, you have to have talents. At this time, Yang Sichang often had the feeling that it was difficult for a smart woman to cook without rice.

He had always believed that his talent was no worse than that of a naturalized governor. It's just that there is a lack of good opportunities. He Hong Chengchou encountered a good time, just when the thieves in Shaanxi were in turmoil, and his father had no available generals, so that Hong Chengchou, who was only a civilian official who was only prepared for military service, rose with military merits, and even achieved the position of naturalized governor because of military merits all the way.

If there is a war to fight now, Yang Sichang believes that he can also make military achievements, and only in this way can he be promoted more quickly. If you don't stay in this poor and remote place, you won't have as many people as the county magistrate of a high-class county in Kannai, of course, except for the army.

Therefore, Yang Sichang is actually in his heart, and like Man Gui, he is eager to have a battle to fight.

In the past, when the emperor drove the expedition in person, it was the best opportunity to obtain military merits, but Baotou was too far away, and the troops on the grassland side were only on the side of Guihua City.

Thinking so, Yang Sichang sighed in his heart and took a sip of mare's milk tea.

Looking at the cup in his hand, Yang Sichang couldn't help but sigh again in his heart, he had never been used to drinking things on this grassland before, but after a few years, he got used to it!

At this time, he was a little suspicious, when he recommended himself to be the governor of Baotou, was he going right or wrong?

However, in front of Man Gui, a martial artist, Yang Sichang still maintained his proper demeanor, put down the cup, and said to Man Gui: "Even in a peaceful and prosperous era, it is necessary to train soldiers. Otherwise, once the war breaks out, how can we defeat the enemy? ”

Man Gui listened, didn't answer immediately, but also drank all the cup of mare's milk tea, reached out and wiped the mare's milk tea hanging on his beard, and then responded: "Lord Zhongcheng, why don't I take the troops to the north?" ”

In the north of the Daqing Mountains, there live three large tribes of northern Mongolia, collectively known as Khalkha Mongolia, which have not yet been conquered by the Ming Dynasty. Now if Baotou wants to have a battle to fight, there is only this one enemy.

After all, Mongolia in the west had already submitted to the Ming Dynasty, and the new Great Khan Ozirtu had a great relationship with the Ming Dynasty. Not only did he train in the new army in Beijing, but after he went back, he bought Daming firearms in a big way, and the emperor allowed it. Such a relationship, at least in the short term, is unlikely to turn hostile.

"No, don't mess around!" As soon as Yang Sichang heard Man Gui's words, he hurriedly dissuaded, "Our Ming Dynasty is a state of etiquette, and there is no reason to provoke a war first. ”

Whether it is from the perspective of legal theory or historical origin, such a distant place has nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty. If the Ming Dynasty provokes the war first, it will be an unrighteous army.

Man Gui didn't care a little, thinking about continuing to bargain and said: "Lord Zhongcheng, I have my own measure in this matter, I will definitely let them stir up trouble first, and then how about we fight back?" ”

"You led the troops to their land to do this, do you think the people in the world are stupid?" Yang Sichang heard this, but felt a little funny, and immediately shook his head and retorted, "Besides, once the war starts, then the Khalkha Mongolia is not something that Baotou can deal with, and the Guihua City side also has to go all out, if it is not good, it will have to transfer troops from the Guannei again." It's a big fight! ”

Speaking of this, before he finished speaking, Yang Sichang continued to say: "The Khalkha Mongols are still different from the Liaodong Jianyu, they have no fixed residence, if the Ming army goes on an expedition, and they escape, not to mention what the final battle will be, the material consumption of the expedition alone is astronomical!" And these things must be considered by the court and the emperor, and they must be approved by the emperor. ”

Man Gui listened, opened his mouth and wanted to say, but he didn't expect Yang Sichang to seem to become a chatterbox, and he took the lead and continued: "And you haven't found out, the emperor generally doesn't fight a loss battle. This officer combed through the wars in the past few years and found that most of the battles of our Ming army were profitable. For the logistical pressure of the imperial court, it is not a fight. If you want to go to war with the Khalkha tribe and consume a lot of money and food, it is impossible for the official to agree to the emperor. ”

As soon as Man Gui heard that Yang Sichang disagreed, he was depressed again, and he poured up the mare's milk tea and drank it again. He didn't think about it deeply, and after Yang Sichang mentioned the topic of Khalkha, he gushed endlessly that he had obviously thought about it before, and he had put a lot of thought into it.

Houya was quiet for a while, and suddenly, Man Gui's eyes lit up, and he looked up at Yang Sichang and said, "Lord Zhongcheng, isn't the Oziertu Khan in the west fighting with the Khalkha Mongols?" Why don't you go talk to him and ask him for help from me, so that we can justifiably send troops? ”

Hearing this, Yang Sichang couldn't help but look at this bearded man, a little impressed. This method is at least much stronger than what he said before, leading troops to stir up trouble.

He had actually thought about this before. Therefore, he replied without hesitation: "In this case, who will pay for the money and food of my Ming army?" ”

"Of course, it is to come out of Ozirtu Khan!" When Man Gui heard this, he immediately said, "Help him go to war, and ask us to pay for food ourselves, where is the reason?" ”

When Yang Sichang heard this, he couldn't help but think in his heart: If the change was before, Ozirtu Khan said more good things and praised more, as long as the emperor felt face, the emperor might really pay for his own money and food. However, the current emperor is very pragmatic and absolutely cannot do such a thing. Otherwise, he would have sent someone to hint at Ozirtu Khan a long time ago.

Thinking so, Yang Sichang asked Man Guidao: "Then the official asked you, will the Oziertu Khan give this money and grain?" ”

As soon as he heard this, Man Gui opened his mouth to answer, but suddenly thought of something, and became depressed again, and immediately shook his head and said: "Then Ozirtu Khan used our military training method, and also bought a large number of our Ming Dynasty's military weapons, and won successive battles, how could he give us money and food again!" ”

"That's it!" Yang Sichang nodded and replied, "Unless Ozirtu Khan loses the battle and the situation is precarious, otherwise, it is impossible for him to spend another money to find our Ming Dynasty to send troops." ”

Man Gui was depressed when he heard it, the news that came a year ago, Ozirtu Khan was a succession of victories, how could there be a trace of defeat, and the situation was precarious. Now that the spring is blooming, the grassland is recovering, and it is the season when you can use soldiers to fight, it's not good, Ozirtu Khan sent people to Daming again, and he has to buy a large number of Daming's militaristic heavy weapons!

Unlike cold weapons, firearms have very high losses. A flintlock pistol, after the number of shots, will increase the chance of exploding, and the shooting accuracy will also decrease, and it must be scrapped. Of course, it is okay not to scrap it, and it will be used until it is scrapped. In addition, gunpowder is the bulk of the loss, and Western Mongolia does not have the ability to produce gunpowder on a large scale, let alone the high-quality gunpowder provided by the Ming Dynasty.

According to the past practice, Western Mongolia is also about to send people over, and it is about to buy firearms from Daming to replenish gunpowder.

If it were before, Man Gui would definitely be very jealous. But now, the Daming Military Bureau heard that what steam engine was used, what assembly line was also built, and the production of flintlock pistols has risen, and all his subordinate departments have also begun to be equipped with flintlock pistols. Therefore, he did not mind so much about the constant purchase of flintlock pistols in Western Mongolia.

Of course, he didn't know that the price of a flintlock pistol in Western Mongolia could actually make four flintlock pistols. These flintlock pistols under his command were actually paid for by Western Mongolia.

"His grandmother's land, that Ozirtu Khan has our Daming as a backer, it's really not too cost-effective!" When Man Gui heard this, he said a foul word, very depressed.

Yang Sichang listened to his words, and automatically ignored the foul language, and for the other words, he nodded and responded, about this, he still agreed.

Houya quieted down again, Yang Sichang looked up at the sky outside, and couldn't help sighing in his heart, another day was about to pass. Could it be that he has made no achievements in this office, so he can only drink tea with a vulgar martial artist, chat, count sheep, eat and wait for death?

To tell the truth, he was very unwilling. There was nothing to think about in terms of martial arts, so he lowered his head again and pondered, should he ask his father for help, and ask more prisoners in the customs to come and dig the pit, but the transportation in Baotou is inconvenient, even if the mine is dug out, the things are there, and it is very troublesome to transport them to the customs!

After thinking about it, Yang Sichang thought about it, but he didn't have a way.

Or if he really had nothing to talk about, Man Gui stood up, hugged his fists and saluted Yang Sichang: "Now that the wolves on the grassland have begun to run rampant again, at the end of tomorrow, I will personally lead some people and horses to hunt wolves in the grassland, and turn around and dedicate the first wolf to Lord Zhongcheng!" ”

If you can't do anything, you can't be idle, so you should be distracted.

Yang Sichang nodded, which was a response. He doesn't really care about this kind of wolf sacrifice, what he cares about is political achievements, merit, and promotion.

Seeing this, Man Gui turned around and left, and immediately walked out of the lobby.

But who knows, at this time, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside, and a Yang Sichang's personal guard appeared in the field of vision, looking a little hurried, and walked in quickly.

I don't know why, Man Gui was overjoyed when he saw this, and immediately stopped, turned around and walked inside, wanting to hear what the news was.

"In the report, Lord Cheng, the Oirat Mongol envoy still has about five miles to Baotou, and he does not receive urgent reports at night, saying that the Oirat Mongol tribes have been severely injured and urgently need Ming reinforcements!"

Hearing the guard's announcement, Yang Sichang stood up from his chair with a "whoosh" and asked in surprise, "What?" ”

And Man Gui, who had just come in at the door, walked in quickly, stood beside the guard, raised his voice, and asked in the same surprise: "Ozirtu Khan has a big defeat?" ”

The two of them had surprise on their faces, but in their tones, they were not worried, but surprised.

"The specific situation of the battle is unknown, but according to the night report, it seems that the defeat was miserable." The guard replied, "It seems that Ozirtu Khan is seriously injured!" ”

Hearing this, Yang Sichang and Man Gui glanced at each other, and they both saw the excitement in each other's eyes.

Yang Sichang immediately walked quickly to the foreign office, and at the same time ordered: "As soon as the envoy arrives, immediately bring it to see the official, without the slightest delay!" ”

"Yes!" The guards agreed and hurried away.

Man Gui walked out behind Yang Sichang, and at the same time grinned: "Lord Zhongcheng, the Oirat departments are asking for help, if you send troops, it will be Baotou's turn, right?" ”

Geographically, this is true.

However, as soon as he walked out and was blown by the wind, Yang Sichang had calmed down a lot, and said with a serious face: "Let's listen to the specific battle situation first, it stands to reason that even if the Oirat Mongols were taken away by Gushi Khan, they would not be so defeated, and even the Ozirtu Khan would be seriously injured, right?" ”

When Man Gui heard this, he was slightly stunned, when it came to marching and fighting, he was a veteran, and immediately thought about it and said: "Okay, let's see how the great defeat of Ozirtu Khan was fought?" ”

If he had been stunned, he would not have survived now, not to mention that he had no relationship with the DPRK and China before, and he was completely promoted from small soldiers step by step from small soldiers.

Five miles of road, for horseback riders, is really not far, it is only a moment. However, Yang Sichang, Man Gui and the others waited for a long time, and after waiting unexpectedly, they could be regarded as waiting for the envoy of the Oirat Mongols.

As soon as he saw this messenger, Yang Sichang understood why it took so long for this messenger to travel only five miles. There is no other reason, this messenger is already at the end of the crossbow, it is obvious, he is desperately rushing to ask for help, there is no pause on the way, he is already tired to work.

Above the hall, the envoy could no longer stand, and he was supported by two guards from the governor's yamen.

It was at his signal that the guards took out a piece of parchment from the messenger's bosom and presented it to the governor of Baotou.

Yang Sichang opened it and couldn't help but be surprised. This is a blood letter, written in blood. It is written in Chinese characters and stamped with the seal of the Mongol Khan of Oirat.

After a little look, Yang Sichang frowned, and immediately raised his head and asked the messenger who was panting, "How is the injury of Ozirtu Khan?" ”

"The Great Khan was struck by a firearm, and although he had the lead removed, he was often unconscious. The witch doctor in the clan said that there is more evil and less luck! The envoy held his breath, said this in one breath, and quickly gasped, and then pleaded, "The Great Khan begs the Great Ming to send reinforcements quickly, otherwise the Oirat Mongols are in danger!" ”

Man Gui, who was standing on the side, scratched his ears and scratched his cheeks a little when he heard this, and when he heard this, he couldn't hold back anymore, and interjected and asked loudly, "What's going on?" How did it work like this? ”

For Mangui, as long as it is a Mongolian, it is recognized. It is also for this reason that Emperor Chongzhen has always put him on the grassland as an example.

The Oirat Mongol envoy was no exception, recognizing Man Gui, and immediately replied: "The Khalkha Mongols and Tsarist Russia quietly colluded together last winter, and this year's ice and snow have just melted. Among them, our Heshute and Dzungar divisions were the focus of their raids, so the losses were the heaviest, and the Ozirtu was seriously wounded by the firearms of the Tsarist Russia. “

Speaking of this, after the envoy took a breath again, he took the initiative to add with a sad face: "This time is different from the previous wars with the Khalkha tribes, whether it is the Khalkha tribes or Tsarist Russia, they all kill people when they see them, even women and children. In particular, the Tsarist Russian army was even more inhumane. Now the Oirat Mongol tribes are no longer able to fight back, and they are all scattered and fled! ”

When Yang Sichang heard this, he recalled that Oirat Mongolia actually had two major enemies, one was Tsarist Russia and the other was Khalkha Mongolia. However, Tsarist Russia was located further west, and in the past, the conflict with the Oirat Mongols was not very large. Unexpectedly, this time, Tsarist Russia also dealt a ruthless blow to Oirat Mongolia.

He thought so in his heart, and after asking some more questions, he immediately said: "This matter, and wait for this official to report to the emperor immediately!" ”