Altan Khan finally returned to the steppe, and the first thing he did when he arrived home was to send the heralds out at once, and let the tribal leaders come to a meeting!

When he took a breath, the big butler he stayed in the tribe stepped forward and saluted, telling him that Qi Jiguang had come after he left.

Altan Khan was stunned: "What is he doing here?" Are you here to fight? Ben Khan left people at home, forgive him and don't dare! ”

The housekeeper said that Qi Jiguang was not here to fight, although he was with cavalry, he was here to announce the reward of Altan Khan.

Alta Khan frowned: "Reward? What to reward me? ”

The housekeeper glanced at Altan Khan with a weak heart: "Emperor Jiajing rewarded the Great Khan, you are Altan Khan." ”

Altan Khan was stunned: "This Khan was originally called Altan Khan, this is my name, do you still need him to seal it?" ”

The housekeeper thought for a while and whispered: "Great Khan, Qi Jiguang not only brought a reward for you, but he also brought a lot of edicts.

Now on the grassland, the leaders of the tribes, large and small, have all been named this Khan, that Khan, and the Great Khan is worthless! ”

Altan Khan was furious, and then suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, he suddenly understood, this was Xiao Feng's poisonous plan!

Xiao Feng wanted to split the grassland, and he spent a lot of effort, how much blood he shed, and how many people he killed to unify the grassland!

"Bastard! He dreamed! The grassland was beaten down by Lao Tzu with a fast horse and a long knife, and he was able to split it with an edict that was too small to wipe his buttocks? ”

In a few days, it stands to reason that the farthest tribal leader should have arrived almost as well. Because at that time, Altan Khan's main sphere of influence was in the Monan grassland, and the Mobei grassland in the northeast was relatively independent.

But now only more than half of the clan leaders have come, and the other half only tell the herald that their tribe is busy, and that they will gather another day, and they will gather another day when they are free.

Altan Khan's seven orifices are smoking, damn, what kind of bullshit, Lao Tzu is holding a military meeting, what the fuck should you be a class reunion? As soon as I heard that there were fewer female classmates, there would be more things to do and reunite another day?

Altan Khan didn't dare to tell the other tribes that he had just lost 10,000 cavalry outside the pass, he just told everyone that the Ming court was not particular and refused to sell our grain! We've got to do it with them!

Half of the tribal leaders who came looked at each other, and it took half a day to nominate a representative who was articulate and bold enough to speak.

"Great Khan, when Qi Jiguang came to deliver the edict, he told us that as long as the children of our tribe go to school in the school established on the edge of the mutual market, they will sell grain."

Altan Khan stared at the representative toughly: "Fart! Don't you know what they're up to? They are the kind of things that they want to teach the children of the Han people!

Can we trade this for food? When did the descendants of Genghis Khan fall to such a point? ”

The representative winced for a moment, but looked at the supportive gazes around him, still swallowed his spit, and whispered.

"Great Khan, is there any problem with our children learning Han culture? Even during the time of Genghis Khan and Xue Chan Khan (Kublai Khan), we were always learning about the culture of the Han people.

Now that the Han people have taken the initiative to build schools, invite our children to study, and agree to sell us food, does this have any loss to us? ”

Altan Khan said angrily: "Of course there are losses! The culture of the Han people, weak and incompetent, advocating benevolence and righteousness, will make our children and grandchildren weak and do not want to fight! ”

This reason is very representative, standing on the commanding heights of national morality, so the deputies do not dare to openly refute it, and can only ask vague questions.

"Great Khan, in fact, if we can have good weather and abundant food and clothing, we don't have to fight them.

Didn't we fight before because they didn't want to trade with each other? ”

Altan Khan choked for a moment, it was true that the war was fought before, and now Xiao Feng, the bastard, has used the sugar-coated cannonball of the mutual market to corrupt the tribes of the grassland, so that they are satisfied with buying and selling, instead of looting, what a bastard!

Looking back, before Xiao Feng was lying on the coffin board, he insisted on encouraging Daming to open a mutual market, and he thought he was taking advantage of it at the time, but now it seems that no one may have taken advantage of whom!

"Guys, think about it, this mutual market is in their hands! They say it's on, and it's off!

We are not ready for war at all times, and what will we do if they close the mutual market? The Han people are very cunning, don't be deceived by them! ”

The representative looked at Altan Khan's fierce eyes and did not dare to speak. He knew that if he dared to say anything again, Altan Khan would have to tell him the hard truth.

Altan Khan knew that these people were still hesitating in their hearts, and now they didn't dare to refute it just because of their own tough suppression, not a long-term solution.

He looked around and saw that these tribes were all closer to him, or weaker. Those who were far away and more powerful basically didn't come.

It seems that if we want to prevent this trend of separatism from developing, we must make an example of ourselves! I clenched my teeth, my voice cold.

"Brothers! If you can come, you will treat me as the Great Khan, and I will naturally treat you as brothers!

Those who didn't come didn't regard me as a great sweat in their hearts, and I naturally didn't regard them as brothers anymore. Take your warriors and go with Ben Khan to conquer them!

Bring down their pastures, and I will reward you! Steal their cattle and sheep, and I will reward you. Seize their children, and I will give them to you. ”

Pastures, cattle and sheep, slaves, these have always been the most effective ways to mobilize troops in the Mongolian steppe, but today the effect is a bit dull.

Looking at the expressions of the clan leaders, it was like eating an expired little blue pill, and it was a little feeling, but it was indeed not as excited as usual.

The speaker hesitated for a moment, but still felt worthy of his identity as a delegate, so he reminded Altan Khan.

"Great Khan, you may not know, this time when Qi Jiguang came to announce the reward, he also made a special statement: No matter which tribe is violated by other tribes, you can ask Daming for help.

Since the Ming Dynasty has rewarded the Great Khans, the Great Khans are the officials of the Ming Dynasty. No matter who is bullied, Daming will not stand idly by. ”

Altan Khan laughed angrily: "Hahahaha, just them? They leaned against the walls...... and a few broken guns, really on the grassland, what do they use to fight us?

Do not be afraid of them, gather together your mighty men, and come with me. Tomorrow I will destroy a rebellious tribe first, and I will see if Da Ming dares to enter the grassland to get a mouse! ”

The big butler was stunned for a moment, and reminded Altan Khan in a low voice: "Great Khan, it doesn't seem right to say that......"

Altan Khan said angrily: "The dog is nosy with the mouse! This is a common saying of the Han people, you don't read much, you don't understand! ”

The big housekeeper smiled bitterly and nodded again and again, and said in his heart that I am also a dog with a mouse, and you are willing to be a mouse, what can I do.

The next morning, facing the rising sun, Altan Khan gathered the warriors of his tribe.

Hundreds of scattered cavalry outside the pass fled back to the steppe one after another, and Altan Khan ordered them to shut up, not to say that they had been defeated by the Ming army, but to return only on a mission.

The tribes participating in the meeting did not dare not send people, but secretly did something about the quality of the personnel they sent. The average age was over forty years old, and in the grassland at that time, this belonged to the absolute veteran level.

Altan Khan also knew that this time everyone was waiting and watching, and the main force in this battle must be people from his own tribe. If you press these guys too hard now, you might rebel instead.

If you win the battle, you will fight another one, and the other tribes will inevitably send elites. This is because the distribution of benefits after winning a war has always been based on the proportion of troops sent and the merits of the war.

Altan Khan took out all his wealth and gathered 20,000 cavalry. He originally had 30,000 cavalry, the most powerful of all the tribes.

But in this battle outside the Guan, the loss was about 8,000, although it was still the most powerful, but compared with other powerful tribes, it was no longer completely crushing.

So in his first battle, he didn't choose the strongest one, and of course he didn't choose the weakest, otherwise winning the battle would not be telling. He chose a clan that was closer and of medium strength.

The other tribes helped him put together 20,000 cavalry, and these 40,000 cavalry roared and pounced on the scumbag fellow who dared not to come to the meeting, vowing to kill the other party without leaving a piece of armor!

In Datong City, 50,000 cavalry were ready to go. Qiu Luan was watching Qi Jiguang issue muskets to a thousand of them.

The gun had just been sent from the newly established Guofang, and it almost still carried the body temperature and the smell of sweat of the blacksmith.

"Yuan Jing, this musket doesn't look very fine, you see that the outside of this gun barrel is not polished, dry, numb, not mellow at all."

Qi Jiguang said with a smile: "This thing is too difficult to make, I have been doing it for half a year, and I have made less than a thousand branches, and I have let Brother Xiao take it away."

If it weren't for the establishment of the National Workshop and the gathering of skilled craftsmen, how could these thousand muskets be made in such a short time?

What are you afraid of when it's rough outside, this is not the bride's golden hairpin, the old birthday star's crutches, as long as it's good! Be content! ”

Qiu Luan still didn't know the bottom in his heart: "Yuan Jing, half of these 50,000 cavalry were transferred from Miaojiang and Shandong. I don't know how well I trained, can you command? ”

Qi Jiguang nodded: "Brother Xiao said that although Chen Tianyu is not particularly outstanding, he is also a qualified chief military officer, and the soldiers he brought out will not be too bad."

If it weren't for Brother Xiao relieving Miao Jiang's danger, Miao Jiang would no longer need to put so many troops, and it would not be easy to transfer so many troops and horses in this hurry. ”

Qiu Luan hesitated for a moment and said, "Yuan Jing, although you have 50,000 cavalry, Altan Khan is the overlord of the grassland after all."

Even if half of his tribe followed him, he would be able to muster at least forty or fifty thousand cavalry. On the steppe, our cavalry is afraid that they will not be able to defeat the Mongols! ”

Qi Jiguang took a deep breath: "I believe in Brother Xiao. He said that as long as the edict of reward is in place and the grain subsidy policy is in place, those tribes will fall into a wait-and-see position.

Brother Xiao's flying pigeon passed on me, telling me that Altan Khan was defeated outside the pass, and he may not be able to muster so many soldiers and horses in a hurry.

Besides, even if he really scrapes together 50,000 cavalry, I have to fight this battle with him! ”

Qiu Luan had a bitter face, he really didn't want Qi Jiguang to take risks, after all, Xiao Feng measured his words at the beginning, and whether his position as governor could be stable and safe was on Qi Jiguang.

"Why do you have to fight this battle? Isn't it just a grassland tribe, who has no relatives and no reason with us, can you fight hard for them? ”

Qi Jiguang nodded: "Why did Brother Xiao ask me to leave a pigeon for each tribe?" That's what makes them find out that something is wrong and ask us for help.

Brother Xiao said, this first person to ask for help, we must be saved at any cost! Even if we are defeated, we must die with them.

Only in this way will other tribes believe in the promise of the Ming Dynasty, have the confidence to face the coercion of Altan Khan, and ensure the independence of the tribes of the steppe! ”

Qiu Luan sighed: "I know what Brother Xiao means, only the scattered and independent grassland has no threat to the Ming Dynasty." In the future, it can be slowly seduced and incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

But I still don't quite understand. We have muskets, aren't we afraid of them, why do we have to become a family? ”

Qi Jiguang thought of Xiao Feng's letter, and also sighed: "What Brother Xiao said, since everyone was born in the same land, they are either relatives or enemies.

Of these ethnic groups, only the Han Chinese have the ability to turn enemies into relatives, and no other ethnic groups have the ability to do so. This is determined by culture and history.

The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, and the Han people have this ability, so they shoulder this responsibility. ”

Qiu Luan sighed: "Sometimes I really can't figure out where these ideas come from, Brother Xiao, I've never seen anything like this written in a book." ”

Qi Jiguang smiled: "Your Excellency, guard the city well, and I will take people to set off." I need to get to the tribe for help before Altan Khan! ”

Qiu Luan suddenly grabbed Qi Jiguang: "Yuan Jing, you say, will this call for help be a trap?" Maybe it was a trap deliberately set by the Mongols to deceive you? ”

Qi Jiguang was stunned for a moment, and his brows furrowed. At this moment, a faint voice sounded behind him.

"This is simple, first send a vanguard to bring the other party's old and young women and children into the city, first, to relieve the other party's worries, and second, if he dares to cheat, he will risk exterminating the clan."

Qiu Luan and Qi Jiguang turned around with great joy and saw Xiao Feng, who was in the dust, riding on a horse, looking at themselves and smiling.

On the grassland, the leader of the tribe, the newly canonized Hohe Khan, with the eight thousand cavalry in the tribe, looked into the distance with a solemn face.

Behind him were the clansmen packing up their tents and loading the carts. The elderly, children and women were already sitting in the car, ready to drive in the direction of Datong.

Hohe Khan hoped that if the Ming could not fight side by side as promised, or if they were too late to arrive, they would at least be able to take in those in the tribe who could not fight.

According to Hohe Khan's thoughts, the failure of the generals in Datong City to arrive in time is the most likely scenario. Because since the court has issued an order, it will not speak and count.

The Han people are good-looking, and it is unlikely that they will directly betray their promises and not send troops at all.

But the general with the troops pretended to be delayed on the road, and did not arrive until the end of the war, and no one could say anything.

Hohe Khan also didn't know if his decision was right or wrong. At that time, he just felt that this year's cattle and sheep on the grassland were decreasing, so it was the right thing to do to let the children go to school and buy grain from Daming.

What's more, when Altan Khan unified the steppe, the Hohe tribe was also one of the worst beaten tribes, and it didn't matter if they were conquered by force.

Now that there is the canonization of the holy decree of the Ming Dynasty and the promise of protection of the Ming Dynasty, many tribes have contacted privately and decided not to help Altan Khan fight anymore.

Then everyone knew that Altan Khan would definitely choose a tribe to make an example of the chickens. But people were not intimidated by the prospect.

Because everyone thinks that they will not be the unlucky one. With so many tribes, how can it be themselves who are unlucky?

Hohe Khan thought the same thing at the time, until his cousin sent him a letter informing him that Altan Khan had made a decision and that the unlucky man was him.

That's right, his cousin was the head of the half of the tribe that stood in support of Altan Khan, so he was the quickest to get the news.

And the cousin comforted Hohe Khan, in order to help him secretly, the average age of the cavalry sent by his tribe was about fifty years old, and the horses ridden were even older if they were calculated according to human age.

But this did not make Hohe Khan very happy, because he knew that even if the cavalry sent by the rest of the tribes was of this virtue, it was useless.

Altan Khan's own tribe has at least 30,000 cavalry, and he was able to sweep the steppe and unify the tribes, relying not only on Xiao Qin's brain, but also on the last word.

The sun was rising higher and higher, and the tribal carriage was gone. Smoke and dust gradually rose in the distance, obscuring the sky and the sun.

Altan Khan's tanma also heard the news of the Ming cavalry's dispatch, but he had already opened his bow and did not look back.

If you turn back halfway and retreat today, then the remaining half of your followers will immediately become rebels.

And he believed that on this steppe, even if there were some old, weak, sick and disabled among the 40,000 cavalry, it was the Mongolian cavalry after all.

How many cavalry can Datong have? Twenty thousand? Thirty thousand? Most of them! Even if you add the soldiers and horses of the tribe he wants to fight, it will not reach 40,000.

40,000 Mongolian iron cavalry against 40,000 Ming cavalry, do you need to say the ending? Altan Khan even secretly hoped that it would be best for Qiu Luan to lead the troops in person!

He hacked Qiu Luan to death with his front foot, and immediately led the newly condensed tribes with his back foot, took Datong in one go, and then killed the capital again!

This time, he will not give Jiajing face again, and he will not be ambushed by the WTO concept again. Even if you can't enter the palace, you will have to kill the corpses all over the capital, and the earth will be scorched everywhere!

When the cavalry rushed to their destination, Altan Khan saw his opponent. Only Hohe Khan led the cavalry of his own tribe, and there was no Ming army.

Altan Khan laughed: "See, the Ming army will always be a coward." Huhe, do you want your people to work for the Han people?

Surrender quickly, destroy the Ming army with me, and I will not only punish you, but also reward you with the throne! ”

Hohe Khan sneered: "General Qi sent someone to tell me that Governor Qiu is worried that my call for help is a trap set by you in conspiracy.

Therefore, they first sent people to bring the old and weak women and children of our tribe to the city halfway, and then came to reinforce them.

At this time, the family members of my entire clan are in the Ming Army City, and even for them, it is impossible for me to surrender to you! ”

Altan Khan was stunned for a moment, couldn't help but pause, and pretended to ask for help, which is indeed a good idea. I didn't expect Qiu Luan to think of this, it was really not a straw bag.

But...... The Ming army got the news of the distress so quickly, and sent someone to pick up the old and weak women and children, how did Hohe Khan ask for help?

"Hohe Khan, the tribes are intertwined, they are all relatives, and there will be those who are close to you. It's not surprising that you learned that I was going to hit you.

But after you learned about it, it was beyond my expectation that you could ask for help from the Ming army so quickly, how did you ask for help? ”

Hohe Khan laughed and looked at Altan Khan mockingly: "Altan Khan, you think you are the overlord of the steppe, and everyone submits to you.

But look at it, General Qi left carrier pigeons that could fly back to Datong City for every Great Khan canonized by the imperial court, and they didn't tell you! ”