Ye Yingwu slowly put down the piece that was sent from Jeju Mansion eight hundred miles in an emergency. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The Mongol Tatars sent a large number of cavalry south, and Ye Yingwu didn't know if Kublai Khan had seen through his deployment, or if it was an amazing coincidence.

Regarding the Northern Expedition, any Ming person wanted to recover the land of Yanyun and reproduce the glory of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and Ye Yingwu was naturally no exception. But this does not mean that Ye Yingwu is eager to go north, after all, the lessons of the Northern Song Dynasty are still there, from Shandong to Guanwai, there are vast plains, which is conducive to the galloping of cavalry, and it is even more conducive to the cavalry interspersed with various breakthroughs.

Therefore, once the main forces of the Ming army advance rapidly to the north, it is easy to expose flaws, giving the Mongol Tartars a chance. With the ability of Mongolian generals such as Kublai Khan, Boyan, and Shi Tianze, as long as they can catch the flaws, they will directly put the opponent to death. One of the main armies of the Ming army was defeated, and the rest of the roads would naturally collapse with it.

Ye Yingwu didn't want to watch the mighty army pull out, but he suffered heavy casualties just like the Western Army buried in the Baigou River a hundred years ago, and in the end, it even directly threatened the stability of Jiangshan Sheji, and the possibility of victory in the Northern Expedition was infinitely reduced.

Therefore, Ye Yingwu would rather take a step-by-step approach, pushing the front from Huainan to Shandong, Heluo and Guanzhong, which was the first step; From here, it will expand to Goryeo, Liaodong and Hexi, so as to ensure the stability of the entire frontier and threaten the back and flanks of Mongolia everywhere, which is the second step; The next step was to attack at the same time, attacking Liaodong and Yanyun at the same time through the two springboards of Shandong and Goryeo, and penetrating north into Shanxi with Guanzhong and Heluo as the center, so as to be able to recover Yanyun that had been lost for 300 years as much as possible. However, this step is also the most thrilling step, according to Ye Yingwu's plan, it is naturally more appropriate to implement it in the summer and autumn of the next year, so as to be able to stop in time before winter.

Once this battle starts, it is definitely not a trivial matter, because this is the first time that the Ming Dynasty has many main forces participating in the active attack, or the first decent Northern Expedition, the previous war is either a small fight in one direction, or a large-scale counterattack against the oppression of Mongolia, it stands to reason that it is not a large-scale action of the Ming Dynasty to take the initiative to recover the lost territory.

In addition to hoarding a large amount of grain, grass and money in the south of the Yangtze River to prepare for the transfer to the north and the formation and training of the new army, the most important point is to do everything possible to mobilize all the main forces along the border, and at the same time not to cause an excessive reaction from the Mongol Tatars.

This time, the reason why Ye Yingwu turned a blind eye to the spontaneous movement of the two Huai armies, and even mobilized the Jinling Medical College in Nanjing to give full support, was because the two Huai armies could be stationed in Jeju after the disaster relief, so that they could wait until the beginning of spring next year and be ready to attack the north at any time.

However, who knew that the Mongolian cavalry also appeared, and according to the battle situation reported by the two Huai armies, the number of Mongolian cavalry had become more and more, and the two Huai armies even had to concentrate on dealing with them. Ye Yingwu knew very well that this was definitely not in line with the way the Mongols plundered.

Raids have always been a missed blow and an immediate retreat, and there is absolutely no possibility of drawing troops from all over the place to fight to the death. This can only show that Kublai Khan or Shi Tianze, who presided over the defense of Yanyun and Hebei, wanted to watch the decisive battle between the two Huai armies and the Mongol cavalry, as long as they could exhaust the two Huai armies, there would be no way to go north for a few months or even half a year, even if most of the Mongol cavalry were killed.

After all, for the Mongolian cavalry, such a wasteland, wind and snow is already the most suitable situation for the Mongols to fight, and Kublai Khan's previous southern expeditions were also based on such an environmental background, which also shows the intention of the Mongols to consume the combat power of the two Huai armies.

Once they achieve their goal, I am afraid that Ye Yingwu's plan for the Northern Expedition will be discounted again this year, without the two Huai Army, Ye Yingwu naturally does not dare to let the Tianwu Army go deep alone.

Looking at the military report in his hand, Ye Yingwu frowned, and said in a deep voice: "To continue to urge the Tianwu army to march to Shandong, it is necessary to contain the flanks of the Mongol Tatars, and even if possible, assist the two Huai armies to directly attack Yunzhou, Qizhou and Bozhou, and consolidate the defense line in Shandong Province." ”

(Author's note: Qizhou, present-day Jinan, Shandong; Bozhou, now Liaocheng, Shandong)

Since the Mongolian Tartars don't want to let a certain advance, then a certain will simply take a step by step, you have all sent the fat to a certain mouth, naturally there is no reason not to take a bite, and you can also take advantage of the opportunity of the Mongol deployment of troops to invade and the emptiness of the border state capital, and then take the opportunity to eat the various state capitals north of Jeju Mansion, so as to make Shandong Province, the springboard of the Ming Northern Expedition, larger, and more buffer areas, so that the Ming Dynasty in this area is more calm.

Zhang Shijie responded solemnly, but then said: "Your Majesty, what about Goryeo and Hexi?" ”

"Don't act rashly on either side yet." Ye Yingwu frowned slightly, "We don't have much grain and grass reserves and firearms reserves now, it is difficult to supply three battlefields at the same time, and the weather is cold, so it is not suitable for a large army." Including the war in Shandong Province is also like this, it is okay to get some benefits from the Mongolian Tartars, if we have to make an inch, I am afraid that the Mongolian Tartars will also have to consider whether to continue to retreat. ”

"General Wang should be able to fulfill His Majesty's entrustment." Zhang Shijie showed a smile.

Ye Yingwu sighed softly: "I don't want to move troops in this cold winter, after all, this is the best time for the Mongolian Tartars, but for the southern soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, this is definitely not a good choice." The Mongolian Tartars move troops in winter, it will be our damage will increase a lot than usual, and the most important thing is that they only need to find a way to provoke an incident and a big war every winter, whether it is successful or not, it can make the Ming Dynasty dare not shoot at will in the next year, otherwise it will be a break in the first year! ”

Zhang Shijie smiled bitterly: "The soldiers in the south of the Yangtze River, growing up in the land of fish and rice, see the gentle spring breeze, fine smoke and rain every day, the bitter cold and heavy snow in the north, they are very unfamiliar with them, so that the main forces in winter, if they do not carry out regular training, it is easy to lead to low morale, and the armies are stationed in the north, and the frostbite is much more serious than in the south." Coupled with the problems of water and soil, food problems・・・・・・ and it has to be said that if the Northern Expedition continues in the future, this situation will become more and more serious. ”

Standing up slowly, Ye Yingwu stretched out his hand to support the table and looked at Zhang Shijie: "So not for anything else, just for the great cause of the Northern Expedition, now we have to start training another new army, a new army dominated by people from the North, a new army equipped with Hexi war horses and armed with the latest cold-resistant firearms of the Ming Dynasty." ”

Zhang Shijie nodded approvingly. It's just that the cold in Shandong and Heluo has already made many soldiers lack fighting spirit, let alone continue to go north in the future. After all, the Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty can be selected in spring and autumn, but the garrison must always be stationed there, and it will always experience winter.

And fighting in winter is now for the Mongolian Tartars, and even has become a magic weapon to delay time and defeat the enemy, if the Ming Dynasty does not take corresponding countermeasures, I am afraid that the Ming Dynasty will be able to successfully go on the Northern Expedition every spring and summer in the future, and then in the autumn and winter it will be driven out from the north by the Mongolian Tartars in the autumn wind, not to mention the reconquest of lost land, and the current land may be lost.

"The news that Jinyiwei recently sent back makes me suspect that the Mongolian Tartars are deliberately delaying time." Ye Yingwu picked up a piece of music from the table and handed it to Zhang Shijie, "The Mongolian Tatars are trying to imitate our firearms, especially the relatively simple type of flying thunder cannon, so for them, time is the most important thing, but there are still strong men who can use a lot of consumption in exchange for time." ”

The Ming Dynasty was confident that it would defeat the Mongol Tatars on the plains and even the grasslands, relying on advanced firearms, and once this greatest advantage was lost, or even the gap between the two sides narrowed, the Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty would be more difficult. After all, the opponents of the Ming Dynasty were Kublai Khan, Boyan and others, and for these Mongolian emperors and generals who had been famous for a long time and even famous in the annals of history, Ye Yingwu did not dare to take it lightly, let alone imagine if they had firearms in their hands, they could still deal with them.

Yuan Jia was hasty and won the Canghuang Beigu. Ye Yingwu didn't want to have another "Yongle grass".

Zhang Shijie also hurriedly took over the chapter, just a cursory glance, his face had already changed, Huo Ran raised his head and said: "That is to say, if the Ming Dynasty does not hurry up to attack the north now, I'm afraid we can only wait for the Mongolian Tartar flying thunder cannon to also fall on the head?" ”

Ye Yingwu nodded solemnly: "So what I am most concerned about now is whether there is a main army that can stand up at a critical time, holding high the red dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty to chase the dead and chase the north, so that the Ming Dynasty can pacify Yanyun in one battle." ”

"And what does Your Majesty mean?" Zhang Shijie looked at Ye Yingwu, "Immediately?" ”

"There is no way back, no choice." Ye Yingwu gritted his teeth and said, "Even if the two Huai armies suffer heavy losses in Shandong, within this year, they must go on a northern expedition!" ”

Zhang Shijie took a breath lightly, and then solemnly bowed his hand to Ye Yingwu: "The minister obeys the order!" It's just that the minister has something to say, since the formation of such a main army, it should be the main force of the Northern Expedition, and it will also be stationed on the frontier for the Ming Dynasty forever in the future, so who does Your Majesty plan to take as the commander? ”

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, Ye Yingwu slowly leaned forward and looked at Zhang Shijie: "Brother-in-law, are you interested in going down to lead the troops, take our Daming son, and kill back!" ”

Zhang Shijie was slightly stunned, and he didn't know if he felt that tears had spread to his eyes.

He was Zhang Rou's subordinate, and because he couldn't get used to Zhang Rou making dogs for the Jurchens and Mongols, he resolutely went south and parted ways with his boss. Although Zhang Shijie has taken root in the south of the Yangtze River, he has always wanted to lead the Han family to kill back, regain the lost land, and make the Han people the masters of that piece of heaven and earth again.

Now Zhang Shijie has risen step by step, until he has reached the position of the secretary of the Ministry of War, and he has the aura of the emperor's relatives and relatives, which can basically be regarded as the peak of his life, if there is anything he regrets, I am afraid that there is no way to personally lead the troops back to the north and realize his wish for many years.

I have to use practical actions to tell those southerners that not only the Han people in the south can drive out the Tartars, but also the Han people in the north who have been ravaged and devastated under the iron hooves of the Jurchens and the Mongols, they are all bloody men, and they will take back the land abandoned by their ancestors with their own hands no matter what they say!

The Song people in the south have no seeds, and the Han people in the north have no seeds!

"What the Song people can't achieve is to return my mountains and rivers, so let's continue." Looking at Zhang Shijie, whose body was trembling slightly, a smile appeared at the corner of Ye Yingwu's mouth, "Brother-in-law, you are still the secretary of the military department, and you lead the newly formed Heluo Army with the official position of the secretary of the military department." ”

"Minister, you must be loyal to the country and go all out!" Zhang Shijie bowed down.

Ye Yingwu exhaled softly.

With the public, the Ming Dynasty needed a person who was familiar with the north to coordinate the Northern Expedition, and play a role in pacifying Yanyun and determining the overall situation in the first war; With private interests, in order to prevent the Ming royal family from losing control of the north, it is indeed necessary to have a sufficient amount of imperial relatives to sit in charge.

In public and private, Zhang Shijie is the best choice.

――――――――――――――――――――-

The explosion point of the flying thunder cannon was almost close to the footsteps of the Ming soldiers, and the Mongolian cavalry in front of them were constantly overturned by the air waves, and the Ming soldiers rushed into the Mongolian soldiers who fell off their horses, and their hands fell with swords, and blood splattered.

Jeju Province, Hachae Town, 1st Brigade was ordered to defend on the morning of the fourth day.

"Before reinforcements arrived, more than half of the thunder guns of the 1st Brigade were lost, and the rest were firing fiercely at the enemy. The arrows and gunpowder of our department are insufficient, and the soldiers are fighting with all their might, although the blue bricks and rotten wood can be used to kill the enemy and serve the country. The staff was ordered to defend this place to the death, and there was no intention of retreating until a soldier was fought! Now the Mongols have surrounded the town, if there is no support, then this is the place where all the soldiers of the First Brigade are buried. The last general, Xu Chen, Yu Hecai Town", said word by word, Xu Chen, the commander of the First Brigade, stood in a bungalow, his eyes looking at the fierce battlefield not far away through the leaky window, and there was only a look of slaughter on his face.

Wang Yizhou put down his pen and looked at Xu Chen: "Brigade commander・・・・・・"

"A certain will send ten guards to escort you from the northeast side to break out of the siege, that is the thinnest place in the Mongolian Tatar encirclement, because if you continue to move forward, it will be the frozen Liangshanluo, normal people will not choose to break through here, but the more unlikely the place is the place where the hope is greater, as long as you Wang Yizhou still have a breath, take this letter to Wang Xianggong." Xu Chen said lightly, his voice was a little hoarse, but with a tone that absolutely no objections were allowed.

Without looking at Wang Yizhou, who was a little stunned, Xu Chen reached out and picked up his helmet: "In addition, tell Wang Xianggong that the First Brigade has surrendered since Xu, is loyal to the country, and swears to die without regrets." ”

"Brigade commander, don't go!" Wang Yizhou Huoran stood up.

"General Wang only has one son from you, the Wang family is full of loyalty, and he is already worthy of this country, and he can't be sacrificed anymore." Xu Chen put on his helmet and straightened up, "It's true that your Wang family is a hero, but there are many meritorious deeds in this world, and you Wang family can't let them all be taken away." Now my surname is Xu, don't tell you, the Xu family is not a bad race! ”

Wang Yizhou wanted to say something, but Xu Chen glanced back at him sharply and said in a cold voice: "Tell so, what is the first article of the Ming military regulations?!" ”

After playing a clever game, Wang Yizhou straightened his waist: "Ming soldiers, it is their duty to be loyal to the Ming Emperor and obey military orders!" ”

"Then carry out the order." Xu Chen turned his head and walked straight outside.

The door opened, and the howling cold wind swept in with snowflakes, and the sounds of killing and explosions rose and fell one after another.

Suddenly remembering something, Xu Chen waved his hand, and one of the guards picked up the roster and handed it to Wang Yizhou. Xu Chen said lightly: "The letter can't be delivered, but this roster must be handed over to the general." There are so many soldiers in the First Brigade, they can't die here in vain. They should be remembered. ”

After being silent for a long time, Wang Yizhou solemnly bowed his hand to the back of Xu Chen leaving.

In fact, the 1st Brigade had lost almost as much as it had lost in four days of fierce fighting, and the intertwined corpses of Ming soldiers and Mongols could be found in almost every corner of the entire town of Hecai. Fortunately, the weather is very cold and the snow is falling, otherwise I am afraid that so many corpses have already broken out if they have not been treated, and the epidemic has already broken out, dragging both sides down.

The moment Xu Chen walked out of the house, twenty or thirty zhang away, a red dragon flag was blasted into the sky, and then the explosion came with the wind. Xu Chen knew very well that it was a flying thunder artillery position that did not retreat in time, and it was directly destroyed with the Mongolian Tatar cavalry who pounced on it as fiercely as a steppe wolf.

This battle was fought too fiercely.

Xu Chen didn't know where the reinforcements that should have arrived yesterday were now, he only knew that he had tried his best, and the soldiers of the First Brigade had lost their lives, and he was afraid that he would not be able to get back any victory in the end.

"It's going to be over." There were fewer and fewer soldiers around, and the wounded soldiers were fighting for the last few thistles despite the opposition of the capital and the ten generals. Rather than fall into the hands of the Mongol Tartars and be humiliated, it is better to pull a few enemies and die a happy death.

A capital head strode up to Xu Chen: "Brigade commander, the Mongolian Tartars are about to be killed." ”

Xu Chen knew what Dutou wanted to ask.

Reinforcements, where are the reinforcements ?! (To be continued.) )