Liaoshen and Jianzhou's nest have obviously become the two weaknesses of Houjin, or two places that must be protected.

At least for now, Houjin has no intention of giving up any of them. It is precisely because of this that the Ming army stared at these two places, which was quite correct.

Isn't there a sentence in the book of war that "the enemy must be saved", the Ming army wanted to separate the Jiannu and contain them, and form a military advantage in the local area, and gradually consume them.

The advance of western Liaoning, the stabilization of southern Liaoning, and the reoccupation of Zhenjiang Fort by the Dongjiang headquarters formed three major containments, making it difficult for Jiannu to concentrate all his forces to carry out operations.

The grand strategy of the Quartet, if you count the very weak North Korean army, should have been formed and is very stable.

However, the fall of the Horqin Department actually knocked out the northern buffer and barrier of Houjin. Not counting the Mongol tribes that were hostile to Houjin, the Ming army would not let go of the opportunity to smash Houjin's flank.

Therefore, it should be more accurate to arrange the five parties, and the strategic situation of Houjin is already very bad.

Take advantage of your illness to kill you. Between the enemy and us, there is nothing to talk about, but the Ming army did not continue to attack, as if waiting for something.

Of course, the Houjin side will not know that the reasons for waiting for the Ming army in various ministries are not the same.

The Ming army in southern Liaoning suffered heavy casualties, and consumed a lot of ammunition and materials, so it had to recover and rest;

Because of the geographical relationship, the Ming army in western Liaoning did not easily enter Liaoze and waited for the moment of freezing in winter;

The Dongjiang headquarters is waiting for equipment, the reloading of flintlock pistols has not yet been completed, and the training of troops that have changed weapons is also in full swing; There are also not many artillery.

The Houjin felt that they had a chance to breathe because of this, but they certainly would not have thought that the Ming army would be better equipped and more powerful when it was launched again.

Just like the break in a boxing match, although Hou Jin was beaten with a blue nose and swollen face, he was still panting and staring, trying to find his way back in the back.

On the Ming side, they are drinking water to regain their strength, ready to beat their opponents again in the next round, or win by knocking them out.

Due to the limitation of communication speed, the results of the Ming army's four-way attack have not yet been known by the various departments. There has been no re-planning for the reassessment of Houjin's strength and the focus of the next phase of operations.

Only Hou Jin was deeply saddened by the defeat of this chaotic war, and began to reformulate the plan and adjust the deployment of troops.

Daishan's two red flags lost more than 5,000 in southern Liaoning, which was already a loss that hurt the muscles and bones; When the news came from Nong'an's side, Erbel Amin was not only wiped out, but even he was not spared.

In addition, the news of Liu Aita's rebellion in Fuzhou was confirmed, which gave Nurhachi a heavy psychological blow.

Sons and nephews were seriously wounded or killed in battle, men and horses suffered heavy losses, the most trusted sons-in-law rebelled and returned to the Ming Dynasty, enemies from all sides were eyeing each other, and the people in the ruling area were chaotic and rebelled.

Such a bad situation made the old slave feel very bad and angry. The officials and generals below were also uneasy, fearing that they had made something wrong and would be angry.

"It's broken, it's broken!" Li Yongfang got the information that he had just secretly sent back, and just looked at the "Daming Forum" and his face changed greatly, and his hands trembled.

For the sake of loyalty, for the sake of reliability, he sent out his sons-in-law and lurked in Daming. But something happened, and it's a bit hard to argue.

If Wu Changchun was killed by the Ming Court, Li Yongfang would not be afraid. Even if it is a thousand cuts, it will show his loyalty.

But Ming Ting didn't kill him, and gave Wu Changchun an official position. Wu Changchun, a bastard, really had a posture of awakening, and published an article in the newspaper to scold himself.

It's scary to think about! If you persuade yourself to abandon the dark and turn to the light, it is not serious, but it is easy to make people suspicious after a scolding. Son-in-law, isn't there a suspicion of whitewashing the old father-in-law.

Li Yongfang rubbed his eyes, read the newspaper carefully, and threw the newspaper on the table with a sigh.

Because of Liu Aita's rebellion, because of the defection of the Liao people and Han officials in the ruling area, Nurhachi was already extremely dissatisfied.

Now that this incident has happened again, Li Yongfang doesn't dare to think about how much Nurhachi's suspicions will accumulate? It's unlikely that he'll be killed, but his dismissal shouldn't be an accident.

Withholding the newspaper, this thought only flashed in Li Yongfang's mind, and he categorically denied it.

If you can hide it for a while, you can't hide it for a long time, doesn't the leakage of the matter prove that you have a ghost in your heart, and don't you confess yourself?

Li Yongfang thought about it, but decided to report it truthfully to Nurhachi. But before reporting it, he ordered someone to ask Fan Wencheng to come over.

Nurhachi's attitude towards Han people and Han officials is getting worse and worse, and Li Yongfang has been snubbed, not to mention Fan Wencheng.

But Li Yongfang still wanted to do his last loyalty, put forward his own opinions on the current situation, and wanted to consult with Fan Wencheng.

There was not much time, so Fan Wencheng rushed to meet him, his expression was depressed, and he looked like he was dying.

I feel that I am full of poetry and books, I feel that I am literary and martial, and I feel that I can be valued in Houjin. After all, among a group of barbarians, he stands out from the crowd and has outstanding talents.

To say that he is not only hardworking, but even hardworking. But he was not reused, he was just a small official, and he was discriminated against, sometimes even insulted by the Jurchens.

But Fan Wencheng's forbearance and shamelessness are well-known in history, and even his wife was occupied by Mang Gurtai, and he didn't dare to fart.

"I've seen Lord Efu." Fan Wencheng came to the house and respectfully gave Li Yongfang a salute.

Li Yongfang nodded, stretched out his hand, and said, "Wen Cheng, don't be polite, sit down and talk." ”

After Fan Wencheng sat down, he casually took the "Daming Forum" newspaper handed by Li Yongfang, and after just looking at it twice, his face was surprised and he frowned.

After a long time, Fan Wencheng put down the newspaper and said in a deep voice: "This is the conspiracy of the Ming Court against adults. ”

Li Yongfang smiled bitterly and said, "I also know, but so what? In the past, such tricks couldn't hurt a single hair, but now—"

Fan Wencheng naturally knew that the situation had changed drastically, and Nurhachi was in a state of anger, and this self-proclaimed complaint was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire, and Li Yongfang's prospects were not good.

"Let's put this on hold for now." Li Yongfang was also very helpless, waved his hand, and said: "The current situation, you don't know it. The company was defeated, the military strength was greatly damaged, and the deployment of troops could no longer be dispersed. ”

Fan Wencheng thought so, and said slowly: "It is a good strategy to shrink to Liaoshen, but as for Jianzhou, King Khan probably will not give up." ”

Li Yongfang groaned and said: "There are two banners in Jianzhou, which should be safe. Liaoshen gathered six banners, and the Ming army may not dare to attack easily. If we survive a year or two, maybe the situation will change. ”

It turned out to be a mind of shrinking and waiting for change, which coincided with himself.

Fan Wencheng bowed his head lightly and arched his hand: "This plan is very good." In terms of strength, Daikin is indeed far behind. To put it pessimistically, if the Ming Dynasty is not very evil, the king is dark, and the court is fighting endlessly, the army will be tired and tired, and the earlier victory will not be obtained. ”

After a pause, Fan Wencheng added: "Temporarily shrinking and waiting for it to change is exactly the best way to deal with Daming." How can the accumulation of disadvantages be changed in a short period of time, and how can the private interests of the monarch, the official and the private, and the private of the generals be changed overnight? Whenever the situation in Liaodong is stable or there is a chance to win, the Ming court will inevitably have party strife, this immutable law. ”

Li Yongfang smiled and nodded, and said, "Then Wen Cheng is willing to make a speech to the Khan King with a certain one?" ”

Fan Wencheng shook his head unexpectedly and said, "I don't approve of the introduction of Lord Eji. ”

"Why is that?" Li Yongfang was a little surprised and looked at Fan Wencheng with some displeasure.

Fan Wencheng was not flustered, and said slowly: "At this time, it is probably counterproductive to be advised by the forehead and the lowly position. If it is said by others, it will be able to make the king of Khan obey. ”

Li Yongfang pondered and understood what Fan Wencheng meant. Nurhachi was extremely suspicious of the Han people and officials, and he did not listen to the correct opinions, but would arouse rebellion.

"The most suitable person is praised now, and I think it must be four Baylors." Fan Wencheng didn't hide it, and directly said the candidate in his heart.

Li Yongfang thought about it and agreed.

It's not hard to guess, Houjin's four major Baylors, Dai Shan's serious injuries have not healed, Mang Gurtai has become half a waste, and Amin is estimated to be dead, leaving only Huang Taiji.

Li Yongfang and Fan Wencheng didn't know about Huang Taiji's deflated food under Zhenjiang Fort, and Huang Taiji really didn't want to publicize it, but Nurhachi still knew.

Is it a mole, sort of! Don't look at the four Baylors on the surface, they are quite harmonious, but who secretly does not covet the Khan position?

Let's just say Dai Shan, although he was deposed of the throne, but his power is the strongest, his prestige is the highest, his age is the oldest, he is the only prince born to Nurhachi's first Great Fujin (his brother Chu Ying is dead), he is the most likely to inherit his father's throne and ascend the throne as Khan.

Mang Gurtai doesn't need to think about it, there is no one flag in his hands, and he is like a wasted person.

Amin is finished, and although there is no body to be found, it is no different from dead.

In this way, it is the competition between Dai Shan and Huang Taiji. There must be people who are inclined to Dai Shan in the white flag, and secretly leak the matter of Huang Taiji, maybe it is sent by Dai Shan, or it may be sold to Dai Shan.

No matter what the inside story is, anyway, Nurhachi knew about it through Daishan.

"This is a trick of the Ming Court, just a trick, just trying to separate my father and son?" After thinking about it, Nurhachi reacted and scoffed at it.

But when Nurhachi was the only one left in the room, his face darkened, and he fell into a long thought.

………………

Quang Ninh, Tuan Son Fort.

In the open space five or six miles outside the fort, a long tent has been erected. The tent is separated from the middle by a horse, leaving only a narrow path to walk on. To the north were the Mongols, and to the south were the Han merchants.

The goods from the Han merchants have been placed in the shed, silk, cotton, iron pots, tea, spices, etc., there are really many varieties.

As a Chinese chamber of commerce that monopolized the northern border trade, the more horse markets opened by the imperial court, the more they earned. Not to mention the transportation of goods for thousands of miles, even if the distance is farther, merchants will flock to it.

The goods on the Mongolian side are relatively simple, except for cattle, horses, and sheep, that is, some crude blankets, felts and other things.

Following the Mongols, there were naturally Han people who were sent back, as well as Hai Lanzhu and others who pretended to be Han Chinese.

After the Mongols handed over these Han Chinese, whether they were true or not, to the Ming army here, they hurriedly occupied the seat tent in the north and waited for the horse market to trade.

On the opposite side of the tent, there are several large signs with the rules of the transaction and the price of the transaction. It's okay to barter, but it's okay to exchange it for money and then buy it.

There are people on both sides who are fluent in Mongolian and Chinese languages, and they come to trade, but they can't do it without an interpreter.

Darhan had done this profession before, and looking at the bustling bazaar, he suddenly felt a lot of emotion.

"Master Jun, can we go to the market to buy something?" Darhan looked at the leather coat on his body and asked the Ming soldier next to him.

The attitude of the Ming soldiers was quite kind, and they said: "When the number plate is issued, you can go to the market." Then they will gather at the fort gate and register. ”

After speaking, he looked at Durhan and the two girls behind him, and said, "Even if you have money, you don't have to rush to buy clothes, they will be issued to you after entering the fort." ”

"Thank you, Master Jun." Darhan thanked him and said with a smile: "I don't buy clothes, I want to see other applications." ”

The soldiers of the Ming army nodded, and when they heard the officers not far away giving orders, they hurriedly went over to get the number plates, and when they came back, they issued them to these Han people.

According to the rules of the horse market, the Ming army was responsible for maintaining order, and the Mongols were not allowed to carry weapons into the market. So, these Han people are very safe in the bazaar.

Darhan looked at the big sign, asked the interpreter in the market, and knew the rules, so he took Hai Lanzhu and Bumu Butai to the big tent at the separation of the market, and took out a piece of gold and exchanged it for a small bag of silver coins.

"It's a shame to be in such a hurry to do business with Mingren." Bumu Butai seemed to be unaccustomed to the Mongols' style, and pouted.

Hai Lanzhu didn't say anything, but Darhan said: "There is no way, the clothes on the body and the iron pot used to cook rice and meat can only be traded from the Ming people." ”

"If there are too many people, talk less, and don't always explain people." Hai Lanzhu calmly admonished and reminded, "Let's go, hurry up and go to the gathering to register." ”

Several Ming soldiers came up with an interpreter, their eyes only fixed on the horses brought by the Mongols, and passed by the three of Durhan.

The three of Durhan took the number plate, walked through the barrier in the middle of the market, and came to the side of the Han merchants, and were soon attracted by the variety of goods here.

Gorgeous silk, fine cloth, dark iron pot, rouge lipstick, and the fragrance of fine wine......

Darhan sniffed, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but step over as he looked at the prices of the various drinks.

"Sister, why do you want a silver coin and buy something?" Bumu Butai asked a little strangely.

Hai Lanzhu lowered her eyes, paused for a moment, and then replied in a low voice: "There is the head of the Dog Emperor on it, how can I find him if I don't recognize him?" ”

Bu Mu Butai suddenly lowered his voice and said: "Then I also want one, remember it firmly, and you can recognize it at a glance." ”

Hai Lanzhu smiled bitterly, knowing that the girl was too naïve. Looking up and seeing Darhan walking back with a bottle, she didn't want to say any more, so she shut her mouth.

……………………