Nomadic in the vast steppe east of the Amjihai Sea is the Mongolian Horqin tribe.

As mentioned above, the Horqin Department was the first to marry and conclude an alliance with the Jurchens, and the Zhuang Concubine Bumu Butai, the Chen Concubine Hai Lanzhu, and the Empress Zhezhe, who had been taken captive to the Central Plains by Wang Pu, were all from Horqin.

There are now four branches in the Korqin Division.

These four people are brothers, from the eldest to the youngest, they are the prince of Heshuo Zhuoliktu Ukshan, Dorobele Chahan, the king of Doro County Sonammu and the prince of Darhan Baturu Manzhu Xili, because of the strong support of the Horqin tribe to the Jurchens, after the conquest of Mongolia, the emperor Taiji gave all the vast grasslands from the Songnen Plain to the Xilamulun River to the Horqin Department, and later this grassland was also widely known as the Horqin grassland.

The sweat tent of the prince of Darhan Baturu Manzhu Xili was even more set up in Changshan, less than 100 miles away from Shengjing.

It was this Man Zhu Xili, Wang Pu had already dealt with him when he attacked Shengjing, and the three thousand iron guards full of Zhu Xili were destroyed by Wang Pu.

Nomadic in the grasslands east of the Amjihai Sea was the prince of Heshuo Zhuoliktu, Ukeshan, whose court was in the Sanbula River, about 500 miles away from Naturalization and Datong.

Wang Pu's 4,000 cavalry was able to appear outside the city of Guihua unnoticed, a very important reason is that he made sufficient preparations, so that the bearded, scarface and Zhang Monk each led 200 cavalry Qiao Jiannu's Eight Banners Iron Cavalry, the Mongols encountered along the way were all caught off guard and were poisoned, another reason is that these 4,000 cavalry are light cavalry, and the soldiers only carry seven days of dry food, without the drag of grain and grass.

But Zhang Zi'an did not make these preparations.

Moreover, Zhang Zi'an led an army of more than 10,000 cavalry, with a large amount of grain and grass in the army, and a huge lineup.

As a result, Zhang Zi'an's army was discovered by the Horqin people just after leaving the Great Wall, and then sent the news to the Khan's court in Wukeshan, Sanbulachuan as quickly as possible.

The Horqin people discovered the Ming army three days earlier than Wang Pu had expected.

In other words, Prince Heshuo Zhuoliktu had three full days to gather his men, the Korqin Department was much stronger than the Tumut Department, and Prince Heshuo Zhuoliktu had 3,000 cavalry under his standing guards alone, and he could gather at least 8,000 cavalry in three days, and at least 30,000 cavalry in ten days!

Now, Wang Pu and Zhang Zi'an are in big trouble.

■■■

Sanbula River, Ukeshan Khanting.

When the curtain was lifted, the three sons of Ukshan, Banketu, Sogar and Tagar, had entered the tent proudly, and then knelt down on one knee and saluted with their right hand on their chest, saying, "Wait for the children to see their father Khan." ”

Although the Mongols had already declared themselves vassals to Jiannu, Jiannu's rule over Mongolia was only nominal, and in fact, with the conditions of Jiannu at that time, they did not have the ability and conditions to exercise direct rule over the Mongols in Guangmao, so the Mongol tribes still retained the custom of being called Khan.

"Get up." Ukshan shook his hand and said, "Get up." ”

The three of them stood up, and Ukshan beckoned them to sit around the brazier.

Wu Keshan took out a yellow-framed letter from his bosom and said solemnly: "The two regents sent someone to send an urgent secret letter, asking our Mongolian departments to prepare in advance, just wait for the snow to melt in spring next year, and the Great Qing Kingdom will take the Eight Banners Iron Horse to detour through Mongolia, cross the Great Wall from the area of the Immortal Sea, and take Datong directly." ”

The eldest son, Banktu, asked: "Does Father Khan think that the Qing State sent troops this time to avenge the emperor, or did he intend to plunder the population and property of the Ming State as before?" ”

Wu Keshan thought for a while, and said in a deep voice: "With the current strength of the Great Qing Kingdom, it is not possible to destroy the Ming Kingdom, but this time the troops are definitely different from the previous ones, the first few times the Great Qing Kingdom sent troops was just to find out the reality of the Ming Kingdom's troops, and by the way, they plundered people and property, but this time it was for revenge." ”

The second son, Suogar, said angrily: "It is conceivable that after the Qing soldiers break through the pass, the Central Plains of the Ming Kingdom will be full of corpses and rivers of blood, especially the people of Shanxi and Datong, because of the general soldier Wang Pu of Datong, I am afraid that they will be slaughtered by the Qing soldiers and will not be left behind......."

The third son, Tagar, suddenly said: "Father Khan, I heard that Wang Pu has returned to Datong. ”

"Oh?" "Who did you listen to?" ”

Tagar said: "A few days ago, a group of horse dealers from Shanxi passed through the Sanbula River and listened to what they said. ”

Ukshan said: "This news is very important, and it needs to be reported to the two regent immediately. ”

"Great Khan!" Wu Keshan's voice fell, and suddenly the captain of the guard stepped into the tent and knelt on the ground and said, "There is a herdsman Pegasus who came to report, saying that he found a large group of Ming troops in the sea of Xianqi!" ”

"What!?"

Hearing this, Ukeshan and his three sons stood up in unison and asked in unison, "What did you say?" ”

The captain of the guard said again: "Great Khan, a herdsman Pegasus has come to report, saying that he has found a large group of Ming troops in the sea of Xianji!" ”

"Ming Army!?" Wu Keshan said in disbelief, "Are you saying that the army crossed the Great Wall and killed the sea of death?" ”

The captain of the guard said, "Exactly." ”

"Impossible, right?" Wu Keshan frowned and shook his head, "Could it be that the Ming army has eaten the gall of the bear's heart and leopard, and they dare to send troops to attack our Mongols at this time?" ”

"Father Khan." The third son, Tagar, suddenly reminded, "Don't forget that Wang Pu has returned to Datong!" ”

"yes." The eldest son, Banketu, echoed, "Wang Pu, this guy only brought a thousand cavalry to dare to attack Shengjing, everyone didn't expect him to dare to do this, but as a result, not only Shengjing was broken by him, but even the first emperor and the two imperial concubines were arrested!" Is there anything else in this world that Wang Pu doesn't dare to do? ”

"That's right, this Wang Pu is really not afraid of the sky and the earth, so it means that the army may really send troops?" Wu Keshan's face changed, and he turned around and asked the captain of the guard, "Do you know how many people there are in the Ming army?" Is it the army from the three sides of Shaanxi and Shanxi that came, or was it only the army from Datong Town? ”

The captain of the guard said: "The herdsman army has about more than 10,000 people. ”

"More than 10,000 people?" "It seems that only the army from Datong Town has come. ”

"Father Khan." The second son, Sogar, shouted, "This time, if we can defeat the Ming army in the Sea and capture Wang Pu alive, it will be a great achievement, and the new emperor and the two regent who have just ascended the throne will express their deep gratitude to us, and the status of our Horqin Department will be even more honorable!" ”

"Yes." Banktu and Tagar also chimed in, "This time Wang Pu must not be allowed to return to Datong alive." ”

"Hmm." Ukeshan pondered for a moment and said loudly, "Banktu." ”

The eldest son, Banktu, stepped forward and said loudly, "The child is here." ”

Wu Keshan said: "Lead three thousand iron guards to immediately kill the Ming army, and after rushing to the Ming army, you can't fight a decisive battle with the Ming army, your task is just to drag the Ming army, and do everything possible to delay the Ming army's actions, especially not let them escape back to Datong, you must buy time for the follow-up army to rush to the Ming army!" ”

Banktu replied sharply, "The child takes the order." ”

Ukshan said again: "Sogar! ”

Sogar replied, "The child is here." ”

Wu Keshan said: "With the order of Ben Khan, immediately gather the herdsmen of Sanbula River, gather 8,000 cavalry within three days, and then kill non-stop to curb the sea. ”

Sogar said, "The child takes the order." ”

Ukshan said again: "Tagar. ”

Tagar replied, "The child is here." ”

Wu Keshan said: "With the arrows of Ben Khan's order, go to the east bank of the Ximulalun River to gather the troops, gather 30,000 cavalry within ten days, and then rush to the sea as fast as possible." ”

Tagar said, "The child takes the order." ”

■■■

The three days passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the first month of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen.

At this time, Zhang Zi'an had led more than 10,000 cavalry troops to defend the sea for two whole days, the 3,000 Horqin cavalry led by Banketu was only 50 miles away from the sea, and the 8,000 Horqin cavalry had been assembled in the Sanbula River, and more Horqin cavalry was assembling on the east bank of the Ximulalun River.

Dying sea, Zhang Zi'an made an account.

Zhang Zi'an was summoning several lieutenant generals, staff generals, and guerrilla generals from Datong Town to his tent to give lectures.

"You all listen to us." Zhang Zi'an said with compassion, "This dispatch of troops to curb the safety of Datong Town, Maritime Pass, is related to the safety of the towns on the nine sides, and is related to the safety of the Ming Dynasty, and it has a great stake!" From now on, who dares to say that the withdrawal of troops will disturb the morale of the army, then don't blame our family for turning their faces and not recognizing people! ”

The senior generals of Datong Town had a bitter look on their faces.

They can't understand how Gonggong Zhang, who is usually more greedy for life and afraid of death than anyone else, suddenly became so belligerent, and it is already unbelievable to send troops to the sea under the condition that the troops in Datong Town are already stretched, but they didn't expect this old eunuch to wait in the sea of death, isn't this waiting for the Mongolian cavalry to come and encircle and annihilate the Ming army?

But Zhang Zi'an has already said that, and no one dares to persuade him anymore.

In fact, Zhang Zi'an is also afraid of death, but he has no choice, Emperor Chongzhen's dictation and a secret letter from Wang Chengen forced him to a dead end, this time if he can't snatch millions of cattle, sheep and horses from Tumut, and take them back to Datong, he, the eunuch guarding Datong, can be regarded as the end, and there should be one more unjust soul in a dry well in the Forbidden City.

For the sake of his own net worth, Zhang Zian had to take risks.

"Report ......" Zhang Zi'an was waiting for a restless moment, Zhao Xin, the general manager of Datong, suddenly stepped into the tent and said loudly, "Father-in-law, the horse has returned, and a large group of Mongolians have been found ten miles west of the Xiangqi Sea, but the strange thing is that these Mongolians are all old and young women and children, who are driving dozens of millions of cattle, sheep and livestock, and fleeing in panic to the side of the Xiangqi Sea." ”

"Okay!" Zhang Zi'an was overjoyed when he heard this, "Master Ma really didn't disappoint our family!" ”

Several Datong generals standing on both sides looked at each other, and all of them showed a blank look on their faces, speaking of which Zhang Zi'an, an old eunuch, can be regarded as a master of secrecy, until now these senior generals in Datong Town don't know where Wang Pu went with the four thousand cavalry, why did he go?

"Father-in-law, what's going on with these Mongolian old and young?"

"Father-in-law, did your old man have already calculated with the master of the horse?"

Seeing that the development of things was somewhat unexpected, these senior generals immediately began to pat Zhang Zi'an's sycophants when they saw the wind turning the rudder, Zhang Zi'an smiled and said proudly: "Let me tell you the truth, our family has planned this military operation with the master of the horse more than a month ago, with the aim of exterminating the Tumut Department in the east of the Yellow River. ”

"The father-in-law is like a god, and he is admired for his humble duties."

"Even if Zhuge Liang is reincarnated, I'm afraid it's just like that, what do you say?"

Several high-ranking generals began to shamelessly slap their ass, but Zhang Zi'an turned around and shouted sharply behind the case: "The generals listen to the order!" ”

Several senior generals and Zhao Xin hurriedly stood in two rows, and said loudly: "The last general." ”

Zhang Zi'an straightened the brocade robe on his body, and shouted with great ambition: "The time has come for the long live lord and the Ming Dynasty to make meritorious contributions, except for leaving two thousand troops to garrison the camp, the rest of the army will all attack, annihilate the remnants of Tumut in one fell swoop, and drive all their cattle, sheep and livestock back to Datong!" ”

"Yes!"

Several generals suddenly agreed, turned around and walked away.

As I said just now, only the old and young women and children of the Tumuts fled to the sea, and this is simply an opportunity for them to make meritorious contributions! At this time, if you don't grab the credit, the eighteenth generation of ancestors should cry bitterly and shed tears.

(To be continued)